A-253

In vitro Cytotoxicity and Cell Viability Analysis of Ceb-Cu-p-NC

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) require precise treatments. Cetuximab (Ceb) targets EGFR, and copper (Cu) compounds show promise in cancer therapy. AIFay et al. investigated Ceb-Cu-p-NC, a nanoengineered drug delivery system, designed for enhanced HNSCC treatment.

After treating A-253 cells with free Ceb, Cu-p-NC, and Ceb-Cu-p-NC, cell viability was assessed using DAPI staining and fluorescence microscopy. Figure 1A shows reduced fluorescence intensity in small hemispherical nuclei following treatment. Optimal doses of these formulations significantly increased apoptosis, with Ceb-Cu-p-NC showing a more pronounced effect than free Ceb. Specifically, 25 µg/mL of Ceb-Cu-p-NC reduced A-253 cell viability, indicating persistent DNA damage. The IC₅₀ values for Ceb in Ceb-Cu-p-NC were 27.55 µg/mL, 41.35 µg/mL, and 51.47 µg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Figures 1A and 1B illustrate a time- and dose-dependent anticancer effect against the A-253 cell line. Ceb-Cu-p-NC's controlled release from 24 to 72 hours resulted in higher cytotoxicity than free Ceb, achieving approximately 81.25% reduced cell viability at different concentrations. Therefore, the optimal concentration of Ceb-Cu-p-NC is 25 µg/mL to achieve nearly 80% of reduced cell viability (Fig. 1B). Copper compounds have a potential anticancer effect on their own or in combination with other drugs by altering the DNA regulation processes, cell cycle checkpoints, and apoptotic pathways. It can be concluded that Cu-based polymeric modifications are potent in targeted anticancer drug delivery with different release patterns. Folate-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers for the co-delivery of cisplatin and paclitaxel exhibit excellent anticancer effects in head and neck cancer. The obtained results will make this carrier a potential future work for a dual-drug delivery system.