• Delivery of Galbanic acid–loded PLGA nanoparticles by human mesenchymal stem cells to colon cancer cells
  • Mahboubeh Ebrahimian,1 Sanaz shahgordi,2 Rezvan Yazdian-Robati,3 Maryam Hashemi,4 Zahra Salmasi,5,*
    1. Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
    2. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
    3. Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
    4. Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
    5. Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran


  • Introduction: Galbanic acid (GBA), as a biologically active ingredient of Ferula species, has low solubility and bioavailability. Therefore, using of nanoparticles could improve these aspects of GBA. One of unique features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is the ability for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs into tumors. The aim of this study is to explore the efficiency of MSCs as carriers for delivery of galbanic acid loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles into cancer cells.
  • Methods: GBA loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA/GBA) were prepared by single emulsion method and their physicochemical characteristics were estimated. Afterwards, nanoparticles were incorporated into MSCs (hMSC/PLGA-GBA) and their migration ability and cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells were studied.
  • Results: The average size of PLGA/GBA NPs was 214±30.5 nm and loading efficiency into hMSCs were obtained about 85% and 92% at GBA concentration of 20 μM and 40 μM, respectively. Significant higher migration to cancer cells (C26) compared to normal cells (NIH/3T3) was reported for nano-engineered hMSCs. Furthermore, they could effectively induce cell death in C26 cells.
  • Conclusion: PLGA/GBA NPs could be efficiently loaded to hMSCs and used as the great targeted cellular carrier against cancer cells with minimal toxicity on normal cells.
  • Keywords: Nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells, cellular carrier, galbanic acid, PLGA, cancer.