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Pinho JO, Matias M, Godinho-Santos A, Amaral JD, Mendes E, Jesus Perry M, Paula Francisco A, Rodrigues CMP, Manuela Gaspar M. A step forward on the in vitro and in vivo assessment of a novel nanomedicine against melanoma. Int J Pharm 2023; 640:123011. [PMID: 37146952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with increasing incidence and mortality rates. To overcome current treatment limitations, a hybrid molecule (HM) combining a triazene and a ʟ-tyrosine analogue, was recently synthesized, incorporated in long blood circulating liposomes (LIP HM) and validated in an immunocompetent melanoma model. The present work constitutes a step forward in the therapeutic assessment of HM formulations. Here, human melanoma cells, A375 and MNT-1, were used and dacarbazine (DTIC), a triazene drug clinically available as first-line treatment for melanoma, constituted the positive control. In cell cycle analysis, A375 cells, after 24-h incubation with HM (60 μM) and DTIC (70 μM), resulted in a 1.2 fold increase (related to control) in the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. The therapeutic activity was evaluated in a human murine melanoma model (subcutaneously injected with A375 cells) to most closely resemble the human pathology. Animals treated with LIP HM exhibited the highest antimelanoma effect resulting in a 6-, 5- and 4-fold reduction on tumor volume compared to negative control, Free HM and DTIC groups, respectively. No toxic side effects were detected. Overall, these results constitute another step forward in the validation of the antimelanoma activity of LIP HM, using a murine model that more accurately simulates the pathology that occurs in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Mariana Matias
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Ana Godinho-Santos
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana D Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Mendes
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria Jesus Perry
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana Paula Francisco
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Lopes J, Ferreira-Gonçalves T, Ascensão L, Viana AS, Carvalho L, Catarino J, Faísca P, Oliva A, de Barros DPC, Rodrigues CMP, Gaspar MM, Reis CP. Safety of Gold Nanoparticles: From In Vitro to In Vivo Testing Array Checklist. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041120. [PMID: 37111608 PMCID: PMC10141475 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have aroused the interest of many researchers due to their unique physicochemical and optical properties. AuNPs are being explored in a variety of biomedical fields, either in diagnostics or therapy, particularly for localized thermal ablation of cancer cells after light irradiation. Besides the promising therapeutic potential of AuNPs, their safety constitutes a highly important issue for any medicine or medical device. For this reason, in the present work, the production and characterization of physicochemical properties and morphology of AuNPs coated with two different materials (hyaluronic and oleic acids (HAOA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)) were firstly performed. Based on the above importantly referred issue, the in vitro safety of developed AuNPs was evaluated in healthy keratinocytes, human melanoma, breast, pancreatic and glioblastoma cancer cells, as well as in a three-dimensional human skin model. Ex vivo and in vivo biosafety assays using, respectively, human red blood cells and Artemia salina were also carried out. HAOA-AuNPs were selected for in vivo acute toxicity and biodistribution studies in healthy Balb/c mice. Histopathological analysis showed no significant signs of toxicity for the tested formulations. Overall, several techniques were developed in order to characterize the AuNPs and evaluate their safety. All these results support their use for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lopes
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lina Carvalho
- Central Testing Laboratory, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - José Catarino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6 2780, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Abel Oliva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Dragana P. C. de Barros
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Advancing Medicine with Lipid-Based Nanosystems-The Successful Case of Liposomes. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020435. [PMID: 36830971 PMCID: PMC9953160 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine, a promising area of medicine, employs nanosized tools for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease. Particularly, liposomes, lipid-based nanovesicles, are currently one of the most successful nanosystems, with extensive applications in the clinic and an increasing pipeline of products in preclinical and clinical development. These versatile nanotechnological tools are biocompatible and biodegradable, and can load a variety of molecules and, ultimately, improve the therapeutic performance of drugs while minimizing undesired side effects. In this review, we provide a brief description on liposomes' composition and classification and mainly focus on their clinical use in various areas, including disease management (e.g., cancer, fungal and bacterial infections, ocular pathologies), analgesia, vaccination, diagnostics, and immunosuppression in organ transplantation. Herein are described examples of current liposomal products already in the clinic, as well as the most recent clinical trials involving liposomes as effective and safe nanomedicine tools.
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Melanoma Management: From Epidemiology to Treatment and Latest Advances. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194652. [PMID: 36230575 PMCID: PMC9562203 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Melanoma is a major public health issue that claims the lives of thousands of people every year. Furthermore, the outlook for the coming years is not encouraging with increasing morbidity and mortality trends. This review aims to offer an updated overview of various aspects related to cutaneous melanoma, from epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, prevention, diagnosis and staging. Moreover, conventional treatments currently available as well as the latest advances in clinical trials regarding new drugs and/or combinations, including nanotechnology-based strategies are also reviewed. Abstract Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, whose morbidity and mortality indicators show an increasing trend worldwide. In addition to its great heterogeneity, melanoma has a high metastatic potential, resulting in very limited response to therapies currently available, which were restricted to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for many years. Advances in knowledge about the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease have allowed the development of new therapeutic classes, such as immune checkpoint and small molecule kinase inhibitors. However, despite the incontestable progress in the quality of life and survival rates of the patients, effectiveness is still far from desired. Some adverse side effects and resistance mechanisms are the main barriers. Thus, the search for better options has resulted in many clinical trials that are now investigating new drugs and/or combinations. The low water solubility of drugs, low stability and rapid metabolism limit the clinical potential and therapeutic use of some compounds. Thus, the research of nanotechnology-based strategies is being explored as the basis for the broad application of different types of nanosystems in the treatment of melanoma. Future development focus on challenges understanding the mechanisms that make these nanosystems more effective.
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How to Treat Melanoma? The Current Status of Innovative Nanotechnological Strategies and the Role of Minimally Invasive Approaches like PTT and PDT. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091817. [PMID: 36145569 PMCID: PMC9504126 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer, the incidence and mortality of which are increasing worldwide. Its extensive degree of heterogeneity has limited its response to existing therapies. For many years the therapeutic strategies were limited to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Fortunately, advances in knowledge have allowed the development of new therapeutic strategies. Despite the undoubted progress, alternative therapies are still under research. In this context, nanotechnology is also positioned as a strong and promising tool to develop nanosystems that act as drug carriers and/or light absorbents to potentially improve photothermal and photodynamic therapies outcomes. This review describes the latest advances in nanotechnology field in the treatment of melanoma from 2011 to 2022. The challenges in the translation of nanotechnology-based therapies to clinical applications are also discussed. To sum up, great progress has been made in the field of nanotechnology-based therapies, and our understanding in this field has greatly improved. Although few therapies based on nanoparticulate systems have advanced to clinical trials, it is expected that a large number will come into clinical use in the near future. With its high sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexed measurement capacity, it provides great opportunities to improve melanoma treatment, which will ultimately lead to enhanced patient survival rates.
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