Comparative Study of Nano‐liposome and Nano‐niosome for Delivery ofAchillea MillefoliumEssential Oils: Development, Optimization, Characterization and Their Cytotoxicity Effects on Cancer Cell Lines and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Nanoencapsulation of essential oils (EOs) in drug delivery systems leads to their capability of improving their solubility, stability, and bioavailability of them. The aim of this study was preparation, optimization, and characterization of nano-liposomes/nano-niosomes containing Achillea millefolium essential oils (A. millefolium EOs) and comparison of their properties. In the experimental study, characteristics of nanoparticles including size, zeta potential, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), % encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and the release amount of essential oils from nano-liposome or niosome were assessed using different techniques. Then to determine cell viability at different concentrations, the MTT assay was used. Also, the dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antimicrobial agents. The optimized formulations provided potential advantages, including an appropriate nano-size scale, and a negative charge, and also showed a continuous drug release behavior, which successfully encapsulated essential oil with high entrapment efficiency. In terms of size and release amount, nano-niosome had superiority to nano-liposome with smaller size and also slower release but nano-liposome could encapsulate essential oils in a higher percentage compared to nano-niosome. Also, there was a significant difference between the toxicity of encapsulated EOs and free EOs in terms of viability (P < 0.05). In addition, the antimicrobial effect of liposomal and niosomal EO was greater than free EO. In conclusion, the designed nano-based systems were determined as promising lipid-based nano-carriers for essential oil delivery that proffered a novel, high potential therapy for breast cancer and favorable antimicrobial effects.

Progress of nanopreparation technology applied to volatile oil drug delivery systems

“…Numerous studies have been conducted to show that volatile oil can be used as an antitumor component, but its clinical application is limited by its short half-life and unstable drug release. Hamideh et al [ 8 ] designed nano-LS of millipore volatile oil ( A. millefolium EO) with a smaller size and slower release rate, which showed reduced toxicity and a better antibacterial effect of the EO-LS as compared to free EOs, with stronger pharmacological activity against breast cancer. In addition, triterpene-base thermosensitive LS complexes of Coix lacryma oil were also synthesized, which improved the efficacy against cervical cancer and reduced the systemic toxicity through the effective accumulation and deep penetration of antitumor drugs in tumor tissues compared with triterpenoids alone [ 72 ].…”

“…For example, fennel oil has anticancer activity, and fennel oil nanoemulsion (FEGO-NE) exhibits inhibitory effects on angiogenesis and cumulative effect on the expression of antioxidant genes. It can be for the treatment of colorectal cancer [ 8 ]. According to research, nanoemulsions can be used as drug carriers and can prolong the stability of transported drugs, making them suitable for antibacterial, anticancer, larvicidal, and insecticidal applications [ 194 ].…”

“…This technology can effectively reduce volatilization losses, slow down the rate of volatilization, and improve the effectiveness of its application and product quality in different fields. There are various options for encapsulating volatile oils into nanoscale particles, including polymer-based nanocarriers (microemulsions, nanoemulsions [ 7 ], liposomes [ 8 ], solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems), lipid-based nanocarriers (nanocapsules [ 9 ], nanomicelles). There are also multiple choices for nanoscale formulation technologies, mainly including self-nanoemulsification [ 10 ], phase inversion [ 11 ], high-speed shearing technology, spray drying method, high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonic technology [ 12 ], thin film hydration method, ethanol injection technology, nanoprecipitation technology, electrospinning, emulsion diffusion method, ion gelation.…”

Essential oils and their nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy

“…In a recently published work, liposomal and niosomal nanoformulations of Achillea millefolium EO were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cells. Both nanoformulations demonstrated improved selectivity compared to free EO but the niosomes presented a sustained EO release resulting in greater anticancer cytotoxicity (Emtiazi et al, 2022). Similarly, niosomes loaded with d ‐limonene also exerted enhanced cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines including MCF‐7 (Hajizadeh et al, 2019).…”