Objective: To synthesize nanoformulated naringenin (NF-n) and evaluate its anti-angiogenic and anticancer activities.
Methods: NF-n was synthesized using the solvent evaporation method and characterized by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Molecular docking studies were performed to assess NF-n’s binding affinity to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In vitro assays using HUVEC and MCF-7 cell lines were conducted to evaluate cytotoxicity and cell migration inhibition. The mRNA expression levels of angiogenesis- and inflammation-related markers (nestin, NRP-1, NRP-2, CD93, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and Bcl-2) were quantified via RT-PCR. The anti-angiogenic effect of NF-n was further investigated using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay.
Results: Molecular docking revealed effective binding of naringenin to VEGF. NF-n demonstrated significantly reduced particle size and improved physicochemical properties. In in vitro studies, NF-n reduced cell viability and inhibited migration in both HUVEC and MCF-7 cells. RT-PCR analysis showed that NF-n significantly downregulated pro-angiogenic and inflammatory markers. Furthermore, NF-n significantly decreased blood vessel density, total branching points, and vessel length in heparin-induced chick chorioallantoic membrane.
Conclusions: NF-n exhibits anti-angiogenic and anticancer properties, positioning it as a promising candidate for therapeutic application in cancer and other pathological conditions involving abnormal angiogenesis. Further preclinical studies are recommended to explore its translational potential.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Funding
The study received no extramural funding.
Data availability statement
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Authors’ contributions
SKY contributed to the study by developing the concept, designing the study, conducting analyses, and writing and revising the manuscript. GKS contributed to the study design and supervised the manuscript preparation. DV assisted with the statistical analysis, ensuring the data was accurately interpreted and the findings were robust.
Publisher’s note
The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the management of Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (Deemed to be University) for providing facilities to perform this study. I am grateful to the Management of Karpaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre for their continued support during the writing and preparation of this manuscript.
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