Cytotoxic potential of Artemisia absinthium extract loaded polymeric nanoparticles against breast cancer cells: Insight into the protein targets

Targeted drug delivery system in the form of herbal based nano-formulations is the new ray of hope for minimizing the side effects related to the anti-cancer drugs as well as conventional drug delivery system. In view of this, the present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of A. absinthium extract loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NVA-AA) against the breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA MB-231) and to identify the protein targets for the caused cytotoxicity. The polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) were prepared by free radical mechanism and loaded with the whole plant extract. The cytotoxicity of these NVA-AA were evaluated on the breast cancer cell lines via different cytotoxic parameters viz. MTT assay, CFSE proliferation assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle study. The protein targets and the interaction among them were identified by nano-LCMS/MS analysis and STRING online tool respectively, which were further validated by qPCR and BLI. The LCMS/MS analysis suggests that the caused cytotoxicity was due to the alteration of proteins involved in vesicular trafficking, apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis. Further, interactome analysis identified UBA52 in MCF-7 and TIAL1, PPP1CC in MDA MB-231 cells as the central molecule in the vesicular trafficking and apoptosis networking connection.

Keywords: Artemisia absinthium; Breast cancer; Polymeric nanoparticles; Vesicular trafficking.