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Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects of Olive Leaf Extract Microcapsules on MCF-7 and A549 Cancer Cells
Yıldız Bal1, Yusuf Sürmeli1,2, Gülşah Şanlı-Mohamed1,3
1Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, İzmir Institute of Technology, 35430 İzmir, Turkey.
Abstract:
Alginate microcapsules are a talented means for the delivery of broad curative biomacromolecules. In this study, we immobilized olive leaf extract (OLE) by calcium alginate (CA) and chitosan-coated CA (CCA) and characterized the OLE-loaded CA and CCA. The cytotoxic effect, the cell cycle arrest, and the apoptotic effect of OLE and its microcapsules were investigated against breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and lung carcinoma (A549). As a result, the loading capacity of OLE-CA and OLE-CCA was found to be 80 and 99%, respectively, in optimal conditions. Also, OLE-CA and OLE-CCA were characterized by unique FTIR peaks and morphological display relative to the empty CCA microcapsules. The cytotoxicity analysis showed that the IC50 values of OLE-CA and OLE-CCA were determined to be 312 and 0.94 μg mL-1 against A549, respectively, whereas these were found to be 865.4 and 425.5 μg mL-1 for MCF-7 cells. On the other hand, the OLE microcapsules did not possess in any concentration of cytotoxic influence on the BEAS 2B healthy cell line. Also, the exposure of OLE-CCA to MCF-7 and A549 resulted in the arrest of more MCF-7 and A549 cells at the G0/G1 phase compared to the OLE. A549 and MCF-7 cells were predominantly found in the late apoptosis phase and necrosis phase, respectively. Optical microscopy images confirmed that OLE microcapsules were more effective against MCF-7 and A549 than free OLE. The present work suggested that the OLE microcapsules might be administered as nutrition supplements for cancer therapy.
Insights
Olive leaf extract (OLE) was encapsulated in alginate microcapsules for cancer therapy. Chitosan-coated microcapsules showed potent, targeted cytotoxicity against lung and breast cancer cells with minimal impact on healthy cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Alginate microcapsules offer a promising platform for delivering therapeutic biomacromolecules.
- Olive leaf extract (OLE) possesses potential anticancer properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To immobilize OLE into calcium alginate (CA) and chitosan-coated CA (CCA) microcapsules.
- To characterize the OLE-loaded microcapsules and evaluate their efficacy against cancer cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Immobilization of OLE using calcium alginate and chitosan coating.
- Characterization using FTIR and morphological analysis.
- In vitro cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis assays against MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells, and BEAS 2B healthy cells.
Main Results:
- High OLE loading capacity achieved (80% for OLE-CA, 99% for OLE-CCA).
- OLE-CCA demonstrated significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against A549 (IC50=0.94 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (IC50=425.5 μg/mL) cells compared to free OLE.
- Microcapsules induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells, with no toxicity to healthy BEAS 2B cells.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan-coated alginate microcapsules effectively deliver OLE, enhancing its anticancer activity.
- OLE microcapsules show potential as targeted nutritional supplements for cancer therapy.

