Investigating the Application of Pomegranate-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection via Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

Abstract

The present cancer diagnostic techniques and contrast agents suffer drawbacks, adverse effects, and poor compatibility with patients due to health variations. To improve the detection of breast cancer, this work examined and contrasted the prospective applications of pomegranates, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs), and pomegranate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PCs NPs) as contrast agents for breast cancer, based on the diffuse reflectance properties at the following laser frequencies: red (670 nm) and near-infrared (700 and 808 nm) spectrum. Herein, a platform for the detection of breast cancer is proposed, offering a promising pathway for cancer detection. PCs NPs with two different pomegranate contents (2 and 5 g/L) were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The cytotoxicity of the developed nanomaterials on human normal (Vero) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines were evaluated in the presence of laser irradiation at 670 nm, and the fluorescent effect of the nanoparticles was observed. The chemical structures of the nanomaterials and pomegranate extract were analyzed using FTIR, and they were then further analytically characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Results confirmed the structural stability of the nanomaterials. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed that the nanomaterials achieved a selective cytotoxic effect toward tumor cells. Results also showed significant wavelength-dependent changes in diffuse reflectance characteristics between malignant and normal cells. PCs NPs, at a content of 5 g/L, enhanced the reflectance in malignant cells compared to normal cells of more than three folds. These findings indicate the potential of PCs NPs to distinguish between healthy and malignant cells based on the reflection measurements.