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 ative against cancer. Niosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible, safe and effective carriers for drug delivery. ObjectiveTo prepare nanoniosomal silibinin and evaluate its cytotoxicity inthe T-47D breast cancer cell line. Materials and Methods Niosomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation of a mixture of span 20, silibinin, PEG-2000 and cholesterol in chloroform and methanol solvent (12 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 18.62.5% after 37 hours. The cytotoxic effects of nanoniosome were signi cantly increased when compared with the free drug. Conclusions This study nding suggests that silibinin nanoniosomes could serve as a new drug formulation for breast cancer therapy.