Studies on tamoxifen encapsulated in lipid vesicles: effect on the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

J Liposome Res. 2009;19(3):169-72. doi: 10.1080/08982100802518574.

Abstract

Tamoxifen is a nonsteroidal estrogen-receptor modulator widely used in the treatment of breast cancer. Apoptosis has been reported to be a major mechanism for its antitumor effect. In the current studies, an endeavor was made to investigate the efficacy of vesicularly encapsulated tamoxifen on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Phospholipid-based vesicular systems viz. conventional liposomes and elastic-membrane liposomes were employed to encapsulate the drug. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to determine the efficacy of the tested formulations. The results demonstrated composition-dependent strong inhibition in the viability of MCF-7 cells with encapsulated tamoxifen vis-à-vis free drug. The encouraging findings from the current work construe immense potential of the lipid-based vesicular systems in the treatment of breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal* / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / chemistry*
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Phospholipids / chemistry
  • Phospholipids / metabolism
  • Tamoxifen* / chemistry
  • Tamoxifen* / pharmacology
  • Tamoxifen* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Drug Carriers
  • Liposomes
  • Phospholipids
  • Tamoxifen