The synthesis of albumin nanocarriers conjugated with a GSK3β inhibitor to investigate its effect on survival of breast cancer cell line MCF-7

7-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (7-BIO) is a well-known glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibitor with anticancer effects on different cancer cell lines. However, due to its low water solubility, absorption and high gastrointestinal toxicity, it has been inapplicable in clinics so far. In the present study, bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) were prepared as drug carriers.   to be conjugated with 7-BIO to increase the effectiveness and reduce the toxicity. The nanoparticles were synthesized and conjugated with 7-BIO and their sizes were analysed by using scanning electron microscopy. Also, the viability and apoptosis in the cells treated with 7-BIO conjugated nanoparticles were examined by MTT assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining (AO/EB), respectively. The significance of the data variation was evaluated by using ANOVA test. 10 mg/ml albumin led to spherical nanoparticles (NPs) of 89.42±7 nm in diameter with mono dispersity. MTT assay showed that 7Bio-loaded BSA NPs had a higher toxic effect on MCF-7 cell line compared to the free 7-BIO. Also, AO/EB staining showed that the apoptosis was induced by 7-BIO treatments. 7-BIO is known to specifically inhibit GSK3β phosphorylate GSK3β, which was also evident in our treated breast cancer cell line MCF-7 both with free and loaded BSA NPs 7Bio.   The albumin nanoparticles conjugated with the GSK3 inhibitor effectively decreased the viability of the proliferating breast cancer cell line MCF-7, pointing at its possible clinical impact in future.