Lavandula Angustifolia Essential Oil Loaded in Liposomal Nano-Carriers Regulate the HER2 and CASP3 Genes in MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 Cell-Lines

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Cancer drug delivery has recently focused on using novel carrier systems due to their high drug-loading capacity, release rate properties, and minimum side effects. Finding novel chemotherapeutic agents would be essential for the improvement of integrated treatment planning. In this study, the effect of constructed nano-liposomal particles of <jats:italic>Lavandula angustifolia</jats:italic> essential oil (LAEO) was evaluated on cell toxicity and the expression of <jats:italic>HER-2</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Caspase-3</jats:italic> genes in two <jats:italic>MCF-7</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>SK-BR-3</jats:italic> cell lines. Our results showed a high entrapment efficiency (50 ± 3.34), and a low average size (68.3 ± 7.28 nm) of nano-liposomes under suitable conditions. The surface charge of particles was at a range of -2 to -4.5 mV. The release rate of nanoparticles was estimated to be 63.98% (37 °C; pH = 7) and 87.63% (42 °C; pH = 5) in <jats:italic>MCF-7</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>SK-BR-3</jats:italic> cell lines after 48 hours, respectively. The stability of nanoparticles without a great increase in particle sizes and spherical shape was observed using force atomic microscopy. The degree of cell growth in response to nanoliposomal LAEO was significantly decreased in comparison with free essential oil (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic>-value &lt; 0.01) when assayed on both cell lines. The analysis of gene expression showed that the treatment of cancer cell lines with nanoliposomal LAEO significantly elevated the relative expression of the <jats:italic>caspase-3</jats:italic> gene while reducing the expression of <jats:italic>HER-2</jats:italic> (P &lt; 0.05). Based on the obtained results, it seems that LAEO in the form of nanoparticles could have more efficiency on the growth inhibition of cancer cell lines in comparison with the free form of the essential oil. Further studies are required to assess the <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> effects of LAEO nanoliposomes with refined formulations against various types of cancer (Fig. 1).</jats:p>