Investigating and Comparing the Lethal Effect of Nanoempagliflozin and Metformin on the U87 Cancer Cell Line in Human Glioblastoma

Background Although chemotherapy is highly effective in cancer treatment, it often causes numerous side effects, including drug resistance. Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor used for diabetes, has demonstrated anticarcinogenic effects in various studies. This research examines the effects of empagliflozin nanoparticles in comparison to standard empagliflozin and metformin on the surface of U87 glioblastoma cells. Method Nanoparticles of empagliflozin were created using chitosan–sodium alginate, and the IC50 values for empagliflozin, metformin, and the empagliflozin nanoparticles were measured. The effects of empagliflozin and metformin toxicity on the U87 cell line were studied. Following this, the flow cytometry technique was utilized to analyze its impact on apoptosis within the U87 cell line. Results Empagliflozin nanoparticles were evaluated, showing an average size of 82.11 nm. MTT assay results indicated concentration‐dependent reductions in cell viability, with IC50 values of 12.31 μM for empagliflozin and 11.12 μM for the nanoparticles. Their combination with other drugs enhanced cell viability reduction, suggesting potential synergistic effects with chemotherapy. Flow cytometry revealed that 13.3%, 94.5%, and 97.7% of cells were in early apoptosis for the metformin, empagliflozin, and nanoparticle groups, respectively, compared to the control group, indicating distinct apoptotic patterns. Conclusion The results of this study highlight empagliflozin nanoparticles’ promise as an independent treatment for U87 glioblastoma, attributed to their neuroprotective properties. This discovery may have a major influence on cancer treatment.