Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles as Versatile Carriers for Enhancing the Multifunctional Efficacy of Protocatechuic Acid

Protocatechuic acid (PCA) has antioxidant, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. However, its poor water solubility affects its absorption and bioavailability. Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NPs) can encapsulate significant amounts of hydrophobic substances by attracting charged molecules through electrostatic adsorption. This study aimed to prepare PCA-loaded BSA nanoparticles, producing PCA-BSA-NPs, and subsequently characterize the resulting nanocomposite using zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro, PCA-BSA-NPs were evaluated for their anticancer, antioxidant, and free radical scavenging properties. Our data indicated that the average particle size of PCA-BSA-NPs was 202 nm. The in vitro study demonstrated that PCA-BSA-NPs exhibited potent anticancer activity comparable to doxorubicin. Additionally, PCA-BSA-NPs displayed highly antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) like activity, and catalytic activity) and a strong antidiabetic effect (alpha-amylase inhibition). The drug release study indicated the effective release of PCA from PCA-BSA-NPs at pH = 6.5, which is suitable for targeting cancer cells. In conclusion, PCA-BSA-NPs could provide a more effective and safer alternative to traditional chemotherapeutic agents like doxorubicin. Moreover, their higher antioxidant and antidiabetic activities could expand their therapeutic applications, making them valuable in treating oxidative stress-related diseases and diabetes.