Novel decorated nanostructured lipid carrier for simultaneous active targeting of three anti-cancer agents

Effect of pH on the soybean whey protein-gum arabic emulsion delivery systems for curcumin: Emulsifying, stability, and digestive properties

A novel curcumin (CUR) delivery system was developed using soybean whey protein (SWP)-based emulsions, enhanced by pH-adjustment and gum arabic (GA) modification. Modulating electrostatic interactions between SWP and GA at oil/water interface, pH provides favorable charging conditions for stable distribution between droplets. GA facilitated the SWP form a stable interfacial layer that significantly enhanced the emulsifying properties and CUR encapsulation efficiency of the system at pH 6.0, which were 90.15 ± 0.67%, 870.53 ± 3.22 m2/g and 2157.62 ± 115.31%, respectively. Duncan's test revealed significant improvements in thermal, UV, oxidative, and storage stabilities of CUR (P < 0.05). At pH 6.0, GA effectively protected CUR by inhibiting SWP degradation during gastric digestion and promoting the release of CUR by decreasing steric hindrance with oil droplets during intestinal digestion, achieving the highest CUR bioaccessibility (69.12% ± 0.28%) based on Duncan's test. The SWP-GA-CUR emulsion delivery system would be a novel carrier for nutrients.

Chitosan-chondroitin sulfate-daidzein nanoconjugate ameliorates glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis in vivo

The use of nanotechnology and polymer-based carriers in osteoporosis treatment offers promising avenues for targeted drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we developed a novel nanoconjugate composed of Chitosan (CH), Chondroitin Sulfate (CS), and Daidzein (DZ) to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in an in vivo zebrafish model. The CH-CS-DZ nanoconjugate were synthesized using the ionic gelation method, with a CH: CS ratio of 1:1 and a 3 % DZ concentration was identified as optimal for further analysis. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited a particle size of 401.2 ± 0.87 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of nanoconjugate were of 0.147 ± 0.04 and 43.55 ± 0.68 mV respectively. Drug release studies demonstrated that 79.66 ± 4.04 % of DZ was released under physiological conditions (pH 7.5) after 96 h, indicating a sustained release profile beneficial for prolonged therapeutic effects. In vivo, studies using zebrafish larvae revealed a significant reduction in oxidative stress and apoptosis in the CH-CS-DZ treated group compared to the glucorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) treated group. Specifically, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were reduced, and lipid peroxidation was markedly decreased (p < 0.001) in the CH-CS-DZ treated group. Additionally, the survival and hatching rates of CH-CS-DZ-treated larvae were 94 % and 95 %, respectively, significantly higher than those in the Dex-treated group. The CH-CS-DZ nanoconjugate also restored bone mineralization, as evidenced by a significant increase in calcium deposition (p < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity (122 ± 0.4 U/L), compared to the Dex group (84 ± 0.7 U/L). Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of OPG and ALP and downregulation of RANKL and RUNX2b, further indicating the anti-osteoporotic potential of the CH-CS-DZ nanoconjugates. These findings suggest that polymer-based nanoconjugates like CH-CS-DZ can effectively mitigate osteoporosis through targeted delivery and sustained release, offering a potent strategy for bone health restoration.

Rice (Oryza sativa) Stem Cells as a Novel Promising Active Ingredient with Anti-Proliferative Effects for Potential Skin Cancer Prevention and Skin Whitening Activity

Rice is one of the plants proven to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and whitening properties, making it one of the most beneficial plants in this regard. This study aimed to introduce a novel natural cosmetic and pharmaceutical product based on rice callus as a source of active ingredients that can inhibit skin melanoma cell (B16F10) proliferation and brighten the skin. The 2,4-D hormone at concentrations of 1 µg/mL and 1.5 µg/mL was used to induce rice callus formation. Rice callus extracts were then prepared using aqueous and ethanolic solvents, with a concentration of 1 mg/mL used for characterization tests. To determine the optimal hormone concentration, the phenols/flavonoids, antioxidant activity, proteins, and carbohydrates in the extracts were measured. The optimal concentration of the hormone was found to be 1 µg/mL. Finally, the anti-melanocyte and skin-whitening activity of the extracts was assessed through measurements of their cytotoxicity and inhibition of melanin synthesis-related enzymes. Cellular cytotoxicity measurements revealed that the ethanolic extract induced more cytotoxicity than the aqueous extract, with IC50 values of 566.3 µg/mL for the ethanolic extract and 1327 µg/mL for the aqueous extract. Skin-whitening-related tests demonstrated that the extracts were 1.7 times more effective than arbutin in inhibiting factors that cause hyperpigmentation. The aqueous extract achieved 85% inhibition of melanin biosynthesis at a concentration of 3200 µg/mL, compared to 68% for the ethanolic extract and 50% for arbutin. Based on these findings, rice callus extract can be introduced as a new, effective substance for skin-lightening and anti-melanocyte products in cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical formulations.

A promising strategy of surface-modified nanoparticles targeting CXCR4 for precision cancer therapy

Nanoparticle (NP) functionalization with specific ligands enhances targeted cancer therapy and imaging by promoting receptor recognition and improving cellular uptake. This review focuses on recent research exploring the interaction between cancer cell-expressed chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and ligand-conjugated NPs, utilising small molecules, peptides, and antibodies. Active NP targeting has shown improved tumour targeting and reduced toxicity, enabling precision therapy and diagnosis. However, challenges persist in the clinical translation of targeted NPs due to issues with biological response, tumour accumulation, and maintaining NP quality at an industrial scale. Biological and intratumoral barriers further hinder efficient NP accumulation in tumours, hampering translatability. To address these challenges, the academic community is refocusing efforts on understanding NP biological fate and establishing robust preclinical models. Future studies should investigate NP-body interactions, develop computational models, and identify optimal preclinical models. Establishing central NP research databases and fostering collaboration across disciplines is crucial to expediting clinical translation. Overcoming these hurdles will unlock the transformative potential of CXCR4-ligand-NP conjugates in revolutionising cancer treatment.

The navel nanoethosomal formulation of gamma-oryzanol attenuates testicular ischemia/reperfusion damages

Testicular torsion reduces blood flow to testes and induces tissue ischemia. Antioxidant can have pivotal roles in alleviation of the effects of torsion/reperfusion. Gamma-oryzanol (γ-Oryzanol) has several pharmacological properties such as antioxidant and anti-apoptosis that can be used in this way. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of nanoethosomal formulation of gamma-oryzanol (γ-Oryzanol-NEs) on testicular damages in a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion damage. Following induction of ischemia/reperfusion, the mice were treated with γ-Oryzanol and γ-Oryzanol-NEs (6 mg/kg) in times of 3 h and 6 h. The expression of positive cells of TUNEL, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) and caspase 3 and histopathological parameters were assessed. The results showed higher expression of positive cells of TUNEL, HSP70 and caspase 3 and lower expressions of SOD and GPx in control mice compared with those treated with γ-Oryzanol-NEs (P = 0.001). The treatment with γ-Oryzanol-NEs could decrease pathological damages and the expression of positive cells of TUNEL, HSP70 and caspase 3 and increase the expressions of SOD and GPx. In conclusion, γ-Oryzanol-NEs could have the protective effects on torsion/reperfusion by decreasing apoptosis and increasing antioxidant status in a mouse model.

Acidic/hypoxia dual-alleviated nanoregulators for enhanced treatment of tumor chemo-immunotherapy

Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment as it not only directly kills cancer cells but also induces immunogenic cell death. However, the chemotherapeutic efficacy was strongly restricted by the acidic and hypoxic tumor environment. Herein, we have successfully formulated PLGA-based nanoparticles concurrently loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), hemoglobin (Hb) and CaCO3 by a CaCO3-assisted emulsion method, aiming at the effective treatment of TNBC. We found that the obtained nanomedicine (DHCaNPs) exhibited effective drug encapsulation and pH-responsive drug release behavior. Moreover, DHCaNPs demonstrated robust capabilities in neutralizing protons and oxygen transport. Consequently, DHCaNPs could not only serve as oxygen nanoshuttles to attenuate tumor hypoxia but also neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) by depleting lactic acid, thereby effectively overcoming the resistance to chemotherapy. Furthermore, DHCaNPs demonstrated a notable ability to enhance antitumor immune responses by increasing the frequency of tumor-infiltrating effector lymphocytes and reducing the frequency of various immune-suppressive cells, therefore exhibiting a superior efficacy in suppressing tumor growth and metastasis when combined with anti-PD-L1 (αPD-L1) immunotherapy. In summary, this study highlights that DHCaNPs could effectively attenuate the acidic and hypoxic TME, offering a promising strategy to figure out an enhanced chemo-immunotherapy to benefit TNBC patients.

Targeted Delivery of Pennyroyal via Methotrexate Functionalized PEGylated Nanostructured Lipid Carriers into Breast Cancer Cells; A Multiple Pathways Apoptosis Activator

Purpose

Pennyroyal is a species of the Lamiaceae family with potent anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. Combining this antioxidant with chemotherapeutic agents enhances the effectiveness of these agents by inducing more apoptosis in cancerous cells.

Methods

Here, methotrexate (MTX) combined with pennyroyal oil based on PEGylated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was assessed. These nanoparticles were physiochemically characterized, and their anti-cancer effects and targeting efficiency were investigated on the folate receptor-positive human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and negative human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549).

Results

Results showed a mean size of 97.4 ± 12.1 nm for non-targeted PEGylated NLCs and 220.4 ± 11.4 nm for targeted PEGylated NLCs, with an almost small size distribution assessed by TEM imaging. Furthermore, in vitro molecular anti-cancer activity investigations showed that pennyroyal-NLCs and pennyroyal-NLCs/MTX activate the apoptosis and autophagy pathway by changing their related mRNA expression levels. Furthermore, in vitro cellular studies showed that these changes in the level of gene expression could lead to a rise in apoptosis rate from 15.6 ± 8.1 to 25.0 ± 3.2 (P<0.05) for the MCF-7 cells treated with pennyroyal-NLCs and pennyroyal-NLCs/MTX, respectively. Autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) cellular evaluation indicated that treating the cells with pennyroyal-NLCs and pennyroyal-NLCs/MTX could significantly increase their intensity in these cells.

Conclusion

Our results present a new NLCs-based approach to enhance the delivery of pennyroyal and MTX to cancerous breast tissues.

Applications of lipid-engineered nanoplatforms in the delivery of various cancer therapeutics to surmount breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most extensively accounted malignancy among the women across the globe and is treatable in 70-80% of patients with early-stage, non-metastatic cancer. The current available therapies have been found to be less effective to treat distant organ metastases and advanced breast cancers. The clinical efficacy hugely suffers from chemoresistance, non-specific toxicity, relapse and other associated adverse effects. Furthermore, lack of controlled delivery and effective temporospatial presence of chemotherapeutics has resulted in suboptimal therapeutic response. Nanotechnology based approaches have been widely used over the period as they are nanometric, offer controlled and site-specific drug release along with reduced toxicity, improved half-life, and stability. Lipid-based nanoplatforms have grabbed a tremendous attention for delivering cancer therapeutics as they are cost-effective, scalable and provide better entrapment efficiency. In this review, all the promising applications of lipid-engineered nanotechnological tools for breast cancer will be summarized and discussed. Subsequently, BC therapy achieved with the aid of chemotherapeutics, phytomedicine, genes, peptides, photosensitizers, diagnostic and immunogenic agents etc. will be reviewed and discussed. This review gives tabular information on all the results obtained pertaining to the physicochemical properties of the lipidic nanocarrier, in vitro studies conferring to mechanistic drug release profile, cell viability, cellular apoptosis and in vivo studies referring to cellular internalisation, reduction of tumor volume, PK-PD profile, bioavailability achieved and anti-tumor activity in detail. It also gives complete information on the most relevant clinical trials done on lipidic nanoplatforms over two decades in tabular form. The review highlights the current status and future prospects of lipidic nanoplatforms with streamlined focus on cancer nanotherapeutics.

Co-Delivery of Erlotinib and Resveratrol via Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: A Synergistically Promising Approach for Cell Proliferation Prevention and ROS-Mediated Apoptosis Activation

Cancer treatments are always associated with various challenges, and scientists are constantly trying to find new therapies and methods. Erlotinib (ELT) is a well-known medicine against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, treatments by ELT disrupt therapy due to drug resistance and pose severe challenges to patients. To achieve high-performance treatment, we gained nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to evaluate synergistic anticancer effects of co-delivery of ELT and resveratrol (RES), a natural herbal derived phenol against NSCLC. NLCs are prepared via the hot homogenization method and characterized. In vitro cytotoxicity of formulations were evaluated on adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cells. Prepared NLCs showed a narrow particle size (97.52 ±17.14 nm), negative zeta potential (-7.67 ± 4.55 mV), and high encapsulation efficiency (EE%) was measured for the prepared co-delivery system (EE% 89.5 ± 5.16 % for ELT and 90.1 ± 6.61 % for RES). In vitro outcomes from cell viability study (12.63 % after 48 h of treatment), apoptosis assay (85.50%.), cell cycle (40.00% arrest in G2-M), and western blotting investigations (decreasing of protein expression levels of survivin, Bcl-2, P-Caspase 3 P-caspase 9, and P-ERK 1/2, and additionally, increasing protein levels of BAX, P53, C-Caspase 3 and 9), DAPI staining, and colony formation assays showed the augment cytotoxic performances for co-delivery of ELT and RES loaded NLCs. Our study introduced the co-delivery of ELT and RES by NLCs as a novel strategy to elevate the efficacy of chemotherapeutics for NSCLC.

Prevention of UV-induced skin cancer in mice by gamma oryzanol-loaded nanoethosomes

AIMS

Skin cancer is the most widespread cancer worldwide, mainly caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) in sunlight. Utilizing topical preventive agents in routinely daily used cosmetics may prevent UV-related skin damages and skin cancers. γ-Oryzanol (GO) is a natural component derived from rice bran oil, with potential antioxidant and skin anti-aging properties.

MAIN METHODS

We biologically thorough studied the antioxidant and anticancer effects of GO in vitro to found the effective signaling pathways, then evaluated the sun protection factor of prepared formulation, and finally investigated the long-term preventive effects of GO-loaded nanoethosomes (GO-NEs) against UVB-induced skin cancer in mice.

KEY FINDINGS

GO-NEs could effectively prevent UVB-induced skin cancer.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results suggest that GO-NEs could be utilized as an innovative ingredient in cosmetics.