Packaging cordycepin phycocyanin micelles for the inhibition of brain cancer

Abstract

Cordycepin has been successfully used as a natural anti-cancer drug, but it is rapidly metabolized in vivo. Nanoencapsulation is thus a promising method to improve its bioavailability. In this study, we adopted a green synthesis process to develop novel self-assembling phycocyanin–dextran–cordycepin (Phy–Dex–Cord) micelles for efficient cordycepin encapsulation and delivery. We first used the Maillard reaction method to graft dextran onto phycocyanin, forming a phycocyanin–dextran complex. Through the self-assembly of the cordycepin parcel to the phycocyanin–dextran complex, the micelles were formed. Their physical and chemical properties and characterization results showed that Phy–Dex–Cord micelles have a spherical shape and consistent size distribution of about 60 nm. In addition, anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo revealed that the Phy–Dex–Cord micelles have a comparable or even stronger inhibitory effect against C6 cells than do free cordycepin and free phycocyanin and no side effects.