Enhancing Radiotherapy Tolerance With Papaya Seed-Derived Nanoemulsions.

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Radioprotection

Background:

• Flavonoid-rich plants show promise in mitigating radiotherapy side effects.
• Carica papaya (CP) seeds are rich in flavonoids and possess therapeutic potential.
• Radiotherapy can cause significant tissue damage, necessitating protective strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extract and evaluate papaya seed oils and their nanoemulsions for radioprotective properties.
• To investigate the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the developed nanoemulsions.
• To assess the efficacy of these nanoemulsions in protecting cells from radiation-induced damage in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of pure papaya oil (PPO) and sunflower oil-based papaya oil (SPO).
• Formulation and characterization of nanoemulsions (PPOE and SPOE) using dynamic light scattering (DLS).
• Qualitative phytochemical analysis using QTOF-MS and in vitro cell viability assays post-irradiation.

Main Results:

• QTOF-MS identified various antioxidants and phytochemicals in the oils and nanoemulsions.
• Nanoemulsions PPOE and SPOE exhibited particle sizes of 140 ± 26.06 nm and 293.7 ± 49.42 nm, respectively.
• Both PPOE and SPOE significantly improved cell viability after radiation exposure (75.85% and 72.24%, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Carica papaya seed-derived nanoemulsions demonstrate significant in vitro radioprotective potential.
• These nanoemulsions may serve as effective topical agents for mitigating radiation-induced tissue damage.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm clinical efficacy, with potential applications in sunscreen formulations.