The Synthesis and Characterization of Liposomal Nano-Carriers Loading Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oil to Affect Breast Cancerous Cell-Lines

According to the progressive trend of herbal application in modern medicine, various studies have shown several properties for Lavandula angustifolia essential oil such as antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Nano liposomes are able to enhance the performance of bioactive agents by improving their solubility and stability. The aim of this study is the synthesis nanoliposomal systems containing Lavandula angustifolia essential oil to achieve a greater efficiency in drug delivery and improve the therapeutic functionality.

The essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia was obtained by a clevenger instrument using hydrodistillation method. The essential oil was analyzed by gas-mass chromatography. Liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration technique. Nano-vesicles were evaluated by several techniques such as entrapment efficiency, size, zeta potential, release kinetic profile and surface morphology.

The nanoliposomes under the suitable conditions exhibited high entrapment efficiency of essential oil (60 ± 3.4) %, low average size (68.3 ± 7.28) nm, and an approximately neutral surface charge (-2 to -4.5 mV). The study of its releasing has also indicated controlled release by both 37°C in pH=7.4, and 42°C in pH=5.4 (63.98% and 87.63%). Moreover, the results of electron microscopy of nanoliposomes showed stability without a great increase in their particle sizes and spherical shape.

Based on the achieved results, it was indicated that the liposomal nanovesicles could be a suitable carrier for the delivery of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil in conditions of cancerous cells. However, further studies are required to identify toxicity on human cancerous and normal cells.