STUDY OF THE POTENTIAL OF GRAPHENE QUANTUM DOTS AND CURCUMIN TO MODULATE ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING-ENZYME 2 RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN VITRO

• Main Author: Mailisa, Wiska
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/62960
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Curcumin is a natural product-derived molecule with promising biological properties in order to fight viruses, treating lung, kidney, and heart disorders, and act as an antiinflammatory and anticancer agent. Curcumin is also have the ability to modulate the Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2). This receptor regulates blood pressure and is found in the human respiratory tract, heart, and kidneys. It is also a receptor for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Another study found that combining curcumin and Graphene Quantum Dots (GQD) increased biological activity both in vitro and in vivo. GQD has biological activity as an anti-mycoplasma agent, and recently, GQD has been associated with ACE2 to overcome the problems caused by SARS-CoV-2. Given the potency of each GQD and curcumin, an in vitro test was performed to determine their ability to modulate the ACE2 receptor (ACE2R). Gene expression of ACE2 was quantified using concentrations adjusted for IC50 results from GQD and curcumin cytotoxicity assays in HEK 293 and A549 cell lines. RT-qPCR was used to assess the expression of the ACE2R gene and its inducer effect in both cell lines. According to the results of the tests, ACE2R is expressed in both cell lines, and Diminazene aceturate can increase ACE2R expression.The effect of GQD and curcumin on ACE2R gene expression was next examined on both cell lines that had previously been induced with Diminazene aceturate, and it was discovered that GQD and curcumin, particularly curcumin at a dosage of 300 ppm, could inhibit ACE2R expression in cell line A549.