Liposomal silibinin as a potential radioprotector for human lymphocytes in treating non-small cell lung cancer

This study aims to investigate the radioprotective effect of liposomal silibinin (Lip-SIL) on human lymphocytes in treating non-small cell lung cancer using a combined evaluation method of cell viability assay (after irradiation) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Material and Methods: Lip-SIL was prepared by lipid film hydration method combined with sonication. A549 cell line was used as a model in order to evaluate the radioprotective activity of Lip-SIL in treating non-small cell lung cancer. Results: The results indicated that, at SIL concentration of 10 µg/mL, Lip-SIL exhibited the highest radioprotection for lymphocytes, but did not radio-protect or even increased genotoxicity in human lung cancer A549 cells. Conclusion: Lip-SIL is possible to be used as a supporter for radio-protecting human lymphocytes during radiotherapy in treating non-small lung cancer. Moreover, the results of this study also imply that the radioprotection of one bioactive compound for normal cells is not only based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity but also based on the mechanisms of intracellular activations. (author)