Artemisinin-loaded niosome and pegylated niosome: physico-chemical characterization and effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical investigation 2018-05, Vol.48 (3), p.251-256
• Main Authors: Asgharkhani, Elnaz, Fathi Azarbayjani, Anahita, Irani, Shiva, Chiani, Mohsen, Saffari, Zahra, Norouzian, Dariush, Akbarzadeh, Azim, Atyabi, Seyed Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Original Article
• ISSN: 2093-5552; 2093-6214
• DOI: 10.1007/s40005-017-0331-y

Artemisinin (ART)-loaded niosome and pegylated niosomes were prepared using two different techniques. Nanosized lipid vesicles were physically characterized for entrapment efficacy and stability. Particle sizes were determined and release kinetic of the optimized formulation was carried out by dialysis method. The efficacy of the developed formulation was tested on MCF7 cells and cytotoxicity was accomplished by MTT assay. Common observation was the effect of pegylation on the reduction of vesicle size due to its hydrophilic nature. Span 60 niosomes had slightly larger vesicle size than Span 20 niosomes. Over all the good stability was observed over 60 days. In vitro drug release studies indicate gradual release of niosome over 40 h. similar trend in drug release was observed for most formulation except for the multilammellar pegylated niosomes. Pegylation of niosomes causes increased stability and efficacy of ART. Cytotoxicity (IC 50 ) was evaluated at different time of incubation at 48 and 72 h for selected niosomal formulations. Pegylated ART niosomes show great advantages in term of interaction with MCF-7 cell membrane. Results suggest that pegylated niosomes may be an appropriate candidate for the clinical administration of ART.