The performance of docetaxel-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles targeted to hepatocellular carcinoma

Solid lipid nanoparticles: a versatile approach for controlled release and targeted drug delivery

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), the first type of lipid-based solid carrier systems in the nanometer range, were introduced as a replacement for liposomes. SLN are aqueous colloidal dispersions with solid biodegradable lipids as their matrix. SLN is produced using processes like solvent diffusion method and high-pressure homogenization, among others. Major benefits include regulated release, increased bioavailability, preservation of peptides and chemically labile compounds like retinol against degradation, cost-effective excipients, better drug integration, and a broad range of applications. Solid lipid nanoparticles can be administered via different routes, such as oral, parenteral, pulmonary, etc. SLN can be prepared by using high shear mixing as well as low shear mixing. The next generation of solid lipids, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), can reduce some of the drawbacks of SLN, such as its restricted capacity for drug loading and drug expulsion during storage. NLC are controlled nanostructured lipid particles that enhance drug loading. This review covers a brief introduction of solid lipid nanoparticles, manufacturing techniques, benefits, limitations, and their characterization tests.

Anticancer and Chemosensitizing Effects of Menadione-Containing Peptide-Targeted Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

Vitamin K derivatives such as menadione (MD) have been recognized as promising redox-modulating and chemosensitizing agents for anticancer therapy, however, their cellular activities in peptide-targeted nanocarriers have not been elucidated to date. This study provides the guidelines for developing MD-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) modified with extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived peptides. Relationships between RGD peptide concentration and changes in DLS characteristics as well as accumulation of SLN in cancer cells were revealed to adjust the peptide-lipid ratio. SLN system maintained adequate nanoparticle concentration and low dispersity after introduction of MD and MD/RGD, whereas formulated MD was protected from immediate conjugation with reduced glutathione (GSH). RGD-modified MD-containing SLN showed enhanced prooxidant, GSH-depleting and cytotoxic activities toward PC-3 prostate cancer cells attributed to improved cellular pharmacokinetics of the targeted formulation. Furthermore, this formulation effectively sensitized PC-3 cells and OVCAR-4 ovarian cancer cells to free doxorubicin and cisplatin so that cell growth was inhibited by MD-drug composition at nontoxic concentrations of the ingredients. These results provide an important background for further improving chemotherapeutic methods based on combination of conventional cytostatics with peptide-targeted SLN formulations of MD.

Co-Delivery of siRNA and Docetaxel to Cancer Cells by NLC for Therapy

The present study aims to develop a delivery system that can carry small interference RNA (siRNA) with small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs, which can be used in cancer treatment. The drug delivery system combines the advantages of a therapeutic agent with two different mechanisms to ensure that it is used efficiently for cancer therapy. In this study, a nanostructured lipid carrier system was prepared, Docetaxel was loaded to these systems, and the Eph siRNA was adsorbed to the outer surface. In addition, DOTAP was added to the lipophilic phase to load a positive charge on the lipidic structure for interaction with the cells. Moreover, characterization, cytotoxicity, and transfection procedures were performed on the whole system. This candidate system was also compared to Taxotere, which is the first approved Docetaxel-containing drug on the market. Given the results, it was determined that the particle size of NLC-DTX was 165.3 ± 3.5 nm, the ζ potential value was 38.2 ± 1.7 mV, and the PDI was 0.187 ± 0.024. Entrapment efficacy of nanoparticles was found to be 92.89 ± 0.21%. It was determined that the lipidic system prepared in vitro release analyses were able to provide sustained release and exhibit cytotoxicity, even at doses lower than the dose used for Taxotere. The formulations prepared had a higher level of effect on cells when compared with pure DTX and Taxotere, but they also exhibited time-dependent cytotoxicity. It was also observed that the use of Eph siRNA together with the chemotherapeutic agent via formulation also contributed to this cell death. The results of the present study indicate that there is a promising carrier system in order to deliver hydrophilic nucleic acids, such as siRNA, together with lipophilic drugs in cancer treatment.

Overcoming biological barriers BBB/BBTB by designing PUFA functionalised lipid-based nanocarriers for glioblastoma targeted therapy

A major obstacle for chemotherapeutics in Glioblastoma (GB) is to reach the tumour cells due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and chemoresistance of anticancer drugs. The present study reports two polyunsaturated fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) appended nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of a CNS negative chemotherapeutic drug docetaxel (DTX) for targeted delivery to GB. The ligand appended DTX-NLCs demonstrated particle size < 160 nm, PDI < 0.29 and a negative surface charge. The successful linkage of GLA (41 %) and ALA (30 %) ligand conjugation to DTX- NLCs was confirmed by diminished surface amino groups on the NLCs, lower surface charge and FTIR profiling. Fluorophore labelled GLA-DTX-NLCs and ALA-DTX-NLCs permeated the in-vitro 3D BBB model with Papp values of 1.8 × 10-3 and 1.9 × 10-3 cm/s respectively. Following permeation, both formulations showed enhanced uptake by GB immortalised cells while ALA-DTX-NLCs showed higher uptake in patient-derived GB cells as evidenced in an in-vitro 3D blood brain tumour barrier (BBTB) model. Both surface functionalised formulations showed higher internalisation in GB cells as compared to bare DTX-NLCs. ALA-DTX-NLCs and GLA-DTX-NLCs showed 13.9-fold and 6.8-fold higher DTX activity respectively at 24 h as indicated by IC50 values when tested in patient-derived GB cells. ALA-DTX-NLCs displayed better efficacy than GLA-DTX-NLCs when tested against 3D tumour spheroids and patient-derived cells. These novel formulations will contribute widely to overcoming biological barriers for treating glioblastoma.

M6P-modified solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with matrine for the treatment of fibrotic liver

Liver fibrosis is a key pathological process shared by the progression of various chronic liver diseases. Treatment of liver fibrosis can effectively block the occurrence and development of hepatic cirrhosis or even carcinoma. Currently, there is no effective drug delivery vehicle for curing liver fibrosis. In this study, we designed matrine (MT)-loaded mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) modified human serum albumin (HSA) conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), named M6P-HSA-MT-SLN for treatment of hepatic fibrosis. We demonstrated that M6P-HSA-MT-SLN exhibited controlled and sustained release properties and good stability over 7 days. The drug release experiments showed that M6P-HSA-MT-SLN exhibited slow and controlled drug release characteristics. In addition, M6P-HSA-MT-SLN showed a significant targeted ability to fibrotic liver. Importantly, in vivo studies indicated that M6P-HSA-MT-SLN could significantly improve histopathological morphology and inhibit the fibrotic phenotype. In addition, in vivo experiments demonstrate that M6P-HSA-MT-SLN could reduce the expression of fibrosis markers and alleviate the damage of liver structure. Hence, the M6P-HSA-MT-SLN provide a promising strategy to deliver therapeutic agents to fibrotic liver to prevent liver fibrosis.

Conjugated Nanoparticles for Solid Tumor Theranostics: Unraveling the Interplay of Known and Unknown Factors

Cancer diagnoses have been increasing worldwide, and solid tumors are among the leading contributors to patient mortality, creating an enormous burden on the global healthcare system. Cancer is responsible for around 10.3 million deaths worldwide. Solid tumors are one of the most prevalent cancers observed in recent times. On the other hand, early diagnosis is a significant challenge that could save a person's life. Treatment with existing methods has pitfalls that limit the successful elimination of the disorder. Though nanoparticle-based imaging and therapeutics have shown a significant impact in healthcare, current methodologies for solid tumor treatment are insufficient. There are multiple complications associated with the diagnosis and management of solid tumors as well. Recently, surface-conjugated nanoparticles such as lipid nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and quantum dots have shown positive results in solid tumor diagnostics and therapeutics in preclinical models. Other nanotheranostic material platforms such as plasmonic theranostics, magnetotheranostics, hybrid nanotheranostics, and graphene theranostics have also been explored. These nanoparticle theranostics ensure the appropriate targeting of tumors along with selective delivery of cargos (both imaging and therapeutic probes) without affecting the surrounding healthy tissues. Though they have multiple applications, nanoparticles still possess numerous limitations that need to be addressed in order to be fully utilized in the clinic. In this review, we outline the importance of materials and design strategies used to engineer nanoparticles in the treatment and diagnosis of solid tumors and how effectively each method overcomes the drawbacks of the current techniques. We also highlight the gaps in each material platform and how design considerations can address their limitations in future research directions.

ZNF765 is a prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with cell cycle, immune infiltration, m6A modification, and drug susceptibility

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an ongoing challenge worldwide. Zinc finger protein 765 (ZNF765) is an important zinc finger protein that is related to the permeability of the blood-tumor barrier. However, the role of ZNF765 in HCC is unclear. This study evaluated the expression of ZNF765 in hepatocellular carcinoma and the impact of its expression on patient prognosis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemical assays (IHC) were used to examine protein expression. Besides, a colony formation assay was used to examine cell viability. We also explored the relationship between ZNF765 and chemokines in the HCCLM3 cells by qRT-PCR. Moreover, we examined the effect of ZNF765 on cell resistance by measurement of the maximum half-inhibitory concentration. Our research revealed that ZNF765 expression in HCC samples was higher than that in normal samples, whose upregulation was not conducive to the prognosis. The results of GO, KEGG, and GSEA showed that ZNF765 was associated with the cell cycle and immune infiltration. Furthermore, we confirmed that the expression of ZNF765 had a strong connection with the infiltration level of various immune cells, such as B cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. In addition, we found that ZNF765 was associated with m6A modification, which may affect the progression of HCC. Finally, drug sensitivity testing found that patients with HCC were sensitive to 20 drugs when they expressed high levels of ZNF765. In conclusion, ZNF765 may be a prognostic biomarker related to cell cycle, immune infiltration, m6A modification, and drug sensitivity for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Design, development, and in-vitro/in-vivo evaluation of Docetaxel-loaded PEGylated Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in Prostate Cancer Therapy

Docetaxel (DOC) is a potent anticancer molecule widely used to treat various cancers. However, its therapeutic efficacy as a potential anticancer agent has been limited owing to poor aqueous solubility, short circulation time, rapid reticuloendothelial system uptake, and high renal clearance, which consecutively showed poor bioavailability. In the present investigation, we developed polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) using the solvent diffusion method to increase the biopharmaceutical properties of DOC. PEG monostearate (SA-PEG₂₀₀₀) was initially synthesized and characterized using various analytical techniques. Afterwards, DOC-loaded SLN was synthesized with and without SA-PEG₂₀₀₀and systematically characterized for in-vitro and in-vivo properties. Spherical-shaped SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLN showed hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of 177 nm and -13 mV, respectively. During the in-vitro release study DOC-loaded SLN showed a controlledrelease of approximately 54.35 % ±5.46 within 12 h with Higuchi release kinetics in the tumor microenvironment (pH 5.5).In an in-vitro cytotoxicity study,SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLN showedsignificantlylower IC₅₀values(p < 0.001)compared to DOC-SLN and DOC aloneagainst prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3). Similarly, an in-vitro cellular uptake study showed a significant increase in intracellular DOC concentration for SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLN. Additionally, inin-vivostudies,PEGylated SLN of DOC showed around 2- and 15-fold increase in the maximum concentration of drug (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC), respectively, as compared to plain DOC solution due to the uniquehydrophilicity and hydrophobicity balance and electrical neutrality of specially designed PEG architect. The biological half-life (t_1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) was found to increase from 8.55 and 11.43 to 34.96 and 47.68 h, respectively, with SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLN. Moreover, the bio-distribution study indicates high DOC concentration in the plasma which signifies the more pronounced blood residence time of SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLN. In a nutshell, SA-PEG₂₀₀₀-DOC SLNwasfound to bea promising and efficient drug delivery platform for the management of Metastatic Prostate cancer.

Hepatic-targeted delivery of astaxanthin for enhanced scavenging free radical scavenge and preventing mitochondrial depolarization

Astaxanthin (AST), as natural hydrophobic nutrition, has exhibited health-promoting benefits for its outstanding antioxidant property. However, most studies tend to enhance its stability and solubility while the targeted delivery of AST is limited. In this study, liver-targeted nanocarriers were designed and prepared by lactobionic acid-modified (2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) for efficient controlled delivery of AST. The minimum average size of AST nanoparticles was about 98 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.41. The lactobionic acid-modified AST nanoparticles exhibited significant cellular uptake, and an admirable ability to scavenge free radicals for H₂O₂-induced HepaRG cells in preventing mitochondrial depolarization. Moreover, accumulation of AST nanoparticles in liver was observed due to the modification of lactobionic acid (LA) of the nanocarriers through the specific binding of LA-asialoglycoprotein receptors. The results in this study provided a new idea for liver-specific nutrition delivery of AST in developing functional food for liver disease nutrition intervention.

Recent Advances in Genome-Editing Technology with CRISPR/Cas9 Variants and Stimuli-Responsive Targeting Approaches within Tumor Cells: A Future Perspective of Cancer Management

The innovative advances in transforming clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) into different variants have taken the art of genome-editing specificity to new heights. Allosteric modulation of Cas9-targeting specificity by sgRNA sequence alterations and protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) modifications have been a good lesson to learn about specificity and activity scores in different Cas9 variants. Some of the high-fidelity Cas9 variants have been ranked as Sniper-Cas9, eSpCas9 (1.1), SpCas9-HF1, HypaCas9, xCas9, and evoCas9. However, the selection of an ideal Cas9 variant for a given target sequence remains a challenging task. A safe and efficient delivery system for the CRISPR/Cas9 complex at tumor target sites faces considerable challenges, and nanotechnology-based stimuli-responsive delivery approaches have significantly contributed to cancer management. Recent innovations in nanoformulation design, such as pH, glutathione (GSH), photo, thermal, and magnetic responsive systems, have modernized the art of CRISPR/Cas9 delivery approaches. These nanoformulations possess enhanced cellular internalization, endosomal membrane disruption/bypass, and controlled release. In this review, we aim to elaborate on different CRISPR/Cas9 variants and advances in stimuli-responsive nanoformulations for the specific delivery of this endonuclease system. Furthermore, the critical constraints of this endonuclease system on clinical translations towards the management of cancer and prospects are described.

Lipid-Based Nanocarriers in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): Challenges and Opportunities

Glioblastoma multiforme (also known as glioblastoma; GBM) is one of the most malignant types of brain tumors that occurs in the CNS. Treatment strategies for glioblastoma are majorly comprised of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy along with combination therapy. Treatment of GBM is itself a tedious task but the involved barriers in GBM are one of the main impediments to move one step closer to the treatment of GBM. Basically, two of the barriers are of utmost importance in this regard, namely blood brain barrier (BBB) and blood brain tumor barrier (BBTB). This review will address different challenges and barriers in the treatment of GBM along with their etiology. The role and recent progress of lipid-based nanocarriers like liposomes, solid lipid nanocarriers (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), lipoplexes, and lipid hybrid carriers in the effective management of GBM will be discussed in detail.

Kaurenoic acid nanocarriers regulates cytokine production and inhibit breast cancer cell migration

Breast cancer is the type of cancer with the highest incidence in women around the world. Noteworthy, the triple-negative subtype affects 20% of the patients while presenting the highest death rate among subtypes. This is due to its aggressive phenotype and the capability of invading other tissues. In general, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and other immune cells, are responsible for maintaining a favorable tumor microenvironment for inflammation and metastasis by secreting several mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, chemokines like CCL2, and other proteins, as metalloproteinases of matrix (MMP). On the other hand, immunomodulatory agents can interfere in the immune response of TAM and change the disease prognosis. In this work, we prepared nanostructured lipid carriers containing kaurenoic acid (NLC-KA) to evaluate the effect on cytokine production in vitro of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and the migratory process of 4 T1 breast cancer cells. NLC-KA prepared from a blend of natural lipids was shown to have approximately 90 nm in diameter with low polydispersity index. To test the effect on cytokine production in vitro in NLC-KA treated BMDM, ELISA assay was performed and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were quantified. The formulation reduced the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α cytokines while presenting no hemolytic activity. Noteworthy, an anti-migratory effect in 4 T1 breast cancer cells treated with NLC-KA was observed in scratch assays. Further, MMP9 and CCL2 gene expressions in both BMDM and 4 T1 treated cells confirmed that the mechanism of inhibition of migration is related to the blockade of this pathway by KA. Finally, cell invasion assays confirmed that NLC-KA treatment resulted in less invasiveness of 4 T1 cells than control, and it is independent of CCL2 stimulus or BMDM direct stimulus. Ultimately, NLC-KA was able to regulate the cytokine production in vitro and reduce the migration of 4 T1 breast cancer cells by decreasing MMP9 gene expression.

Nano-Formulation Based Intravesical Drug Delivery Systems: An Overview of Versatile Approaches to Improve Urinary Bladder Diseases

Intravesical drug delivery is a direct drug delivery approach for the treatment of various bladder diseases. The human urinary bladder has distinctive anatomy, making it an effective barrier against any toxic agent seeking entry into the bloodstream. This screening function of the bladder derives from the structure of the urothelium, which acts as a semi-permeable barrier. However, various diseases related to the urinary bladder, such as hyperactive bladder syndrome, interstitial cystitis, cancer, urinary obstructions, or urinary tract infections, can alter the bladder’s natural function. Consequently, the intravesical route of drug delivery can effectively treat such diseases as it offers site-specific drug action with minimum side effects. Intravesical drug delivery is the direct instillation of medicinal drugs into the urinary bladder via a urethral catheter. However, there are some limitations to this method of drug delivery, including the risk of washout of the therapeutic agents with frequent urination. Moreover, due to the limited permeability of the urinary bladder walls, the therapeutic agents are diluted before the process of permeation, and consequently, their efficiency is compromised. Therefore, various types of nanomaterial-based delivery systems are being employed in intravesical drug delivery to enhance the drug penetration and retention at the targeted site. This review article covers the various nanomaterials used for intravesical drug delivery and future aspects of these nanomaterials for intravesical drug delivery.

Self-Assembly of Small Organic Molecules into Luminophores for Cancer Theranostic Applications

Self-assembled biomaterials have been widely explored for real-time fluorescence imaging, imaging-guided surgery, and targeted therapy for tumors, etc. In particular, small molecule-based self-assembly has been established as a reliable strategy for cancer theranostics due to the merits of small-sized molecules, multiple functions, and ease of synthesis and modification. In this review, we first briefly introduce the supramolecular chemistry of small organic molecules in cancer theranostics. Then, we summarize and discuss advanced small molecule-based self-assembly for cancer theranostics based on three types, including peptides, amphiphilic molecules, and aggregation-induced emission luminogens. Finally, we conclude with a perspective on future developments of small molecule-based self-assembled biomaterials integrating diagnosis and therapy for biomedical applications. These applications highlight the opportunities arising from the rational design of small organic molecules with self-assembly properties for precision medicine.

A novel form of docetaxel polymeric micelles demonstrates anti-tumor and ascites-inhibitory activities in animal models as monotherapy or in combination with anti-angiogenic agents

Malignant ascites (MA) is caused by intraperitoneal spread of solid tumor cells and results in a poor quality of life. Chemotherapy is a common first-line treatment for patients with MA. Taxotere ^® (DTX) is widely used in solid tumor therapies. However, the low water solubility and side effects caused by additives in the formulation restrict the clinical application of docetaxel. HT001 is a clinical stage docetaxel micelle developed to overcome the solubility issue with improved safety profiles. To support clinical development and expand clinical application of HT001, this study used in vitro and in vivo approaches to investigate the anti-tumor effects of HT001 when applied as monotherapy or in combination with anti-angiogenic agents. HT001 demonstrated comparable anti-proliferative activities as docetaxel in a broad range of cancer cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, HT001 suppressed tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner in A549, MCF-7, and SKOV-3 xenograft tumor mouse models in vivo. In a hepatocellular carcinoma H22 malignant ascites-bearing mouse model, HT001 presented a dose-dependent inhibition of ascites production, prolonged animal survival, and reduced VEGF levels. When dosed at 20 mg/kg, the HT001-treated group exhibited curative results, with no ascites formation in 80% of mice at the end of the study while all the mice in the vehicle control group succumbed. Similar results were obtained in HT001 treatment of mice bearing malignant ascites produced by human ovarian cancer ES-2 cells. Notably, the combination of HT001 with Endostar not only significantly reduced ascites production but also prolonged survival of H22 ascites-bearing mice. HT001 showed similar PK and tissue distribution profiles as DTX in non-rodent hosts. Collectively, these results demonstrate potent anti-tumor activity of HT001 in multiple solid tumor models or malignant ascites models, and reveal synergistic effects with anti-angiogenic agents, supporting the clinical development and clinical expansion plans for HT001.

Carbohydrate anchored lipid nanoparticles

Nanotechnology has been a dynamic field for formulation scientists with multidisciplinary research being conducted worldwide. Advancements in development of functional nanosystems have led to evolution of breakthrough technologies. Lipidic nanosystems, in particular, are highly preferred owing to their non-immunogenic safety profiles along with a range of versatile intrinsic properties. Surface modification of lipid nanoparticles by anchoring carbohydrates to these systems is one such attractive drug delivery technology. Carbohydrates confer interesting properties to the nanosystems such as stealth, biostability, bioavailability, reduced toxicity due to decreased immunogenic response, targeting potential as well as ease of commercial availability. The carbohydrate anchored systems can be developed using methods such as adsorption, incorporation (nanoprecipitation or solvent displacement method), crosslinking and grafting. Current review provides a detailed overview of potential lipid based nanoparticulate systems with an emphasis on liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructures lipid carriers and micelles. Review further explores basics of surface modification, methods applied therein, advantages of carbohydrates as surface modifiers, their versatile applications, techniques for characterization of carbohydrate anchored systems and vital regulatory aspects concerned with these specialized systems.

Targeting Solid Lipid Nanoparticles with Anisamide for Docetaxel Delivery to Prostate Cancer: Preparation, Optimization, and In-vitro Evaluation

The purpose of the current study was to prepare and characterize the targeted solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing docetaxel (DTX) for prostate cancer treatment. The goal has been achieved by locating anisamide (Anis) ligand on the surface of SLNs, which can interact with the overexpressed sigma receptor on the prostate cancer cells. DTX loaded SLNs were prepared by high shear homogenization and ultra-sonication method and optimized by applying experimental design. The average particle size and the entrapment efficiency of the optimum DTX-SLN were 174 ± 9.1 nm and 83 ± 3.34%, respectively. The results of differential scanning calorimetry showed that DTX had been dispersed as amorphous in the nanocarriers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed the nanoscale size and spherical shape of the nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity studies have demonstrated that IC₅₀ of free drug, DTX-SLN and DTX-SLN-Anis was 0.25 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.01 nM on PC3 cell line and 20.9 ± 3.89, 18.74 ± 7.43, and 14.68 ± 5.70 nM on HEK293 cell line, respectively. Targeted DTX-SLN-Anis was acted more effectively on prostate cancer cells in comparison to DTX-SLN and free drug. The results of this study have depicted that the anti-cancer drug loaded in targeted SLNs can be a promising way for cancer treatment. In addition, performing in-vivo studies will be complementary to these findings.

Insights into Nanotherapeutic Strategies as an Impending Approach to Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver cancer, being the utmost prevalent fatal malignancy worldwide, is ranked as the fifth leading cause of deaths associated with cancer. Patients with liver cancer are diagnosed often at an advanced stage, contributing to poor prognosis. Of all forms of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) contributes to 90% of cases, with chemotherapy being the treatment of choice. However, unfavorable toxicity of chemotherapy drugs and the vulnerability of nucleic acid-based drugs to degradation, have limited their application in clinical settings. So, in order to improvise their therapeutic efficacy in HCC treatment, various nanocarrier drug delivery systems have been explored. Furthermore, nanoparticle based imaging provides valuable means of accurately diagnosing HCC. Thus, in recent years, the advent of nanomedicine has shown great potential and progress in dramatically altering the approach to the diagnosis as well as treatment of liver cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) are being explored as potential drug carriers for small molecules, miRNAs, and therapeutic genes used for liver cancer treatment. This review emphasizes on the current developments and applications of nanomedicine based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in HCC.

Recent Advances in Asialoglycoprotein Receptor and Glycyrrhetinic Acid Receptor-Mediated and/or pH-Responsive Hepatocellular Carcinoma- Targeted Drug Delivery

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seriously affects human health, especially, it easily develops multi-drug resistance (MDR) which results in treatment failure. There is an urgent need to develop highly effective and low-toxicity therapeutic agents to treat HCC and to overcome its MDR. Targeted drug delivery systems (DDS) for cancer therapy, including nanoparticles, lipids, micelles and liposomes, have been studied for decades. Recently, more attention has been paid to multifunctional DDS containing various ligands such as polymer moieties, targeting moieties, and acid-labile linkages. The polymer moieties such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), chitosan (CTS), hyaluronic acid, pullulan, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) protect DDS from degradation. Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) and glycyrrhetinic acid receptor (GAR) are most often used as the targeting moieties, which are overexpressed on hepatocytes. Acid-labile linkage, catering for the pH difference between tumor cells and normal tissue, has been utilized to release drugs at tumor tissue.

OBJECTIVES

This review provides a summary of the recent progress in ASGPR and GAR-mediated and/or pH-responsive HCC-targeted drug delivery.

CONCLUSION

The multifunctional DDS may prolong systemic circulation, continuously release drugs, increase the accumulation of drugs at the targeted site, enhance the anticancer effect, and reduce side effects both in vitro and in vivo. But it is rarely used to investigate MDR of HCC; therefore, it needs to be further studied before going into clinical trials.

Nanotechnology Based Approach for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Targeting

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary liver cancer that has shown a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide among several types of cancers. A large variety of chemotherapeutic agents employed for the treatment have a limited success rate owing to their limited site-specific drug targeting ability. Thus, there is a demand to develop novel approaches for the treatment of HCC. With advancements in nanotechnology-based drug delivery approaches, the challenges of conventional chemotherapy have been continuously decreasing. Nanomedicines constituted of lipidic and polymeric composites provide a better platform for delivering and opening new pathways for HCC treatment. A score of nanocarriers such as surface-engineered liposomes, nanoparticles, nanotubes, micelles, quantum dots, etc., has been investigated in the treatment of HCC. These nanocarriers are considered to be highly effective clinically for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs with high site-specificity ability and therapeutic efficiency. The present review highlights the current focus on the application of nanocarrier systems using various ligand-based receptor-specific targeting strategies for the treatment and management of HCC. Moreover, the article has also included information on the current clinically approved drug therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and updates of regulatory requirements for approval of such nanomedicines.

Nanosystem functionalization strategies for prostate cancer treatment: a review

Prostate cancer (PC) has a high morbidity and mortality rate worldwide, and the current clinical guidelines can vary depending on the stage of the disease. Drug delivery nanosystems (DDNs) can improve biopharmaceutical properties of encapsulated anti-cancer drugs by modulating their release kinetics, improving physicochemical stability and reducing toxicity. DDN can also enhance the ability of specific targeting through surface modification by coupling ligands (antibodies, nucleic acids, peptides, aptamer, proteins), thus favouring the cell internalisation process by endocytosis. The purposes of this review are to describe the limitations in the treatment of PC, explore different functionalization such as polymeric, lipid and inorganic nanosystems aimed at the treatment of PC, and demonstrate the improvement of this modification for an active target, as alternative and promising candidates for new therapies.

Capsaicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: design, biodistribution, in silico modeling and in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation

Lower doses of capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) have the potential to serve as an anticancer drug, however, due to its pungency, irritant effect, poor water solubility and high distribution volume often linked to various off-target effects, its therapeutic use is limited. This study aimed to determine the biodistribution and anticancer efficacy of capsaicin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in human hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro. In this study, SLNs of stearic acid loaded with capsaicin was formulated by the solvent evaporation-emulsification technique and were instantly characterized for their encapsulation efficiency, morphology, loading capacity, stability, particle size, charge and in vitro drug release profile. Synthesized SLNs were predominantly spherical, 80 nm diameter particles that proved to be biocompatible with good stability in aqueous conditions. In vivo biodistribution studies of the formulated SLNs showed that 48 h after injection in the lateral tail vein, up to 15% of the cells in the liver, 1.04% of the cells in the spleen, 3.05% of the cells in the kidneys, 3.76% of the cells in the heart, 1.31% of the cells in the lungs and 0% of the cells in the brain of rats were determined. Molecular docking studies against the identified targets in HepG2 cells showed that the capsaicin is able to bind Abelson tyrosine-protein kinase, c-Src kinase, p38 MAP kinase and VEGF-receptor. Molecular dynamic simulation showed that capsaicin-VEGF receptor complex is highly stable at 50 nano seconds. The IC₅₀ of capsaicin loaded SLNs in HepG2 cells in vitro was 21.36 μg × ml^-1. These findings suggest that capsaicin loaded SLNs are stable in circulation for a period up to 3 d, providing a controlled release of loaded capsaicin and enhanced anticancer activity.

Thiolated polymer nanocarrier reinforced with glycyrrhetinic acid for targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil in hepatocellular carcinoma

The present work investigates the targeting efficacy of a novel thiolated polymer-based nanocomposite reinforced with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and loaded with 5-fluorouracil in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The thiolated polymers were synthesized by EDAC-mediated conjugation reactions and lyophilization. The nanoparticles were prepared by solvent diffusion and high-pressure homogenization method. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) radiation, x-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Pharmacological evaluation of the formulation was carried out on a rat model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced HCC and MTT assay was carried out with HEP-G2 cell line. In silico studies were conducted to investigate the probable mechanistic pathway of the nanocomposite. FTIR and XRD analysis indicated the successful thiolation of the polymers and confirmed the formation of the nanocomposite without any incompatibilities. DLS, SEM/EDX and AFM characterization confirmed that the nanoparticles were within the nano-size range. MTT assay implied the cytotoxic nature of the nanocomposite against hepatic carcinoma cells. The in vivo study revealed that serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP, GGT and total bilirubin levels were significantly reduced, in comparison with disease control and the result was confirmed by histopathology studies. The results of the HPLC analysis of liver homogenate confirmed the liver targeting ability of the nanocomposite. In silico studies exhibited significant binding affinity of GA and thiolated Eudragit towards liver homolog receptor-1 (LRH-1) suggesting that the developed nanocomposite could be a potential material for the treatment of HCC.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Novel DTX-Loaded Multifunctional Heparin-Based Polymeric Micelles Targeting Folate Receptors and Endosomes

BACKGROUND

The development of biocompatible tumor-targeting delivery systems for anticancer agents is essential for efficacious cancer chemotherapy. Nanoparticles, as drug delivery cargoes for cancer therapy, are rapidly improving to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Heparin-modified nanoparticles are currently being considered as one of the favorable carriers for the delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer tissues.

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of a novel targeted, pH-sensitive, heparin-based polymeric micelle loaded with the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug, docetaxel (DTX). The micelles could overcome the limited water solubility, non-specific distribution, and insufficient drug concentration in tumor tissues.

METHODS

DTX-loaded folate targeted micelles were prepared and evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug release, in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in folate receptor-positive and folate receptor-negative cells. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of DTX-loaded micelles was evaluated in the tumor-bearing mice. Some related patents were also studied in this research.

RESULTS

The heparin-based targeted micelles exhibited higher in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity against folate receptor over-expressed cells due to the specific receptor-mediated endocytosis. DTX-loaded micelles displayed greater antitumor activity, higher anti-angiogenesis effects, and lower systemic toxicity compared with free DTX in a tumor-induced mice model as confirmed by tumor growth monitoring, immunohistochemical evaluation, and body weight shift. DTX-loaded targeting micelles demonstrated no considerable toxicity on major organs of tumor-bearing mice compared with free DTX.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that DTX-loaded multifunctional heparin-based micelles with desirable antitumor activity and low toxicity possess great potential as a targeted drug delivery system in the treatment of cancer.

Docetaxel and alpha-lipoic acid co-loaded nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Aim: The current study aims to co-deliver docetaxel (DTX) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a carrier for the treatment of breast cancer. Methods: Computational analysis was used to screen different solid lipids as carriers, following which SLNs were prepared and characterized. Furthermore, antioxidant activity assays and cell culture studies were performed. Results: In vitro assessment in 4T1 (murine mammary carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cells revealed enhanced efficacy of the co-loaded SLNs as compared with free drugs and single drug-loaded SLNs. Increased apoptosis following treatment with DTX-ALA co-loaded SLN was also observed. Conclusion: The developed SLNs showed significantly higher uptake efficiency along with improved cytotoxic and apoptotic potential indicating the usefulness of this combination.

Galactosylated TPGS Micelles for Docetaxel Targeting to Hepatic Carcinoma: Development, Characterization, and Biodistribution Study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a foremost type of cancer problem in which asialoglycoprotein receptors are overexpressed. In this study, asialoglycoprotein receptor-targeted nanoformulation (galactose-conjugated TPGS micelles) loaded with docetaxel (DTX) was developed to achieve its site-specific delivery for HCC therapy. The pharmaceutical characteristics like shape morphology, average particle size and zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, and in vitro release kinetics of developed system were evaluated. DTX-loaded galactosylated TPGS (DTX-TPGS-Gal) micelles and TPGS micelles (DTX-TPGS) were having 58.76 ± 1.82% and 54.76 ± 1.42% entrapment of the DTX, respectively. In vitro drug release behavior from micelles was controlled release. Cytotoxicitiy (IC₅₀) of DTX-TPGS-Gal formulation on HepG2 cell lines was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) lower (6.3 ± 0.86 μg/ml) than DTX-TPGS (9.06 ± 0.82 μg/ml) and plain DTX (16.06 ± 0.98 μg/ml) indicating higher efficacy of targeted formulation. Further, in vivo biodistribution studies in animal model showed maximum drug accumulation at target site, i.e., the liver in the case of DTX-TPGS-Gal as compared with non-targeted one. It is concluded from the findings that TPGS-Gal micelles can be utilized for targeted drug delivery of cytotoxic drugs towards HCC with minimized side effects. Graphical abstract.

Docetaxel-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles prevent tumor growth and lung metastasis of 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Metastasis causes the most breast cancer-related deaths in women. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-DTX) when used in the treatment of metastatic breast tumors using 4T1-bearing BALB/c mice.

RESULTS

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were produced using the high-energy method. Compritol 888 ATO was selected as the lipid matrix, and Pluronic F127 and Span 80 as the surfactants to stabilize nanoparticle dispersion. The particles had high stability for at least 120 days. The SLNs' dispersion size was 128 nm, their polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.2, and they showed a negative zeta potential. SLNs had high docetaxel (DTX) entrapment efficiency (86%), 2% of drug loading and showed a controlled drug-release profile. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of SLN-DTX against 4T1 cells was more than 100 times lower than that of free DTX after 24 h treatment. In the cellular uptake test, SLN-DTX was taken into the cells significantly more than free DTX. The accumulation in the G2-M phase was significantly higher in cells treated with SLN-DTX (73.7%) than in cells treated with free DTX (23.0%), which induced subsequent apoptosis. TEM analysis revealed that SLN-DTX internalization is mediated by endocytosis, and fluorescence microscopy showed DTX induced microtubule damage. In vivo studies showed that SLN-DTX compared to free docetaxel exhibited higher antitumor efficacy by reducing tumor volume (p < 0.0001) and also prevented spontaneous lung metastasis in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. Histological studies of lungs confirmed that treatment with SLN-DTX was able to prevent tumor. IL-6 serum levels, ki-67 and BCL-2 expression were analyzed and showed a remarkably strong reduction when used in a combined treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that DTX-loaded SLNs may be a promising carrier to treat breast cancer and in metastasis prevention.

Improving the Oral Bioavailability of an Anti-Glioma Prodrug CAT3 Using Novel Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Oleic Acid-CAT3 Conjugates

13a-(S)-3-pivaloyloxyl-6,7-dimethoxyphenanthro(9,10-b)-indolizidine (CAT3) is a novel oral anti-glioma pro-drug with a potent anti-tumor effect against temozolomide-resistant glioma in vivo. However, poor lipid solubility has limited the encapsulation efficacy during formulation development. Moreover, although the active metabolite of CAT3, 13a(S)-3-hydroxyl-6,7-dimethoxyphenanthro(9,10-b)-indolizidine (PF403), can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and approach the brain tissue with a 1000-fold higher anti-glioma activity than CAT3 in vitro, its bioavailability and Cmax were considerably low in plasma, limiting the anti-tumor efficacy. In this study, a novel oleic acid-CAT3 conjugate (OA-CAT3) was synthesized at the first time to increase the lipid solubility of CAT3. The OA-CAT3 loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (OA-CAT3-SLN) were constructed using an ultrasonic technique to enhance the bioavailability and Cmax of PF403 in plasma. Our results demonstrated that CAT3 was amorphous in the lipid core of OA-CAT3-SLN and the in vitro release was well controlled. Furthermore, the encapsulation efficacy and the zeta potential increased to 80.65 ± 6.79% and -26.7 ± 0.46 mV, respectively, compared to the normal CAT3 loaded SLN. As indicated by the high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) quantitation, the monolayer cellular transepithelial transport rate of OA-CAT3-SLN improved by 2.42-fold relied on cholesterol compared to the CAT3 suspension. Hence, the in vitro cell viability of OA-CAT3-SLN in C6 glioma cells decreased to 29.77% ± 2.13% and 10.75% ± 3.12% at 48 and 72 h, respectively. Finally, compared to the CAT3 suspension, the in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats indicated that the plasma bioavailability and Cmax of PF403 as afforded by OA-CAT3-SLN increased by 1.7- and 5.5-fold, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that OA-CAT3-SLN could be an efficacious delivery system in the treatment of glioma.

Overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer: Recent progress in nanotechnology and new horizons

Multidrug resistance (MDR), defined as the ability of cancer cells to gain resistance to both conventional and novel chemotherapy agents, is an important barrier in treating malignancies. Initially, it was discovered that cellular pumps dependent on ATP were the cause of resistance to chemotherapy, and further studies have found that other mechanisms such as increased metabolism of drugs, decreased drug entry, and defective apoptotic pathways are involved in this process. MDR has been the focus of numerous initiatives and countless studies have been undertaken to better understand MDR and formulate strategies to overcome its effects. The current review highlights various nano-drug delivery systems including polymeric/solid lipid/mesoporous silica/metal nanoparticles, dendrimers, liposomes, micelles, and nanostructured lipid carriers to overcome the mechanism of MDR. Nanoparticles are novel gateways to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer agents at the target site of action due to their tumor-targeting abilities, which can limit the unwanted systemic effects of chemotherapy agents and also reduce drug resistance. Additionally, other innovative strategies including RNA interference as a biological process used to inhibit or silence specific gene expression, natural products as MDR modulators with little systemic toxic effects, which interfere with the functions of proteins involved in drug efflux, and physical approaches such as combination of conventional drug administration with thermal/ultrasound/photodynamic strategies are also highlighted.

Recent advances of nanomedicines for liver cancer therapy

This review highlights recent advancements in nanomedicines for liver cancer therapy.

Lipid-based nanoparticle technologies for liver targeting

Liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are global health problems accounting for approximately 800 million cases and over 2 million deaths per year worldwide. Major drawbacks of standard pharmacological therapies are the inability to deliver a sufficient concentration of a therapeutic agent to the diseased liver, and nonspecific drug delivery leading to undesirable systemic side effects. Additionally, depending on the specific liver disease, drug delivery to a subset of liver cells is required. In recent years, lipid nanoparticles have been developed to passively and actively target drugs to the liver. The success of this approach has been highlighted by the FDA-approval of the first liver-targeting lipid nanoparticle, ONPATTRO, in 2018 and many other promising candidate technologies are expected to follow. This review summarizes recent developments of various lipid-based liver-targeting technologies, namely solid-lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes and micelles, and discusses the challenges and future perspectives in this field.

Liver Cancer: Current and Future Trends Using Biomaterials

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Despite advancement in current treatments for HCC, the prognosis for this cancer is still unfavorable. This comprehensive review article focuses on all the current technology that applies biomaterials to treat and study liver cancer, thus showing the versatility of biomaterials to be used as smart tools in this complex pathologic scenario. Specifically, after introducing the liver anatomy and pathology by focusing on the available treatments for HCC, this review summarizes the current biomaterial-based approaches for systemic delivery and implantable tools for locally administrating bioactive factors and provides a comprehensive discussion of the specific therapies and targeting agents to efficiently deliver those factors. This review also highlights the novel application of biomaterials to study HCC, which includes hydrogels and scaffolds to tissue engineer 3D in vitro models representative of the tumor environment. Such models will serve to better understand the tumor biology and investigate new therapies for HCC. Special focus is given to innovative approaches, e.g., combined delivery therapies, and to alternative approaches-e.g., cell capture-as promising future trends in the application of biomaterials to treat HCC.

HER-2 aptamer-targeted Ecoflex® nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel promote breast cancer cells apoptosis and anti-metastatic effect

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality. Regarding the advantages of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery systems with targeting potential, in this study the antitumor mechanism of targeted docetaxel polymeric nanoparticles of Ecoflex^® was exploited. Since the overexpression of HER-2 receptor in breast cancer cases is associated with poor prognosis and more aggressive disease, the proposed nanoparticles were conjugated to HER-2 specific aptamer molecules. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Flow-cytometry analysis was performed to evaluate the cellular uptake of nanoparticles loaded with a fluorescent probe. Anti-migration effects of samples were studied. Annexin IV-FITC and propidium iodide were implemented to investigate apoptosis induction and cell cycle analysis. Enhanced cytotoxicity compared with free docetaxel was explained considering improved cellular uptake of the nanoparticles and induced apoptosis in a larger portion of cells. Lower relative migration demonstrated enhanced anti-migration effect of nanoparticles, and cell cycle was arrested in G2/M phase using both formulations so the anti-microtubule mechanism of the drug was not altered. Therefore, this system could offer a potential substitute for the currently marketed docetaxel formulations, which may reduce adverse effects of the drug, while further in vivo and clinical investigations are required.

Quantification of Surface GalNAc Ligands Decorating Nanostructured Lipid Carriers by UPLC-ELSD

Nanoparticles have been extensively studied for drug delivery and targeting to specific organs. The functionalization of the nanoparticle surface by site-specific ligands (antibodies, peptides, saccharides) can ensure efficient recognition and binding with relevant biological targets. One of the main challenges in the development of these decorated nanocarriers is the accurate quantification of the amount of ligands on the nanoparticle surface. In this study, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were functionalized with N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) units, known to target the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). Different molar percentages of GalNAc-functionalized surfactant (0%, 2%, 5%, and 14%) were used in the formulation. Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography separation and evaporative light-scattering detection (UPLC-ELSD), an analytical method was developed to specifically quantify the amount of GalNAc units present at the NLC surface. This method allowed the accurate quantification of GalNAc surfactant and therefore gave some insights into the structural parameters of these multivalent ligand systems. Our data show that the GalNAc decorated NLC possess large numbers of ligands at their surface and suitable distances between them for efficient multivalent interaction with the ASGPR, and therefore promising liver-targeting efficiency.

Cancer nanotechnology: Enhancing tumor cell response to chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers due to its complexities, reoccurrence after surgical resection, metastasis and heterogeneity. In addition to sorafenib and lenvatinib for the treatment of HCC approved by FDA, various strategies including transarterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, locoregional therapy and chemotherapy have been investigated in clinics. Recently, cancer nanotechnology has got great attention for the treatment of various cancers including HCC. Both passive and active targetings are progressing at a steady rate. Herein, we describe the lessons learned from pathogenesis of HCC and the understanding of targeted and non-targeted nanoparticles used for the delivery of small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, miRNAs and peptides. Exploring current efficacy is to enhance tumor cell response of chemotherapy. It highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by nanotechnologies in contemporary hepatocellular carcinoma therapy, where personalized medicine is increasingly becoming the mainstay. Overall objective of this review is to enhance our understanding in the design and development of nanotechnology for treatment of HCC.

Formulation of acyclovir-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: 2. Brain targeting and pharmacokinetic study

Acyclovir (ACV) is widely used in the treatment of herpes encephalitis. The present study was conducted to prepare chitosan-tween 80 coated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a delivery system for brain targeting of ACV in rabbits. The SLNs were prepared and coated in one step by microemulsion method using a coating solution containing chitosan (0.1% w/v) and tween 80 (2% w/v) for loading sustained release ACV. In vitro characterization was performed for coated ACV-SLNs. Concerning in vivo experiments; a single intravenous bolus dose of coated ACV-SLNs was given versus free ACV solution to rabbits (62 mg/kg). Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the ACV concentration-time profiles in plasma using the two compartmental analysis. The values of AUC_0-∞ and MRT of coated ACV-SLNs were higher than free drug by about twofold, 233.36 ± 41.56 μg.h/mL and 1.81 ± 0.36 h, respectively. The noncompartmental analysis was conducted to estimate the brain pharmacokinetic parameters. The AUC_0-∞ brain/AUC_0-∞ plasma ratio for coated ACV-SLNs and free ACV was 0.22 and 0.12, respectively. These results indicated the effectiveness of using coated ACV-SLNs for brain targeting.

Application of ɑ-Tocotrienol-Loaded Biocompatible Precirol in Attenuation of Doxorubicin Dose-Dependent Behavior in HUH-7 Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line

Tumor-targeted nanoparticle delivery system has been known as a substitute and capable achievement in cancer treatment compared to conventional methods. In this study, we examined potential application of ɑ-tocotrienol-Precirol formulation to enhance efficiency of doxorubicin (DOX) in induction of apoptosis in HUH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells. ɑ-tocotrienol-loaded nanoparticles were characterized at the point of zeta potential, particle size, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and cell internalization. To evaluate antiproliferative effects of formulation, apoptosis, cell cycle procedure, flow cytometry, and MTT assays were employed. Optimum size of the ɑ-tocotrienol formulation revealed narrow size distribution with mean average of 78 ± 3 nm. IC₅₀ values for ɑ-tocotrienol and ɑ-tocotrienol-nano structured lipid carriers after 24 h were 15 ± 0.6 and 10 ± 0.03 µM, respectively. After incubation of cells with ɑ-tocotrienol-loaded careers, the rate of cell proliferation decreased from 53 ± 6.1 to 34 ± 7.1% (P < 0.05). A significant improvement in the apoptosis percentage was revealed after treatment of the HUH-7 cell line with DOX and ɑ-tocotrienol careers (P < 0.05). Gene expression results demonstrated a marked decrease in survivin and increase in Bid and Bax levels. Our findings suggest that ɑ-tocotrienol-loaded nanoparticles elevate DOX efficacy in HUH-7 hepatocarcinoma cell.

Azido-galactose outperforms azido-mannose for metabolic labeling and targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma

Metabolic glycoengineering of unnatural monosaccharides provides a facile method to label cancer cells with chemical tags for glycan imaging and cancer targeting. Multiple types of monosaccharides have been utilized for metabolic cell labeling. However, the comparison of different types of monosaccharides in labeling efficiency and selectivity has not been reported. In this study, we compared N-azidoacetylgalactosamine (GalAz) and N-azidoacetylmannosamine (ManAz) for metabolic labeling of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. GalAz showed higher labeling efficiency at low concentrations, and outperformed ManAz in metabolic labeling of HepG2 tumors in vivo. GalAz mediated labeling of HepG2 tumors with azido groups significantly improved the tumor accumulation of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-Cy5 and DBCO-doxorubicin conjugate via efficient Click chemistry. This study, for the first time, uncovered the distinct labeling efficiency and selectivity of different unnatural monosaccharides in liver cancers.

Anti-tumor efficacy of folate modified PLGA-based nanoparticles for the co-delivery of drugs in ovarian cancer

Background: Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death in gynecologic malignancies. The high mortality is mainly caused by advanced stage at presentation in most patients. Even after the combination of cytoreductive surgery and systemic platinum and taxane treatment, most patients relapse and eventually succumb to the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatments. Purpose: A novel folate (FA)-targeted co-delivery of docetaxel (DTX) and gemcitabine (GEM) nanoparticles (NPs) was developed to overcome ovarian cancer. Materials and methods: Physicochemical characteristics of NPs such as size, morphology, and release profiles were explored. In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to assess the efficacy of their antitumor activity in target cells. Results: FA modified DTX and GEM co-loaded NPs were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. The NPs with a particle size of ~120nm were stable in the observation period. The hemolysis results indicated that FA-PEG₂₀₀₀-PLGA was potentially feasible for targeted antitumor drug delivery through blood circulation. In vitro release study suggested that in comparison with the free drug, PLGA-DTX/GEM NPs and FA-PEG₂₀₀₀-PLGA-DTX/GEM NPs had sustained-release properties. However, there was no obvious difference between the two NPs with the same drug in the release profile. Ovarian cancer cells in vitro efficiently took up the non-targeted and FA-targeted NPs; improved cytotoxicity was observed in the FA-targeted NPs, showing a 3.59- fold drop in the IC₅₀ in SKOV-3 cells as compared to DTX/GEM alone. Cellular uptake showed that through surface modification, more drugs entered the cell successfully. Pharmacodynamics results showed a statistically significant effect on the rate of reduction of tumor volume for FA-PEG₂₀₀₀-PLGA-DTX/GEM NPs than other groups and no toxicity of organs. Conclusion: The present study indicates that the FA-PEG₂₀₀₀-PLGA-DTX/GEM NPs provides a promising platform for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Bombesin conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles for improved delivery of epigallocatechin gallate for breast cancer treatment

Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) is a potent anti-cancer therapeutic which effectively controls the growth of cancerous cells through a variety of different pathways. However, its molecular structure is susceptible to modifications due to cellular enzymes affecting its stability, bioavailability and hence, overall efficiency. In this study, we have initially encapsulated EGCG in the matrix of solid lipid nanoparticles to provide a stable drug carrier. To confer additional specificity towards gastrin releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) overexpressed in breast cancer, EGCG loaded nanoparticles were conjugated with a GRPR-specific peptide. In-vitro cytotoxicity studies showed that the peptide-conjugated formulations possessed greater cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines compared to the non-conjugated formulations. Further, in-vivo studies performed on C57/BL6 mice showed greater survivability and reduction in tumour volume in mice treated with peptide-conjugated formulation as compared to the mice treated with non-conjugated formulation or with plain EGCG. These results warrant the potential of the system designed in this study as a novel and effective drug delivery system in breast cancer therapy.