Anticancer and antibacterial activity of the cellulose nanocrystals modified by cyclodextrin and loaded by propolis

Nanocrystals have great potential as improved drug carriers due to their low cost, high biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Thus, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are particularly suitable for enhanced antibacterial and anticancer therapy. In this research, we report the green synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (β-CD/CNCs) from pistachio shells as a carrier material for propolis, as well as the determination of its antibacterial and anticancer properties. The β-CD/CNCs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR analyses indicated the successful attachment of β-cyclodextrin to the cellulose nanocrystals. FE-SEM and TEM images of β-CD/CNCs exhibited rod-shaped morphology, while the XRD pattern revealed the crystal structure of β-CD/CNCs. The chemical composition of the propolis extract was investigated using GC-MS analysis. The incorporation of the propolis extract into the β-CD/CNCs was achieved with 10% encapsulation using the differential weighing method. Subsequently, the antibacterial and anticancer properties of the propolis-loaded β-CD/CNCs were determined. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer method) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination by the dilution method (DM). The anticancer properties were evaluated using MTT and flow cytometry assays on two liver cell lines (HepG2 and L929). The results demonstrated that the propolis loaded in β-CD/CNCs exhibited better antibacterial and anticancer activity than free propolis. Therefore, β-CD/CNCs can be suggested as a suitable carrier for propolis.