*2.1. In Vitro Studies*

#### 2.1.1. Cell Culture and Reagents

The colorectal cancer HCT-116 cell line was purchased from the Iranian national cell bank (Pasteur institute, Tehran, Iran). The cells were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) supplemented with 10% (*v*/*v*) fetal bovine serum and 1% (*v*/*v*) penicillin–streptomycin solution (both from GIBCO, USA) at 37 ◦C in a humidified environment with 5% CO2. Curcumin (CAS Number 458-37- 7; Sigma-Aldrich, USA) and mPEG urethane gemini surfactant nanoparticles were a kind gift from the Institute for Color Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
