Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

The present cancer diagnostic techniques and contrast agents suffer drawbacks, adverse effects, and poor compatibility with patients due to health variations. To improve the detection of breast cancer, this work examined and contrasted the prospective applications of pomegranates, chitosan nanoparti...

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Main Authors: Hala S. Abuelmakarem, Mohamed Aly Saad Aly, Shaza H. Aly, Sodfa Ayman, Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun, Omnia Hamdy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Chemosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/2/73
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author Hala S. Abuelmakarem
Mohamed Aly Saad Aly
Shaza H. Aly
Sodfa Ayman
Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun
Omnia Hamdy
author_facet Hala S. Abuelmakarem
Mohamed Aly Saad Aly
Shaza H. Aly
Sodfa Ayman
Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun
Omnia Hamdy
author_sort Hala S. Abuelmakarem
collection DOAJ
description The present cancer diagnostic techniques and contrast agents suffer drawbacks, adverse effects, and poor compatibility with patients due to health variations. To improve the detection of breast cancer, this work examined and contrasted the prospective applications of pomegranates, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs), and pomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PCs NPs) as contrast agents for breast cancer, based on the diffuse reflectance properties at the following laser frequencies: red (670 nm) and near-infrared (700 and 808 nm) spectrum. Herein, a platform for the detection of breast cancer is proposed, offering a promising pathway for cancer detection. PCs NPs with two different pomegranate contents (2 and 5 g/L) were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The cytotoxicity of the developed nanomaterials on human normal (Vero) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines were evaluated in the presence of laser irradiation at 670 nm, and the fluorescent effect of the nanoparticles was observed. The chemical structures of the nanomaterials and pomegranate extract were analyzed using FTIR, and they were then further analytically characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Results confirmed the structural stability of the nanomaterials. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed that the nanomaterials achieved a selective cytotoxic effect toward tumor cells. Results also showed significant wavelength-dependent changes in diffuse reflectance characteristics between malignant and normal cells. PCs NPs, at a content of 5 g/L, enhanced the reflectance in malignant cells compared to normal cells of more than three folds. These findings indicate the potential of PCs NPs to distinguish between healthy and malignant cells based on the reflection measurements.
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spelling doaj-art-4491cc21ae7d4ac898edaba009b849822025-08-20T03:12:08ZengMDPI AGChemosensors2227-90402025-02-011327310.3390/chemosensors13020073Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance SpectroscopyHala S. Abuelmakarem0Mohamed Aly Saad Aly1Shaza H. Aly2Sodfa Ayman3Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun4Omnia Hamdy5System and Biomedical Engineering Department, The Higher Institute of Engineering, El-Shorouk Academy, Cairo 11837, EgyptSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USADepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo 11829, EgyptSystem and Biomedical Engineering Department, The Higher Institute of Engineering, El-Shorouk Academy, Cairo 11837, EgyptChemistry Discipline, School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, BangladeshDepartment of Engineering Applications of Laser, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptThe present cancer diagnostic techniques and contrast agents suffer drawbacks, adverse effects, and poor compatibility with patients due to health variations. To improve the detection of breast cancer, this work examined and contrasted the prospective applications of pomegranates, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs), and pomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PCs NPs) as contrast agents for breast cancer, based on the diffuse reflectance properties at the following laser frequencies: red (670 nm) and near-infrared (700 and 808 nm) spectrum. Herein, a platform for the detection of breast cancer is proposed, offering a promising pathway for cancer detection. PCs NPs with two different pomegranate contents (2 and 5 g/L) were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The cytotoxicity of the developed nanomaterials on human normal (Vero) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines were evaluated in the presence of laser irradiation at 670 nm, and the fluorescent effect of the nanoparticles was observed. The chemical structures of the nanomaterials and pomegranate extract were analyzed using FTIR, and they were then further analytically characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Results confirmed the structural stability of the nanomaterials. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed that the nanomaterials achieved a selective cytotoxic effect toward tumor cells. Results also showed significant wavelength-dependent changes in diffuse reflectance characteristics between malignant and normal cells. PCs NPs, at a content of 5 g/L, enhanced the reflectance in malignant cells compared to normal cells of more than three folds. These findings indicate the potential of PCs NPs to distinguish between healthy and malignant cells based on the reflection measurements.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/2/73laserdiffuse reflectancepomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticlesbreast cancer
spellingShingle Hala S. Abuelmakarem
Mohamed Aly Saad Aly
Shaza H. Aly
Sodfa Ayman
Muhammad Shamim Al Mamun
Omnia Hamdy
Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
Chemosensors
laser
diffuse reflectance
pomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles
breast cancer
title Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
title_full Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
title_fullStr Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
title_short Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
title_sort investigating the application of pomegranate loaded chitosan nanoparticles as contrast agents for enhancing breast cancer detection via diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
topic laser
diffuse reflectance
pomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles
breast cancer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/2/73
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