Curcumin Loaded Chitosan-Protamine Nanoparticles Revealed Antitumor Activity Via Suppression of NF-kB, Proinflammatory Cytokines and Bcl-2 Gene Expression in the Breast Cancer Cells

Nano drug delivery has been recently used to enhance the stability and bioavailability of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, Chitosan/protamine nanocarrier was synthesized and used to encapsulate curcumin (CUR). The physicochemical properties of the empty carrier (CHPNPs) and curcumin-containing carrier (CUCHPNPs) were characterized by TEM imaging, Zetasizer, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The antitumor activity of the prepared nanoparticles was assessed by determination of cell count, cell viability, the level of NF-kB, IL-6, and TNF-a and Bcl-2 gene expression in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The results revealed that the obtained CU-CHPNPs had an average hydrodynamic size of 200 nm, zeta potential of +26.66 mv, and showed a drug encapsulation efficiency of 67%, and drug loading capacity of 40.20%. The cell-based assay showed a significant reduction in the cell viability, and NF-kB, TNF-a, and IL-6 levels upon treatment with CU-CHPNPs as compared to free CUR. Finally, the (CU-CHPNPs) downregulated the expression of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic gene more effectively than CUR and the CHPNPs comparing with the b Actin housekeeping gene. This study concluded that the nano-encapsulation of CUR significantly enhances its antitumor efficacy via inhibition of NF-kB, IL-6, and TNF-a and downregulation of Bcl-2. (c) 2021 American Pharmacists Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.