Synthesis, physicochemical characterization and pharmaceutical function of niosomal nanoparticles-encapsulated bioactive compound for osteosarcoma treatment

The purpose of this study is to synthesizing and characterizing niosomes containing curcumin in order to delivery to bone cancer cells. Nano-carriers were synthesized using thin film method and curcumin was loaded into them by active hydration method. The optimal formula was selected based on the encapsulation efficiency and release profile. Then the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles such as size and zeta potential, morphology and system-drug interaction were evaluated by using DLS, SEM, AFM and FTIR methods. Finally, the toxicity of nanosystems on bone cancer cell line MG-63 as resistant cells to treatment was examined by MTT assay.  Niosomes containing curcumin with size of 90.8 nm, PDI of 0.236, zeta potential of -8.9 and encapsulation rate of 73.5 ± 1.8 have slow-release profile. The maximum release rate of the drug for this nano-carrier in healthy and cancerous within 72 hr was 60.12% and 64.35% respectively. IR and morphological investigations showed no chemical interaction between curcumin and nanocarrier and the particles are spherical in shape. The results of the MTT assay also showed that by encapsulating curcumin, its effect on bone cancer cells increased and the resistance of MG-63 cells to treatment decreased.  The results of this study showed that niosomes containing curcumin with appropriate physicochemical properties can improve the treatment process in bone cancer cells and also reduce the resistance of this cell to the drug and could be proposed as a new therapeutic strategy to help the treatment of osteosarcoma.