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Folic Acid-Conjugated Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles Based on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for Targeted Delivery of Curcumin to Suppress Liver Cancer Cells

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Abstract

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In this study, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and targeted by folic acid were synthesized and evaluated as carriers to deliver curcumin to the cells and its anti-cancer effects on liver cancer cells (HepG2) were investigated in vitro.

Methods

Stabilized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized in a single container. The folic acid targeting agent was then ligated to BSA protein, using carbide amide chemistry. After loading of curcumin, the construct and its characteristics were studied through VSM, DLS, FTIR, TEM, UV–Vis and hemolysis techniques. By combining fluorophore dyes to the final system, the amount of cellular uptake and active drug delivery was measured. Finally, the anti-cancer effects of this nanostructure were evaluated by MTT and apoptosis assays.

Results

Iron oxide nanoparticles with dimensions between 95 and 185 nm were prepared. The morphology of the final nanostructure showed to be predominantly spherical. The results of characterization of nanoparticles showed that BSA-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, targeted with folic acid, were properly synthesized and curcumin was loaded into the nanostructure. The results of nanostructure cell uptake using flow cytometry showed that nanoparticles enter the cell highly efficient. MTT and cell apoptosis showed that treatment with this nanostructure reduced the cell survival and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cancer cells.

Conclusion

Folic acid-conjugated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles stabilized by BSA were successfully synthesized and showed a good loading and release efficacy for delivery of curcumin to the target liver cancer cells. Folic acid conjugation increased the liver cancer cell characteristics inhibition. The nanoparticles indicated to have good cell entry properties and showed to significantly suppress HepG2 cancer cells in vitro. These nanostructures could be used for synergized co-therapy with irradiation due to the magnetic properties of particles.

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Data Availability Statement

The data sets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (Grant number: A-12-1244-7, Ethical code: IR.ZUMS.REC.1398.0140).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

    Hassan Felenji

  2. Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

    Behrooz Johari

  3. Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Mahdavi Blvd., Shahrak Karmandan, Zanjan, 45139-56111, Iran

    Behrooz Johari

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Mohamad Moradi

  5. Nanotechnology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Mahmoud Gharbavi

  6. Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

    Hossein Danafar

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Contributions

HF: investigation, methodology. BJ: conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, visualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. MM: writing—original draft, review and editing. MG: formal analysis, investigation, methodology. HD: visualization, investigation, methodology.

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Correspondence to Behrooz Johari.

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Felenji, H., Johari, B., Moradi, M. et al. Folic Acid-Conjugated Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles Based on Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for Targeted Delivery of Curcumin to Suppress Liver Cancer Cells. Chemistry Africa 5, 1627–1639 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-022-00425-1

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