Curcumin-encapsulated glucan nanoparticles as an oxidative stress modulator against human hepatic cancer cells

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 2025-01, Vol.245, p.114326, Article 114326
• Main Authors: Roquito, Tiago, Colaço, Mariana, Costa, João Panão, Borges, Olga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemokine CCL5 - metabolism; Curcumin; Curcumin - chemistry; Curcumin - pharmacology; Glucan Particles; Glucans - chemistry; Glucans - pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells; Hepatitis B; HepG2 Cell Line; Humans; Liver Cancer; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Particle Size; Reactive Oxygen Species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114326

In Hepatitis B patients, the virus targets liver cells, leading to inflammation and liver damage, which can result in severe complications such as liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Therapeutic options for liver disease are currently limited. Curcumin, a polyphenol with potential protective effects against chronic diseases like cancer, suffers from poor water solubility, restricting its pharmacological applications. This study explores the encapsulation of curcumin in glucan nanoparticles (NPs) and its impact on oxidative stress in liver cancer cells. Two sizes of curcumin-loaded glucan NPs, GC111 (111 nm) and GC398 (398 nm), were produced with nearly 100 % encapsulation efficiency. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that particle size influences the extent of observed effects, with GC111 NPs causing a greater reduction in cell viability. Additionally, the smaller GC111 NPs demonstrated a higher capacity to induce oxidative stress in cancer cells by stimulating the production of ROS, NO, and the chemokine RANTES in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the smaller GC111 NPs are promising candidates for future studies aimed at evaluating oxidative stress-induced tumor cell death mechanisms. •Curcumin-loaded glucan NPs induce ROS in HepG2 cells, impacting oxidative stress.•Particle size influences cytotoxicity: smaller NPs exhibit higher immunotoxicity.•Encapsulation enhances curcumin's bioactivity, affecting cellular responses.•NPs modulate cancer therapy by affecting inflammatory chemokines like RANTES.•Evaluation of NPs highlights size-dependent effects on biological outcomes.