Work

Allicin-loaded soluplus polymeric micelles differentially modulate doxorubicin response in adenocarcinoma and myocardial cell models

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Allicin, an organosulfur compound derived from garlic, exhibits effective cellular activities, but its administration is often hindered by poor bioavailability and relative instability. To address these limitations, Soluplus-based polymeric micelles were engineered to encapsulate allicin and evaluated for their chemosensitizing or chemoprotective capacity with doxorubicin. The micelles displayed uniform spherical nanoparticles (~ 74 nm, PDI ~ 0.21) with nearly complete encapsulation efficiency. Compared with free allicin, micellar formulations showed markedly reduced release (~ 16% vs. ~50%) at physiological temperature, indicating improved drug retention. Stability assessments revealed particle size and zeta potential were time-dependent but unaffected by temperature. FTIR confirmed successful encapsulation, while thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated thermal stability up to 250-300 °C. In vitro, treatment with the allicin-Soluplus micelles prior to doxorubicin treatment exhibited a cell-model-dependent modulation of doxorubicin response. A partial protective metabolic response was observed in myocardial cells H9C2 and colorectal adenocarcinoma CACO2 cells. An opposite effect was observed on prostate adenocarcinoma DU145 cells, in which allicin exhibited a chemosensitizing effect with doxorubicin. These preliminary in vitro findings highlight Soluplus micelles as a promising delivery platform to stabilize allicin and potentiate its therapeutic effect in oncotherapy.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-58188-5