Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preparation and characterization of nanoliposomal beta-cryptoxanthin and its effect on proliferation and apoptosis in human leukemia cell line K562

Amir Gharib¹ , Zohreh Faezizadeh¹, Masoud Godarzee²

¹Department of Laboratory Sciences, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran; ²Department of Biology, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran.

For correspondence:- Amir Gharib Email: amirgharib@gmail.com Tel:+986623500201

Received: 22 October 2014 Revised: 16 January 2015 Published: 28 February 2015

Citation: Gharib A, Faezizadeh Z, Godarzee M. Preparation and characterization of nanoliposomal beta-cryptoxanthin and its effect on proliferation and apoptosis in human leukemia cell line K562. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(2):187-194 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i2.1

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose:To prepare beta-cryptoxanthin-loaded nanoliposomes and evaluate their anti-proliferative activity in leukemia K562 cell line, compared to free beta-cryptoxanthin.

Methods:Beta-cryptoxanthin-loaded nanoliposomes were prepared by extrusion method. Morphological characterization of the nanoliposomes was performed by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The anti-proliferation effect of beta-cryptoxanthin (BC) in free and liposomal forms on K562 cell line was studied using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptotic activity, following treatment with beta-cryptoxanthin in the free and liposomal forms, was detected using flow cytometry.

Results:Entrapment efficiency of beta-cryptoxanthin was 86.3 % ± 1.0. Cryo-TEM analysis revealed that the nanoliposomes have spherical shapes. In all conditions, beta-cryptoxanthin-loaded nanoliposomes exhibited greater anti-proliferative activity than than the free beta-cryptoxanthin (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the presence of beta-cryptoxanthin-loaded nanoliposomes, the proportion of apoptotic cells was higher for free beta-cryptoxanthin (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:The data obtained indicate that beta-cryptoxanthin, especially in the liposomal form, inhibits the growth of K562 cells and may therefore provide a basis for the development of leukemia therapies.

Keywords: Beta-cryptoxanthin, Nanoliposome, Anti-proliferative, Apoptosis, Flow cytometry, Leukemia