Green synthesis of β-carotene-loaded liposome as antibacterial, antibiofilm and anti-inflammatory modulator: targeting NO/iNOS/NF-κB signaling pathway in MCF-7 cancer cell line

Abstract

Background

The overuse of antibiotics leads to an increased risk of antibiotic-resistant infections. Therefore, the objective of this study is the use of natural β-carotene as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory to fulfill this gap.

Methods

Liposome/β-carotene was synthesized, sterilized using electron-beam at 25 kGy, and characterized with DSC, DLS, Zeta-Potential, FTIR-ATR, and TEM. The in-vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities were examined.

Results

DSC results showed that the peak pre-transition temperature (T_p) of liposomes/β-carotene shifted to lower degrees of 40.58 °C, indicating that β-carotene interacted with the head polar group of phospholipids. Liposome/β-carotene (25 kGy) showed superior antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. S. aureus was the most affected and recorded a growth absorbance of 0.018 ± 0.00 and antibiofilm activity of 95.32 ± 3.60 %. Liposomes/β-carotene (25 kGy) exhibited the highest potential in safeguarding RBC membranes from hemolysis with inhibition% of 91.1 and 93.3 %. It had a strong inhibition on inflammation-related cytokines in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC₅₀ of 479.9 µg/mL.

Conclusion

We recommend the use of liposomes/β-carotene in medications. The novelty of this study is the green formulation of liposomes and encapsulation of β-carotene in liposomes prepared using e-beam irradiation in sterilization for significant medical applications.