Pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization enhances the anti-cancer efficacy of self-assembled galactomannan nanoparticles entrapped with hydrazinocurcumin

Galactomannan (GM), a natural polymer, is recognized to specifically target macrophage mannose receptors (CD206). Interestingly, some reports indicate that GM has an ability to induce pro-inflammatory (M1-like, tumericidal) polarization in macrophages, suggesting its potential use as an anti-cancer agent. Hydrazinocurcumin (HC), a pyrazole derivative of curcumin, is reported to possess increased anti-cancer efficacy over curcumin. Moreover, HC-encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs) have been reported to re-polarize tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from anti-inflammatory (M2-like, tumor-promoting) to pro-inflammatory phenotype. To club the therapeutic properties of both GM and HC, we synthesized self-assembled amphiphilic PEGylated GM NPs loaded with HC (PSGM-HCNPs) and evaluated their potential to re-polarize TAMs towards M1-like phenotype. PSGM-HCNPs re-polarized IL-4 polarized RAW 264.7 cells via a phenotypic switch from M2- to M1-like by elevating ROS level, decreasing CD206 and arginase-1 expressions and increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines' secretion. Conditioned medium (CM) taken from re-polarized RAW 264.7 cells containing residual PSGM-HCNPs elevated ROS, arrested cell cycle, and induced apoptosis in 4T1, breast cancer cells, and Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Decreased levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and Bcl-2 with increased levels of Bax in both 4T1 and EAC cells indicated anti-metastatic and apoptosis-inducing potential of the CM. Treatment of PSGM-HCNPs in EAC-bearing mice reduced tumor burden, increased their survival time, decreased CD206(+)F4/80(+) cells, and increased TNF-alpha(+)F4/80(+) cells signifying decrease in M2- and increase in M1-like skewness among ascitic TAMs.