Antiapoptotic Properties of Zinc@Curcumin‐Chitosan Nanocomposite on SW‐626 Ovarian Cancer Cell and Following the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

ABSTRACT Curcumin is a natural compound found in turmeric. It is a strong antioxidant that helps combat oxidative stress. It is also known as an effective agent for cancer therapy. In this study, we have reported a green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles using extracted curcumin from turmeric and chitosan to modify the NPs surface. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques. The XRD results revealed a crystallinity structure with a crystal size of 45.93 nm. The FE‐SEM imaging shows a nonspherical morphology with an average size of 62.41 nm. The vibration bands of Zn‐O bonds are appearance at 428, 534, and 580 cm −1 in FT‐IR test. The biological aspects were the focus of a recent study. Over the course of 48 h, the MTT test was used to evaluate the cytotoxic capacities of Zn NPs on SW‐626 cancer and HUVEC normal cells. Also, the antioxidant appraisement reported that the IC 50 for Zn NPs and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; the positive control of DPPH assay) in relation to DPPH were 41 and 15 μg/mL, respectively. When exposed to Zn NPs, the cancer cell's viability decreased, resulting in an IC 50 of 170 μg/mL. The report of the mTOR pathway indicated that Zn NPs influence apoptosis and cell proliferation in SW‐626 cells through the modulation of the PI3K‐Akt‐mTOR pathway. It could be involved in the activation of apoptosis and cell cycle inhibition brought on by Zn NPs. Consequently, Zn NPs may be a useful anticancer therapeutic for ovarian cancer treatments.