Formulation of repurposed celecoxib-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers using Box Behnken design, its characterization, and anticancer evaluation.

Objectives: The key objective of present research is to effectively treat lung cancer with repurposed celecoxib while overcoming challenges such as solubility, bioavailability, non-selectivity, and negative effects by delivering celecoxib through nanostructured lipid carriers via the parenteral route.

Methods: Celecoxib-laden nanostructured lipid carriers were manufactured by melt-emulsification ultrasonication approach and optimized through Box-Behnken Design. The celecoxib nanostructured lipid carriers were examined for particle size, % entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, in vitro release, cytotoxicity, stability, etc. Results: The optimized celecoxib nanostructured lipid carriers displayed a % entrapment efficiency of 91.69±4.9% and particle size of 132.1±6.8 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.41±0.06, and a zeta potential of -39.1 ± 3.0 mV. Notably, celecoxib nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better and controlled celecoxib release at phosphate buffer solution pH 6.8 than pH 7.4, revealing the tumor-targeting potential of nanostructured lipid carriers. Also, the release of celecoxib from nanostructured lipid carriers was controlled for 48 h, indicating reduced chances of systemic toxicity. The in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 cells of celecoxib nanostructured lipid carriers was 1.5-fold greater than that of pure celecoxib, confirming significant anti-lung cancer effectiveness. Further, the celecoxib-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers remained stable for twelve weeks at cold and ambient temperatures.

Conclusion: Thus, the given research concludes that parenteral administration of nanostructured lipid carriers could be a harmless, efficient, and novel choice to treat lung cancer using repurposed celecoxib.