Papain enzymes attacking cancer cells

Papain's Cancer-Fighting Potential: How Nanotechnology Could Revolutionize Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 3 min read.

"Explore how papain-loaded nanoparticles offer a targeted approach to colorectal cancer therapy, overcoming traditional treatment limitations and enhancing efficacy."

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, presents a significant challenge due to tumor cells' protective mechanisms. These cells often shield themselves with a fibrin coat, rendering them resistant to conventional cancer treatments and evading detection by the immune system.

To combat this, researchers have explored the potential of proteolytic enzymes like papain, derived from papaya, to dissolve this protective fibrin layer. By exposing the tumor cell surface, papain could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and stimulate immune responses against cancer cells.

Recent advancements focus on delivering papain directly to cancer sites using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). This targeted approach aims to maximize the enzyme's impact on tumor cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues, paving the way for more effective and less toxic cancer therapies.

Targeted Therapy: Papain-Loaded Nanoparticles

The study detailed in 'Current Cancer Therapy Reviews' investigates the use of papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a targeted drug delivery system for colorectal cancer. The goal was to encapsulate papain within nanoparticles to enhance its stability, control its release, and improve its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells.

Researchers successfully created papain-loaded SLNs using a melt dispersion-ultrasonication technique. These nanoparticles, composed of cetyl alcohol as the lipid matrix and PEG-4000 as a surfactant, were designed to:

Protect papain from degradation.
Ensure targeted delivery to cancer cells.
Control the release of the enzyme for sustained therapeutic action.

The resulting SLNs exhibited desirable characteristics, including a particle size of around 157 nm and a sustained release of papain over 24 hours. In vitro studies on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells demonstrated that the papain-loaded SLNs significantly reduced cell viability, showcasing their enhanced cytotoxic efficacy compared to pure papain.

Future of Papain in Cancer Treatment

This research highlights the potential of papain-loaded SLNs as a novel approach to colorectal cancer therapy. By encapsulating papain within nanoparticles, researchers have improved its stability, controlled its release, and enhanced its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells.

While these findings are promising, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of anticancer activity and to conduct clinical investigations. Future studies could focus on:

Investigating the lymphatic uptake of SLNs for treating metastatic colorectal cancer. Optimizing the formulation parameters for maximum efficacy and stability. Assessing the safety and efficacy of papain-loaded SLNs in human clinical trials. With continued research, papain-loaded SLNs could become a valuable tool in the fight against colorectal cancer, offering a targeted and effective treatment option for patients worldwide.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2174/1573394713666170929160933, Alternate LINK

Title: Papain Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles For Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Subject: Cancer Research

Journal: Current Cancer Therapy Reviews

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Authors: Suriyakala P. Chandran, Kannika P. Nachinmuthu, Satheesh B. Natarajan, Mohammad G. Inamdar, Masliza S.B.M. Shahimi

Published: 2018-02-28

Everything You Need To Know

How do papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) specifically target and destroy colorectal cancer cells?

Papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) work by encapsulating papain, a proteolytic enzyme, within nanoparticles. These SLNs are designed to protect the papain from degradation and ensure targeted delivery to colorectal cancer cells. Once at the tumor site, the SLNs release the papain, which then dissolves the protective fibrin coat around the cancer cells. This exposes the tumor cells, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy and stimulating immune responses against the cancer cells. The use of cetyl alcohol and PEG-4000 helps in forming stable nanoparticles with controlled release properties.

Why are solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) a better delivery method for papain compared to administering papain directly for colorectal cancer treatment?

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are crucial because they enhance the stability of papain, control its release, and improve its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Traditional methods of delivering papain directly are less effective due to rapid degradation and non-specific targeting, which can harm healthy tissues. SLNs, made using materials like cetyl alcohol and PEG-4000, ensure that papain reaches the tumor site effectively, maximizing its impact on cancer cells while minimizing harm to the rest of the body. This targeted approach is particularly important in treating colorectal cancer, where tumor cells have protective mechanisms.

What is the melt dispersion-ultrasonication technique, and why is it important in creating effective papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)?

The melt dispersion-ultrasonication technique is used to create papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). This process involves melting a lipid, such as cetyl alcohol, and dispersing papain within it. Then, ultrasonication is applied to create nanoparticles. The surfactant, like PEG-4000, helps to stabilize the nanoparticles and prevent them from aggregating. This technique ensures that papain is evenly distributed within the SLNs, resulting in particles with a consistent size of around 157 nm and controlled release properties, which are essential for effective drug delivery to colorectal cancer cells.

What are the limitations of the current research on papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for colorectal cancer, and what areas need further investigation?

While the research focuses on the effectiveness of papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, it doesn't cover the long-term effects or potential side effects on patients. More research is needed to understand how these nanoparticles interact with the body over extended periods and whether there are any adverse reactions. Additionally, the study does not delve into the scalability of the melt dispersion-ultrasonication technique for mass production. Further studies should investigate these areas to ensure the safe and efficient use of papain-loaded SLNs in clinical settings.

What are the implications of the enhanced cytotoxic efficacy observed with papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) on colorectal cancer treatment and patient outcomes?

The enhanced cytotoxic efficacy of papain-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) implies that lower doses of chemotherapy may be required to achieve the same therapeutic effect on colorectal cancer. By dissolving the fibrin coat and exposing tumor cells, papain increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. This could reduce the overall toxicity associated with cancer treatment, leading to improved patient outcomes and quality of life. Furthermore, the stimulated immune responses against cancer cells suggest that papain-loaded SLNs may also contribute to long-term cancer control by helping the body's own immune system fight the disease.