Simultaneous Administration of Bevacizumab with Bee-Pollen Extract-Loaded Hybrid Protein Hydrogel NPs Is a Promising Targeted Strategy against Cancer Cells

Abstract

Bevacizumab (Bev) a humanized monoclonal antibody that fights vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). It was the first specifically considered angiogenesis inhibitor and it has now become the normative first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current study, polyphenolic compounds were isolated from bee pollen (PCIBP) and encapsulated (EPCIBP) inside moieties of hybrid peptide–protein hydrogel nanoparticles in which bovine serum albumin (BSA) was combined with protamine-free sulfate and targeted with folic acid (FA). The apoptotic effects of PCIBP and its encapsulation (EPCIBP) were further investigated using A549 and MCF-7 cell lines, providing significant upregulation of Bax and caspase 3 genes and downregulation of Bcl2, HRAS, and MAPK as well. This effect was synergistically improved in combination with Bev. Our findings may contribute to the use of EPCIBP simultaneously with chemotherapy to strengthen the effectiveness and minimize the required dose.

Based polymer nanoparticles from bee pollen attenuate non-small lung cancer through enhancement of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vivo

“…Similary our previous results con rmed the present nding that bioactive materials isolated from bee pollen have potential therapeutic effect on non small lung cancer celllines [44,45].…”

Revolutionizing the Use of Honeybee Products in Healthcare: A Focused Review on Using Bee Pollen as a Potential Adjunct Material for Biomaterial Functionalization

“…Furthermore, the combination therapy assay of BPENPs and the chemotherapeutic drug Avastin at their IC50 levels demonstrated a unique synergism, highlighting the therapeutic aspect of these polymeric nanoparticles for cancer therapy by blocking cancer-promoting cellular signaling and activating apoptotic pathways in cancer cells. Another study by Hanafy et al reported similar findings where administration of BPE encapsulated within hybrid hydrogel nanoparticles significantly improved the anti-cancer effectiveness of Bevacizumab against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines when used in combination [111]. Such findings are a strong impetus for using bee pollen nanoparticles in conjunction with chemotherapy to increase efficacy while reducing the required dose.…”