Preparation, Optimization and In vitro Evaluation of Doxorubicin-loaded into Hyaluronic Acid Coated Niosomes Against Breast Cancer

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used against solid tumors. Niosomes are self-assembled nanocarriers of non-ionic surfactants. DOX loaded into cationic niosomes (DOX−Nio) was prepared via thin film hydration method. DOX−Nio was then decorated with a hyaluronic acid (DOX−HA−Nio) via electrostatic interaction. DOX−Nio and DOX−HA−Nio displayed a particle size of 120.0±1.02 and 182.9±2.3 nm, and charge of + 35.5±0.15 and −15.6±0.25 mV, respectively, with PDI < 0.3. DOX−HA−Nio showed a good stability regarding size and charge over 4 weeks at 4 °C and maintain their integrity after lyophilization. HPLC results showed a 94.1±4.2 % encapsulation efficiency of DOX with good entrapment and slow, prolonged DOX release even after 48 hrs. Cell viability assay showed an IC₅₀ of 14.26 nM for the DOX−HA−Nio against MCF-7 cell line with micromolar IC₅₀ results against CD-44 negative cell lines (NIH/3T3). DOX−HA−Nio was proven to be an effective, targeted nanocarrier for DOX against MCF-7 cell line.