Fabrication of Niosomal Nano-Carriers Containing Aqueous Extract of Hedera Helix and Comparison of Toxicity of Free Extract and Niosome Extract On HT29 Colorectal Cancer Cell Line

Niosome is a lipid carrier that can resolves some of the challenges facing the delivery of herbal medicines to tissues. The aim of the present study is to fabricate and evaluate the physiochemical properties of niosomal carriers containing Hedera helix extracts and evaluation of its toxicity to the HT29 cell line of colon cancer.

Two niosomal formulations F0 (30% cholesterol and 70% tween60) and F1 (30% cholesterol and 70% spin60) containing extract of Hedera hilix were made using the thin film method. Then, according to the amount of drug loading, one of the formulations was selected. The pattern of drug release under normal and cancerous cell conditions, size and surface charge of the nanoparticles (using DLS) and the appearance of the nanoparticles (using SEM) of the selected formulation were investigated. Finally, the toxicity of the niosomal system containing extracts and free extracts on HT29 cell line was evaluated by MTT assay and niosomal system entry into HT29 cells was evaluated by system and cell staining.

Extract loading percentage, size and zeta potential for the selected formulation (F1) containing the extract were 95/43±2/43%, 132/5nm and -41/47±2/69mV, respectively. Release of the extract from the niosomal system is slow within 48 hours in normal and cancerous cell conditions. The appearance of the nanoparticles was smooth and spherical and extract niosomal had more toxicity to HT29 cell line colon cancer than free extract.

The niosomal formulation of this study can be recommended for further research in colon cancer with respect to its physicochemical properties.