Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Chrysin by Polymeric Nanoparticles Inhibit Synergistically Growth and hTERT Gene Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Nanoparticle (NP)-based combinational chemotherapy has been proposed as a potent approach for improving intracellular drug concentrations and attaining synergistic effects in colorectal cancer therapy. Here, two well-known herbal substances, Curcumin (Cur) and Chrysin (Chr), were co-encapsulated in PEGylated PLGA NPs and investigated their synergistic inhibitory effect against Caco-2 cancer cells.

Characterization of nanoformulated drugs was determined using DLS, FTIR, TEM, and SEM. Drug release study was performed using dialysis method. MTT and real-time PCR assays were applied to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of free and nano-encapsulated drugs on expression level of hTERT in Caco-2 cells.

The results showed that free drugs and nano-formulations exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells and especially, Cur–Chr–PLGA/PEG NPs had more synergistic antiproliferative effect and significantly arrested the growth of cancer cells than the other groups (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR results revealed that Cur, Chr, and combination of Cur–Chr in free and encapsulated forms inhibited hTERT gene expression. Also, it was found that Cur–Chr–PLGA/PEG NPs than free combination forms could further decline hTERT expression in all concentration (P < 0.05).

In summary, our study represents the first report of nano-combinational application of the natural herbal substances with a one-step fabricated codelivery system for effective colorectal cancer combinational chemotherapy.