Harnessing marine polysaccharides for breast cancer therapy: ulvan synergizes with nano-selenium to induce programmed cell death through dual modulation of autophagy and apoptosis
- 1Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Capital University (Formerly Helwan University)
- 2Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
- 3Unit of Scientific Research, Applied College, Qassim University
Abstract
Background: Since breast cancer is one of the biggest worldwide health issues, new and effective treatment approaches are required. Because autophagy control has two context-dependent roles in the development of cancer, it is a prospective therapeutic target. With an emphasis on the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy, this work assessed the anticancer potential of ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide produced from Ulva lactuca, and ulvan-loaded nano-selenium in an Ehrlich solid carcinoma model.
Material: ESC-bearing mice were treated with ulvan extract, sodium selenite or ulvan-SeNPs for 14 days. The anticancer activity was assessed through histology, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic proteins and genes expression for autophagy and molecular docking studies.
Results: Molecular docking analysis revealed ulvan-derived saccharides to bind strongly to VEGFR2, CD44 and Toll-like receptors suggesting multi-target action. Ulvan in vivo restored antioxidant defenses, reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and induced apoptosis via caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation. Ulvan induced controlled autophagy by decreasing mTOR and increasing autophagy related gene expression. Ulvan-SeNPs exhibited enhanced anticancer activity with increased activation of autophagic and apoptotic pathways, as evidenced by tumor shrinkage, reduced angiogenesis and histopathological analysis.
Conclusion: Ulvan is a controlled anti-cancer agent, with a mechanism synergistically enhanced by nano-selenium. These results indicate that ulvan could be a potential natural therapeutic for breast cancer alone or in combination with nano-selenium.
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BibTeX
@article{mekkawy2026harnessing,
title = {{Harnessing marine polysaccharides for breast cancer therapy: ulvan synergizes with nano-selenium to induce programmed cell death through dual modulation of autophagy and apoptosis}},
author = {Sara A. Mekkawy and Ahmed M. Abdelmaguid and Manal F. El-Khadragy and Ahmed A. Aly and Mohamed S. Abdelfattah and Mohga S. Abdalla},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1968903},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1968903/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Harnessing marine polysaccharides for breast cancer therapy: ulvan synergizes with nano-selenium to induce programmed cell death through dual modulation of autophagy and apoptosis
AU - Sara A. Mekkawy
AU - Ahmed M. Abdelmaguid
AU - Manal F. El-Khadragy
AU - Ahmed A. Aly
AU - Mohamed S. Abdelfattah
AU - Mohga S. Abdalla
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1968903
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1968903/full
AB - Background: Since breast cancer is one of the biggest worldwide health issues, new and effective treatment approaches are required. Because autophagy control has two context-dependent roles in the development of cancer, it is a prospective therapeutic target. With an emphasis on the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy, this work assessed the anticancer potential of ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide produced from Ulva lactuca, and ulvan-loaded nano-selenium in an Ehrlich solid carcinoma model. Material: ESC-bearing mice were treated with ulvan extract, sodium selenite or ulvan-SeNPs for 14 days. The anticancer activity was assessed through histology, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic proteins and genes expression for autophagy and molecular docking studies. Results: Molecular docking analysis revealed ulvan-derived saccharides to bind strongly to VEGFR2, CD44 and Toll-like receptors suggesting multi-target action. Ulvan in vivo restored antioxidant defenses, reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and induced apoptosis via caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation. Ulvan induced controlled autophagy by decreasing mTOR and increasing autophagy related gene expression. Ulvan-SeNPs exhibited enhanced anticancer activity with increased activation of autophagic and apoptotic pathways, as evidenced by tumor shrinkage, reduced angiogenesis and histopathological analysis. Conclusion: Ulvan is a controlled anti-cancer agent, with a mechanism synergistically enhanced by nano-selenium. These results indicate that ulvan could be a potential natural therapeutic for breast cancer alone or in combination with nano-selenium.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -