Publication: ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF NANO-DELIVERY SYSTEMS CONTAINING 18β-GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID IN TARGETING INFLAMMATION
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Medical University
Abstract
Lung cancer is the second most common malignancy globally and the cause of the highest
number of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer contribute to the
most of the cases. Conventional treatment methods including radiation therapy, chemotherapy
and immunotherapy do exist, however they are only partially effective due to their side effects
and recurrence risk. In both in vitro and in vivo investigations, 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-
Gly), a naturally occurring substance extracted from glycyrrhizic acid/glycyrrhizin of licorice
plant, has demonstrated anti-cancer potential by suppressing cancer cell growth, angiogenesis
and metastasis. Although 18β-Gly possess potential therapeutic abilities, the application of free
18β-Gly into clinical practices hindered due to its poor physicochemical characteristics such
as poor bioavailability and low water solubility. PLGA, a synthetic polymer is great tune-able
options for nano-drug delivery system which can be used for various diseases including cancer
therapy. Formulating 18β-Gly into PLGA will help to overcome challenges imposed by poor
physicochemical characteristics of 18β-Gly. For this research, 18β-Gly-PLGA was tested for
its anti-cancer ability in A549 cell lines found in lung cancer. This study has produced results
showing 18β-Gly-PLGA has great physicochemical characteristics such as sustained in vitro
drug release and good entrapment efficiency. 18β-Gly-PLGA also able to inhibit A549 cells
proliferation and migration. The oncogenes such as KRT18, EGFR, BRAF and KRAS were
transcriptionally down-regulated as part of the underlying mechanism of 18β-Gly-PLGA anti-
cancer effects. 18β-Gly-PLGA also able to significantly down-regulate cancer proliferation and
migration associated proteins such as ErbB2, Survivin, M-CSF and Mesothelin. The anti-
cancer ability of 18β-Gly-PLGA compared to empty PLGA to demonstrate the true potential
of 18β-Gly-PLGA as anti-cancer agent.
Description
Keywords
Lung Neoplasms, In Vitro Techniques, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Cell Line, Pneumonia