Folate Functionalized and Evodiamine-Loaded Pluronic Nanomicelles for Augmented Cervical Cancer Cell Killing.

Evodiamine (Evo) is a natural, biologically active plant alkaloid with wide range of pharmacological activities. In the present study Evo-loaded, folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 nano-micelles (ENM) was synthesized to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Evo against cervical cancer. ENM were synthesized, physicochemically characterized and in-vitro anticancer activity was performed. The study demonstrates that ENM have nanoscale size (50.33 ± 3.09 nm), monodispersity of 0.122 ± 0.072, with high drug encapsulation efficiency (71.30 ± 3.76%) and controlled drug release at the tumour microenvironment. ENM showed dose-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The results of in-vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that ENM have significant anticancer effects and greatly induce apoptosis as compared to pure Evo. The cellular uptake study suggests that increased anticancer activity of ENM was due to the improved intracellular delivery of Evo through overexpressed folate receptors. Overall, the designed ENM could be a potential targeted delivery system for hydrophobic anticancer bioactive compound like Evodiamine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.