Evaluation of anti-cancer activity of PLGA nanoparticles containing crocetin.

Poor solubility of crocetin has limited its use as a potential chemotherapeutic agent. In this study, a crocetin nanocarrier was formulated based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer. The effect of preparation conditions on the size and entrap efficiency of PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) via single emulsion/solvent evaporation method was evaluated. Cytotoxicity of crocetin and crocetin-encapsulated PLGA NPs was assayed in MCF-7 cell line. In PLGA formulations, the optimal condition was found to be 5% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), crocetin:polymer ratio 1:20 and dichloromethane as organic solvent. Obtained results demonstrated that the encapsulation of crocetin in PLGA significantly increased the cytotoxicity of this compound.