Microparticles and inflammatory joint disease

Cell membrane capsule: a novel natural tool for antitumour drug delivery

INTRODUCTION

Chemotherapy plays an important role in antitumour therapy, but causes serious adverse reactions. So, drug delivery system (DDS) with cell-targeting ability is an important method to reduce adverse reactions while ensuring the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Synthetic drug carriers and DDSs based on cells have proven safety and efficacy, but they also have many deficiencies or limitations. Cell membrane capsules (CMCs), which are based on extracellular vesicles (EVs), are a promising biomimetic DDS that retains some cell membrane channels and cytoplasmic functions, with escape macrophage phagocytosis.

AREAS COVERED

The EVs for constructing CMCs can be prepared by natural secretion, chemical-induced budding, nanofilter membrane extrusion and similar methods and are isolated and purified by a variety of methods such as centrifugation and liquid chromatography. CMCs can target the tumour cells either spontaneously or through targeting modifications using proteins or aptamers to actively target the tumour cells. CMCs can be directly wrapped with chemicals, photosensitizers, RNA, proteins and other ingredients, or they can be loaded with antitumour agent-loaded synthetic nanoparticles, which are delivered to the target cells to play a specific role.

EXPERT OPINION

This review describes the concept, function, characteristics, origins, and manufacturing methods of CMCs and their application in antitumour therapy.

Crosstalk of Nanosystems Induced Extracellular Vesicles as Promising Tools in Biomedical Applications

Hybrid vesicles are considered as a bridge between natural nanosystems (NNSs) and artificial nanosystems (ANSs). NNSs are extracellular vesicles (EVs), membranous, bio-formed endogenously, which act as endogenous cargoes, and reflecting cellular dynamics. EVs have cellular tropism, permeate tight junctions, and are non-immunogenic. EVs are used as tools in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. ANSs can induce biogenesis of hybrid vesicles as promising smart diagnostic agents, and innovative drug cargoes. EVs can encapsulate small molecules, macromolecules, and ANSs. The manipulation of EVs during biogenesis was suggested for engineering hybrid EVs. This review article highlights the role of ANSs in the biogenesis of NNSs, and introduces hybrid nanosystems research.

Erythrocyte nanovesicles: Biogenesis, biological roles and therapeutic approach: Erythrocyte nanovesicles

Nanovesicles (NVs) represent a novel transporter for cell signals to modify functions of target cells. Therefore, NVs play many roles in both physiological and pathological processes. This report highlights biogenesis, composition and biological roles of erythrocytes derived nanovesicles (EDNVs). Furthermore, we address utilization of EDNVs as novel drug delivery cargo as well as therapeutic target. EDNVs are lipid bilayer vesicles rich in phospholipids, proteins, lipid raft, and hemoglobin. In vivo EDNVs biogenesis is triggered by an increase of intracellular calcium levels, ATP depletion and under effect of oxidative stress conditions. However, in vitro production of EDNVs can be achieved via hypotonic treatment and extrusion of erythrocyte. NVs can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring of therapy and drug delivery system. Many therapeutic agents are suggested to decrease NVs biogenesis.

Proportions of several types of plasma and urine microparticles are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with active disease

We analysed the proportions of different microparticles (MPs) in plasma from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and assessed their relationship with disease activity/therapy and their in-vitro effect on proinflammatory cytokine release. Blood and urine samples were obtained from 55 patients with RA (24 untreated and 31 under conventional therapy) and 20 healthy subjects. Fourteen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were also studied. The proportions of CD3(+) , CD14(+) , CD19(+) , CD41(+) and CD62E(+) MPs were determined by flow cytometry analysis. The in-vitro effect of plasma MPs on the release of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-17 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was also analysed. We detected that the proportions of different types of annexin-V(+) MPs were enhanced in plasma (CD3(+) , CD14(+) , CD19(+) , CD41(+) and CD62E(+) MPs) and urine (CD14(+) , CD3(+) and CD19(+) MPs) from RA patients with high disease activity (DAS28 index > 5·1). Accordingly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of MPs and DAS28 score, and these levels diminished significantly at week 4 of immunosuppressive therapy. Finally, MPs isolated from patients with high disease activity induced, in vitro, an enhanced release of IL-1, IL-17 and TNF-α. In SLE, enhanced levels of different types of plasma MPs were also detected, with a tight correlation with disease activity. Our data further support that MPs have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of RA and suggest that the analysis of the proportions of these microvesicles in plasma could be useful to monitor disease activity and therapy response in patients with RA.