Doxorubicin-Loaded Niosomal Transporters Demonstrate Enhanced Cytotoxicity Against Brain Cancer Cells: An In Vitro Study

Year 2026, Volume: 15 Issue: 1 , 174 - 181 , 30.03.2026

Özge Çağlar Yıldırım

https://doi.org/10.46810/tdfd.1623422

https://izlik.org/JA45UC49DN

Abstract

This study was the first to evaluate the anticancer activity of doxorubicin -loaded niosomes on human brain cancer cells. Niosomal drug delivery systems were formulated using the thin film hydration method, incorporating Tween 40 and cholesterol in different ratios. The mean particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of empty niosomes were measured to be 150 nm, 0.265 and -21.5 mV, respectively. The loading efficiency of doxorubicin into the niosomes reached an impressive 95%. For doxorubicin-loaded niosomes, the mean particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential were determined to be 174 nm, 0.290 and -22.8 mV, respectively. The drug release profile was assessed by UV-vis spectroscopy and showed a cumulative doxorubicin release of 30.8% over 24 hours. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-loaded niosomes was tested on healthy dermal fibroblast cells using the3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and showed no significant toxicity after 24 hours exposure to various concentrations. Conversely, significant anticancer effects were observed in SHSY-5Y and U87-MG brain cancer cell lines treated with doxorubicin-loaded niosomes, as evidenced by a significant decrease in cell proliferation compared to controls. Notably, the niosomal doxorubicin formulation exhibited higher anticancer efficacy compared to free doxorubicin. These results highlight the potential of niosomal drug delivery systems as a promising strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin while minimizing its off-target toxicity.

Keywords

Doxorubicin , niosomes , drug carrier systems , brain cancer , neuroblastoma , glioblastoma.

Doksorubisin Yüklü Niyozomal Taşıyıcılar Beyin Kanseri Hücrelerine Karşı Geliştirilmiş Sitotoksisite Sergiler: İn Vitro Bir Çalışma

https://izlik.org/JA45UC49DN

Abstract

Bu çalışma, doksorubisin yüklü niyozomların insan beyin kanseri hücreleri üzerindeki antikanser aktivitesini değerlendiren ilk çalışmadır. Farklı oranlarda Tween 40 ve kolesterol içeren niozomal ilaç taşıyıcıları ince film hidrasyon yöntemi kullanılarak formüle edilmiştir. Boş niyozomların ortalama partikül boyutu, polidispersite indeksi ve zeta potansiyeli sırasıyla 150 nm, 0.265 ve -21.5 mV olarak ölçülmüştür. Doksorubisinin niyozomlara yükleme etkinliği etkileyici bir şekilde %95'e ulaşmıştır. Doksorubisin yüklü niyozomlar için ortalama partikül boyutu, polidispersite indeksi ve zeta potansiyeli sırasıyla 174 nm, 0,290 ve -22,8 mV olarak belirlenmiştir. İlaç salım profili UV-vis spektroskopisi ile değerlendirilmiş ve 24 saat boyunca %30,8'lik kümülatif doksorubisin salımı göstermiştir. Doksorubisin yüklü niozomların sitotoksisitesi, sağlıklı dermal fibroblast hücreleri üzerinde 3-(4,5-dimetiltiyazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolyum bromür testi kullanılarak test edilmiş ve çeşitli konsantrasyonlara 24 saat maruz kaldıktan sonra önemli bir toksisite göstermemiştir.

Keywords

Doksorubisin , niozomlar , ilaç taşıyıcı sistemler , beyin kanseri , glioblastom. , nöroblastom

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