Thymoquinone-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Exhibited Cytotoxicity towards Breast Cancer Cell Lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7)‎ and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines (HeLa and SiHa)‎

Abstract EN

Thymoquinone (TQ) has been shown to exhibit antitumor properties.

Thymoquinone-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (TQ-NLC) was developed to improve the bioavailability and cytotoxicity of TQ.

This study was conducted to determine the cytotoxic effects of TQ-NLC on breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and SiHa).

TQ-NLC was prepared by applying the hot high pressure homogenization technique.

The mean particle size of TQ-NLC was 35.66 ± 0.1235 nm with a narrow polydispersity index (PDI) lower than 0.25.

The zeta potential of TQ-NLC was greater than −30 mV.

Polysorbate 80 helps to increase the stability of TQ-NLC.

Differential scanning calorimetry showed that TQ-NLC has a melting point of 56.73°C, which is lower than that of the bulk material.

The encapsulation efficiency of TQ in TQ-NLC was 97.63 ± 0.1798% as determined by HPLC analysis.

TQ-NLC exhibited antiproliferative activity towards all the cell lines in a dose-dependent manner which was most cytotoxic towards MDA-MB-231 cells.

Cell shrinkage was noted following treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with TQ-NLC with an increase of apoptotic cell population ( P < 0.05 ).

TQ-NLC also induced cell cycle arrest.

TQ-NLC was most cytotoxic towards MDA-MB-231 cells.

It induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the cells.