Preparation, Optimization and In vitro Evaluation of Doxorubicin‐loaded into Hyaluronic Acid Coated Niosomes Against Breast Cancer

Abstract Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used against solid tumors. Niosomes are self‐assembled nanocarriers of non‐ionic surfactants. DOX loaded into cationic niosomes (DOX−Nio) was prepared via thin film hydration method. DOX−Nio was then decorated with a hyaluronic acid (DOX−HA−Nio) via electrostatic interaction. DOX−Nio and DOX−HA−Nio displayed a particle size of 120.0±1.02 and 182.9±2.3 nm, and charge of + 35.5±0.15 and −15.6±0.25 mV, respectively, with PDI < 0.3. DOX−HA−Nio showed a good stability regarding size and charge over 4 weeks at 4 °C and maintain their integrity after lyophilization. HPLC results showed a 94.1±4.2 % encapsulation efficiency of DOX with good entrapment and slow, prolonged DOX release even after 48 hrs. Cell viability assay showed an IC 50 of 14.26 nM for the DOX−HA−Nio against MCF‐7 cell line with micromolar IC 50 results against CD‐44 negative cell lines (NIH/3T3). DOX−HA−Nio was proven to be an effective, targeted nanocarrier for DOX against MCF‐7 cell line.