Objectives: Baicalin is a promising anticancer nutraceutical compound, but its application is hindered by its low water solubility and bioavailability, which can be remedied by its encapsulation in nanoparticles.
Methods: Lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) were developed to enhance baicalin delivery via intravenous and intranasal routes, and potentiate its therapeutic activity in treatment of glioma.
Results: LNCs displayed a particle size of 17.76 nm and sustained release of 74.36% after 24 h. The IC50 of baicalin LNCs (13 ± 5 µg/ml) was 60 times lower than free baicalin (780 ± 107 µg/ml) on human glioblastoma multiform cell line U87, with adequate cellular uptake as delineated by confocal laser microscopy. Both baicalin and LNCs induced cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases, with significant up-regulation in P21 gene, and decline in Nrf-2, HO-1 and VEGF gene expression. LNCs increased baicalin's bioavailability, either after intravenous (AUC0-24 h 10.94 ± 0.28 vs 3.53 ± 0.09 µg/ml*h), or intranasal administration (AUC0-24 h 6.26 ± 0.11 vs 3.17 ± 0.04 µg/ml*h). They also bypassed the blood brain barrier and achieved significantly higher brain delivery compared to free baicalin (drug targeting efficiency 160.73% vs 52.9%).
Conclusion: Baicalin LNCs is a promising treatment modality for glioma, when administered through intravenous or intranasal routes.
Keywords: Scutellaria baicalensis; brain; cancer; nanoparticles; nutraceutical; pharmacokinetics.