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Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a substantial global health burden, necessitating advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. This study aimed to investigate the potential of CeO2/GO nanoparticles (NPs) in managing CRC and to compare their efficacy with Ag-doped CeO2 (CeO2:Ag) NPs. The synthesis of cerium oxide (CeO2) and graphene oxide (GO) was meticulously performed, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of NPs' toxicity and their impact on apoptosis-related genes in CRC cells. Characterization techniques, including XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and DLS, validated the successful synthesis and unique properties of CeO2:Ag/GO NPs. XRD confirmed the CeO2 and GO structures, while EDX analysis confirmed high purity in the synthesized NPs and uniform element distribution in CeO2/GO NPs. SEM and TEM micrographs illustrated CeO2 NPs attached to graphene sheets, showcasing reduced size post-attachment. FT-IR revealed characteristic peaks for CeO2 and GO, confirming their composite structure. DLS showed an average NP size of 20 nm in solution. Notably, MTT assays demonstrated that CeO2:Ag/GO NPs exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against CRC cells (C-26 cell line) compared to CeO2:Ag NPs, with higher doses showing heightened efficacy. CeO2:Ag/GO NPs induced stronger growth inhibition and apoptosis in CRC cells, which was linked to their improved cellular uptake and ability to target multiple cancer-related pathways. In contrast, GO NPs alone lacked cytotoxic effects. Gene expression analysis via qPCR revealed CeO2:Ag/GO NPs significantly downregulated Zeb-1, VEGF, Cyclin-D1, and Twist compared to controls, altering cancer-related pathways more effectively than CeO2:Ag NPs. Additionally, CeO2:Ag/GO NPs significantly upregulated BAX and Caspase-1 while downregulating Bcl-2, implicating a more potent apoptotic response. This study highlights the advantage of CeO2:Ag/GO NPs over CeO2:Ag NPs in impeding CRC cell growth and inducing apoptosis, offering a promising foundation for innovative therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zymosan is a β-glucan isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that could be employed for drug delivery. We synthesized zymosan nanoparticles and measured their structural and morphological properties using XRD, UV–Vis spectroscopy, TEM and AFM. The loading of doxorubicin (DOX) onto the nanoparticles was confirmed by FT-IR, and the DOX release was shown to be pH-dependent. The effect of these agents on C26 cell viability was evaluated by MTT tests and the expression of genes connected with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and apoptosis were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Treatments were able to suppress the proliferation of C26 cells, and the zymosan nanocarriers loaded with DOX enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of DOX in a synergistic manner. Zymosan nanoparticles were able to suppress the expression of cyclin D1, VEGF, ZEB1, and Twist mRNAs. Treatment groups upregulated the expression of caspase-8, while reducing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, thus promoting apoptosis. In conclusion, zymosan nanoparticles as DOX nanocarriers could provide a more targeted drug delivery through pH-responsiveness, and showed synergistic cytotoxicity by modifying Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]