Introduction: Breast cancer remains a significant global health burden, and the development of effective therapeutic strategies is crucial. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid, has demonstrated promising anti-cancer properties, but its poor aqueous solubility and limited bioavailability have hindered its clinical translation. The use of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a drug delivery system has the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of apigenin against breast cancer. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize apigenin-encapsulated SLNs, and to evaluate their anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of action in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.
Apigenin-encapsulated SLNs were prepared and extensively characterized for their physicochemical properties, including size, polydispersity index, and drug encapsulation efficiency.
Methods: The in vitro cytotoxic effects of the nanoformulation were assessed using cell viability assays. The potential mechanisms of action were investigated through gene expression analysis of apoptosis-related markers, including caspase-3 and caspase-9.
Results: The synthesized apigenin-encapsulated SLNs had an average size of 195 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.3, indicating a homogenous size distribution. It exhibited a potent cytotoxic effect against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, with an IC50 value of 86.2 μg/ml. Mechanistic studies revealed that the apigenin-encapsulated SLNs significantly upregulated the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9, key mediators of the apoptotic pathway, leading to the induction of programmed cell death in the cancer cells.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that apigenin-encapsulated SLNs effectively inhibit the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by inducing caspase-mediated apoptosis. This nanoformulation holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of breast cancer and warrants further in-depth investigation.
Keywords: Apigenin, Apoptosis, Anticancer potential, Drug delivery, Gene expression