A multicomponent-based microemulsion for boosting ovarian cancer therapy through dual modification with transferrin and SA-R6H4

Nanoencapsulation of Ruthenium Complex Ru(ThySMet): A Strategy to Improve Selective Cytotoxicity against Breast Tumor Cells in 2D and 3D Culture Models

BACKGROUND

Ruthenium complexes have shown promise in treating many cancers, including breast cancer. Previous studies of our group have demonstrated the potential of the trans- [Ru(PPh3)2(N,N-dimethylN'-thiophenylthioureato-k2O,S)(bipy)]PF6 complex, the Ru(ThySMet), in the treatment of breast tumor cancers, both in 2D and 3D culture systems. Additionally, this complex presented low toxicity when tested in vivo.

AIMS

Improve the Ru(ThySMet) activity by incorporating the complex into a microemulsion (ME) and testing its in vitro effects.

METHODS

The ME-incorporated Ru(ThySMet) complex, Ru(ThySMet)ME, was tested for its biological effects in two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures using different types of breast cells, MDAMB- 231, MCF-10A, 4T1.13ch5T1, HMT-3522 and Balb/C 3T3 fibroblasts.

RESULTS

An increased selective cytotoxicity of the Ru(ThySMet)ME for tumor cells was found in 2D cell culture, compared with the original complex. This novel compound also changed the shape of tumor cells and inhibited cell migration with more specificity. Additional 3D cell culture tests using the non-neoplastic S1 and the triple-negative invasive T4-2 breast cells have shown that Ru(ThySMet)ME presented increased selective cytotoxicity for tumor cells compared with the 2D results. The morphology assay performed in 3D also revealed its ability to reduce the size of the 3D structures and increase the circularity in T4-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that the Ru(ThySMet)ME is a promising strategy to increase its solubility, delivery, and bioaccumulation in target breast tumors.

Nano- and Microemulsions in Biomedicine: From Theory to Practice

Nano- and microemulsions are colloidal systems that are widely used in various fields of biomedicine, including wound and burn healing, cosmetology, the development of antibacterial and antiviral drugs, oncology, etc. The stability of these systems is governed by the balance of molecular interactions between nanodomains. Microemulsions as a colloidal form play a special important role in stability. The microemulsion is the thermodynamically stable phase from oil, water, surfactant and co-surfactant which forms the surface of drops with very small surface energy. The last phenomena determines the shortage time of all fluid dispersions including nanoemulsions and emulgels. This review examines the theory and main methods of obtaining nano- and microemulsions, particularly focusing on the structure of microemulsions and methods for emulsion analysis. Additionally, we have analyzed the main preclinical and clinical studies in the field of wound healing and the use of emulsions in cancer therapy, emphasizing the prospects for further developments in this area.

Nanocluster-Based Drug Delivery and Theranostic Systems: Towards Cancer Therapy

Over the last decades, the global life expectancy of the population has increased, and so, consequently, has the risk of cancer development. Despite the improvement in cancer therapies (e.g., drug delivery systems (DDS) and theranostics), in many cases recurrence continues to be a challenging issue. In this matter, the development of nanotechnology has led to an array of possibilities for cancer treatment. One of the most promising therapies focuses on the assembly of hierarchical structures in the form of nanoclusters, as this approach involves preparing individual building blocks while avoiding handling toxic chemicals in the presence of biomolecules. This review aims at presenting an overview of the major advances made in developing nanoclusters based on polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) and/or inorganic NPs. The preparation methods and the features of the NPs used in the construction of the nanoclusters were described. Afterwards, the design, fabrication and properties of the two main classes of nanoclusters, namely noble-metal nanoclusters and hybrid (i.e., hetero) nanoclusters and their mode of action in cancer therapy, were summarized.

Strengthened rebamipide ocular nanoformulation to effectively treat corneal alkali burns in mice through the HMGB1 signaling pathway

Corneal alkali burns are a major ophthalmic emergency, as current therapeutic treatments are limited. Novel treatment targets and new potential agents are required to combat this severe ocular injury. Glycyrrhizin and rebamipide (RBM) are both FDA-approved drugs with potential effects against corneal alkali burns, but RBM is limited by its low aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. This study aimed to utilize dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DG, a dipotassium salt of glycyrrhizin) as a nanocarrier encapsulating RBM to formulate an ophthalmic solution (marked DG-RBM) with strengthened activities to treat corneal alkali burns. Results showed that an easy DG-RBM preparative process generated particles with high encapsulation efficacy and ultra-small micellar size. The solubility of RBM in DG-RBM in aqueous solution was 3.1 × 10⁵-fold enhanced than its free solution. DG-RBM exhibited excellent storage stability. In vitro cytotoxicity, ex vivo conjunctival responses, and rabbit eye tolerance tests showed that DG-RBM possessed good ocular safety profiles. DG-RBM exhibited improved in vivo corneal permeation profiles and demonstrated a strong effect against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage, with a significant effect on promoting epithelial wound healing in corneal cells in vitro. As expected, in a mouse model of corneal alkali burns, the topical administration of DG-RBM achieved a strengthened efficacy against alkali burn damages. The mechanism of this therapeutic effect involved regulating high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) signaling and its related angiogenic and proinflammatory cytokines. These findings demonstrate the ease of preparing DG-RBM and its great potential as a novel ocular topical formulation to treat corneal alkali burns by regulating HMGB1 signaling.

Nanotechnology-Based Celastrol Formulations and Their Therapeutic Applications

Celastrol (also called tripterine) is a quinone methide triterpene isolated from the root extract of Tripterygium wilfordii (thunder god vine in traditional Chinese medicine). Over the past two decades, celastrol has gained wide attention as a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-autoimmune, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective agent. However, its clinical translation is very challenging due to its lower aqueous solubility, poor oral bioavailability, and high organ toxicity. To deal with these issues, various formulation strategies have been investigated to augment the overall celastrol efficacy in vivo by attempting to increase the bioavailability and/or reduce the toxicity. Among these, nanotechnology-based celastrol formulations are most widely explored by pharmaceutical scientists worldwide. Based on the survey of literature over the past 15 years, this mini-review is aimed at summarizing a multitude of celastrol nanoformulations that have been developed and tested for various therapeutic applications. In addition, the review highlights the unmet need in the clinical translation of celastrol nanoformulations and the path forward.

Progress in tumour-targeted drug delivery based on cell-penetrating peptides

Since the discovery of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) in the 1980s, they have played a unique role in various fields owing to their excellent and unique cell membrane penetration function. In particular, in the treatment of tumours, CPPS have been used to deliver several types of 'cargos' to cancer cells. To address the insufficient targeting ability, non-selectivity, and blood instability, activatable cell-penetrating peptides, which can achieve targeted drug delivery in tumour treatment, enhance curative effects, and reduce toxicity have been developed. This study reviews the application of different cell-penetrating peptides in tumour-targeted delivery, overcoming multidrug resistance, organelle targeting, tumour imaging, and diagnosis, and summarises the different mechanisms of activatable cell-penetrating peptides in detail.

Polymeric Nanoparticle Delivery of Combination Therapy with Synergistic Effects in Ovarian Cancer

Treatment of ovarian cancer is challenging due to late stage diagnosis, acquired drug resistance mechanisms, and systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. Combination chemotherapy has the potential to enhance treatment efficacy by activation of multiple downstream pathways to overcome drug resistance and reducing required dosages. Sequence of delivery and the dosing schedule can further enhance treatment efficacy. Formulation of drug combinations into nanoparticles can further enhance treatment efficacy. Due to their versatility, polymer-based nanoparticles are an especially promising tool for clinical translation of combination therapies with tunable dosing schedules. We review polymer nanoparticle (e.g., micelles, dendrimers, and lipid nanoparticles) carriers of drug combinations formulated to treat ovarian cancer. In particular, the focus on this review is combinations of platinum and taxane agents (commonly used first line treatments for ovarian cancer) combined with other small molecule therapeutic agents. In vitro and in vivo drug potency are discussed with a focus on quantifiable synergistic effects. The effect of drug sequence and dosing schedule is examined. Computational approaches as a tool to predict synergistic drug combinations and dosing schedules as a tool for future nanoparticle design are also briefly discussed.