Resveratrol loaded polymeric micelles for theranostic targeting of breast cancer cells

Treatment of breast cancer underwent extensive progress in recent years with molecularly targeted therapies.However, non-specific pharmaceutical approaches (chemotherapy) persist, inducing severe side-effects.Phytochemicals provide a promising alternative for breast cancer prevention and treatment.Specifically, resveratrol (res) is a plant-derived polyphenolic phytoalexin with potent biological activity but displays poor water solubility, limiting its clinical use.Here we have developed a strategy for delivering res using a newly synthesized nano-carrier with the potential for both diagnosis and treatment.Methods: Res-loaded nanoparticles were synthesized by the emulsion method using Pluronic F127 block copolymer and Vitamin E-TPGS.Nanoparticle characterization was performed by SEM and tunable resistive pulse sensing.Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%) and Drug Loading (DL%) content were determined by analysis of the supernatant during synthesis.Nanoparticle uptake kinetics in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 as well as in MCF-10A breast epithelial cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the effects of res on cell viability via MTT assay.Results: Res-loaded nanoparticles with spherical shape and a dominant size of 179±22 nm were produced.Res was loaded with high EE of 73±0.9% and DL content of 6.2±0.1%.Flow cytometry revealed higher uptake efficiency in breast cancer cells compared to the control.An MTT assay showed that res-loaded nanoparticles reduced the viability of breast cancer cells with no effect on the control cells.Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the newly synthesized nanoparticle is a good model for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs.Additionally, the nanoparticle delivers a natural compound and is highly effective and selective against breast cancer cells rendering this type of nanoparticle an excellent candidate for diagnosis and therapy of difficult to treat mammary malignancies.