Quality by design endorsed atorvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers embedded in pH-responsive gel for melanoma

• Published in: Journal of microencapsulation Vol. 41; no. 1; p. 27
• Main Authors: Bagasariya, Deepkumar, Charankumar, Kondasingh, Shah, Saurabh, Famta, Paras, Fernandes, Valencia, Shahrukh, Syed, Khatri, Dharmendra Kumar, Singh, Shashi Bala, Srivastava, Saurabh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 2024
• Subjects: Atorvastatin - pharmacology; Chitosan - pharmacology; Drug Carriers - pharmacology; Humans; Melanoma - drug therapy; Nanostructures; Particle Size; Skin; atorvastatin; nanostructured lipid carriers; pH-responsive gel; Melanoma
• ISSN: 1464-5246
• DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2023.2282971

Our aim was to repurpose atorvastatin for melanoma by encapsulating in a nanostructured lipid carrier matrix to promote tumour cell internalisation and skin permeation. pH-responsive chitosan gel was employed to restrict At-NLCs in upper dermal layers. We utilised a quality by design approach for encapsulating At within the NLC matrix. Further, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity was evaluated along with pH-responsive release and ex vivo skin permeation. Cytotoxicity assay showed 3.13-fold enhanced cytotoxicity on melanoma cells compared to plain drug with nuclear staining showing apoptotic markers. release studies showed 5.9-fold rapid release in chitosan gel matrix at pH 5.5 compared to neutral pH. At-NLCs prevented precipitation, promoted skin permeation, and SK-MEL 28 cell internalisation. The localisation of NLCs on the upper dermal layer due to electrostatic interactions of skin with chitosan gel diminished the incidence of untoward systemic effects.