Abstract
Incorporation of a chemotherapeutic drug into natural oils based-nanoemulsion may facilitate its delivery to the cancer cells and improve its cytotoxic effect. The current study is aimed to formulate etoposide (EP) in a nanoemulsion formula (BLO-EVO-N) produced by blending black currant seed (BLO) and evening primrose (EVO) oils with an emulsifying agent and to in vitro assess its anti-cancer activity on the A549. The size and charge of the produced formulas, BLO-EVO-N and EP/BLO-EVO-N, were characterized using the dynamic light scattering techniques. The viability and invasion of the treated A549 cells were assessed using a cell counting kit- 8 and collagen-based cell invasion assay. Apoptosis of A549 cells was evaluated with mitochondria! staining, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), cell death assays. The z-average diameter of EP/BLO-EVO-N (75.19 +/- 9.0 nm) vas increased when loaded with EP (236.9 +/- 6.8 nm). Most of the A549 cells remained viable following treatment with a single EP, while a remarkable reduction in the percentage of the viable cells was noticed at the EP/BLO-EVO-N treatment. The signs of apoptosis, such as the change in the mitochondrial permeability, increased amount of apoptotic cells and enhancement in the mono- and oligonucleosomes ratios were larger when cells were treated with EP/BLO-EVO-N formula. Regarding the invasion assay, the EP/BLO-EVO-N has a potent anti-invasion effect since it can suppress the invasion of 66 0 10 of the A549 cells. In conclusion, combining EP in BLO-EVO-N formula had improved the anti-tumor effect of EP in A549 cells.