Investigating the Effects of Bovine Serum Albumin Magnetic Nanoparticles Loaded with Curcumin and Paclitaxel on the Ls174T Cell Line

Abstract

Background: Colon cancer remains a major global health concern, and conventional chemotherapy is often associated with systemic toxicity and therapeutic resistance. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems are being investigated as potential approaches to improve the delivery of anticancer agents. Objectives: This study aimed to develop magnetic bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles co-loaded with curcumin (CUR) and paclitaxel (PTX) and to evaluate their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro cytotoxic effects against Ls174T colorectal cancer cells. This formulation combines the drug-carrying properties of BSA with the magnetic responsiveness of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4); however, magnetic field-guided targeting was not evaluated. Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared using the desolvation method with incorporation of a CoFe2O4 magnetic core. Their physicochemical characteristics were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed using methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays in Ls174T human colorectal cancer cells after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment. Results: The dual-loaded nanoparticles exhibited greater in vitro cytotoxic activity against Ls174T cells than did the corresponding single-drug formulations and free drugs under the tested conditions. Curcumin alone showed relatively limited cytotoxic activity, whereas its combination with paclitaxel was associated with enhanced cytotoxic effects. These findings demonstrate the in vitro activity of the dual-loaded formulation; however, its effects on systemic toxicity and tumor-specific targeting remain undetermined. Conclusions: BSA-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles co-loaded with CUR and PTX demonstrated in vitro cytotoxic activity against Ls174T colorectal cancer cells. These findings support further investigation of this formulation as a potential platform for combined anticancer drug delivery. Additional studies using normal cell models and in vivo tumor models are required to evaluate cytotoxic selectivity, biodistribution, tumor targeting, systemic toxicity, and therapeutic efficacy.