Co-assembly of doxorubicin and curcumin targeted micelles for synergistic delivery and improving anti-tumor efficacy

A bioinspired doxorubicin-carried albumin Nanocage against aggressive Cancer via systemic targeting of tumor and lymph node metastasis

Cancer metastasis and recurrence are obstacles to successful treatment of aggressive cancer. To address this challenge, chemotherapy is indispensable as an essential part of comprehensive cancer treatment, particularly for subsequent therapy after surgical resection. However, small-molecule drugs for chemotherapy always cause inadequate efficacy and severe side effects against cancer metastasis and recurrence caused by lymph node metastases. Here, we developed doxorubicin-carried albumin nanocages (Dox-AlbCages) with appropriate particle sizes and pH/enzyme-responsive drug release for tumor and lymph node dual-targeted therapy by exploiting the inborn transport properties of serum albumin. Inspired by the protein-templated biomineralization and remote loading of doxorubicin into liposomes, we demonstrated the controlled synthesis of Dox-AlbCages via the aggregation or crystallization of doxorubicin and ammonium sulfate within albumin nanocages using a biomineralization strategy. Dox-AlbCages allowed efficient encapsulation of Dox in the core protected by the albumin corona shell, exhibiting favorable properties for enhanced tumor and lymph node accumulation and preferable cellular uptake for tumor-specific chemotherapy. Intriguingly, Dox-AlbCages effectively inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in orthotopic 4T1 breast tumors and prevented postsurgical tumor recurrence and lung metastasis. At the same time, Dox-AlbCages had fewer side effects than free Dox. This nanoplatform provides a facile strategy for designing tumor- and lymph node-targeted nanomedicines for suppressing cancer metastasis and recurrence.

Natural polyphenols: A protective approach to reduce colorectal cancer

Background

A form of cancer that affects the rectum or colon (large intestine) is called colorectal cancer (CRC). The main risk factors for CRC include dietary, lifestyle, and environmental variables. Currently natural polyphenols have demonstrated impressive anticarcinogenic capabilities.

Objective

The main objective was to provide an updated, thorough assessment of the defensive mechanism of natural polyphenols for the global suppression of colorectal cancer. More precisely, this study aimed to analyze a set of chosen polyphenols with demonstrated safety, effectiveness, and biochemical defense mechanism on colon cancer models in order to facilitate future research.

Methods

This review was carried out with purposefully attentive and often updated scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science. After selecting approximately 178 potentially relevant papers based just on abstracts, 145 studies were meticulously reviewed and discussed.

Results

The outcomes disclosed that anti-CRC mechanisms of natural polyphenols involved the control of several molecular and signaling pathways. Natural polyphenols have also been shown to have the ability to limit the growth and genesis of tumors via altering the gut microbiota and cancer stem cells. However, the biochemical uses of many natural polyphenols have remained restricted because of their truncated water solubility and low bioavailability. In order to attain synergistic properties it is recommended to combine the use of different natural polyphenols because of their low bioavailability and volatility. However, the use of lipid-based nano- and micro-carriers also may be helpful to solve these problems with efficient distribution system to target sites.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of polyphenols for CRC treatment appears promising. To ascertain their efficacy, more clinical research is anticipated.

Targeted therapy of breast tumor by PLGA-based nanostructures: The versatile function in doxorubicin delivery

Breast carcinoma is a molecularly diverse illness, and it is among the most prominent and often reported malignancies in female across the globe. Surgical intervention, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and endocrine treatment are among the currently viable treatment options for the carcinoma of breast. Chemotherapy is among the most prevalent cancer management strategy. Doxorubicin (DOX) widely employed as a cytostatic medication for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. Despite its widespread acceptance and excellent efficacy against an extensive line up of neoplasia, it has a variety of shortcomings that limit its therapeutic potential in the previously mentioned indications. Employment of nanoparticulate systems has come up as a unique chemo medication delivery strategy and are being considerably explored for the amelioration of breast carcinoma. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nano systems are being utilized in a number of areas within the medical research and medication delivery constitutes one of the primary functions for PLGA given their inherent physiochemical attributes, including their aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, versatility in formulation, and limited toxicity. Herein along with the different application of PLGA-based nano formulations in cancer therapy, the present review intends to describe the various research investigations that have been conducted to enumerate the effectiveness of DOX-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (DOX-PLGA NPs) as a feasible treatment option for breast cancer.

Combined Treatment of Dendrosomal-Curcumin and Daunorubicin Synergistically Inhibit Cell Proliferation, Migration and Induce Apoptosis in A549 Lung Cancer Cells

Purpose

Chemotherapy drugs used to treat lung cancer are associated with drug resistance and severe side effects. There have been rising demands for new therapeutic candidates and novel approaches, including combination therapy. Here, we aimed to investigate the combinatorial effect of a dendrosomal formulation of curcumin (DNC) and daunorubicin (DNR) on the A549 lung cancer cell line.

Methods

We performed cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell migration, colony-formation capacity, and gene expression analysis to interpret the mechanism of action for a combination of DNC and DNR on A549 cells.

Results

Our results revealed that the combination of DNC and DNR could synergistically inhibit the A549 cells' growth. This synergistic cytotoxicity was further approved by flow cytometry, migration assessment, colony-forming capacity and gene expression analysis. DNR combination with DNC resulted in increased apoptosis to necrosis ratio compared to DNR alone. In addition, the migration and colony-forming capacity were at the minimal range when DNC was combined with DNR. Combined treatment decreased the expression level of MDR-1, hTERT and Bcl-2 genes significantly. In addition, the ratio of Bax/Bcl2 gene expression significantly increased. Our analysis by free curcumin, dendrosomes and DNC also showed that dendrosomes do not have any significant cytotoxic effect on the A549 cells, suggesting that this carrier has a high potential for enhancing the curcumin's biological effects.

Conclusion

Our observations suggest that the DNC formulation of curcumin synergistically enhances the antineoplastic effect of DNR on the A549 cell line through the modulation of apoptosis/necrosis ratio, as well as Bax/Bcl2 ratio, MDR-1 and hTERT gene expression.

Doxorubicin-loaded micelles in tumor cell-specific chemotherapy

Nanomedicine is a field that combines biology and engineering to improve disease treatment, particularly in cancer therapy. One of the promising techniques utilized in this area is the use of micelles, which are nanoscale delivery systems that are known for their simple preparation, high biocompatibility, small particle size, and the ability to be functionalized. A commonly employed chemotherapy drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), is an effective inhibitor of topoisomerase II that prevents DNA replication in cancer cells. However, its efficacy is frequently limited by resistance resulting from various factors, including increased activity of drug efflux transporters, heightened oncogenic factors, and lack of targeted delivery. This review aims to highlight the potential of micelles as new nanocarriers for delivering DOX and to examine the challenges involved with employing chemotherapy to treat cancer. Micelles that respond to changes in pH, redox, and light are known as stimuli-responsive micelles, which can improve the targeted delivery of DOX and its cytotoxicity by facilitating its uptake in tumor cells. Additionally, micelles can be utilized to administer a combination of DOX and other drugs and genes to overcome drug resistance mechanisms and improve tumor suppression. Furthermore, micelles can be used in phototherapy, both photodynamic and photothermal, to promote cell death and increase DOX sensitivity in human cancers. Finally, the alteration of micelle surfaces with ligands can further enhance their targeted delivery for cancer suppression.

Advanced Delivery System of Polyphenols for Effective Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Polyphenols from plants such as fruits and vegetables are phytochemicals with physiological and pharmacological activity as potential drugs to modulate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease, chronic disease, and cancer. However, due to the limited water solubility and bioavailability of many natural compounds, their pharmacological applications have been limited. Researchers have made progress in the development of nano- and micro-carriers that can address these issues and facilitate effective drug delivery. The currently developed drug delivery systems maximize the fundamental effects in various aspects such as absorption rate, stability, cellular absorption, and bioactivity of polyphenols. This review focuses on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols enhanced by the introduction of drug delivery systems, and ultimately discusses the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, growth, and angiogenesis.

Double-Loaded Doxorubicin/Resveratrol Polymeric Micelles Providing Low Toxicity on Cardiac Cells and Enhanced Cytotoxicity on Lymphoma Cells

The anthracycline antibiotic doxorubicin is a well-known antitumour agent, however its cardiotoxicity is a significant obstacle to therapy. The aim of the present study was to improve the safety of doxorubicin through its simultaneous encapsulation with a cardioprotective agent (resveratrol) in Pluronic micelles. The formation and double-loading of the micelles was performed via the film hydration method. Infrared spectroscopy proved the successful incorporation of both drugs. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that resveratrol was loaded in the core, whereas doxorubicin was included in the shell. The double-loaded micelles were characterised by a small diameter (26 nm) and narrow size distribution, which is beneficial for enhanced permeability and retention effects. The in vitro dissolution tests showed that the release of doxorubicin depended on the pH of the medium and was faster than that of resveratrol. In vitro studies on cardioblasts showed the opportunity to reduce the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin through the presence of resveratrol in double-loaded micelles. Higher cardioprotection was observed when the cells were treated with the double-loaded micelles compared with referent solutions with equal concentrations of both drugs. In parallel, treatments of L5178 lymphoma cells with the double-loaded micelles revealed that the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin was enhanced. Thus, the study demonstrated that the simultaneous delivery of doxorubicin and resveratrol via the micellar system enabled the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in lymphoma cells and lowered its cardiotoxicity in cardiac cells.

Functionalization of curcumin nanomedicines: a recent promising adaptation to maximize pharmacokinetic profile, specific cell internalization and anticancer efficacy against breast cancer

Owing to its diverse heterogeneity, aggressive nature, enormous metastatic potential, and high remission rate, the breast cancer (BC) is among the most prevalent types of cancer associated with high mortality. Curcumin (Cur) is a potent phytoconstituent that has gained remarkable recognition due to exceptional biomedical viability against a wide range of ailments including the BC. Despite exhibiting a strong anticancer potential, the clinical translation of Cur is restricted due to intrinsic physicochemical properties such as low aqueous solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, and short plasma half-life. To overcome these shortcomings, nanotechnology-aided developments have been extensively deployed. The implication of nanotechnology has pointedly improved the physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic profile, cell internalization, and anticancer efficacy of Cur; however, majority of Cur-nanomedicines are still facing grandeur challenges. The advent of various functionalization strategies such as PEGylation, surface decoration with different moieties, stimuli-responsiveness (i.e., pH, light, temperature, heat, etc.), tethering of specific targeting ligand(s) based on the biochemical targets (e.g., folic acid receptors, transferrin receptors, CD44, etc.), and multifunctionalization (multiple functionalities) has revolutionized the fate of Cur-nanomedicines. This study ponders the biomedical significance of various Cur-nanomedicines and adaptable functionalizations for amplifying the physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity via induction of apoptosis, cell internalization, bioavailability, passive and active targeting to the tumor microenvironment (TME), and anticancer efficacy of the Cur while reversing the multidrug resistance (MDR) and reoccurrence in BC. Nevertheless, the therapeutic outcomes of Cur-nanomedicines against the BC have been remarkably improved after adaptation of various functionalizations; however, this evolving strategy still demands extensive research for scalable clinical translation.

Codelivery of Phytochemicals with Conventional Anticancer Drugs in Form of Nanocarriers

Anticancer drugs in monotherapy are ineffective to treat various kinds of cancer due to the heterogeneous nature of cancer. Moreover, available anticancer drugs possessed various hurdles, such as drug resistance, insensitivity of cancer cells to drugs, adverse effects and patient inconveniences. Hence, plant-based phytochemicals could be a better substitute for conventional chemotherapy for treatment of cancer due to various properties: lesser adverse effects, action via multiple pathways, economical, etc. Various preclinical studies have demonstrated that a combination of phytochemicals with conventional anticancer drugs is more efficacious than phytochemicals individually to treat cancer because plant-derived compounds have lower anticancer efficacy than conventional anticancer drugs. Moreover, phytochemicals suffer from poor aqueous solubility and reduced bioavailability, which must be resolved for efficacious treatment of cancer. Therefore, nanotechnology-based novel carriers are employed for codelivery of phytochemicals and conventional anticancer drugs for better treatment of cancer. These novel carriers include nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes that provide various benefits of improved solubility, reduced adverse effects, higher efficacy, reduced dose, improved dosing frequency, reduced drug resistance, improved bioavailability and higher patient compliance. This review summarizes various phytochemicals employed in treatment of cancer, combination therapy of phytochemicals with anticancer drugs and various nanotechnology-based carriers to deliver the combination therapy in treatment of cancer.

Recent Progress in Carrier-Free Nanomedicine for Tumor Phototherapy

Safe and effective strategies are urgently needed to fight against the life-threatening diseases of various cancers. However, traditional therapeutic modalities, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery, exhibit suboptimal efficacy for malignant tumors owing to the serious side effects, drug resistance and even relapse. Phototherapies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), are emerging therapeutic strategies for localized tumor inhibition, which can produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or elevate the temperature to initiate cell death by non-invasive irradiation. In consideration of the poor bioavailability of phototherapy agents (PTAs), lots of drug delivery systems have been developed to enhance the tumor targeted delivery. Nevertheless, the carriers of drug delivery systems inevitably bring biosafety concerns on account of their metabolism, degradation, and accumulation. Of note, carrier-free nanomedicine attracts great attention for clinical translation with synergistic antitumor effect, which is characterized by high drug loading, simplified synthetic method and good biocompatibility. In this review, the latest advances of phototherapy with various carrier-free nanomedicines are summarized, which may provide a new paradigm for the future development of nanomedicine and tumor precision therapy.

Hyaluronic Acid within Self-Assembling Nanoparticles: Endless Possibilities for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Self-assembling nanoparticles (SANPs) based on hyaluronic acid (HA) represent unique tools in cancer therapy because they combine the HA targeting activity towards cancer cells with the advantageous features of the self-assembling nanosystems, i.e., chemical versatility and ease of preparation and scalability. This review describes the key outcomes arising from the combination of HA and SANPs, focusing on nanomaterials where HA and/or HA-derivatives are inserted within the self-assembling nanostructure. We elucidate the different HA derivatization strategies proposed for this scope, as well as the preparation methods used for the fabrication of the delivery device. After showing the biological results in the employed in vivo and in vitro models, we discussed the pros and cons of each nanosystem, opening a discussion on which approach represents the most promising strategy for further investigation and effective therapeutic protocol development.

The cardioprotective effects of nano-curcumin against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: A systematic review

Although the chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin, is commonly used to treat various malignant tumors, its clinical use is restricted because of its toxicity especially cardiotoxicity. The use of curcumin may alleviate some of the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxic effects. Especially, using the nano-formulation of curcumin can overcome the poor bioavailability of curcumin and enhance its physicochemical properties regarding its efficacy. In this study, we systematically reviewed the potential cardioprotective effects of nano-curcumin against the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. A systematic search was accomplished based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for the identification of all relevant articles on "the role of nano-curcumin on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity" in the electronic databases of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science up to July 2021. One hundred and sixty-nine articles were screened following a predefined set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ten eligible scientific papers were finally included in the present systematic review. The administration of doxorubicin reduced the body and heart weights of mice/rats compared to the control groups. In contrast, the combined treatment of doxorubicin and nano-curcumin increased the body and heart weights of animals compared with the doxorubicin-treated groups alone. Furthermore, doxorubicin could significantly induce the biochemical and histological changes in the cardiac tissue; however, coadministration of nano-curcumin formulation demonstrated a pattern opposite to the doxorubicin-induced changes. The coadministration of nano-curcumin alleviates the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through various mechanisms including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. Also, the cardioprotective effect of nano-curcumin formulation against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was higher than free curcumin.

Nanomedicine-Based Delivery Strategies for Breast Cancer Treatment and Management

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women globally. It is caused by mutations in the estrogen/progesterone receptors and conventional treatment methods are commonly utilized. About 70–80 percent of individuals with the early-stage non-metastatic disease may be cured. Conventional treatment is far less than the optimal ratio, as demonstrated through the high mortality rate of women with this cancer. However, conventional treatment methods like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are not as effective as expected and lead to concerns about low bioavailability, low cellular uptake, emerging resistance, and adverse toxicities. A nanomedicine-based approach is a promising alternative for breast cancer treatment. The present era is witnessing rapid advancements in nanomedicine as a platform for investigating novel therapeutic applications and modern intelligent healthcare management strategies. This paper focuses on nanomedicine-based therapeutic interventions that are becoming more widely accepted for improving treatment effectiveness and reducing undesired side effects in breast cancer patients. By evaluating the state-of-the-art tools and taking the challenges involved into consideration, various aspects of the proposed nano-enabled therapeutic approaches have been discussed in this review.

Recent advances in targeted nanotherapeutic approaches for breast cancer management

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring tumor disease worldwide. Breast cancer is currently managed by conventional chemotherapy, which is inadequate in curbing this heterogeneous disease and results in off-site toxic effects, suggesting effective treatment approaches with better therapeutic profiles are needed. This review, therefore, focuses on the recent advancements in delivering therapeutics to the target site using passive and/or active targeted nanodrug-delivery systems to ameliorate endolysosomal escape. In addition, recent strategies in targeting breast cancer stem cells are discussed. The role of naturally cell-secreted nanovesicles (exosomes) in the management of triple-negative breast cancer is also discussed.

The Multifaceted Role of Curcumin in Advanced Nanocurcumin Form in the Treatment and Management of Chronic Disorders

Curcumin is the primary polyphenol in turmeric's curcuminoid class. It has a wide range of therapeutic applications, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and anticancer effects against various cancers, but has poor solubility and low bioavailability. Objective: To improve curcumin's bioavailability, plasma concentration, and cellular permeability processes. The nanocurcumin approach over curcumin has been proven appropriate for encapsulating or loading curcumin (nanocurcumin) to increase its therapeutic potential. Conclusion: Though incorporating curcumin into nanocurcumin form may be a viable method for overcoming its intrinsic limitations, and there are reasonable concerns regarding its toxicological safety once it enters biological pathways. This review article mainly highlights the therapeutic benefits of nanocurcumin over curcumin.

The combination of nanotechnology and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inspires the modernization of TCM: review on nanotechnology in TCM-based drug delivery systems

Fast development of combination of nanotechnology with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) broadens the field of application of TCM. Besides, it increases the research ideas and contributes to TCM modernization. As expected, TCM will be developed into the nanodrug delivery system by nanotechnology with careful design, which will enhance the medicinal value of TCM to cure and prevent disease based on benefits brought by nanometer scale. Here, formulations, relevant preparations methods, and characteristics of nano-TCM were introduced. In addition, the main excellent performances of nano-TCM were clearly elaborated. What is more, the review was intended to address the studies committed to application of nanotechnology in TCM over the years, including development of Chinese medicine active ingredients, complete TCM, and Chinese herbal compounds based on nanotechnology. Finally, this review discussed the safety of nano-TCM and presented future development trends in the way to realize the modernization of TCM. Overall, using the emerging nanotechnology in TCM is promising to promote progress of TCM in international platform. Recent researches on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) urged by nanotechnology are introduced, and formulations, advantages, and applications of nano-TCM are reviewed to provide strong proofs.

Hyaluronan-based Multifunctional Nano-carriers for Combination Cancer Therapy

Hyaluronan (HA) is a natural linear polysaccharide that has excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity, making it one of the most attractive biopolymers used for biomedical researches and applications. Due to the multiple functional sites on HA and its intrinsic affinity for CD44, a receptor highly expressed on various cancer cells, HA has been widely engineered to construct different drug-loading nanoparticles (NPs) for CD44-targeted anti-tumor therapy. When a cocktail of drugs is co-loaded in HA NP, a multifunctional nano-carriers could be obtained, which features as a highly effective and self-targeting strategy to combat cancers with CD44 overexpression. The HA-based multidrug nano-carriers can be a combination of different drugs, various therapeutic modalities, or the integration of therapy and diagnostics (theranostics). Up to now, there are many types of HA-based multidrug nano-carriers constructed by different formulation strategies, including drug co-conjugates, micelles, nano-gels and hybrid NP of HA and so on. This multidrug nano-carrier takes the full advantages of HA as an NP matrix, drug carriers and targeting ligand, representing a simplified and biocompatible platform to realize the targeted and synergistic combination therapy against the cancers. In this review, recent progress of HA-based multidrug nano-carriers for combination cancer therapy is summarized and the potential challenges for translational applications have been discussed.

Recent advances in co-delivery nanosystems for synergistic action in cancer treatment

Nanocarrier delivery systems have been widely studied to carry unique or dual chemical drugs. The major challenge of chemotherapies is to overcome the multidrug-resistance (MDR) of cells to antineoplastic medicines. In this context, nano-scale technology has allowed researchers to develop biocompatible nano-delivery systems to overcome the limitation of chemical agents. The development of nano-vehicles may also be directed to co-deliver different agents such as drugs and genetic materials. The delivery of nucleic acids targeting specific cells is based on gene therapy principles to replace the defective gene, correct genome errors or knock-down a particular gene. Co-delivery systems are attractive strategies due to the possibility of achieving synergistic therapeutic effects, which are more effective in overcoming the MDR of cancer cells. These combined therapies can provide better outcomes than separate delivery approaches carrying either siRNA, miRNA, pDNA, or drugs. This article reviews the main design features that need to be associated with nano-vehicles to co-deliver drugs, genes, and gene-drug combinations with efficacy. The advantages and disadvantages of co-administration approaches are also overviewed and compared with individual nanocarrier systems. Herein, future trends and perspectives in designing novel nano-scale platforms to co-deliver therapeutic agents are also discussed.

Vitamin E succinate with multiple functions: A versatile agent in nanomedicine-based cancer therapy and its delivery strategies

Vitamin E succinate (VES), a succinic acid ester of vitamin E, is one of the most effective anticancer compounds of the vitamin E family. VES can inhibit tumor growth by multiple pathways mainly involve tumor proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, and metastasis prevention. More importantly, the mitochondrial targeting and damaging property of VES endows it with great potential in exhibiting synergetic effect with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). Given the lipophilicity of VES that hinders its bioavailability and therapeutic activity, nanotechnology with multiple advantages has been widely explored to deliver VES and opened up new avenues for its in vivo application. This review aims to introduce the anticancer mechanisms of VES and summarize its delivery strategies using nano-drug delivery systems. Specifically, VES-based combination therapy for synergetic anticancer effect, MDR-reversal, and oral chemotherapy improvement are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are discussed.

Poly(aspartic acid)-based pH-responsive targeting co-delivery nanoparticles

Encapsulation of therapeutic molecules into nanocarrier is an extensively explored strategy to treat cancer more effectively. In this study, pH-responsive targeting dual-agent delivery nanoparticles were prepared, into which hydrophilic doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and hydrophobic curcumin (CUR) were entrapped. Tyrosine (Tyr) was grafted onto poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) to produce PASP-Tyr, the following reaction between hyaluronic acid (HA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) modified PASP-Tyr formed the nanocarrier HA-EDA-PASP-Tyr (HEPT), and the loading capacity was up to 50.9 ± 4.3% for CUR and 26.0 ± 1.9% for DOX. The spherical HEPT with the mean particle size of 142.9 ± 11.4 nm expanded and deformed into petaloid pattern with an increased size of about 2 µm when triggered by the acidic microenvironment. In vitro anticancer activity evaluation revealed that the co-loaded (DOX+CUR)@HEPT nanoparticles presented higher cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cells compared with that of the free combination of (DOX+CUR). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation indicated that HEPT carrier promoted cellular uptake of drugs by means of active targeting capacity of HA ligand. With high loading capacity and tailored carrier structure, the nanoparticles formulations may offer a new strategy for cancer treatment.

Dual stimuli-responsive polypeptide-calcium phosphate hybrid nanoparticles for co-delivery of multiple drugs in cancer therapy

In this study, a new type of polypeptide, crosslinked methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-g-poly(aspartic acid)-g-tyrosine (CPPT), was synthesized via a green and simple one-pot polymerization method. With the disulfide-crosslinked interlayer and the CaP shell, the pH and redox dual-sensitive polypeptide-based organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles encapsulated curcumin (Cur) into the hydrophobic core of micelles and loaded doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) on the hydrophilic segment of micelles as well as CaP shell. The spherical Cur- and DOX-loaded nanoparticles (CPPT@CaP-CD) showed a hydrodynamics size of about 157.9 ± 3.9 nm. The premature leakage of drugs from the nanoparticles at physiological pH was efficiently restrained because of the enhanced structure integrity, whereas at acidic and hypoxia microenvironment the release of both drugs was promoted due to the rapid dissolution of the CaP shell and the break of the disulfide crosslinked network, facilitating the stimuli-responsive controllable drugs release. In vitro anticancer activity evaluation revealed that the co-loaded nanoparticles presented higher cytotoxicity against A549 cells compared with that of the free combination of Cur + DOX. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation indicated that more DOX and Cur were released into the nucleus triggered by the up-regulated intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentration and decreased pH, displaying enhanced cell uptake. The self-assembling polypeptide-based dual-sensitive drug co-delivery system could be a promising platform for efficient chemotherapy.

Predicting and Quantifying Antagonistic Effects of Natural Compounds Given with Chemotherapeutic Agents: Applications for High-Throughput Screening

Natural products have been used for centuries to treat various human ailments. In recent decades, multi-drug combinations that utilize natural products to synergistically enhance the therapeutic effects of cancer drugs have been identified and have shown success in improving treatment outcomes. While drug synergy research is a burgeoning field, there are disagreements on the definitions and mathematical parameters that prevent the standardization and proper usage of the terms synergy, antagonism, and additivity. This contributes to the relatively small amount of data on the antagonistic effects of natural products on cancer drugs that can diminish their therapeutic efficacy and prevent cancer regression. The ability of natural products to potentially degrade or reverse the molecular activity of cancer therapeutics represents an important but highly under-emphasized area of research that is often overlooked in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review aims to evaluate the body of work surrounding the antagonistic interactions between natural products and cancer therapeutics and highlight applications for high-throughput screening (HTS) and deep learning techniques for the identification of natural products that antagonize cancer drug efficacy.

Nanoparticles Formulations of Artemisinin and Derivatives as Potential Therapeutics for the Treatment of Cancer, Leishmaniasis and Malaria

Cancer, malaria, and leishmaniasis remain the deadly diseases around the world although several strategies of treatment have been developed. However, most of the drugs used to treat the aforementioned diseases suffer from several pharmacological limitations such as poor pharmacokinetics, toxicity, drug resistance, poor bioavailability and water solubility. Artemisinin and its derivatives are antimalarial drugs. However, they also exhibit anticancer and antileishmanial activity. They have been evaluated as potential anticancer and antileishmanial drugs but their use is also limited by their poor water solubility and poor bioavailability. To overcome the aforementioned limitations associated with artemisinin and its derivatives used for the treatment of these diseases, they have been incorporated into nanoparticles. Several researchers incorporated this class of drugs into nanoparticles resulting in enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Their potential efficacy for the treatment of parasitic infections such as malaria and leishmaniasis and chronic diseases such as cancer has been reported. This review article will be focused on the nanoparticles formulations of artemisinin and derivatives for the treatment of cancer, malaria, and leishmaniasis and the biological outcomes (in vitro and in vivo).

Efficacy of Polymer-Based Nanocarriers for Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Selected Anticancer Drugs

Cancer remains a heavy health burden resulting in a high rate of mortality around the world. The presently used anticancer drugs suffer from several shortcomings, such as drug toxicity, poor biodegradability and bioavailability, and poor water solubility and drug resistance. Cancer is treated effectively by combination therapy whereby two or more anticancer drugs are employed. Most of the combination chemotherapies result in a synergistic effect and overcome drug resistance. Furthermore, the design of polymer-based nanocarriers for combination therapy has been reported by several researchers to result in promising therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment. Curcumin exhibits good anticancer activity but its poor bioavailability has resulted in its incorporation into several polymer-based nanocarriers resulting in good biological outcomes. Furthermore, the incorporation of curcumin together with other anticancer drugs have been reported to result in excellent therapeutic outcomes in vivo and in vitro. Due to the potential of polymer-based nanocarriers, this review article will be focused on the design of polymer-based nanocarriers loaded with curcumin together with other anticancer drugs.

Co-delivery system of chemotherapy drugs and active ingredients from natural plants: a brief overview of preclinical research for cancer treatment

Introduction: Many active ingredients from natural plants (AINPs) have been revealed to possess remarkable anticancer properties. Combination chemotherapy of chemo-drugs and AINPs has also proven to be more advantageous than individual chemo-drug treatment with respect to enhancing efficiency, alleviating toxicity, and controlling the development of multidrug resistance (MDR). Co-delivery is considered a promising method to effectively achieve and manage combination chemotherapy of chemo-drugs and AINPs, and various distinctive and functional co-delivery systems have been designed for these purposes to date.Areas covered: This review focuses on recent preclinical investigations of co-delivery systems for chemo-drugs and AINPs as new cancer treatment modalities. We particularly emphasize the apparent treatment advantages of these approaches, including augmenting efficiency, reducing toxicity, and controlling MDR.Expert opinion: There has already been notable progress in the application of combination chemotherapy with co-delivery systems loaded with chemo-drugs and AINPs based on results with cellular and animal models. The main challenge is to translate these successes into new anticancer compound preparations and promote their clinical application in practice. Nevertheless, continuous efforts with new designs of co-delivery systems remain essential, providing a foundation for future clinical research and development of new anticancer drugs.

Multi pH-sensitive polymer–drug conjugate mixed micelles for efficient co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin to synergistically suppress tumor metastasis

Multi pH-responsive polymer-drug conjugate mixed micelles were fabricated to co-deliver doxorubicin and curcumin for synergistic suppression tumor metastasis via inhibiting the invasion, migration, intravasation and extravasation of tumor cells.

Glucoconjugated Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids from Uncaria rhynchophylla

Twenty-six glucoconjugated monoterpene indole alkaloids, including 12 new compounds, rhynchophyllosides A-L (1-12), and 14 known ones, 13-26, were obtained from the hook-bearing stems of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated by analyses of UV, MS, NMR, ECD, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The ESI-MSⁿ behavior of the new glucoalkaloids was also elucidated. Although comprising the same glucosyl moiety, the aglycone skeletons and glucosidic numbers and linkage varied greatly, implying the diversity in biosynthetic pathways. This is the first report of such structurally diverse glucoconjugated monoterpene indole alkaloids from U. rhynchophylla. Compound 1 represents a new subtype of oxindole alkaloid with a seven-membered D-ring, 10 is a rare monoterpene indole alkaloid with the glucosyl moiety located at C-9, 4 and 5 are the first two oxindole alkaloid diglycosides, and 11 and 12 represent the first two examples of alkaloids with a quinolone nucleus from the genus Uncaria. Compound 10 exhibited moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 10.5 μM. Molecular docking was performed to explore the binding mode of inhibitor 10 at the active site of AChE.

A Novel Gel-Forming Solution Based on PEG-DSPE/Solutol HS 15 Mixed Micelles and Gellan Gum for Ophthalmic Delivery of Curcumin

Curcumin (Cur) is a naturally hydrophobic polyphenol with potential pharmacological properties. However, the poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin limits its ocular administration. Thus, the aim of this study was to prepare a mixed micelle in situ gelling system of curcumin (Cur-MM-ISG) for ophthalmic drug delivery. The curcumin mixed micelles (Cur-MMs) were prepared via the solvent evaporation method, after which they were incorporated into gellan gum gels. Characterization tests showed that Cur-MMs were small in size and spherical in shape, with a low critical micelle concentration. Compared with free curcumin, Cur-MMs improved the solubility and stability of curcumin significantly. The ex vivo penetration study revealed that Cur-MMs could penetrate the rabbit cornea more efficiently than the free curcumin. After dispersing the micelles in the gellan gum solution at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v), a transparent Cur-MM-ISG with the characteristics of a pseudoplastic fluid was formed. No obvious irritations were observed in the rabbit eyes after ocular instillation of Cur-MM-ISG. Moreover, Cur-MM-ISG showed a longer retention time on the corneal surface when compared to Cur-MMs using the fluorescein sodium labeling method. These findings indicate that biocompatible Cur-MM-ISG has great potential in ophthalmic drug therapy.

Polyethylenimine and sodium cholate-modified ethosomes complex as multidrug carriers for the treatment of melanoma through transdermal delivery

Aim: Multidrug resistance is the main reason for the failure of chemotherapy during the treatment of the tumor. To overcome multidrug resistance, this study attempts to develop a novel transdermal drug-delivery system (TDDS) loading cytotoxic drug and chemosensitizer. Materials & methods: The polyethylenimine-modified ethosomes (Eth^-PEI) and sodium cholate-modified ethosomes (Eth^-SC) were firstly fabricated, and then a novel TDDS based on the carriers complex of Eth^-PEI/Eth^-SC was prepared by electrostatic interaction and evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Results: The Eth^-PEI/Eth^-SC showed the excellent antitumor effect on treating melanoma, using doxorubicin and curcumin as the cytotoxic drug and chemosensitizer, respectively. Conclusion: The as-prepared TDDS composed of Eth^-PEI/Eth^-SC loading multidrug is an effective means for treating melanoma.

Natural product-based nanoformulations for cancer therapy: Opportunities and challenges

Application of natural product-based nanoformulations for the treatment of different human diseases, such as cancer, is an emerging field. The conventional cancer therapeutic modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy has limited achievements. A larger number of drawbacks are associated with these therapies, including damage to proliferating healthy tissues, structural deformities, systemic toxicity, long-term side effects, resistance to the drug by tumor cells, and psychological problems. The advent of nanotechnology in cancer therapeutics is recent; however, it has progressed and transformed the field of cancer treatment at a rapid rate. Nanotherapeutics have promisingly overcome the limitations of conventional drug delivery system, i.e., low aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, multidrug resistance, and non-specificity. Specifically, natural product-based nanoformulations are being intentionally studied in different model systems. Where it is found that these nanoformulations has more proximity and reduced side effects. The nanoparticles can specifically target tumor cells, enhancing the specificity and efficacy of cancer therapeutic modalities which in turn improves patient response and survival. The integration of phytotherapy and nanotechnology in the clinical setting may improve pharmacological response and better clinical outcome of patients.

Curcumin Combination Chemotherapy: The Implication and Efficacy in Cancer

Many chemotherapeutic drugs have been used for the treatment of cancer, for instance, doxorubicin, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and paclitaxel. However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy is limited in cancer therapy due to drug resistance, therapeutic selectivity, and undesirable side effects. The combination of therapies with natural compounds is likely to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment as well as reduce the adverse outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenolic isolated from Curcuma longa, belongs to the rhizome of Zingiberaceae plants. Studies from in vitro and in vivo revealed that curcumin exerts many pharmacological activities with less toxic effects. The biological mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of co-treatment curcumin and chemotherapy are complex and worth to discuss further. Therefore, this review aimed to address the molecular mechanisms of combined curcumin and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. The anticancer activity of combined nanoformulation of curcumin and chemotherapy was also discussed in this study. Taken together, a better understanding of the implication and underlying mechanisms of action of combined curcumin and chemotherapy may provide a useful approach to combat cancer diseases.

Injectable, Biodegradable, Thermosensitive Nanoparticles-Aggregated Hydrogel with Tumor-Specific Targeting, Penetration, and Release for Efficient Postsurgical Prevention of Tumor Recurrence

High locoregional recurrence of breast cancer after surgery remains a clinically appealing challenge. Local chemotherapy, especially sustainable delivery of chemotherapeutics at tumor sites by implantable hydrogels, has shown great potential to prevent cancer recurrence. However, the applications of conventional hydrogels are often limited by their intrinsic poor drug penetration into solid tumors and nonspecific drug accumulation in adjacent normal tissues. Herein, we developed a novel modular coassembly strategy to prepare a kind of pH-sensitive, tumor-specific targeting, and penetrating peptide (CRGDK)-modified doxorubicin-based prodrug nanoparticles (PDNPs), whose aqueous dispersion can undergo sol-gel transition after in vivo injection by thermo-induced self-aggregation to in situ form biodegradable hydrogel depot (PDNPs-gel), anchoring high amounts of PDNPs at tumor sites. Because of CRGDK-mediated targeting to overexpressed neuropilin-1 receptors on tumor vessels and tumor cells, PDNPs released from PDNPs-gel can effectively penetrate into tumor tissues, specifically enter tumor cells and finally realize intracellular acid-triggered drug release. In an in vivo incomplete resection of breast cancer model, a single peritumoral administration of PDNP-gel can achieve high inhibition efficacy against tumor recurrence. In addition, the administration of PDNP-gel only involves simple redispersion of PDNPs in water without any pretreatment for gelation, providing great convenience for storage, dosage, and prescription in practical use. Collectively, the reported multifunctional nanoparticles self-aggregated hydrogel system possesses great potential for efficient postsurgical prevention of tumor recurrence.

Curcumin reverses doxorubicin resistance via inhibition the efflux function of ABCB4 in doxorubicin‑resistant breast cancer cells

Doxorubicin is one of the most widely used chemotherapy agents for the treatment of breast cancer. However, the development of doxorubicin resistance limits the long-term treatment benefits in patients with breast cancer. Curcumin, a well-known dietary polyphenol derived from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa), enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents; however, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin on chemoresistance in doxorubicin-resistant breast cancerMCF-7/DOX and MDA-MB-231/DOX cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8, monolayer transport, western blot and ATPase activity assays were performed during the study. The results revealed that curcumin significantly enhanced the effect of doxorubicin in doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells. The intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin was substantially increased following curcumin treatment in doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells, in a manner that was inversely dependent on the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 4 (ABCB4). Treatment with a combination of curcumin and doxorubicin decreases the efflux of doxorubicin in ABCB4-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the ATPase activity of ABCB4 without altering its protein expression. In conclusion, curcumin reversed doxorubicin resistance in human breast cancer MCF-7/DOX and MDA-MB-231/DOX cells by inhibiting the ATPase activity of ABCB4. The study highlights the promising use of curcumin as a chemosensitizer in the treatment of breast cancer.

Dual pH/Redox-Responsive Mixed Polymeric Micelles for Anticancer Drug Delivery and Controlled Release

Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles (PMs) have shown great potential in drug delivery and controlled release in cancer chemotherapy. Herein, inspired by the features of the tumor microenvironment, we developed dual pH/redox-responsive mixed PMs which are self-assembled from two kinds of amphiphilic diblock copolymers (poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-b-poly(β-amino esters) (mPEG-b-PAE) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-grafted disulfide-poly(β-amino esters) (PAE-ss-mPEG)) for anticancer drug delivery and controlled release. The co-micellization of two copolymers is evaluated by measurement of critical micelle concentration (CMC) values at different ratios of the two copolymers. The pH/redox-responsiveness of PMs is thoroughly investigated by measurement of base dissociation constant (pKb) value, particle size, and zeta-potential in different conditions. The PMs can encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX) efficiently, with high drug-loading efficacy. The DOX was released due to the swelling and disassembly of nanoparticles triggered by low pH and high glutathione (GSH) concentrations in tumor cells. The in vitro results demonstrated that drug release rate and cumulative release are obviously dependent on pH values and reducing agents. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity test showed that the mixed PMs have negligible toxicity, whereas the DOX-loaded mixed PMs exhibit high cytotoxicity for HepG2 cells. Therefore, the results demonstrate that the dual pH/redox-responsive PMs self-assembled from PAE-based diblock copolymers could be potential anticancer drug delivery carriers with pH/redox-triggered drug release, and the fabrication of stimuli-responsive mixed PMs could be an efficient strategy for preparation of intelligent drug delivery platform for disease therapy.

Delivering Combination Chemotherapies and Targeting Oncogenic Pathways via Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems

The side-effects associated with chemotherapy necessitates better delivery of chemotherapeutics to the tumor. Nanoparticles can load higher amounts of drug and improve delivery to tumors, increasing the efficacy of treatment. Polymeric nanoparticles, in particular, have been used extensively for chemotherapeutic delivery. This review describes the efforts made to deliver combination chemotherapies and inhibit oncogenic pathways using polymeric drug delivery systems. Combinations of chemotherapeutics with other drugs or small interfering RNA (siRNA) combinations have been summarized. Special attention is given to the delivery of drug combinations that involve either paclitaxel or doxorubicin, two popular chemotherapeutics in clinic. Attempts to inhibit specific pathways for oncotherapy have also been described. These include inhibition of oncogenic pathways (including those involving HER2, EGFR, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, STAT3, and HIF-1α), augmentation of apoptosis by inhibiting anti-apoptosis proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and survivin), and targeting dysregulated pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog.

Traditional Chinese medicine-combination therapies utilizing nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems: a new strategy for antitumor treatment

Cancer is a major public health problem, and is now the world’s leading cause of death. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-combination therapy is a new treatment approach and a vital therapeutic strategy for cancer, as it exhibits promising antitumor potential. Nano-targeted drug-delivery systems have remarkable advantages and allow the development of TCM-combination therapies by systematically controlling drug release and delivering drugs to solid tumors. In this review, the anticancer activity of TCM compounds is introduced. The combined use of TCM for antitumor treatment is analyzed and summarized. These combination therapies, using a single nanocarrier system, namely codelivery, are analyzed, issues that require attention are determined, and future perspectives are identified. We carried out a systematic review of >280 studies published in PubMed since 1985 (no patents involved), in order to provide a few basic considerations in terms of the design principles and management of targeted nanotechnology-based TCM-combination therapies.

Self-assembled dual-drug loaded core-shell nanoparticles based on metal-free fully alternating polyester for cancer theranostics

Recent research has been directed to the use of biocompatible and biodegradable metal-free fully alternating polyester nanomaterial in drug delivery application. The practice of triethyl borane (Et₃B)/Bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium chloride (PPNCl) Lewis pair as non-metallic catalyst was carried out to synthesize alternating copolymer of commercially available tert-butyl glycidyl ether (tBGE) and phthalic anhydride (PA) (poly(tBGE-alt-PA) copolymer) of low M_nvia nearly controlled ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) reaction. This biocompatible, hemocompatible, and biodegradable copolymer was used in the fabrication of different nanodrug formulations (NDFs) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), curcumin (CUR) and their combination. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging showed the spherical shape and core-shell internal structure for all NDFs with an average particle diameter ranging between 200 and 250 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis displayed the amorphous nature of both DOX and CUR after their entrapment into the copolymer matrix. Differential scanning colorimetry (DSC) analysis presented no potential chemical interactions between the drug and copolymer. The cellular drug uptake study showed the increased uptake for all NDFs compared to free drug and exhibited higher DOX and CUR accumulation in dual-drug loaded nanoparticles treated pancreatic cancer (MIA PaCa-2) cells. The in vitro drug release kinetic study displayed the slow sustained drug release behavior with anomalous transport for both DOX and CUR in a defined physiological environment. Further, the anti-tumor efficacy of all NDFs was examined on several different cancer cell lines and maximum cytotoxicity was observed in MIA PaCa-2 cells with low inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values. These NDFs inhibited the proliferation of MIA PaCa-2 cells due to cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. In result, MIA PaCa-2 cells underwent apoptosis with significant changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. In future, this study will open several novel insights related to the use of such biocompatible and biodegradable metal-free polyesters in targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.