Design and development of a hyaluronic acid-targeted nanosystem featuring dual imaging capabilities for diagnosing and treating breast cancer: An in vitro investigation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that nearly 20 million people are impacted by cancer, with breast cancer being the second most common type, accounting for a large number of deaths annually. Therefore, efficient imaging and monitoring, along with simultaneous therapies, are essential for managing and evaluating treatment responses. In this study, we developed a targeted theranostic nanosystem incorporating carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, surface-modified with hyaluronic acid (HA), to facilitate the loading of curcumin (Cur). The engineered nanosystem demonstrated a pH-sensitive release profile. While Fe3O4/CQDs@HA displayed minimal toxicity, the formulation with Cur exhibited preferential and heightened toxicity towards cancer cells compared to normal HFFF2 cells. The specific absorption of Fe3O4/CQDs@HA-Cur by MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, which overexpress HA receptors, was validated through fluorescence imaging. Additionally, MRI imaging revealed an increase in negative signal within the tumor, affirming the potential of this nanocarrier as a diagnostic agent. Analysis of the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase 3, and p53 genes showed that this nanosystem can effectively induce apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway. These findings suggest that Fe3O4/CQDs@HA-Cur holds promise as both a therapeutic and diagnostic agent in breast cancer treatment.