ABSTRACT
The composition of Exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesized by L. acidophilus was analyzed by
HPLC and found to contain glucose and galactose in the ratio of 1.43:1. The EPS was also found
to contain sulfur, form stable emulsions in paraffin oil and flocculate activated charcoal. When the
MCF-7 cells were treated with EPS, dose dependent reduction in survival was observed. The
treated cells were found to have round and shrunken morphology. When the cells were stained with
DAPI, nucleus with reduced size could be observed. EPS was then used to synthesize
polyelectrolyte nanoparticles with chitosan. The nanoparticles were checked with FTIR
spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Spectral (DLS) analysis and Transmission Electron Microscopic
(TEM) analysis. The DLS measurement showed that the size of the nanoparticles to be
94.6±7.8 nm. When the entrapment ability of the nanoparticle was evaluated with nile red, a
maximum of 74.7±1.26% entrapment could be observed.