2. Academic Validation
  3. The fucoidan delivery system enhanced the anti-cervical cancer effect of caffeic acid

The fucoidan delivery system enhanced the anti-cervical cancer effect of caffeic acid

  • Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Mar 12;307(Pt 3):141976. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141976.
Xintao Gao 1,  Tao Jiang 2,  Xiaochen Wu 2,  Yantao Li 2,  Jun Xiao 3,  Lin Long 4,  Chuanlong Guo 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Oncology Center I Department, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266033, China; College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
  • 2 College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
  • 3 Oncology Center I Department, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266033, China.
  • 4 Oncology Center I Department, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266033, China. Electronic address: longlin89@126.com.
  • 5 College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China. Electronic address: guochuanlong@qust.edu.cn.
PMID: 40086544 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141976
Abstract

Cervical Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality among women, and immunotherapy targeting the Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway holds promise for its treatment. This study has developed nanoparticles based on fucoidan (Fu/CA NPs), successfully loading them with caffeic acid (CA) for application in cervical Cancer therapy. In vitro experiments revealed that Fu/CA NPs significantly inhibited the proliferation of cervical Cancer HeLa cells (by 65.73 ± 4.06 %) and induced Apoptosis through the accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, treatment with Fu/CA NPs activated the cGAS-STING pathway, attributed to the cytoplasmic release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the induction of DNA double-strand breaks (dsDNA) by Fu/CA NPs. In vivo results confirmed that Fu/CA NPs suppressed solid tumor growth (by 67.8 %), with even more pronounced antitumor effects observed when combined with cisplatin (96.5 %), a phenomenon also associated with the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. Excitingly, the combination of Fu/CA NPs and cisplatin alleviated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, as indicated by a decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) by 53.27 % and serum creatinine (SCr) by 74.93 %. In summary, our research presents a potential therapeutic avenue for cervical Cancer treatment, particularly highlighting the synergistic benefits of combining Fu/CA NPs with cisplatin.

Keywords

Caffeic acid; Combination chemotherapy; Fucoidan; Kidney injury.

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