Curcumin Nanoparticles Inhibit Liver Cancer by Inhibiting Angiogenesis

Abstract

Liver cancer (LC) is a malignancy with the highest morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, finding new and effective treatments is the key to improving patient outcomes. Curcumin (Cur) is effective in inhibiting tumor growth and inflammation, but its extremely low drug utilization rate limits its use as an optional treatment for LC. Drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) represent a cutting-edge medical and health technology that improves drug delivery, extends drug release period through tiny nanomolecular structures, and potentially circumvents the limitations of Cur therapy. In this study, we examined the effect of Cur-loaded nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) on LC cells to provide proof of principle for further clinical studies. We found that during Cur-NP treatment, the release period of Cur was significantly prolonged; whereas LC cell viability and HIF-1α/VEGF signaling was decreased. Thus, Cur-NPs can reduce the proliferation and invasion of LC cells and induce apoptosis by inhibiting the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling, thus achieving a positive effect on LC treatment.