Enhanced anticancer potency of hydroxytyrosol and curcumin by PLGA-PAA nano-encapsulation on PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell line.

Many chemotherapeutic regimens have been investigated for advanced unresectable and metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC), but with only minimal improvement in survival and prognosis. Here, we investigated anti-cancer function of free and nano-encapsulated hydroxytyrosol (Hyd) and curcumin (Cur), and its combinations (Hyd-Cur) on PANC-1 cell line. The poly lactide-co-glycolide-co-polyacrylic acid (PLGA-co-PAA) nano-encapsulated Hyd and Cur were synthesized, and MTT assay was performed to evaluate cytotoxic effects of free and nano-encapsulated Hyd, Cur, and Hyd-Cur. Effects of free and nano-encapsulated Hyd, Cur, and Hyd-Cur were evaluated on viability, migration, morphological alterations, colony formation, and apoptosis on PANC-1 cells. We observed that free and nano-encapsulated Hyd, Cur, and Hyd-Cur significantly increased apoptosis rates as well as significantly decreased viability, migration, and colony formation in PANC-1 cells. According to our results, Hyd-Cur combination and nano-encapsulation therapy exerts more profound apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects on PANC-1 cells than free Hyd or Hyd monotherapy.