Coating with cationic inulin enhances the drug release profile and in vitro anticancer activity of lecithin-based nano drug delivery systems

A new strategy for enhancing S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) oral bioavailability: Preparation of SAMe loaded inulin nanoparticles for colon targeting with in vivo validation

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a crucial endogenous molecule in vital biochemical processes such as DNA, RNA, and protein methylation. It has been found beneficial in the treatment of liver disease, osteoarthritis, and particularly depression. However, SAMe's therapeutic potential is limited by low bioavailability due to poor permeability and extensive liver metabolism. This study sought to improve SAMe's bioavailability by encapsulating it in inulin nanoparticles, utilizing a colon-targeted delivery system. Inulin, a prebiotic that promotes gut health by encouraging beneficial gut bacteria, is an ideal carrier for colon-specific drug delivery. Inulin nanoparticles were prepared using the desolvation method, incorporating sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for ion pairing with SAMe. The nanoparticles were spray-coated onto microcrystalline cellulose inert microspheres in a fluidized bed with Eudragit L30D-55 for colon-targeted release (Nanoparticle-In-Microparticles, NIMs). Pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that encapsulating SAMe in inulin nanoparticles resulted in a significant three-fold increase in bioavailability compared to its pure form. This enhancement highlights the potential of inulin nanoparticles as an effective delivery system for SAMe, particularly in colon-targeted therapies.

Microfluidic Fabrication of Oleosin-Coated Liposomes as Anticancer Drug Carriers with Enhanced Sustained Drug Release

Microfluid-derived liposomes (M-Lipo) exhibit great potential as drug and functional substance carriers in pharmaceutical and food science. However, the low liposome membrane stability, attributed to the liquid core, limits their application range. Oleosin, a natural surfactant protein, can improve the stability of the lipid nanoparticle membrane against various environmental stresses, such as heat, drying, and pH change; in addition, it can enable sustained drug release. Here, we proposed the fabrication of oleosin-coated M-Lipo (OM-Lipo) through self-assembly on a microfluidic chip and the evaluation of its anticancer drug (carmustine) delivery efficiency. Nanoparticle characterization revealed that the oleosin coating slightly lowered the membrane potential of M-Lipo and greatly improved their dispersibility. Additionally, the in vitro drug release profile showed that the oleosin coating improved the sustained release of the hydrophobic drug from the phospholipid bilayer in body temperature. Our results suggest that OM-Lipo has sufficient potential in various fields, based on its easy production, excellent stability, and biocompatibility.

Curcumin and nanodelivery systems: New directions for targeted therapy and diagnosis of breast cancer

As the global incidence of breast cancer continues to surge, the pursuit of novel, low-toxicity, and highly efficacious therapeutic strategies has emerged as a pivotal research focus. Curcumin (CUR), an active constituent of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) renowned for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties, exhibits immense potential in breast cancer therapy. Nevertheless, CUR's poor water solubility, chemical instability, and unfavorable pharmacokinetics have impeded its clinical utilization. To address these challenges, nano-delivery systems have been extensively exploited for CUR administration, enhancing its in vivo stability and bioavailability, and facilitating precise targeting of breast cancer lesions. Therefore, we elaborate on CUR's chemical foundations, drug metabolism, and safety profile, and elucidate its potential mechanisms in breast cancer therapy, encompassing inducing apoptosis and autophagy, blocking cell cycle, inhibiting breast cancer metastasis, regulating tumor microenvironment and reversing chemotherapy resistance. The review primarily emphasizes recent advancements in CUR-based nano-delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer. Liposomes, nanoparticles (encompassing polymer nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, mesoporous silica particles, metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, graphene nanomaterials, albumin nanoparticles, etc.), nanogels, and nanomicelles can serve as delivery carriers for CUR, exhibiting promising anti-breast cancer effects in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Furthermore, nano-CUR can be integrated with fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography imaging, ultrasound, and other techniques to achieve precise localization and diagnosis of breast cancer masses. While this article has summarized the clinical studies of nano-curcumin, it is noteworthy that the research literature on nano-CUR applied to breast cancer diagnosis and the translation of nano-CUR clinical studies in BC patients remain limited. Therefore, future research should intensify exploration in this direction.

Dual-modified starch micelles as nanocarriers for efficient encapsulation and controlled release of walnut-derived active peptides

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic modified nanomicelles might be more conducive to passage of the gastrointestinal barrier than walnut peptide (WP). In this study, a novel double modified starch polymer, SB-CST-DCA, was synthesized by grafting sulfabetaine (SB) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) onto corn starch (CST) molecules through etherification and esterification. The modification mechanism was discussed to determine its chemical structure, morphological properties, and thermal stability. Peptide-loaded nanomicelles (SB-CST-DCA-WP) were prepared using WP as the core material. The encapsulation efficiency and peptide loading amount reached 76.90 ± 1.52% and 18.27 ± 0.53%, respectively, with good stability and pH-responsive release behavior observed to effectively control WP release and enhance its antioxidant activity. The composite exhibited safety, non-toxicity, and good blood compatibility at concentrations below 125 μg/mL. Duodenum was identified as the main absorption site with an absorption ratio of 41.16 ± 0.36%.

Engineered inulin-based hybrid biomaterials for augmented immunomodulatory responses

Modified biopolymers that are based on prebiotics have been found to significantly contribute to immunomodulatory events. In recent years, there has been a growing use of modified biomaterials and polymer-functionalized nanomaterials in the treatment of various tumors by activating immune cells. However, the effectiveness of immune cells against tumors is hindered by several biological barriers, which highlights the importance of harnessing prebiotic-based biopolymers to enhance host defenses against cancer, thus advancing cancer prevention strategies. Inulin, in particular, plays a crucial role in activating immune cells and promoting the secretion of cytokines. Therefore, this mini-review aims to emphasize the importance of inulin in immunomodulatory responses, the development of inulin-based hybrid biopolymers, and the role of inulin in enhancing immunity and modifying cell surfaces. Furthermore, we discuss the various approaches of chemical modification for inulin and their potential use in cancer treatment, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

Inulin-based formulations as an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer: A comprehensive review

Cancer stands as the second leading cause of death in the United States (US). Most chemotherapeutic agents exhibit severe adverse effects that are attributed to exposure of drugs to off-target tissues, posing a significant challenge in cancer therapy management. In recent years, inulin, a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber has gained substantial attention for its potential in cancer treatment owing to its multitudinous health values. Its distinctive structure, stability, and nutritional properties position it as an effective adjuvant and carrier for drug delivery in cancer therapy. To address some of the above unmet clinical issues, this review summarizes the recent efforts towards the development of inulin-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites for healthcare applications with special emphasis on the multifunctional role of inulin in cancer therapy as a synergist, signaling molecule, immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic molecule. Furthermore, the review provides a concise overview of ongoing clinical trials and observational studies associated with inulin-based therapy. In conclusion, the current review offers insights on the significant role of inulin interventions in exploring its potential as a therapeutic agent to treat cancer.

Inulin: Unveiling its potential as a multifaceted biopolymer in prebiotics, drug delivery, and therapeutics

In recent years, inulin has gained much attention as a promising multifunctional natural biopolymer with numerous applications in drug delivery, prebiotics, and therapeutics. It reveals a multifaceted biopolymer with transformative implications by elucidating the intricate interplay between inulin and the host, microbiome, and therapeutic agents. Their flexible structure, exceptional targetability, biocompatibility, inherent ability to control release behavior, tunable degradation kinetics, and protective ability make them outstanding carriers in healthcare and biomedicine. USFDA has approved Inulin as a nutritional dietary supplement for infants. The possible applications of inulin in biomedicine research inspired by nature are presented. The therapeutic potential of inulin goes beyond its role in prebiotics and drug delivery. Recently, significant research efforts have been made towards inulin's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties for their potential applications in treating various chronic diseases. Moreover, its ability to reduce inflammation and modulate immune responses opens new avenues for treating conditions such as autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal ailments. This review will attempt to illustrate the inulin's numerous and interconnected roles, shedding light on its critical contributions to the advancement of healthcare and biomedicine and its recent advancement in therapeutics, and conclude by taking valuable insights into the prospects and opportunities of inulin.

Regulating Phase Distribution of Dion-Jacobson Perovskite Colloidal Multiple Quantum Wells Toward Highly Stable Deep-Blue Emission

Metal halide perovskite colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) hold great promise for modern photonics and optoelectronics. However, current studies focus on Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) phase perovskite CQWs that contain bilayers of monovalent long-chain alkylamomoniums between the separated perovskite octahedra layers. The bilayers are packed back-to-back via weak van der Waals interaction, resulting in inferior charge carrier transport and easier decomposition of perovskite. This report first creates a new type of perovskite colloidal multiple QWs (CMQWs) in the form of Dion-Jacobson (D-J) structure by introducing an asymmetric diammonium cation. Furthermore, the phase distribution is optimized by the synergistic effect of valeric acid and zwitterionic lecithin, finally achieving pure deep-blue emission at 435 nm with narrow full width at half maximum. The diammonium layer in D-J perovskite CMQWs features extremely short width of only ≈0.6 nm, thereby contributing to more effective charge carrier transport and higher stability. Through the continuous photoluminescence (PL) measurement and corresponding theoretical calculation, the higher stability of D-J perovskite CMQWs than that of R-P structural CMQWs is confirmed. This work reveals the inherent superior stability of D-J structural CMQWs, which opens a new direction for fabricating stable perovskite optoelectronics.

Optimization of PLGA-DSPE hybrid nano-micelles with enhanced hydrophobic capacity for curcumin delivery

Poly (D, L Lactic-co-Glycolic acid) (PLGA) is an FDA-approved polymer. It is distinguished from other biocompatible polymers by its feasibility of production and safety for intravenous cancer tumor targeting. Curcumin (CUR) is a natural molecule with versatile bioactivities including inhibiting the nuclear Factor kappa B (Nf-kB) levels in cancer cells, increased by chemotherapy agents. Our group previously reported a successful decrease in the p65 (RelA) subunit of Nf-kB using 125 µg/ml CUR loaded into PLGA nano-micelles. However, this amount was insufficient to reduce all Nf-kB subunits. This study aimed to increase the hydrophobic capacity of PLGA toward CUR using 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), an FDA-approved phospholipid. PLGA-DSPE hybrid nano-micelles (HNM) were prepared using two different methods, oil-in-water (OiWa) and film preparation-rehydration (FiRe). The encapsulated CUR was successfully increased to 250 µg/ml using the FiRe method. Physicochemical characterization of CUR-loaded HNM was performed using DLS FT-IR, DSC, and HPLC. In HNM with a size of 156.6 nm, DSPE, incorporated with all functional groups of PLGA, and CUR was trapped in the core of this structure. The release profile of CUR was suitable for targeted cancer therapy and the Encapsulation Efficacy was 92%.