Formulation of Letrozole-loaded Ethyl Cellulose and Eudragit S100 Nanoparticles by Nanoprecipitation Technique and Determination of Cytotoxic Activity by MTT Assay

Abstract

The major goal of this work is to develop letrozole nanoparticles using the polymer precipitation technique. Formulations were prepared by using Ethyl cellulose and Eudragit S100 as polymers. By varying drug-polymer ratios, a total of ten formulations were prepared. By altering the drug concentration to polymer, five formulations were prepared with Ethyl cellulose and five with Eudragit S100. All ten formulations were evaluated for different characterization and evaluation parameters such as Entrapment efficiency, Loading capacity and in vitro drug release studies, particle size, stability (zeta potential), surface morphology, and drug-polymer interaction study. In comparison, the NEC 2:1 formulation showed the smallest particle size,high stability, good entrapment efficiency, and sustained drug release. This formulation was further studied to determine the anticancer activity in vitro in the MCF-7 Breast cancer cell line by MTT assay. The results indicated that the prepared formulation exhibited anticancer activity with an IC50 value of 91.26 micromolar. Comparatively, Ethyl cellulose was proven to be a better polymer than Eudragit S100, and the nanoprecipitation technique was considered the most suitable technique for preparing letrozole nanoparticles.