Increasing the affinity of cationized polyacrylamide-paclitaxel nanoparticles towards colon cancer cells by a surface recognition peptide

Nanocarriers for Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine (AIFCM) Used in Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy

Active ingredients of Chinese medicine (AIFCM) are pharmacological substances taken from traditional Chinese medicine that show promise in treating gastrointestinal cancer. Compared with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, AIFCM have advantages such as multi-target and multi-level treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Nanocarriers have the following advantages, better bioavailability, passive or active targeting of tumor sites and responsive release of drugs. The use of nanocarriers for delivery of AIFCM in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, can overcome the disadvantages of some AIFCM, such as insolubility and low bioavailability. In this review, we first outline the background on gastrointestinal cancer, main curative factors and conventional therapeutic approaches. Then, the mechanisms for AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer therapy are presented in the following four aspects: gene regulation, immune modulation, cellular pathway transduction, and alteration of intestinal flora. Thirdly, preparation of various nanocarriers and results when combining AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer are presented. Fourth, application of novel targeted nanocarriers and responsive nanocarriers in gastrointestinal tumors is further introduced. Finally, the application of AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer is summarized and prospected, hoping to shed some light on the nanocarrier-bound AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

Tennis Rehabilitation Training-Assisted Paclitaxel Nanoparticles in Treatment of Lung Tumor

Paclitaxel nanoparticles are a compound with unique anticancer effects. Its mechanism of action is to prevent tumor rupture by stabilizing tumor proteins, while preventing cell division, leading to cell death, thereby inhibiting the spread of lung tumors. This article aims to study the treatment of lung tumors with paclitaxel nanoparticles assisted by tennis rehabilitation training. In this paper, paclitaxel nanoparticles were prepared by a solvent displacement method, and their particle size and morphology were measured. The TA2 series of experimental rats were selected to establish animal lung tumor models, and they were randomly divided into 5 groups: local injection of saline, porphyrin, and low-, medium-, and high-dose paclitaxel nanoparticles for treatment. The experimental results in this paper show that the average particle size of the paclitaxel nanoparticles prepared in the experiment is about 153,54 nm. Each treatment group inhibited tumor development to varying degrees. Among them, the inhibitory volume rate of paclitaxel nanoparticles in the middle- and high-dose groups was significantly higher than that in the paclitaxel treatment group, indicating that paclitaxel nanoparticles can release drugs slowly.

Synthesis, Colloidal Characterization and Targetability of Phenylboronic Acid Functionalized α-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate in Cancer Cells

This study reports targetable micelles developed after covalent functionalization of α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) with amino phenylboronic acid (APBA). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic results showed successful attachment of APBA to the hydrophilic segment of TPGS. Dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering studies revealed that the conjugate self-assembled in water to produce spherical core-shell micelles (14–20 nm) which remained stable against temperature (ca. 25–45 °C) and pH changes. The micelles could solubilize a high payload of paclitaxel (PLX) without exhibiting changes in the average size. However, at the saturation solubility, drug molecules migrated from the core to the shell region and engaged with APBA groups via π–π stacking interaction. Confocal microscopy and cell sorting analyses verified the effective translocation ability of TPGS-APBA micelles in sialic acid (SA) expressing MDA-MB-453 cells. At equivalent PLX dose, TPGS-APBA micelles showed about a twofold improvement in apoptotic death among the cells exposed for 2 h. Our findings indicate that the attachment of APBA can be a potential strategy for improving the intra-cellular localization of carriers among cancer cells expressing SA residues.

Anti‑proliferative effect of honokiol on SW620 cells through upregulating BMP7 expression via the TGF‑β1/p53 signaling pathway

Honokiol (HNK), a natural pharmaceutically active component extracted from magnolia bark, has been used for clinical treatments and has anti‑inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidative effects. In recent years, anticancer research has become a major hotspot. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of how HNK inhibits colorectal cancer have remained elusive. The present study focused on elucidating the effects of HNK on the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)7 and its downstream interaction with transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1 and p53 in colon cancer. In in vitro assays, cell viability, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined using Cell Counting Kit‑8, flow cytometry and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, respectively. In addition, the expression of BMP7, TGF‑β1 and relevant signaling proteins was determined by western blot analysis. In vivo, the anticancer effect of HNK was assessed in xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the association between BMP7 and TGF‑β1 expression in colon cancer. The results indicated that HNK inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cell lines, with SW620 cells being more sensitive than other colon cancer cell lines. Furthermore, HNK markedly promoted the expression of BMP7 at the mRNA and protein level. Exogenous BMP7 potentiated the effect of HNK on SW620 cells, while knocking down BMP7 inhibited it. As a downstream mechanism, HNK increased the expression of TGF‑β1 and p53, which was enhanced by exogenous BMP7 in SW620 cells. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis indicated a positive association between BMP7 and TGF‑β1 expression. Hence, the present results suggested that HNK is a promising agent for the treatment of colon cancer and enhanced the expression TGF‑β1 and p53 through stimulating BMP7 activity via the non‑canonical TGF‑β signaling pathway.

Derivatization approaches and applications of pullulan

Pullulan (PUL), a linear exo-polysaccharide, is useful in industries as diverse as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. PUL presents many favorable characteristics, such as renewable origin, biocompatibility, stability, hydrophilic nature, and availability of reactive sites for chemical modification. With an inherent affinity to asialoglycoprotein receptors, PUL can be used for targeted drug delivery to the liver. Besides, these primary properties have been combined with modern synthetic approaches for developing multifunctional biomaterials. This is evident from numerous studies on approaches, such as hydrophobic modification, cross-linking, grafting and transformation as a polyelectrolyte. In this review, we have discussed up-to-date advances on chemical modifications and emerging applications of PUL in targeted theranostics and tissue engineering. Besides, we offer an overview of its applications in food, cosmetics and environment remediation.

Molecular interaction between bi-antennary phenylboronic acid and sialic acid using density functional theory and multi-time scale trajectories

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Ratiometric co-encapsulation and co-delivery of doxorubicin and paclitaxel by tumor-targeted lipodisks for combination therapy of breast cancer

Combination therapy is a promising treatment for certain advanced drug-resistant cancers. Although effective inhibition of various tumor cells was reported in vitro, combination treatment requires improvement in vivo due to uncontrolled ratiometric delivery. In this study, a tumor-targeting lipodisk nanoparticle formulation was developed for ratiometric loading and the transportation of two hydrophobic model drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX), in one single platform. Furthermore, a slightly acidic pH-sensitive peptide (SAPSP) incorporated into lipodisks effectively enhanced the tumor-targeting and cell internalization. The obtained co-loaded lipodisks were approximately 30 nm with a pH-sensitive property. The ratiometric co-delivery of two drugs via lipodisks was confirmed in both the drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR cell line and its parental MCF-7 cell line in vitro, as well as in a tumor-bearing mouse model in vivo compared with a cocktail solution of free drugs. Co-loaded lipodisks exerted improved cytotoxicity to tumor cells in culture, particularly to drug-resistant tumor cells at synergistic drug ratios. In an in vivo xenograft mouse model, the anti-tumor ability of co-loaded lipodisks was evidenced by the remarkable inhibitory effect on tumor growth of either MCF-7 or MCF-7/ADR tumors, which may be attributed to the increased and ratiometric accumulation of both drugs in the tumor tissues. Therefore, tumor-specific lipodisks were crucial for the combination treatment of DOX and PTX to completely exert a synergistic anti-cancer effect. It is concluded that for co-loaded lipodisks, cytotoxicity data in vitro could be used to predict their inhibitory activity in vivo, potentially enhancing the clinical outcome of synergistic therapy.

Paclitaxel Encapsulation into Dual-Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This work reports the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from xylene/ferrocene using catalytic chemical vapor deposition technique. Following characterization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy, CNT surface was dual-functionalized using ethylenediamine and phenylboronic acid groups. Average diameter of CNTs was calculated to be 16.5 nm. EDX spectra confirmed the existence of carbonaceous deposits on the tube's surface. Scattered electron diffraction and X-ray peak broadening calculations showed consistent inter-planer distance of the grown CNTs. Chemical functionalization, confirmed from FT-IR and Raman spectra, showed an enhanced dispersibility of CNTs in water. We describe the changes in the first- and second-order regions of the Raman spectra following the encapsulation of an anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel (PLX), into the free volume of functionalized CNTs. High PLX loading, achieved through its non-covalent π-π stacking within the CNT interior, is confirmed through the blue-shifted, softened G band in the Raman spectrum. While not addressed here, we will exploit this dual functionalization tactic to elaborate the relative role of attached moieties in the affinity interaction of CNTs with extra-cellular sialic acid, a biological target showing metastatic stage-dependent over-expression in colon cancer cells.

Polysaccharide Based Scaffolds for Soft Tissue Engineering Applications

Soft tissue reconstructs require materials that form three-dimensional (3-D) structures supportive to cell proliferation and regenerative processes. Polysaccharides, due to their hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, abundance, and presence of derivatizable functional groups, are distinctive scaffold materials. Superior mechanical properties, physiological signaling, and tunable tissue response have been achieved through chemical modification of polysaccharides. Moreover, an appropriate formulation strategy enables spatial placement of the scaffold to a targeted site. With the advent of newer technologies, these preparations can be tailor-made for responding to alterations in temperature, pH, or other physiological stimuli. In this review, we discuss the developmental and biological aspects of scaffolds prepared from four polysaccharides, viz. alginic acid (ALG), chitosan (CHI), hyaluronic acid (HA), and dextran (DEX). Clinical studies on these scaffolds are also discussed.

l-Peptide functionalized dual-responsive nanoparticles for controlled paclitaxel release and enhanced apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Nanoparticles and macromolecular carriers have been widely used to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutics, largely through passive accumulation provided by their enhanced permeability and retention effect. However, the therapeutic efficacy of nanoscale anticancer drug delivery systems is severely truncated by their low tumor-targetability and inefficient drug release at the target site. Here, the design and development of novel l-peptide functionalized dual-responsive nanoparticles (l-CS-g-PNIPAM-PTX) for active targeting and effective treatment of GRP78-overexpressing human breast cancer in vitro and in vivo are reported. l-CS-g-PNIPAM-PTX NPs have a relative high drug loading (13.5%) and excellent encapsulation efficiency (74.3%) and an average diameter of 275 nm. The release of PTX is slow at pH 7.4 and 25 °C but greatly accelerated at pH 5.0 and 37 °C. MTT assays and confocal experiments showed that the l-CS-g-PNIPAM-PTX NPs possessed high targetability and antitumor activity toward GRP78 overexpressing MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. As expected, l-CS-g-PNIPAM-PTX NPs could effectively treat mice bearing MDA-MB-231 human breast tumor xenografts with little side effects, resulting in complete inhibition of tumor growth and a high survival rate over an experimental period of 60 days. These results indicate that l-peptide-functionalized acid - and thermally activated - PTX prodrug NPs have a great potential for targeted chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Study on Biological Characteristics and Mechanism of Paclitaxel Induced Drug Resistance in Endometrial Carcinoma Cells

Objective

To study the biological characteristics of paclitaxel resistant endometrial carcinoma cells and its mechanism of drug resistance.

Method

The paclitaxel resistant cell lines were established by high-dose paclitaxel (TAX) injection. The IC50 of paclitaxel was determined by CCK-8 assay in Ishikawa and Ishikawa-TAX. The cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of p-AKT and p-p70S6K. The expression of drug resistance-related genes Pgp and MDR1 was determined by RT-PCR. Cell viability was determined by soft agarose assay and invasive ability in vitro by transwell assay.

Results

Paclitaxel and NVP-BEZ235 cotreatment group can further inhibit the clonogenicity and invasion of Ishikawa and Ishikawa-TAX cells compared with paclitaxel alone and NVP-BEZ235 treatment group. Paclitaxel and NVP-BEZ235 cotreated groups increased the apoptosis rate of Ishikawa and increased G0/G1 phase arrest in both cells. Paclitaxel alone significantly inhibited p-AK and p-p70 S6K protein expression in Ishikawa and Ishikawa-TAX cells and the inhibition was enhanced by NVP-BEZ235 when cotreated with paclitaxel.

Conclusion

Paclitaxel can inhibit Ishikawa and Ishikawa-TAX cell via PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Paclitaxel and NVP-BEZ235 cotreatment can enhance the inhibitory effect.

Cancer-targeted delivery systems based on peptides

There is a growing interest for the discovery of new cancer-targeted delivery systems for drug delivery and diagnosis. A synopsis of the bibliographic data will be presented on bombesin, neurotensin, octreotide, Arg-Gly-Asp, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and other peptides. Many of them have reached the clinics for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, and have been utilized as carriers of known cytotoxic agents such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, methotrexate or dyes and radioisotopes. In our article, recent advances in the development of peptides as carriers of cytotoxic drugs or radiometals will be analyzed.

Density functional theory based probe of the affinity interaction of saccharide ligands with extra-cellular sialic acid residues

Changes in glycosylation pattern leads to malignant transformations among the cells. In combination with upregulated actions of sialyltransferases, it ultimately leads to differential expression of sialic acid (SA) at cell surface. Given its negative charge and localization to extracellular domain, SA has been exploited for the development of targeted theranostics using approaches, such as, cationization and appending recognition saccharides on carrier surface. In this study, we have performed quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to study the interaction of saccharides with extracellular SA. Gradient-corrected DFT with the three parameter function (B3) was utilized for the calculation of Lee-Yang-Parr (LYP) correlation function. Atomic charge, vibrational frequencies and energy of the optimized structures were calculated through B3LYP. Our calculations demonstrate a stronger galactose-sialic acid interaction at tumour-relevant low pH and hyperthermic condition. These results support the application of pH responsive delivery vehicles and targeted hyperthermic chemotherapy for eradicating solid tumour deposits. These studies, conducted a priori, can guide the formulation scientists over appropriate choice of ligands and their applications in the design of 'smart' theranostic tools.