Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Skin cancer remains a significant global health issue, driving the development of new treatment strategies to improve clinical outcomes and prevent recurrence. Traditional monotherapies often face obstacles such as bioactive resistance, prompting interest in...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Magdi Abobaker Mershen Govender Yahya E. Choonara |
| author_facet | Magdi Abobaker Mershen Govender Yahya E. Choonara |
| author_sort | Magdi Abobaker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Skin cancer remains a significant global health issue, driving the development of new treatment strategies to improve clinical outcomes and prevent recurrence. Traditional monotherapies often face obstacles such as bioactive resistance, prompting interest in combination therapies that enhance efficacy, while minimizing side effects. This study investigated the use of a co-nanoparticle approach of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) surface-functionalized with curcumin (Cur-FeONPs) delivered with prolonged-release interferon alpha (IFNα)-loaded PLGA NPs (IFNα-PLGANPs) for the synergistic treatment of malignant melanoma tested in A375 cells. <b>Methods</b>: Extensive in vitro characterization studies of the Cur-FeONPs and IFNα-PLGANPs were performed, including zeta-size profiling, morphological studies, and structural validation, in addition to cytotoxicity assessments on A375 melanoma and NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells. <b>Results</b>: The Cur-FeONP and IFNα-PLGANPs synthesis processes yielded NPs with an average size of 111.0 nm and 97.0 nm, respectively. Morphological and structural validation studies determined the successful synthesis of the nanoparticulate systems, with cell viability analyses displaying significant cytotoxicity against A375 melanoma cells for the combination treatment, when compared to the individual platforms, with a minimal effect on NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results of this study present a promising synergistic approach for enhanced anticancer activity in A375 melanoma skin cancer cells, providing a potential platform for future preclinical and clinical studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d30d9cc8eab40268eeac53b82c2c409 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d30d9cc8eab40268eeac53b82c2c4092025-08-20T03:56:47ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-06-0117786010.3390/pharmaceutics17070860Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer CellsMagdi Abobaker0Mershen Govender1Yahya E. Choonara2Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South AfricaWits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South AfricaWits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Skin cancer remains a significant global health issue, driving the development of new treatment strategies to improve clinical outcomes and prevent recurrence. Traditional monotherapies often face obstacles such as bioactive resistance, prompting interest in combination therapies that enhance efficacy, while minimizing side effects. This study investigated the use of a co-nanoparticle approach of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) surface-functionalized with curcumin (Cur-FeONPs) delivered with prolonged-release interferon alpha (IFNα)-loaded PLGA NPs (IFNα-PLGANPs) for the synergistic treatment of malignant melanoma tested in A375 cells. <b>Methods</b>: Extensive in vitro characterization studies of the Cur-FeONPs and IFNα-PLGANPs were performed, including zeta-size profiling, morphological studies, and structural validation, in addition to cytotoxicity assessments on A375 melanoma and NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells. <b>Results</b>: The Cur-FeONP and IFNα-PLGANPs synthesis processes yielded NPs with an average size of 111.0 nm and 97.0 nm, respectively. Morphological and structural validation studies determined the successful synthesis of the nanoparticulate systems, with cell viability analyses displaying significant cytotoxicity against A375 melanoma cells for the combination treatment, when compared to the individual platforms, with a minimal effect on NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results of this study present a promising synergistic approach for enhanced anticancer activity in A375 melanoma skin cancer cells, providing a potential platform for future preclinical and clinical studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/860melanomasynergistic treatmentcontrolled releasechemotherapyimmunotherapycurcumin |
| spellingShingle | Magdi Abobaker Mershen Govender Yahya E. Choonara Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells Pharmaceutics melanoma synergistic treatment controlled release chemotherapy immunotherapy curcumin |
| title | Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells |
| title_full | Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells |
| title_fullStr | Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells |
| title_short | Co-Formulation of Iron Oxide and PLGA Nanoparticles to Deliver Curcumin and IFNα for Synergistic Anticancer Activity in A375 Melanoma Skin Cancer Cells |
| title_sort | co formulation of iron oxide and plga nanoparticles to deliver curcumin and ifnα for synergistic anticancer activity in a375 melanoma skin cancer cells |
| topic | melanoma synergistic treatment controlled release chemotherapy immunotherapy curcumin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/860 |
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