Bovine serum albumin and folic acid-modified aurum nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel and curcumin enhance radiotherapy sensitization for esophageal cancer

Abstract

Background Nanocarrier systems have been used in the study of esophageal cancer (EC) and other diseases, with significant advantages in improving the non-targeted and nonspecific toxicity of traditional formulations. Some chemotherapeutic drugs and high atomic number nanomaterials have sensitization effects on ionizing radiation and can be used as chemoradiation sensitizers. Methods Aurum (Au) nanoparticles were modified by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and folic acid (FA), and were core-loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CUR). The basic characteristics of FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR nanomedicines were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Malvern Zetasizer. The encapsulation and release of drugs were monitored by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis). The biological toxicity and radiotherapy sensitization effect of FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR were observed by cell viability, colony formation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and γ-H2AX analysis experiments. Results The prepared nanomedicines showed good stability and spherical morphology. The results of cell uptake and cell viability detection revealed that FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR could specifically target EC cell KYSE150 and exert a certain inhibitory effect on proliferation, with no obvious toxicity on healthy cells Het-1A. In addition, the results of the colony formation experiment, cell apoptosis detection, cell cycle distribution, and γ-H2AX analysis showed that compared with X-rays alone, FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR combined with X-rays exhibited relatively stronger radiotherapy sensitization and anti-tumor activity. Conclusions FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR could target EC cancer cells and act as a safe and effective radiotherapy sensitizer to improve the radiotherapy efficacy of EC.