Synthesis of curcumin loaded single walled carbon nanotubes: Characterization and anticancer effects in vitro

Abstract

Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa, is a widely used natural compound in anticancer treatments. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), a significant class of nanomaterials known for their unique physicochemical properties, serve as effective carriers for curcumin. This allows for the utilization of curcumin's antitumor capabilities while overcoming its conventional drawbacks of low aqueous solubility and instability under physiological conditions. In the current study, SWCNTs were cultivated without hydrogen gas, utilizing a Fe-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst. Once prepared by the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method under ideal conditions, they were combined with curcumin. Various techniques, including Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV–Vis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Raman, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), were employed to characterize the system. The quality of the SWCNT was determined by the ID/IG ratio in Raman spectroscopy. The DLS technique revealed that the ζ-potential of SWCNT and SWCNT-Cur was approximately −13.9 and −25.5 mV, respectively. The Nano-formulation had a loading capacity of 14/87 %. The rate of hemolysis caused by SWCNT-Cur was less than 10 %, and the high rate of cell viability observed in HFF-2 cells following the MTT test indicates the high safety of the Nano-formulation. To validate the therapeutic effects of the SWCNT-Cur on the 4T1 cell line, both in the presence and absence of X-ray radiation, the MTT assay method was used in vitro. The results showed a significant increase in toxicity on breast cancer cells with increasing concentration.

Keywords

• SWCNTs
• Curcumin
• Anticancer
• Breast cancer