title: Stealth, biocompatible monoolein-based lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles for enhanced aloe-emodin delivery to breast cancer cells: in vitro and in vivo studies.
abstract: Recently, research has progressively highlighted on clues from conventional use of herbal medicines to introduce new anticancer drugs. Aloe-emodin (AE) is a herbal drug with promising anticancer activity. Nevertheless, its clinical utility is handicapped by its low solubility. For the first time, this study aims to the fabrication of surface-functionalized polyethylene glycol liquid crystalline nanoparticles (PEG-LCNPs) of AE to enhance its water solubility and enable its anticancer use. Developed AE-PEG-LCNPs were optimized via particle size and zeta potential measurements. Phase behavior, solid state characteristics, hemocompatibility, and serum stability of LCNPs were assessed. Sterile formulations were developed using various sterilization technologies. Furthermore, the potential of the formulations was investigated using cell culture, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and toxicity studies. AE-PEG-LCNPs showed particle size of 190 nm and zeta potential of -49.9, and PEGylation approach reduced the monoolein hemolytic tendency to 3% and increased the serum stability of the nanoparticles. Sterilization of liquid and lyophilized AE-PEG-LCNPs via autoclaving and γ-radiations, respectively, insignificantly affected the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. Half maximal inhibitory concentration of AE-PEG-LCNPs was 3.6-fold lower than free AE after 48 hours and their cellular uptake was threefold higher than free AE after 24-hour incubation. AE-PEG-LCNPs presented 5.4-fold increase in t1/2compared with free AE. Biodistribution and toxicity studies showed reduced AE-PEG-LCNP uptake by reticuloendothelial system organs and good safety profile. PEGylated LCNPs could serve as a promising nanocarrier for efficient delivery of AE to cancerous cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University.
authors.forename: May S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Freag
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Drug Manufacturing, Pharos University in Alexandria.
authors.forename: Yosra Sr
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Elnaggar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Doaa A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Abdelmonsif
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University.
authors.forename: Ossama Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Abdallah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000737:chemistry*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D050997:Nanomedicine; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005989:Glycerides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C005953:monoolein; C518327:aloe emodin
keywords: aloe-emodin; anticancer; breast cancer cell line; liquid crystalline nanoparticles; monoolein; pharmacokinetics