Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used in the treatment of cancer. The clinical use of 5-Flurouracil is constantly challenged by its poor selectivity and various side effects. Aim: The modification of 5-fluorouracil with Zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and Cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) to enhance its antitumor activity was carried out. Material and Methods: The nanocomposite synthesis was evident by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis and Fourier Transforms Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In addition to that the combined effect of ionizing gamma radiation with the modified 5-FU with Zinc oxide nanoparticles and Cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) was also investigated after 24 and 48 hr. The in vitro anticancer activity of nanocomposite (5-FU modified with Zinc oxide nano particles and CTAB) on liver cancer cells lines (HepG2), (HUH-7) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was investigated using MTT (3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay after 24 and 48 hr. Results: Nanocomposite exerted better in vitro anticancer activity against the previous human cancer cell lines comparable to the activity of 5-FU alone after 24 and 48 hr.
Conclusions: The effectiveness of 5-FU modified with Zinc oxide nanoparticles and CTAB as an antitumor drug is enhanced by the combination of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy with Nanotechnology.