Mitoxantrone-loaded zeolite beta nanoparticles: Preparation, physico-chemical characterization and biological evaluation

Zeolites as Ingredients of Medicinal Products

Development of new medicinal products for particular therapeutic treatment or for better manipulations with better quality and less side effects are possible as a result of advanced inorganic and organic materials application, among which zeolites, due to their properties and versatility, have been gaining attention. This paper is an overview of the development in the use of zeolite materials and their composites and modifications as medicinal products for several purposes such as active agents, carriers, for topical treatments, oral formulations, anticancer, the composition of theragnostic systems, vaccines, parenteral dosage forms, tissue engineering, etc. The objective of this review is to explore the main properties of zeolites and associate them with their drug interaction, mainly addressing the advances and studies related to the use of zeolites for different types of treatments due to their zeolite characteristics such as molecule storage capacity, physical and chemical stability, cation exchange capacity, and possibility of functionalization. The use of computational tools to predict the drug-zeolite interaction is also explored. As conclusion was possible to realize the possibilities and versatility of zeolite applications as being able to act in several aspects of medicinal products.

Silica nanoparticle remodeling under mild conditions: versatile one step conversion of mesoporous to hollow nanoparticles with simultaneous payload loading

A binary mixture of mesoporous silica nanoparticles plus organic polyammonium additive (dye or drug) is cleanly converted upon mild heating into hollow nanoparticles. The remodeled nanoparticle shell is an organized nanoscale assembly of globular additive/silica subunits and cancer cell assays show that a loaded drug additive is bioavailable.

Surface functionalization of zeolite-based drug delivery systems enhances their antitumoral activity in vivo

Zeolites have attractive features making them suitable carriers for drug delivery systems (DDS). As such, we loaded the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), into two different zeolite structures, faujasite (NaY) and Linde Type L (LTL), to obtain different DDS. The prepared DDS were tested in vitro using breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and melanoma cell lines and in vivo using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane model (CAM). Both assays showed the best results for the Hs578T breast cancer cells, with a higher potentiation for 5-FU encapsulated in the zeolite LTL. To unveil the endocytic mechanisms involved in the internalization of the zeolite nanoparticles, endocytosis was inhibited pharmacologically in breast cancer and epithelial mammary human cells. The results suggest that a caveolin-mediated process was responsible for the internalized zeolite nanoparticles. Aiming to boost the DDS efficacy, the disc-shaped zeolite LTL outer surface was functionalized using amino (NH₂) or carboxylic acid (COOH) groups and coated with poly-l-lysine (PLL). Positively functionalized surface LTL nanoparticles revealed to be non-toxic to human cells and, importantly, their internalization was faster and led to a higher tumor reduction in vivo. Overall, our results provide further insights into the mechanisms of interaction between zeolite-based DDS and cancer cells, and pave the way for future studies aiming to improve DDS anticancer activity.

Ruthenium tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) complex encapsulated in nanosized faujasite zeolite as intracellular localization tracer

Designing zeolites for medical applications is a challenging task that requires introducing new functionalities without altering the intrinsic properties such as morphology, crystallinity, colloidal stability, surface charge, and porosity. Herein, we present the encapsulation of luminescent ruthenium-tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) complex in faujasite (FAU) zeolite nanocrystals (Ru(bpy)₃-FAU) and their use as an intracellular localization tracer. Upon exciting the Ru(bpy)₃-FAU zeolite at 450 nm, the sample gives rise to an orange-red emission at 628 nm, thus permitting its use for cellular imaging and localization of the zeolite nanoparticles. The nanosized Ru(bpy)₃-FAU zeolite is characterized in terms of size, charge, crystallinity, morphology, porosity, thermal stability, and sorption capacity. The potential toxicity of Ru(bpy)₃-FAU on U251-MG glioblastoma cells was evaluated. A safe concentration (50-100 µg/ml) for the Ru(bpy)₃-FAU zeolite is identified. The luminescent properties of the ruthenium complex confined in the zeolite nanocrystals allow their localization in the U251-MG cells with a main accumulation in the cytoplasm. The Ru(bpy)₃-FAU nanosized zeolite is a potential candidate for biological applications for being stable, safe, capable of loading respiratory gases, and easily probed in the cells owing to its luminescent properties.

Recent Treatment Advances and the Role of Nanotechnology, Combination Products, and Immunotherapy in Changing the Therapeutic Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia that is becoming more prevalent particularly in the older (65 years of age or older) population. For decades, "7 + 3" remission induction therapy with cytarabine and an anthracycline, followed by consolidation therapy, has been the standard of care treatment for AML. This stagnancy in AML treatment has resulted in less than ideal treatment outcomes for AML patients, especially for elderly patients and those with unfavourable profiles. Over the past two years, six new therapeutic agents have received regulatory approval, suggesting that a number of obstacles to treating AML have been addressed and the treatment landscape for AML is finally changing. This review outlines the challenges and obstacles in treating AML and highlights the advances in AML treatment made in recent years, including Vyxeos®, midostaurin, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, and venetoclax, with particular emphasis on combination treatment strategies. We also discuss the potential utility of new combination products such as one that we call "EnFlaM", which comprises an encapsulated nanoformulation of flavopiridol and mitoxantrone. Finally, we provide a review on the immunotherapeutic landscape of AML, discussing yet another angle through which novel treatments can be designed to further improve treatment outcomes for AML patients.

Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cell/Nanomedicine Spheroid as an Active Drug Delivery Platform for Combinational Glioblastoma Therapy

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been increasingly applied to cancer therapy because of its tumor-tropic capability. However, short retention at target tissue and limited payload option hinder the progress of MSC-based cancer therapy. Herein, we proposed a hybrid spheroid/nanomedicine system, comprising MSC spheroid entrapping drug-loaded nanocomposite, to address these limitations. Spheroid formulation enhanced MSC's tumor tropism and facilitated loading of different types of therapeutic payloads. This system acted as an active drug delivery platform seeking and specifically targeting glioblastoma cells. It enabled effective delivery of combinational protein and chemotherapeutic drugs by engineered MSC and nanocomposite, respectively. In an in vivo migration model, the hybrid spheroid showed higher nanocomposite retention in the tumor tissue compared with the single MSC approach, leading to enhanced tumor inhibition in a heterotopic glioblastoma murine model. Taken together, this system integrates the merits of cell- and nanoparticle- mediated drug delivery with the tumor-homing characteristics of MSC to advance targeted combinational cancer therapy.

Linde Type A and nano magnetite/NaA zeolites: cytotoxicity and doxorubicin loading efficiency

Different cation-exchanged (K+, Na+ & Ca2+) nano-zeolites withi magnetite nanocomposites were synthesized and their suitability for drug loading was studied. Nanocomposites with different Fe3O4 contents were synthesized by adding magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles to the zeolite crystallization solution. The zeolite and its nanocomposites had high surface areas and enough adsorption capacity to load and release sufficient amounts of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin. None or the zeolites or nanocomposites showed toxicity to SKBr3 or MCF-7 cancer cells. However, DOX@zeolite inhibits cell growth more than the non-encapsulated drug. Thus zeolites and their magnetite nanocomposites show potential as biocompatible medical devices.

Applications of zeolites in biotechnology and medicine – a review

Zeolites are microporous natural or synthetic tectosilicates, promising for organism detoxification, improvement of the nutrition status and immunity, separation of various biomolecules and cells, detection of biomarkers of various diseases, controlled drug and gene delivery, radical scavenging, haemostasis, tissue engineering and biomaterial coating.

Nanosized microporous crystals: emerging applications

This review highlights recent developments in the synthesis and unconventional applications of nanosized microporous crystals including framework (zeolites) and layered (clays) type materials. Owing to their microporous nature nanosized zeolites and clays exhibit novel properties, different from those of bulk materials. The factors controlling the formation of nanosized microporous crystals are first revised. The most promising approaches from the viewpoint of large-scale production of nanosized zeolites and clays are discussed in depth. The preparation and advanced applications of nanosized zeolites and clays in free (suspension and powder forms) and fixed (films) forms are summarized. Further the review emphasises the non-conventional applications of new porous materials. A comprehensive analysis of the emerging applications of microporous nanosized crystals in the field of semiconductor industry, optical materials, chemical sensors, medicine, cosmetics, and food industry is presented. Finally, the future needs and perspectives of nanosized microporous materials (zeolites and clays) are addressed.

Solid state NMR characterization of zeolite beta based drug formulations containing Ag and sulfadiazine

The paper presents an investigation of structural changes of zeolite carrier, drug–matrix interactions and localization of drug molecules within the zeolite framework in dual drug formulations with antibacterial properties.

Invitro study of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with adsorbed mitoxantrone (MTO) as a drug delivery system to treat breast cancer

Mitoxantrone 600 dpi in TIF format)??>(MTO) is a well-known anticancer drug. In order to improve its therapeutic effect, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied in vitro as a drug delivery system.

Controlled release of 5-fluorouracil from microporous zeolites

Zeolite particles with different pore diameter and particle size were loaded with the model anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. The loaded zeolites were characterized by means of SEM, XRD, DSC, XPS, N2 physisorption and FT-IR. Higher loading of 5-FU was observed for NaX-FAU than BEA. Release studies were carried out in HCl 0.1N. Release of 5-FU from NaX-FAU showed exponential-type behaviour with the drug fully released within 10 min. In the case of BEA, the kinetics of 5-FU shows a multi-step profile with prolonged release over time. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that diffusion of the drug molecule through the BEA framework is lower than for NaX-FAU due to increased van der Waals interaction between the drug and the framework. The effect of zeolitic particles on the viability of Caco-2 monolayers showed that the NaX-FAU particles cause a reduction of cell viability in a more pronounced way compared with the BEA particles.

FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR

This article describes zeolite-based nanoparticles in generating time-controlled release of 5-FU from zeolite preparations for anti-cancer therapy.

Effect of pullulan nanoparticle surface charges on HSA complexation and drug release behavior of HSA-bound nanoparticles

Nanoparticle (NP) compositions such as hydrophobicity and surface charge are vital to determine the presence and amount of human serum albumin (HSA) binding. The HSA binding influences drug release, biocompatibility, biodistribution, and intercellular trafficking of nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we prepared 2 kinds of nanomaterials to investigate HSA binding and evaluated drug release of HSA-bound NPs. Polysaccharides (pullulan) carboxyethylated to provide ionic derivatives were then conjugated to cholesterol groups to obtain cholesterol-modified carboxyethyl pullulan (CHCP). Cholesterol-modified pullulan (CHP) conjugate was synthesized with a similar degree of substitution of cholesterol moiety to CHCP. CHCP formed self-aggregated NPs in aqueous solution with a spherical structure and zeta potential of -19.9 ± 0.23 mV, in contrast to -1.21 ± 0.12 mV of CHP NPs. NPs could quench albumin fluorescence intensity with maximum emission intensity gradually decreasing up to a plateau at 9 to 12 h. Binding constants were 1.12 × 10(5) M(-1) and 0.70 × 10(5) M(-1) to CHP and CHCP, respectively, as determined by Stern-Volmer analysis. The complexation between HSA and NPs was a gradual process driven by hydrophobic force and inhibited by NP surface charge and shell-core structure. HSA conformation was altered by NPs with reduction of α-helical content, depending on interaction time and particle surface charges. These NPs could represent a sustained release carrier for mitoxantrone in vitro, and the bound HSA assisted in enhancing sustained drug release.