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Current Nanoscience

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4137
ISSN (Online): 1875-6786

Research Article

Cytotoxic Effect of the Combination of Gemcitabine and Atorvastatin Loaded in Nanoparticle on the MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and HFS Human Foreskin Cells

Author(s): Mayson H. Alkhatib* and Dalal A. Al-Saedi

Volume 13, Issue 6, 2017

Page: [625 - 633] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/1573413713666170619122942

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: The combination of anticancer drugs in nanoparticles has great potential as a promising strategy to maximize drug efficacies. Gemcitabine (GEM), a nucleoside analogue, and atorvastatin (ATV), a cholesterol lowering agent, have shown anticancer effect with some limitations.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate antitumor activity of the combination therapy of GEM and ATV encapsulated in nanodroplets of microemulsion (ME) formulation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and healthy HFS human foreskin cells.

Method: The physical characterization of drug formulas has been studied by the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The cytotoxicity and efficacy of the formulation were examined by 3(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphyneltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, light microscopy, and ApopNexin apoptosis detection kit.

Results: It has been found that the IC50, inhibitory concentration at which 50 percent of the cells inhibited, for the combination of GEM and ATV at 1:2 ratio, respectively, in the ME (GEM/2ATVME) with a droplet diameter of 4.81±0.86 nm, subjected into the MCF-7 cells for 24h, was similar to the combination of GEM and ATV at 1:1 ratio, respectively, in water (GEM/ATV). According to the FITC/PI assay, 5 µM of GEM/2ATV-ME was less toxic on the HFS cells as higher percentages of viable cells (85.15%) were detected when compared to the GEM/ATV that caused reduction in the percentages of the viable cells (66.45%).

Conclusion: Formulating GEM with ATV in ME has improved the therapeutic anticancer potential of both drugs while reducing their side effects on the normal cells.

Keywords: Drug delivery, antitumor activity, MTT assay, appopNexin apoptosis detection kit, microemulsion, transmission electron microscope.

Graphical Abstract


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