Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the effect of auraptene (AUR) treatment in forms of free and encapsulated in niosome nanoparticles by investigating the mRNA expression level of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF)-A and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line. METHODS: Niosome nanocarriers were produced using two surfactants Span 60 and Tween 80. RPE cell line was treated with both free AUR and niosome-encapsulated. Optimum dosage of treatments was calculated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Expression of VEGF-A and PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF-C, PDGF-D genes was measured after total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The highest entrapment efficiency (EE) was achieved by Span 60:cholesterol (1:1) with 64.3%. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of free and niosome-encapsulated AUR were 38.5 and 27.78 µg/mL, respectively. Release study revealed that niosomal AUR had more gradual delivery to the cells. RT-PCR results showed reduced expression levels of VEGF-A, PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF-C, and PDGF-D after treatment with both free and niosomal AUR. CONCLUSION: Niosomal formulation of Span 60: cholesterol (1:1) is an effective drug delivery approach to transfer AUR to RPE cells. VEGF-A, PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF-C, and PDGF-D are four angiogenic factors, inhibiting which by niosomal AUR may be effective in age-related macular degeneration.