scholarly journals Preparation of Cationic Amphiphilic Nanoparticles with Modified Chitosan Derivatives for Doxorubicin Delivery

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7010
Author(s):  
Xiudong Liu ◽  
Huofei Zhou ◽  
Weiting Yu ◽  
Xin Xiong ◽  
Rumen Krastev ◽  
...  

Polymeric micelle-like nanoparticles have demonstrated effectiveness for the delivery of some poorly soluble or hydrophobic anticancer drugs. In this study, a hydrophobic moiety, deoxycholic acid (DCA) was first bonded on a polysaccharide, chitosan (CS), for the preparation of amphiphilic chitosan (CS-DCA), which was further modified with a cationic glycidyltrimethylammounium chloride (GTMAC) to form a novel soluble chitosan derivative (HT-CS-DCA). The cationic amphiphilic HT-CS-DCA was easily self-assembled to micelle-like nanoparticles about 200 nm with narrow size distribution (PDI 0.08–0.18). The zeta potential of nanoparticles was in the range of 14 to 24 mV, indicating higher positive charges. Then, doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug with poor solubility, was entrapped into HT-CS-DCA nanoparticles. The DOX release test was performed in PBS (pH 7.4) at 37 °C, and the results showed that there was no significant burst release in the first two hours, and the cumulative release increased steadily and slowly in the following hours. HT-CS-DCA nanoparticles loaded with DOX could easily enter into MCF-7 cells, as observed by a confocal microscope. As a result, DOX-loaded HT-CS-DCA nanoparticles demonstrated a significant inhibition activity on MCF-7 growth without obvious cellular toxicity in comparison with blank nanoparticles. Therefore, the anticancer efficacy of these cationic HT-CS-DCA nanoparticles showed great promise for the delivery of DOX in cancer therapy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 1528-1538
Author(s):  
Sarah Albogami ◽  
Hadeer Darwish ◽  
Hala M. Abdelmigid ◽  
Saqer Alotaibi ◽  
Ahmed Nour El-Deen ◽  
...  

Background: In Saudi Arabia, the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are high. Although current treatments are effective, breast cancer cells develop resistance to these treatments. Numerous studies have demonstrated that active compounds in plant extracts, such as the phenolic compound Rosmarinic Acid (RA), exert anti-cancer effects. Objective: We investigated the anticancer properties of methanolic crude extracts of seedlings and calli of Rosmarinus officinalis and Coleus hybridus, two Lamiaceae species. Methods: MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were treated with methanolic crude extracts obtained from plant calli and seedlings generated in vitro, and cell proliferation was evaluated. Transcriptional profiling of the seedling and callus tissues was also conducted. Results: The mRNA expression levels of RA genes were higher in C. hybridus seedlings than in R. officinalis seedlings, as well as in C. hybridus calli than in R. officinalis calli, except for TAT and C4H. In addition, seedling and callus extracts of both R. officinalis and C. hybridus showed anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7 cells after 24 or 48 h of treatment. Discussion: At a low concentration of 10 μg/mL, C. hybridus calli and seedling extracts showed the most significant anti-proliferative effects after 24 and 48 h of exposure (p < 0.01); controls (doxorubicin) also showed significant inhibition, but lesser than that observed with C. hybridus (p < 0.05). Results with R. officinalis callus and seedling extracts did not significantly differ from those with untreated cells. Conclusion: Methanolic extracts of R. officinalis and C. hybridus are potentially valuable options for breast cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
Alyaa A. Albadr ◽  
Ismaiel A. Tekko ◽  
Lalitkumar K. Vora ◽  
Ahlam A. Ali ◽  
Garry Laverty ◽  
...  

AbstractChronic fungal infection of the cornea could lead to blindness if not treated properly. Topical amphotericin B (AMP-B) is considered the first treatment of choice for ocular fungal infection. However, factors related to its poor solubility and penetration through intact cornea lead to poor bioavailability. Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as a minimally invasive method to enhance ocular drug delivery. This study aims to investigate the potential use of biodegradable poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and hyaluronic acid (HA)–based rapidly dissolving MNs for delivery of AMP-B to treat fungal infection. The data obtained illustrates PVP/HA MN arrays’ reproducibility, good mechanical strength, and faster dissolution with 100% drug recovery. Multiphoton microscopic results revealed that MNs successfully penetrate the corneal tissue and enhance AMP-B permeation through corneal layers. Furthermore, PVP/HA MN arrays showed high solubility. Both PVP and HA successfully decreased AMP-B cytotoxicity when compared to free drug. More interestingly, the biocompatible MN formulations preserved the antifungal activity of AMP-B, as demonstrated by significant inhibition of fungal growth. Therefore, this study shows the feasibility of ocular delivery of the poorly soluble AMP-B using a fast-dissolving MN patch. Graphical abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. eaax5032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan-Wei Huang ◽  
Fu-Fei Hsu ◽  
Jiantai Timothy Qiu ◽  
Guann-Jen Chern ◽  
Yi-An Lee ◽  
...  

While immunotherapy holds great promise for combating cancer, the limited efficacy due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and systemic toxicity hinder the broader application of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report a combinatorial immunotherapy approach that uses a highly efficient and tumor-selective gene carrier to improve anticancer efficacy and circumvent the systemic toxicity. In this study, we engineered tumor-targeted lipid-dendrimer-calcium-phosphate (TT-LDCP) nanoparticles (NPs) with thymine-functionalized dendrimers that exhibit not only enhanced gene delivery capacity but also immune adjuvant properties by activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING)–cGAS pathway. TT-LDCP NPs delivered siRNA against immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 and immunostimulatory IL-2–encoding plasmid DNA to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), increased tumoral infiltration and activation of CD8+ T cells, augmented the efficacy of cancer vaccine immunotherapy, and suppressed HCC progression. Our work presents nanotechnology-enabled dual delivery of siRNA and plasmid DNA that selectively targets and reprograms the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapy.


Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Filiz Bakar-Ates

The Src, a protein kinase, is a family of protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs), and this protein catalyses the phosphorylation of tyrosine. The studies have revealed its key roles in regulating signal transduction from cell surface receptors. The Src kinases act as cytoplasmic signalling machinery through regulating various cellular processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, migration, and survival. The pleiotropic functions of the Src family emphasise the importance of family members which have also been accepted as cellular oncogenes. Indole phytoalexins, which have been identified in various plants, have a structure with indole nucleus with the side chain or a heterocycle containing nitrogen and sulphur atoms. The antiproliferative effects of some phytoalexins have been demonstrated in various cancers. Among the members of phytoalexins, brassinin is known with a dithiocarbamate moiety and S-alkyl piece linked to indole core, and camalexin has an indole structure substituted at position 3 by the 1,3-thiazol-2-yl group. The inhibitory effects of these compounds on cancer cell proliferation have been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of compounds on Src kinase activity. Human MCF-7 breast carcinoma and SW480 colorectal carcinoma cells were treated with compounds, and the effects of compounds on Src kinase activity were evaluated by Src-tyrosine kinase assay. The data were also compared with the growth inhibitory potential of compounds. The results have shown that both brassinin and camalexin have significantly inhibited the activity of Src kinase at 10 mM and higher concentrations in MCF-7 and SW480 cell lines (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study is the first to evaluate the role of indole phytoalexins on the Src kinase activity of cancer cells. The data obtained have proven that the indole phytoalexin structure can show anticancer activity as Src mediated. It is thought that existing data will shed light on novel anticancer drug development studies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Ting Yang ◽  
Yuan-Zheng Cheng ◽  
Meng Qin ◽  
Yong-Hong Wang ◽  
Hong-Li Yu ◽  
...  

Thermosensitive hydrogels have increasingly received considerable attention for local drug delivery based on many advantages. However, burst release of drugs is becoming a critical challenge when the hydrogels are employed. Microspheres- (MS-) loaded thermosensitive hydrogels were thus fabricated to address this limitation. Employing an orthogonal design, the spray-dried operations of tenofovir (TFV)/Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP)/chitosan (CTS) MS were optimized according to the drug loading (DL). The physicochemical properties of the optimal MS (MS F) were characterized. Depending on the gelation temperature and gelating time, the optimal CTS-sodium alginate- (SA-) α,β-glycerophosphate (GP) (CTS-SA-GP) hydrogel was obtained. Observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), TFV/BSP/CTS MS were successfully encapsulated in CTS-SA-GP. In vitro releasing demonstrated that MS F-CTS-SA-GP retained desirable in vitro sustained-release characteristics as a vaginal delivery system. Bioadhesion measurement showed that MS-CTS-SA-GP exhibited the highest mucoadhesive strength. Collectively, MS-CTS-SA-GP holds great promise for topical applications as a sustained-release vaginal drug delivery system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xuefeng Jiang ◽  
Yusheng Liu ◽  
Guijuan Zhang ◽  
Shujun Lin ◽  
Jieyan Wu ◽  
...  

Purpose. Aloe-emodin (AE) is a natural compound derived from aloe vera and palmatum rhubarb and shows anticancer activities in various cancers. Bcl-2 family is the main regulator of cell death or cell survival. This study describes the effects of AE on proliferation of breast tumor (BT) cells. Methods. MCF-10A, MCF-10AT, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were exposed to AE. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Protein levels were measured by Western blotting. The levels of mRNA and miRNA were examined by RT-PCR. Bioinformatics was applied to screen miRNAs that bind to 3′-UTR of mRNA. Results. The results showed that AE selective activity inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of MCF-10AT and MCF-7 cells but exhibited no significant inhibition in MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 cells. Mechanistically, AE dose-dependently decreased the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, while it increased Bax protein expression in MCF-10AT and MCF-7 cells. The levels of Bcl-xl and Bax mRNA were altered by AE treatment, which was consistent with the protein expression results. However, Bcl-2 mRNA levels were not affected in either cell line, suggesting that AE may modulate the protein translation of Bcl-2 through miRNAs. In all candidate miRNAs that bind to 3′-UTR of Bcl-2, miR-15a and miR-16-1 were dose-dependently downregulated by AE. Moreover, inhibition of miR-15a/16-1 could eliminate the inhibition of MCF-10AT and MCF-7 cells growth by AE and could reverse the downregulation of AE-induced Bcl-2 protein level. Conclusion. Our research provides an important basis that AE induces BT cell apoptosis through upregulation of miR-15a/miR-16-1 that suppresses BCL2.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Quagliariello ◽  
Michelino De Laurentiis ◽  
Stefania Cocco ◽  
Giuseppina Rea ◽  
Annamaria Bonelli ◽  
...  

Hyperglycemia, obesity and metabolic syndrome are negative prognostic factors in breast cancer patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, achieving unprecedented efficacy in multiple malignancies. However, ICIs are associated with immune-related adverse events involving cardiotoxicity. We aimed to study if hyperglycemia could affect ipilimumab-induced anticancer efficacy and enhance its cardiotoxicity. Human cardiomyocytes and estrogen-responsive and triple-negative breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines) were exposed to ipilimumab under high glucose (25 mM); low glucose (5.5 mM); high glucose and co-administration of SGLT-2 inhibitor (empagliflozin); shifting from high glucose to low glucose. Study of cell viability and the expression of new putative biomarkers of cardiotoxicity and resistance to ICIs (NLRP3, MyD88, cytokines) were quantified through ELISA (Cayman Chemical) methods. Hyperglycemia during treatment with ipilimumab increased cardiotoxicity and reduced mortality of breast cancer cells in a manner that is sensitive to NLRP3. Notably, treatment with ipilimumab and empagliflozin under high glucose or shifting from high glucose to low glucose reduced significantly the magnitude of the effects, increasing responsiveness to ipilimumab and reducing cardiotoxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that hyperglycemia exacerbates ipilimumab-induced cardiotoxicity and decreases its anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. This study sets the stage for further tests on other breast cancer cell lines and primary cardiomyocytes and for preclinical trials in mice aimed to decrease glucose through nutritional interventions or administration of gliflozines during treatment with ipilimumab.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1010-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiali Zhu ◽  
Heqing Huang ◽  
Yingjie Zhang ◽  
Huijuan Zhang ◽  
Lin Hou ◽  
...  

Safe and efficient drug delivery in a controllable fashion, especially remote and repeatable switch of on-demand drug release, is the subject of widespread attention. A kind of magnetic nanoparticles (DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs) simultaneously consisted of Cit/CuS@Fe3O4 and doxorubicin (DOX) was presented. The drug release from DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs could be successfully triggered by the presence of gelatinase, showing great promise for tumor-targeted drug release through an enzymatic degradation mechanism. Compared with free DOX, DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs could not only specially deliver Cit/CuS@Fe3O4 and DOX into MCF-7 cells, but also could greatly improve the quantity of ROS produced in MCF-7 cells under of 980 nm laser irradiation. DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs also had highly selective accumulation at tumor tissue of S180 tumor-bearing mice, which were along with a magnet near the tumor site. Furthermore, when combined with NIR laser irridation, DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs showed a higher antitumor efficacy than the individual therapies in vitro and in vivo. This study showed that DOX-Cit/CuS@Fe3O4-NPs could be used as a platform for tumor chemotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (12) ◽  
pp. 2383-2399
Author(s):  
Fengyi Zhao ◽  
Wen Lu ◽  
Yuanyuan Xu ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Jingjing Zhang ◽  
...  

Several bioactive dehydroabietylamine Schiff-bases (L1−L4), amides (L5−L11) and complex CuL3(NO3)2, Cu(L5)3, Co(L6)2Cl2 had been synthesized successfully for developing more efficient but lower toxic antiproliferative compounds. Their antiproliferative activities to Hela (cervix), HepG2 (liver), MCF-7 (breast), A549 (lung) and HUVEC (umbilical vein, normal cell) were investigated in vitro. The toxicity of all compounds was less than dehydroabietylamine (L0). For HepG2 cells, L1, L2 and L3 had higher anti-HepG2 activity, especially L1 (0.52 µM) had highest anti-HepG2 activity but low toxicity. For MCF-7 cells, L1, L2, L3 and L4 had higher anti-MCF-7 activity, especially L3(0.49 µM) had highest anti-MCF-7 activity but low toxicity. For A549 cells, L2 and L3 had higher anti-A549 activity. Furthermore, L1 and L3 may be the great promise antiproliferative drugs with nontoxic side effects, due to the high anti-HepG2 and anti-MCF-7 inhibition rate in vivo, 65% and 61%, respectively. L1, L2 and L3 could induce apoptosis through intercalating into DNA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Qin-Wei Wu ◽  
Josef P. Kapfhammer

RNA therapies using RNA editing and interference are currently being developed for neurological diseases. The CRISPR-Cas13 system, based on bacterial enzymes, holds great promise for developing efficient tools for RNA therapies. However, neurotoxic activity has been reported for Cas13a, and recent studies have reported toxic effects of PspCas13b and RfxCas13d during zebrafish and Drosophila embryonic development. It is important to investigate the safety of these bacterial enzymes in the context of the nervous system and neuronal development. In this study, we used mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells as a complex neuron type to test for the potential neurotoxic actions of RfxCas13d and PspCas13b. We found that PspCas13b significantly impeded the dendritic development of cultured Purkinje cells, similar to the neurotoxic action of Cas13a. In contrast, RfxCas13d did not exhibit a significant inhibition of dendritic development. A similar trend was found for axonal outgrowth. These results suggest varying neurotoxic properties for different Cas13 ortholog enzymes. We call for more studies to investigate, and possibly mitigate, the neurotoxicity of Cas13 proteins in order to improve the safety of the CRISPR-Cas13 system for RNA therapies.


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