Prethiba K Ganasan, Norsharina Ismail, Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis, Md Zuki Bin Abu Bakar, Kim Wei Chan
{"title":"Synergistic delivery of 5-FU and thymoquinone via biogenic CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs in hyperglycemia-linked colorectal cancer cell.","authors":"Prethiba K Ganasan, Norsharina Ismail, Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis, Md Zuki Bin Abu Bakar, Kim Wei Chan","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2025.2594305","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study evaluated two novel combination therapies using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Thymoquinone (TQ), and cockle shell - derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs) against HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells under hyperglycemic conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>5-FU and TQ were successfully encapsulated into CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs through encapsulation at various drug-to-nanoparticle ratios. Physicochemical characterization was performed to confirm the morphology, and particle stability. Drug release studies assessed pH-responsive behavior, while biocompatibility was evaluated on NIH/3T3 cells. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle analyses were conducted on HT-29 cells under glycemic and hyperglycemic conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High encapsulation efficiency was achieved at a 1:5 drug-to-nanoparticle ratio while maintaining the aragonite structure and stable physicochemical properties. The nanoformulations exhibited pH-sensitive drug release with enhanced release at acidic pH (4.8), simulating the tumor microenvironment. Improved biocompatibility and reduced toxicity were observed in normal NIH/3T3 cells compared to free drugs. Both 5-FU:TQ-CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs and 5-FU-CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs:TQ combinations significantly inhibited HT-29 proliferation and induced G1 cell cycle arrest, especially under hyperglycemic conditions. Combination index analysis confirmed synergistic effects of both treatments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest the potential therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU:TQ-CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs and 5-FU-CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs:TQ in treating CRC associated with hyperglycemia and demonstrate the capability of biogenic CaCO<sub>3</sub> NPs to effectively deliver chemotherapeutic agents of different polarity with minimal toxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1055-1070"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12694901/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Therapeutic delivery","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20415990.2025.2594305","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: This study evaluated two novel combination therapies using 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Thymoquinone (TQ), and cockle shell - derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3 NPs) against HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells under hyperglycemic conditions.
Methods: 5-FU and TQ were successfully encapsulated into CaCO3 NPs through encapsulation at various drug-to-nanoparticle ratios. Physicochemical characterization was performed to confirm the morphology, and particle stability. Drug release studies assessed pH-responsive behavior, while biocompatibility was evaluated on NIH/3T3 cells. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle analyses were conducted on HT-29 cells under glycemic and hyperglycemic conditions.
Results: High encapsulation efficiency was achieved at a 1:5 drug-to-nanoparticle ratio while maintaining the aragonite structure and stable physicochemical properties. The nanoformulations exhibited pH-sensitive drug release with enhanced release at acidic pH (4.8), simulating the tumor microenvironment. Improved biocompatibility and reduced toxicity were observed in normal NIH/3T3 cells compared to free drugs. Both 5-FU:TQ-CaCO3 NPs and 5-FU-CaCO3 NPs:TQ combinations significantly inhibited HT-29 proliferation and induced G1 cell cycle arrest, especially under hyperglycemic conditions. Combination index analysis confirmed synergistic effects of both treatments.
Conclusion: The findings suggest the potential therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU:TQ-CaCO3 NPs and 5-FU-CaCO3 NPs:TQ in treating CRC associated with hyperglycemia and demonstrate the capability of biogenic CaCO3 NPs to effectively deliver chemotherapeutic agents of different polarity with minimal toxicity.
期刊介绍:
Delivering therapeutics in a way that is right for the patient - safe, painless, reliable, targeted, efficient and cost effective - is the fundamental aim of scientists working in this area. Correspondingly, this evolving field has already yielded a diversity of delivery methods, including injectors, controlled release formulations, drug eluting implants and transdermal patches. Rapid technological advances and the desire to improve the efficacy and safety profile of existing medications by specific targeting to the site of action, combined with the drive to improve patient compliance, continue to fuel rapid research progress. Furthermore, the emergence of cell-based therapeutics and biopharmaceuticals such as proteins, peptides and nucleotides presents scientists with new and exciting challenges for the application of therapeutic delivery science and technology. Successful delivery strategies increasingly rely upon collaboration across a diversity of fields, including biology, chemistry, pharmacology, nanotechnology, physiology, materials science and engineering. Therapeutic Delivery recognizes the importance of this diverse research platform and encourages the publication of articles that reflect the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field. In a highly competitive industry, Therapeutic Delivery provides the busy researcher with a forum for the rapid publication of original research and critical reviews of all the latest relevant and significant developments, and focuses on how the technological, pharmacological, clinical and physiological aspects come together to successfully deliver modern therapeutics to patients. The journal delivers this essential information in concise, at-a-glance article formats that are readily accessible to the full spectrum of therapeutic delivery researchers.