Cytotoxic effect of transdermal invasomal anastrozole gel on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Anastrozole is an anti-cancer drug, an effective aromatase inhibitor for the treatment of breast cancerin post-menopausal women. As it undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism and has many side effects related to oraluse, it has been envisaged to develop anastrozole invasomes in the form of transdermal gel.Objective: The objective of this work was to prepare, characterize, and evaluate invasomal gel of anastrozole.Materials and Methods: Invasomes were prepared by thin layer film hydration method using Phospholipon 80H,fenchone (terpene), and ethanol. The optimized invasomes were incorporated into sodium carboxy methyl cellulosegel. Prepared formulations were evaluated and cytotoxic study on Michigan cancer foundation (MCF)-7 cancer cellline was studied.Results and Discussion: The scanning electron microscope results of the optimized formulation showed sphericalshaped vesicles.The ex vivo permeation of invasomes and the skin deposition (73%) were studied on male Wistar ratskin. Cell line studies on MCF-7 cells showed cytotoxic effect of optimized formulation at 5 µl/ml.Conclusion: It was concluded that the developed anastrozole invasomes enhanced the transdermal flux and theresults obtained encouraged the use of the anastrozole invasomal gel for the potential treatment of breast cancer inpost-menopausal women.