A novel approach to treating liver cancer has emerged from recent research focusing on cobalt oxide nanoparticles conjugated with ellagic acid, demonstrating their potential to inhibit cancer growth and promote cell death. The efficacy of current chemotherapy drugs remains limited, prompting scientists to explore innovative alternatives, such as these biocompatible nanoparticles.
Liver cancer poses significant global health challenges, with approximately 905,000 new cases annually and contributing to over 800,000 deaths. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for advanced treatment strategies. Surgical removal is only viable for 5-15% of patients, particularly those diagnosed at early stages. Despite this, the majority of liver cancer treatments primarily rely on chemotherapy, which carries various drawbacks including toxicity and ineffectiveness.
To confront the pressing issue of treatment resistance, researchers are investigating the promising characteristics of nanomaterials. The study centered on synthesizing cobalt oxide nanoparticles coated with glucose and conjugated with ellagic acid (Co3O4@Glu-Ellagic acid) to explore its underlying anticancer mechanisms. Characterization techniques involved Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements.
Characterization revealed nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 33 to 46 nanometers and demonstrated significant thermal stability and no elemental impurities. Compatibility tests indicated a zeta potential of -5.43 mV and average diameters around 169 nm, affirming their suitability for biological applications.
The anticancer tests showed compelling results, indicating Co3O4@Glu-Ellagic acid nanoparticles induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels—an alarming increase by 2.6 folds—which correlates with increased apoptosis rates among liver cancer cells. The nanoparticles exhibited more substantial cytotoxicity toward cancer cells compared to normal cells, achieving 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 94 µg/mL for HepG2 liver cancer cells versus 187 µg/mL for normal cells.
Flow cytometry analysis revealed significant shifts in cell cycles, indicating strong arrest at the G0/G1 and G2/M phases following exposure to the nanoparticles. Apoptosis percentages escalated correspondingly, rising from 0.87 to 9.24% after treatment, asserting the nanoparticles' role as potent agents against liver cancer. Such findings substantiate the dual functionality of the nanoparticles—the elevation of oxidative stress alongside cell death induction.
This research seals the potential of Co3O4@Glu-Ellagic acid nanoparticles as effective biocompatible tools against liver cancer, propelling forward the application of nanoparticles fused with therapeutic compounds. The groundwork has been laid for future exploration, aiming to confirm these promising results through additional studies, potentially leading to enhanced therapeutic protocols for liver cancer treatment.