Synthesis of Hydrophobin-Coated Niosome for Stealth Delivery of Anticancer Drugs

HFB-1 on the surface of fungal spores plays a role in the lack of antigen recognition by thehost immune system [1]. The present study aimed to evaluate the hydrophobin-1 (HFB-1)–coated niosome formulations based on Span 40 and Tween 40 non-ionic surfactants to analyzethe potential application of this novel formulation for the stealth delivery of doxorubicin(Dox) into the MCF-7 cell line [2]. The surface layer of HFB-1 on the niosomes leads to thehypothesis that these proteins could confer shielding against immune-system recognition invivo and prevent the immune response. Thus, HFB-1 became a promising alternative to PEG.Here, Dox-loaded niosome was prepared using the thin-film hydration (TFH) method [2].Physicochemical characteristics of constructed formulations analyzed in different pH (2, 5.2and 7.4) (because of different pH values in the path of arriving the carrier to its target) fromthe aspects of the size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, morphology, entrapment efficiency(EE), and in-vitro cytotoxicity. Results showed that loaded niosomes exhibited a smallmean size (338±3.14 – 593±3.12 nm), narrow size distribution, negative zeta potential, highEE (45±1.67 – 75±1.22), and high antitumor activity. By coating HFB-1 on niosomes, thesize, stability, and EE% of the niosomes increased. Also, the HFB-1-coated niosomes had amore sustained release profile in comparison to niosomes without an HFB-1 shell. Our findingssuggest that this drug delivery system that uses HFB-1-coated niosomes can be an efficientdrug delivery system for the treatment of cancer.