title: Preparation, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Silibinin- Containing Nanoniosomes in T47D Human Breast Carcinoma Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancer types within female populations. Silibinin is a chemotherapeutic agent active against cancer. Niosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible, safe and effective carriers for drug delivery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To prepare nanoniosomal silibinin and evaluate its cytotoxicity in the T-47D breast cancer cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  Niosomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation of a mixture of span 20, silibinin, PEG-2000 and cholesterol in chloroform and methanol solvent (1:2 v/v). The solvent phase was evaporated using a rotary evaporator and the remaining gel phase was hydrated in phosphate buffer saline. Mean size, size distribution and zeta potential of niosomes were measured with a Zetasizer instrument and then nanoparticles underwent scanning electron microscopy. The drug releasing pattern was evaluated by dialysis and the cytotoxicity of nanoniosomes in T-47D cells was assessed by MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Particle size, size variation and zeta potential of the niosomal nanoparticles were measured as 178.4 ± 5.4 nm, 0.38 ± 0.09 and -15.3 ± 1.3 mV, respectively. The amount of encapsulated drug and the level of drug loading were determined 98.6 ± 2.7% and 22.3 ±1.8%, respectively; released drug was estimated about 18.6±2.5% after 37 hours. The cytotoxic effects of nanoniosome were significantly increased when compared with the free drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study findings suggest that silibinin nanoniosomes could serve as a new drug formulation for breast cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Faculty, Islamic Azad University of Shahrood, Semnan, Iran E-mail : chiani110@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Boshra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi-Far
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saffari
authors.forename: Azim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
authors.forename: Esmaeil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiani
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D012838:Silymarin; D000077385:Silybin