In this study, we employed Pectin (PC) as a matrix that is hybridized with three different nucleobase (NB) units (cytosine, thymine, uracil) to generate pectin–nucleobase(PC-NB) biocomposite films stabilized through bio-multiple hydrogen bonds (BMHBs) as drug carrier for anticancer 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Prepared biocomposite films were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimmetry Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Mechanical and sorption properties were also evaluated. In vitro drug release performed in both acidic pH 1.2 (stomach pH) and alkaline pH 7.4 (intestinal pH) showed that incorporation of nucleobases into pectin significantly restricted release rate of 5-FU particularly under acidic condition (pH 1.2). Hemolysis assays demonstrated that PC-NB-5-FU biocomposite film drug carriers were hemocompatible. Confocal microscope analysis indicates facilitated cellular uptake of PC-NB-5-FU film in HT-29 colon cancer cell line, which in turn result in a higher potential of apoptosis. Confocal imaging of fluorescent live/dead cell indicators and MTT assay outcomes, both demonstrated significant decreases in cellular viability of PC-NB-5-FU biocomposite films. Collectively, our findings indicate that this PC-NB-5-FU biocomposite films can be conferred as a proficient formulation for targeted delivery of colon cancer drugs.

在这项研究中，我们以果胶（PC）为基质，与三种不同的核碱基（NB）单元（胞嘧啶，胸腺嘧啶，尿嘧啶）杂交，生成通过生物多个氢键稳定的果胶-核碱基（PC-NB）生物复合膜。 （BMHBs）作为抗癌药物5-氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）的药物载体。通过傅立叶变换红外光谱（FTIR），X射线衍射（XRD），热重分析（TGA）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对制备的生物复合膜进行表征。还评估了机械性能和吸附性能。体外在酸性pH 1.2（胃pH）和碱性pH 7.4（肠pH）中进行的药物释放表明，果胶中掺入核碱基显着限制了5-FU的释放速率，特别是在酸性条件（pH 1.2）下。溶血分析表明，PC-NB-5-FU生物复合膜药物载体具有血液相容性。共聚焦显微镜分析表明，HT-29结肠癌细胞系中PC-NB-5-FU膜的细胞摄取得到促进，从而导致更高的凋亡潜力。荧光活/死细胞指示剂和MTT分析结果的共聚焦成像均显示PC-NB-5-FU生物复合膜的细胞活力显着降低。总体而言，我们的发现表明，该PC-NB-5-FU生物复合膜可作为靶向结肠癌药物的有效制剂。