Quercetin and Morin dual drug loaded nanostructured lipid carriers: formulation and in vitro cytotoxicity study on MCF7 breast cancer cells

The aim of the study was to prepare nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) co-encapsulated with Quercetin and Morin and to compare the cytotoxicity of the NLCs with individual drugs as well as with their combination form. The Quercetin and Morin co-encapsulated NLCs were prepared by ultrasonication method. The size of the NLCs particles, the zeta potential value, % of drug entrapment efficiency (% EE), and % of cumulative drug release (% CDR) were estimated. The in vitro cytotoxicity study was carried out in MCF 7 cancer cell. The size of the NLCs particles ranged from 297.6 +/- 14.1 to 456.4 +/- 14.1 nm. The % EE of Quercetin and Morin in the optimized NLCs formulation (F6) were found to be 84.27 +/- 2.1% and 87.11 +/- 2.6%, respectively. However, the % CDR of Morin and Quercetin from the F6 formulation were 72.11 +/- 3.4% and 81.56 +/- 3.6%, respectively. The results of FTIR spectroscopy study indicated that the functional groups of Quercetin and Morin were remained intact in NLCs formulations. The TEM study result revealed that the prepared NLCs were spherical in shape. The in vitro cytotoxicity study result revealed that dual drug loaded NLCs showed higher cytotoxicity as compared to individual drug and their combinations. It was concluded that the Quercetin and Morin co-encapsulated NLCs formulation could be a promising candidate for combating the chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer.