Fabrication, optimisation and in vitro evaluation of docetaxel and curcumin Co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for improved antitumor activity against non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

Aim

To develop docetaxel (DT) and curcumin (CUR) co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (DTCR-NLCs) for ratiometric co-targeting to non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells.

Methods

The DTCR-NLCs were developed by employing a high-pressure homogenisation technique and optimised by employing a rotatable central composite design response surface methodology (RCCD-RSM) via the design of experiments (DoE) approach.

Results

The optimised DTCR-NLCs had a particle size (D90) of 150.2 ± 5.2 nm, Pdi of 0.263 ± 0.15, zeta potential of +26.3 ± 5.2 mv. The % drug loading (% DL) of DT and CUR was observed to be 1.38 ± 0.98 and 2.99 ± 1.24, respectively. Dissolution studies depicted a pH-independent drug release (≈98% drug release at 144 h). The DTCR-NLCs were stable and haemocompatible. MTT cell viability assay of DTCR-NLCs demonstrated considerably increased cytotoxicity towards NCI-H460 cells.

Conclusions

The developed DTCR-NLCs heralds the future of an efficacious and safer Taxane therapy for NSCLC.

Keywords:

• Rotatable central composite design
• Weibull kinetics
• NCI-H460
• synergistic
• NSCLC

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Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India for providing the necessary facilities to generate the manuscript that is a part of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) research work of Ms. Shruti U. Rawal to be submitted to Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Chetan Panchal, Associate Professor, Institute of Physics, M.S University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India for availing the cross-polarised microscopy facility.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India for providing financial assistance in form of Major Research Project (NU/Ph.D./Major Res Pro/IP/16-17/669) and for providing necessary facilities to carry out the research work. The authors are also thankful to Department of Science and Technology (DST), Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST) (Grant No.: SR/FST/LSI-607/2014), Government of India for providing the necessary funding to establish an equipment facility. Ms. Shruti Rawal is also grateful to Nirma University for providing the Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship.