The effect of chitosan quaternary ammonium salt-coated PLGA-loaded β-acids nanoparticles for PC12 cells proliferation: in vitro experiment and molecular docking

β-acids, one of the primary active components in hops, possess notable antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. Their encapsulation into biodegradable poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles represents a promising approach for the treatment of neurological disorders. In this study, β‑acids were first loaded into PLGA to form negatively charged nanoparticles, followed by surface modification with quaternized chitosan (CSTM) to obtain composite nanoparticles (β‑acids@PLGA/PVA@CSTM). After CSTM coating, the average particle size increased to approximately 500 nm, while the zeta potential shifted to +33.5 mV. The encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity were 39.14 % and 7.09 % for β‑acids@PLGA/PVA, and 30.27 % and 8.41 % for β‑acids@PLGA/PVA@CSTM, respectively. In vitro release studies revealed a pH‑responsive release pattern, with CSTM modification further imparting a sustained‑release profile. Biosafety assessments showed no significant cytotoxicity in NCM460 or PC12 cells at concentrations ranging from 5 to 80 μg/mL. Proliferation assays demonstrated that β‑acids@PLGA/PVA@CSTM effectively promoted PC12 cells growth. Molecular docking analysis suggested that β‑acids interact with key signaling proteins involved in PC12 cells proliferation pathways, indicating a potential mechanism through modulation of protein expression. Together, these results underscore the potential of CSTM‑modified PLGA nanoparticles as a sustained‑release delivery system for β‑acids, supporting their further investigation in neuronal proliferation and related applications.