Carbon oxide nanoparticles for controlled delivery of curcumin peptide nucleic acid

Abstract

Graphite was oxidized, and the resulting products were separated by centrifugation at various speeds. The obtained products were morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and structural characterized by Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the spherical particles with diameter of 132.1 ± 4.74 nm could be prepared. The particles were sp² hybridized carbon with hydroxyl functionality at the surface. Since the obtained particles consisted of aggregated 5 -10 nm carbon spheres, they were named cluster of carbon oxide nanoparticles (CCNs). CCNs showed no cytotoxicity against human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK 293T, human cervical carcinoma cell line, CaSki and murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, at the concentration up to 10 µg/mL. CCNs were used as carriers for curcumin and peptide nucleic acid (PNA). Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSFM) showed that CCNs could deliver both actives into nucleus while CCNs remained in the cytoplasm. CCNs could increase uptake of curcumin in HEK 293T cells and of PNA in RAW 264.7 cells. The delivery of curcumin by CCNs also enhanced anticancer activity of curcumin. However, the application of CCNs for PNA delivery for the anti-IL6 gene was unsuccessful due to unstable PNA-DNA complex.