Deoxycholate-TPGS mixed nanomicelles for encapsulation of methotrexate with enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines

Development and evaluation of methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion formulation for topical treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is becoming widespread and is associated with many kinds of additional severe diseases. The present study aimed to develop a methotrexate-loaded almond oil-based nanoemulsion formulation (MTX NE) for topical administration. The drug-loaded nanoemulsion formulation was prepared by high shear homogenization technique. The formulation's stability, as well as other physical and chemical characteristics, including entrapment effectiveness, drug release kinetics, skin permeability, skin irritation, and in vivo evaluation of the optimized formulation, was assessed. Additionally, imiquimod-induced psoriasis in rats was employed to investigate the efficacy of MTX NE against skin disorders. The MTX NE formulation was developed with a particle size of 18.74 ± 9.748 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.198 ± 0.01, and an average entrapment efficiency of 79.65 ± 3.84%. The release kinetics model estimates 81.08% drug release at pH 5.5 after 24 h. The major layers of the skin, the epidermis, and dermis were successfully fluidized by the optimized MTX NE formulation, as shown by FTIR results, most likely enhancing drug retention and permeability. However, since Tween 80 and PEG 400 are well-known penetration enhancers, their application greatly accelerates these effects. Permeation data indicate that after 24 h, methotrexate was released from the nano-emulsion at 76.83 ± 4.98 g/cm2 with a flux rate of 2.385 ± 0.61 µg/cm2/h. The in vivo study conducted on rabbit skin showed that the enhanced skin penetration of the prepared MTX-loaded nanoemulsion formulation does not cause any structural modifications in the inter-cellular lipid layers of the stratum corneum. Rabbits used in the in vivo anti-psoriatic investigation demonstrated that MTX NE produced a 95% reduction in PASI. The pharmacokinetic profile revealed that the Cmax, Tmax, and t1/2 values were 8.63 µg/mL, 12.5 h, and 17.77 ± 2.21 h, respectively. These findings suggest that the formulation MTX NE is effective in treating psoriasis and may reduce psoriasis symptoms.

Physicochemical Properties and Release Study of Antimetabolite-Incorporated Stearoyl Chitosan

Stearoyl chitosan (SC), derived from the acylation of chitosan, contributes to the efficiency of drug delivery systems because of its structure, which accommodates the drug in a particle. Nonetheless, its role in chemotherapy has been largely unexplored. The present study involves the synthesis of stearoyl chitosan through the reaction of depolymerized chitosan with stearoyl chloride under mild reaction conditions. The resulting compound was subjected to structural analysis utilizing Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The dispersion of SC molecules in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) forms SC nanoparticles. The best dispersion of SC in the solution was achieved at a 1:60 chitosan-to-stearoyl chloride weight ratio. Three antimetabolite drugs, methotrexate, pemetrexed, and raltitrexed, were selected to examine the loading efficacy of SC. Pemetrexed had the highest drug-loading value of 36.8% among the three antimetabolites incorporated into SC, along with an encapsulation efficiency of 85.1%. The size of SC loaded with antimetabolites ranged from 225 to 369 nm, and their spherical form was verified via a transmission electron microscope. The in vitro release study showed that SC demonstrated controlled drug release, suggesting that SC nanoparticles have significant promise as a delivery strategy for chemotherapy.

Self-assembly of bile salts and their mixed aggregates as building blocks for smart aggregates

The present communication offers a comprehensive overview of the self-assembly of bile salts emphasizing their mixed smart aggregates with a variety of amphiphiles. Using an updated literature survey, we have explored the dissimilar interactions of bile salts with different types of surfactants, phospholipids, ionic liquids, drugs, and a variety of natural and synthetic polymers. While assembling this review, special attention was also provided to the potency of bile salts to alter the size/shape of aggregates formed by several amphiphiles to use these aggregates for solubility improvement of medicinally important compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and also to develop their smart delivery vehicles. A fundamental understanding of bile salt mixed aggregates will enable the development of new strategies for improving the bioavailability of drugs solubilized in newly developed potential hosts and to formulate smart aggregates of desired morphology for specific targeted applications. It enriches our existing knowledge of the distinct interactions exerted in mixed systems of bile salts with variety of amphiphiles. By virtue of this, researchers can get innovative ideas to construct novel nanoaggregates from bile salts by incorporating various amphiphiles that serve as a building block for smart aggregates for their numerous industrial applications.

Polymeric Nanomicelles Loaded with Anandamide and Their Renal Effects as a Therapeutic Alternative for Hypertension Treatment by Passive Targeting

We have previously demonstrated significant in vitro natriuretic effects of anandamide (AEA) nanoformulation in polymeric nanoparticles, whose size prevents their accumulation in organs, such as the kidneys. Therefore, it is of particular interest to design and test nanostructures that can pharmacologically accumulate in these organs. In this regard, we prepared and characterized polymeric nanomicelles (~14 and 40 nm). Likewise, their biodistribution was determined. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive rats (WKY), n = 3 per group, were divided into five treatment conditions: control, sham, free AEA freshly dispersed in aqueous solution or 24 h after its dispersion, and AEA encapsulated in nanomicelles. The kidneys were the main site of accumulation of the nanoformulation after 24 h. Freshly dispersed free AEA showed its classical triphasic response in SHR, which was absent from all other treatments. Nanoformulated AEA produced a sustained antihypertensive effect over 2 h, accompanied by a significant increase in fractional sodium excretion (FSE %). These effects were not observed in WKY, sham, or free AEA-treated rats after 24 h of its aqueous dispersion. Without precedent, we demonstrate in vivo natriuretic, diuretic, and hypotensive effects of AEA nanoformulation in polymeric nanomicelles, suggesting its possible use as a new antihypertensive agent with intravenous administration and passive renal accumulation.

Simulation, In Vitro, and In Vivo Cytotoxicity Assessments of Methotrexate-Loaded pH-Responsive Nanocarriers

In this study, pH-responsive niosomal methotrexate (MTX) modified with ergosterol was prepared for potential anticancer application. The prepared formulation had a size of 176.7 ± 3.4 nm, zeta potential of −31.5 ± 2.6 mV, EE% of 76.9 ± 2.5%, and a pH-responsive behavior in two different pHs (5.4 and 7.4). In-silico evaluations showed that MTX intended to make a strong hydrogen bond with Span 60 compartments involving N2 and O4 atoms in glutamic acid and N7 atom in pteridine ring moieties, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of free and pH-MTX/Nio were assessed against MCF7 and HUVECs. Compared with free MTX, we found significantly lower IC50s when MCF7 cells were treated with niosomal MTX (84.03 vs. 9.464 µg/mL after 48 h, respectively). Moreover, lower cell killing activity was observed for this formulation in normal cells. The pH-MTX/Nio exhibited a set of morphological changes in MCF7 cells observed during cell death. In-vivo results demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of free MTX (2 mg/kg) after six weeks caused a significant increase in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of rats compared to the normal control rats. Treatment with 2 and 4 mg/kg doses of pH-MTX/Nio significantly increased serum BUN, serum creatinine, and serum lipid peroxidation. Still, the safety profile of such formulations in healthy cells/tissues should be further investigated.

Self-assembled micelles enhance the oral delivery of curcumin for the management of alcohol-induced tissue injury

Curcumin (CUR) shows great potential in the management of alcohol-use disorders. However, the hydrophobicity and poor oral bioavailability result in the limited therapeutic efficacy of CUR against alcohol-induced tissue injury. Here, self-assembled Soluplus® micelles (Ms) were developed for the enhanced oral delivery of CUR. CUR-loaded Soluplus® micelles (CUR-Ms) were prepared using a thin-film hydration method and these micelles displayed nearly spherical shape with an average size of 62.80 ± 1.29 nm. CUR in micelles showed the greater stability, solubility and dissolution than free CUR. With the increased water solubility of CUR-Ms and P glycoprotein inhibition of Soluplus®, the absorption rate constant (Ka) and apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of CUR-Ms in intestines was respectively 3.50 and 4.10 times higher than that of free CUR. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that CUR-Ms significantly improved the oral bioavailability of CUR. Specifically, the AUC0-∞ and C_max of CUR-Ms were increased by 9.45 and 47.38 folds compared to free CUR, respectively. In mice with alcohol-induced tissue injury, the oral administration of CUR-Ms greatly reduced oxidative stress, and significantly defended liver and gastric mucosa from alcoholic damages. The results demonstrated CUR-Ms with good oral bioavailability could represent a promising strategy for the management of alcohol-induced tissue injury.

Recent advances in co-delivery nanosystems for synergistic action in cancer treatment

Nanocarrier delivery systems have been widely studied to carry unique or dual chemical drugs. The major challenge of chemotherapies is to overcome the multidrug-resistance (MDR) of cells to antineoplastic medicines. In this context, nano-scale technology has allowed researchers to develop biocompatible nano-delivery systems to overcome the limitation of chemical agents. The development of nano-vehicles may also be directed to co-deliver different agents such as drugs and genetic materials. The delivery of nucleic acids targeting specific cells is based on gene therapy principles to replace the defective gene, correct genome errors or knock-down a particular gene. Co-delivery systems are attractive strategies due to the possibility of achieving synergistic therapeutic effects, which are more effective in overcoming the MDR of cancer cells. These combined therapies can provide better outcomes than separate delivery approaches carrying either siRNA, miRNA, pDNA, or drugs. This article reviews the main design features that need to be associated with nano-vehicles to co-deliver drugs, genes, and gene-drug combinations with efficacy. The advantages and disadvantages of co-administration approaches are also overviewed and compared with individual nanocarrier systems. Herein, future trends and perspectives in designing novel nano-scale platforms to co-deliver therapeutic agents are also discussed.

Biodegradable nanocarriers based on chitosan-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles for delivery of methotrexate for application in breast cancer treatment

Nanocarriers have demonstrated great promise in the delivery of hydrophobic drugs particularly to tumor spaces by enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are the attractive nanocarrier system to reduce the drug's toxic side effects, enable controlled drug release, prevent drug degradation and provide a biocompatible and biodegradable high surface area carrier. Surface-modified MSNs have been applied to increase drug loading and efficiency. In this study, functionalized MSNs loaded with methotrexate (MTX) were designed for use as a cytotoxic agent. The MSNs were first modified with 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine (APTES) and then with chitosan through covalent coupling mediated by glutaraldehyde. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were optimized for each step. The loading percentage (12.2%) and release profile of MTX as an anti-breast cancer drug, loaded at amine-modified MSNs, were measured via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the uptake profiles of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled MSN-APTES-chitosan with or without MTX were monitored on MCF7 cancer cells via confocal microscopy. Following exposure of nanoparticles to body fluids, they were surrounded by specific proteins that may affect their cellular uptake. Hence, the adsorption profiles of protein corona on the surface of MSN, amine-modified MSN and MTX-loaded MSN-APTES-chitosan were analyzed. The cytotoxic potential for killing breast cancer cells was also studied. The MTX loaded MSN-APTES-chitosan showed a positive effect at a low dose (0.5 μM MTX). In this study, we introduce a new method to synthesize biodegradable MSNs with small and uniform particle size, achieve high MTX loading via covalent amine and chitosan-functionalization, monitor the cellular uptake and demonstrate the potential to decrease the viability of breast cancer cells at low dose.

Ameliorated in vitro anticancer efficacy of methotrexate d-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate ester against breast cancer cells

Background

Methotrexate (MTX), a folate anti-metabolite, has been used widely in the treatment of plenty of malignancies. However, the clinical use is limited because of its poor water solubility (BCS class II drug), nonspecific distribution, drug resistance, short circulation half-life, and toxicity. The objective of the present research was to synthesize the ester prodrug of MTX with d-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and characterize for in vitro anticancer efficacy.

Results

The FTIR and NMR results revealed the successful synthesis of the prodrug. The assay and saturation solubility of the prodrug is found to be 23 ± 2.5% and 6.7 ± 1.3 mg/mL (MTX equivalent) respectively. The CMC of the prodrug in distilled water at room temperature is found to be 36.9 ± 2.6 μg/mL. The prepared prodrug micelles showed a mean particle size of 166 ± 10 nm (PDI, 0.325 ± 0.09). Further, the TEM results confirmed the self-assembling character of the prodrug into micelles with a nearly spherical shape. The prodrug caused the significantly (p < 0.01) less hemolysis (16.8 ± 1.5%) when compared to plain MTX solution and significantly higher (p < 0.01) in vitro cytotoxicity, cell cycle arresting, and apoptosis against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231).

Conclusion

Our study results revealed the remarkable in vitro anticancer activity of MTX following its esterification with TPGS. However, further, in vivo studies are needed to prove its efficacy against different cancers.