Abstract

Nanotechnology has provided substantial contribution in the field of nutraceuticals’ delivery. In the current work, a novel nanocapsular system loading the nutraceutical oleuropein was prepared and characterized, then further tested for its efficacy against colon cancer cells. Oleuropein nanocapsular formulation was prepared by the phase inversion method. Oleuropein nanocapsules were characterized for their particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, morphology, in vitro drug release, stability and anticancer activity on HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Oleuropein nanocapsules were successfully prepared with a particle size of 151 nm, polydispersity index of 0.286 and an overall neutral charge. Moreover, it was able to sustain the release of drug for 24 hours with a cumulative percent released of 100%, compared to oleuropein control which displayed 100% release after only 2 hours. Transmission electron microscopic examination of the nanocapsules displayed their small particle size and revealed their spherical morphology in the form of core and coat. The prepared nanocapsular formulation was stable, with no significant changes in particle size, polydispersity or charge observed upon storage. Interestingly, the oleuropein nanocapsular formulation was 28 times more cytotoxic than oleuropein alone on HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Therefore, it can be delineated that nanocapsules act as promising delivery carrier for oleuropein, which is worthy of further experimentation in vivo to determine its bioavailability.