Synthesis characterization and biological evaluation of alginate nanoparticle for the targeted delivery of curcumin

Evaluation of drug release efficiency and antibacterial property of a pH-responsive dextran-based silver nanocomposite hydrogel

The bioavailability of curcumin (CUR), a highly lipophilic and commonly used anticancer drug, is mainly affected by its poor solubility in aqueous environment and quick metabolism. These challenges can be met by employing delivery systems. Nanocomposite materials have been used as delivery systems to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of the drug. This study aims to develop dextran-graft-poly(4-acryloylmorpholine) silver nanocomposite using a microwave-assisted method to evaluate its drug-release efficiency and antimicrobial activity. The materials were characterized by FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS, XRD, HR-TEM, TGA, and BET techniques. Drug loading and release efficiency were evaluated using CUR as the model drug. The swelling and drug release studies were conducted in buffer solutions of pH 1.2 and 7.4. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were employed to evaluate the antibacterial activity. The cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay against the breast MCF-10. Higher swelling and drug release were observed at pH 1.2 than 7.4. Nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. Cytotoxicity study proved the safety of the developed matrix. The results suggest the developed nanocomposite hydrogel to be a promising polymer matrix for the sustained release of CUR for cancer treatment that requires infectious control.

Novel pH-responsive alginate-stabilized curcumin-selenium-ZIF-8 nanocomposites for synergistic breast cancer therapy

In this study, a novel selenium@zeolitic imidazolate framework core/shell nanocomposite stabilised with alginate was used to improve the anti-tumour activity of curcumin. The developed alginate-stabilised curcumin-loaded selenium@zeolitic imidazolate framework (Alg@Cur@Se@ZIF-8) had a mean diameter of 159.6 nm and polydispersity index < 0.25. The release of curcumin from the nanocarrier at pH 5.4 was 2.69 folds as high as at pH 7.4. The bare nanoparticles showed haemolytic activity of about 12.16% at a concentration of 500 µg/mL while covering their surface with alginate reduced this value to 5.2%. By investigating cell viability, it was found that Alg@Cur@Se@ZIF-8 caused more cell death than pure curcumin. Additionally, in vivo studies showed that Alg@Cur@Se@ZIF-8 dramatically reduced tumour growth compared to free curcumin in 4T1 tumour-bearing mice. More importantly, the histological study confirmed that the developed drug delivery system successfully inhibited lung and liver metastasis while causing negligible toxicity in vital organs. Overall, due to the excellent inhibitory activity on cancerous cell lines and tumour-bearing animals, Alg@Cur@Se@ZIF-8 can be considered promising for breast cancer therapy.

Traversing the diverse avenues of exopolysaccharides-based nanocarriers in the management of cancer

Exopolysaccharides are unique polymers generated by living organisms such as algae, fungi and bacteria to protect them from environmental factors. After a fermentative process, these polymers are extracted from the medium culture. Exopolysaccharides have been explored for their anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory effects. Specifically, they have acquired massive attention in novel drug delivery strategies owing to their indispensable properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, and lack of irritation. Exopolysaccharides such as dextran, alginate, hyaluronic acid, pullulan, xanthan gum, gellan gum, levan, curdlan, cellulose, chitosan, mauran, and schizophyllan exhibited excellent drug carrier properties. Specific exopolysaccharides, such as levan, chitosan, and curdlan, have demonstrated significant antitumor activity. Moreover, chitosan, hyaluronic acid and pullulan can be employed as targeting ligands decorated on nanoplatforms for effective active tumor targeting. This review shields light on the classification, unique characteristics, antitumor activities and nanocarrier properties of exopolysaccharides. In addition, in vitro human cell line experiments and preclinical studies associated with exopolysaccharide-based nanocarriers have also been highlighted.

Biopolymer- and Lipid-Based Carriers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Ingredients

Natural ingredients are gaining increasing attention from manufacturers following consumers’ concerns about the excessive use of synthetic ingredients. However, the use of natural extracts or molecules to achieve desirable qualities throughout the shelf life of foodstuff and, upon consumption, in the relevant biological environment is severely limited by their poor performance, especially with respect to solubility, stability against environmental conditions during product manufacturing, storage, and bioavailability upon consumption. Nanoencapsulation can be seen as an attractive approach with which to overcome these challenges. Among the different nanoencapsulation systems, lipids and biopolymer-based nanocarriers have emerged as the most effective ones because of their intrinsic low toxicity following their formulation with biocompatible and biodegradable materials. The present review aims to provide a survey of the recent advances in nanoscale carriers, formulated with biopolymers or lipids, for the encapsulation of natural compounds and plant extracts.

Hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanoparticles as a controlled drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural linear polysaccharide which has been widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals including drug delivery systems because of its excellent biocompatibility. In this study, we investigated the one-pot synthesis of HA-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP-HA) as a drug delivery carrier. The HAs with different molecular weights were produced by e-beam irradiation and employed as coating materials for AuNPs. Sulfasalazine (SSZ), a poorly water-soluble drug, was used to demonstrate the efficiency of drug delivery and the controlled release behaviour of the AuNP-HA. As the molecular weight of the HA decreased, the drug encapsulation efficiency of the SSZ increased up to 94%, while drug loading capacity of the SSZ was maintained at the level of about 70%. The prepared AuNP-HA-SSZ exhibited slow release of the SSZ over a short time and excellent sensitivity to different pHs and physiological conditions. The SSZ release rate was the lowest in simulated gastric conditions and the highest in simulated intestinal conditions. In this case, the AuNP-HA protects the SSZ from release under the acidic pH conditions in the stomach; on the other hand, the drug release was facilitated in the basic environment of the small intestine and colon. The SSZ was released under simulated intestinal conditions through anomalous drug transport and followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Therefore, this study suggests that AuNP-HA is a promising orally-administered and intestine-targeted drug delivery system with controlled release characteristics.

Progressive Application of Marine Biomaterials in Targeted Cancer Nanotherapeutics

The marine microenvironment harbors many unique species of organisms that produce a plethora of compounds that help mankind cure a wide range of diseases. The diversity of products from the ocean bed serves as potentially healing materials and inert vehicles carrying the drug of interest to the target site. Several composites still lay undiscovered under the blue canopy, which can provide treatment for untreated diseases that keep haunting the earth periodically. Cancer is one such disease that has been of interest to several eminent scientists worldwide due to the heterogenic complexity involved in the disease's pathophysiology. Due to extensive globalization and environmental changes, cancer has become a lifestyle disease continuously increasing exponentially in the current decade. This ailment requires a definite remedy that treats by causing minimal damage to the body's normal cells. The application of nanotechnology in medicine has opened up new avenues of research in targeted therapeutics due to their highly malleable characteristics. Marine waters contain an immense ionic environment that succors the production of distinct nanomaterials with exceptional character, yielding highly flexible molecules to modify, thus facilitating the engineering of targeted biomolecules. This review provides a short insight into an array of marine biomolecules that can be probed into cancer nanotherapeutics sparing healthy cells.

Nanoformulations of α-Mangostin for Cancer Drug Delivery System

Natural compounds are emerging as effective agents for the treatment of malignant diseases. The active constituent of α-mangostin from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana L. has earned significant interest as a plant base compound with anticancer properties. Despite α-mangostin's superior properties as an anticancer agent, its applications are limited due to its poor solubility and physicochemical stability, rapid systemic clearance, and low cellular uptake. Our review aimed to summarize and discuss the nanoparticle formulations of α-mangostin for cancer drug delivery systems from published papers recorded in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We investigated various types of α-mangostin nanoformulations to improve its anticancer efficacy by improving bioavailability, cellular uptake, and localization to specific areas These nanoformulations include nanofibers, lipid carrier nanostructures, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanomicelles, liposomes, and gold nanoparticles. Notably, polymeric nanoparticles and nanomicelles can increase the accumulation of α-mangostin into tumors and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. In addition, polymeric nanoparticles with the addition of target ligands can increase the cellular uptake of α-mangostin. In conclusion, nanoformulations of α-mangostin are a promising tool to enhance the cellular uptake, accumulation in cancer cells, and the efficacy of α-mangostin as a candidate for anticancer drugs.

Star polyester-based folate acid-targeting nanoparticles for doxorubicin and curcumin co-delivery to combat multidrug-resistant breast cancer

Chemotherapeutic treatments are indispensable in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistance, strong cell toxicity, and poor targeting selection has inhibited their clinical application. In this study, two synergistic drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR), were co-administered to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR). Based on the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, we developed folic acid-modified nanoparticles ((DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs) based on a star-shaped polyester (FA-TRI-CL) to enhance the tumor targeting selectivity and drug loading (DL) capacity. The (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs displayed a characteristic spheroid morphology with an ideal diameter (186.52 nm), polydispersity index (0.024), zeta potential (-18.87 mV), and good entrapment efficiency (97.64%/78.13%, DOX/CUR) and DL (20.27%/11.29%, DOX/CUR) values. In vitro pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic experiments demonstrated that the (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs were gradually released, and they displayed the highest cell apoptosis and cellular uptake in MCF-7/ADR cells. Additionally, in vivo results illustrated that (DOX + CUR)-FA-NPs not only displayed significant tumor targeting and anticancer efficacy, but also induced less pathological damage to the normal tissue. In summary, co-administered DOX and CUR appeared to reverse MDR, and this targeted combinational nanoscale delivery system could thus be a promising carrier for tumor therapies in the future.

In vitro anti-leukemic assessment and sustained release behaviour of cytarabine loaded biodegradable polymer based nanoparticles

AIMS

The study aimed to develop, characterize, and evaluate poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) based nanoparticles for the sustained release behaviour of cytarabine and to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer influence on KG-1 leukemic cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nanoprecipitation method was used for the preparation of cytarabine loaded PCL nanoparticles. The developed nanoparticles were characterized for physicochemical properties and the anti-leukemic effect on the KG-1 cell line was evaluated.

KEY FINDINGS

A total number of five formulations were prepared with size range from 120.5 ± 1.18 to 341.5 ± 3.02, entrapment efficiency (41.31 ± 0.49 to 62.28 ± 0.39%), spherical morphology, negative zeta potentials, considerable particle size distribution, compatibility between the drug and excipients and thermal stability. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of cytarabine in PCL polymer. In vitro drug release in phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4) showed initial burst release followed by sustained release up to 48 h. The sustained release behaviour efficiently increased the toxicity of cytarabine-loaded PCL nanoparticles to KG-1 (leukemic) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines in time dependent manner with lower IC₅₀ values than that of drug solution. The flow cytometry study revealed the better apoptotic activity of cytarabine loaded PCL nanoparticle against treated KG-1 cell line. The western blot analysis confirmed the upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein.

SIGNIFICANCE

The experimental results suggest that cytarabine loaded PCL nanoparticles is an efficient carrier to prevent the dose associated toxicity while providing sustained release pattern to ensure maximum anti-cancer influence.

Electrosprayed Alginate Nanoparticles as CRISPR Plasmid DNA Delivery Carrier: Preparation, Optimization, and Characterization

Therapeutic gene editing is becoming more feasible with the emergence of the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system. However, the successful implementation of CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics requires a safe and efficient in vivo delivery of the CRISPR components, which remains challenging. This study presents successful preparation, optimization, and characterization of alginate nanoparticles (ALG NPs), loaded with two CRISPR plasmids, using electrospray technique. The aim of this delivery system is to edit a target gene in another plasmid (green fluorescent protein (GFP)). The effect of formulation and process variables were evaluated. CRISPR ALG NPs showed mean size and zeta potential of 228 nm and -4.42 mV, respectively. Over 99.0% encapsulation efficiency was achieved while preserving payload integrity. The presence of CRISPR plasmids in the ALG NPs was confirmed by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The tests revealed that the nanoparticles were cytocompatible and successfully introduced the Cas9 transgene in HepG2 cells. Nanoparticles-transfected HepG2 was able to edit its target plasmid by introducing double-strand break (DSB) in GFP gene, indicating the bioactivity of CRISPR plasmids encapsulated in alginate nanoparticles. This suggests that this method is suitable for biomedical application in vitro or ex vivo. Future investigation of theses nanoparticles might result in nanocarrier suitable for in vivo delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Curcumin Delivery Mediated by Bio-Based Nanoparticles: A Review

Todays, nano-pharmaceutics is emerging as an important field of science to develop and improve efficacy of different drugs. Although nutraceuticals are currently being utilized in the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases such as cancers, a number of them have displayed issues associated with their solubility, bioavailability, and bio-degradability. In the present review, we focus on curcumin, an important and widely used polyphenol, with diverse pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral, etc. Notwithstanding, it also exhibits poor solubility and bioavailability that may compromise its clinical application to a great extent. Therefore, the manipulation and encapsulation of curcumin into a nanocarrier formulation can overcome these major drawbacks and potentially may lead to a far superior therapeutic efficacy. Among different types of nanocarriers, biological and biopolymer carriers have attracted a significant attention due to their pleiotropic features. Thus, in the present review, the potential protective and therapeutic applications of curcumin, as well as different types of bio-nanocarriers, which can be used to deliver curcumin effectively to the different target sites will be discussed.

Polymeric nanoparticles as carrier for targeted and controlled delivery of anticancer agents

In recent decades, many novel methods by using nanoparticles (NPs) have been investigated for diagnosis, drug delivery and treatment of cancer. Accordingly, the potential of NPs as carriers is very significant for the delivery of anticancer drugs, because cancer treatment with NPs has led to the improvement of some of the drug delivery limitations such as low blood circulation time and bioavailability, lack of water solubility, drug adverse effect. In addition, the NPs protect drugs against enzymatic degradation and can lead to the targeted and/or controlled release of the drug. The present review focuses on the potential of NPs that can help the targeted and/or controlled delivery of anticancer agents for cancer therapy.

Polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol copolymer targeted by anti-HER2 nanobody for specific delivery of transcriptionally targeted tBid containing construct

The present research seeks to investigate the process of mixing targeted gene delivery and transcriptional targeting. We have conjugated Polyethylenimine polymers (PEI) and molecules of poly (ethylene glycol). The next step was covalent attachment of anti-HER2 variables domains of camelid heavy chains antibodies (VHHs) or nanobodies (Nbs) to the distal terminals of NHS-PEG3500 in PEI-PEG nanoparticles. The whole procedure yielded PEI-PEG-Nb immunoconjugates. Having determined the properties of polyplexes, steps were taken to investigate the most efficient ratio of PEI polymers to pDNA molecules (N/P) so that the greatest rate of transfection may be obtained. This immune targeted nano biopolymer could condense the gene constructs that coded a transcriptionally targeted truncated -Bid (tBid) killer gene which was controlled by the breast cancer-specific MUC1 promoter. The favourable physicochemical properties matching both the size and zeta potential were observed in engineered polyplexes. Elevated transfection efficiency in HER2 positive cell lines using Nb-modified polyplexes were shown by the results of flow cytometry as compared against non-modified particles. 1.6 and 4.8 fold higher transfection efficiencies were observed in in vitro gene expression researches which used PEI-PEG-Nb/pGL4.50 compared to the situation when native PEI polymers were utilized in both BT-474 and SK-BR-3, respectively. A 2.22 and 3.62 fold rise in the level of tBid gene expression in BT-474 and SK-BR-3 cell lines relative to unmodified PEI treated cells was the result of transfection with PEI-PEG-Nb/pMUC1-tBid, respectively. In those HER2-positive cells which were transfected by targeted polyplexes, higher levels of cell death were observed. This fact points not only to the effective targeted delivery, but it is also indicative of transcriptional targeting efficiency of tBid killer gene when its expression is controlled by MUC1 promoter.

Alginate Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Targeting

Nanotechnology refers to the control, manipulation, study and manufacture of structures and devices at the nanometer size range. The small size, customized surface, improved solubility and multi-functionality of nanoparticles will continue to create new biomedical applications, as nanoparticles allow to dominate stability, solubility and bioavailability, as well controlled release of drugs. The type of a nanoparticle, and its related chemical, physical and morphological properties influence its interaction with living cells, as well as determine the route of clearance and possible toxic effects. This field requires cross-disciplinary research and gives opportunities to design and develop multifunctional devices, which allow the diagnosis and treatment of devastating diseases. Over the past few decades, biodegradable polymers have been studied for the fabrication of drug delivery systems. There was extensive development of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery and tissue engineering, in view of their applications in controlling the release of drugs, stabilizing labile molecules from degradation and site-specific drug targeting. The primary aim is to reduce dosing frequency and prolong the therapeutic outcomes. For this purpose, inert excipients should be selected, being biopolymers, e.g. sodium alginate, commonly used in controlled drug delivery. Nanoparticles composed of alginate (known as anionic polysaccharide widely distributed in the cell walls of brown algae which, when in contact with water, forms a viscous gum) have emerged as one of the most extensively characterized biomaterials used for drug delivery and targeting a set of administration routes. Their advantages include not only the versatile physicochemical properties, which allow chemical modifications for site-specific targeting but also their biocompatibility and biodegradation profiles, as well as mucoadhesiveness. Furthermore, mechanical strength, gelation, and cell affinity can be modulated by combining alginate nanoparticles with other polymers, surface tailoring using specific targeting moieties and by chemical or physical cross-linking. However, for every physicochemical modification in the macromolecule/ nanoparticles, a new toxicological profile may be obtained. In this paper, the different aspects related to the use of alginate nanoparticles for drug delivery and targeting have been revised, as well as how their toxicological profile will determine the therapeutic outcome of the drug delivery system.