DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES LOADED WITH DOXORUBICIN AND LYCOPENE AND ITS ANTICANCER ACTIVITY ON LUNG CANCER CELL LINE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2026v18i3.55361Keywords:
Doxorubicin, Lycopene, Extracellular vesicles, NTA, MTT, ApoptosisAbstract
Objective: To develop and optimize lemon-derived extracellular vesicles (LEVs) for the co-delivery of Doxorubicin and lycopene to enhance anticancer activity against A549 lung cancer cells.
Methods: LEVs were isolated using 12% PEG-mediated precipitation. Drug loading was performed via passive incubation and optimized using Central Composite Design, with drug-to-EV ratio and incubation time as variables. Characterization included NTA, TEM, DLS, and zeta potential analysis. In vitro release, cytotoxicity (MTT, SRB), combination index, apoptosis (DNA fragmentation, AO/EB staining), and 3-month stability were evaluated.
Results: Optimized LEVs showed a size of 160.2 nm, PDI 0.289, and zeta potential 15.1 mV. Encapsulation efficiency was 76.45% Doxorubicin and 78.12% lycopene. Sustained drug release followed Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics. Co-loaded LEVs exhibited superior cytotoxicity and synergistic effects versus free drugs. Apoptosis assays confirmed enhanced cell death. The formulation remained stable over 3 months.
Conclusion: LEVs are a stable, natural nanocarrier offering synergistic and sustained delivery of Doxorubicin and lycopene, showing promise for lung cancer therapy.
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