Spectrin conjugated PLGA nanoparticles for potential membrane phospholipid interactions: Development, optimization and in vitro studies

Development and optimization of transethosomal gel of apigenin for topical delivery: In-vitro, ex-vivo and cell line assessment

The main aim of this study was to optimize the transethosomes of apigenin formulated by the thin film hydration method using surfactant Span 80. Response surface Box-Behnken design with three levels of three factors was used to design and optimize the formulations. The prepared transethosomal formulations were characterized for entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, and flux to obtain the optimized formulation batch. The optimized batch was further incorporated into the gel and characterized for the in-vitro, ex-vivo, and cytotoxic studies. The result showed the optimized transethosomes were smooth, nanosized, unilamellar, and spherical with an entrapment efficiency of 78.75 ± 3.14 %, a vesicle size of 108.75 ± 2.31 nm, and a flux of 4.10 ± 0.63 µg/cm²/h. In-vitro cumulative drug release of transethosomal gel of apigenin (TEL gel) and the conventional gel was 92.25 ± 3.5 % and 53.40 ± 3.10 %, respectively, after 24 h study. Ex-vivo permeation of TEL gel and conventional gel showed 86.20 ± 3.60 % and 51.20 ± 3.20 % permeation of apigenin at 24 h, respectively. A cytotoxic study confirmed that TEL gel significantly reduces cell viability compared to conventional gel. The results suggested that topical application of apigenin transethosomal gel may be a better treatment strategy for skin cancer because of the prolonged sustained release of the drug and the better permeability of apigenin through the skin.

Nisin and nisin-loaded nanoparticles: a cytotoxicity investigation

OBJECTIVE

Nisin is an antibacterial peptide with anticancer properties, but the main drawback is its rapid enzymatic degradation and limited permeation across the cell membrane. This research aims to to overcome these drawbacks by developing nisin-loaded nanoparticles with improved cytotoxic effects.

SIGNIFICANCE

PLGA nanoparticles are one of the most effective biodegradable and biocompatible drug delivery carriers. In the present study, nisin-loaded nanoparticles showed enhanced anticancer effects.

METHODS

NPN was prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterized for different parameters. The cytotoxic investigation of NPN was carried out on various cell lines, including A549, SW-620, HT-29, PC-3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, MiaPaca-2, and fR2 by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Mechanistic investigation of cellular cytotoxicity was performed by using bright-field microscopy, DAPI staining, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and western blotting. A comparative cytotoxicity study of nisin and NPN was performed on normal breast epithelial cells (fR-2).

RESULTS

NPN showed spherical shape, 289.09 ± 3.63 nm particle size, and 63.37 ± 3.12% entrapment efficiency. NPN was more cytotoxic to the MDA-MB-231 cell line, showing higher nuclear fragmentation, ROS generation, and depletion of ΔΨm like apoptosis signs compared to nisin and with no cytotoxicity on normal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that nisin delivery via PLGA nanoparticles can be used to treat cancer without significant effects on healthy cells.