Enhancement of anti-inflammatory activity of fucoxanthin through encapsulation in alginate/chitosan nanoparticles for potential osteoarthritis treatment

Abstract

This study introduces a novel hydrocolloid-based drug delivery system for enhancing the therapeutic potential of fucoxanthin (FX) through encapsulation in alginate/chitosan nanoparticles (FX-Alg/CS-NPs) for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. FX-Alg/CS-NPs were fabricated using an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsification and ionotropic gelation technique, yielding highly stable nanoparticles (size: 235 ± 23 nm; zeta potential: 34.4 ± 0.9 mV; encapsulation efficiency: 80.3 ± 1.5 %). This work represents the first evaluation of nanoparticles in an IL-1β-stimulated SW-1353 chondrosarcoma cell model of OA, demonstrating significantly enhanced anti-inflammatory activity compared to free FX. Encapsulation protected FX from enzymatic degradation, improved its stability, and enabled controlled release under physiological and arthritis-relevant conditions. FX-Alg/CS-NPs significantly suppressed key inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and iNOS, while inhibiting phosphorylation of MAPK signaling components (p38, ERK1/2, JNK1/2), highlighting their mechanistic role in inflammation suppression. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging confirmed efficient cellular uptake of FX-Alg/CS-NPs without cytotoxic effects. This study advances the field of nanomedicine by presenting a stable FX delivery system, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for OA treatment and paving the way for the preclinical and clinical translation of hydrocolloid-based nanoformulations.