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Enhanced anti-cancer effect of artemisinin- and curcumin-loaded niosomal nanoparticles against human colon cancer cells

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third broadly identified cancer in the world. The ineffectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment is redundantly reported. Natural bioactive compounds have gained popularity in reducing the drawback of conventional anti-cancer agents. Curcumin (Cur) and Artemisinin (Art) are materials of a natural source that have been utilized to treat numerous kinds of cancers. Although the benefits of bioactive materials, their utilization is limited because of poor solubility, bioavailability, and low dispersion rate in aqueous media. Nano delivery system such as niosome can improve the bioavailability and stability of bioactive compounds within the drug. In current work, we used Cur–Art co-loaded niosomal nanoparticles (Cur–Art NioNPs) as an anti-tumor factor versus colorectal cancer cell line. The synthesized formulations were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR. The proliferation ability of the cells and expression of apoptosis-associated gene were MTT assay and qRT-PCR, respectively. Cur–Art NioNPs exhibited well distributed with an encapsulation efficiency of 80.27% and 85.5% for Cur and Art. The NioNPs had good release and degradation properties, and had no negative effect on the survival and proliferation ability of SW480 cells. Importantly, nanoformulation form of Cur and Art significantly displayed higher toxicity effect against SW480 cells. Furthermore, Cur–Art NioNPs increased Bax, Fas, and p53 gene expressions and suppressed Bcl2, Rb, and Cyclin D 1 gene expressions. In summary, these results display the niosome NPs as a first report of nano-combinational application of the natural herbal substances with a one-step fabricated co-delivery system for effective colorectal cancer.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences for financial supporting this project (Grant No: 2904).

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Author notes

  1. Akram Firouzi Amandi and Elham Jokar have equally contributed to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Akram Firouzi Amandi

  2. Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Elham Jokar

  3. Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Majid Eslami

  4. Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Mehdi Dadashpour

  5. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Mehdi Dadashpour

  6. Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mehdi Rezaie

  7. Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Yalda Yazdani

  8. Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Babak Nejati

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Contributions

AFA and EJ: Investigation, Methodology, Data curation, and Preparation of original draft. ME and MR: Reviewing and Editing; MD, YY, and BN: Supervision, Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Reviewing, and Editing.

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Correspondence to Mehdi Dadashpour, Yalda Yazdani or Babak Nejati.

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The ethical approval for this paper was obtained from Semnan University of Medical Sciences (IR.SEMUMS.REC.1400.242).

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Firouzi Amandi, A., Jokar, E., Eslami, M. et al. Enhanced anti-cancer effect of artemisinin- and curcumin-loaded niosomal nanoparticles against human colon cancer cells. Med Oncol 40, 170 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-023-02032-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-023-02032-7

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