Development of curcumin-loaded gemini surfactant nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines

Background: Curcumin, the polyphenolic constituent of turmeric, has been recognized as an effective anticancer agent in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the poor bioavailability of curcumin triggers finding of new approaches for elevating its therapeutic efficiency. Purpose: We aimed to use gemini surfactant nanocarriers for curcumin in order to overcome its limitations. Study design: We investigated the in vitro characterization of gemini surfactant-curcumin (Gemini-Cur) and examined its antiproliferative & apoptotic activities on breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Gemini-Cur polymersomes were synthesized through nanoprecipitation method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission and scanning electron microscopies, HPLC and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The anticancer effect of Gemini-Cur nanoparticles was studied on three different breast cancer cell lines including MCF-7, SkBr-3 and MDA-MB-231 through uptake kinetics, viability & cytotoxicity recordings and apoptotic assays. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic genes including p16INK4a, p14ARF, Bax and Bcl-2. Results: According to physicochemical analysis, the average particle size, zeta potential value and drug entrapment efficiency for Gemini-Cur compound were recorded as 161 +/- 6.2 nm, + 5.32 mV and 89.13% +/- 0.93, respectively. XRD analysis also confirmed the incorporation of curcumin in gemini surfactant micelles. Regarding the enhanced cellular uptake of sphere shaped Gemini-Cur, our data showed that this nano compound suppresses cancer cell proliferation via induction of apoptosis. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that Gemini-Cur could effectively upregulate the expression of p16INK4a, p14ARF and Bax, while significantly decreasing the Bcl-2 expression in these breast cancer cells. Conclusion: Our data demonstrates the great potential of gemini surfactants for efficient delivery of curcumin and subsequently, the improvement of its anticancer effect. Therefore, it is sagacious to support the idea that Gemini-Cur nano compound might have the potential to be considered as an anticancer agent.