Investigating the effect of simultaneous administration of liposomal nano-carriers containing methotrexate and curcumin on KG-1 leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults, accounting for about one-third of all diagnosed cases of leukemia. Its incidence tends to increase with age. AML accounts for close to one-third of all leukemia diagnoses. Liposomes are nano-carriers that can improve the cellular uptake of drugs and genes. Methotrexate functions as an anti-folate medication, exhibiting both anti-cancer and immune-suppressing properties. Additionally, it possesses a diverse array of biological characteristics, including anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa (Turmeric) and has gained worldwide attention because of its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant characteristics. Conventional cancer therapies (chemotherapy) cannot precisely target the cancerous cells without affecting the healthy ones. Various factors affect the development and use of effective cancer drugs. Thus nano-carriers can help us deliver the drug to the exactly targeted organ and reduce the side effects on other healthy cells and organs. This research aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of combining liposomal Methotrexate and Curcumin in treating KG-1 cancer cells. Drug-loaded liposomes were formulated using the thin-film hydration technique, followed by a series of analyses including size and zeta potential measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), encapsulation efficiency assessment, and in vitro drug release studies. Additionally, the cellular uptake of the drugs and their cytotoxicity were evaluated using the MTT assay. All of the performed characterizations had suitable results. The liposome size was about 90 nm and the zeta potential was negative. The entrapment efficiency of Methotrexate (MTX) and CUR in nanoliposome was high and the MTX and CUR-loaded nanoliposome released MTX and CUR within 72 h with the capability of an accelerated release in an acidic milieu. Consequently, the liposomal formulation of CUR and MTX exhibited higher toxicity compared to their free-form combination. Moreover, the internalization of MTX and CUR nanoliposomes into human KG-1 cells in vitro was observed.