Preparation and evaluation of the anti-cancer properties of RGD-modified curcumin-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane nanocapsules in vitro. Issue 7 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Liang; Zhu, Shixia; Zou, Chunpeng; Kou, Hongju; Xu, Maosheng; Li, Jie
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 8:Issue 7(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Curcumin -- Chitosan -- Perfluorohexane -- Nanocapsule -- RGD -- Antitumor efficacy; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: Curcumin (Cur) encapsulation in nanocapsules (NCs) could improve its availability and therapeutic antitumor efficacy. Cur-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane (CS/PFH) nanocapsules (CS/PFH-Cur-NCs) were thus synthesized via a nanoemulsion process. To further enhance the selective tumor targeting ability of Cur-loaded NCs, a novel CS/PFH-Cur-NCs with conjugation of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide (RGD-CS/PFH-Cur-NCs) were prepared in this study. The properties of these NCs were then explored through in vitro release experiments and confocal laser scanning microscopy-based analyses of the ability of these NCs to target MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In addition, an MTT assay-based approach was used to compare the relative cytotoxic impact of CS/PFH-Cur-NCs and RGD-CS/PFH-Cur-NCs on these breast cancer cells. It was found that both CS/PFH-Cur-NCs and RGD-CS/PFH-Cur-NCs were smooth, relatively uniform, spheroid particles, with the latter being 531.20 ± 68.97 nm in size. These RGD-CS/PFH-Cur-NCs can be ideal for contrast imaging studies, and were better able to target breast cancer cells in comparison to CS/PFH-Cur-NCs. In addition, RGD-CS/PFH-Cur-NCs were observed to induce cytotoxic MDA-MB-231 cell death more swiftly in comparison to CS/PFH-Cur-NCs. These findings suggest that NC encapsulation and RGD surface modification can remarkably improve the anti-tumor efficacy of Cur. These novel NCs may thus manifest a significant potential value in the realm of image-guided cancer therapy, underscoring an important direction for future research. Abstract : Curcumin; Chitosan; Perfluorohexane; Nanocapsule; RGD; Antitumor efficacy.