Curcumin- and Piperine-Loaded Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 Magnetic Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Comparison of the Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer is amongst the commonest cancers which can result in cancer death in women worldwide. The curcumin and piperine are both known as natural polyphenols that have anti-cancer effects. However, quick degradation and metabolism, low bioavailability, and short half-life are some serious issues with the use of curcumin and piperine. Thus, given the importance of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in cancer treatment on the one hand and to overcome the above-mentioned issues on the other, curcumin and piperine were loaded on magnetic iron nanoparticles coated with silica (Fe3O4@SiO2). Curcumin-loaded Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-curcumine), piperine-loaded Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-piperine), and curcumin/piperine-loaded Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-curcumin/piperine) were prepared by co-participation method followed by drug functionalization. The analysis of prepared magnetic nanoparticles were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Analysis approved successful loading of drugs on Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles as well as good magnetic properties of curcumin- and piperine-loaded nanoparticles. Toxic effects of novel synthesized MNPs were measured by MTT assay on MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The results of MTT assay showed that all drug-loaded nanoparticles have anticancer effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, but impact of Fe3O4@SiO2-curcumin/piperine magnetic nanoparticles are greater than Fe3O4@SiO2-curcumine and Fe3O4@SiO2-piperine with drugs used alone, approving the synergistic effect of these two drugs on MNPs. These results provide a new perspective for cancer treatment using curcumin and piperine together.