Self-Assembled Nanomicelles as Curcumin Drug Delivery Vehicles: Impact on Solitary Fibrous Tumor Cell Protein Expression and Viability

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare soft tissue sarcomas that rely on several epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) protein regulators for invasion/metastatic progression. Curcumin (CUR) has several pharmacological activities, including anticancer activity and the ability to suppress the EMT process. However, poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and side effects at high doses limit the clinical applications of CUR. Here we present the results obtained by treating SFT cells with free CUR and three different CUR-loaded nanomicelles (NMs), each of which has its surface decorated with different ligands. All CUR-loaded NMs were more efficient in suppressing SFT cell viability and expression of EMT markers than CUR alone. Combined treatments with the pan-histone deacetylase dual inhibitor SAHA revealed a differential ability in inhibiting EMT markers expression and SFT cell invasiveness, depending on the NM-ligand type. Finally, combinations of photodynamic therapy and CUR-loaded NM administrations resulted in almost complete SFT cell viability abrogation 24 h after laser irradiation.