Ferulic acid loaded Poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide nanoparticles: Systematic study of particle size, drug encapsulation efficiency and anticancer effect in non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line in vitro

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic phytonutrient, which possesses strong anticancer effect. However, its prominent application in cancer is limited due to poor bioavailability at the tumor site. The aim of the present study was to develop FA-PLGA nanoparticles and to study its anticancer efficacy in NCI-H460 cells in vitro. FA-PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by double emulsion method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the prepared FA-PLGA had an average size of 483 nm. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed the prepared FA-PLGA nanoparticles were spherical in shape with 200 nm. Drug encapsulation assay showed that 76% FA was encapsulated in PLGA. Further, FA-PLGA exhibits increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, altered mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP), increased DNA damage, enhanced TBARS and apoptotic morphological changes in NCI-H460 cells when compared to FA treatment alone. Our results indicate that FA-PLGA demonstrated increased anticancer property in cancer cells than FA treatment alone.