Formulation of lipid Nanosystem Containing Ginger Essential Oil to Affect Cancer Cells and Evaluate Its Cytotoxicity Against Ovarian Cancer (Cell Line A2780)

Abstract

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in women. Therefore, this study aimed to produce and analyze nanoliposomes that encapsulate ginger essential oil and assess its cytotoxic effects on the A-2780 ovarian cancer cell line, comparing it to the unencapsulated essential oil.

Methods: Following the extraction of ginger essential oil using the Clevenger apparatus, liposomes containing the oil were created using the thin film method, and the essential oil was then incorporated into them using the hydration method. Next, the encapsulation efficiency and release pattern of the essential oil from the liposome were assessed using the spectrophotometry method. Physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanosystems, like size, PDI, zeta potential, morphology, and the lack of interaction between essential oils and liposomes, were investigated using DLS, SEM, and FTIR methods, respectively. Finally, the cytotoxicity effect of the synthesized nanosystems on ovarian cancer cells was measured using MTT assay.

Results: In this study, we successfully produced nanoliposomes incorporating ginger essential oil with an encapsulation efficiency of 56.41 ± 3.21%, a size of 85.72 ± 4.38 nm, a PDI of 1.48 ± 0.58, a zeta potential of -19.17 ± 1.19, and suitable morphology. These nanoliposomes exhibited a slow and semi-controlled release pattern, with a maximum essential oil release rate of 62.5 ± 2.41% over 48 hours. The nanosystems and essential oil did not exhibit any chemical interaction, and the encapsulation of the essential oil enhanced its anti-cancer properties when compared to its free form on ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that synthesized nano-liposomes with appropriate physicochemical properties can serve as effective nano-carriers for delivering ginger essential oil to cancer cells.