# Enhancing Radiotherapy Tolerance With Papaya Seed‐Derived Nanoemulsions

## TL;DR

This study shows that nanoemulsions made from papaya seeds can help protect skin cells from radiation damage during radiotherapy.

## Contribution

The development and evaluation of papaya seed-derived nanoemulsions for radioprotection is a novel approach in mitigating radiotherapy side effects.

## Key findings

- PPOE and SPOE significantly increased cell viability to 75.85% and 72.24% post-radiation.
- Nanoemulsions showed potential as topical agents to reduce radiation-induced tissue damage.
- Incorporation into sunscreen could broaden their application for skin protection.

## Abstract

Flavonoid‐rich plant materials have gained attention for their potential to reduce radiotherapy side effects.
Carica papaya
(CP) seeds, known for high flavonoid content, hold promise for therapeutic applications. This study explored the extraction and evaluation of two oils—sunflower oil‐based papaya oil (SPO) and pure papaya oil (PPO)—and their nano emulsions (SPOE and PPOE), derived from CP seeds, for radioprotective effects. Chemical analysis using QTOF‐MS revealed antioxidants and phytochemicals in the oils and emulsions. Size analysis and zeta potential measurements using dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed particle sizes of 140 ± 26.06 nm for PPOE and 293.7 ± 49.42 nm for SPOE. Post‐radiation, both SPOE and PPOE significantly enhanced cell viability, with values of 72.24 ± 3.92 (p ≤ 0.001) and 75.85 ± 2.62 (p ≤ 0.001), respectively. These nanoemulsions show potential as topical agents for reducing radiation‐induced tissue damage in radiotherapy. Despite the promising in vitro findings, further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the clinical relevance of these nanoemulsions. Additionally, their incorporation into sunscreen formulations could provide further protection against radiation‐induced skin damage, broadening their potential applications.

Flavonoid‐rich
Carica papaya
(CP) seeds were used to develop Sunflower Oil‐based Papaya Oil (SPO) and Pure Papaya Oil (PPO), alongside their nanoemulsions (SPOE and PPOE), for potential radioprotective applications. Post‐radiation testing on HaCaT cell lines demonstrated significant enhancement in cell viability, with PPOE and SPOE achieving 75.85% and 72.24%, respectively. These findings suggest their potential use as topical agents in radiotherapy and sunscreen formulations to mitigate radiation‐induced skin damage.