A Comparison between the Anticancer Activities of Free Paclitaxel and Paclitaxel-Loaded Niosome Nanoparticles on Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Line Nalm-6

Background: Niosomes or Nonionic surfactant vesicles are nano vehicles utilized in drug delivery systems, especially in cancer therapy. In this study, these vesicles were applied as delivery system for anticancer drug, paclitaxel and then, its anticancer activities was compared with free paclitaxel on Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) cell line Nalm-6. Materialas and Methods: In this exprimental study, paclitaxel loaded niosome was prepared by thin film hydration method. The characterization tests included dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry were employed to evaluate the quality of the nanocarriers. Cytotoxicity of niosomal paclitaxel nanoparticles and free paclitaxel on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Nalm-6 after 24 hours were studied by MTT assay to determine cell viability. Results: Percent of encapsulation paclitaxel prepared with sorbitane monostearate, cholesterol, and DSPE-mPEG 2000 was 97.21 %. In addition, the polydispersity index, mean size diameter, and zeta potentials of niosomal paclitaxel nanoparticles were found to be 0.244 ± 0.011, 106.3 ± 1.5 nm, and -26.03 ± 1.34; respectively. Paclitaxel released from nanoniosome in 72 h was 19.81 %. The results demonstrated that a 2.5∼fold reduction in paclitaxel concentration was measured when the paclitaxel administered in nanoniosome compared to free paclitaxel solution in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Nalm-6. Conclusion: As a result, the nanoparticle-based formulation of paclitaxel has high potential as an adjuvant therapy for clinical usage in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy.