Abstract Miconazole, a well-known antifungal drug, has recently gained attention for its potential anticancer properties, prompting efforts to enhance its therapeutic performance through innovative delivery systems. This study explores the repurposing of miconazole for anticancer applications using a green nanoemulsion delivery system. Olive oil was selected as a natural, biocompatible carrier to improve miconazole’s bioavailability and therapeutic targeting. The formulated miconazole-loaded nanoemulsion exhibited an average particle size of 177.76 ± 5.2 nm and a zeta potential of −24 ± 0.94 mV, indicating physical stability. The formulation showed potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC 50 = 1.4 ± 0.4 μg/ml), with apoptosis induction of 70.31 ± 2.1 %. Broader anticancer activity was observed against HePG2 (IC 50 = 10.7 ± 1.2 μg/ml) and HCT-116 (IC 50 = 5.9 ± 0.7 μg/ml). Molecular docking revealed favorable binding of miconazole to target proteins, resembling interactions of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, thereby supporting its anticancer potential. The findings support the use of olive oil-based nanoemulsions as an effective platform for repurposing miconazole in cancer therapy. This delivery approach enhances drug solubility, cellular uptake, and anticancer efficacy, offering a promising strategy for targeted and cost-effective treatment development.
Alotaibi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.