Combined strategy for suppressing breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell lines by loading simvastatin on alpha lipoic acid nanoparticles

Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2016 Dec;13(12):1653-1660. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2016.1236788. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Abstract

Background: Augmentation of simvastatin (SMV) cytotoxicity in breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7, by: improvement of cellular uptake and loading on alpha lipoic acid (ALA).

Methods: In this study, SMV was loaded on ALA nanoparticles and characterized for surface morphology, SMV entrapment efficiency percent (%EE), zeta potential and release profile. Cellular viability, morphology and uptake and DNA fragmentations were analyzed as a hallmark of cellular apoptosis.

Results: TEM images demonstrated spherical nanoparticles with particle size 104.7 ± 5.5 nm, SMV %EE was 95.8 ± 2.1% with a zeta potential - 23.6 ± 5.4 mV, and release properties were significantly enhanced. IC50 was decreased to 22.2 ± 2.4 µM while raw SMV was 49.3 ± 6.6 µM. Cellular uptake of SMV-ALA nanoparticles was increased by about 3- and 2-folds after 2 and 4 h, respectively. DNA fragments confirmed the apoptosis property of ALA, which is associated with SMV cytotoxicity.

Conclusion: This study suggests evidence that SMV loaded on ALA nanoparticles increases the MCF-7 cellular uptake and cytotoxic effects induced by SMV as revealed by significantly enhanced cell death rates in MCF-7 cells. These findings demonstrate that ALA induces cell death, which makes the combination a candidate for tumor therapy.

Keywords: Breast carcinoma; cytotoxicity; hyperlipidemia; nanoparticles; simvastatin.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Particle Size
  • Simvastatin / administration & dosage*
  • Simvastatin / pharmacology
  • Thioctic Acid / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Thioctic Acid
  • Simvastatin