THE ANTI-TUMORIGENIC POTENTIALITY OF NANO CELECOXIB COMBATING SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA (AN IN-VITRO STUDY)

Introduction: Celecoxib may have anti-cancer potential in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, its use is restricted by its poor water solubility. A promising method to overcome this challenge is the use of celecoxib in the form of nanocrystals. Objectives: This study assessed anticancer efficacy of nanocelecoxib crystals on SCC4 cell line, verifying apoptotic potentiality of nanocelecoxib versus cisplatin. Methods: Nanocelecoxib was synthesized by solvent anti-solvent precipitation method. After nanoparticles’ characterization, SCC4 were treated with nanocelecoxib and cisplatin. After 48 h, cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay. After determination of inhibitory concentrations (IC50), the apoptotic efficacy was assessed by annexin-V assay, while survival fractions were verified by colony forming assay. MTT analysis was done by non-linear regression method and apoptosis by Two-way ANOVA, setting the significance at p < 0.05. Results: After optimization of nanocelecoxib synthesis, the nanoparticles showed dose-dependent cytotoxic profile on SCC4 with IC50 of ~488 µg/mL after 48 h. The flow cytometer revealed significant early apoptosis reaching 28.2 ± 3.4 (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the significant apoptotic potentiality extended to late apoptosis, recording 3.9 ± 0.09 % in nanocelecoxib-treated group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the nanocelecoxib showed comparable antiproliferative effect to cisplatin combating the survival of the formed colonies, recording survival fractions of 0.38 ± 0.07% and 0.12 ± 0.02%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Nanocelecoxib exhibits significant anti-cancer activity against SCC4 cancer cells in a dose-dependent profile reducing cancerous cell viability. Moreover, nanocelecoxib was as effective as chemotherapeutic in inducing programmed cell death in SCC4 cells.