Curcumin-Coated Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles Affect Colorectal Cancer Cells Growth by Regulating Notch Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide, and its incidence increases significantly, causing nearly 694,000 deaths annually worldwide. Previous data have shown that Notch signaling is involved in regulating tumor cell proliferation. Curcumin is a polyphenol that has anticancer activity by activating various molecular pathways in cancer cells. In this study, curcumin was combined in PLGA nanomembrane to explore the therapeutic effect of curcumin coated PLGA nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) on CRC, in providing novel ideas for CRC management. CUR-NPs were in this study manufactured, and different concentrations of CUR-NPs were used to treat CRC cells and normal epithelial cells. Anticancer effect of CUR-NPs was evaluated by analyzing the effects of different concentrations of CUR-NPs on invasion, migration and apoptosis of cells. Finally, the relationship between CUR-NPs and Notch signaling pathway was analyzed to determine its mechanism. Results from this study showed that, the CUR-NPs suppressed motility, migration and invasion of CRC cells by inhibiting Notch signaling pathway, and enhanced apoptosis. In addition, it was found that the CUR-NPs were easily absorbed by cancer cells, and inhibited cancer cell viability, colony formation, and EMT processes and induced apoptosis of cancer cells without affecting the normal colorectal epithelial cells. Our study suggests that the CUR-NPs suppressed the CRC cells’ growth and motility apoptosis by inhibiting the Notch signaling without affecting normal colorectal epithelial cells, which provides novel ideas in CRC management.