Formulation of Morus alba extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: in silico, characterizations, and in vitro cytotoxicity study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to formulate Morus alba leaf extract (MAE) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and investigate its cytotoxic potential using MDA-MB231 cell line.

Significance: SLNs can protect MAE from degradation, enhance cytotoxicity potential, and making them suitable for various therapeutic areas.

Methods: SLNs were developed using high-pressure homogenization method, and the formulations were optimized based on particle size, zeta potential, % entrapment efficiency (EE), and % cumulative drug release (CDR). The in vitro cytotoxic efficacy of MAE-loaded SLNs was evaluated through apoptosis assays and compared to that of free MAE.

Results: The particle size, zeta potential, % EE, and % CDR of optimized SLNs were found 116.3 nm, -26.18 mV, 89.30%, and 79.4%, respectively. MAE-loaded SLNs demonstrated significantly greater cytotoxic effects than the MAE (p < 0.05). SLNs induced less inhibition in the G0/G1 phase but showed marked inhibition in the S phase (9.7 ± 1.7%) and G2/M phase (2.2 ± 0.6%), indicating effective disruption of DNA replication and cell division, with significant cytotoxicity compared to control cells. The percentage of total apoptosis was 72.49 ± 2.7% for MAE alone and 81.46 ± 2.9% for MAE loaded SLNs, demonstrating a notably higher apoptosis rate for the SLNs formulation (p < 0.05). These findings indicated that MAE loaded SLNs significantly enhance the apoptotic and cytotoxic impact compared to MAE.

Conclusion: These results proved that MAE loaded SLNs as a promising nano carrier system to improve the therapeutic performance of MAE.

Keywords: In silico; Morus Alba; SLNs; cytotoxicity; high pressure homogenization.