Bovine serum albumin and folic acid-modified aurum nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel and curcumin enhance radiotherapy sensitization for esophageal cancer

Abstract

Background

Nanocarrier systems have been used in the study of esophageal cancer (EC) and other diseases, with significant advantages in improving the non-targeted and nonspecific toxicity of traditional formulations. Some chemotherapeutic drugs and high atomic number nanomaterials have sensitization effects on ionizing radiation and can be used as chemoradiation sensitizers.

Methods

Aurum (Au) nanoparticles were modified by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and folic acid (FA), and were core-loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CUR). The basic characteristics of FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR nanomedicines were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Malvern Zetasizer. The encapsulation and release of drugs were monitored by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis). The biological toxicity and radiotherapy sensitization effect of FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR were observed by cell viability, colony formation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and γ-H2AX analysis experiments.

Results

The prepared nanomedicines showed good stability and spherical morphology. The results of cell uptake and cell viability detection revealed that FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR could specifically target EC cell KYSE150 and exert a certain inhibitory effect on proliferation, with no obvious toxicity on healthy cells Het-1A. In addition, the results of the colony formation experiment, cell apoptosis detection, cell cycle distribution, and γ-H2AX analysis showed that compared with X-rays alone, FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR combined with X-rays exhibited relatively stronger radiotherapy sensitization and anti-tumor activity.

Conclusions

FA-BSA-Au@PTX/CUR could target EC cancer cells and act as a safe and effective radiotherapy sensitizer to improve the radiotherapy efficacy of EC.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Aurum nanoparticles
• bovine serum albumin
• folic acid
• targeting
• esophageal cancer
• radiotherapy sensitization

Author contributions

GYG and WHZ conceived the study, and participated in its design and interpretation and helped to draft the manuscript. XJ participated in the design and interpretation of the data and drafting/revising the manuscript. JM performed the statistical analysis and revised the manuscript critically. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The data and materials in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Huai’an City Health and Health Scientific Research Project, No. HAWJ202114 and Study of iRGD Combined with Metformin-loaded Erythrocyte Membrane Nanoparticles increasing Radiotherapy Sensitivity in Esophageal Cancer, 2022/01-2023/12.

Notes on contributors

Guangyi Gao

Guangyi Gao is a doctor of The Affiliated Huai’an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and The Second People’s Hospital of Huai’an at the Department of Oncology Huai’an, China.

Wenhang Zhou

Wenhang Zhou is a doctor of The Affiliated Huai’an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and The Second People’s Hospital of Huai’an at the Department of Oncology Huai’an, China.

Xuan Jiang

Xuan Jiang is a doctor of The Affiliated Huai’an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and The Second People’s Hospital of Huai’an at the Department of Oncology Huai’an, China.

Jun Ma

Jun Ma is a doctor of Huai’an TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine at the Department of Oncology Huai’an, China.