Preliminary <i>in vitro</i> investigation of docetaxel nanomedicines based on cetyl palmitate for inhibition of prostate cancer cells' growth

Abstract Aim Prostate cancer is a disease characterized by unusual uncontrolled growth and proliferation of prostate cells. Docetaxel (DTX) has been associated with reduction in tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. The purpose of this research is to develop nanomedicines of DTX and rubone with effective antitumor activity against prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods DTX solid lipid nanoparticles were formulated by solvent emulsification evaporation method with melting and injection using cetyl palmitate, phosphatidylcholine, Soluplus, Brij O10, and rubone while applying computer-aided techniques to validate the use of selected lipid matrix. DTX nanoparticles were evaluated for particle size and shape, zeta potential, stability, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, and permeation properties. The prostate cancer cells' viability and drug cytotoxicity were assessed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Results The formulated spherical drug-loaded nanoparticles had sizes and zeta potential as low as 125.77 ± 3.0 nm and −7.35 ± 2.2 mV, respectively. The in vitro drug released from the solid lipid nanoparticles showed up to 80% DTX released after drug entrapment and loading of around 80% and 10%, respectively. The optimized DTX nanomedicines increased the cytotoxicity of DTX since it limited the viability of the DU145 prostate cancer cell lines to less than 30%, which represents a 50% increase in cytotoxicity of DTX. Conclusion DTX entrapped in stable lipid-based matrices provided effective in vitro activities against prostate cancer cells.