title: Enhancing activity of artesunate against breast cancer cells via induced-apoptosis pathway by loading into lipid carriers.
abstract: Artesunate-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (ART-NLCs) were prepared by hot homogenization followed by ultrasonication technique. The optimized ART-NLC demonstrated a particle size of 117.5 ± 6.1 nm, with good stability regarding zeta-potential of  -19.47 ± 0.9 mV and drug entrapment efficiency of 92.93 ± 1.47%. ART-NLC showed good cellular uptake in breast cancer cells, which was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry analysis. The significantly higher in vitro cytotoxicity of ART-NLCs against human breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 cells as compared with the free ART was recorded.  Hoechst 33342 staining indicated that ART-NLC induced higher apoptosis rates in MCF-7 as well as MDA-MB-231cells than free ART.
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , South Korea.
authors.forename: Tuan Hiep
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: b National Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Ha Noi , Viet Nam.
authors.forename: Anh Ngoc
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan , South Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Soon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: b National Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Hanoi University of Pharmacy , Ha Noi , Viet Nam.
authors.forename: Chien Ngoc
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077332:Artesunate; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D061986:MCF-7 Cells
chemical_list: D037621:Artemisinins; D008081:Liposomes; D000077332:Artesunate
keywords: Anti-cancer; apoptosis; artesunate; control release; lipid nanoparticles