Antitumor activity of essential oils-based nanostructured lipid carriers on prostate cancer cells

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading global malignancy in men.
• Essential oils (EOs) possess potential anticancer properties through various mechanisms.
• Nanotechnology offers novel delivery systems for enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with cinnamon, sage, or thyme essential oils (EOs).
• To assess the antineoplastic effects of these EO-loaded NLCs against prostate cancer (PCa).
• To characterize the biophysical properties, stability, safety, and efficacy of the developed NLC formulations.

Main Methods:

• Factorial design (2^3) was employed to optimize three different EO-loaded NLC formulations.
• Characterization included biophysical parameters, structure, stability (over one year at 25°C), in vitro safety (PNT2 cells), and in vivo safety (chicken embryos).
• Anticancer efficacy was evaluated in PC3 PCa cells (proliferation, migration, morphology) and chicken embryo xenograft tumors (growth, angiogenesis).

Main Results:

• All optimized NLC formulations demonstrated excellent structural properties and stability.
• The NLCs were biocompatible in vitro and in vivo.
• EO-loaded NLCs significantly inhibited PCa cell proliferation and migration, altered cell morphology, and suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Developed EO-based NLC formulations exhibit enhanced stability while retaining their biological activity.
• These NLCs represent a promising nanotechnological approach for prostate cancer therapy.
• The study highlights the potential of combining natural EOs with nanocarriers for improved cancer treatment strategies.