Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy. This study aimed to enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX) by co-encapsulating it with a ruthenium (II) complex (Ru-II) and curcumin nanoparticles (C-NP). METHODS: C-NPs were prepared via wet milling, and Ru-II was synthesized through ligand coordination and reduction. The conjugate (CoENC-PTX) was obtained by combining PTX, Ru-II, and C-NP, followed by ultrafiltration. Characterization was performed using UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, and HRSEM. In vitro evaluations included drug release, cytotoxicity assays on OSCC cells, live/dead cell labeling, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. RESULTS: CoENC-PTX showed efficient encapsulation with distinct spectral, crystalline, and morphological features. Drug release exhibited a biphasic profile, with 94.8 % release in 48 h. Cytotoxicity assays indicated dose-dependent reduction in OSCC cell viability, with maximum effect at 100 μg/mL. Live/dead staining confirmed apoptosis, while qPCR revealed p53 and c-Myc overexpression, indicating apoptosis activation and cell cycle regulation. CONCLUSION: The PTX-Ru-II-C-NP formulation significantly improved the anticancer activity against OSCC, offering a promising synergistic approach for oral cancer therapy.