Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains a significant challenge due to late-stage diagnosis and development of chemoresistance. This study investigates the potential of folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (FA-CS-NPs) for targeted delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) to ovarian cancer cells, aiming to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. FA-CS-NPs were synthesized and characterized for size, morphology, drug encapsulation, and release kinetics. In vitro studies evaluated the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and apoptosis-inducing potential of PTX-loaded FA-CS-NPs in folate receptor-overexpressing SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Results demonstrated that FA-CS-NPs significantly enhanced PTX delivery, leading to increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis compared to free PTX and non-targeted PTX-loaded CS-NPs. These findings suggest that FA-CS-NPs represent a promising strategy for targeted chemotherapy in ovarian cancer, offering improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced side effects.