Formulation, characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic potential for febuxostat loaded chitosomes against cervical cancer cells (Hela cells)

Abstract

Abstract The presented study is focused on evaluating the efficiency of repurposing Febuxostat (FBX) as a chemotherapeutic newcomer against the cervical cancer cell line (Hela cells). Exploiting nanotechnology benefits in drug delivery, FBX was incorporated into chitosan-coated niosomes (Chitosomes). Using a 2 3 factorial design, eight formulations were characterized for their entrapment efficiency percentage, particle size, and zeta potential. The optimum (FBX) loaded chitosomes displayed a mean particle size of 339 ± 14 nm, an entrapment efficiency of 91.07 ± 0.33%, and a Zeta potential of + 26.9 ± 1.2 ± 1.2 mV. In vitro cytotoxicity studies performed on Hela cells indicated a significant ( P  < 0.05) decrease in IC 50 value around 3-fold compared with pure FBX. The cellular uptake showed a 2-fold increase compared to the free drug. Upon studying the cell death cycle, it was revealed that apoptotic cell death was caused by the drug in the G1/S phase. Altogether, these findings revealed that the optimized chitosomal dispersion exhibited superior cytotoxic activity compared to free FBX, indicating it as a promising efficient and biocompatible delivery system for cervical cancer treatment.