Integrative nanoformulation of paclitaxel, ruthenium (II), and curcumin for enhanced oral cancer cell suppression

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy. This study aimed to enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX) by co-encapsulating it with a ruthenium (II) complex (Ru-II) and curcumin nanoparticles (C-NP).

C-NPs were prepared via wet milling, and Ru-II was synthesized through ligand coordination and reduction. The conjugate (CoENC-PTX) was obtained by combining PTX, Ru-II, and C-NP, followed by ultrafiltration. Characterization was performed using UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, and HRSEM. In vitro evaluations included drug release, cytotoxicity assays on OSCC cells, live/dead cell labeling, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis.

CoENC-PTX showed efficient encapsulation with distinct spectral, crystalline, and morphological features. Drug release exhibited a biphasic profile, with 94.8 % release in 48 h. Cytotoxicity assays indicated dose-dependent reduction in OSCC cell viability, with maximum effect at 100 μg/mL. Live/dead staining confirmed apoptosis, while qPCR revealed p53 and c-Myc overexpression, indicating apoptosis activation and cell cycle regulation.

The PTX-Ru-II-C-NP formulation significantly improved the anticancer activity against OSCC, offering a promising synergistic approach for oral cancer therapy.