Drug-binding albumins forming stabilized nanoparticles for co-delivery of paclitaxel and resveratrol: In vitro/in vivo evaluation and binding properties investigation

Trend of albumin nanoparticles in oncology: a bibliometric analysis of research progress and prospects

Background

Delivery systems based on albumin nanoparticles (NPs) have recently garnered substantial interest in anti-tumor drug development. However, systematic bibliometric analyses in this field remain lacking. This study aimed to analyze the current research status, hotspots, and frontiers in the application of albumin NPs in the field of oncology from a bibliometric perspective.

Methods

Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) as the data source, retrieved articles were analyzed using software, such as VOSviewer 1.6.18 and CiteSpace 6.1.6, and the relevant visualization maps were plotted.

Results

From 1 January 2000, to 15 April 2024, 2,262 institutions from 67 countries/regions published 1,624 articles related to the application of albumin NPs in the field of oncology. The USA was a leader in this field and held a formidable academic reputation. The most productive institution was the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The most productive author was Youn YS, whereas Kratz F was the most frequently co-cited author. The most productive journal was the International Journal of Nanomedicine, whereas the Journal of Controlled Release was the most co-cited journal. Future research hotspots and frontiers included "rapid and convenient synthesis methods predominated by self-assembly," "surface modification," "construction of multifunctional NPs for theranostics," "research on natural active ingredients mainly based on phenolic compounds," "combination therapy," and "clinical applications."

Conclusion

Based on our bibliometric analysis and summary, we obtained an overview of the research on albumin NPs in the field of oncology, identified the most influential countries, institutions, authors, journals, and citations, and discussed the current research hotspots and frontiers in this field. Our study may serve as an important reference for future research in this field.

Cordycepin Enhances the Therapeutic Efficacy of Doxorubicin in Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with high mortality and poor prognosis. Meanwhile, doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent for triple-negative breast cancer, has poor sensitivity. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of cordycepin on doxorubicin sensitivity and efficacy in the TNBC xenograft model and explore the relevant molecular pathways. The combination of the drugs in nude mice carrying MDA-MB-231 xenografts significantly reduced the volume, size, and weight of xenografts and improved the tumor inhibition rate. The drug combination was significantly more effective than cordycepin or doxorubicin alone, reflecting the fact that cordycepin enhanced the anti-tumor effects of doxorubicin in MDA-MB-231 xenografts. At the same time, the monitoring of several biological parameters failed to detect any obvious side effects associated with this treatment. After predicting the importance of the TNF pathway in inhibiting tumor growth using network pharmacology methods, we verified the expression of TNF pathway targets via immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. Furthermore, a TNF-α inhibitor was able to abrogate the beneficial effects of cordycepin and doxorubicin treatment in MDA-MB-231 cells. This clearly indicates the role of TNF-α, or related molecules, in mediating the therapeutic benefits of the combined treatment in animals carrying TNBC xenografts. The observations reported here may present a new direction for the clinical treatment of TNBC.

Tamarind seed polysaccharide-guar gum buccal films loaded with resveratrol-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization, and mucoadhesiveness assessment

Mucoadhesive films based on tamarind seed polysaccharide and guar gum (TSP-GG) were formulated for buccal delivery of resveratrol. Resveratrol-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (Res-BSA) were prepared and dispersed in TSP-GG to improve its buccal mucoadhesiveness. The impregnation of Res-BSA induced the dense internal structures of TSP-GG and improved its strength and rigidity. Structural characterization showed that resveratrol existed in an amorphous state in the films containing Res-BSA, and hydrogen bonding was formed between Res-BSA and the film matrices. The films containing Res-BSA exhibited good uniformity in thickness, weight, and resveratrol content, and their surface pH was near neutral, ranging between 6.78 and 7.09. Increasing Res-BSA content reduced the water contact angle of TSP-GG (from 75.9° to 59.6°). The swelling and erosion studies indicated the favorable hydration capacity and erosion resistance of the films containing Res-BSA. Additionally, the addition of Res-BSA imparted enhanced ex vivo mucoadhesive force, in the range of 1.53 N to 1.98 N, and extended ex vivo residence time, between 17.9 h and 18.9 h, to TSP-GG. The current study implied that the composite systems of TSP-GG and Res-BSA may be a novel platform for buccal mucosal delivery of resveratrol.

Stimuli-responsive (nano)architectures for phytochemical delivery in cancer therapy

The use of phytochemicals for purpose of cancer therapy has been accelerated due to resistance of tumor cells to conventional chemotherapy drugs and therefore, monotherapy does not cause significant improvement in the prognosis and survival of patients. Therefore, administration of natural products alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs due to various mechanisms of action has been suggested. However, cancer therapy using phytochemicals requires more attention because of poor bioavailability of compounds and lack of specific accumulation at tumor site. Hence, nanocarriers for specific delivery of phytochemicals in tumor therapy has been suggested. The pharmacokinetic profile of natural products and their therapeutic indices can be improved. The nanocarriers can improve potential of natural products in crossing over BBB and also, promote internalization in cancer cells through endocytosis. Moreover, (nano)platforms can deliver both natural and synthetic anti-cancer drugs in combination cancer therapy. The surface functionalization of nanostructures with ligands improves ability in internalization in tumor cells and improving cytotoxicity of natural compounds. Interestingly, stimuli-responsive nanostructures that respond to endogenous and exogenous stimuli have been employed for delivery of natural compounds in cancer therapy. The decrease in pH in tumor microenvironment causes degradation of bonds in nanostructures to release cargo and when changes in GSH levels occur, it also mediates drug release from nanocarriers. Moreover, enzymes in the tumor microenvironment such as MMP-2 can mediate drug release from nanocarriers and more progresses in targeted drug delivery obtained by application of nanoparticles that are responsive to exogenous stimulus including light.

Effects of Adding Chitosan on Drug Entrapment Efficiency and Release Duration for Paclitaxel-Loaded Hydroxyapatite-Gelatin Composite Microspheres

Hydroxyapatite-gelatin microspheres with cone-like pores were synthesized via the wet-chemical method using ammonium dihydrogen phosphate ((NH4)H2PO4) and calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2·4H2O) as a source of calcium and phosphate ions with the addition of gelatin, which proved to be more osteoconductive than commercial products, such as fibrin glue and Osteoset® Bone Graft Substitute. Following the method of the previous study for loading paclitaxel (PTX), a drug entrapment efficiency of around 58% was achieved, which is much lower than that of the doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded one. Since PTX is hydrophobic while DOX is hydrophilic, the order of chitosan processing and addition of the solvent were tuned in this study, finally leading to an increase in drug entrapment efficiency of 94%. Additionally, the release duration of PTX exceeded six months. The MTT assay indicated that the effect of drug release on the suppression of cancer cells reached more than 40% after one week, thereby showcasing PTX's capacity to carry out its medicinal functions without being affected by the loading procedures.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology Improving the Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols for Cancer

Polyphenols derived from fruits, vegetables, and plants are bioactive compounds potentially beneficial to human health. Notably, compounds such as quercetin, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol have been highlighted as antiproliferative agents for cancer. Due to their low solubility and limited bioavailability, some alternative nanotechnologies have been applied to encapsulate these compounds, aiming to improve their efficacy against cancer. In this comprehensive review, we evaluate the main nanotechnology approaches to improve the therapeutic potential of polyphenols against cancer using in vitro studies and in vivo preclinical models, highlighting recent advancements in the field. It was found that polymeric nanomaterials, lipid-based nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and carbon-based nanomaterials are the most used classes of nanocarriers for encapsulating polyphenols. These delivery systems exhibit enhanced antitumor activity and pro-apoptotic effects, particularly against breast, lung, prostate, cervical, and colorectal cancer cells, surpassing the performance of free bioactive compounds. Preclinical trials in xenograft animal models have revealed decreased tumor growth after treatment with polyphenol-loaded delivery systems. Moreover, the interaction of polyphenol co-delivery systems and polyphenol-drug delivery systems is a promising approach to increase anticancer activity and decrease chemotherapy side effects. These innovative approaches hold significant implications for the advancement of clinical cancer research.

Total Bio-Based Material for Drug Delivery and Iron Chelation to Fight Cancer through Antimicrobial Activity

Bacterial involvement in cancer's development, along with their impact on therapeutic interventions, has been increasingly recognized. This has prompted the development of novel strategies to disrupt essential biological processes in microbial cells. Among these approaches, metal-chelating agents have gained attention for their ability to hinder microbial metal metabolism and impede critical reactions. Nanotechnology has also contributed to the antibacterial field by offering various nanomaterials, including antimicrobial nanoparticles with potential therapeutic and drug-delivery applications. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are naturally occurring tubular clay nanomaterials composed of aluminosilicate kaolin sheets rolled multiple times. The aluminum and siloxane groups on the surface of HNTs enable hydrogen bonding with biomaterials, making them versatile in various domains, such as environmental sciences, wastewater treatment, nanoelectronics, catalytic studies, and cosmetics. This study aimed to create an antibacterial material by combining the unique properties of halloysite nanotubes with the iron-chelating capability of kojic acid. A nucleophilic substitution reaction involving the hydroxyl groups on the nanotubes' surface was employed to functionalize the material using kojic acid. The resulting material was characterized using infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and its iron-chelating ability was assessed. Furthermore, the potential for drug loading-specifically, with resveratrol and curcumin-was evaluated through ultraviolet (UV) analysis. The antibacterial assay was evaluated following CLSI guidelines. The results suggested that the HNTs-kojic acid formulation had great antibacterial activity against all tested pathogens. The outcome of this work yielded a novel bio-based material with dual functionality as a drug carrier and an antimicrobial agent. This innovative approach holds promise for addressing challenges related to bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance, and the development of advanced therapeutic interventions.

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.

Proteins and their functionalization for finding therapeutic avenues in cancer: Current status and future prospective

Despite the remarkable advancement in the health care sector, cancer remains the second most fatal disease globally. The existing conventional cancer treatments primarily include chemotherapy, which has been associated with little to severe side effects, and radiotherapy, which is usually expensive. To overcome these problems, target-specific nanocarriers have been explored for delivering chemo drugs. However, recent reports on using a few proteins having anticancer activity and further use of them as drug carriers have generated tremendous attention for furthering the research towards cancer therapy. Biomolecules, especially proteins, have emerged as suitable alternatives in cancer treatment due to multiple favourable properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural flexibility for easy surface functionalization. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that various proteins derived from animal, plant, and bacterial species, demonstrated strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties against malignant cells in native and their different structural conformations. Moreover, surface tunable properties of these proteins help to bind a range of anticancer drugs and target ligands, thus making them efficient delivery agents in cancer therapy. Here, we discuss various proteins obtained from common exogenous sources and how they transform into effective anticancer agents. We also comprehensively discuss the tumor-killing mechanisms of different dietary proteins such as bovine α-lactalbumin, hen egg-white lysozyme, and their conjugates. We also articulate how protein nanostructures can be used as carriers for delivering cancer drugs and theranostics, and strategies to be adopted for improving their in vivo delivery and targeting. We further discuss the FDA-approved protein-based anticancer formulations along with those in different phases of clinical trials.

Effects of combined binding of chlorogenic acid/caffeic acid and gallic acid to trypsin on their synergistic antioxidant activity, enzyme activity and stability

The combined application of multiple natural polyphenols in functional foods may provide better health benefits. The binding of polyphenols with different structures to proteins will affect their respective functions. Spectroscopy and molecular docking were used to investigate the competitive binding of chlorogenic acid (CGA)/caffeic acid (CA) and gallic acid (GA) to trypsin. The effects of different molecular structures and the order of adding the three phenolic acids on the binding were assessed. The stability of trypsin and its docked complexes with CGA/CA/GA was evaluated by molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of the binding process on the activity and thermal stability of trypsin, as well as on the antioxidant activity and stability of CGA/CA/GA were explored. The competitive binding of CGA/CA and GA to trypsin affected their synergistic antioxidant effects. The results may provide a reference for the combined application of CGA/CA and GA in food and pharmaceutical fields.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Delivery of Natural Bioactive Agents: Recent Advances and Challenges

In the last few decades, several natural bioactive agents have been widely utilized in the treatment and prevention of many diseases owing to their unique and versatile therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective action. However, their poor aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, low GIT stability, extensive metabolism as well as short duration of action are the most shortfalls hampering their biomedical/pharmaceutical applications. Different drug delivery platforms have developed in this regard, and a captivating tool of this has been the fabrication of nanocarriers. In particular, polymeric nanoparticles were reported to offer proficient delivery of various natural bioactive agents with good entrapment potential and stability, an efficiently controlled release, improved bioavailability, and fascinating therapeutic efficacy. In addition, surface decoration and polymer functionalization have opened the door to improving the characteristics of polymeric nanoparticles and alleviating the reported toxicity. Herein, a review of the state of knowledge on polymeric nanoparticles loaded with natural bioactive agents is presented. The review focuses on frequently used polymeric materials and their corresponding methods of fabrication, the needs of such systems for natural bioactive agents, polymeric nanoparticles loaded with natural bioactive agents in the literature, and the potential role of polymer functionalization, hybrid systems, and stimuli-responsive systems in overcoming most of the system drawbacks. This exploration may offer a thorough idea of viewing the polymeric nanoparticles as a potential candidate for the delivery of natural bioactive agents as well as the challenges and the combating tools used to overcome any hurdles.

Sustainable Biodegradable Biopolymer-Based Nanoparticles for Healthcare Applications

Biopolymeric nanoparticles are gaining importance as nanocarriers for various biomedical applications, enabling long-term and controlled release at the target site. Since they are promising delivery systems for various therapeutic agents and offer advantageous properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and stability compared to various toxic metal nanoparticles, we decided to provide an overview on this topic. Therefore, the review focuses on the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles of animal, plant, algal, fungal, and bacterial origin as a sustainable material for potential use as drug delivery systems. A particular focus is on the encapsulation of many different therapeutic agents categorized as bioactive compounds, drugs, antibiotics, and other antimicrobial agents, extracts, and essential oils into protein- and polysaccharide-based nanocarriers. These show promising benefits for human health, especially for successful antimicrobial and anticancer activity. The review article, divided into protein-based and polysaccharide-based biopolymeric nanoparticles and further according to the origin of the biopolymer, enables the reader to select the appropriate biopolymeric nanoparticles more easily for the incorporation of the desired component. The latest research results from the last five years in the field of the successful production of biopolymeric nanoparticles loaded with various therapeutic agents for healthcare applications are included in this review.

Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effects of Piperlongumine Derivative PL 1-3-Loaded Albumin Nanoparticles on Lipopolysaccharide/d-Galactosamine-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

In recent years, piperlongumine (PL) having specific cytotoxicity has attracted considerable attention for anticancer activity. Through structural modification, the active derivative PL 1-3 shows potential anti-inflammatory activity and low cytotoxicity, but its water solubility is low. Here, PL 1-3-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (1-3 NPs) were prepared and characterized, which can improve the dissolution. 1-3 NPs exhibited effective hepatoprotective effects on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury of mice, which was similar to liver injury in clinical settings. 1-3 NPs treatment can inhibit inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via the downregulation of NF-κB signaling pathways, the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, and the inhibition of expression of Bax and caspase 3 proteins. The above results demonstrated that PL 1-3-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles possessed potential value in intervention of inflammation-based liver injury.

Nano-drug co-delivery system of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment: a review

Chemotherapy drugs have been used for a long time in the treatment of cancer, but serious side effects are caused by the inability of the drug to be solely delivered to the tumor when treating cancer with chemotherapy. Natural products have attracted more and more attention due to the antitumor effect in multiple ways, abundant resources and less side effects. Therefore, the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs may be an effective antitumor strategy, which can inhibit the growth of tumor and multidrug resistance, reduce side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Nano-drug co-delivery system (NDCDS) can play an important role in the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research status and application prospect of nano-delivery strategies for the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs, aiming to provide a basis for the development of anti-tumor drugs.

Resveratrol in breast cancer treatment: from cellular effects to molecular mechanisms of action

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers in females and is responsible for the highest cancer-related deaths following lung cancer. The complex tumor microenvironment and the aggressive behavior, heterogenous nature, high proliferation rate, and ability to resist treatment are the most well-known features of BC. Accordingly, it is critical to find an effective therapeutic agent to overcome these deleterious features of BC. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenol and can be found in common foods, such as pistachios, peanuts, bilberries, blueberries, and grapes. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for various diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and cancer. The anticancer mechanisms of RES in regard to breast cancer include the inhibition of cell proliferation, and reduction of cell viability, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, the synergistic effects of RES in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, such as docetaxel, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and/or doxorubicin may contribute to enhancing the anticancer properties of RES on BC cells. Although, it demonstrates promising therapeutic features, the low water solubility of RES limits its use, suggesting the use of delivery systems to improve its bioavailability. Several types of nano drug delivery systems have therefore been introduced as good candidates for RES delivery. Due to RES's promising potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for BC, this review aims to explore the anticancer mechanisms of RES using the most up to date research and addresses the effects of using nanomaterials as delivery systems to improve the anticancer properties of RES.

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals against cancer

Increasing evidence has been reported regarding phytochemicals, plant secondary metabolites, having therapeutic functions against numerous human diseases. Recently, phytochemicals (flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, coumarins and so on) have shown promising anti-cancer efficacy with their distinct advantages of high efficiency and low toxicity. They regulate programmed cell death (apoptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy), migration and senescence-related signaling pathways of cancer via the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1), nuclear factor κ light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB) pathways and glycolytic enzymes. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which phytochemicals prevent the development of cancer. Furthermore, phytochemicals combined with chemotherapeutic agents could target the crosstalk among multiple signal cascades to block chemoresistance and attenuate carcinogenic properties, and can be considered as a novel and potential therapeutic strategy. Our review highlights that the mechanisms and promising applications are required to be understood to decisively establish the anti-cancer efficacy of natural phytochemicals.

Laser-responsive multi-functional nanoparticles for efficient combinational chemo-photodynamic therapy against breast cancer

Herein, novel laser-responsive multi-functional nanoparticles (NPs-Lip@PTX/CyA/Ce6) were fabricated with bovine serum albumins (BSA) based nanoparticles, which simultaneously carried chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX) and P-gp inhibitor cyclosporin A (CyA), as core and photosensitizer agent Chlorin e6 (Ce6) loaded Tf-modified liposomal bilayer as shell. NPs-Lip@PTX/CyA/Ce6 exhibited apparent core-shell structure morphology with particle size of 160.9 ± 1.7 nm and zeta potential of - 26.7 ± 0.6 mV, indicating their excellent stability in aqueous solution. Besides, NPs-Lip@PTX/CyA/Ce6 possessed laser-responsive release profiles upon laser irradiation at specific wavelength, which was favor to exert efficient combinatorial chemo-photodynamic therapy and effectively reverse the multiple drug resistance (MDR). Under laser irradiation, as expected, NPs-Lip@PTX/CyA/Ce6 demonstrated superb intracellular ROS productivity and fantastic in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer therapy effect but absent of systemic toxicity. In conclusion, the nano-drug delivery system would be prospectively applied in clinic as resultful therapeutic tactic for investing compositional chemo-photodynamic therapy synergistically.

Multispectroscopic and synergistic antioxidant study on the combined binding of caffeic acid and (-)-epicatechin gallate to lysozyme

The binding of caffeic acid (CA) and/or (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) to lysozyme was investigated by multispectroscopic methods and molecular docking. The effects of the single and combined binding on the structure, activity and stability of lysozyme and the synergistic antioxidant activity of CA and ECG were also studied. Fluorescence quenching spectra, time-resolved fluorescence spectra, and UV-vis absorption difference spectra all ascertained the static quenching mechanism of lysozyme by CA/ECG. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that CA and ECG competitively bound to lysozyme, and CA had a stronger binding affinity, which was consistent with the results of molecular docking. Hydrogen bonding, van der Waals' force and electrostatic interaction were the main driving forces for the binding process. Synchronous fluorescence spectra displayed that the interaction of CA/ECG exposed the tryptophan residues of lysozyme to a more hydrophilic environment. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering indicated that the binding of CA and/or ECG to lysozyme resulted in the change of the secondary structure and increased the particle size of lysozyme. The binding of CA and/or ECG to lysozyme inhibited the enzyme activity and enhanced the thermal stability of lysozyme. The combined application of CA and ECG showed antioxidant synergy which was influenced by the encapsulation of lysozyme and cellular uptake. In summary, this work provides theoretical guidance for lysozyme as a carrier for the combined application of CA and ECG.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Albumin-Encapsulated Nanoparticles of a Curcumin Derivative COP-22 against Lipopolysaccharide/D-Galactosamine-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Acute liver injury (ALI) is a severe syndrome and can further develop into acute liver failure (ALF) which can lead to high mortality and cause irreversible liver injuries in the clinic. Liver transplantation is the most common treatment; however, liver donors are lacking, and the progression of ALF is rapid. Nanoparticles can increase the bioavailability and the targeted accumulation of drugs in the liver, so as to significantly improve the therapeutic effect of ALI. Curcumin derivative COP-22 exhibits low cytotoxicity and effective anti-inflammatory activity; however, it has poor water solubility. In this study, COP-22-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (22 NPs) were prepared and characterized. They exhibit effective hepatoprotective effects by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis on Lipopolysaccharide/D-Galactosamine-induced acute liver injury of mice. The anti-inflammatory activity of 22 NPs is related to the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathways; the antioxidant activity is related to the regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathways; and the apoptosis activity is related to mitochondrial pathways, involving Bcl-2 family and Caspase-3 protein. These three cellular pathways are interrelated and affected each other. Moreover, 22 NPs could be passively targeted to accumulate in the liver through the retention effect and are more easily absorbed than 22.HCl salt in the liver.

Bioactive compounds: Application of albumin nanocarriers as delivery systems

Enriched products with bioactive compounds (BCs) show the capacity to produce a wide range of possible health effects. Most BCs are essentially hydrophobic and sensitive to environmental factors; so, encapsulation becomes a strategy to solve these problems. Many globular proteins have the intrinsic ability to bind, protect, encapsulate, and introduce BCs into nutraceutical or pharmaceutical matrices. Among them, albumins as human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin (OVA) and α-lactalbumin (ALA) are widely abundant, available, and applied in many industrial sectors, becoming promissory materials to encapsulate BCs. Therefore, this review focuses on researches about the main groups of natural origin BCs (namely phenolic compounds, lipids, vitamins, and carotenoids), the different types of nanostructures based on albumins to encapsulate them and the main fields of application for BCs-loaded albumin systems. In this context, phenolic compounds (catechins, quercetin, and chrysin) are the most extensively BCs studied and encapsulated in albumin-based nanocarriers. Other extensively studied subgroups are stilbenes and curcuminoids. Regarding lipids and vitamins; terpenes, carotenoids (β-carotene), and xanthophylls (astaxanthin) are the most considered. The main application areas of BCs are related to their antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Finally, BSA is the most used albumin to produced BCs-loaded nanocarriers.

GSH-responsive poly-resveratrol based nanoparticles for effective drug delivery and reversing multidrug resistance

Cancer poses a serious threat to human health and is the most common cause of human death. Polymer-based nanomedicines are presently used to enhance the treatment effectiveness and decrease the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the disadvantage of currently polymeric carriers is without therapy procedure. Herein, for the first time, glutathione (GSH)-responsive polymer (PRES) with anti-cancer effect was synthesized following the condensation–polymerization method using resveratrol (RES) and 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid. PRES can not only suppress the tumor cells growth but can also self-assemble into nanoparticles (∼93 nm) for delivering antitumor drugs, such as paclitaxel (PTX@PRES NPs). The system could achieve high drug loading (∼7%) and overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). The results from the in vitro studies revealed that the NPs formed of PRES were stable in the systemic circulation, while could be efficiently degraded in tumor cells high GSH environment. Results from cytotoxicity tests confirmed that PTX@PRES NPs could effectively suppress the growth of cancer cells (A549) and drug-resistant cells (A549/PTX). The NPs could also be used to significantly increase the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs in A549/PTX tumor-bearing mice. In vivo investigations also demonstrated that the PRES-based NPs exhibited tumor inhibition effects. In summary, we report that the GSH-responsive polymer synthesized by us exhibited multiple interesting functions and could be used for effective drug delivery. The polymer exhibited good therapeutic effects and could be used to overcome MDR. Thus, the synthesized system can be used to develop a new strategy for treating cancer.

Anticancer nano-delivery systems based on bovine serum albumin nanoparticles: A critical review

Among the health-promotional protein-based vehicles, bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) are particularly interesting. Meeting requirements e. g., non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and high drug-binding capacity, has introduced BSA NPs as a promising candidate for efficient anti-cancer drug delivery and its application is now a rapidly-growing strategy to promote cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the leverage of such carriers requires an in-depth understanding of structural/physicochemical features of the BSA molecule and its derived nanovehicles, together with the utilized nano-formulation approaches, effective variables in delivery mechanism, specific shortfalls, and recent nanoencapsulation progresses. The current review highlights the novel advances in the application of BSA NPs to engineer drug vehicles for delivering anti-cancer agents. The factors influencing the efficiency of the therapeutics in such nano-delivery systems, alongside their advantaged and limitations are also discussed.

The effect of spacers in dual drug-polymer conjugates toward combination therapeutic efficacy

Recently, a great effort has been made to perfect the therapeutic effect of solid tumor, from single-agent therapy to combined therapy and many other polymer-drug conjugations with dual or more anticancer agents due to their promising synergistic effect and higher drug level accumulation towards tumor tissues. Different polymer-drug spacers present diverse therapeutic efficacy, therefore, finding an appropriate spacer is desirable. In this study, dual drugs that are doxorubicin (DOX) and mitomycin C (MMC) were conjugated onto a polymer carrier (xyloglucan) via various peptide or amide bonds, and a series of polymers drug conjugates were synthesized with different spacers and their effect on tumor treatment efficacy was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The result shows that the synergistic effect is better when using different linker to conjugate different drugs rather than using the same spacer to conjugate different drugs on the carrier. Particularly, the finding of this works suggested that, using peptide bond for MMC and amide bond for DOX to conjugate dual drugs onto single XG carrier could improve therapeutic effect and synergy effect. Therefore, in polymer-pharmaceutical formulations, the use of different spacers to optimize the design of existing drugs to enhance therapeutic effects is a promising strategy.

Fabrication and Characterization of Paclitaxel and Resveratrol Loaded Soluplus Polymeric Nanoparticles for Improved BBB Penetration for Glioma Management

Gliomas are one of the prominent cancers of the central nervous system with limited therapeutic modalities. The present investigation evaluated the synergistic effect of paclitaxel (PAX) and resveratrol (RESV)-loaded Soluplus polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) against glioma cell lines along with in vivo pharmacokinetics and brain distribution study. PAX-RESV-loaded PNPs were prepared by the thin film hydration technique and optimized for different dependent and independent variables by using DoE (Design-Expert) software. The in vitro physiochemical characterization of prepared PAX-RESV-loaded PNPs exhibited appropriate particle size, PDI and % encapsulation efficiency. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that PTX-RESV loaded PNPs had a synergistic antitumor efficacy against C6 glioma cells compared with single and combined pure drugs. Finally, the pharmacokinetic and brain distribution studies in mice demonstrated that the PNPs significantly enhanced the bioavailability of PTX-RESV PNPs than pure PAX and RESV. Thus, the study concluded that PAX-RESV PNPs combination could significantly enhance anti-glioma activity, and this could be developed into a potential glioma treatment strategy.

Nanocomplexes of curcumin and glycated bovine serum albumin: The formation mechanism and effect of glycation on their physicochemical properties

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and BSA-glucose conjugates (GBSAⅠ and GBSAⅠI) with different extent of glycation were complexed with curcumin (CUR). The formation mechanism of BSA/GBSA-CUR complexes and the effect of glycation on their physicochemical properties were investigated. Fluorescence quenching and FTIR analysis indicated that the BSA/GBSA-CUR nanocomplexes were formed mainly by hydrophobic interactions. XRD analysis demonstrated that CUR was present in an amorphous state in the nanocomplexes. BSA with a greater extent of glycation (BSA < GBSAⅠ<GBSAⅠI) displayed a higher binding affinity for CUR. The highest CUR encapsulation efficiency (86.77%) and loading capacity (7.81 mg/g) were obtained in the GBSAⅠI-CUR nanocomplex. The zeta-potential varied from -17.45 to -27.65 mV, depending on the extent of glycation. Furthermore, the physicochemical stability of BSA/GBSA-CUR nanocomplexes increased with the increasing extent of glycation of BSA. Thus, the obtained GBSAⅠI have the potential to become new delivery carriers for encapsulating hydrophobic food components.

Co-encapsulation of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and piceatannol/oxyresveratrol in β-lactoglobulin: effect of ligand-protein binding on the antioxidant activity, stability, solubility and cytotoxicity

The co-encapsulation of multiple bioactive components in a carrier may produce synergistic effects and improve health benefits. In this study, the interactions of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and/or piceatannol (PIC)/oxyresveratrol (OXY) were investigated by multispectroscopic techniques, isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular docking. The static quenching mechanism of β-LG by EGCG, PIC and OXY was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption difference spectroscopy. The binding sites of these three polyphenols in β-LG were identified by site marking fluorescence experiments and molecular docking. The thermodynamic parameters of the β-LG + EGCG/PIC/OXY binary complex and β-LG + EGCG + PIC/OXY ternary complex were obtained from fluorescence data and used to analyze the main driving force for complex formation. The exothermic binding process was further confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry. The α-helical content, particle size and morphology of free and ligand-bound β-LG were determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The effect of EGCG, PIC and OXY on the conformation of β-LG was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the maximum synergistic antioxidant activity between EGCG and PIC/OXY was obtained by response surface analysis. The effects of β-LG in the binary and ternary systems on the antioxidant activity, stability, solubility and cytotoxicity of the polyphenols were also studied. Finally, the different cytotoxicities of the complexes and nanoparticles of the binary and ternary systems were compared. The results of this study are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the development of β-LG-based carriers co-encapsulating a variety of bioactive components.

Nanoplatform-based natural products co-delivery system to surmount cancer multidrug-resistant

The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in malignant tumors is the primary reason for invalid chemotherapy. Antitumor drugs are often adversely affected by the MDR of tumor cells. Treatments using conventional drugs, which have specific drug targets, hardly regulate the complex signaling pathway of MDR cells because of the complex formation mechanism of MDR. However, natural products have positive advantages, such as high efficiency, low toxicity, and ability to target multiple mechanism pathways associated with MDR. Natural products, as MDR reversal agents, synergize with chemotherapeutics and enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics, and the co-delivery of natural products and antitumor drugs with nanocarriers maximizes the synergistic effects against MDR in tumor cells. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of MDR, the advantages of natural products combined with chemotherapeutics in offsetting complicated MDR mechanisms, and the types and mechanisms of natural products that are potential MDR reversal modulators. Meanwhile, aiming at the low bioavailability of cocktail combined natural products and chemotherapeutic in vivo, the advantages of nanoplatform-based co-delivery system and recent research developments are illustrated on the basis of our previous research. Finally, prospective horizons are analyzed, which are expected to considerably improve the nano-co-delivery of natural products and chemotherapeutic systems for MDR reversal in cancer.

Biomimetic camouflage delivery strategies for cancer therapy

Cancer remains a significant challenge despite the progress in developing different therapeutic approaches. Nanomedicine has been explored as a promising novel cancer therapy. Recently, biomimetic camouflage strategies have been investigated to change the bio-fate of therapeutics and target cancer cells while reducing the unwanted exposure on normal tissues. Endogenous components (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, and cell membranes) have been used to develop anticancer drug delivery systems. These biomimetic systems can overcome biological barriers and enhance tumor cell-specific uptake. The tumor-targeting mechanisms include ligand-receptor interactions and stimuli-responsive (e.g., pH-sensitive and light-sensitive) delivery. Drug delivery carriers composed of endogenous components represent a promising approach for improving cancer treatment efficacy. In this paper, different biomimetic drug delivery strategies for cancer treatment are reviewed with a focus on the discussion of their advantages and potential applications.

Evaluation of nanoparticle drug-delivery systems used in preclinical studies

Multifunctional nanoparticles have been identified as a promising drug-delivery system for sustainable drug release. The structural and size tunability and disease-targeting ability of nanoparticles have made them more suitable for multiple drug loading and delivery, thereby enhancing therapeutic results through synergistic effects. Nanoparticulate carriers with specific features such as target specificity and stimuli-responsiveness enable selective drug delivery with lower potential side effects. In this review we have classified the recently published articles on polymeric and inorganic nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery into three different categories based on functionality and discussed their efficiency for drug delivery and their therapeutic outcomes in preclinical models. Most of the drug-loaded nanodelivery systems discussed have demonstrated negligible or very low systemic toxicity throughout the experimental period in animal models compared with free drug administration. In addition, some challenges associated with the translation of nanoparticle-based drug carrier responses to clinical application are highlighted.

Recent Advances in Small Peptides of Marine Origin in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and antineoplastic drug research continues to be a major field in medicine development. The marine milieu has thousands of biological species that are a valuable source of novel functional proteins and peptides, which have been used in the treatment of many diseases, including cancer. In contrast with proteins and polypeptides, small peptides (with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da) have overwhelming advantages, such as preferential and fast absorption, which can decrease the burden on human gastrointestinal function. Besides, these peptides are only connected by a few peptide bonds, and their small molecular weight makes it easy to modify and synthesize them. Specifically, small peptides can deliver nutrients and drugs to cells and tissues in the body. These characteristics make them stand out in relation to targeted drug therapy. Nowadays, the anticancer mechanisms of the small marine peptides are still largely not well understood; however, several marine peptides have been applied in preclinical treatment. This paper highlights the anticancer linear and cyclic small peptides in marine resources and presents a review of peptides and the derivatives and their mechanisms.

Nanoparticles improved resveratrol brain delivery and its therapeutic efficacy against intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a neurological disorder resulting from the nontraumatic rupture of blood vessels in the brain. Ferroptosis is a newly identified form of programmed cell death, which is an important pathological feature of ICH injury. At present, the therapeutic efficacy of ICH treatment is far from satisfactory, so it is urgent to develop a safer and more effective method to treat ICH injury. Resveratrol (Res), a widely used nonflavonoid polyphenol compound, plays a neuroprotective role in many diseases. However, its poor oral bioavailability limits its clinical application in ICH. Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) are a commonly used drug delivery matrix material with good biocompatibility. To improve its bioavailability and accumulation in the brain, we used NPs to encapsulate Res. These spherical Res nanoparticles (Res-NPs) had a particle size of 297.57 ± 7.07 nm, a PDI of 0.23 ± 0.02 and a zeta potential of -5.45 ± 0.27 mV. They could be taken up by Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells through a variety of nonspecific endocytosis mechanisms, mainly mediated by clathrin and plasma membrane microcapsules. After entering the cell, Res-NPs tend to accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. In a zebrafish model, we observed that Res-NPs could transport across physiological barriers. In a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model, we found that Res-NPs had more desirable improvements in Res accumulation within the plasma and brain. Moreover, we demonstrated that Res-NPs were able to inhibit ferroptosis induced by erastin in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells, which are commonly used in in vitro studies to examine neuronal differentiation and neurotoxicity implicated in brain injuries or neurological diseases. Finally, in an ICH mouse model, we confirmed that Res-NPs are a safer and effective treatment for ICH injury. Collectively, Res-NPs are effective to improve Res brain delivery and its therapeutic efficacy in ICH treatment.

Progress in Natural Compounds/siRNA Co-delivery Employing Nanovehicles for Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapy using natural compounds, such as resveratrol, curcumin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, doxorubicin, and camptothecin, is of importance in cancer therapy because of the outstanding therapeutic activity and multitargeting capability of these compounds. However, poor solubility and bioavailability of natural compounds have limited their efficacy in cancer therapy. To circumvent this hurdle, nanocarriers have been designed to improve the antitumor activity of the aforementioned compounds. Nevertheless, cancer treatment is still a challenge, demanding novel strategies. It is well-known that a combination of natural products and gene therapy is advantageous over monotherapy. Delivery of multiple therapeutic agents/small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a potent gene-editing tool in cancer therapy can maximize the synergistic effects against tumor cells. In the present review, co-delivery of natural compounds/siRNA using nanovehicles are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.

Amphiphilic block polymer-based self-assembly of high payload nanoparticles for efficient combinatorial chemo-photodynamic therapy

Combinatorial chemo-photodynamic therapy is regared as effective cancer therapy strategy, which could be realized via multiple nano-drug delivery system. Herein, novel high payload nanoparticles stabilized by amphiphilic block polymer cholesterol-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)₂₀₀₀ (Chol-PEG₂₀₀₀) were fabricated for loading chemotherapeutic drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) and photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6). The obtained HCPT/Ce6 NPs showed uniform rod-like morphology with a hydration diameter of 178.9 ± 4.0 nm and excellent stability in aqueous solution. HCPT and Ce6 in the NPs displayed differential release profile, which was benefit for preferentially exerting the photodynamic effect and subsequently enhancing the sensitivity of the cells to HCPT. Under laser irradiation, the NPs demonstrated fantastic in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficiency due to combinational chemo-photodynamic therapy, enhanced cellular uptake effectiveness, and superb intracellular ROS productivity. Besides, the NPs were proved as absent of systemic toxicity. In summary, this nanoparticle delivery system could be hopefully utilized as effective cancer therapy strategy for synergistically exerting combined chemo-photodynamic therapy in clinic.