Galangin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Inhibit Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation Via Cell Cycle Arrest and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Modulation

Lung carcinoma, which is among the primary causes of cancer-related mortality globally, emphasizes the critical need for more effective and focused treatment strategies. The production, properties, and anticancer properties of galangin-loaded chitosan composites (GLG-CSNCs) targeting A549 lung carcinoma cells were examined in this work. The synthesised GLG-CSNCS were then exposed to A549 lung cancer cells for 24 h to assess their cytotoxicity using the MTT assay; mitochondrial damage was analyzed using MitoTracker staining, and cell cycle progression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, apoptosis-related molecules, cyclins, and cell cycle-regulated proteins were all analyzed using Western blot analysis. GLG-CSNCs were found to have an average particle size of 121.5 nm. In lung cancer cells, GLG-CSNC treatment resulted in considerable cytotoxicity and mitochondrial damage. Western blot tests also confirmed that key cyclin-dependent kinases (Cyclin D1, CDK4) and their regulatory cyclins were reduced, whereas the CDK inhibitor p21 was elevated. These findings suggest that GLG-CSNCs effectively halt the cell cycle's G1 phase, which stops cancer cells from proliferating. Overall, our study demonstrates that by causing G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle and modifying cyclin-dependent kinase, GLG-CSNCs have potential as a new, biocompatible nanotherapeutic element employed in the treatment of lung malignancy.