Development and evaluation of liquid crystal systems of combination of 5-fluorouracil and curcumin for cervical cancer cell line

Context: Liquid crystalline gel, self-assembled vesicular systems covered with nonionic surfactants, are promising for use in drug delivery. Aims: To develop and evaluate the liquid crystal (LC) systems of a combination of 5-fluorouracil and curcumin for a cervical cancer cell line. Methods: The LC was formulated using water, surfactant, and glycerin. Optimization was carried out by using different surfactants. The formulations were chosen for various studies, such as pH determination, environmental scanning electron microscopy (eSEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dissolution study. The synergism of the combination of 5-FU and curcumin on cervical cancer HeLa cell line was then analyzed using CompuSyn software. Results: The formulations with 60% surfactant, the average particle size was in the ranges from 15.68 – 26.35 nm whereas with 40% surfactant, were 11.27 – 21.35 nm. The percentage of dissolution of 5-FU at pH 7 (PBS) A2: 40.23 > B2: 47.39 > X2: 50.36 > Y2: 56.36 compared to at pH 4 (vaginal simulated fluid, VSF) were A2: 36.23 > B2: 43.64 > X2: 45.67 > Y2: 49.01. The percentage of dissolution of curcumin of different formulations were at pH 7 (PBS) A2: 44.85 > B2: 51.36 > X2: 58.61 > Y2: 64.38 compared to at pH 4 (VSF) were A2: 41.03 > B2: 49.37 > X2: 57.85 > Y2: 68.75. Conclusions: The combination of the drugs showed that there was a synergistic effect when it was being administered together. The combination of drugs in LC system had a sustained release as well as it was effective against cervical cancer HeLa cell line.