ROS-Mediated Apoptosis and Anticancer Effect Achieved by Artesunate and Auxiliary Fe(II) Released from Ferriferous Oxide-Containing Recombinant Apoferritin

Artesunate promotes cervical cancer cell apoptosis by regulating Bcl2 family molecules and reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential

Artesunate (ART), an antimalarial drug, has a broad spectrum of antitumour effects in cancer types such as esophageal and gastric cancer. However, evidence demonstrating the role of ART in cervical cancer cells is limited. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of ART on the growth of cervical cancer cells through the modulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis was investigated. The growth-inhibitory effect of ART on a cervical cancer cell line (SiHa) was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay after treatment with ART for 24 h, after which the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated. Using flow cytometry assays, apoptosis, the cell cycle, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+) ions, as well as the mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated in SiHa cells following treatment with ART for 24 and 48 h. The mRNA expression levels of Bcl2, Bcl-xl, (myeloid cell leukaemia 1) Mcl-1, Bcl2-like protein 11 (BIM), (Bcl2-related ovarian killer protein) Bok, Bax and (Bcl2 homologous antagonist/killer) Bak in SiHa cells were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. ART inhibited the growth of SiHa cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of ART in SiHa cells was 26.32 µg/ml. According to the IC50 value, 15, 30 and 100 µg/ml ART were selected for further experiments, and normal saline (0 µg/ml ART) was used as the control group. The results indicated that treatment with 15, 30 and 100 µg/ml ART for 24 and 48 h induced apoptosis, increased the levels of ROS, the levels of Ca2+ and the mRNA expression levels of BIM, Bok, Bax and Bak, but decreased the cell proliferation indices, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the mRNA expression levels of Bcl2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In conclusion, ART inhibited the growth of SiHa cells and induced apoptosis via a mechanism associated with the regulation of Bcl2 family member expression, which was associated with the increase of the levels of ROS and Ca2+ and the reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential.

Cancer nutritional-immunotherapy with NIR-II laser-controlled ATP release based on material repurposing strategy

Enlightened by the great success of the drug repurposing strategy in the pharmaceutical industry, in the current study, material repurposing is proposed where the performance of carbonyl iron powder (CIP), a nutritional intervention agent of iron supplement approved by the US FDA for iron deficiency anemia in clinic, was explored in anti-cancer treatment. Besides the abnormal iron metabolic characteristics of tumors, serving as potential targets for CIP-based cancer therapy under the repurposing paradigm, the efficacy of CIP as a catalyst in the Fenton reaction, activator for dihydroartemisinin (DHA), thus increasing the chemo-sensitivity of tumors, as well as a potent agent for NIR-II photothermal therapy (PTT) was fully evaluated in an injectable alginate hydrogel form. The CIP-ALG gel caused a rapid temperature rise in the tumor site under NIR-II laser irradiation, leading to complete ablation in the primary tumor. Further, this photothermal-ablation led to the significant release of ATP, and in the bilateral tumor model, both primary tumor ablation and inhibition of secondary tumor were observed simultaneously under the synergistic tumor treatment of nutritional-photothermal therapy (NT/PTT). Thus, material repurposing was confirmed by our pioneering trial and CIP-ALG-meditated NT/PTT/immunotherapy provides a new choice for safe and efficient tumor therapy.

Enrichment and Evaluation of Antitumor Properties of Total Flavonoids from Juglans mandshurica Maxim

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites found in Juglans mandshurica Maxim., which is a precious reservoir of bioactive substances in China. To explore the antitumor actions of flavonoids (JMFs) from the waste branches of J. mandshurica, the following optimized purification parameters of JMFs by macroporous resins were first obtained. The loading concentration, flow rate, and loading volume of raw flavonoid extracts were 1.4 mg/mL, 2.4 BV/h, and 5 BV, respectively, and for desorption, 60% ethanol (4 BV) was selected to elute JMFs-loaded AB-8 resin at a flow rate of 2.4 BV/h. This adsorption behavior can be explained by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. Subsequently, JMFs were identified using Fourier transform infrared combined with high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, and a total of 156 flavonoids were identified. Furthermore, the inhibitory potential of JMFs on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HepG2 cells was demonstrated. The results also show that exposure to JMFs induced apoptotic cell death, which might be associated with extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Additionally, flow cytometry detection found that JMFs exposure triggered S phase arrest and the generation of reactive oxygen species in HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that the JMFs purified in this study represent great potential for the treatment of liver cancer.

Co-delivery of siBcl-2 and PTX with mitochondria-targeted functions to overcoming multidrug resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a significant impediment to the efficacy of chemotherapy in clinical settings. Despite Paclitaxel (PTX) being designated as the primary pharmaceutical agent for treating recurrent and metastatic breast cancer, the emergence of PTX resistance frequently results in therapeutic shortcomings, representing a substantial obstacle in clinical breast cancer management. In response, we developed a delivery system exhibiting dual specificity for both tumors and mitochondria. This system facilitated the sequential administration of small interfering B-cell lymphoma-2 (siBcl-2) and PTX to the tumor cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively, with the aim of surmounting PTX resistance in tumor cells through the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Notably, we employed genetic engineering techniques to fabricate a recombinant ferritin containing the H-subunit (HFn), known for its tumor-targeting capabilities, for loading siBcl-2. This HFn-siBcl-2 complex was then combined with positively charged Triphenylphosphine-Liposome@PTX (TL@PTX) nanoparticles (NPs) to formulate HFn/siBcl-2@TL/PTX. Guided by HFn, these nanoparticles efficiently entered cells and released siBcl-2 through the action of triphenylphosphine (TPP)-mediated "proton sponge," thereby precisely modulating the expression of Bcl-2 protein. Simultaneously, PTX was directed to the mitochondria through the accurate targeting of TL@PTX, synergistically initiating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and effectively suppressing PTX resistance both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the development of this dual-targeting delivery system presents a promising therapeutic strategy for overcoming PTX resistance in the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

An oxidized dextran-composite self-healing coated magnesium scaffold reduces apoptosis to induce bone regeneration

Self-healing coatings have shown promise in controlling the degradation of scaffolds and addressing coating detachment issues. However, developing a self-healing coating for magnesium (Mg) possessing multiple biological functions in infectious environments remains a significant challenge. In this study, a self-healing coating was developed for magnesium scaffolds using oxidized dextran (OD), 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) doped micro-arc oxidation (MHA), named OD-MHA/Mg. The results demonstrated that the OD-MHA coating effectively addresses coating detachment issues and controls the degradation of Mg in an infectious environment through self-healing mechanisms. Furthermore, the OD-MHA/Mg scaffold exhibits antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties, it also promotes bone repair by upregulating the expression of osteogenesis genes and proteins. The findings of this study indicate that the OD-MHA coated Mg scaffold possessing multiple biological functions presents a promising approach for addressing infectious bone defects. Additionally, the study showcases the potential of polysaccharides with multiple biological functions in facilitating tissue healing even in challenging environments.

Apoferritin-Cu(II) Nanoparticles Induce Oncosis in Multidrug-Resistant Colon Cancer Cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) limits the application of clinical chemotherapeutic drugs. There is an urgent need to develop non-apoptosis-inducing agents that circumvent drug resistance. Herein, four therapeutic copper complexes encapsulated in natural nanocarrier apoferritin (AFt-Cu1-4) are reported. Although they are isomers, they exhibit significantly different organelle distributions and cell death mechanisms. AFt-Cu1 and AFt-Cu3 accumulate in the cytoplasm and induce autophagy, whereas AFt-Cu2 and AFt-Cu4 can quickly enter the nucleus and trigger oncosis. Excitedly, AFt-Cu2 and AFt-Cu4 show a strong tumor growth inhibition effect in mice models bearing multidrug-resistant colon xenograft via intravenous injection. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first example of metal-based nucleus-targeted oncosis inducers overcoming multidrug resistance in vivo.

Development of Anticancer Ferric Complex Based on Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles That Generate Oxygen in Cells to Overcome Hypoxia-Induced Resistance in Metal Chemotherapy

To achieve the remarkable therapeutic efficacy of a ferric (Fe) complex via a reactive oxygen species (ROS) mechanism in solid tumors, a therapeutic Fe-based Schiff-base complex (Fe1) was synthesized and encapsulated in human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles (NPs), which generated oxygen (O2) in cancer cells in situ. The HSA-Fe1-O2 NP (HSA-Fe1-O2NP) delivery system effectively overcame hypoxia-induced resistance in metal chemotherapy, alleviated the hypoxic condition of tumor tissues, and showed excellent tumor suppression by generating excess ROS and promoting the apoptosis of SK-N-MC tumor cells. The HSA-Fe1-O2NPs not only enhanced the ability of the Fe1 complex to target tumor cells but also decreased adverse effects in vivo.

Engineering Versatile Nanomedicines for Ultrasonic Tumor Immunotherapy

Due to the specific advantages of ultrasound (US) in therapeutic disease treatments, the unique therapeutic US technology has emerged. In addition to featuring a low-invasive targeted cancer-cell killing effect, the therapeutic US technology has been demonstrated to modulate the tumor immune landscape, amplify the therapeutic effect of other antitumor therapies, and induce immunosensitization of tumors to immunotherapy, shedding new light on the cancer treatment. Tremendous advances in nanotechnology are also expected to bring unprecedented benefits to enhancing the antitumor efficiency and immunological effects of therapeutic US, as well as therapeutic US-derived bimodal and multimodal synergistic therapies. This comprehensive review summarizes the immunological effects induced by different therapeutic US technologies, including ultrasound-mediated micro-/nanobubble destruction (UTMD/UTND), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and focused ultrasound (FUS), as well as the main underlying mechanisms involved. It is also discussed that the recent research progress of engineering intelligent nanoplatform in improving the antitumor efficiency of therapeutic US technologies. Finally, focusing on clinical translation, the key issues and challenges currently faced are summarized, and the prospects for promoting the clinical translation of these emerging nanomaterials and ultrasonic immunotherapy in the future are proposed.

Curcumin Alleviates Singapore Grouper Iridovirus-Induced Intestine Injury in Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a new ranavirus species in the Iridoviridae family, whose high lethality and rapid spread have resulted in enormous economic losses for the aquaculture industry. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has been proven to possess multiple biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties. This study was conducted to determine whether curcumin protected orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) from SGIV-induced intestinal damage by affecting the inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and intestinal microbiota. Random distribution of healthy orange-spotted groupers (8.0 ± 1.0 cm and 9.0 ± 1.0 g) into six experimental groups (each group with 90 groupers): Control, DMSO, curcumin, SGIV, DMSO + SGIV, and curcumin + SGIV. The fish administered gavage received DMSO dilution solution or 640 mg/L curcumin every day for 15 days and then were injected intraperitoneally with SGIV 24 h after the last gavage. When more than half of the groupers in the SGIV group perished, samples from each group were collected for intestinal health evaluation. Our results showed that curcumin significantly alleviated intestine damage and repaired intestinal barrier dysfunction, which was identified by decreased intestine permeability and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and increased expressions of tight junction proteins during SGIV infection. Moreover, curcumin treatment suppressed intestinal cells apoptosis and inflammatory response caused by SGIV and protected intestinal cells from oxidative injury by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which was related to the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. Moreover, we found that curcumin treatment restored the disruption of the intestinal microbiota caused by SGIV infection. Our study provided a theoretical basis for the functional development of curcumin in aquaculture by highlighting the protective effect of curcumin against SGIV-induced intestinal injury.

Ferritin nanocages: a versatile platform for nanozyme design

Nanozymes are a class of nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities and have attracted increasing attention due to their potential applications in biomedicine. However, nanozyme design incorporating the desired properties remains challenging. Natural or genetically engineered protein scaffolds, such as ferritin nanocages, have emerged as a promising platform for nanozyme design due to their unique protein structure, natural biomineralization capacity, self-assembly properties, and high biocompatibility. In this review, we highlight the intrinsic properties of ferritin nanocages, especially for nanozyme design. We also discuss the advantages of genetically engineered ferritin in the versatile design of nanozymes over natural ferritin. Additionally, we summarize the bioapplications of ferritin-based nanozymes based on their enzyme-mimicking activities. In this perspective, we mainly provide potential insights into the utilization of ferritin nanocages for nanozyme design.

Fe-containing metal-organic framework with D-penicillamine for cancer-specific hydrogen peroxide generation and enhanced chemodynamic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is based on the production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Thus, CDT can be advantageous when it is cancer-specific, in terms of efficacy and safety. Therefore, we propose NH2-MIL-101(Fe), a Fe-containing metal-organic framework (MOF), as a carrier of Cu (copper)-chelating agent, d-penicillamine (d-pen; i.e., the NH2-MIL-101(Fe)/d-pen), as well as a catalyst with Fe-metal clusters for Fenton reaction. NH2-MIL-101(Fe)/d-pen in the form of nanoparticles was efficiently taken into cancer cells and released d-pen in a sustained manner. The released d-pen chelated Cu that is highly expressed in cancer environments and this produces extra H2O2, which is then decomposed by Fe in NH2-MIL-101(Fe) to generate •OH. Therefore, the cytotoxicity of NH2-MIL-101(Fe)/d-pen was observed in cancer cells, not in normal cells. We also suggest a formulation of NH2-MIL-101(Fe)/d-pen combined with NH2-MIL-101(Fe) loaded with the chemotherapeutic drug, irinotecan (CPT-11; NH2-MIL-101(Fe)/CPT-11). When intratumorally injected into tumor-bearing mice in vivo, this combined formulation exhibited the most prominent anticancer effects among all tested formulations, owing to the synergistic effect of CDT and chemotherapy.

Polydatin inhibits mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial ROS by promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy in allergic rhinitis

Polydatin (PD), a natural product derived from Polygonum cuspidatum, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and has significant benefits in treating allergic diseases. However, its role and mechanism in allergic rhinitis (AR) have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effect and mechanism of PD in AR. AR model was established in mice with OVA. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were stimulated with IL-13. HNEpCs were also treated with an inhibitor of mitochondrial division or transfected with siRNA. The levels of IgE and cellular inflammatory factors were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. The expressions of PINK1, Parkin, P62, LC3B, NLRP3 inflammasome proteins, and apoptosis proteins in nasal tissues and HNEpCs were measured by Western blot. We found that PD suppressed OVA-induced epithelial thickening and eosinophil accumulation in the nasal mucosa, reduced IL-4 production in NALF, and regulated Th1/Th2 balance. In addition, mitophagy was induced in AR mice after OVA challenge and in HNEpCs after IL-13 stimulation. Meanwhile, PD enhanced PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy but decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis. However, PD-induced mitophagy was abrogated after PINK1 knockdown or Mdivi-1 treatment, indicating a key role of the PINK1-Parkin in PD-induced mitophagy. Moreover, mitochondrial damage, mtROS production, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and HNEpCs apoptosis under IL-13 exposure were more severe after PINK1 knockdown or Mdivi-1 treatment. Conclusively, PD may exert protective effects on AR by promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, which further suppresses apoptosis and tissue damage in AR through decreasing mtROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Nanozyme-like single-atom catalyst combined with artesunate achieves photothermal-enhanced nanocatalytic therapy in the near-infrared biowindow

Selectively generating active free radical (AFR) in tumor microenvironment (TME) can promote irreversible oxidation of biomolecules and damage tumor cells, resulting in effective tumor inhibition. However, therapeutic efficacy of AFR-based tumor suppression approaches is often limited by insufficient amount of H₂O₂ or O₂ within TME. To overcome this obstacle, we design a pH/photothermal dual responsive nanosystem (PFeSA@AS) for combined photothermal and nanocatalytic therapy in the near-infrared biowindow. Here the Fe single-atom dispersed N, S-doped carbon nanosheets (FeSA) nanozyme is dispersed by phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-amine (DSPE-PEG-NH₂), and further loads artesunate (AS) via an amide reaction. Upon 808-nm laser irradiation in TME, the AS is released and further be catalyzed by the FeSA nanozyme to produce cytotoxic C-centered AFRs, and further be accelerated due to the photothermal conversion performance of FeSA (23.35%). The nanocatalytic process of FeSA nanozyme is realized by density functional theory (DFT). The tumor inhibition rates of a CT26 xenograft model is 92% through a photothermal-enhanced nanocatalytic synergistic therapy, and negligible systematic toxicity is observed. This work offers a potential paradigm of multifunctional single atomic catalysts (SACs) for enhancing tumor nanocatalytic therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We designed a pH/photothermal dual responsive nanosystem (PFeSA@AS) for nanocatalytic therapy: (1) the nanosystem responsively releases AS under 808-nm laser irradiation in TME; (2) FeSA in the nanosystem can act as heme mimetic to convert AS into high cytotoxic C-centered free radicals for nanocatalytic therapy; (3) the photothermal conversion performance of FeSA further enhances the catalytic process to yield abundant AFR. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that this nanosystem can efficiently inhibit tumor growth through a photothermal-enhanced nanocatalytic synergistic therapy.

Berbamine dihydrochloride suppresses the progression of colorectal cancer via RTKs/Akt axis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Berberis amurensis Rupr. is used to treat cancer as a traditional herbal medicine. Berbamine (BBM) is a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Berberis amurensis which possesses multiple pharmacological activity including anticancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the influence of BBM on the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and further explore the underlying mechanism of BBM based on the RTKs/Akt signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro, cell viability and colony formation were conducted to detect BBM inhibitory of CRC cell lines. Transwell was detected the ability of migration and invasion by BBM. Apoptosis detection assay, cell cycle assay and the measurement of ROS were detected to confirm the inductive effect of cell apoptosis. RT-qPCR and Western blot to clarify the specific mechanism of anticancer. Finally, we conducted HE staining, Ki67, Tunnel and immunochemistry were confirmed the anti-colorectal cancer activity of BBM from vivo study.

RESULTS

We found that BBM could inhibit CRC cell lines growth. Moreover, BBM presented an inhibitory effect the ability of migration and invasion in CRC cells. Furthermore, the occurrence of apoptosis was involved in the anti-colorectal cancer role of BBM. BBM also triggered ROS accumulation in CRC cells that might be a key factor for the inductive effect of BBM in cell apoptosis. Cell cycle assay revealed that BBM induced the arrest of G1-S phase and increased the p21 levels but decreased CyclinE1, CyclinE2, CDK6, CyclinD1. RT-qPCR manifested that the down-regulation effect of BBM on AKT1, EGFR, PDGFRα and FGFR4 genes. The results also showed that BBM could decreased the expression levels of phosphor-AKT, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, EGFR, FGFR3 and FGFR4 which belong to RTKs family. Consistently, BBM remarkably suppressed tumor xenograft growth in nude mice.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, all the results as presented above suggest that BBM as a novel multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor plays a crucial role in the inhibitory effect of CRC and may be a promising therapeutic agent for the CRC in clinic.

Gallium Metal-Organic Nanoparticles with Albumin-Stabilized and Loaded Graphene for Enhanced Delivery to HCT116 Cells

Background

Gallium (III) metal-organic complexes have been shown to have the ability to inhibit tumor growth, but the poor water solubility of many of the complexes precludes further application. The use of materials with high biocompatibility as drug delivery carriers for metal-organic complexes to enhance the bioavailability of the drug is a feasible approach.

Methods

Here, we modified the ligands of gallium 8-hydroxyquinolinate complex with good clinical anticancer activity by replacing the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands with 5-bromo-8-hydroxyquinoline (HBrQ), and the resulting Ga(III) + HBrQ complex had poor water solubility. Two biocompatible materials, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and graphene oxide (GO), were used to synthesize the corresponding Ga(III) + HBrQ complex nanoparticles (NPs) BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs in different ways to enhance the drug delivery of the metal complex.

Results

Both of BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs can maintain stable existence in different solution states. In vitro cytotoxicity test showed that two nanomedicines had excellent anti-proliferation effect on HCT116 cells, which shown higher level of intracellular ROS and apoptosis ratio than that of cisplatin and oxaliplatin. In addition, the superior emissive properties of BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs allow their use for in vivo imaging showing highly effective therapy in HCT116 tumor-bearing mouse models.

Conclusion

The use of biocompatible materials for the preparation of NPs against poorly biocompatible metal-organic complexes to construct drug delivery systems is a promising strategy that can further improve drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy.

Preparation of triangular silver nanoparticles and their biological effects in the treatment of ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gradually been widely used, especially in the field of anticancer medicine. Ovarian cancer (OC) is the gynaecological malignancy with the highest mortality rate, and the current treatment is still based on surgery, chemotherapy and postoperative targeted therapy. Therefore, the development of safe and effective nanoparticles for targeted therapy of OC is very important. This study aimed to prepare a new type of triangular silver nanoparticles (tAgNPs) and evaluate the anticancer properties for OC in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The tAgNPs were chemically synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry and other techniques. By performing cell-based tests, such as cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), plate colony formation, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and western blot (WB) assays, the inhibitory effects and related mechanisms of tAgNPs on OC cells were analysed.The anticancer effect of tAgNPs in vivo was verified by a SKOV3 tumor-bearing mouse model.

RESULTS

Five types of tAgNPs with different colours were successfully synthesized, with a particle size of 25-50 nm and a good dispersion. The results of in vitro experiments showed that tAgNPs treatment reduced the viability and proliferation of SKOV3 cells, arrested the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, inhibited the expression levels of proliferation-related factors and cyclins, and promoted cell apoptosis by producing ROS and increasing caspase-3 activity. Consistent with the results of in vitro experiments, in vivo animal experiments also showed that tAgNPs significantly inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer. More importantly, no obvious toxic and side effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, a novel triangular AgNPs was successfully prepared. tAgNPs are very stable, significantly inhibit the proliferation of OC cells and tumour growth in tumour-bearing mice, providing a promising nanotargeted therapy for OC.

Eugenol Attenuates Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis Via ROS-NRF2-ARE Signaling

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), a coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea due to oxidative stress in the piglet intestine, is a major cause of economic loss in the livestock industry. However, limited interventions have been shown to be effective in the treatment of TGEV. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic activity of eugenol in TGEV-induced intestinal oxidative stress and apoptosis. Our data show that eugenol supplementation protects intestine and IPEC-J2 cells from TGEV-induced damage. Mechanistically, eugenol reduces TGEV-induced oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells by reducing reactive oxygen species levels. Interestingly, eugenol also inhibits TGEV-induced intestinal cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggest that eugenol prevents TGEV-induced intestinal oxidative stress by reducing ROS-mediated damage to antioxidant signaling pathways. Therefore, eugenol may be a promising therapeutic strategy for TGEV infection.

Self-Delivering Nanodrugs Developed via Small-Molecule-Directed Assembly and Macrophage Cloaking for Sonodynamic-Augmented Immunotherapy

The self-delivery of sonosensitizers and immunomodulators to tumor areas, which is highly recommended for enhancing sonodynamic immunotherapy, remains a challenge. Herein, a self-delivering nanodrug (HB-NLG8189, drug loading: ≈100 wt%) is developed by the small-molecule self-assembly of "HB" (a new clinical photosensitizer) and NLG8189 (indoleamine-(2,3)-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway inhibitor) for sonodynamic-augmented immunotherapy; this preparation method ensures the absence of excipient-related toxicity and immunogenicity. To evade immune recognition and prolong the circulation time, the HB-NLG8189 nanodrugs are camouflaged using macrophage cell membranes (MPCMs). The constructed HB-NLG8189@MPCM nanodrugs show an ability to preferentially accumulate within tumors. Upon ultrasound triggering, the HB-NLG8189@MPCM is able to generate reactive oxygen species efficiently for robust sonodynamic therapy; it induces immunogenic cell death, initiates an antitumor immune response to activate tumor-specific effector T cells, and promotes the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. The concomitant delivery of NLG8189 reverses the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by restraining IDO-1 activation and the intratumoral infiltration of regulatory T cells. Sonodynamic-augmented immunotherapy with HB-NLG8189@MPCM significantly inhibits the growth of both primary and distant tumors with little systemic toxicity. The biomimetic self-delivery nanodrug provides a promising paradigm for improving sonodynamic immunotherapy.

Folic acid-modified disulfiram/Zn-IRMOF3 nanoparticles for oral cancer therapy by inhibiting ALDH1A1+ cancer stem cells

The repurposing of old drugs can reduce the cost of drug development and speed up the availability of drugs for clinical use. Disulfiram (DSF) is an approved drug for alcohol abuse. In recent years, it has been established that DSF exerts an antitumor effect via targeted inhibition of ALDH1+ cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, due to its metal ion dependence, easy hydrolysis and low availability, the clinical application of DSF is limited. Previous studies have also shown that Zn²⁺ can inhibit CSCs. Accordingly, we developed a novel metal organic framework (IRMOF3)-Zn²⁺, and DSF was incorporated in the IRMOF3. Folic acid (FA) was subsequently loaded on the surface yielding IRMOF3 (IRMOF3-DSF-FA) for targeted therapy of tumors. The nanoscale IRMOF3-DSF-FA exhibited a high loading capacity, good biocompatibility and strong cell uptake capacity, which could provide metal ions, target tumor tissues and inhibit ALDH1+ CSCs. In vivo experiments showed that IRMOF3-DSF-FA could significantly inhibit the growth of CSCs and tumors, with no significant vital organ damage during treatment. Accordingly, IRMOF3-DSF-FA has great prospects for application as a DSF carrier, opening new horizons for targeted therapy of oral cancer.

Selective delivery of curcumin to breast cancer cells by self-targeting apoferritin nanocages with pH-responsive and low toxicity

Breast cancer is prevalent and diverse with significantly high incidence and mortality rates. Curcumin (Cur), a polyphenol component of turmeric, has been widely recognized as having strong anti-breast cancer activity. However, its anti-cancer efficiency is largely impaired by some of its concomitant negative properties, including its poor solubility, low cellular uptake, and severe reported side effects. Hence, the necessity arises to develop a novel low-toxic and high-efficiency targeting drug delivery system (DDS). In this study, we developed a pH-sensitive tumor self-targeting DDS (Cur@HFn) based on self-assembled HFn loaded with Cur, in which Cur was encapsulated into HFn cavity by using a disassembly/reassembly strategy, and the Cur@HFn was characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). A variety of breast cancer cell models were built to evaluate cytotoxicity, apoptosis, targeting properties, and uptake mechanism of the Cur@HFn. The pharmacodynamics was also evaluated in tumor (4T1) bearing mice after intravenous injection. In vitro release experiments showed that Cur@HFn is pH sensitive and shows sustained drug release under slightly acidic conditions. Compared with Cur, Cur@HFn has stronger cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and targeting performance. Our study supported that Cur@HFn has a higher in vivo therapeutic effect and lower systemic toxicity. The safety evaluation results indicated that Cur@HFn has no hematotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity. The findings of the present study showed that the Cur@HFn has been successfully prepared and has potential application value in the treatment of breast cancer.

Therapeutic Potential of Certain Terpenoids as Anticancer Agents: A Scoping Review

Cancer is a life-threatening disease and is considered to be among the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemoresistance, severe toxicity, relapse and metastasis are the major obstacles in cancer therapy. Therefore, introducing new therapeutic agents for cancer remains a priority to increase the range of effective treatments. Terpenoids, a large group of secondary metabolites, are derived from plant sources and are composed of several isoprene units. The high diversity of terpenoids has drawn attention to their potential anticancer and pharmacological activities. Some terpenoids exhibit an anticancer effect by triggering various stages of cancer progression, for example, suppressing the early stage of tumorigenesis via induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibiting cancer cell differentiation and activating apoptosis. At the late stage of cancer development, certain terpenoids are able to inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis via modulation of different intracellular signaling pathways. Significant progress in the identification of the mechanism of action and signaling pathways through which terpenoids exert their anticancer effects has been highlighted. Hence, in this review, the anticancer activities of twenty-five terpenoids are discussed in detail. In addition, this review provides insights on the current clinical trials and future directions towards the development of certain terpenoids as potential anticancer agents.

Artemisinin-Type Drugs in Tumor Cell Death: Mechanisms, Combination Treatment with Biologics and Nanoparticle Delivery

Artemisinin, the most famous anti-malaria drug initially extracted from Artemisia annua L., also exhibits anti-tumor properties in vivo and in vitro. To improve its solubility and bioavailability, multiple derivatives have been synthesized. However, to reveal the anti-tumor mechanism and improve the efficacy of these artemisinin-type drugs, studies have been conducted in recent years. In this review, we first provide an overview of the effect of artemisinin-type drugs on the regulated cell death pathways, which may uncover novel therapeutic approaches. Then, to overcome the shortcomings of artemisinin-type drugs, we summarize the recent advances in two different therapeutic approaches, namely the combination therapy with biologics influencing regulated cell death, and the use of nanocarriers as drug delivery systems. For the former approach, we discuss the superiority of combination treatments compared to monotherapy in tumor cells based on their effects on regulated cell death. For the latter approach, we give a systematic overview of nanocarrier design principles used to deliver artemisinin-type drugs, including inorganic-based nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, polymer-based nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and niosomes. Both approaches have yielded promising findings in vitro and in vivo, providing a strong scientific basis for further study and upcoming clinical trials.

The anti-MDR efficacy of YAN against A549/Taxol cells is associated with its inhibition on glycolysis and is further enhanced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose

Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of malignant tumor. Here, the hyperactive glycolysis in multidrug-resistant A549/Taxol cells was demonstrated to be essential for maintaining the vigorous cell viability and drug resistance. 5-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (YAN), a newly synthesized tubulin inhibitor, could not only inhibit the glycolysis in A549 and A549/Taxol cells through down-regulating the glycolysis-related proteins, but also disrupt the mitochondrial localization of hexokinase-2 (HK-2) which is related with the apoptosis resistance. The effects of YAN above were relevant to the down-regulation of PI3K-Akt-c-Myc/HIF-1α pathway. Moreover, YAN induced the reactive oxygen species generation in A549 and A549/Taxol cells, which only mediated the apoptosis in A549 cells. We also showed that 2-DG, the glycolysis inhibitor, synergistically enhanced YAN-triggered apoptosis in A549/Taxol cells via further suppressing glycolysis and reducing mitotic slippage. Collectively, we illustrate the inhibition effect of YAN on the glycolysis in A549 and A549/Taxol cells, and provide a fresh insight into the mechanism for the development of YAN as a candidate for multidrug resistant cancer treatment. The finding that 2-DG improved the anti-tumor efficacy of YAN against A549/Taxol cells, offers a reference for solving mitotic slippage-mediated drug resistance.

Nanotransferrin-Based Programmable Catalysis Mediates Three-Pronged Induction of Oxidative Stress to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Current oxidative stress amplifying strategies for immunogenic cell death (ICD) promotion are mainly restricted to immune tolerance induced by adaptive cellular antioxidation, limited tumor-selectivity, and tumoral immunosuppression. Herein, a facile and efficient scenario of genetically engineering transferrin-expressing cell membrane nanovesicle encapsulated IR820-dihydroartemisinin nanomedicine (Tf@IR820-DHA) was developed to boost a-PD-L1-mediated immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) via synergetic triple stimuli-activated oxidative stress-associated ICD. We demonstrate that the engineered transferrin of Tf@IR820-DHA has excellent tumor targeting and Fe(III)-loading properties and thus delivered Fe(III) and IR820-DHA nanoparticles (NPs) to the lesion location effectively. We found that the self-carrying Fe(III)-mediated programmable catalysis of DHA and glutathione (GSH) depletion generated plenty of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, DHA also acted as an immunomodulator to decrease the number of T regulatory cells, thereby remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment and achieving double T cell activation. Furthermore, the IR820 molecule served as a competent sonosensitizer to produce ROS under ultrasound activation and guide precise immunotherapy via fluorescent/photoacoustic (FL/PA) imaging. Through its three-pronged delivery of stimuli-activated oxidative stress (DHA-induced chemodynamic therapy, catalysis-conferred GSH depletion, and IR820-mediated sonodynamic therapy), Tf@IR820-DHA caused high levels of targeted ICD. This significantly increased the proportions of IFN-γ-secreting T cells (CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T) and enhanced a-PD-L1-mediated ICB against primary and distant tumors, which represents a promising approach for cancer nanoimmunotherapy.

A Protein from Dioscorea polystachya (Chinese Yam) Improves Hydrocortisone-Induced Testicular Dysfunction by Alleviating Leydig Cell Injury via Upregulation of the Nrf2 Pathway

Leydig cell injury has been described as a primary driver of testicular dysfunction and is affected by oxidative stress. Dioscorea polystachya (Chinese yam) is used to improve testicular dysfunction in clinical and pharmacological research via its antioxidative activity, but the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of Chinese yam on testicular dysfunction and its suppression of Leydig cell oxidative damage remain unclear. In this study, we obtained a Chinese yam protein (DP1) and explored its effectiveness and possible mechanism in improving testicular dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. We established a testicular dysfunction model in rats using hydrocortisone (HCT). DP1 increased body weight and organ index, improved the deterioration in testicular morphology (including increasing the diameter of seminiferous tubules and thickness of germinal cell layers, inhibiting testicular cell apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and impeding collagen leakage by downregulating TGF-β1 and p-SMAD2/3 expression), and restored the testosterone content. In addition, DP1 enhanced the number of Leydig cells in rats and H₂O₂-induced TM3 Leydig cells, and the effect of DP1 on the apoptosis, fibrosis, and testosterone content of TM3 cells was similar to that observed in vivo. These changes were dependent on the regulation of oxidative stress, including significantly reduced intracellular 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels, enhanced superoxide dismutase activities, and decreased superoxide anion levels, which were confirmed via a superoxide overexpression system. Furthermore, we observed that DP1 promoted Nrf2 nuclear import and upregulated antioxidant factor expression in vivo and in vitro. However, Nrf2 silencing eliminated the ability of DP1 to increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, reduce the expression levels of TGF-β1 and p-SMAD2/3, and increase testosterone contents in H₂O₂-induced TM3 cells. In conclusion, DP1 reversed the HCT-induced testicular apoptosis and fibrosis and decreased testosterone contents by alleviating Leydig cell oxidative damage via upregulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

Potential Mechanisms of Plant-Derived Natural Products in the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy globally; it seriously endangers women’s health because of its high morbidity and mortality. Conventional treatments are prone to drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs with high efficacy and low side effects to prevent and treat cervical cancer. In recent years, plant-derived natural products have been evaluated as potential anticancer drugs that preferentially kill tumor cells without severe adverse effects. A growing number of studies have shown that natural products can achieve practical anti-cervical-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of tumor-cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of angiogenesis and telomerase activity, enhancement of immunity and reversal of multidrug resistance. This paper reviews the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of plant-derived natural products on cervical cancer and provides references for developing anti-cervical-cancer drugs with high efficacy and low side effects.

Innate tumor-targeted nanozyme overcoming tumor hypoxia for cancer theranostic use

Introduction

Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) is the major contributor to cancer metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy, and recurrence of tumors. So far, no approved treatment has been available to overcome tumor hypoxia.

Objectives

The present study aimed to relieve tumor hypoxia via a nanozyme theranostic nanomaterial as well as providing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided therapy.

Methods

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was used for its intrinsic enzymatic activity co-loaded with the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin (Dox) within the recombinant heavy-chain apoferritin cavity to form MnO₂-Dox@HFn. Following the synthesis of the nanomaterial, different characterizations were performed as well as its nanozyme-like ability. This nanoplatform recognizes tumor cells through the transferrin receptors 1 (TfR1) which are highly expressed on the surface of most cancer cells. The cellular uptake was confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. In vitro and in vivo studies have been investigated to evaluate the hypoxia regulation, MRI ability and anti-tumor activity of MnO₂-Dox@HFn.

Results

Being a TME-responsive nanomaterial, MnO₂-Dox@HFn exerted both peroxidase and catalase activity that mainly produce massive oxygen and Mn²⁺ ions. Respectively, these products relieve the unfavorable tumor hypoxia and also exhibit T1-weighted MRI with a high longitudinal relaxivity of 33.40 mM. s⁻¹. The utility of MnO₂-Dox@HFn was broadened with their efficient anti-cancer activity proved both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions

MnO₂-Dox@HFn successfully overcome tumor hypoxia with double potentials enzymatic ability and diagnostic capacity. This investigation could ignite the future application for cancer theranostic nanozyme therapy.

Thymoquinone Suppresses the Proliferation, Migration and Invasiveness through Regulating ROS, Autophagic Flux and miR-877-5p in Human Bladder Carcinoma Cells

Bladder carcinoma is among the top 10 most frequently diagnosed cancer types in the world. As a phytochemical active metabolic, thymoquinone (TQ) is extracted from seeds of Nigella sativa, possessing various biological properties in a wide range of diseases. Moreover, the outstanding anti-cancer effect of TQ is attracting increasing attentions. In certain circumstances, moderate autophagy is regarded to facilitate the adaptation of malignant cells to different stressors. Conversely, closely linked with the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, the upregulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) is reported to activate the cell apoptosis in many cancer types. Furthermore, the vital effects of microRNAs in the pathological processes of cancer cells have also been confirmed by previous studies. The present research confirms that TQ restrains the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion through activating caspase-dependent apoptosis in bladder carcinoma cells, which is mediated by TQ induced ROS increase in bladder carcinoma cells. Furthermore, TQ is proved to block the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes, causing the accumulation of autophagosomes and subsequent cell apoptosis. In addition, TQ is also found to initiate the miR-877-5p/PD-L1 axis, which suppresses the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of bladder carcinoma cells. Taken together, TQ induces the apoptosis through upregulating ROS level and impairing autophagic flux, and inhibiting the EMT and cell invasion via activating the miR-877-5p/PD-L1 axis in bladder carcinoma cells.

One-in-one individual package and delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein using apoferritin

So far, most reported delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 is achieved by internalized or encapsulated multiple ribonucleoprotein units into only one carrier unit, with relatively large size. Here, we report a novel, small-sized, individual package of CRISPR/Cas9, via using tetralysine modified H-chian apoferritin (TL-HFn) as packaging material. In this paper, each CRISPR/Cas9 complex is proved to be successfully installed into one TL-HFn (~26 nm), and delivered into the targeting cell via TfR1-mediated endocytosis. We found that after 6 h of treatment, the CRISPR/Cas9 complex can be tracked within the nuclear of Hela cells for the purpose of gene editing of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Moreover, TL-HFn individually packed CRISPR/Cas9 displayed higher genome editing activity compared with that of free CRISPR/Cas9 treated group both in vitro (up to 28.96%) and in vivo. Such satisfied genome editing efficiency could be attributed to the endosomal escape and pH-induced disassembly abilities given by TL-HFn after uptake into cytoplasm, which had been verified in our previous research. In all, those results prompted that TL-HFn possessed more potential for intracellular delivery of CRISPR/Cas9, with potential biocompatibility, stability and delivery efficiency.

ERK-Peptide-Inhibitor-Modified Ferritin Enhanced the Therapeutic Effects of Paclitaxel in Cancer Cells and Spheroids

Rational design of a drug delivery system with enhanced therapeutic potency is critical for efficient tumor chemotherapy. Many protein-based drug delivery platforms have been designed to deliver drugs to target sites and improve the therapeutic efficacy. In this study, paclitaxel (PTX) molecules were encapsulated within an apoferritin nanocage-based drug delivery system with the modification of an extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) peptide inhibitor at the C-terminus of ferritin (HERK). Apoferritin is an endogenous nano-sized spherical protein which has the ability to specially bind to a majority of tumor cells via interacting with transferrin receptor 1. The ERK peptide inhibitor is a peptide which can disrupt the interaction of MEK with ERK in the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK pathway. By combining the targeted delivery effect of ferritin and the inhibitory effect of the ERK peptide inhibitor, the newly fabricated ferritin carrier nanoparticle HERK could still be taken up by tumor cells, and it displayed higher cell cytotoxicity than the parent ferritin. After loading with PTX, HERK-PTX displayed a favorable anticancer effect in human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 and lung carcinoma cells A549. The remarkable inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 tumor spheroids was also identified. These results indicated that the constructed HERK nanocarrier is a promising multi-functional drug delivery vehicle to enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs in cancer therapy.

Gliadin-mediated green preparation of hybrid zinc oxide nanospheres with antibacterial activity and low toxicity

The development of inorganic antibacterial agents that impart antibacterial properties to biomaterials has attracted wide attention. The paper introduced a kind of hybrid nanosphere antibacterial agent composed of wheat gliadin (WG) and zinc oxide (ZnO), with antibacterial efficacy and low toxicity. The ZnO/WG hybrid nanospheres were environment-friendly integrated by molecular self-assembly co-precipitating and freeze-drying transformation, and were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), specific surface and pore size analysis, bacteriostasis test, reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination and safety evaluation. It was found that the prepared hybrid nanospheres were composed of two components, WG and ZnO, with a diameter scope of 100–200 nm; the content of ZnO in the hybrid nanospheres can reach 46.9–70.2% (w/w); the bacteriostasis tests proved that the prepared ZnO/WG nanospheres generating ROS, have a significant inhibitory effect on E. coli and S. aureus; furthermore, the ZnO/WG nanospheres are relatively safe and highly biocompatible in cells and mice. Therefore, the prepared novel ZnO/WG hybrid nanospheres were supposed to apply in the preparation of anti-infective wound dressings, tissue engineering skin scaffold materials, food, and cosmetics preservatives, and so on.

Apoferritin: a potential nanocarrier for cancer imaging and drug delivery

Introduction: As a protein-based biomaterial for potential cancer targeting delivery, apoferritin has recently attracted interest.Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the development of this cage-like protein as an endogenous nanocarrier that can hold molecules in its cavity. We present the specific characterizations and formulations of apoferritin nanocarriers, and outline the recent progress of the protein as an appropriate tumor-delivery vehicle in different therapeutic strategies to treat solid tumors. Finally, we propose how the application for cancer drug repurposing delivery within apoferritin could expand cancer treatment in the future.Expert opinion: Being a ubiquitous iron storage protein that exists in many living organisms, apoferritin is promising as a cancer tumor-targeting nanocarrier. By exploiting its versatility, apoferritin could be used for cancer repurposed drug delivery and could reduce the high cost of new drug discovery development and shorten the formulation process.

Dihydroartemisinin loaded layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for tumor specific photothermal-chemodynamic therapy

With the inspiration to develop new cancer nanotherapeutics by repurposing old drugs, in the current study, a novel two dimensional nanomedicine namely Mn doped, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) loaded layered double hydroxide (MnMgFe-LDH/DHA) with peroxide self-supplying properties for enhanced photothermal-chemodynamic therapy was proposed. Such nanostructures could be synthesized by a simple coprecipitation method, and the as-prepared MnMgFe-LDH/DHA exhibits excellent photothermal properties with a photothermal conversion efficiency up to 10.7%. Besides, the in situ reaction between the released DHA and Fe2+/Mn2+ produced by the degradation of LDH can lead to a burst of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Fenton-like reactions. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments demonstrate that MnMgFe-LDH/DHA exhibits a remarkable chemodynamic/photothermal therapy (CDT/PTT) synergistic effect on tumor treatment with negligible damage to normal tissues. Finally, this research provides a smart strategy to construct a DHA repurposing nanomedicine for tumor specific treatment.

Artesunate Regulates Neurite Outgrowth Inhibitor Protein B Receptor to Overcome Resistance to Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

The multireceptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib is a Food and Drug Administration-approved first-line drug for the treatment of advanced liver cancer that can reportedly extend overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Primary and acquired resistance to sorafenib are gradually increasing however, leading to failure of HCC treatment with sorafenib. It is therefore crucial to study the potential mechanism of sorafenib resistance. The results of the current study indicate that neurite outgrowth inhibitor protein B receptor (NgBR) is overexpressed in cultured sorafenib-resistant cells, and that its expression is negatively correlated with the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to sorafenib. Artesunate can inhibit the expression of NgBR, and it may block sorafenib resistance. Herein we report that sorafenib treatment in combination with artesunate overcomes HCC resistance to sorafenib alone in a cell culture model.

Artesunate exerts anti-prolactinoma activity by inhibiting mitochondrial metabolism and inducing apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Prolactinoma is the most common hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Dopamine receptor agonists (DAs) are effective in reducing prolactin levels and tumor mass, but some prolactinoma patients are resistant to DAs. Treating patients with DA-resistant prolactinoma is challenging. In this study, we examined the anti-prolactinoma effect of artesunate (ART), a potential new treatment option for prolactinoma, and its mechanism of action.

METHODS

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of ART on the proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis of rat pituitary adenoma cell line MMQ. The subcellular localization of ART was observed using confocal fluorescence microscopy. The JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) detection and Seahorse assays were used to detect the effect of ART on mitochondrial function. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis were used to detect the effect of ART on the expression of prolactin (PRL) and apoptosis-related proteins. A mouse xenograft model of prolactinoma was used to detect the inhibitory effect of ART on MMQ in vivo.

RESULTS

ART specifically inhibited MMQ proliferation and PRL synthesis, induced G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in vitro. ART accumulated in the mitochondria of MMQ cells, inhibiting mitochondrial respiratory function and mediating apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. ART also inhibited proliferation and activated the apoptosis of MMQ cells in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

ART has a strong inhibitory effect on prolactinoma both in vitro and in vivo, and its effects rely on high MMP to inhibit mitochondrial metabolism and induce apoptosis. Our results provide evidence for ART as a candidate drug for the treatment of prolactinoma.

Hyaluronic acid-coated metal-organic frameworks benefit the ROS-mediated apoptosis and amplified anticancer activity of artesunate

Artesunate (AS), as an effective new tumour treatment drug, induces cancer cell death based on high intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by interacting with ferrous ions. However, the relatively low intracellular ferrous iron ion concentrations and the low efficiency of ROS generation limit its clinical application. Herein, we developed a metal-organic framework-Fe²⁺ (MOF), and AS was loaded in the MOF and then coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) on the surface of the MOF (HA@MOF-AS) for targeted and enhanced cancer treatment. HA@MOF-AS has high loading efficiency, good monodispersity, biocompatibility, strong cell uptake capacity and high intracellular ROS production, and it can target tumour tissues. In addition, in vivo anticancer studies have shown that HA@MOF-AS not only has high accumulation in tumours but also significantly inhibits tumour growth without significant damage to major organs. Therefore, HA@MOF-AS has excellent potential and may open a new approach for targeted cancer treatment.

Recent Progresses in Cancer Nanotherapeutics Design Using Artemisinins as Free Radical Precursors

Artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) are sort of important antimalarials, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities including anticancer effect. To solve the issues regarding poor solubility and limited bioavailability of ARTs, nanoformulation of ARTs has thus emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. A common consideration on nanoARTs design lies on ARTs' delivery and controlled release, where ARTs are commonly regarded as hydrophobic drugs. Based on the mechanism that ARTs' activation relies on ferrous ions (Fe2+) or Fe2+-bonded complexes, new designs to enhance ARTs' activation have thus attracted great interests for advanced cancer nanotherapy. Among these developments, the design of a nanoparticle that can accelerate ARTs' activation has become the major consideration, where ARTs have been regarded as radical precursors. This review mainly focused on the most recent developments of ARTs nanotherapeutics on the basis of advanced drug activation. The basic principles in those designs will be summarized, and a few excellent cases will be also discussed in detail.