Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Loaded Poly (ε -caprolactone) Nanoparticles for Improved Anticancer Efficacy: Formulation Development, Characterization and in Vitro Cytotoxicity Study

Cytotoxic potential of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) which is an active constituent of bee propolis is well proven. The therapeutic efficacy of CAPE is affected due to poor solubility and bioavailability. In present study CAPE loaded Poly (ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles formulation (denoted as CPL) was designed and investigated with the aims of enhancement of solubility, anticancer efficacy and to achieve desired characteristics. Design of experiment approach is implemented in formulation development. Developed formulations were evaluated in detail for nanoparticle characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity study. Developed nanoparticles showed particle size and encapsulation efficiency of 187 ± 2 - 220 ± 2 nm and 64.37+ 1.20- 74.80+ 1.45% respectively. Desirable characteristics in terms of drug content, in vitro release, surface morphology were observed. Total growth inhibition concentration was observed to be decreased by 40.87% for developed formulation as compared to CAPE in MCF-7 cells and 23.73% in human colon cancer cells HT-29. The study proven that the developed CPL exhibited improved solubility, sustained drug release, enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines in comparison with pure CAPE. Thus the proposed system may be served as a useful tool for cancer treatment.