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Amin H, Amin MA, Osman SK, Mohammed AM, Zayed G. Chitosan nanoparticles as a smart nanocarrier for gefitinib for tackling lung cancer: Design of experiment and in vitro cytotoxicity study. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 246:125638. [PMID: 37392910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Due to its poor solubility and systemic side effects, gefitinib (Gef) has limited application in treatment of lung cancer. In this study, we used design of experiment (DOE) tools to gain the necessary knowledge for the synthesis of high-quality gefitinib loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Gef-CSNPs) capable of delivering and concentrating Gef at A549 cells, thereby increasing therapeutic effectiveness while decreasing adverse effects. The optimized Gef-CSNPs were characterized by SEM, TEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR analyses. The optimized Gef-CSNPs had a particle size of 158±3.6 nm, an entrapment efficiency of 93±1.2 %, and a release of 97±0.6 % after 8 h. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the optimized Gef-CSNPs was found to be significantly higher than pure Gef (IC50 = 10.08 ± 0.76 μg/mL and IC50 = 21.65 ± 0.32 μg/mL), respectively. In the A549 human cell line, the optimized Gef-CSNPs formula outperformed pure Gef in terms of cellular uptake (3.286 ± 0.12 μg/mL and 1.777 ± 0.1 μg/mL) and apoptotic population (64.82 ± 1.25 % and 29.38 ± 1.11 %), respectively. These findings explain why researchers are so interested in using natural biopolymers to combat lung cancer, and they paint an optimistic picture of their potential as a promising tool in the fight against lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Amin
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
| | - Mohammed A Amin
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim 51452, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Shaaban K Osman
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed M Mohammed
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
| | - Gamal Zayed
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt; Al-Azhar Centre of Nanosciences and Applications (ACNA), Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
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La Torre ME, Cianciulli A, Monda V, Monda M, Filannino FM, Antonucci L, Valenzano A, Cibelli G, Porro C, Messina G, Panaro MA, Messina A, Polito R. α-Tocopherol Protects Lipopolysaccharide-Activated BV2 Microglia. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083340. [PMID: 37110573 PMCID: PMC10141518 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident macrophage-like population in the central nervous system, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders by triggering an inflammatory response that leads to neuronal death. Neuroprotective compounds to treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases are a new field of study in modern medicine. Microglia are activated in response to inflammatory stimuli. The pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases is closely related to the constant activation of microglia due to their fundamental role as a mediator of inflammation in the brain environment. α-Tocopherol, also known as vitamin E, is reported to possess potent neuroprotective effects. The goal of this study was to investigate the biological effects of vitamin E on BV2 microglial cells, as a possible neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent, following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that the pre-incubation of microglia with α-tocopherol can guarantee neuroprotective effects during microglial activation induced by LPS. α-Tocopherol preserved the branched morphology typical of microglia in a physiological state. It also reduced the migratory capacity; the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-10; and the activation of receptors such as TRL4 and CD40, which modulate the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The results of this study require further insights and research, but they present new scenarios for the application of vitamin E as an antioxidant for the purpose of greater neuroprotection in vivo for the prevention of possible neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ester La Torre
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonia Cianciulli
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcellino Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Laura Antonucci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Anna Valenzano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cibelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Chiara Porro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Panaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonietta Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Polito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
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Amin H, Osman SK, Mohammed AM, Zayed G. Gefitinib-loaded starch nanoparticles for battling lung cancer: Optimization by full factorial design and in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:29-54. [PMID: 36685309 PMCID: PMC9845129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the number one killer among all cancer types. For decades, clinicians have been using conventional chemotherapeutics, but they can't rely on them alone anymore, because they poison bad cells and good cells as well. Researchers exploited nanotechnology as a potential tool to develop a platform for drug delivery to improve therapeutic efficiency. A quality by design synthesis of gefitinib-loaded starch nanoparticles (Gef-StNPs) has emerged as an essential tool to study and optimize the factors included in their synthesis. Therefore, we applied design of experiment (DOE) tools to attain the essential knowledge for the synthesis of high-quality Gef-StNPs that can deliver and concentrate the gefitinib (Gef) at A549 cells, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. The in vitro cytotoxicity after exposing the A549 human lung cancer cells to the optimized Gef-StNPs was found to be much higher than that of the pure Gef (IC50 = 6.037 ± 0.24 and 21.65 ± 0.32 μg/mL, respectively). The optimized Gef-StNPs formula showed superiority over the pure Gef regarding the cellular uptake in A549 human cell line (3.976 ± 0.14 and 1.777 ± 0.1 μg/mL) and apoptotic population (77.14 ± 1.43 and 29.38 ± 1.11 %), respectively. The results elucidate why researchers have a voracious appetite for using natural biopolymers to combat lung cancer and paint an optimistic picture of their potential to be a promising tool in battling lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Amin
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Shaaban K. Osman
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Mohammed
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Gamal Zayed
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
- Al-Azhar Centre of Nanosciences and Applications (ACNA), Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
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Red Palm Oil Ameliorates Oxidative Challenge and Inflammatory Responses Associated with Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Hepatic Injury by Modulating NF-κβ and Nrf2/GCL/HO-1 Signaling Pathways in Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081629. [PMID: 36009348 PMCID: PMC9404920 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a well-conserved cell wall component of Gram positive bacteria, exerts its toxic effects via inducing oxidative and pro-inflammatory responses. Red palm oil (RPO) is a unique natural product with a balanced ratio of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we assess the protective effect and mechanistic action of RPO using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic injury model. Male Wistar rats were assigned into four groups (10 animals/group): normal control (NC), RPO, LPS and RPO + LPS. Animals in the RPO and RPO + LPS groups were administered RPO (200 μL/day) for 28 days. On the 27th day of experiment, animals in LPS and RPO + LPS groups were injected with LPS (0.5 mg/kg body weight). Animals were sacrificed 24 h later, and blood and liver tissues harvested for biochemical and molecular analysis. RPO resolved hepatic histological dysfunction induced by LPS, and lowered alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transferase activities in the serum. Hepatic malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNFα were significantly diminished (p < 0.05) by RPO pre-treatment. Activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, as well as glutathione redox status (GSH:GSSG), and markers of antioxidant capacity that decreased as a result of LPS injection were improved by RPO pre-treatment. Mechanistically, RPO up-regulated mRNA expression of redox sensitive transcription factor Nrf2 and its downstream targets GCL and HO-1, while also suppressing the expression of NFκβ and associated inflammatory protein, Iκβ kinase (IκKβ). In conclusion, this study highlights the ameliorating effects of RPO against LPS-induced hepatic injury and revealed the Nrf2/GCL/HO-1 and NFκβ signaling axis as potential contributing mechanisms.
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Tocotrienol in Pre-Eclampsia Prevention: A Mechanistic Analysis in Relation to the Pathophysiological Framework. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040614. [PMID: 35203265 PMCID: PMC8870475 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia involves two major pathways, namely systemic oxidative stress and subsequent generalised inflammatory response, which eventually culminates in endothelial cell injury and the syndrome of pre-eclampsia with multi-organ dysfunction. Aspirin has been used to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, but it only possesses anti-inflammatory properties without any antioxidant effect. Hence, it can only partially alleviate the problem. Tocotrienols are a unique form of vitamin E with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be exploited as a preventive agent for pre-eclampsia. Many preclinical models showed that tocotrienol can also prevent hypertension and ischaemic/reperfusion injury, which are the two main features in pre-eclampsia. This review explores the mechanism of action of tocotrienol in relation to the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. In conclusion, the study provides sufficient justification for the establishment of a large clinical trial to thoroughly assess the capability of tocotrienol in preventing pre-eclampsia.
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Lu D, Ma R, Xie Q, Xu Z, Yuan J, Ren M, Li J, Li Y, Wang J. Application and advantages of zebrafish model in the study of neurovascular unit. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 910:174483. [PMID: 34481878 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The concept of "Neurovascular Unit" (NVU) was put forward, so that the research goal of Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases gradually transitioned from a single neuron to the structural and functional integrity of the NVU. Zebrafish has the advantages of high homology with human genes, strong reproductive capacity and visualization of neural circuits, so it has become an emerging model organism for NVU research and has been applied to a variety of CNS diseases. Based on CNKI (https://www.cnki.net/) and PubMed (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/about/) databases, the author of this article sorted out the relevant literature, analyzed the construction of a zebrafish model of various CNS diseases,and the use of diagrams showed the application of zebrafish in the NVU, revealed its relationship, which would provide new methods and references for the treatment and research of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Rong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Qian Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jianmei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Mihong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jinxiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu, 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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La Torre ME, Villano I, Monda M, Messina A, Cibelli G, Valenzano A, Pisanelli D, Panaro MA, Tartaglia N, Ambrosi A, Carotenuto M, Monda V, Messina G, Porro C. Role of Vitamin E and the Orexin System in Neuroprotection. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11081098. [PMID: 34439717 PMCID: PMC8394512 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11081098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the first line of defense at the level of the central nervous system (CNS). Phenotypic change in microglia can be regulated by various factors, including the orexin system. Neuroinflammation is an inflammatory process mediated by cytokines, by the lack of interaction between neurotransmitters and their specific receptors, caused by systemic tissue damage or, more often, associated with direct damage to the CNS. Chronic activation of microglia could lead to long-term neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to explore how tocopherol (vitamin E) and the orexin system may play a role in the prevention and treatment of microglia inflammation and, consequently, in neurodegenerative diseases thanks to its antioxidant properties. The results of animal and in vitro studies provide evidence to support the use of tocopherol for a reduction in microglia inflammation as well as a greater activation of the orexinergic system. Although there is much in vivo and in vitro evidence of vitamin E antioxidant and protective abilities, there are still conflicting results for its use as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases that speculate that vitamin E, under certain conditions or genetic predispositions, can be pro-oxidant and harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ester La Torre
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Ines Villano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (I.V.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Marcellino Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (I.V.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Antonietta Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (I.V.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Cibelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Anna Valenzano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Daniela Pisanelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Maria Antonietta Panaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy;
| | - Nicola Tartaglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (N.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Antonio Ambrosi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (N.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Marco Carotenuto
- Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Monda
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80100 Naples, Italy; (I.V.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (V.M.)
| | - Giovanni Messina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-8815-88095
| | - Chiara Porro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.E.L.T.); (G.C.); (A.V.); (D.P.); (C.P.)
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