Gelatin Nanoparticles as a Carrier for Acriflavine and Triethylenetetramine: Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activity

ABSTRACT Despite extensive investigation as biocompatible drug carriers, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) have not been thoroughly assessed for carrying chemically distinct cationic molecules such as acriflavine (ACF) and triethylenetetramine (TETA). In this study, we hypothesize that GNPs can effectively encapsulate ACF and TETA, forming stable delivery systems with distinct antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. ACF encapsulated in gelatin was prepared adapting desolvation technique. The procedure involved stirring of an aqueous solution of gelatin and ACF at room temperature, the pH was titrated to eight using NaOH followed by addition of ethanol. The resulting nanoparticles were treated with glutaraldehyde solution for stabilizing of formed nanoparticles and the cross‐linking was achieved under stirring for 24 h. Finally, nanoparticles were decorated with TETA. An optimization study was conducted on TETA‐ACF‐GNPs using FT‐IR in comparison to untreated gelatin and ACF, a new peak associated with the imine (C═N) formed bonds appears at 1643 cm −1 providing evidence of the successful formation of gelatin‐ACF conjugate. With respect to morphology, surface texture, and roughness, AFM result shows that the particle density of TETA‐ACF‐GNPs increased dramatically with a substantial decrease in particle size and a highly uniform surface topography, which are indicative of successful encapsulation. Higher entrapment efficiency and production yield were proved using UV–visible spectrophotometer. TETA‐ACF‐GNPs exhibit good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas auruginosa as well as less toxicity against normal human MRC‐5 fetal lung fibroblast cells. Accordingly, gelatin might be useful as protein containers to be combined with ACF and TETA for improving pharmaceutical properties of drugs.