Development of Phyllanthus emblica Extract-Loaded Niosomes for Cancer Treatment: Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Phyllanthus emblica (amla) possesses anticancer properties but faces challenges with stability and bioavailability.
• Niosomes offer a potential solution for encapsulating and delivering bioactive compounds effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop amla extract-loaded niosomes for enhanced anticancer delivery.
• To evaluate the in vitro anticancer efficacy of these niosomes against MCF-7 and HCT116 cell lines.
• To support findings with in silico molecular docking and pharmacokinetic analyses.

Main Methods:

• Amla extract preparation and lyophilization.
• Niosome formulation via thin-film hydration and physicochemical characterization.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assays and in silico analyses (molecular docking, pharmacokinetic predictions).

Main Results:

• Optimized niosomes demonstrated favorable characteristics, including high entrapment efficiency and sustained release.
• Amla-loaded niosomes exhibited significant concentration-dependent in vitro anticancer activity against both cell lines.
• In silico studies supported the anticancer potential of amla phytochemicals and the rationale for encapsulation.

Conclusions:

• Amla extract-loaded niosomes are a promising system for enhanced and sustained delivery of anticancer agents.
• In silico findings provide mechanistic plausibility and translational rationale for this approach.
• Further in vivo studies are recommended to validate the efficacy of these niosomal formulations.