Efficacy of Copper Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Soya Lecithin Liposomes in Treating Breast Cancer Cells (MCF-7) In Vitro

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death which attracted the attention of the scientific world to search for efficient methods for treatment. With the great development and regeneration of nanotechnology over the last 25 years, various nanoparticles in different structures, shapes and composites provide good potential for cancer therapy. The purpose of this study aims to investigate the effect of Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) as a drug model for cancer treatment either in their free form or encapsulated in Soy lecithin liposomes (SLP) from plant origin as a cheap source of lipids. CuNPs were by the chemical reduction method then loaded to SLP through the thin film hydration method. The drug model Cu/SLP was successfully combined. The characteristics of the free CuNPs, liposomes, and the combined form, zeta potential, size distribution, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%), drug release profile, Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were checked followed by in vitro study on breast cancer cell line Mcf-7 as a model for cytotoxicity evaluation. The optimal Cu/SLP had a particle mean size of 81.59 ± 14.93 nm, a negative zeta potential of -50.7 ± 4.34 mV, the loaded CuNPs showed EE% of 78.9%, and a drug release profile for about 50% of the drug was released after 6 h, and FTIR analysis are recorded. The cytotoxicity assay showed that the IC 50 of Cu/SLP is smaller than that of free CuNPs. These results give clear evidence of the efficacy of using the combined Cu/SLP than CuNPs alone as a model drug carrier prepared from plant origin against cancer medically and economically.