Development, optimization and characterization of cisplatin loaded cubosomes for human lung carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to develop, optimize and evaluate glyceryl monooleate (GMO) based cubosomes as a drug delivery system containing cisplatin for treatment of human lung carcinoma.

Significance

The significance of this research was to successfully incorporate slightly water soluble and potent anticancer drug (cisplatin) into cubosomes, which provide slow and sustained release of drug for longer period of time.

Methods

The delivery system was developed through top-down approach by melting GMO and poloxamer 407 (P407) at 70 °C and then drop-wise addition of warm deionized water (70 °C) containing cisplatin. The formulation then exposed to probe sonicator for about 2 min. A randomized regular two level full factorial design with help of Design Expert was used for optimization of blank cubosomal formulations. Cisplatin loaded cubosomes were then subjected to physico-chemical characterization.

Results

The characterization of the formulation revealed that it had a sufficient surface charge of −9.56 ± 1.33 mV, 168.25 ± 5.73 nm particle size, and 60.64 ± 0.11% encapsulation efficiency. The in vitro release of cisplatin from the cubosomes at pH 7.4 was observed to be sustained, with 94.5% of the drug being released in 30 h. In contrast, 99% of cisplatin was released from the drug solution in just 1.5 h. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was conducted on the human lung carcinoma NCI-H226 cell line, the cytotoxicity of cisplatin-loaded cubosomes was relative to that of pure cisplatin solution, while blank (without cisplatin) cubosomes were nontoxic.

Conclusions

The obtained results demonstrated the successful development of cubosomes for sustained delivery of cisplatin.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cubosomes were prepared, optimized, and evaluated for cisplatin delivery.

• A randomized regular two level full factorial design was constructed to optimize blank cubosomes.

• Blank cubosomes consisted of GMO as the lipid and P407 as an emulsifying agent.

• In vitro release studies demonstrated sustained release of cisplatin from cubosomes at pH 7.4.

• Cytotoxicity assay on human lung carcinoma cell line NCI-H226 showed similar cytotoxicity between cisplatin-loaded cubosomes and pure cisplatin solution while blank cubosomes exhibited no toxicity.

Keywords:

• Cubosomes
• glyceryl monooleate
• NCI-H226 cell line
• sustain release delivery
• experimental design

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was financed by the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia under the Short-term research grant scheme, grant number [304/PFARMASI/6315770].