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Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery (Focus Group – NND)

Mitochondria-Targeted Rooibos-Loaded Chitosan-Alginate Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Applications

Admire Dube, Prof – Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape; Gerald Maarman, Prof – Professor, Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University
Introduction:

The polyphenol-rich rooibos (RB) (Aspalathus linearis) plant exhibits antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties [1, 2, 3]. However, its biomedical application is limited by low bioavailability [4] due to rapid metabolic clearance [5]. This study aimed to develop RB-loaded chitosan-alginate nanoparticles (CS-ALG NPs) for enhanced and targeted mitochondrial delivery for potential breast cancer therapy.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the nanoparticle strategies used to enhance the therapeutic potential of rooibos.
  • Understand the synthesis and characterisation of rooibos-loaded mitochondria-targeted chitosan-alginate NPs.
  • Evaluate mitochondrial targeting and pH-responsive rooibos release in breast cancer delivery.