Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Aug 2020)
Assessment of a New Ginsenoside Rh2 Nanoniosomal Formulation for Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy on Prostate Cancer: An in vitro Study
Abstract
Hadi Zare-Zardini,1– 3 Ashraf Alemi,4 Asghar Taheri-Kafrani,5 Seyed Ahmad Hosseini,6 Hossein Soltaninejad,7,8 Amir Ali Hamidieh,9 Mojtaba Haghi Karamallah,10 Majid Farrokhifar,11 Mohammad Farrokhifar12 1Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; 2Department of Sciences, Farhangian University, Isfahan, Iran; 3Medical Nanotechnology &Tissue Engineering Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; 4Abadan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran; 5Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran; 6Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; 7Tissue Bank & Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 8Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; 9Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 10Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran; 11Department of Pediatrics, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran; 12Kar Higher Education Institute of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, IranCorrespondence: Ashraf Alemi Tel/ Fax +986153384008Email [email protected]: Ginsenoside Rh2, purified from the Panax ginseng root, has been demonstrated to possess anticancer properties against various cancerous cells including colorectal, breast, skin, ovarian, prostate, and liver cancerous cells. However, the poor bioavailability, low stability on gastrointestinal systems, and fast plasma elimination limit further clinical applications of Ginsenoside Rh2 for cancer treatments. In this study, a novel formulation of niosomal Ginsenoside Rh2 was prepared using the thin film hydration technique.Methods: The niosomal formulation contained Span 60 and cholesterol, and cationic lipid DOTAP was evaluated by determining particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, the polydispersity index (PDI), and surface morphology. The cytotoxic effects of free Ginsenoside Rh2 and Ginsenoside Rh2-loaded niosomes were determined using the MTT method in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line. For the investigation of the in vitro cellular uptake of Ginsenoside Rh2-loaded niosome, two formulations were prepared: the Ginsenoside Rh2-loaded niosomal formula containing 5% DOTAP and the Ginsenoside Rh2-loaded niosomal formula without DOTAP.Results: The mean size, DPI, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency of the Ginsenoside Rh2-loaded nanoniosomal formulation containing DOTAP were 93.5± 2.1 nm, 0.203± 0.01, +4.65± 0.65, and 98.32% ± 2.4, respectively. The niosomal vesicles were found to be round and have a smooth surface. The release profile of Ginsenoside Rh2 from niosome was biphasic. Furthermore, a two-fold reduction in the Ginsenoside Rh2 concentration was measured when Ginsenoside Rh2 was administered in a nanoniosomal form compared to free Ginsenoside Rh2 solutions in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line. After storage for 90 days, the encapsulation efficiency, vesicle size, PDI, and zeta potential of the optimized formulation did not significantly change compared to the freshly prepared samples. The cellular uptake experiments of the niosomal formulation demonstrated that by adding DOTAP to the niosomal formulation, the cellular uptake was enhanced.Discussion: The enhanced cellular uptake and cytotoxic activity of the Ginsenoside Rh2 nanoniosomal formulation on the PC3 cell make it an attractive candidate for application as a nano-sized delivery vehicle to transfer Ginsenoside Rh2 to cancer cells.Keywords: nanoniosomal, Ginsenoside Rh2, chemotherapy, PC3 prostate cancer cell line
