Polymersome‐assisted delivery of curcumin: A suitable approach to decrease cancer stemness markers and regulate miRNAs expression in HT29 colorectal cancer cells

Abstract

Curcumin as a safe traditional compound has various benefits such as anticancer activities. However, low solubility in water is a problem. Herein, curcumin encapsulated in polymersome nanoparticles (CPNs) have been developed, the physicochemical properties have been evaluated, and cytotoxicity effects on HT29 cells were evaluated by MTT assay and annexin V/PI staining. The expression of stemness markers including CD44, CD133, and CD24, as well as miRNAs (miR‐126, miR‐34a, miR‐21, miR‐155, miR‐221, and miR‐222) and some potential targets, was evaluated in CPNs‐treated and untreated cells. Physicochemical analysis confirmed the encapsulation of curcumin in polymersomes and showed a spherical shape, an appropriate mean size of 259.5±1.5 nm, the acceptable polydispersity index of ~ 0.465, and the zeta potential of (‐8.74±0.2), as well as long‐term storage of CPNs at 4°C. According to the result, CPNs with the IC50 of 14 μg/ml increased apoptosis and induced S arrest in treated cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed the decrease in cancer stemness markers. RT‐qPCR analysis identified the downregulation of miR‐21, miR‐155, and miR‐221/222, as well as upregulation of miR‐34a, miR‐126, and deregulation of some apoptotic targets such as P53, CASP9, CASP8, CASP3, BAX, and BCl‐2 in CPNs‐treated cells. As a result, CPNs can be a safe and effective complementary agent to diminish cancer stem cells and tumor recurrence in colorectal cancer therapy.

Influence of surface charge on the formulation of elongated PEG-b-PDLLA nanoparticles

“…High-aspect ratio nanoparticles have been shown to have improved biophysical properties with regard to for example flow characteristics (influencing circulation and distribution) and interactions with cells/tissues. [6][7][8] An important class of nanoparticles that have been used in a diverse range of applications including drug delivery, 9 radiotherapy, 10 cancer cell targeting, 11 and nanoreactors 12 are polymeric vesicles, or polymersomes. 13,14 The compartmentalized nature of polymersomes facilitates encapsulation of various types of cargo within their inner lumen, protecting them from unwanted degradation whilst facilitating their delivery to cells through passive or active uptake (using homing motifs such as peptides or antibodies).…”

Natural Products-Based Nanoformulations: A New Approach Targeting CSCs to Cancer Therapy

“…89 Pakizehkar et al encapsulated curcumin with polyribosomal nanoparticles, which significantly inhibited the proliferation of CSCs and induced apoptosis by modulating colorectal CSC surface markers (CD133, CD24, and CD44), miRNAs (miR-126, miR-34a, miR-21, miR-155, miR-221, and miR-222) and the expression of apoptosis targets such as P53, CASP9, CASP8, CASP3, BAX and BCl-2. 90 This suggests that nanocarrier-loaded curcumin can eliminate CSCs as well as bulk cancer cells, which has significant advantages in cancer therapy.…”

“…CASP3, BAX and BCl-2. 90 This suggests that nanocarrier-loaded curcumin can eliminate CSCs as well as bulk cancer cells, which has significant advantages in cancer therapy.…”

Encapsulation of Docetaxel into Diblock Polymeric Polymersome as a Nanodrug

“…[39] Nevertheless according to DL % and EE % reported in previous works, OA-PEG based nanoparticles were more prosperous in encapsulating Curcumin and Silibinin which can be due to difference in hydrophobicity and geometric structure of drugs or details of the encapsulation procedure. [40,41]…”