Preparation, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation of self-assembled nanoparticles of diosgenin-cytarabine conjugate

Old drug, new tricks: polymer-based nanoscale systems for effective cytarabine delivery

Cytarabine, an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent, has been utilized to treat various cancers. However, because of its short half-life, low stability, and limited bioavailability, achieving an optimal plasma concentration requires continuous intravenous administration, which can lead to toxicity in normal cells and tissues. Addressing these limitations is crucial to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of cytarabine while minimizing its adverse effects. The use of novel drug delivery systems, such as polymer-based nanocarriers have emerged as promising vehicles for targeted drug delivery due to their unique properties, including high stability, biocompatibility, and tunable release kinetics. In this review, we examine the application of various polymer-based nanocarriers, including polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, polymer-drug conjugates, and nano-hydrogels, for the delivery of cytarabine. The article highlights the limitations of conventional cytarabine administration which often lead to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and systemic toxicity. The rationale for using polymer-based nanocarriers is discussed, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges by providing controlled drug release, improved stability, and enhanced targeting capabilities. In summary, this review offers a valuable resource for drug delivery scientists by providing insights into the design principles, formulation strategies, and potential applications of polymer-based nanocarriers that can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of cytarabine.

Melatonin as a regulator of apoptosis in leukaemia: molecular mechanism and therapeutic perspectives

Leukaemia is a dangerous malignancy that causes thousands of deaths every year throughout the world. The rate of morbidity and mortality is significant despite many advancements in therapy strategies for affected individuals. Most antitumour medications used now in clinical oncology use apoptotic signalling pathways to induce cancer cell death. Accumulated data have shown a direct correlation between inducing apoptosis in cancer cells with higher tumour regression and survival. Until now, the efficacy of melatonin as a powerful antitumour agent has been firmly established. A change in melatonin concentrations has been reported in multiple tumours such as endometrial, hematopoietic, and breast cancers. Findings show that melatonin's anticancer properties, such as its prooxidation function and ability to promote apoptosis, indicate the possibility of utilizing this natural substance as a promising agent in innovative cancer therapy approaches. Melatonin stimulates cell apoptosis via the regulation of many apoptosis facilitators, including mitochondria, cytochrome c, Bcl-2, production of reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis receptors. This paper aimed to further assess the anticancer effects of melatonin through the apoptotic pathway, considering the role that cellular apoptosis plays in the pathogenesis of cancer. The effect of melatonin may mean that it is appropriate for use as an adjuvant, along with other therapeutic approaches such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Challenges in Coopted Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Herbal Bioactives in the Same Nanostructured Carriers for Effective Bioavailability and Anti-Inflammatory Action

There is ongoing research on various herbal bioactives and delivery systems which indicates that both lipid nanocarriers and herbal medicines will be fine tunned and integrated for future bio-medical applications. The current study was undertaken to systematically develop NLC-DSG-yam extract for the improved efficacy of herbal Diosgenin (DSG) in the management of anti-inflammatory disorders. NLCs were characterized regarding the mean size of the particles, morphological characteristics, physical stability in time, thermal behaviour, and entrapment efficiency of the herbal bioactive. Encapsulation efficiency and in vitro antioxidant activity measured the differences between the individual and dual co-loaded-NLC, the co-loaded one assuring a prolonged controlled release of DSG and a more emphasized ability of capturing short-life reactive oxygen species (ROS). NLCs safety properties were monitored following the in vitro MTS ((3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay) and RTCA (Real-Time Cell Analysis) assays. Concentrations less than 50 μg/mL showed no cytotoxic effects during in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Besides, the NLC-DSG-yam extract revealed a great anti-inflammatory effect, as the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) was significantly inhibited at 50 μg/mL NLC (e.g., 98.2% ± 1.07 inhibition of TNF-α, while for IL-6 the inhibition percentage was of 62% ± 1.07). Concluding, using appropriate lipid nanocarriers, the most desirable properties of herbal bioactives could be improved.