Electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin with pomegranate extract as a new concept for anticancer (liver, colon, breast)

Plant extracts are well-known for their powerful antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, making them a promising candidate for anticancer applications. This study explores the possible applications of a microfiber scaffold of polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (Gel) infused with varying concentrations of Pomegranate juice extract (Pom) (0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, and 2 %) for its anticancer (liver, breast, and colon) properties. Incorporating Pom into the microfiber scaffold revealed an antioxidant activity: 26 % scavenging for the loaded microfiber scaffold (2 %). Dose-dependent exposure to Pom decreased cell viability and increased inhibition percentage, with an IC50 of 114 μg/mL. The prepared microfiber scaffold ultimately demonstrated promising anticancer activity against liver, colon, and breast cancer cells (27, 42, and 37 %, respectively). Moreover, the expression patterns of the four cancer marker genes P53, Bcl2, P21 and TNF showed that the P53 expression level varies significantly among the three tested cancer lines. These findings underscore the potential of Pom-loaded electrospun microfiber scaffolds as a novel approach to anticancer therapy.