In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Oleanolic/Ursolic Acids-Loaded in PLGA Nanoparticles in Different Cell Lines
Amélia M. Silva,
Helen L. Alvarado,
Guadalupe Abrego,
Carlos Martins-Gomes,
Maria L. Garduño-Ramirez,
María L. García,
Ana C. Calpena,
Eliana B. Souto
Affiliations
Amélia M. Silva
Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Helen L. Alvarado
Department of Biology and Environment, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Guadalupe Abrego
Department of Biology and Environment, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Carlos Martins-Gomes
Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Maria L. Garduño-Ramirez
Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad No. 1001, Col Chamilpa, 62209 Cuernavaca, Mexico
María L. García
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Ave. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Ana C. Calpena
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Ave. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Eliana B. Souto
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Oleanolic (OA) and ursolic (UA) acids are recognized triterpenoids with anti-cancer properties, showing cell-specific activity that can be enhanced when loaded into polymeric nanoparticles. The cytotoxic activity of OA and UA was assessed by Alamar Blue assay in three different cell lines, i.e., HepG2 (Human hepatoma cell line), Caco-2 (Human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line) and Y-79 (Human retinoblastoma cell line). The natural and synthetic mixtures of these compounds were tested as free and loaded in polymeric nanoparticles in a concentration range from 2 to 32 µmol/L. The highest tested concentrations of the free triterpene mixtures produced statistically significant cell viability reduction in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells, compared to the control (untreated cells). When loaded in the developed PLGA nanoparticles, no differences were recorded for the tested concentrations in the same cell lines. However, in the Y-79 cell line, a decrease on cell viability was observed when testing the lowest concentration of both free triterpene mixtures, and after their loading into PLGA nanoparticles.
