Cytotoxicity and rapid uptake of antioxidants loaded onto solid lipid nanocarriers in MCF-7 and SK-Br-3 breast cancer cells

To eliminate the side effects of anti-cancer medications, the master plan is to use the nano-drug delivery system to deliver two or more anti-cancer medicines. This study aimed to use a binary drug delivery system to deliver Resveratrol (RES) and Tretinoin (TTN) to breast cancer cells and assess the effectiveness of this approach on two types of breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and SK-Br-3). 

Binary-drug Solid Lipid Nanocarrier (SLN) formation was confirmed through dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis spectrophotometers, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).  In this study, both breast cancer cell lines were cultured under various concentrations of free and dual drug (RES+TTN)-SLN. 

In vitro anticancer analysis, including MTT and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assays, revealed lower cell viability rates in both breast cancer cell lines compared with the control. Additionally, antiapoptotic-related genes were up-regulated and apoptotic-related genes were down-regulated when MCF-7 and SK-Br-3 were treated with RES+TTN-SLN. Furthermore, dual-encapsulation of RES and TTN significantly reduced cell viability percentage, even at the lowest concentrations (1 and 5 uM) compared with free drug and control groups for 48 hr. To sum it up, dual delivery systems of RES and TTN by SLN can deliver the optimal dose of RES and TTN into both MCF-7 and SK-Br-3 cell lines. 

Conclusively, RES+TTN-SLN even at the lowest concentration (1 μM and 5 μM) showed a synergistic anti-cancer effect in MCF-7 and SK-Br-3 with a better enhancement of apoptotic gene expression by enhanced/controlled intracellular penetration.