Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy of Noscapine-Loaded Lipid Nanocapsules: In-vitro and In-vivo Evaluation.
Nadeen Diaa Abdel-Wahab, Mohamed Fawzi Kabil, Ibrahim mohammed El-sherbiny, Mohamed Salama, Gehad El‐Sayed, El‐Said El‐Sherbini · Egyptian Journal of Chemistry · 2024
Noscapine (NOS), an alkaloid with several interesting biological applications, has demonstrated antitumor action and cough suppressant potential. However, the strong hydrophobic nature of NOS makes it poorly water-soluble. Therefore, it was necessary to figure out how to make NOS more soluble. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of free NOS as compared to that of NOS-loaded lipid nanocapsules (NOS-LNCs) on the 4T1 cell line, and in an orthotopic breast cancer (BC) mouse model. Spherical-shaped NOS-LNCs were prepared with a particle size (PS) of 213.4 ± 1.41 nm and a zeta potential (ZP) of -13.6 ± 1.17. The IC50 of free NOS, NOS-LNCs, and plain LNCs was measured on the 4T1 cell line by MTT assay, and the results revealed that the IC50 was 66.107 µg/ml, 13.209 µg/ml, and 121.132 µg/ml, respectively. On the other hand, NOS-LNCs demonstrated stronger anticancer effects in-vivo along with strong antiproliferative and antioxidant properties. Also, the immunohistochemistry analysis of BAX and BCL-2 in the tumor tissue confirmed the apoptotic activity of the NOS-LNCs, as it increased the expression of BAX and downregulated BCL-2. In conclusion, the current investigation showed that the developed NOS nanoform has a great deal of potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of BC.