Enhancing apoptosis-mediated anticancer activity of evodiamine through protein-based nanoparticles in breast cancer cells

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 2595
• Main Authors: Solanki, Raghu, Rajput, Pradeep Kumar, Jodha, Bhavana, Yadav, Umesh C. S., Patel, Sunita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 31-01-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/1647; 631/337; 631/45; 631/67; 639/301; 639/925; 692/308; 692/53; 692/699; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Bcl-2 protein; Bioavailability; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cancer therapies; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytotoxicity; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Female; Flow cytometry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunogenicity; Molecular modelling; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; p53 Protein; Physical properties; Quinazolines; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Water; Western blotting
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51970-3

In the cutting-edge era of developing precision therapeutics, nanoparticles have emerged as a potent drug delivery system. Altering the size of poorly water-soluble drugs to nanoscale could confer change in their physical properties, including enhanced water solubility and bioavailability. Evodiamine (EVO), a natural indolequinone alkaloid extract from
Evodia rutaecarpa
, has shown several important pharmacological applications, anti-cancer being one of them. Protein-based nano-drug delivery systems have gained the interest of researchers due to their better biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity and non-toxicity. In the present study, EVO encapsulated BSA nanoparticles (ENPs) were synthesized and characterized, which were nanoscale-sized (~ 150 nm), monodispersed, spherical shaped, and showed high entrapment efficiency (~ 86%) and controlled drug release. The
in-vitro
anti-cancer activity of ENPs on human breast cancer cells was dose- and time-dependent. The apoptotic molecular mechanism investigated using FACS, qRT-PCR, and western blotting analysis, revealed increased expression of p53 and Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2. Biological studies demonstrated comparatively more efficient and targeted delivery of ENPs than pure EVO. The comprehensive physiochemical characterization and in-vitro validation collectively pinpoint ENPs as a promising avenue for harnessing the therapeutic potential of the natural anti-cancer compound EVO. The findings indicate improved cytotoxicity, positioning ENPs as a propitious strategy for advancing breast cancer treatment.