Delivery of apoptosis-inducing piperine to triple-negative breast cancer cells via co-polymeric nanoparticles

Javad Ghassemi Rad, David W. Hoskin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Aim: Piperine, a major alkaloid of the fruit of black pepper plants, selectively inhibits the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells but its lipophilicity restricts possible clinical application. This study therefore determined the feasibility of encapsulating piperine in nanoparticles (NPs) to increase its solubility in an aqueous environment. Materials and Methods: Piperineloaded biodegradable methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)- poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid copolymer-based NPs were produced by single emulsion solvent extraction and thin-film hydration. Growth and viability of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells were determined by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Annexin-V-FLUOS/propidium iodide staining, respectively. Results: Thin-film hydration was superior to single emulsion solvent extraction, yielding piperine-loaded NPs with an average size of 50 nm. Piperine-loaded NPs inhibited TNBC cell growth and induced apoptosis while sparing normal fibroblasts. Conclusion: It is feasible to deliver a cytotoxic concentration of piperine to TNBC cells via NPs with the potential for improved bioavailability and solubility in biological fluids.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)689-694
Number of pages6
JournalAnticancer Research
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study was funded by the Canadian Cancer Society/Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Research. JGR was the recipient of a Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship and a Cancer Research Training Program Trainee Award.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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