Evaluation of the Anticancer Effects of Allicin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in the A549 Lung Cancer Cell Line

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) represent a promising alternative to traditional colloidal drug delivery systems. This study aimed to develop allicin-loaded SLNs and evaluate their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on A549 lung cancer cells and normal HFF cells. Allicin was incorporated into SLNs using a high-pressure homogenization method with stearic acid and Tween 80 lecithin. The cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles was assessed using flow cytometry and gene expression analysis of key apoptotic markers. The expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, which are central to the apoptotic process, were evaluated in A549 cells and compared to normal cells to determine the apoptotic potential of the nanoparticles. The inhibitory power of the synthesized nanoparticle against ABTS and DPPH free radicals was evaluated. The developed nanoparticles had a size of 67.01 nm and a surface charge of − 29.29 mV. Treatment with the nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability of A549 cells after 48 h, while normal HFF cells remained unaffected. The EC50 value for the nanoparticles was approximately 32 μg/ml. Flow cytometry revealed an increase in the subG1 peak, indicating the induction of apoptosis. The nanoparticles upregulated caspase-3 and caspase-9 but had minimal effect on caspase-8. SLN has an inhibitory effect on ABTS and DPPH free radicals. These findings suggest that allicin-loaded SLNs are a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment, as they effectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells while sparing normal cells.