In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity of a folate-modified β-cyclodextrin as a new anti-cancer drug delivery system

Microwave biosensor for the detection of growth inhibition of human liver cancer cells at different concentrations of chemotherapeutic drug

Cytotoxicity assays are crucial for assessing the efficacy of drugs in killing cancer cells and determining their potential therapeutic value. Measurement of the effect of drug concentration, which is an influence factor on cytotoxicity, is of great importance. This paper proposes a cytotoxicity assay using microwave sensors in an end-point approach based on the detection of the number of live cells for the first time. In contrast to optical methods like fluorescent labeling, this research uses a resonator-type microwave biosensor to evaluate the effects of drug concentrations on cytotoxicity by monitoring electrical parameter changes due to varying cell densities. Initially, the feasibility of treating cells with ultrapure water for cell counting by a microwave biosensor is confirmed. Subsequently, inhibition curves generated by both the CCK-8 method and the new microwave biosensor for various drug concentrations were compared and found to be congruent. This agreement supports the potential of microwave-based methods to quantify cell growth inhibition by drug concentrations.

Synthesis and potential applications of cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks: a review

Metal-organic frameworks are porous polymeric materials formed by linking metal ions with organic bridging ligands. Metal-organic frameworks are used as sensors, catalysts for organic transformations, biomass conversion, photovoltaics, electrochemical applications, gas storage and separation, and photocatalysis. Nonetheless, many actual metal-organic frameworks present limitations such as toxicity of preparation reagents and components, which make frameworks unusable for food and pharmaceutical applications. Here, we review the structure, synthesis and properties of cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks that could be used in bioapplications. Synthetic methods include vapor diffusion, microwave-assisted, hydro/solvothermal, and ultrasound techniques. The vapor diffusion method can produce cyclodextrin-based metal-organic framework crystals with particle sizes ranging from 200 nm to 400 μm. Applications comprise food packaging, drug delivery, sensors, adsorbents, gas separation, and membranes. Cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks showed loading efficacy of the bioactive compounds ranging from 3.29 to 97.80%.

Polymeric Silver Nanoparticles: Potential for Folate-Targeted Delivery of Cisplatin In Vitro

Nanotechnology is a favorable avenue for improving therapeutic strategies, especially in cancer therapy. The harmful side effects of traditional cancer therapy impact dramatically on the patient’s quality of life. Cisplatin, a commonly used anticancer drug, is implicated in side effects such as neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and reduced blood cell count. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been investigated for their antibacterial effects and their anticancer activities to a lesser extent. Their capability as drug delivery vehicles has not been fully exploited, primarily due to their inconclusive cytotoxicity observed in healthy tissues. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize nanoparticles (NPs), consisting of Ag, chitosan (Cs) and folic acid (FA) (CsAg and FACsAg), loading them with cisplatin (C) (C-CsAg and C-FACsAg) and comparing their anticancer activities in the human embryonic kidney (HEK293), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. All NPs and drug nanocomplexes were morphologically and physicochemically characterized, revealing NPs and nanocomplexes of favorable sizes ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm), polydispersity and stability. The drug encapsulation efficiencies for C-CsAg and C-FACsAg were 50% and 72%, respectively, while drug release studies indicated that cisplatin release was pH dependent. The C-FACsAg nanocomplexes produced greater anticancer activity than C-CsAg. Folate receptor-mediated uptake was confirmed for the C-FACsAg nanocomplexes in the receptor-rich HeLa cells boding well for future in vivo research.

Folic acid-modified methotrexate-conjugated gold nanoparticles as nano-sized trojans for drug delivery to folate receptor-positive cancer cells

Methotrexate (MTX), an analog of folic acid (FA), is a drug widely used in cancer treatment. To prevent its potential toxicity and enhance therapeutic efficacy, targeted drug delivery systems, especially nanotechnology-folate platforms, are a central strategy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising candidates to be used as drug delivery systems because of their small particle sizes and their inertness for the body. In this study, glutathione (GSH)-coated FA-modified spherical AuNPs (5.6 nm) were successfully synthesized, and the anticancer activity of novel MTX-loaded (MTX/Au-GSH-FA) NPs (11 nm) was examined. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that MTX/AuNPs possess spherical morphology, nanoscaled particle size, narrow size distribution, and good stability. In vitro studies showed that cytotoxicity of MTX/Au-GSH-FA to folate receptor-positive (FR+) human brain (U-87 MG) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells enhanced significantly (∼3 and ∼10 fold, respectively) compared to free MTX while there was no significant effect in FR-negative human cell lines A549 (lung carcinoma), PC3 (prostate carcinoma), HEK-293 (healthy embryonic kidney). Moreover, the receptor specificity of the conjugate was shown by fluorescent microscopic imaging. In conclusion, these results indicate that the synthesized novel MTX/Au-GSH-FA NP complex seems to be a good candidate for effective and targeted delivery in FR+ cancer therapy.

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

BACKGROUND

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new class of porous organic-inorganic crystalline hybrid materials that governed by the self-assembled of metal atoms and organic struts have attracted tremendous attention because of their special properties. Recently, some more documents have reported different types of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) as biodegradable and physiological pH-responsive systems for photothermal therapy and radiation therapy in the body.

DISCUSSION

In this review paper aims at describing the benefits of using MOF nanoparticles in the field of biomedicine, and putting into perspective their properties in the context of the ones of other NPs. The first section briefly reviews the biomaterial scaffolds of MOFs. The second section presents the main types of stimuli-responsive mechanisms and strategies from two categories: intrinsic (pH, redox state) and extrinsic (temperature, light irradiation and magnetic field) ones. The combinations of photothermal therapy and radiation therapy have been concluded in detail. Finally, clinical applications of MOFs, future challenges and perspectives are also mentioned.

CONCLUSION

This review outlines the most recent advances MOFs design and biomedical applications, from different synthesis to their use as smart drug delivery systems, bioimaging technology or a combination of both.

Supramolecular cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks as efficient carrier for anti-inflammatory drugs

Drug delivery systems have been used to reduce adverse effects and improve the efficacy of therapies. Drug carriers have been developed over the years, but they have limitations. γ-cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOF) have significant advantages due to their biocompatibility and environmental safety, besides crystallinity and porosity. Herein, γ-CD-MOFs were synthesised with different metals as nodes and investigated. Uniform mesoporous γ-CD-MOFs were obtained and showed an absence of toxicity in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. The longer controlled release was verified for γ-CD-MOFs, with a maximum of 62% released in 12 h. An inflammation experiment was performed in mice and activity equivalent to the positive control was verified. γ-KCD-MOFs and γ-NaCD-MOFs reached activity after 6 h of administration, however this happened after 24 h in γ-FeCD-MOFs, being more effective than the positive control. Considering the ability for drug entrapment, easy preparation and controlled release, this class of material allows potential applications in drug delivery systems.