Development of Methotrexate-Loaded Nanocochleates for Treatment of Breast Cancer by Trapping Method

This study’s objective was to evaluate the nanocochleate drug delivery system using the in-vitro breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and employ it as a vehicle for methotrexate administration. The hydrogel and trapping methods were used to create methotrexate-loaded nanocochleates (MTX-NC). Particle size and zeta potential of 199 nm and -12.9 mv, respectively, were observed in optimized nanocochleates at 2-8°C. After three months, the entrapment efficiency was 75%±5%w/w, the drug loading was 37.5%±3w/w, and the drug content was 99%±2w/w. At physiological pH, nanocochleates showed a continuous release of methotrexate. Significant in vitro anticancer activity was demonstrated against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. At a dosage of 80 μg/ml, methotrexate-loaded nanocochleates showed a greater growth in inhibition (-35.6%) than methotrexate-liposome (MTX-Liposome), which showed an inhibition of -20.8% at the same concentration, as validated by the dose-response parameter. Therefore, in the MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell line, the MTX-NC formulation exhibits superior anti-proliferative efficacy compared to the MTX-Liposome formulation. This technique showed that additional weak water-soluble anticancer medications have intrinsic promise.