Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells
Introduction: Curcumin (Cur), a yellow polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric, exhibits potent chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. However, its clinical application as an anticancer agent is hindered by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Cancer Treatment and Research Communications |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468294225001170 |
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| author | Marziyeh Alizadeh Zarei Hossein Nikzad Zahra Shabani Hamed Haddad Kashani Elahe Seyed Hosseini |
| author_facet | Marziyeh Alizadeh Zarei Hossein Nikzad Zahra Shabani Hamed Haddad Kashani Elahe Seyed Hosseini |
| author_sort | Marziyeh Alizadeh Zarei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Curcumin (Cur), a yellow polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric, exhibits potent chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. However, its clinical application as an anticancer agent is hindered by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, the present study introduces a novel nanoformulation in which curcumin is effectively encapsulated within 142 nm spherical dendrosomes, which serve as a non-toxic nanocarrier. Methods: The morphological changes in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells were assessed using both inverted light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry using the MultiCycler software. Cells were treated with dendrosomal curcumin (DNC), oxaliplatin (Oxa), or a combination of both for 48 hours. Protein expression levels were analyzed by western blotting using enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) detection. Results: Dendrosomal curcumin improves curcumin’s bioavailability and therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Treatment with DNC and Oxa individually resulted in significant induction of apoptosis in OVCAR3 cells. The combination therapy further amplified this effect compared to either agent alone. Molecular analyses revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 at both mRNA and protein levels, supporting the activation of apoptotic pathways. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that both DNC and Oxa induce apoptosis in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells through modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expression. The enhanced efficacy observed in combination therapy highlights the therapeutic potential of DNC, in conjunction with conventional chemotherapeutics, as a promising strategy for ovarian cancer treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-725dc2f70cfc4ce683c15627ea32e0d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2468-2942 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Treatment and Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-725dc2f70cfc4ce683c15627ea32e0d02025-08-23T04:48:48ZengElsevierCancer Treatment and Research Communications2468-29422025-01-014410098110.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100981Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cellsMarziyeh Alizadeh Zarei0Hossein Nikzad1Zahra Shabani2Hamed Haddad Kashani3Elahe Seyed Hosseini4Gametogenesis Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran; Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranGametogenesis Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran; Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranAnatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IranGametogenesis Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran; Correspondence author at. Gametogenesis Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science, Kashan, Iran.Introduction: Curcumin (Cur), a yellow polyphenolic compound derived from the rhizome of turmeric, exhibits potent chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. However, its clinical application as an anticancer agent is hindered by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, the present study introduces a novel nanoformulation in which curcumin is effectively encapsulated within 142 nm spherical dendrosomes, which serve as a non-toxic nanocarrier. Methods: The morphological changes in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells were assessed using both inverted light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry using the MultiCycler software. Cells were treated with dendrosomal curcumin (DNC), oxaliplatin (Oxa), or a combination of both for 48 hours. Protein expression levels were analyzed by western blotting using enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) detection. Results: Dendrosomal curcumin improves curcumin’s bioavailability and therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. Treatment with DNC and Oxa individually resulted in significant induction of apoptosis in OVCAR3 cells. The combination therapy further amplified this effect compared to either agent alone. Molecular analyses revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 at both mRNA and protein levels, supporting the activation of apoptotic pathways. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that both DNC and Oxa induce apoptosis in OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells through modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expression. The enhanced efficacy observed in combination therapy highlights the therapeutic potential of DNC, in conjunction with conventional chemotherapeutics, as a promising strategy for ovarian cancer treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468294225001170Dendrosomal nanocurcuminOxaliplatinOvarian cancersApoptosis |
| spellingShingle | Marziyeh Alizadeh Zarei Hossein Nikzad Zahra Shabani Hamed Haddad Kashani Elahe Seyed Hosseini Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells Cancer Treatment and Research Communications Dendrosomal nanocurcumin Oxaliplatin Ovarian cancers Apoptosis |
| title | Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells |
| title_full | Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells |
| title_fullStr | Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells |
| title_short | Dendrosomal Curcumin Nanoformulation induces apoptosis via Bax/Bcl-2 in human ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells |
| title_sort | dendrosomal curcumin nanoformulation induces apoptosis via bax bcl 2 in human ovarian cancer ovcar3 cells |
| topic | Dendrosomal nanocurcumin Oxaliplatin Ovarian cancers Apoptosis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468294225001170 |
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