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Shuvalov O, Kirdeeva Y, Daks A, Fedorova O, Parfenyev S, Simon HU, Barlev NA. Phytochemicals Target Multiple Metabolic Pathways in Cancer. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:2012. [PMID: 38001865 PMCID: PMC10669507 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12112012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer metabolic reprogramming is a complex process that provides malignant cells with selective advantages to grow and propagate in the hostile environment created by the immune surveillance of the human organism. This process underpins cancer proliferation, invasion, antioxidant defense, and resistance to anticancer immunity and therapeutics. Perhaps not surprisingly, metabolic rewiring is considered to be one of the "Hallmarks of cancer". Notably, this process often comprises various complementary and overlapping pathways. Today, it is well known that highly selective inhibition of only one of the pathways in a tumor cell often leads to a limited response and, subsequently, to the emergence of resistance. Therefore, to increase the overall effectiveness of antitumor drugs, it is advisable to use multitarget agents that can simultaneously suppress several key processes in the tumor cell. This review is focused on a group of plant-derived natural compounds that simultaneously target different pathways of cancer-associated metabolism, including aerobic glycolysis, respiration, glutaminolysis, one-carbon metabolism, de novo lipogenesis, and β-oxidation of fatty acids. We discuss only those compounds that display inhibitory activity against several metabolic pathways as well as a number of important signaling pathways in cancer. Information about their pharmacokinetics in animals and humans is also presented. Taken together, a number of known plant-derived compounds may target multiple metabolic and signaling pathways in various malignancies, something that bears great potential for the further improvement of antineoplastic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Shuvalov
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
| | - Yulia Kirdeeva
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
| | - Alexandra Daks
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
| | - Olga Fedorova
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
| | - Sergey Parfenyev
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
| | - Hans-Uwe Simon
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland;
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Nickolai A. Barlev
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia; (Y.K.); (A.D.); (O.F.)
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana 20000, Kazakhstan
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Tan E, Danışman‑Kalındemirtaş F, Karakuş S. Effective drug combinations of betulinic acid and ceranib-2 loaded Zn:MnO2 doped-polymeric nanocarriers against PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 225:113278. [PMID: 37003246 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The development of theranostic nanocarriers with synergistic drug combinations has received considerable attention due to their improved pharmaceutical activity. Herein, we reported an investigation about the in-vitro anticancer activity of ceranib-2 (Cer), betulinic acid (BA), and the combination of betulinic acid and ceranib-2 (BA-Cer) against PC-3 prostate cancer cells. For this purpose, first we designed a suitable nanocarrier using a novel Zn:MnO2 nanocomposite (NCs) and gallic acid (GA)-polylactic acid (PLA)-Alginate polymeric shell with nanoscale particle size and good stability. Chemical statements, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the nanocarrier have been illuminated with advanced characterization techniques. According to the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results, Zn:MnO2 NCs had a spherical and monodispersed morphology with a 2.03 ± 0.67 nm diameter. Moreover, vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) results showed that Zn:MnO2 had paramagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 1.136 emu/g. Additionally, the in-vitro cytotoxic effects of the single and binary drugs loaded Zn:MnO2-doped polymeric nanocarriers against PC-3 prostate cancer cells were investigated. According to the results, there was no significant cytotoxic effect of free BA and Cer against PC-3 prostate cancer cells. However, BA/Zn:MnO2@GA-PLA-Alginate NCs, BA-Cer/Zn:MnO2 @GA-PLA-Alginate NCs and free BA-Cer had IC50 values of 6.498, 7.351, and 18.571 μg/mL, respectively. Consequently, BA-Cer/Zn:MnO2@GA-PLA-Alginate is a nanocarrier with good stability, enhanced drug loading and release capacity for hydrophobic drugs, as well as being used as both imaging and treatment agent due to its magnetic properties. Furthermore, BA and Cer drug combination showed great promise in prostate cancer therapy which is known to be resulted high drug resistance. We strongly believed that this work could lead to an investigation of the molecular mechanisms of BA-mediated cancer theapy.
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Wu ZC, Liu XY, Liu JY, Piao JS, Piao MG. Preparation of Betulinic Acid Galactosylated Chitosan Nanoparticles and Their Effect on Liver Fibrosis. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:4195-4210. [PMID: 36134203 PMCID: PMC9484277 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s373430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Liver fibrosis is mainly characterized by the formation of fibrous scars. Galactosylated chitosan (GC) has gained increasing attention as a liver-targeted drug carrier in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the availability of betulinic acid-loaded GC nanoparticles (BA-GC-NPs) for liver protection. Covalently-conjugated galactose, recognized by asialoglycoprotein receptors exclusively expressed in hepatocytes, was employed to target the liver. Materials and Methods Galactose was coupled to chitosan by chemical covalent binding. BA-GC-NPs were synthesized by wrapping BA into NPs via ion-crosslinking method. The potential advantage of BA-GC-NP as a liver-targeting agent in the treatment of liver fibrosis has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. Results BA-GC-NPs with diameters <200 nm were manufactured in a virtually spherical core-shell arrangement, and BA was released consistently and continuously for 96 h, as assessed by an in vitro release assay. According to the safety evaluation, BA-GC-NPs demonstrated good biocompatibility at the cellular level and did not generate any inflammatory reaction in mice. Importantly, BA-GC-NPs showed an inherent liver-targeting potential in the uptake behavioral studies in cells and bioimaging tests in vivo. Efficacy tests revealed that administering BA-GC-NPs in a mouse model of liver fibrosis reduced the degree of liver injury in mice. Conclusion The findings showed that BA-GC-NPs form a safe and effective anti-hepatic fibrosis medication delivery strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi Chao Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China.,Research Institute, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, 050035, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Yu Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Yan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Shu Piao
- School of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Guan Piao
- School of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, People's Republic of China
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Antioxidant Activity of New Copolymer Conjugates of Methoxyoligo(Ethylene Glycol)Methacrylate and Betulin Methacrylate with Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles In Vitro. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27185894. [PMID: 36144630 PMCID: PMC9506406 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of two new copolymer conjugates of methoxyoligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate MPEGMA and betulin methacrylate BM was developed via RAFT polymerization. The molar content of BM units was equal to 9–10 and 13–16 mol%, respectively (HPLC, 1H and 13C NMR); molar weights were equal to 75000–115000. CeO2 NPs as a component of the hybrid material were synthesized for the preparation of the composition with copolymer conjugates of MPEGMA and BM. We showed a significant increase in G6PDH and GR activities by 21–51% and 9–132%, respectively, which was due to the increase in NADPH concentration under the action of copolymers in vitro. The actions of copolymers and CeO2 NPs combination were stronger than those of the individual components: the SOD activity increased by more than 30%, the catalase activity increased dose-dependently from 13 to 45%, and the GR activity increased to 49%. The maximum increase in enzyme activity was observed for the G6PDH from 54% to 151%. The MDA level dose-dependently increased by 3–15% under the action of copolymers compared with the control, and dose-dependently decreased by 3–12% in samples containing CeO2 NPs only. CeO2 NP–copolymer compositions can be used for the design of new biomimetic medical products with controlled antioxidant properties.
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Kumari S, Dhiman P, Singh D, Saneja A. R-α-Lipoic Acid Conjugated to d-α-Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate: Synthesis, Characterization, and Effect on Antiseizure Activity. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:7674-7682. [PMID: 35713421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
α-Lipoic acid (LA), a dithiol micronutrient, acts as a vital cofactor in various cellular catabolic reactions and is also known as a universal antioxidant. The therapeutic efficacy of LA is compromised by a poor aqueous solubility as well as a short half-life. In the present study, LA was conjugated to d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) using carbodiimideacid-alcohol coupling reaction. The synthesized conjugate (TPGS-LA) was characterized using 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis spectroscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The TPGS-LA conjugate was demonstrated to be biocompatible and to have better anticonvulsion activity as compared to native LA in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions in zebrafish. Moreover, zebrafish larvae pretreated with TPGS-LA conjugate demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of protein carbonylation levels and downregulation of c-fos expression during seizures as compared to native LA. Conclusively, the present findings demonstrate that the TPGS-LA conjugate can be a promising approach for the delivery of LA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savita Kumari
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, 176061 Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Poonam Dhiman
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, 176061 Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Damanpreet Singh
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, 176061 Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ankit Saneja
- Formulation Laboratory, Dietetics and Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, 176061 Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 Uttar Pradesh, India
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Li Y, Wang Y, Gao L, Tan Y, Cai J, Ye Z, Chen AT, Xu Y, Zhao L, Tong S, Sun Q, Liu B, Zhang S, Tian D, Deng G, Zhou J, Chen Q. Betulinic acid self-assembled nanoparticles for effective treatment of glioblastoma. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:39. [PMID: 35062946 PMCID: PMC8781388 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and fatal primary tumor in the central nervous system (CNS). Due to the existence of blood-brain barrier (BBB), most therapeutics cannot efficiently reach tumors in the brain, and as a result, they are unable to be used for effective GBM treatment. Accumulating evidence shows that delivery of therapeutics in form of nanoparticles (NPs) may allow crossing the BBB for effective GBM treatment. METHODS Betulinic acid NPs (BA NPs) were synthesized by the standard emulsion approach and characterized by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis. The resulting NPs were characterized for their anti-tumor effects by cell viability assay, EdU-DNA synthesis assay, cell cycle assay, mitochondrial membrane potential, and PI-FITC apoptosis assay. Further mechanistic studies were carried out through Western Blot and immunostaining analyses. Finally, we evaluated BA NPs in vivo for their pharmacokinetics and antitumor effects in intracranial xenograft GBM mouse models. RESULTS BA NPs were successfully prepared and formed into rod shape. BA NPs could significantly suppress glioma cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and arrest the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase in vitro. Furthermore, BA NPs downregulated the Akt/NFκB-p65 signaling pathway in a concentration dependent manner. We found that the observed anti-tumor effect of BA NPs was dependent on the function of CB1/CB2 receptors. Moreover, in the intracranial GBM xenograft mouse models, BA NPs could effectively cross the BBB and greatly prolong the survival time of the mice. CONCLUSIONS We successfully synthesized BA NPs, which could cross the BBB and demonstrated a strong anti-tumor effect. Therefore, BA NPs may potentially be used for effective treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Lun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinqiu Tan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayang Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhang Ye
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ann T Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Linyao Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiao Tong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Baohui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shenqi Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Daofeng Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Jiangbing Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Qianxue Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Qian XP, Zhang XH, Sun LN, Xing WF, Wang Y, Sun SY, Ma MY, Cheng ZP, Wu ZD, Xing C, Chen BN, Wang YQ. Corosolic acid and its structural analogs: A systematic review of their biological activities and underlying mechanism of action. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 91:153696. [PMID: 34456116 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The corosolic acid (CA), also known as plant insulin, is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from plants such as Lagerstroemia speciosa. It has been shown to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Its structural analogs ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), maslinic acid (MA), asiatic acid (AA) and betulinic acid (BA) display similar individual pharmacological activities to those of CA. However, there is no systematic review documenting pharmacological activities of CA and its structural analogues. This study aims to fill this gap in literature. PURPOSE This systematic review aims to summarize the medical applications of CA and its analogues. METHODS A systematic review summarizes and compares the extraction techniques, pharmacokinetic parameters, and pharmacological effects of CA and its structural analogs. Hypoglycemic effect is one of the key inclusion criteria for searching Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases up to October 2020 without language restrictions. 'corosolic acid', 'ursolic acid', 'oleanolic acid', 'maslinic acid', 'asiatic acid', 'betulinic acid', 'extraction', 'pharmacokinetic', 'pharmacological' were used to extract relevant literature. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. RESULTS At the end of the searching process, 140 articles were selected for the systematic review. Information of CA and five of its structural analogs including UA, OA, MA, AA and BA were included in this review. CA and its structural analogs are pentacyclic triterpenes extracted from plants and they have low solubilities in water due to their rigid scaffold and hydrophobic properties. The introduction of water-soluble groups such as sugar or amino groups could increase the solubility of CA and its structural analogs. Their biological activities and underlying mechanism of action are reviewed and compared. CONCLUSION CA and its structural analogs UA, OA, MA, AA and BA are demonstrated to show activities in lowering blood sugar, anti-inflammation and anti-tumor. Their oral absorption and bioavailability can be improved through structural modification and formulation design. CA and its structural analogs are promising natural product-based lead compounds for further development and mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Ping Qian
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xue-Hui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Shengze Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lu-Ning Sun
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Fan Xing
- Nanjing Chenxiang Pharmaceutical Research Co. Ltd
| | - Yu Wang
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Shi-Yu Sun
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Ma
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China; Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zi-Ping Cheng
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Zu-Dong Wu
- Nanjing Chenxiang Pharmaceutical Research Co. Ltd
| | - Chen Xing
- Nanjing Chenxiang Pharmaceutical Research Co. Ltd
| | - Bei-Ning Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Brookhill, Sheffield S3 7HF, United Kingdom.
| | - Yong-Qing Wang
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China; Department of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Shengze Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
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Gour A, Dogra A, Kour D, Singh G, Kumar A, Nandi U. Effect of Concomitant Hydroxyurea Therapy with Rutin and Gallic Acid: Integration of Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Approaches. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:14542-14550. [PMID: 34124477 PMCID: PMC8190911 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU) is the first-ever approved drug by USFDA for sickle cell anemia (SCA). However, its treatment is associated with severe side effects like myelosuppression. Current studies are focused on the supplementation therapy for symptomatic management of SCA. In the present study, we aimed to explore rutin's and gallic acid's potential individually, for concomitant therapy with HU using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approaches since there is no such precedent till date. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies of HU in rats showed that rutin could be safely co-administered with HU, while gallic acid significantly raised the plasma concentration of HU. Both the phytochemicals did not have any marked inhibitory effect on urease but have considerable effects on horseradish peroxidase enzyme. The experimental phytoconstituents displayed a very low propensity to cause in vitro hemolysis. Gallic acid markedly enhanced the HU-induced decrease in lymphocyte proliferation. A substantial improvement by rutin or gallic acid was observed in HU-induced reduction of the main hematological parameters in rats. Combined treatment of HU with rutin and gallic acid reduced serum levels of both IL-6 and IL-17A. Overall, both rutin and gallic acid are found to have promising phytotherapy potential with HU. Further exploration needs to be done on both candidates for use as phytotherapeutics for SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Gour
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
| | - Ashish Dogra
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
| | - Dilpreet Kour
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
| | - Gurdarshan Singh
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
| | - Utpal Nandi
- PK-PD,
Toxicology and Formulation Division, CSIR-Indian
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201 002, India
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Fru PN, Nweke EE, Mthimkhulu N, Mvango S, Nel M, Pilcher LA, Balogun M. Anti-Cancer and Immunomodulatory Activity of a Polyethylene Glycol-Betulinic Acid Conjugate on Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:462. [PMID: 34063891 PMCID: PMC8223974 DOI: 10.3390/life11060462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug delivery systems involving polymer therapeutics enhance drug potency by improved solubility and specificity and may assist in circumventing chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer (PC). We compared the effectiveness of the naturally occurring drug, betulinic acid (BA), alone and in a polymer conjugate construct of polyethylene glycol (PEG), (PEG-BA), on PC cells (MIA PaCa-2), a normal cell line (Vero) and on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PEG-BA, was tested for its effect on cell death, immunomodulation and chemoresistance-linked signalling pathways. The conjugate was significantly more toxic to PC cells (p < 0.001, IC50 of 1.35 ± 0.11 µM) compared to BA (IC50 of 12.70 ± 0.34 µM), with a selectivity index (SI) of 7.28 compared to 1.4 in Vero cells. Cytotoxicity was confirmed by increased apoptotic cell death. PEG-BA inhibited the production of IL-6 by 4-5.5 fold compared to BA-treated cells. Furthermore, PEG-BA treatment of MIA PaCa-2 cells resulted in the dysregulation of crucial chemoresistance genes such as WNT3A, TXNRD1, SLC2A1 and GATA3. The dysregulation of chemoresistance-associated genes and the inhibition of cytokines such as IL-6 by the model polymer construct, PEG-BA, holds promise for further exploration in PC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascaline Nanga Fru
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; (E.E.N.); (N.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; (E.E.N.); (N.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Nompumelelo Mthimkhulu
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; (E.E.N.); (N.M.); (M.N.)
| | - Sindisiwe Mvango
- Biopolymer Modification and Therapeutics Laboratory, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; (S.M.); (M.B.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa;
| | - Marietha Nel
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; (E.E.N.); (N.M.); (M.N.)
| | | | - Mohammed Balogun
- Biopolymer Modification and Therapeutics Laboratory, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; (S.M.); (M.B.)
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Batool A, Hazafa A, Ahmad S, Khan HA, Abideen HMZ, Zafar A, Bilal M, Iqbal HMN. Treatment of lymphomas via regulating the Signal transduction pathways by natural therapeutic approaches: A review. Leuk Res 2021; 104:106554. [PMID: 33684680 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2021.106554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of malignancies, which comprises 4.2 % of all new cancer cases and 3.3 % of all cancer deaths in 2019, globally. The dysregulation of immune system, certain bacterial or viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and immune suppression are associated with a high risk of lymphoma. Although several conventional strategies have improved during the past few decades, but their detrimental impacts remain an obstacle to be resolved. However, natural compounds are considered a good option in the treatment of lymphomas because of their easy accessibility, specific mode of action, high biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness. Vegetables, fruits, and beverages are the primary sources of natural active compounds. The present review investigated the activities of different natural medicinal compounds including curcumin, MK615, resveratrol, bromelain, EGCG, and Annonaceous acetogenins to treat lymphomas. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies, classification, risk factors, and diagnosis of lymphoma are also discussed in the present review. The accumulated data proposed that natural compounds regulate the signaling pathways at the level of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle to exhibit anti-lymphoma activities both in-vivo and in-vitro studies and suggested that these active compounds could be a good therapeutic option in the treatment of different types of lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammara Batool
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Abu Hazafa
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan; International Society of Engineering Science and Technology, Coventry, CV1 5EH, United Kingdom.
| | - Saeed Ahmad
- Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Ali Khan
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, 25000, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz M Z Abideen
- Institute of Public Health, The University of Lahore, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Zafar
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China
| | - Hafiz M N Iqbal
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Tecnológico, 64849, Monterrey, NL, Mexico
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11
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Zhang Y, Zhou H, Zhang Z, Zhu Y, Wang T, Yu L, Song H. Redox/NIR dual-responsive PEG-betulinic acid/pluronic-cypate prodrug micelles for chemophotothermal therapy. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.125662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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12
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Pan Q, Deng X, Gao W, Chang J, Pu Y, He B. Small molecules-PEG amphiphilic conjugates as carriers for drug delivery: 1. the effect of molecular structures on drug encapsulation. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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13
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Impacts of particle size on the cytotoxicity, cellular internalization, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of betulinic acid nanosuspensions in combined chemotherapy. Int J Pharm 2020; 588:119799. [PMID: 32828973 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of particle size on the cellular internalization, tissue distribution, and bioavailability of betulinic acid nanosuspensions (BA/NSs) and further investigate the combined effect of BA/NSs and Taxol® on breast cancer, BA/NSs with different particle sizes (160 nm, 400 nm, and 700 nm) were prepared by an efficient universal green technology. The use of BA/NS (160 nm) was more likely to increase the BA release rate and enhance bioavailability compared with the use of larger size particles. BA/NSs were internalized by 4T1 cells in different ways, including clathrin-mediated endocytosis, caveolae-mediated endocytosis, and macropinocytosis. For the 4T1 orthotopic tumor model, BA/NS (160 nm) showed a tendency to accumulate at a higher level in tumor tissue. Moreover, combination therapy with BA/NSs and Taxol® showed remarkable potential to enhance antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity and apoptotic ability of the different preparations decreased in the following order: BA/NS (160 nm) + Taxol®, BA/NS (400 nm) + Taxol®, and BA/NS (700 nm) + Taxol®. The tumor inhibition rates of BA/NSs (160 nm, 400 nm, and 700 nm) combined with Taxol® were 2.35-, 1.74- and 1.12-fold higher than that of free BA, respectively. The combined chemotherapy showed good safety, indicating that it had the effect of enhancing treatment and reducing toxicity.
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14
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Pan Q, Deng X, Gao W, Chang J, Pu Y, He B. ROS triggered cleavage of thioketal moiety to dissociate prodrug nanoparticles for chemotherapy. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2020; 194:111223. [PMID: 32615519 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2020.111223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
With the utilization of high concentration reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor microenvironment, PEG-doxorubicin (PEG-DOX) prodrug was synthesized via a thioketal moiety as the linker, which was ROS cleavable to trigger DOX release from the self-assembled prodrug nanoparticles. The in vitro ROS sensitivity of prodrug nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated in Fenton agent and H2O2, and the disassembly of NPs was more sensitive to Fenton reagent. After internalized in HepG2 cells via endocytosis, the cellular ROS consuming test revealed intracellular DOX release. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution study demonstrated that the in vivo elimination of NPs was significantly improved and the NPs were passively targeted to tumor tissues via EPR effect. The ROS-responsive prodrug NPs exhibited excellent antitumor activity in HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice, remarkably induced tumor cells apoptosis and reduced the systemic toxicity of DOX. Our study revealed the ROS responsive prodrug nanoparticle is an effective strategy to fabricate nanomedicine for cancer chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Pan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Xin Deng
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Wenxia Gao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Jing Chang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yuji Pu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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15
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Lu S, Fan X, Wang H, Zhao Y, Zhao W, Li M, Lv R, Wang T, Sun T. Synthesis of Gelatin-Based Dual-Targeted Nanoparticles of Betulinic Acid for Antitumor Therapy. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:3518-3525. [PMID: 35025221 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b01204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural antitumor agent and has biological activity against multiple human tumor cell lines with low cytotoxicity to normal cells, while the high hydrophobicity and the short half-life of this compound limit its clinical application. Here, gelatin-based dual-targeted nanoparticles of BA are promising to solve this problem. Hydrophobic BA is loaded in cyclodextrin to increase its solubility and prolong the circulation time in vivo. The nanoscale drug delivery systems can further enhance the bioavailability and the antitumor effect of BA and are passively targeted to the tumor tissue sites by enhanced permeability and retention effect. The RGD sequence of gelatin specifically recognizes tumor cells and brings agents into tumor cells. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc. In addition, we observed antitumor activity of the nanoparticles using both cell-based assays and mouse xenograft tumors, which proved that betulinic acid/gelatin-γ-cyclodextrin nanoparticles had a better tumor inhibition effect than betulinic acid/γ-cyclodextrin inclusion compound.
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16
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Tao R, Wang C, Lu Y, Zhang C, Zhou H, Chen H, Li W. Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Polyprenol Lipid and Vitamin E-TPGS Hybrid Nanoparticles for Betulinic Acid and Low-Substituted Hydroxyl Fullerenol in MHCC97H and L02 Cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:2733-2749. [PMID: 32368052 PMCID: PMC7184125 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s249773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study demonstrated an innovative formulation including the polyprenol (GBP) lipid and vitamin E-TPGS hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) which was aimed to control the transfer of betulinic acid (BA) and low-substituted hydroxyl fullerenol (C60(OH)n). Additionally, it developed BA-C60(OH)n-GBP-TPGS-NPs delivery system and researched the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) effects. Materials and Methods The NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation with ultrasonic-assisted emulsification (UAE) method. It was characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectrum, size distribution and zeta potential. Physical and chemical properties were evaluated through measurement of drug release, stability studies, drug loading efficiency (DE) and encapsulation efficiency (EE). Biological activities were evaluated through measurement of MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay (LDH), cell proliferation assays, cell apoptosis analysis, comet assay, wound healing assay, cell invasion and Western blot analysis. Results and Conclusions The NPs exhibited clear distribution characteristics, improved solubility and stability. BA and C60(OH)n for the NPs displayed a biphasic release pattern with sustained drug release properties. The mixture of C60(OH)n with different hydroxyl groups may have a certain effect on the stability of the NPs system itself. The NPs could effectively inhibit MHCC97H cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Combined use of C60(OH)n and BA in GBP lipids may improve the inhibit effect of C60(OH)n or BA against HCC cells and reduce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of C60(OH)n for normal cells. We concluded that one of the important mechanisms of BA-C60(OH)n-GBP-TPGS-NPs inhibiting MHCC97H cells is achieved by up-regulating the expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tao
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China.,Research Institute of Forestry New Technology, CAF, Beijing 100091, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengzhang Wang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China.,Research Institute of Forestry New Technology, CAF, Beijing 100091, People's Republic of China
| | - Yin Lu
- General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210002, People's Republic of China
| | - Changwei Zhang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China.,Research Institute of Forestry New Technology, CAF, Beijing 100091, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Chen
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China
| | - WenJun Li
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, CAF, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, People's Republic of China
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17
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Hodon J, Borkova L, Pokorny J, Kazakova A, Urban M. Design and synthesis of pentacyclic triterpene conjugates and their use in medicinal research. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 182:111653. [PMID: 31499360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are natural products from plants and many other organisms that have various biological activities, such as antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial, and protective activities. This review covers the synthesis and biological evaluation of pentacyclic triterpene (PT) conjugates with other molecules that have been found to increase the IC50 or improve the pharmacological profile of the parent PT. Some of these molecules are designed to target specific proteins or cellular organelles, which has resulted in highly selective lead structures for drug development. Other PT conjugates are useful for investigating their mechanism of action. This concept has been very successful: 1) Many compounds, especially mitochondria-targeting PT conjugates, have reached a selective cytotoxicity at low nanomolar concentrations in cancer cells. 2) A number of PT conjugates have had high activity against HIV or the influenza virus. 3) Fluorescent PT conjugates have been able to visualize the PT in living cells, which has allowed quantification of the uptake and distribution of the PT within the cell. 4) Biotinylated PT conjugates have been used to identify target proteins, which may help to show their mechanism of action. 5) A large number of PT conjugates with polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyamines, etc. form nanometer-sized micelles that have a much better pharmacological profile than the PT alone. In summary, the connection of a PT to an appropriate modifying molecule has resulted in extremely useful semisynthetic compounds with a high potential to treat cancer or viral infections or compounds that are useful for the study of the mechanism of action of PTs at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Hodon
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Borkova
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Pokorny
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Kazakova
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Urban
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Hnevotinská 5, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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18
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Bellampalli SS, Ji Y, Moutal A, Cai S, Wijeratne EMK, Gandini MA, Yu J, Chefdeville A, Dorame A, Chew LA, Madura CL, Luo S, Molnar G, Khanna M, Streicher JM, Zamponi GW, Gunatilaka AAL, Khanna R. Betulinic acid, derived from the desert lavender Hyptis emoryi, attenuates paclitaxel-, HIV-, and nerve injury-associated peripheral sensory neuropathy via block of N- and T-type calcium channels. Pain 2019; 160:117-135. [PMID: 30169422 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Federal Pain Research Strategy recommended development of nonopioid analgesics as a top priority in its strategic plan to address the significant public health crisis and individual burden of chronic pain faced by >100 million Americans. Motivated by this challenge, a natural product extracts library was screened and identified a plant extract that targets activity of voltage-gated calcium channels. This profile is of interest as a potential treatment for neuropathic pain. The active extract derived from the desert lavender plant native to southwestern United States, when subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation, afforded 3 compounds identified as pentacyclic triterpenoids, betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid. Betulinic acid inhibited depolarization-evoked calcium influx in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons predominantly through targeting low-voltage-gated (Cav3 or T-type) and CaV2.2 (N-type) calcium channels. Voltage-clamp electrophysiology experiments revealed a reduction of Ca, but not Na, currents in sensory neurons after BA exposure. Betulinic acid inhibited spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and depolarization-evoked release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from lumbar spinal cord slices. Notably, BA did not engage human mu, delta, or kappa opioid receptors. Intrathecal administration of BA reversed mechanical allodynia in rat models of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and HIV-associated peripheral sensory neuropathy as well as a mouse model of partial sciatic nerve ligation without effects on locomotion. The broad-spectrum biological and medicinal properties reported, including anti-HIV and anticancer activities of BA and its derivatives, position this plant-derived small molecule natural product as a potential nonopioid therapy for management of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya S Bellampalli
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Yingshi Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Song Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - E M Kithsiri Wijeratne
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Maria A Gandini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Aude Chefdeville
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Angie Dorame
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lindsey A Chew
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Cynthia L Madura
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Shizhen Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gabriella Molnar
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - John M Streicher
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gerald W Zamponi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - A A Leslie Gunatilaka
- Natural Products Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Neuroscience Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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19
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Amiri S, Dastghaib S, Ahmadi M, Mehrbod P, Khadem F, Behrouj H, Aghanoori MR, Machaj F, Ghamsari M, Rosik J, Hudecki A, Afkhami A, Hashemi M, Los MJ, Mokarram P, Madrakian T, Ghavami S. Betulin and its derivatives as novel compounds with different pharmacological effects. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 38:107409. [PMID: 31220568 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Betulin (B) and Betulinic acid (BA) are natural pentacyclic lupane-structure triterpenoids which possess a wide range of pharmacological activities. Recent evidence indicates that B and BA have several properties useful for the treatment of metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological disorders. In the current review, we discuss B and BA structures and derivatives and then comprehensively explain their pharmacological effects in relation to various diseases. We also explain antiviral, antibacterial and anti-cancer effects of B and BA. Finally, we discuss the delivery methods, in which these compounds most effectively target different systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Amiri
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady College of Medicine, Max Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Sanaz Dastghaib
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mazaher Ahmadi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Parvaneh Mehrbod
- Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Department, Pasteur Institute of IRAN, Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Khadem
- Department of Immunology, Rady College of Medicine, Max Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Hamid Behrouj
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohamad-Reza Aghanoori
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Filip Machaj
- Department of Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-344 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Mahdi Ghamsari
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Jakub Rosik
- Department of Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University, ul. Unii Lubelskiej 1, 71-344 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Hudecki
- Institue of Non-Ferrous Metals, ul. Sowińskiego 5, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Abbas Afkhami
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hashemi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Marek J Los
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, ul Bolesława Krzywoustego 8, Gliwice, Poland; Linkocare Life Sciences AB, Teknikringen 10, Plan 3, 583 30 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pooneh Mokarram
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Tayyebeh Madrakian
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady College of Medicine, Max Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
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20
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Sousa JLC, Freire CSR, Silvestre AJD, Silva AMS. Recent Developments in the Functionalization of Betulinic Acid and Its Natural Analogues: A Route to New Bioactive Compounds. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24020355. [PMID: 30669472 PMCID: PMC6359067 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24020355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Betulinic acid (BA) and its natural analogues betulin (BN), betulonic (BoA), and 23-hydroxybetulinic (HBA) acids are lupane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids. They are present in many plants and display important biological activities. This review focuses on the chemical transformations used to functionalize BA/BN/BoA/HBA in order to obtain new derivatives with improved biological activity, covering the period since 2013 to 2018. It is divided by the main chemical transformations reported in the literature, including amination, esterification, alkylation, sulfonation, copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling, hydroxylation, and aldol condensation reactions. In addition, the synthesis of heterocycle-fused BA/HBA derivatives and polymer‒BA conjugates are also addressed. The new derivatives are mainly used as antitumor agents, but there are other biological applications such as antimalarial activity, drug delivery, bioimaging, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana L C Sousa
- QOPNA & LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
- CICECO, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carmen S R Freire
- CICECO, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | | | - Artur M S Silva
- QOPNA & LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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21
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Gemcitabine and betulinic acid co-encapsulated PLGA-PEG polymer nanoparticles for improved efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2019; 98:764-771. [PMID: 30813082 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study demonstrated the development of gemcitabine and betulinic acid co-encapsulated PLGA-PEG polymer nanoparticles for enhancing the chemotherapeutic response. This combinatorial PLGA-PEG nanoparticle was formulated using double emulsion and had size <200 nm. The developed nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy for their size and shape, respectively. The in vitro release of the drugs from combinatorial nanoparticles was predominantly followed by Fickian diffusion phenomenon. Study on hemocompatibilty approved the administration of this combinatorial nanoparticle for animal study. In vitro cytotoxicity study on Panc1 cells using MTT assay, reactive oxygen species production and cellular apoptotic assay demonstrated that combinatorial nanoparticle was more cytotoxic compared to native drugs solution. Furthermore, the combinatorial nanoparticle suppressed tumor growth more efficiently in Ehrlich (solid) tumor model than the native gemcitabine and betulinic acid at the same concentrations. These findings indicated that PLGA-PEG nanoparticle might be used to co-deliver multiple chemotherapeutic drugs with different properties for enhancing antitumor efficacy.
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22
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Kumar P, Bhadauria AS, Singh AK, Saha S. Betulinic acid as apoptosis activator: Molecular mechanisms, mathematical modeling and chemical modifications. Life Sci 2018; 209:24-33. [PMID: 30076920 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A natural product betulinic acid (BA) has gained a huge significance in the recent years for its strong cytotoxicity. Surprisingly, in spite of being an interesting cancer protecting agent on a variety of tumor cells, the normal cells and tissues are rarely affected by BA. Betulinic acid and analogues (BAs) generally exert through the mechanisms that provokes an event of direct cell death and bypass the resistance to normal chemotherapeutics. Although the major mechanism associated with its ability to induce direct cell death is mitochondrial apoptosis, there are several other mechanisms explored recently. Importantly, mathematical modeling of apoptosis has been an important tool to explore the precise mechanism involved in mitochondrial apoptosis. Thus, this review is an endeavor to sum up the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of BA and future directions to apply mathematical modeling technique to better understand the precise mechanism of BA-induced apoptosis. The last section of the review encompasses the plausible structural modifications and formulations to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranesh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
| | - Archana S Bhadauria
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur 273009, India
| | - Ashok K Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
| | - Sudipta Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India.
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Saneja A, Arora D, Kumar R, Dubey RD, Panda AK, Gupta PN. Therapeutic applications of betulinic acid nanoformulations. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1421:5-18. [PMID: 29377164 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Betulinic acid (BA), a naturally occurring plant-derived pentacyclic triterpenoid, has gained attention in recent years owing to its broad-spectrum biological and medicinal properties. Despite the pharmacological activity of BA, it has been associated with some drawbacks, such as poor aqueous solubility and short half-life in vivo, which limit therapeutic application. To solve these problems, much work in recent years has focused on enhancing BA's aqueous solubility, half-life, and efficacy by using nanoscale drug delivery systems. Several different kinds of nanoscale delivery systems-including polymeric nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, liposomes, polymeric conjugates, nanoemulsions, cyclodextrin complexes, and carbon nanotubes-have been developed for the delivery of BA. Here, we focus on the recent developments of novel nanoformulations used to deliver BA in order to improve its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Saneja
- Product Development Cell-II, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.,Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Jammu Campus, Jammu, India
| | - Divya Arora
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Jammu Campus, Jammu, India
| | - Robin Kumar
- Product Development Cell-II, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ravindra Dhar Dubey
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Amulya K Panda
- Product Development Cell-II, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Prem N Gupta
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Jammu Campus, Jammu, India
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24
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Henkin JM, Ren Y, Soejarto DD, Kinghorn AD. The Search for Anticancer Agents from Tropical Plants. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 107:1-94. [PMID: 30178270 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93506-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many of the clinically used anticancer agents in Western medicine are derived from secondary metabolites found in terrestrial microbes, marine organisms, and higher plants, with additional compounds of this type being currently in clinical trials. If plants are taken specifically, it is generally agreed that the prospects of encountering enhanced small organic-molecule chemical diversity are better if tropical rather than temperate species are investigated in drug discovery efforts. Plant collection in tropical source countries requires considerable preparation and organization to conduct in a responsible manner that abides by the provisions of the 1992 Rio Convention of Biological Diversity and the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. Correct taxonomic identifications and enhanced procedures for processing and documenting plant samples when collected in often difficult terrain are required. Phytochemical aspects of the work involve solvent fractionation, known compound dereplication, preliminary in vitro testing, and prioritization, leading to "activity-guided fractionation", compound structure determination, and analog development. Further evaluation of lead compounds requires solubility, formulation, preliminary pharmacokinetics, and in vivo testing in suitable models. Covering the work of the authors carried out in two sequential multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research projects, examples of very promising compounds discovered from plants acquired from Africa, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean region, and with potential anticancer activity will be mentioned. These include plant secondary metabolites of the diphyllin lignan, cyclopenta[b]benzofuran, triterpenoid, and tropane alkaloid types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Henkin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yulin Ren
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Djaja Djendoel Soejarto
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Douglas Kinghorn
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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25
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Saneja A, Kumar R, Singh A, Dhar Dubey R, Mintoo MJ, Singh G, Mondhe DM, Panda AK, Gupta PN. Development and evaluation of long-circulating nanoparticles loaded with betulinic acid for improved anti-tumor efficacy. Int J Pharm 2017; 531:153-166. [PMID: 28823888 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.08.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The clinical application of betulinic acid (BA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid with promising antitumor activity, is hampered due to its extremely poor water solubility and relatively short half-life in the systemic circulation. In order to address these issues, herein, we developed betulinic acid loaded polylactide-co-glycolide- monomethoxy polyethylene glycol nanoparticles (PLGA-mPEG NPs). The PLGA-mPEG co-polymer was synthesized and characterized using NMR and FT-IR. BA loaded PLGA-mPEG NPs were prepared by an emulsion solvent evaporation method. The developed nanoparticles had a desirable particle size (∼147nm) and exhibited uniform spherical shape under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PLGA-mPEG NPs were able to decrease the uptake by macrophages (i.e. J774A.1 and Raw 264.7 cells) as compared to PLGA nanoparticles. In vitro cytotoxicity in MCF7 and PANC-1 cells demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity of BA loaded PLGA-mPEG NPs as compared to free BA. The cellular uptake study in both the cell lines demonstrated time dependent uptake behavior. The enhanced cytotoxicity of BA NPs was also supported by increased cellular apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, generation of high reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell cycle arrest. Further, intravenous pharmacokinetics study revealed that BA loaded PLGA-mPEG NPs could prolong the circulation of BA and remarkably enhance half-life by ∼7.21 folds. Consequently, in vivo studies in Ehrlich tumor (solid) model following intravenous administration demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy of BA NPs as compared to native BA. Moreover, BA NPs treated Ehrlich tumor mice demonstrated no biochemical, hematological and histological toxicities. These findings collectively indicated that the BA loaded PLGA-mPEG NPs might serve as a promising nanocarrier for improved therapeutic efficacy of betulinic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Saneja
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India
| | - Robin Kumar
- Product Development Cell-II, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Amarinder Singh
- PK-PD-Toxicoloy Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Ravindra Dhar Dubey
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Mubashir J Mintoo
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India
| | - Gurdarshan Singh
- PK-PD-Toxicoloy Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India
| | - Dilip M Mondhe
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India.
| | - Amulya K Panda
- Product Development Cell-II, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Prem N Gupta
- Formulation & Drug Delivery Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India.
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Li Z, Liu X, Chen X, Chua MX, Wu YL. Targeted delivery of Bcl-2 conversion gene by MPEG-PCL-PEI-FA cationic copolymer to combat therapeutic resistant cancer. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2017; 76:66-72. [PMID: 28482577 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2017.02.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 protein expression was a key feature in human cancers with therapeutic resistance. Nuclear receptor Nur77 could induce the conformation change of Bcl-2 protein and converted it into an apoptosis inducer by "enemy to friend" strategy. However, the safe and effective delivery of this gene to combat therapeutic resistant cancer remained largely unexplored. In this report, we designed an amphiphilic cationic MPEG-PCL-PEI-FA copolymer, comprising biocompatible and hydrophilic methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG), biodegradable and hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), cationic poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) segments, and folic acid (FA) as targeting group, as a high efficient Nur77 gene carrier to folate receptor (FR) highly expressed and therapeutic resistant HeLa/Bcl-2 cancer cells. Interestingly, due to the incorporation of PCL and PEG segments, this MPEG-PCL-PEI-FA copolymer showed less toxicity but better gene transfection efficiency than non-viral gene carrier gold standard PEI (25kDa). This might be due to the formation of micelles to stabilize polyplex for enhanced gene transfection ability. More importantly, MPEG-PCL-PEI-FA copolymer exhibited excellent growth inhibition ability on therapeutic resistant HeLa/Bcl-2 cancer cells, which was FR overexpressed HeLa cervical cancer cells with high expression of Bcl-2 protein, thanks to its FA induced targeting ability, high gene transfection efficiency, and low cytotoxicity. This work signifies the first time that cationic amphiphilic MPEG-PCL-PEI-FA copolymers could be utilized for the gene delivery to therapeutic resistant cancer cells with high expression of anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 protein and the positive results are encouraging for the further design of polymeric platforms for combating drug resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore..
| | - Xuan Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ming Xuan Chua
- Department of Chemical & Bimolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
| | - Yun-Long Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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