Albumin-covered lipid nanocapsules exhibit enhanced uptake performance by breast-tumor cells

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2018 May 1:165:103-110. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.02.024. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Abstract

Liquid lipid nanocapsules (LLN) represent a promising new generation of drug-delivery systems. They can carry hydrophobic drugs in their oily core, but the composition and structure of the surrounding protective shell determine their capacity to survive in the circulatory system and to achieve their goal: penetrate tumor cells. Here, we present a study of LLN covered by the protein human serum albumin (HSA) and loaded with curcumin as a hydrophobic model drug. A cross-linking procedure was performed to further strengthen the protective protein layer. Physicochemical properties and release kinetics of the nanocapsules were investigated, and cellular uptake and killing capacity were evaluated on the human breast-cancer line MCF-7. The nanocapsules exhibited a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) capacity similar to that of free curcumin, but avoiding problems associated with excipients, and displayed an outstanding uptake performance, entering cells massively in less than 1 min.

Keywords: Cellular uptake; Curcumin; Drug-delivery system; Olive-oil nanocapsules.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Curcumin / pharmacology
  • Curcumin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Liberation
  • Endocytosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry*
  • Nanocapsules / ultrastructure
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism*
  • Thiazoles / chemistry

Substances

  • Coumarins
  • Lipids
  • Nanocapsules
  • Serum Albumin
  • Thiazoles
  • coumarin 6
  • Curcumin