Synthesis and characterization of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) anchored curcumin for breast cancer targeting

Abstract

The objective of the current research was to formulate SWCNTs anchored curcumin utilizing adipic
acid dihydrazide (ADH) via carbodiimide conjugation for efficient targeting against human breast
cancer celllines (MDA-MB-231). The CNT-C conjugate was formulated and evaluate the conjugation
pattern by FTIR analysis. The system was also be characterized by various parameters such as zeta
potential, particle size, transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis, drug
loading, drug release, in-vitro anticancer, apoptosis and haemolytic toxicity assay. The surface charge
and particle size of the system was found to be -19.5 mV and 178.21 nm respectively. According to
the result obtained from morphological assessment (TEM), the CNT-C was found in nanometric size
range and remain in separate form, no adherence was also be obtained in analysis. The release of
curcumin from CNT-C was found to be 58.36% after 120 h period of time at 7.4 pH. The release rate
of curcumin from CNT-C was found 62.35% and 69.58% in case of 5.5 pH and 4.5 pH after 120 h. As
per the result of in-vitro cytotoxicity assay, it was found that, with increasing the concentration of
nanocomposites the cell growth was inhibited and the nacrotic cell population was increased from
3.25% to 18.98% obtained from apoptosis assay. The Overall finding obtained from the above
analysis it was suggested that the CNT-C system was found in nanometric size range and having
superior drug loading efficiency. The in-vitro anticancer assay suggested the anticancer potential of
the CNT-C system and the data obtained from apoptosis assay, it was exposed that the system may
successfully enhanced the population of nacrotic cells in comparison with control and should be a
potential agent for cancer treatment.