Synthesis of biocompatible chitosan coated TiO2-curcumin nanocomposites shows potent anticancer activity towards melanoma cancer cells

• Published in: Journal of drug delivery science and technology 2023-08, Vol.85, p.104592, Article 104592
• Main Authors: Deshpande, Shruti S., Veeragoni, Dileepkumar, Kongari, Lalithya, Mamilla, Jhansi, Misra, Sunil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer; Curcumin; TiO2-Curcumin nanocomposite; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1773-2247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104592

Curcumin has several therapeutic properties, but its clinical application is limited due to its low bioavailability and hydrophobic nature. So, in this study, we synthesized TiCurNC (Chitosan coated TiO2-curcumin nanocomposites) by attaching curcumin onto the chitosan coated TiO2 nanoparticles. This TiCurNC was found to be selectively toxic to cancer compared to normal cells. It demonstrated potent anticancer properties against melanoma cancer cells (B16F10) by increasing intracellular curcumin content, cell death by ROS-mediated apoptosis, and arresting the cells at the G2/M phase. The safety profiling of TiCurNC revealed that it is transported throughout the body without causing any noticeable pathological changes in the organs and is not clastogenic, mitotoxic, or aneugenic nature in in vivo. So, based on these findings from this study, TiCurNC is a potent chemotherapeutic agent for melanoma cancer as well as highly biocompatible to normal cells. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of biocompatible TiO2 -curcumin nanocomposite (TiCurNC).•TiCurNC increases bioavailability of curcumin in the cells.•TiCurNC shows potent anticancer activity towards B16F10 cells.•TiCurNC induced ROS mediated apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest in B16F10 cells.•TiCurNC is not mutagenic, clastogenic or aneugenic towards normal cells in vivo.