A comparison of the inhibitory effect of nano-encapsulated helenalin and free helenalin on telomerase gene expression in the breast cancer cell line, by real-time PCR.

Background: The up-regulation of telomerase gene expression occurs in numerous cancers such as breast cancer. A recent study used the PLGA-PEG-helenalin complex, and free helenalin, to inhibit the expression of telomerase in the breast cancer cell line. The purpose of this study was to examine whether nano encapsulating helenalin improves the anti-cancer effect of free helenalin in the T47D breast cancer cell line.

Method: The breast cancer cell line (T47D) was grown in the RPMI 1640 medium, supplemented with 10% FBS. The helenalin was encapsulated by the double emulsion method. Then, the drug loading was calculated and its morphology identified by SEM. Other properties of this copolymer were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and H nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) spectroscopy. The assessment of drug cytotoxicity on the growth of the breast cancer cell line was carried out through MTT assay. After treating the cells with a given amount of drug, RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. In order to assess the amount of telomerase gene expression, real-time PCR was performed.

Results: With regard to the amount of the drug loaded, IC50 value was significantly decreased in nanocapsulated (NC) helenalin, in comparison with that of free helenalin. This finding has been proved through the decrease of telomerase gene expression by real-time PCR.

Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that the NC-helenalin complex is more effective than free helenalin in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells.