Colorectal cancer, core-shell nanoparticles, cashew gum nanoparticles, retinoic acid
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal types of cancer worldwide, urgently demanding the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we explored the potential of core-shell nanoparticles (CSNP) and cashew gum nanoparticles (CGNP), combined with oxaliplatin and retinoic acid, as a novel approach in the treatment of CRC. Our objective was to synthesize and characterize CGNP+OXA+CSNP and CGNP+OXA+CSNP+RA hybrid nanosystems, evaluating their efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models of CRC, focusing on cell viability, apoptosis, nanosystem uptake, and drug resistance. To achieve our goals, we employed advanced synthesis methods to produce the hybrid nanosystems, followed by physicochemical characterization. We tested the therapeutic action of these nanosystems in CRC cell cultures and in a murine model using the CT-26 cell line, under the influence of an electromagnetic field, to observe viability, apoptosis, tumor uptake, morphological effects, and drug resistance. The results demonstrated that the CGNP+OXA+CSNP and CGNP+OXA+CSNP+RA hybrid nanosystems exhibited significant antitumor efficacy, reducing the viability of CRC cells in vitro and inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. We observed enhanced apoptosis induction and improved uptake of the nanosystems by tumor cells. Furthermore, functionalization with retinoic acid potentiated the antiproliferative effect, suggesting a promising approach to overcome oxaliplatin resistance. Exposure to the electromagnetic field appeared to amplify the efficacy of the nanosystems, indicating an innovative pathway. We conclude that the hybrid nanosystems developed in this study represent an innovative and effective therapeutic strategy against colorectal cancer. The combination of CGNP, CSNP, oxaliplatin, and retinoic acid, especially under the influence of an electromagnetic field, offers a promising platform for advancing CRC treatment, opening new perspectives for more targeted and personalized antitumor therapies.