Thymoquinone Loaded Zein Nanoparticles Improves the Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells

Background and Objective: Thymoquinone (TQ) has been reported for its efficacy to inhibit various cancer stages. Nanoparticles (NPs), showed great promise as drug carriers for cytotoxic agents. This study aims to investigate the ability of zein based NPs to enhance TQ cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells. Materials and Methods: TQ was loaded on ZN NPs using the antisolvent phase separation technique. The prepared TQ ZN NPs were investigated for size, shape, in vitro release and cytotoxicity activity in MCF-7 cells. The presentation of data was performed using mean +/- SD. The IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) statistics software (version 25) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was utilized for carrying out statistical analysis. Results: TQ-Zein NPs revealed spherical shaped NPs with in vitro TQ sustained release for over 36 hrs and enhanced cytotoxicity activity in MCF-7 cells when compared with either pure TQ or ZN. Cell cycle analysis results showed accumulation of MCF-7 cells in G2/M and pre-G1 phases were observed in MCF-7 cells challenged with TQ ZN NPs. A significant increase in the % of cells for early and late apoptosis in addition to the total cell death as shown by cells stained with annexin V. Conclusion: Formulation of TQ in the form of ZN based NPs improved cellular permeation and apoptotic activity of TQ that leads to potentiation of its cytotoxic activities against MCF-7cells.