Investigating the Toxicity Caused by Photodynamic Therapy with a Low-power Diode Laser with a Wavelength of 810 nm Compared to a Combination of Curcumin in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Background: Curcumin has low side effects and strong antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer activities, and other therapeutic properties. Studies have confirmed that visible light can improve curcumin’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the toxicity caused by photodynamic therapy with a low-power diode laser with a wavelength of 810 nm compared to curcumin in breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 cell line). Methods: After culturing cells in a 96-well plate, concentrations of 1, 10, 100, and 500 μM of curcumin alone and also in combination with a low-power diode laser with a wavelength of 810 nm and after 48 hours of incubation, cells’ viability was assessed by MTT method. Also, cell proliferation rate, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme release, and membrane lipid peroxidation were measured. Results: The percentage of survival, cell proliferation rate, and release of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in the combination of 500 μg/mL with laser was significantly lower than the rest of the groups, while the average concentration of malondialdehyde obtained according to micrograms in the curcumin group with laser was higher than other groups. Conclusions: Overall, combining curcumin with a photodynamic laser may reduce the survival effect and cell proliferation rate of curcumin on MDA cells. Most current research on curcumin combined with photodynamic lasers focuses on in vitro experiments and animal models; however, further clinical research is needed.