This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer and radio-sensitizing efficacy of Zinc Oxide-Caffeic Acid Nanoparticles (ZnO-CA NPs). ZnO-CA NPs were formulated by the conjugation of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with caffeic acid (CA) that were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FT-IR), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In vitro anticancer potential of ZnO-CA NPs was evaluated by assessing cell viability in the human breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular (HepG2) carcinoma cell lines. In vivo anticancer and radio-sensitizing effects of ZnO-CA NPs in solid Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice (EC mice) were also assessed. Treatment of EC mice with ZnO-CA NPs resulted in a considerable decline in tumor size and weight, down-regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) gene expressions, decreased vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) level, downregulation of phosphorylated-extracellular-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (p-ERK1/2) protein expression, DNA fragmentation and a recognizable peak at sub-G₀/G₁ indicating dead cells’ population in cancer tissues. Combined treatment of ZnO-CA NPs with γ-irradiation improved these effects. In conclusion: ZnO-CA NPs exhibit in-vitro as well as in-vivo antitumor activity, which is augmented by exposure of mice to γ-irradiation. Further explorations are warranted previous to clinical application of ZnO-CA NPs.

本研究旨在评估氧化锌-咖啡酸纳米颗粒（ZnO-CA NPs）的抗癌和放射增敏功效。 ZnO-CA NPs 由氧化锌纳米颗粒 (ZnO NPs) 与咖啡酸 (CA) 结合而成，通过傅里叶变换红外光谱 (FT-IR)、X 射线衍射仪 (XRD) 和透射电子显微镜进行表征。透射电镜）。通过评估人乳腺癌 (MCF-7) 和肝细胞 (HepG2) 癌细胞系的细胞活力，评估 ZnO-CA NP 的体外抗癌潜力。还评估了 ZnO-CA NPs 在实体艾利希癌小鼠（EC 小鼠）中的体内抗癌和放射增敏作用。用 ZnO-CA NPs 治疗 EC 小鼠，肿瘤大小和重量显着下降，B 细胞淋巴瘤 2 (BCL2) 和核因子 kappa B (NF-κB) 基因表达下调，血管细胞粘附分子减少1 (VCAM-1) 水平、磷酸化细胞外调节激酶 1 和 2 (p-ERK1/2) 蛋白表达下调、DNA 片段化以及亚 G ₀ /G ₁处的可识别峰，表明癌症中死亡细胞的数量组织。 ZnO-CA NPs 与 γ 辐射的联合处理改善了这些效果。总之：ZnO-CA NPs 表现出体外和体内抗肿瘤活性，通过将小鼠暴露于 γ 辐射可以增强这种活性。在 ZnO-CA NPs 的临床应用之前，有必要进行进一步的探索。