Enhanced breast cancer therapy using multifunctional lipid-coated nanoparticles combining curcumin chemotherapy and nitric oxide gas delivery

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-08, Vol.14 (1), p.18107-14, Article 18107
• Main Authors: Yan, Zhirong, Xiao, Peihan, Ji, Peng, Su, Rongjian, Ren, Zhenkun, Xu, Li, Qiu, Xun, Li, Dan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/67/1059; 639/301/54/152; 692/4028/67/1059; 692/4028/67/1347; Amorphous calcium carbonate; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antitumor activity; Arginine; Arginine - chemistry; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Calcium carbonate; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Calorimetry; Cancer therapies; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemo-gas therapy; Chemotherapy; Controlled release; Curcumin; Curcumin - administration & dosage; Curcumin - chemistry; Curcumin - pharmacology; Cytotoxicity; Differential scanning calorimetry; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug delivery; Drug delivery system; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Ethanol; Female; Fourier transforms; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infrared spectroscopy; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Mice; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - administration & dosage; Nitric Oxide - chemistry; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Synergistic effect; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69229-2

The limitations associated with conventional cancer treatment modalities, particularly for breast cancer, underscore the imperative for developing safer and more productive drug delivery systems. A promising strategy that has emerged is the combination of chemotherapy with gas therapy. We synthesized curcumin-loaded amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CaCO 3 ) via a gas diffusion reaction in the present study. Subsequently, a "one-step" ethanol injection method was employed to fabricate lipid-coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CaCO 3 @LA-Lip) loaded with L-arginine, aimed at harnessing the synergistic effects of chemotherapy and nitric oxide to enhance antitumor efficacy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that Cur-CaCO 3 @LA-Lip nanoparticles were subspherical with a distinct lipid layer encapsulating the periphery. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed the successful synthesis of Cur-CaCO 3 @LA-Lip. The nanoparticles exhibited significant drug loading capacities of 8.89% for curcumin and 3.1% for L-arginine. In vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrated that Cur-CaCO 3 @LA-Lip nanoparticles facilitated sustained release of curcumin and exhibited high cellular uptake, substantial tumor accumulation, and excellent biocompatibility. Additionally, the nanoparticles showed robust cytotoxicity and potent antitumor efficacy, suggesting their potential as a formidable candidate for breast cancer therapy.