Peptide-Functionalized Polymeric Nanoparticles for Delivery of Curcumin to Cancer Cells

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202308.1057.v2
• Publication Date: 2024-09-12T01:33:01Z
• Authors: Neda Rostami; Aida Ghebleh; Hadi Noei; Zahra Salimian; Alaa Moeinzadeh; Abuzar Nikzad; Mohammad Mahmoudi...; Vladimir N. Uversky; Parastoo Tarighi

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant interest due to their potential in drug delivery. Specifically, nanopolymers functionalized with molecules such as proteins or peptides serve versatile vehicles for this purpose. Curcumin (Cur) is a widely studied anticancer compound known its positive effects on human health. Nevertheless, insolubility and low bio-distribution hinder the exploitation of beneficial traits. In study, our team developed nanodelivery system using nanopolymer called poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-PEG), A6 peptide enable targeted delivery Cur. The designed exhibited favorable characteristics, including stable zeta -13.8 mV, small size 76.4 nm, uniform surface morphology, high hydrophilicity contact angle 31.53°. Additionally, demonstrated encapsulation efficiency (EE%) (93 ± 0.89%), loading (DL%) (16.7 0.9%), slow gradual release profile approximately 83.1 0.12%. MTT assay results showed cell death MDA-MB-231 cancer cells (IC50 = 21.3 1.57 µM) when treated Cur-NPs-A6 formulation, while toxicity NPs was reduced non-cancerous MCF-10A cells. Moreover, both RT-qPCR invasion assays system's effectiveness activating apoptosis pathways inhibiting invasion. These findings suggest that engineered intelligent system, equipped peptide, which has strong affinity CD44 (a protein increased expression malignancy), could be an exceptionally effective strategy treatment.