The creation of selenium nanoparticles decorated with troxerutin and their ability to adapt to the tumour microenvironment have therapeutic implications for triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract

Despite advancements in treatment, managing aggressive types of breast cancer, particularly Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), remains a daunting task. Newer chemotherapeutics enhance the multidrug resistance in cancer cells, making them untreatable. The current research work was framed to develop a novel therapeutic target by utilizing the flavanol, troxerutin (TXN) as a drug of interest to target TNBC. And also, to increase the efficiency of the drug at the target site, a nanocarrier called selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) has been exploited. Thus, the anticancer efficacy of TXN and Se-TXN against TNBC (in vitro and in vivo) has been compared and analysed in the present study. Se-TXN was synthesized by a precipitation approach and characterized by diverse analytical techniques, which confirmed the successful loading of TXN on the SeNPs. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Se-TXN was determined to be 6.5 � 0.5 ?g mL?1 according to the in vitro data. Even at lower concentrations, the existence of apoptotic bodies shows that Se-TXN is effective against TNBC. Additionally, the Se-TXN expression study shows that the activation of the caspase cascade pathway, which results in apoptosis, occurs from the downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and genes and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins and genes. And the in vivo investigations like histopathology, hematology and biochemical parameters revealed that the Se-TXN had significantly lowered the tumour volume of treated Balb/C mice without having any significant systemic toxicity when compared to other treatment groups. Altogether, our data suggests the efficacy of Se-TXN nanoconjugates as an effective management therapy for treating TNBC. � 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry.