Preparation, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Silibinin-Containing Nanoniosomes in T47D Human Breast Carcinoma Cells

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancer types within female populations. Silibinin is a chemotherapeutic agent ative against cancer. Niosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible, safe and effective carriers for drug delivery. Objective:To prepare nanoniosomal silibinin and evaluate its cytotoxicity inthe T-47D breast cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Niosomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation of a mixture of span 20, silibinin, PEG-2000 and cholesterol in chloroform and methanol solvent (1:2 v/v). The solvent phase was evaporated using a rotary evaporator and the remaining gel phase was hydrated in phosphate buffer saline. Mean size, size distribution and zeta potential of niosomes were measured with a Zetasizer instrument and then nanoparticles underwent scanning electron microscopy. The drug releasing pattern was evaluated by dialysis and the cytotoxicity of nanoniosomes in T-47D cells was assessed by MTT assay. Results: Particle size, size variation and zeta potential of the niosomal nanoparticles were measured as $178.4{\pm}5.4nm$, $0.38{\pm}0.09$ and $-15.3{\pm}1.3mV$, respectively. The amount of encapsulated drug and the level of drug loading were determined $98.6{\pm}2.7%$ and $22.3{\pm}1.8%$, respectively; released drug was estimated about $18.6{\pm}2.5%$ after 37 hours. The cytotoxic effects of nanoniosome were significantly increased when compared with the free drug. Conclusions: This study finding suggests that silibinin nanoniosomes could serve as a new drug formulation for breast cancer therapy.