Curcumin to cure Cancer - Research Paper Example

Research plan Background Curcumin has emerged as a powerful cancer-preventing factor, with 240 in print studies appearing in the worldwide scientific literature in the past year only. Its numerous effects act to at the same time to counter the causative factors in cancer development. It interferes at each stage in the multifaceted sequence of events that allow cancer cells to develop, reproduce, and spread. Their integrated methods of action have yielded a convincing outcome in fighting a remarkably wide collection of cancers, including those of the womb, breast, prostate cervix, and GI tract.

A promising body of research discloses curcumins promise in countering cancers of the lung, blood, bladder, and brain as well. A number of studies have been performed that hold up curcumin-mediated regulation of COX pathways, which is an essential mechanism by which curcumin stops a number of ailment processes, including the cancer. The precise regulation of COX-2 by curcumin is not fully established; though, existing evidence show that curcumin controls COX-2 mainly at the transcriptional level and, to some extent, the posttranslational level.

The curcumin-selective transcriptional control action of the COX-2 inhibitory potential of this naturally occurring agent offer unique advantages over synthetic COX inhibitors, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The purpose of this study will be test the effectiveness of curcumin as a chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of cancer.Cells will be treated with free Cisplatin and then with free curcumin to test the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic drug. This control will be compared to a plate of cells treated with nano-encapsulated curcumin along with cisplatin.

My hypothesis is that the nanoparticle delivery of drugs will show less resistance in the cells to the chemopreventive drug, a down regulation of COX-2, as well as decreased proliferation. I will be using fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles to encapsulate the cisplatin and deliver it to the mitochondria of the cells. The delivery system should not only demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake, but also show an elevated drug effect which should reduce the associated side effects. In addition, a new, simple and reasonably priced fluorescent based PT quantification technique has been adopted as an alternative of the commonly used ICP-based quantification method and this strategy of quantification could be elaborated to monitor fluorescent pro drug nanoparticles during real-time diagnosis.

A common problem with the present chemotherapeutic interventions is that it causes inflammation in the gut and kidney cells. To test my method against this, I will also conjugate the cisplatin nanoparticles with curcumin to test if the side effects are even further diminished. To measure the effectiveness of the nanoparticles in cell culture, I will be monitoring the expression of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2.This is a written summary of what is intended to be learned at the end of the study. The results from this will either reject or support the proposed hypothesis.

ReferenceAggarwal, Bharat B. The Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Uses of Curcumin in Health and Disease. New York, NY: Springer, 2007. Print.Leung, Mandy H. M., Takaaki Harada, and Tak W. Kee. "Delivery of Curcumin and Medicinal Effects of the Copper (II) -Curcumin Complexes." Current Pharmaceutical Design (2013): 2070-083. Print.Sasaki, Jun. Curcumin Biosynthesis, Medicinal Uses and Health Benefits. New York: Nova Science, 2012. Print.