Preparation and Characterization of the Myricetin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Surface Decorated with Polydopamine and Evaluation of Its Anti-cancer and Anti-oxidant Activities In Vitro

As a potential therapeutic solution for cancer, the combination of naturally occurring bioactive compounds with nanocarriers could be of great importance. In this study, a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) surface decorated with polydopamine (PDA) has been prepared using myricetin (MYR)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MYR-MSN-PDA) as a means of drug delivery against cancer. Using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) the MYR-MSN-PDA was characterized. A cytotoxic study was then carried out by testing the MYR-MSN-PDA against normal and cancer cell lines to assess their effects on cytotoxicity. MYR-MSN-PDA were studied using flow cytometry as well as real-time quantitative PCR to determine their apoptotic properties. Furthermore, MYR-MSN-PDA was evaluated for its anti-oxidant properties as well. Compared to normal cells, MYR-MSN-PDA showed higher cytotoxicity against cancer cells, indicating that the synthesized nanoparticles do not pose any potential health risks. It is also important to note that MYR-MSN-PDA also has statistically significant level of effectiveness as an antioxidant agent in combating free radicals in both DPPH and ABTS assays (***p < 0.001). In addition, MYR-MSN-PDA at concentrations of 7, 14, and 28 mu g/mL was shown to induce 6.74%, 40.1%, and 55.1% subG1 arrest in cells treated with nanoparticles, respectively, indicating that the nanoparticles can induce apoptosis. According to the results of this study, MYR-MSN-PDA synthesized in this study demonstrated potency against cancer cells in vitro, and has anti-oxidant properties which it is recommended that more research is carried out in vitro and in vivo. Overall, these results suggest that the formulation may be applicable to preclinical studies in the treatment of cancer.