In vitro evaluation of chitosan-coated curcumin-loaded nanocarriers as a potential system for effective treatment of cancer
Description
Nanotechnology has many potential applications in cancer treatment. For example, nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) with high bioavailability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility have been developed, in order to increase the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer drugs. Among these NDDS, high-performance hydroxyapatite nanoparticles are rapidly advancing in the targeted cancer treatment due to their numerous benefits. Curcumin is a herbal metabolite that acts as a chemical inhibitor through the inhibition of tumor cells and the progression of many cancers. However, the poor bioavailability of curcumin is the most important challenge in using this substance. In this study, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated by chitosan were used as a pH-sensitive biopolymer to improve the efficiency and bioavailability of curcumin. For this purpose, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were first synthesized by the sol-gel method. Then, a layer of chitosan was coated on it, and the curcumin drug was encapsulated in the nanocarrier, under controlled conditions. Techniques such as SEM, XRD, and FTIR were used to characterize the nanocarriers. In the second part, nano-drugs prepared by various bioassays were examined. For this purpose, the rate of cytotoxicity by the MTT method and the rate of apoptosis induction by the AO/ET staining method on the brain carcinoma U87MG cell line were investigated.