The Effective Role of FTIR in Monitoring the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Using Fe2O3@Ag@Chitosan Nanocomposite Loaded with Sorafenib as a Drug Delivery System.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, requiring the advancement of sophisticated treatment methods and accurate, non-invasive monitoring approaches. Superparamagnetic iron oxide@silver@chitosan (SPION@Ag@Cs) core-shell nanoparticles represent a potential platform for the targeted administration of sorafenib; yet real-time evaluation of therapy success at the molecular level continues to pose a difficulty. This study sought to assess the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib-loaded SPION@Ag@Cs nanocomposites and to validate Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a label-free method for monitoring biochemical changes during HCC treatment. We employed FTIR spectroscopy alongside synchrotron-based FTIR micro-spectroscopy and imaging to examine treated HCC tissues. Quantification of macromolecular alterations in proteins and lipids was conducted within designated cytoplasmic areas and juxtaposed with negative and positive controls, employing bee venom (BV) as a reference natural product for HCC therapy. Spectral analysis identified specific biochemical indicators linked to disease development and therapy response. Positive control samples exhibited a substantial rise in protein β-sheet structures, a notable decrease in lipid content, and a drop in albumin-associated vibrational bands. After therapy with the SPION@Ag@Cs-sorafenib system, these spectral characteristics exhibited a quantifiable shift towards the healthy control condition. These variables particular macromolecular signatures function as sensitive biomarkers for detecting pathological conditions and monitoring therapeutic results. This study emphasizes the dual capability of SPION@Ag@Cs as an efficient nanocarrier for sorafenib and FTIR micro-spectroscopy as a rapid, objective, and economical method for early liver cancer screening and real-time treatment assessment.