Purpose: The main aim of present study was to prepare the oxaliplatin (OXL)-loaded D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS)-based lipid nanoparticles to enhance the anticancer effect in colon cancer cells.
Methods: The nanoparticles were nanosized and spherical shaped and exhibited controlled release kinetics. Flow cytometer and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed a remarkable uptake of nanoparticles in cancer cells in a time-dependent manner.
Results: The presence of TPGS remarkably increased the anticancer effect of OXL in HT-29 colon cancer cells. The IC50 value of free OXL was 4.25 μg/ml whereas IC50 value of OXL-loaded TPGS-based lipid nanoparticles (OXL/TLNP) was 1.12 μg/ml. The 3-fold lower IC50 value of OXL/TLNP indicates the superior anticancer effect of nanoparticle-based OXL. Consistently, OXL/TLNP induced a remarkable apoptosis of cancer cells. Approximately, ~52% of cells were in early apoptosis phase and ~13% of cells were in late apoptosis phase indicating the potent anticancer effect of the formulations. The findings from this study provide novel insights into the use of TPGS and lipid nanoparticle together for the better antitumor effect in colon cancers. Future studies will involve the detailed in vitro and in vivo studies on clinically relevant animals.
Keywords: antitumor efficacy; apoptosis; colon cancer; nanoparticles; oxaliplatin.