Co-delivery of curcumin and chrysin through pH-sensitive hyaluronan-modified hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for enhanced synergistic anticancer efficiency against thyroid cancer cells


Li Y., ERTAŞ Y. N., Jafari A., Taheri M., Pilehvar Y.

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, vol.87, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 87
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104787
  • Journal Name: Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Biotechnology Research Abstracts
  • Keywords: Chrysin, Combination therapy, Curcumin, Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, Targeted drug delivery system, Thyroid cancer
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this work, curcumin (Curc) and chrysin (Chry), two natural anti-cancer agents, are co-loaded into hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs-SS-HA)-based drug delivery vehicle to target thyroid cancer cells by applying S-S bonds as redox-sensitive linkers and hyaluronic acid (HA) as both capping and targeting agent. Well-dispersed HMSNs-SS-HA are prepared with the size less than 200 nm. Detailed chemo-physical characterizations of the synthesized HMSNs-SS-HA were carried out by using FE-SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, DLS and BET. In vitro drug release assay exhibited a controlled and pH responsive behaviour in the presence of GSH and HAase at pHs 7.4 and 5.0. Targeting ability and distribution of Curc/Chry@HMSNs-SS-HA in CD44-positive TPC-1 human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells was demonstrated by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Besides, Curc/Chry@HMSNs-SS-HA exhibited higher synergistic cytotoxicity effect and apoptosis rate compared to single-drug loaded HMSNs-SS-HA and free Curc/Chry combination against TPC-1 cells. Western blotting results also demonstrated a substantial alteration in the expression levels of autophagy-related markers and decrease of p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR ratios in the cells treated with Curc/Chry@HMSNs-SS-HA. Taken together, our research provides the potential of HMSNs-SS-HA as an efficient nanoparticle-based triggered and targeted drug delivery system for co-delivery of Curc and Chry against thyroid cancer cells.