TRA/MEL immunoliposomes act as a targeted medicine in BT-474 breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. Melittin is the main component of bee venom, which has multiple anti-cancer properties. Targeted delivery of the gene encoding melittin using TRA-conjugated immunoliposomes to breast cancer cells can effectively treat this disease and reduce the side effects. Liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method. The conjugation of TRA to liposomes was confirmed using SDS-PAGE, FTIR, and Bradford assay and characterized by DLS and TEM. The MTT, Fluorescent microscopy imaging, and flow cytometry methods were chosen to investigate the cytotoxicity and internalization of MEL/PEG-Lip and TRA/MEL immunoliposomes in the BT-474 cell line. The hydrodynamic diameter of TRA/MEL immunoliposomes was about 156 nm, and their appearance was spherical. The IC₅₀ values for TRA/MEL immunoliposomes were calculated as 7.73 and 5.41 µg/mL for 48 and 72 h, respectively, which indicated that TRA/MEL immunoliposomes had a more significant cytotoxic effect on BT-474 cells than MEL/PEG-Lip. In addition, flow cytometry results showed that TRA/MEL immunoliposomes enter BT-474 cells to a greater extent and cause apoptosis. Due to the ability of TRA/MEL immunoliposomes to target and induce apoptosis in BT-474 cancer cells, this nanostructure can be suggested as a promising alternative in the treatment of this type of breast cancer.