Formulation optimization and characterization of Pistacia atlantica Desf. essential oil-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 (in vitro studies)

Introduction: Breast cancer is among the most prevalent type of cancer in women across the world. The essential oils of Pistacia atlantica Desf. have been utilized as a medicine owing to their antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. The current research aims to enhance the anticancer effect of the essen-tial oil of Pistacia atlantica Desf. by incorporating it in a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC), a lipid-based drug delivery system.Methods: NLCs-containing Pistacia atlantica Desf. essential oil was prepared by probe ultrasonication method to obtain Pistacia atlantica Desf. EO-loaded NLCs (PAEO-NLCs) and its anticancer effect against SKBR3 breast cancer cells was investigated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) method was used to determine the particle size, as well as polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) of formulations. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also used to determine the size and morphology of optimized formulation (PAEO-NLC4). In vitro cellular assays (MTT, apoptosis, and cell cycle) were employed to assess the anticancer effect of PAEO-NLC4 against SKBR3 cells.Results: TEM results revealed that PAEO-NLC4 have a well-defined spherical shape, with a size of 151 +/- 1 nm, with a negative surface charge of -29.1 +/- 1.4 mV, and a PDI of 0.16 +/- 0.03. Cellular data revealed that the PAEO-NLC4 can decline the viability of SKBR3 cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, compared to cells treated with placebo and free PAEO.Conclusions: Based on our findings, PAEO-NLC4 could serve as a potential and effective treatment for breast cancer therapy.