Antiapoptotic Properties of Zinc@Curcumin-Chitosan Nanocomposite on SW-626 Ovarian Cancer Cell and Following the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Curcumin is a natural compound found in turmeric. It is a strong antioxidant that helps combat oxidative stress. It is also known as an effective agent for cancer therapy. In this study, we have reported a green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles using extracted curcumin from turmeric and chitosan to modify the NPs surface. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques. The XRD results revealed a crystallinity structure with a crystal size of 45.93 nm. The FE-SEM imaging shows a nonspherical morphology with an average size of 62.41 nm. The vibration bands of Zn-O bonds are appearance at 428, 534, and 580 cm⁻¹ in FT-IR test. The biological aspects were the focus of a recent study. Over the course of 48 h, the MTT test was used to evaluate the cytotoxic capacities of Zn NPs on SW-626 cancer and HUVEC normal cells. Also, the antioxidant appraisement reported that the IC₅₀ for Zn NPs and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; the positive control of DPPH assay) in relation to DPPH were 41 and 15 μg/mL, respectively. When exposed to Zn NPs, the cancer cell's viability decreased, resulting in an IC₅₀ of 170 μg/mL. The report of the mTOR pathway indicated that Zn NPs influence apoptosis and cell proliferation in SW-626 cells through the modulation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. It could be involved in the activation of apoptosis and cell cycle inhibition brought on by Zn NPs. Consequently, Zn NPs may be a useful anticancer therapeutic for ovarian cancer treatments.