title: In vitro determination of the efficacy of scorpion venoms as anti-cancer agents against colorectal cancer cells: a nano-liposomal delivery approach.
abstract: The use of liposomes in biological and medicinal sciences is a relatively new approach. The liposomal strategy greatly depends on the technological advancement in the formation of vesicles of various sizes and properties. In the current study, we encapsulated the venoms obtained from medically important scorpions such asAndroctonus bicolor(AB),Androctonus crassicauda(AC), andLeiurus quinquestriatus(LQ). To begin with, our first and foremost aim was to prepare biocompatible and biodegradable nanovesicles. Additionally, we intended to enhance the anti-cancer potential of these encapsulated venoms. The liposomal venoms were prepared by rehydration and dehydration methods. Morphology, particle size, and size distribution of the liposomes were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Zetasizer. We found that the prepared liposomes had a smooth surface and a spherical/ovoid shape and existed mainly as single unilamellar vesicles (SUVs). Furthermore, the liposomal formulation of all three venoms exhibited excellent stability and good encapsulation efficiency (EE). Additionally, the anti-cancer potential of the encapsulated venoms was also evaluated on a colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-8). The venom-loaded liposomes showed elevated anti-cancer properties such as low rate of cell survival, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and enhancement in the number of apoptotic cells. In addition to this, cell cycle analysis revealed G0/G1 enrichment upon venom treatment. The effect of treatment was more pronounced when venom-liposome was used as compared to free venom on the HCT-8 cell line. Furthermore, we did not observe any interference of liposomal lipids used in these preparations on the progression of cancer cells. Considering these findings, we can conclude that the encapsulated scorpion venoms exhibit better efficacy and act more vigorously as an anti-cancer agent on the colorectal cancer cell line when compared with their free counterpart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Asmari
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh.
authors.forename: Zabih
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Balowi
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh.
authors.forename: Mozaffarul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Islam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012605:Scorpions
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: anti-cancer; colon carcinoma cells; liposomes; nanomedicine; scorpion venom