Degradable poly(catechin) nanoparticles as a versatile therapeutic agent

Poly(catechin) (p(CAT)) nanoparticles (NPs), 173 +/- 4 nm was prepared as a therapeutic agent with hydrolytic degradability affording sustainable CAT release over 20 d at carcinogenic conditions, pH 5.5 and 37.5 degrees C. Cell viability studies on MC38 colon cancer cells revealed the anticancer potential of p(CAT) NPs with 691 mu g/mL IC50 value while being well-tolerated by nonmalignant CCD841 CoN colon cells at 72 h incubation-time. P(CAT) NPs showed effective antioxidant capacity with 241 +/- 7 and 456 +/- 54 mu g/mL of GA equivalency of total phenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) values and 1.19 +/- 0.8 mu mol/g Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity by 2,2'-Azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothioazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS(center dot+)) scavenging assay.