title: Curcumin loaded poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid--in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activity in SKOV-3 cells.
abstract: The main focus of this study is to encapsulate hydrophobic drug curcumin in hydrophilic polymeric core such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [PHEMA] nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid (IL) to improve its efficacy. We have achieved 26.4% drug loading in a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer. Curcumin loaded PHEMA nanoparticles (C-PHEMA-NPs) were prepared by nano-precipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed that the prepared nanoparticles were spherical in shape and free from aggregation. The size and zeta potential of prepared C-PHEMA-NPs were about 300 nm and -33.4 mV respectively. C-PHEMA-NPs were further characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy which confirmed the existence of curcumin in the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that curcumin present in the PHEMA nanoparticles were found to be amorphous in nature. The anticancer activity of C-PHEMA-NPs was measured in ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) in vitro, and the results revealed that the C-PHEMA-NPs had better tumor cells regression activity than free curcumin. Flow cytometry showed the significant reduction in G0/G1 cells after treatment with C-PHEMA-NPs and molecular level of apoptosis were also studied using western blotting. Toxicity of PHEMA nanoparticles were studied in zebrafish embryo model and results revealed the material to be highly biocompatible. The present study demonstrates the curcumin loaded PHEMA nanoparticles have potential therapeutic values in the treatment of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Thermo Chemical Lab, Chemical Engineering Department, Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai 600 020, India.
authors.forename: Sathish Sundar Dhilip
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mahadevan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surianarayanan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vijayaraghavan
authors.forename: Asit Baran
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005782:Gels; D008689:Methacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Ionic liquids; Nanoparticles; PHEMA; SKOV-3 cells; Zebrafish