In Vitro Protective Effects of Resveratrol-Loaded Pluronic Micelles Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Damage in U87MG Glioblastoma Cells

Abstract

Numerous studies reported that resveratrol (RVT) exhibits strong antioxidant and cytoprotective effects in brain pathologies, but its low solubility and bioavailability limit its therapeutic potential. Encapsulation of RVT in nanoparticles offers a promising strategy to enhance its effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytoprotective, DNA protective, and antioxidant capacity of resveratrol-loaded Pluronic (P123/F127) micelles. The effects of micellar (mRVT, water dispersion) and pure RVT (30% hydroethanolic solution) were compared in glioblastoma U87MG cells with H2O2-induced oxidative damage. The cells were pretreated with mRVT or pure RVT (1, 3, 10, and 30 µM) for 24 h before cell damage. The cell viability, DNA damage, acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and some biomarkers for oxidative stress like lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. In addition, the cellular uptake efficiency of the micelles (50 nm) was tracked using red fluorescent rhodamine B as a marker. Our findings revealed that the micelles were localized in the cytoplasm of U87MG cells within 1 h of incubation. Empty micelles, mRVT, and RVT did not reduce the viability of U87MG cells after 24 h incubation and protect them from H2O2 exposure. The most effective treatment was with mRVT (1 and 3 µM), which significantly reduced the DNA damage index, maintained LPO levels close to the control, and normalized the activities of AChE, SOD, and CAT that were disrupted by H2O2 treatment. These promising results highlight the feasibility and advantages of using resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles for therapeutic applications.