In vitro antitumor efficacy of hyaluronic acid coating for curcumin-loaded zeolitic imidazole frameworks - 8 (ZIF-8) versus uncoated curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 nanocomposites

Sep 22, 2026

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In vitro study evaluates curcumin-loaded zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocomposites and the effect of coating with hyaluronic acid (CZIF-8/HA) compared with uncoated counterparts (CZIF-8). Curcumin loading, step-by-step molar ratios, and pH-dependent coating are assessed using zeta potential, SEM, TEM, and PXRD. Irregular semi-spherical particles show nanoscale size (~128–131 nm). Anticancer activity against HepG-2 and MDA-MB-231, with MCR-5 as a non-cancer control, uses MTT assay, revealing apoptosis via elevated caspase-3 and G1/S arrest. CZIF-8/HA exhibits significantly higher cytotoxicity for cancer cells and minimal toxicity to normal cells, suggesting ZIF-8/HA as a promising nanocarrier for breast and liver cancer therapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Background and rationale

Nanocarriers and MOF-based delivery

ZIF-8 properties and limitations

Curcumin and hyaluronic acid roles

Preparation and characterization of nanocomposites

Loading and hyaluronic acid coating

Structural and physicochemical characterization

In vitro anticancer evaluation

Cell lines and MTT assay

Mechanistic findings (apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest)

Cytotoxicity and IC50 comparison

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN In vitro antitumor efficacy of hyaluronic acid coating for curcumin-loaded zeolitic imidazole frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) versus that of uncoated curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 nanocomposites WalaaW. Oransa􀀍, Rasha F. Zahran􀀍, Rana R. El Sadda & ElshahatA. Toson􀀍 Cancer continues to pose one of the biggest health burdens. Liver cancer has difficulties with early detection, efficient treatment and treatment resistance. Zeolitic imidazole framework-8(ZIF-8) is a type of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) that has a lot of useful properties; including its structural flexibility, high porosity and adjustable pore sizes, these make such framework good for drug delivery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and breast cancer. In the present study, curcumin was loaded into ZIF-8, and hyaluronic acid was applied as coat in a step-by-step, molar ratio, and pHdependent manner. The resulting curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 (CZIF-8) and curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 coated with hyaluronic acid (CZIF-8/HA) nanocomposites were characterized by zeta potential, SEM, TEM, and PXRD. The obtained irregular semi-spherical nanocomposites have an average particle size of 127.93 and 131.07 nm; respectively. Also, their anticancer activities against two cancerous cell lines (HepG-2 and MDA-MB-231) and non-cancerous cell line (MCR-5) were assessed in vitro along with reference drug such as doxorubicin using the MTT assay. Additionally, the mechanisms by which these nanocomposites kill these tumor cells were found to involve apoptosis (elevated caspase-3 expression) rather than necrotic one and cell cycle arresting at G1/S phase. These particles have lower IC50; particularly against HepG-2. Further, CZIF-8/HA demonstrated significantly higher cytotoxicity against cancer cells (HepG-2 and MDA-MB-231) compared toCZIF-8 and doxorubicin, while exhibiting minimal toxicity toward normal MRC-5 cells. These results imply that ZIF-8/HA is a promising nanocarrier for curcumin administration and could be used as a therapeutic strategy for breast and liver cancer treatment. Keywords Hepatocellular carcinoma, Breast cancer, Hyaluronic acid (HA), Curcumin (C), Zeoliticimidazole frameworks (ZIF-8), Curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 (CZIF-8), Curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 coated with hyaluronic acid (CZIF-8/HA) Cancer causes millions of deaths worldwide. It exhibits a wide range of characteristics and clinical symptoms. Most common cancer kinds were reported in men; including liver, colorectal but breast cancer in women is the most1. Breast cancer is the second most frequent invasive cancer in women and the second largest cause of cancer-related mortality. Because of metastasis and recurrence, the overall 5-year survival rate for patients with breast cancer remains below 10% due to its high incidence and fatality rate2. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) generally affects men more than women. Further, bout 75% of all primary liver cancers are HCC3. Therefore, developing new HCC drugs which could be effective for these two types of cancers are urgently needed. Curcuma longa’s rhizome contains curcumin, a naturally occurring photochemical that may be able to fight cancer4. The main reason for these traits is that it can make hydrogen bonds and go through rotamerization. Department of Chemistry (Biochemistry Division), Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Damietta 34517, Egypt. 􀀍 email: [walaawaleedoransa@du.edu.eg](walaawaleedoransa@du.edu.eg); [zahran@du.edu.eg](zahran@du.edu.eg); [rzahran17@yahoo.com](rzahran17@yahoo.com); [eatoson@yahoo.com](eatoson@yahoo.com); [toson@du.edu.eg](toson@du.edu.eg) Using curcumin, we need to make effective target-specific drug delivery systems (DDSs) that can specifically target cancer cells and deliver drugs in a way that lasts and breaks down the matrix. Curcumin is not suitable for direct therapeutic applications because it does not dissolve well in water, is not stable, breaks down

FAQs

What is the main comparison in this study?

It compares curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 nanocomposites coated with hyaluronic acid (CZIF-8/HA) against uncoated curcumin-loaded ZIF-8 (CZIF-8), and also references doxorubicin.

Which methods were used to characterize the nanocomposites?

Zeta potential, SEM, TEM, and PXRD were used to characterize the resulting nanocomposites and confirm their properties.

How do the nanocomposites kill tumor cells according to the reported mechanisms?

They induce apoptosis, indicated by elevated caspase-3 expression, rather than necrosis, and they arrest the cell cycle at the G1/S phase.

Sep 22, 2026

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