Harnessing the anticancer potential of Amphiroa anceps: Folic acid-based liposomal nanocarriers for cancer cell killing in vitro

Abstract

Cancer continues to pose a significant global health issue, highlighting the demand for novel and targeted treatment options. This research explores the anticancer capabilities of folic acid conjugated liposomal nanoformulation of Amphiroa anceps, a marine red alga to improve tumour specificity. In vitro tests revealed that the incorporation of folic acid substantially enhanced the effectiveness of tumour targeting, while biocompatibility assessments confirmed greater specificity for cancer cells compared to the extract without conjugation. In vivo studies showed that the formulation was safe at doses under 100 μg/mL. Furthermore, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay indicated the presence of anti-angiogenic properties, which were further amplified through folic acid conjugation, implying a potential role in obstructing the development of tumour vasculature. These results underscore the promise of A. anceps as a natural anticancer agent and highlight the benefits of folic acid-based targeting in enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.

Keywords: Amphiroa anceps; Anti-angiogenesis; Anticancer activity; Folic acid conjugation; Tumour targeting.