Effect of silibinin-loaded nano-niosomal coated with trimethyl chitosan on miRNAs expression in 2D and 3D models of T47D breast cancer cell line

Silibinin is a natural flavonoid with a strong antioxidant property and weak cytotoxic activity. It has demonstrated anti-tumoural activity against many types of malignancies; however, due to its hydrophobic structure, it has poor water solubility, bioavailability and permeability across intestinal epithelial cells. To improve the effect of silibinin, we have vehiculated silibinin by a highly stable niosomal nano-structure based on a Span 60/cholesterol (CH)/N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) system in order to study its potential application for the delivery of silibinin in T47D cultured under three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) conditions. To study the effect of nanodrug on miRNAs expression, we evaluated quantitative expression of miRNA-21 and miRNA-15a as well as miR-141 and miR-200c which act as oncogene and tumour suppressors by real-time PCR. Results demonstrated that the mechanism of nanodrug action as well as the response of tumour cells differed in 3D culture as compared to 2D. Delivery of silibinin-loaded niosomes coated with TMC was found to be more effective in inhibiting the growth of tumour cells and inducing apoptosis than free silibinin administration. In silibinin-treated cells, death occurred in a dose- and time- dependent manner by induction of apoptosis and alteration of the cell cycle. Real-time PCR analysis revealed a decrease in miR-21, miR-15a and miR-141while increase in miR-200c expression levels was observed in silibinin-treated cells relative to the levels in the untreated cells. The results show that nanodrug delivery was more effective than free silibinin administration in changing the level of miRNAs expression in cancer cells. Therefore, niosomal nanostructure with TMC could be a suitable vehicle for hydrophobic compounds, such as silibinin, by improving their action in cancer therapy.