The effect of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide content on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes and induction of apoptosis in the PC3 cell line

Research into anti-cancer compounds from natural sources, such as Ganoderma lucidum and chitosan, and the development of their delivery systems, is a highly promising field. This study focused on developing nanocarriers of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides-chitosan and evaluating their effects on the expression of the Bax and Bcl-2 genes in the PC3 cell line. The extraction of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum involved heating the material in water at 70 °C, followed by treatment with 96% ethanol and subsequent protein removal to purify the polysaccharides. These polysaccharides were successfully incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles via ion-exchange copolymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to examine the morphology and chemical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The effects of the chitosan-polysaccharide nanoparticles and free polysaccharides on gene expression were assessed using real-time PCR after treating PC3 cells with various concentrations. The results showed that the nanoparticles and polysaccharides increased Bax gene expression by 4.6-fold and 5.56-fold, respectively, while decreasing Bcl-2 expression by 0.64-fold and 0.81-fold, respectively. These observed changes indicate that apoptosis was induced in PC3 cells. Nanoparticles composed of polysaccharides and chitosan show promise for future prostate cancer therapies; however, additional in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary.