Liposome Nanoparticles Carrying Oroxin A Regulate Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and Induce Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Background: PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) regulates the activity of liver cancer cells. However, the poor water solubility of Oroxin A (OA) results in its lack of apparent clinical application effect, and liposome nanoparticles are relatively mature nanomaterials. Objectives: This study aims to explore how liposome nanoparticles carry OA and regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver cancer cells, providing a new theoretical basis and an experimental basis for nanomedicine treatment of liver cancer. Materials and Methods: Prepare the OA-LN nano complex and use it in cell experiments to observe its anti-liver cancer effect and its effect on PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β to uncover the mechanism of its action on EMT. The efficacy of OA-LN was verified by an in vivo nude mouse experiment. Results: OA-LN material was successfully prepared. OA-LN has a good tumor-suppressor effect in liver cancer. Intervening the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway can affect the activity of Bel-7402 cells to a certain extent and regulate their activity. The EMT was further verified using LY294002, 740Y-P, and Bel-7402. It was found that OA-LN can inhibit PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling, thereby playing a certain inhibitory role in the EMT of Bel-7402 cells and further accelerating the apoptosis of Bel-7402 cells. In vivo experimental results showed that OA-LN had an obvious inhibitory effect on the weight and volume of tumor-bearing mice at the end of treatment, and the degree of cell necrosis was more obvious in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. It could significantly promote the apoptosis of tumor cells. Conclusion: OA-LN is a potential new drug carrier for treating liver cancer. OA-LN has a unique ability to induce apoptosis in liver cancer cells. OA-LN can inhibit PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling, thereby inhibiting the regulation of EMT and induction of apoptosis in liver cancer cells. It provides positive inspiration for developing targeted drugs and combined targeted therapy programs for liver cancer. It also has a certain referential significance for the treatment of other malignant tumors and provides a reasonable research basis for the treatment of malignant tumors.