Folate-Functionalized Polymeric Nanoparticles for 5‑Fluorouracil Delivery to Prostate Cancer: Physicochemical and In Vitro/In Vivo Characterization.

ABSTRACT: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective and targeted chemotherapeutic approaches. This study reports the development and optimization of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol-folic acid (PLGA-PEG-FOL) nanoparticles designed for folate receptor-mediated targeted therapy. The PLGA-PEG-FOL conjugate was synthesized via a stepwise carbodiimide coupling reaction and confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Nanoparticles were formulated via a modified emulsification-solvent evaporation method and optimized through a Box-Behnken design. The optimized formulation demonstrated a particle size of 178.47  ±  3.26 nm, a narrow polydispersity index (0.119  ±  0.008), a zeta potential of -23.4  ±  

SUBMITTER: Bhatt B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12809314 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature