Synthesis, characterization and anticancer effect of Gemini-curcumin nanoformulation on human Breast cancer cell lines.

Introduction: Curcumin is the polyphenolic constituent of turmeric which has been recognized as an effective anticancer agent due to modulation of multiple intracellular signaling pathways. However, the poor bioavailability of curcumin triggers the efforts for improving the cellular stability of curcumin. To overcome this drawback, we used Gemini Surfactant biodegradable nanocarrier and studied its anticancer effect on breast cancer cells.Materials and Methods: Gemini-curcumin polymersomes (Gs-Cu) were synthetized through nanoprecipitation method and their physicochemical properties were determined using DLS and SEM techniques. Subsequently, the anticancer effect of Gs-Cu nanoparticles was examined on three different breast cancer cell lines including MCF-7, SkBr-3 and MDA-MB-231 through uptake kinetics, MTT, Hoechst staining assays as well as Cell cycle distribution and effector caspases activity analysis. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to study the expression of p16INK4a, p14ARF, Bax and Bcl-2 genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis.Results: Regarding to the enhanced cellular uptake of sphere shaped Gs-Cu nanoparticles, our data showed that apoptosis is significantly induced in treated cells. Also, qRT-PCR analysis showed that Gs-Cu could effectively up-regulate the expression of p16INK4a, p14ARF and Bax, while significantly decrease the Bcl-2 expression in these breast cancer cells. Conclusion: The current data demonstrate that Gs-Cu might exert its antitumor effects through apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the novel formulation of curcumin has the potential to be considered as anticancer agent. However, extensive studies are needed to investigate the therapeutic characteristic of Gs-Cu that some of them are under work in our lab.

Keywords:

Gemini-curcumin , Breast cancer , p16INK4a , p14ARF , Bax and Bcl-2