Crosslinked albumin nanoparticles which loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) were fabricated with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and biocompatible polysaccharide, alginate (ALG), using layer-by-layer technique. Albumin nanoparticles exhibited narrow size distribution and fluorescent property. The assembled core/shell structure of the nanoparticles can be internalized more easily with the cancer cells, which attributes to TRAIL binding with death receptors. TRAIL still hold bioactive properties after assembled onto the particles. In addition, after loaded into the albumin core nanoparticles, DOX (as the chemotherapeutics) display a synergistic cytotoxic effect on cytotoxicity in combination with TRAIL in vitro. The core/shell nanostructured nanoparticles realized in this study would be used as a promising candidate for novel drug carriers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.