Linjin Xiong,1– 4,* Yumeng Wei,1,3,* Hui Si,4,* Zheng Li,1– 3 Jie Wen,1– 3 Furong Liu,5 Xiaodong Wang,6 Hongru Yang,7 Ligang Chen,8 Chao Pi,1,3 Yunwei Han,7 Ling Zhao2– 4 

1Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychiatry, Fundamental and Clinical Research on Mental Disorders Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 3Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 4Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Hepatobiliary Diseases, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Chao Pi, Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax: +86 830 3162291, Email pichao2016@163.com Ling Zhao, Department of Psychiatry, Fundamental and Clinical Research on Mental Disorders Key Laboratory of Luzhou, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 830 2681630, Email zhaoling@swmu.edu.cn

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop liposomes (LP) containing a curcumin (CU) analog CA7 to enhance its pharmacokinetic profile and anti-cervical cancer (CC) effects.
Methods: Single-factor and Box-Behnken experiments were conducted to optimize the formulation of CA7-loaded liposomes (CA7-LP). The in vitro release, stability, biocompatibility, and pharmacokinetic of CA7-LP were evaluated. The biological effects of CA7-LP on Hela cells were assessed using MTT assays, colony formation assays, wound healing assays, and flow cytometry. Additionally, the anti-CC efficacy of CA7-LP was tested in mouse models of transplanted tumors.
Results: The optimal formulation of CA7-LP exhibited a particle size of 92.43 ± 1.52 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.27 ± 0.01, an encapsulation efficiency of 97.79 ± 1.49%, a drug loading of 3.23 ± 0.20%, and a zeta potential of − 6.69 ± 0.77 mV. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that a spherical morphology was exhibited by CA7-LP. The cumulative in vitro release of CA7-LP was found to be 2.84 times greater than that of CA7, and stability at room temperature was maintained for at least 90 d. Furthermore, a significantly higher uptake of CA7-LP by Hela cells was observed compared to curcumin and CA7, leading to enhanced inhibition of cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle, as well as increased apoptosis (p < 0.05). In vivo studies revealed that CA7-LP exhibited superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to CA7 (AUC: 3.58-fold, Cmax: 5.65-fold, t1/2z: 1.2-fold). The anti-CC effects of CA7-LP were found to be comparable to those of Cisplatin injection, with a better safety profile.
Conclusion: The newly developed CA7-LP is considered a promising candidate for the treatment of CC, demonstrating high potential for clinical application.

Keywords: curcumin analog CA7, liposome, cervical cancer, hela