Synthesis and antitumoral activity of gelatin/polyoxometalate hybrid nanoparticles

Surfactant-free gelatin/heptamolybdate (HM) hybrid nanoparticles are prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly approach utilizing the electrostatic interaction between anionic HM and the zwitterionic gelatin. The obtained nanoparticles have a tunable size and very high HM loading content up to about 70%. In vitro and in vivo experiments prove that the gelatin/HM hybrid nanoparticles exhibit significantly better antitumor activity than plain ammonium heptamolybdate solution. Therefore, the gelatin/HM hybrid nanoparticles reported here may serve as a prototype platform for polymer/polyoxometalate (POM) hybrid nanoparticles as cancer treatment agents and hence open up more opportunities to maximize the potential of POM-based pharmaceutical agents.