From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles

Al-Hussein Abo El-Naga; Mahmoud E. Soliman; Amr A. Nassrallah

doi:10.55549/epstem.1805445

From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanotechnology has revolutionized drug delivery by enhancing therapeutic agent targeting, controlled release, and pharmacokinetics. Poly(α-lipoic acid) (PαLA), a biodegradable and redox-responsive polymer derived from α-lipoic acid (αLA), presents a promising nanocarrier system due to its biocompatibility and structural versatility. In this study, PαLA was synthesized via thermal ring-opening polymerization and subsequently formulated into nanoparticles (PαLA-NPs) using a modified nanoprecipitation method. The polymer and nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering(DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology with an average size of 70.98 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.192, and a zeta potential of -20.4 mV, indicating good colloidal stability. Cytotoxicity assessment via MTT assay revealed that PαLA-NPs induced concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) cells while maintaining high biocompatibility with normal fibroblasts (BJ-1). Notably, at 50 µg/mL, PαLA-NPs reduced HCT-116 viability to ~65% but preserved over 90% viability in BJ-1 cells, demonstrating selective anticancer potential. These findings suggest that PαLA-NPs are a promising nanocarrier system for targeted cancer therapy with minimal off-target toxicity

Keywords

References

Abo El-Naga, A., Soliman, M. E., & Nassrallah, A. A. (2025). From monomer to therapeutic nanocarrier: Design, characterization, and anticancer evaluation of poly (alpha-lipoic acid) nanoparticles. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (EPSTEM), 35, 248-256.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Chemical Engineering Design, Chemical Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Conference Paper

Authors

Al-Hussein Abo El-Naga
Egypt

Mahmoud E. Soliman This is me
Egypt

Amr A. Nassrallah This is me
Egypt

Early Pub Date

October 20, 2025

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

May 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 35

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55549/epstem.1805445

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79TA62HU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Abo El-Naga, A.-H., Soliman, M. E., & Nassrallah, A. A. (2025). From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, 35, 248-256. https://doi.org/10.55549/epstem.1805445

AMA

1.Abo El-Naga AH, Soliman ME, Nassrallah AA. From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles. EPSTEM. 2025;35:248-256. doi:10.55549/epstem.1805445

Chicago

Abo El-Naga, Al-Hussein, Mahmoud E. Soliman, and Amr A. Nassrallah. 2025. “From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles”. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics 35 (September): 248-56. https://doi.org/10.55549/epstem.1805445.

EndNote

Abo El-Naga A-H, Soliman ME, Nassrallah AA (September 1, 2025) From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics 35 248–256.

IEEE

[1]A.-H. Abo El-Naga, M. E. Soliman, and A. A. Nassrallah, “From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles”, EPSTEM, vol. 35, pp. 248–256, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.55549/epstem.1805445.

ISNAD

Abo El-Naga, Al-Hussein - Soliman, Mahmoud E. - Nassrallah, Amr A. “From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles”. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics 35 (September 1, 2025): 248-256. https://doi.org/10.55549/epstem.1805445.

JAMA

1.Abo El-Naga A-H, Soliman ME, Nassrallah AA. From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles. EPSTEM. 2025;35:248–256.

MLA

Abo El-Naga, Al-Hussein, et al. “From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles”. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, vol. 35, Sept. 2025, pp. 248-56, doi:10.55549/epstem.1805445.

Vancouver

1.Al-Hussein Abo El-Naga, Mahmoud E. Soliman, Amr A. Nassrallah. From Monomer to Therapeutic Nanocarrier: Design, Characterization, and Anticancer Evaluation of Poly (Alpha-Lipoic Acid) Nanoparticles. EPSTEM. 2025 Sep. 1;35:248-56. doi:10.55549/epstem.1805445