Enhancement of gold-curcumin nanoparticle mediated radiation response for improved therapy in cervical cancer - a computational approach and predictive pathway analysis

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

Radiotherapy is widely used for effective cancer treatment, yet its low specificity harms nearby healthy cells. High-Z nanomaterials can enhance radiation effects, while natural products may provide radioprotection, making combined strategies attractive but challenging when normal-cell protection is required. This work reports a single nanoformulation of curcumin-conjugated gold nanoparticles, validating dose and combination effects using a reverse-experimentation statistical model supported by ROS, cell cycle, mitochondrial potential, gene expression, and pathway prediction to model the killing mechanism.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1 Introduction

Background and limitations of radiotherapy

Radioligand/nuclear approaches and Auger therapy

Role of gold nanomaterials and ROS-mediated mechanisms

Research Enhancement of gold‑curcumin nanoparticle mediated radiation response for improved therapy in cervical cancer: a computational approach and predictive pathway analysis PriyaYadav1,2 · Arghya Bandyopadhyay1,3 · Keka Sarkar1 Received: 27 March 2024 / Accepted: 5 September 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 OPEN Abstract Radiotherapy is prevalently applied for highly effective cancer therapy while the low specificity of radiation is deleterious to the nearby healthy cells. High-Z-based nanomaterials offer excellent radio-enhancement properties while natural products provide radioprotection. Modulation of the radiotherapeutic index via applying nanomaterials is feasible for effective treatment however, the scenario changes when simultaneous protection of non-cancerous cells is required. Here, we report the modulatory radiotherapeutic effect of curcumin conjugated gold nanoparticles in a single nanoformulation to pave the long-awaited hope of a single combination-based, cell-selective radio enhancer, and protectant for cancer radiotherapy. We have validated the effective radiation dose along with the combination of the radio-nanomodulator by a reverse experimentation statistical model. The concept was supported by different sets of experiments, like quantification of ROS generation, cell cycle monitoring, mitochondrial membrane potential measurement, etc. along with gene expression study, and predictive modeling of molecular pathways of the killing mechanism. In conclusion, the nanoconjugate showed a promise to become a candidate for the pH-dependent cell-specific radio-modulator. Keywords Gold-curcumin nanoparticles · Metal-phytodrug nanoconjugates · Ionizing radiation · Radiosensitization · Radioprotection · Oxidative stress · Programmed cell death 1 Introduction Radiation therapy is the foremost chosen method for the treatment of locally advanced cancers. While radiation therapy contributes to severe deleterious effects on neighboring non-cancerous cells. Radiation therapy also potentially influences immune suppression, and bone marrow degradation [1]. To minimize the deleterious effects of radiation, radioligand therapy (RLT) or radionuclide therapy is a better choice over conventional radiation treatment [2] . Radionuclide therapy delivers radionuclides close to the site hence significantly lowering the adverse effect of radiation damage to normal local tissues [3] . During RLT, the healthy local tissues around the tumor tend to receive a prolonged radiation PriyaYadav and Arghya Bandyopadhyay contributed equally. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at [https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-](https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-)[ ](https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-)[04104-7](04104-7.)[.](04104-7.) * Arghya Bandyopadhyay, [arghya.micro@gmail.com](arghya.micro@gmail.com); * Keka Sarkar, [keka@klyuniv.ac.in |](keka@klyuniv.ac.in |1Department of Microbiology)[1](keka@klyuniv.ac.in |1Department of Microbiology)[Department of Microbiology](keka@klyuniv.ac.in |1Department of Microbiology), University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235, India. 2Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu 608002, India. 3Department of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235, India. Discover Nano (2024) 19:153 | [https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-04104-7](https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-024-04104-7) dose due to the presence of radionuclides within the body. Unfortunately, traditional radiation therapy as well as RLT bombards the system with high-energy radiation doses [4, 5]. Alternatively, Auger therapy relies on low-energy electrons for the treatment of cancer where the presence of a metal within the cell is capable of releasing Auger electrons upon being charged by external radiation. The Auger therapy is low low-energy method for damaging cancer cells unlike conventional

FAQs

Why is radiotherapy limited by surrounding healthy cells?

Radiation therapy can damage non-cancerous nearby cells because its specificity is low. It can also contribute to immune suppression and bone marrow degradation.

How does the study aim to improve therapy while protecting normal cells?

It uses curcumin conjugated gold nanoparticles in a single nanoformulation to modulate radiotherapeutic effects, aiming to enhance cancer radiation response while providing radioprotection for non-cancerous cells.

What experimental and computational evidence supports the proposed mechanism?

The work validates effective radiation dose and combination effects using a reverse experimentation statistical model, supported by ROS quantification, cell cycle monitoring, mitochondrial membrane potential measurement, gene expression studies, and predictive modeling of molecular pathways involved in killing.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore