Radiation therapy is an effective method to kill
cancer cells and shrink
tumors using high-energy X-ray or γ-ray.
Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is one of the most serious complications of
radiation therapy for thoracic
cancers, commonly leading to serious respiratory distress and poor prognosis. Here, we prepared
curcumin-loaded mesoporous
polydopamine nanoparticles (CMPN) for prevention and treatment of RP by pulmonary delivery. Mesoporous
polydopamine nanoparticles (
MPDA) were successfully synthesized with an
emulsion-induced interface polymerization method and
curcumin was loaded in
MPDA via π‒π stacking and hydrogen bonding interaction.
MPDA owned the uniform spherical morphology with numerous mesopores that disappeared after loading
curcumin. More than 80%
curcumin released from CMPN in 6 h and mesopores recovered. CMPN remarkably protected BEAS-2B cells from γ-ray
radiation injury by inhibiting apoptosis. RP rat models were established after a single dose of 15 Gy 60Co γ-ray radiation was performed on the chest area. Effective
therapy of RP was achieved by intratracheal administration of CMPN due to
free radical scavenging and anti-oxidation ability, and reduced proinflammatory
cytokines, high
superoxide dismutase, decreased
malondialdehyde, and alleviated lung tissue damages were observed. Inhaled CMPN paves a new avenue for the treatment of RP.