Biopolymer-based nanoparticles as promising candidate for inducing apoptosis in liver cancer cells

Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of death all around the globe. On the other hand, conventional modalities, such as chemotherapy and surgery, have not been effectively suppressed cancer incidence due to some deficiencies. As a result, a novel folic acid (FA)-decorated poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-Alginate (Alg) nanocarrier was efficiently developed for active doxorubicin (Dox) delivery to human HepG2 liver cancer cells. The in vitro assays, including cell viability assay (MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test), apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cellular uptake, were applied to evaluate the cancer cell growth suppression and apoptosis-inducing ability of the nanocarrier. More than 85% cytotoxicity was attained after 24 h of treatment with 400-nM concentration of FA-PLGA-Dox-Alg. More than 21% and 61% apoptosis were observed after 24 h of treatment with 100-nM concentrations of FA-PLGA-Dox-Alg in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest assays. The cellular uptake of the FA-PLGA-Alg nanocarrier was about 30% higher than that of the PLGA-Alg carrier which indicated the cancer cell targeting ability of the FA-PLGA-Alg sample. These results have indicated the potential capability of FA-PLGA-Dox-Alg in the inhibition of liver cancer cells.