Synergistic Effects of Platinum-Based Drugs and Curcumin on Liposomal Delivery in HSC-3 Oral Cancer Cells

This study delves into the potentiation of cytotoxic effects through the strategic incorporation of curcumin within two distinct nanoliposomal formulations: cisplatin-loaded and carboplatin-loaded nanoliposomes, specifically targeting HSC-3 oral carcinoma cells. The formulations were rigorously characterized to ascertain their physicochemical properties, with particle sizes measured in the range of 220-240 nm, zeta potentials surpassing - 28 mV, and polydispersity indices (PDI) below 0.30, collectively signifying robust colloidal stability and a uniform size distribution-both essential attributes for efficient drug delivery. The cytotoxic potential of these nanoliposomal systems was systematically evaluated using MTT assays across three temporal checkpoints (24, 48, and 72 h), wherein the inclusion of 4 mM curcumin markedly augmented the induction of cell death compared to the control cohorts. This enhancement underscores the synergistic interplay between curcumin and the platinum-based chemotherapeutics in amplifying therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, drug release kinetics were meticulously examined, revealing a sustained release pattern where approximately 21% and 27% of the encapsulated cisplatin and carboplatin, respectively, were released over 35 h. Such controlled release dynamics not only prolong the therapeutic window of these agents within the tumor microenvironment but also mitigate systemic toxicity risks associated with burst release phenomena. Collectively, this finding highlight the advantage of heightened cytotoxic efficacy by curcumin integration, positioning nanoliposomal formulations as a transformative approach in the realm of oral cancer therapeutics. Future endeavors will pivot towards in vivo validations to substantiate these in vitro observations and unravel the molecular underpinnings of the observed synergistic effects.