Green Preparation Process, Characterization and Antitumor Effects of Doxorubicin–BSA–Dextran Nanoparticles

Abstract In this report, we developed a simple and green process of simultaneous formation of doxorubicin–BSA–dextran nanoparticles in aqueous solution and high‐effective encapsulation of doxorubicin. In the presence of BSA–dextran conjugates, which were produced by Maillard reaction, a binding of doxorubicin with BSA can suppress the self‐aggregation of unprotonated doxorubicin. After a heat treatment, the gelation of BSA results in a formation of the nanoparticles and the doxorubicin was fixed inside the nanoparticles. The dextran shell makes the nanoparticles dispersible in solution. The nanoparticles have a spherical morphology and a hydrodynamic radius of about 90 nm. Importantly, the nanoparticles can significantly prolong the life of murine ascites hepatoma H22 tumor‐bearing mice. magnified image