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Life sciences · Journal article
Acs Omega · August 10, 2026
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This is a formulation development study describing the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of celecoxib-loaded chitosan-coated nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery to lung cancer cells. The work demonstrates favorable physicochemical properties and in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells, but provides no evidence of efficacy or safety in animal or human subjects, and no direct comparison with existing therapies.
Formulation development study with in vitro and ex vivo characterization. A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells and BEAS-2B normal human bronchial epithelial cells in culture; no human or animal subjects. Intervention: Celecoxib-loaded Soluplus/zein composite nanoparticles coated with chitosan prepared by antisolvent precipitation.
Optimized nanoparticles exhibited particle size of approximately 190 nm with encapsulation efficiency of 85.34% and drug-loading capacity of 14.21% Chitosan coating increased zeta potential to nearly +30.42 mV In vitro MTT assay showed significant anticancer activity against A549 lung cancer cells with good biocompatibility toward BEAS-2B normal bronchial epithelial cells
No in vivo animal efficacy or toxicity studies reported; all findings are limited to in vitro and ex vivo models Cytotoxicity assay details (concentrations tested, IC50 values, cell viability percentages) not fully reported
This work is preclinical and does not directly inform current clinical practice. While the formulation shows promise for pulmonary delivery of celecoxib, in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety data in animal models are essential before any clinical development can be pursued.
In vitro and ex vivo characterization of a novel nanoparticle formulation with no in vivo efficacy or safety data in animals or humans; demonstrates feasibility of the drug delivery system but requires substantial preclinical and clinical validation before clinical relevance can be assessed.
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This work is preclinical and does not directly inform current clinical practice. While the formulation shows promise for pulmonary delivery of celecoxib, in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety data in animal models are essential before any clinical development can be pursued.
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Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common subtype of lung cancer, remains a major contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has beenrepurposed as an anticancer agent for NSCLC therapy. In the present study, celecoxib-loaded Soluplus/zein composite nanoparticles coated with chitosan were successfully developed and evaluated as a promising pulmonary drug delivery system for NSCLC. The nanoparticles were prepared using an antisolvent precipitation technique and demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties. The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size of approximately 190 nm with high encapsulation efficiency (85.34%), and high drug-loading capacity (14.21%). The chitosan coating increased the zeta potential to nearly +30.42 mV, yielding enhanced stability and desirable mucoadhesive properties for pulmonary administration. In vitro release studies revealed sustained release under simulated physiological lung conditions, following diffusion- and swelling-controlled release mechanisms. Cytotoxicity evaluation using the MTT assay demonstrated significant anticancer activity against A549 lung cancer cells while maintaining good biocompatibility toward BEAS-2B normal human bronchial epithelial cells. The optimized nanoparticles also showed efficient transport across an air–liquid interface (ALI) airway epithelial barrier, with a Papp value of 4.15 × 10–4 cm·s–1 and 0.38% translocation after 24 h. Furthermore, aerosolized nanoparticles displayed excellent aerodynamic performance, with a fine particle fraction (FPF) of 68.51% and a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 3.93 μm using the Next Generation Impactor (NGI). Overall, these findings highlight the potential of celecoxib-loaded Soluplus/zein nanoparticles coated with chitosan as a promising pulmonary drug delivery system for NSCLC via nebulization.
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