Characterizing Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles, a nanomedicine candidate

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 25;17(1):e0262884. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262884. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a promising candidate for nanomedicine delivery due to their bioactive cargos, high biocompatibility to human cells, biodegradability, low cytotoxicity, and potential for large-scale production. However, the research on EVs derived from medicinal plants is very limited. In this study, Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles (KPEVs) were isolated by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and their size, morphology, and surface charge were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The biological properties of KPEVs, including their bioactive compound composition, gastric uptake, cytotoxicity, acid tolerance, and storage stability, were also examined. In addition, KPEVs had an average and uniform size of 200-300 nm and a negative surface charge of 14.7 ± 3.61 mV. Moreover, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, the major bioactive compound of KP, was packaged into KPEVs. Meanwhile, KPEVs were resistant to gastric digestion and stably maintained at -20°C and -80°C for 8 weeks with no freeze-thaw cycle. The lipid hydrolysis during EVs storage at room temperature and 4°C were also demonstrated for the first time. Furthermore, the labeled KPEVs were internalized into adenocarcinoma gastric cells, and the cell viability was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, according to the results of the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium assay. Our study supports the potential application of KPEVs as a vehicle for anticancer or oral drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Extracellular Vesicles / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Nanomedicine*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Zingiberaceae / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic

Grants and funding

This Research was funded by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) Fund under Grant (CU_FRB640001_01_37_1) and the Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. program under Grant (PHD/0217/2559) and 90th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund (Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund under Grant (GCUGR1125633043D). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.