Evaluation of ?-Sitosterol Loaded PLGA and PEG-PLA Nanoparticles for Effective Treatment of Breast Cancer: Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and Antitumor Activity.
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ABSTRACT: ?-Sitosterol (?-Sit) is a dietary phytosterol with demonstrated anticancer activity against a panel of cancers, but its poor solubility in water limits its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. In this study, poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) were used to encapsulate ?-Sit into nanoparticles with the aim of enhancing its in vitro anticancer activity. ?-Sitosterol-loaded PLGA and PEG-PLA nanoparticles (?-Sit-PLGA and ?-Sit-PEG-PLA) were prepared by using a simple emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The nanoparticles were characterized for size, particle size distribution, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Their cellular uptake and antiproliferative activity was evaluated against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells using flow cytometry and MTT assays, respectively. ?-Sit-PLGA and ?-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles were spherical in shape with average particle sizes of 215.0 ± 29.7 and 240.6 ± 23.3 nm, a zeta potential of -13.8 ± 1.61 and -23.5 ± 0.27 mV, respectively, and with narrow size distribution. The encapsulation efficiency of ?-Sit was 62.89 ± 4.66 and 51.83 ± 19.72 % in PLGA and PEG-PLA nanoparticles, respectively. In vitro release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and PBS/with 0.2% Tween 20 showed an initial burst release, followed by a sustained release for 408 h. ?-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were generally stable in a protein-rich medium, whereas ?-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles showed a tendency to aggregate. Flow cytometry analysis (FACS) indicated that ?-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were efficiently taken up by the cells in contrast to ?-Sit-PEG-PLA nanoparticles. ?-Sit-PLGA nanoparticles were therefore selected to evaluate antiproliferative activity. Cell viability was inhibited by up to 80% in a concentration range of 6.64?53.08 ?g/mL compared to the untreated cells. Taken together, encapsulation of ?-Sitosterol in PLGA nanoparticles is a promising strategy to enhance its anticancer activity against breast cancer cells.
SUBMITTER: Andima M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6321471 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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