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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Chitosan-based nanocarriers derived from apiculture waste for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs: A novel sustainable pharmacy approach
Authors
Dr. Jay Prakash Singh, M d Sajid Ali, Mohan Prakash Sharma, Rahul Dev, Apeksha Singh
Abstract
This study presents a sustainable nanomedicine platform by transforming
apiculture waste—honeybee (Apis mellifera) exuviae—into actively
targeted, stimulus-responsive nanocarriers for cancer therapy. An eco-friendly
extraction process yielded bee-derived chitosan (B-Chit) with high purity and a
degree of deacetylation of 85.3%, bypassing the harsh demineralization required
for crustacean sources. B-Chit was functionalized with polyethylene glycol and
folic acid (FA) to synthesize a water-soluble, actively targeted copolymer
(B-Chit-PEG-FA). This copolymer self-assembled into nanocarriers for both
hydrophilic (doxorubicin) and hydrophobic (curcumin) drugs, exhibiting high
encapsulation efficiency (>78%), optimal particle size (85–168 nm), and
stability. In vitro studies demonstrated pH/enzyme-responsive
drug release, with significantly accelerated release under simulated tumour
microenvironment conditions (pH 5.5 + esterase). FA-mediated active targeting
was confirmed by enhanced cellular uptake in folate receptor-positive MCF-7
cells via confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity assays revealed
that doxorubicin-loaded targeted nanocarriers (DOX@B-Chit-PEG-FA) showed
3.4-fold higher potency in MCF-7 cells compared to free doxorubicin, while
exhibiting reduced toxicity in normal HEK-293 cells. This work validates a
circular bioeconomy approach, converting agricultural waste into
high-performance, tumour-selective nanotherapeutics with improved efficacy and
safety profiles.
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Pages:289-299
How to cite this article:
Dr. Jay Prakash Singh, M d Sajid Ali, Mohan Prakash Sharma, Rahul Dev, Apeksha Singh "Chitosan-based nanocarriers derived from apiculture waste for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs: A novel sustainable pharmacy approach". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 289-299
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