Iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated curcumin to promote high therapeutic efficacy of curcumin against hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundCurcumin’s excellent conjugation capability with iron oxide nanoparticles plays a crucial role in enhancing both properties. Iron oxide, as a nanocarrier, will improve curcumin anticancer activity, while curcumin, as a capping agent, will minimize iron oxide nanoparticles toxicity and optimize their biomedical use. MethodologyCytotoxic and antioxidant effects of free curcumin (free Cur) and curcumin capped iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs@Cur) against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) were investigated in vitro. The genomic effect of free Cur and IONs@Cur on the expression of tumor suppressor gene (TP53), autophagy 4 (ATG-4), and superoxide dismutase (SOD2) genes were assessed using quantitative PCR (qPCR). ResultsIONs@Cur results showed significant cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cells, compared with free Cur, and the measured total antioxidant capacity (TAC) for HepG2 cells treated with IONs@Cur was superior to free Cur. Additionally, the treatment with IONs@Cur significantly upregulated the gene expression levels of SOD2 and TP53. Remarkably, the immunofluorescence staining of ATG-4 demonstrated that curcumin conjugation with IONs potentiated the cancer killing effect of curcumin via inducing autophagy. ConclusionThe promising iron oxide nanocarrier would greatly enhance curcumin anticancer activities against HepG2 cells.