Low-viscosity sodium alginate combined with TiO₂ nanoparticles for improving neuroblastoma treatment

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles have been explored to prevent various cancer developments but it may cause oxidation, inflammation and high cytotoxicity. Alginate has nontoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. We aimed to explore the effects of alginate-TiO₂ temozolomide (TMZ) nanoparticles on neuroblastoma. A neuroblastoma model was established with neuroblastoma cells and alginate-TiO₂ TMZ nanoparticles were made by spraying low-viscosity sodium alginate (250-360 kDa). The morphology of nanoparticles was observed via scanning electron microscope (SEM). The crystallinity values were analyzed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic study. Neuroblastoma mice were treated with saline solution, TMZ, TiO₂-TMZ and alginate-TiO₂-TMZ nanoparticles. Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties and the mouse survival rates were measured. The spectrometric profiles of alginate-TiO₂ were consistent with those of TiO₂ and alginate. Alginate-TiO₂ TMZ nanoparticles had higher cytotoxicity toward neuroblastoma cells and less inhibitory activity toward normal neuronal cells. The combined nanoparticles increased antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities and prolonged the survival time of the neuroblastoma model (P < 0.05). On the other hand, Alginate-TiO₂ TMZ nanoparticles reduced the levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The combined nanoparticles improved neuroblastoma treatment by affecting NF-κB and MAPK signals.