Affiliation:
1. Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No.1160 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
2. Department of Gastroenterology, the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No.804 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
Abstract
Background:
Conventional cancer therapeutics has enormous toxicity and severe side effects that
generate multi-drug resistance. Therefore, an urgent need exists for new alternative therapeutic agents for cancer
treatment. Cepharanthin (CEP) has anti-cancer potential but has poor aqueous solubility, which limits its clinical
use. Nanosuspensions (NS) are attractive as insoluble drug delivery systems.
Objectives:
In this study, we used D-alpha Tocopherol acid Polyethylene Glycol Succinate (TPGS),
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) VA64, and Croscamellose Sodium (CCS) as stabilizers to produce TPGS-CEP-NS,
PVP VA64-CEP-NS, and CCS-CEP-NS by wet-milling technology, and then characterized the NS and
evaluated their functional activities in vitro.
Methods:
EP Nanosuspensions (CEP-NS) were prepared by the wet-milling method. The prepared NS were
characterized by particle size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, surface properties, and molecular interactions.
The NS were evaluated for their effects on HepG2 cells in vitro. The evaluations included assessment of
cellular cytotoxicity, cellular apoptosis, NS uptake by cells, and mitochondrial membrane potential changes.
Results:
CEP-NS showed an appropriate particle size and were physically stable. All CEP-NS exhibited HepG2
enhanced anti-proliferative effects by reducing cell viability, enhanced cellular uptake, induced cellular apoptosis,
and mitochondrial membrane potential loss.
Conclusion:
: CEP-NS may be effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Funder
Ningxia Medical University
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Cancer Research,Pharmacology,Molecular Medicine