Enhancing the anti-gastric cancer activity of curcumin with biocompatible and pH sensitive PMMA-AA/ZnO nanoparticles

摘要

AbstractCurcumin loaded ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesised and encapsulated with co-polymer PMMA-AA (Cur/PMMA-AA/ZnO NPs). The ZnO nanoparticles have been converted as good cargo materials to carry the well-known hydrophobic drug curcumin by surface functionalization. Physical characteristics of these novel nanomaterials have been studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) in conjunction with spectral techniques. A narrow particle size distribution with an average value of 42nm was found via TEM. Most importantly, the pH-responsive release of curcumin from the nano-vehicle ensures safer, more controlled delivery of the drug at physiological pH. The drug entrapment efficiency and loading was evaluated and the in vitro efficacy as anticancer drug delivery vehicle was analyzed. The potential toxicity of Cur/PMMA-AA/ZnO NPs was studied by using AGS gastric cancer cell lines via MTT assay. These results revealed that the proposed nanomaterials induce a remarkable cell death in in-vitro models. The multifunctional properties of Cur/PMMA-AA/ZnO NPs may open up new avenues in cancer therapy through overcoming the limitations of conventional cancer therapy.Highlights•The synthesised biocompatible curcumin loaded PMMA-AA/ZnO nanoparticles size is not more than 42 nm.•The particles with this size are easily cleared by kidney with no toxicity. The curcumin loaded PMMA-AA/ZnO nanoparticles lie in this range which is highly suitable for drug delivery application.•ZnO nanoparticles are stable around pH - 7, but rapidly dissolve at pH < 6, and it can efficiently deliver the drugs at the specific target.•The loaded curcumin remains sustained at pH (~7.2) and quickly released at low pH (~5. 4). This processes in the drug delivery system, causes mitochondrial dysfunction which in turn produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.•Curcumin-loaded PMMA-AA/ZnO nanoparticles constitutes a new path towards the clinical implementation of a low-risk.