Phytomedicine-Loaded Polymeric Nanomedicines: Potential Cancer Therapeutics

Ethosomal (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a novel approach to enhance antioxidant, anti-collagenase and anti-elastase effects

Controlled release systems containing natural compounds have been successfully applied in cosmetics as antiaging products to enhance the penetration of active compounds through the skin. In this study, we aimed to develop novel ethosomal formulations containing a potent antioxidant, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and to evaluate their potential for use in cosmetics by determining their antioxidant and antiaging effects. Ethosomes (ETHs) were prepared via mechanical dispersion and characterized in vitro in terms of particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency percentage (EE%), and in vitro release. The best ETH formulation was used to prepare the ethosome-based gel (ETHG) by using Carbopol 980 as a gelling agent at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v). The gel formulation was evaluated regarding organoleptic properties, pH values, and viscosity. Stability studies were conducted for three months and changes in characterization parameters and residual EGCG content of ETHs were examined. Besides, for ETHG, organoleptic properties, pH values (every two weeks), and viscosity (first and twelfth week) were determined for three months. The 3-(4,5-dimethyldiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to test the cytotoxicity of the formulations and different EGCG solutions on the L929 cell line. The cell permeation properties and inhibitory effects of ETHs and ETHGs on collagenase and elastase enzymes were investigated compared to those of the solution form. Within the scope of antioxidant activity studies, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+•) radical scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation inhibitory effects were carried out. The optimized EGCG-loaded ETHs (F3) were within the nanoscale range (238 ± 1.10 nm). The highest encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release values were 51.7 ± 1.15% and 50.8 ± 1.70%, respectively. The ETHG was successfully formulated with F3-coded ETHs and the cytotoxicity test revealed that the formulations and the EGCG solution at different concentrations were nontoxic. In terms of cell permeability, enzyme inhibition, and antioxidant activity, the ethosomal formulations yielded better results compared to the EGCG solution. It was observed that the formulations had a long-term effect due to the stability of EGCG. The findings of the study underline the potential of antioxidant and antiaging effects of the developed ethosomal formulations for use in the cosmetic field.

GC-MS profiling and assessment of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of extracts of Annona squamosa L. leaves

Background

The research and application of plants in food supplements and drugs have attracted great interest. This study aimed to examine the efficiency of several solvents for the extraction of the main compounds from Annona squamosa leaves and to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of these extracts.

Methods

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to screen the bioactive compounds of A. squamosa methanolic extract. The free radical, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide scavenging activities of the extracts were investigated. Furthermore, MTT, nuclear staining, LDH, and monolayer wound repair assays were performed to evaluate the potential anticancer activity of the extracts in colon cancer cells while the antibacterial activity was tested by using a well diffusion assay.

Results

A. squamosa leaves extracts were found to contain several bioactive compounds, of which the majority were sesquiterpenes (C₁₅H₂₄). These extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial potency against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Different A. squamosa leaves extracts displayed remarkable antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antimigration, and apoptotic activities in colon cancer cells.

Conclusions

A. squamosa leaves contain major bioactive compounds that inhibit the growth of several types of bacteria and colon cancer cell lines, which demonstrated their efficacy as an alternative source of antibiotics and for the development of novel drugs for colon cancer therapy.

Biocompatible Lipid Nanoparticles as Carriers To Improve Curcumin Efficacy in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Curcumin is a natural molecule with proved anticancer efficacy on several human cancer cell lines. However, its clinical application has been limited due to its poor bioavailability. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery approaches could make curcumin dispersible in aqueous media, thus overtaking the limits of its low solubility. The aim of this study was to increase the bioavailability and the antitumoral activity of curcumin, by entrapping it into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). For this purpose here we describe the preparation and characterization of three kinds of curcumin-loaded NLCs. The nanosystems allowed the achievement of a controlled release of curcumin, the amounts of curcumin released after 24 h from Compritol-Captex, Compritol-Miglyol, and Compritol NLCs being, respectively, equal to 33, 28, and 18% w/w on the total entrapped curcumin. Considering the slower curcumin release profile, Compritol NLCs were chosen to perform successive in vitro studies on ovarian cancer cell lines. The results show that curcumin-loaded NLCs maintain anticancer activity, and reduce cell colony survival more effectively than free curcumin. As an example, the ability of A2780S cells to form colonies was decreased after treatment with 5 μM free curcumin by 50% ± 6, whereas, at the same concentration, the delivery of curcumin with NLC significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited colony formation to approximately 88% ± 1, therefore potentiating the activity of curcumin to inhibit A2780S cell growth. The obtained results clearly suggest that the entrapment of curcumin into NLCs increases curcumin efficacy in vitro, indicating the potential use of NLCs as curcumin delivery systems.

Synthesis and characterization of curcumin loaded polymer/lipid based nanoparticles and evaluation of their antitumor effects on MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND

Hybrid materials are synthesized using hydrophilic polymer and lipids which ensure their long term systemic circulation through intravenous administration and enhance loading of hydrophobic drugs. The purpose of this study is to prepare, characterize and evaluate the in vitro efficacy of curcumin loaded poly-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/stearic acid nanoparticles in MCF-7.

METHODS

C-PSA-NPs, prepared using the emulsification-solvent evaporation method were characterized by dynamic laser scattering, SEM, AFM, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, and TGA. The in vitro release behavior was observed in PBS pH7.4, the anticancer potential was analyzed by MTT assay, cell cycle and apoptosis studies were performed through flow cytometry. C-PSA-NPs drug localization and cancer cell morphological changes were analyzed in MCF-7 cell line.

RESULTS

C-PSA-NPs exhibited the mean particle size in the range of 184nm with no aggregation. The surface charge of the material was around -29.3mV. Thermal studies (TGA) and surface chemistry studies (FT-IR, XRD) showed the existence of drug curcumin in C-PSA-NPs. The MTT assay indicated higher anticancer properties and flow cytometry studies revealed that there were better apoptotic activity and maximum localization of C-PSA-NPs than curcumin.

CONCLUSIONS

Polymer lipid based drug delivery appeared as one of the advancements in drug delivery systems. Through the present study, a novel polymer lipid based nanocarrier delivery system loaded with curcumin was demonstrated as an effective and potential alternative method for tumor treatment in MCF-7 cell line.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

C-PSA-NPs exhibited potent anticancer activity in MCF-7 cell line and it indicates that C-PSA-NPs are a suitable carrier for curcumin.