A pH-Sensitive Curcumin/Crocetin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An in Vitro Study

In the current research, crocetin and curcumin were loaded into chitosan nanoparticles to develop a potential treatment modality for acute myeloid leukemia. We aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism by which these drugs induce cancer cell death in a 3D environment. This study explores how the drugs interact with cancer cells in a more physiologically relevant model.

The anticancer effects of the developed nanocarrier system were investigated in a 3D collagen hydrogel system. The in vitro experiments including scanning electron microscopy imaging, MTT assay, cell migration assay, release assay, and florescent microscopy assay, and real time PCR assay were utilized.

Our results showed that the nanocarrier system reduced the viability and migration activity of leukemia cancer cells. Fluorescent microscopy assay results suggested that the CURCROCNPs may have induced apoptosis in the encapsulated cells. Real time PCR assay showed that the anticancer effects of curcumin and crocetin may have been due to targeting the FLT3-ITD, RUNX1, and MYC genes.

our developed model may be potentially utilized to study the effects of anti-cancer agents on Leukemia disease.