Development and characterization of piperine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment

• Grant number: 23/04228-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Marcela Tavares Luiz
• Grantee: Izabella Maria Pereira Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Breast cancer is a complex disease, characterized by irregular cell growth, accounting for 30% of cancers in women, with a mortality rate of 15%. Most cases are related to family history or genetic predisposition and the associated germline mutations are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Despite all efforts, the treatments used for breast cancer are still very invasive and end up weakening patients, so there is a need to improve current treatments or find less harmful alternatives. Piperine is an alkaloid that can be used in chemotherapy treatment, with actions in apoptotic signaling cascades, inhibition of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and tumor sensitization during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Its encapsulation in polymeric polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles, a drug delivery system, allows a more assertive treatment since piperine has lipophilic properties and the nanocarrier favors its administration. Thus, the use of piperine associated with PCL nanoparticles to reduce cell growth and induce apoptosis may be advantageous for the treatment of breast cancer. In this context, the present work aims to develop, characterize and evaluate the in vitro antitumor potential of piperine encapsulated in PCL nanoparticles using the nanoprecipitation method. The physical-chemical characterization will include the determination of particle size, polydispersion index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, and electron transmission microscopy. The in vitro antitumor evaluation will be carried out from the evaluation of cytotoxicity in the MCF-7 cell line.