Effect of structure in ionised albumin based nanoparticle: Characterisation, Emodin interaction, and in vitro cytotoxicity

Albumin Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Nanoparticle-based systems are extensively investigated for drug delivery. Among others, with superior biocompatibility and enhanced targeting capacity, albumin appears to be a promising carrier for drug delivery. Albumin nanoparticles are highly favored in many disease therapies, as they have the proper chemical groups for modification, cell-binding sites for cell adhesion, and affinity to protein drugs for nanocomplex generation. Herein, this review summarizes the recent fabrication techniques, modification strategies, and application of albumin nanoparticles. We first discuss various albumin nanoparticle fabrication methods, from both pros and cons. Then, we provide a comprehensive introduction to the modification section, including organic albumin nanoparticles, metal albumin nanoparticles, inorganic albumin nanoparticles, and albumin nanoparticle-based hybrids. We finally bring further perspectives on albumin nanoparticles used for various critical diseases.

Neuroprotective, Anti-Inflammatory and Antifibrillogenic Offerings by Emodin against Alzheimer's Dementia: A Systematic Review

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the major causes of dementia in the elderly and exerts tremendous clinical, psychological and socio-economic constraints. Currently, there are no effective disease-modifying/retarding anti-AD agents. Emodin is a bioactive phytochemical with potent multimodal anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrillogenic properties. In particular, emodin may result in significant repression of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD. The purpose of this review is to accumulate and summarize all the primary research data evaluating the therapeutic actions of emodin in AD pathogenesis. Methodology: The search, selection, and retrieval of pertinent primary research articles were systematically performed using a methodically designed approach. A variety of keyword combinations were employed on online scholarly web-databases. Strict preset inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the retrieved studies. Data from the individual studies were summarized and compiled into different sections, based upon their findings. Results: Cellular and animal research indicates that emodin exerts robust multimodal neuroprotection in AD. While emodin effectively prevents tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomerization, it also mitigates their neurotoxicity by attenuating neuroinflammatory, oxidative, and bioenergetic defects. Evidences for emodin-mediated enhancements in memory, learning, and cognition were also found in the literature. Conclusion: Emodin is a potential anti-AD dietary supplement; however, further studies are warrantied to thoroughly understand its target players and mechanisms. Moreover, human clinical data on emodin-mediated amelioration of AD phenotype is largely lacking, and must be addressed in the future. Lastly, the safety of exogenously supplemented emodin must be thoroughly evaluated.

Rheological, Physical, and Spectroscopical Characterization of Gamma-Irradiated Albumin Nanoparticles Loaded with Anthocyanin

Anthocyanins are the main active compounds in blueberry. However, they have poor oxidation stability. If anthocyanins are encapsulated in protein nanoparticles, their oxidation resistance could be increased as a result of the slowing down of the oxidation process. This work describes the advantages of using a γ-irradiated bovine serum albumin nanoparticle bound to anthocyanins. The interaction was characterized biophysically, mainly by rheology. By computational calculation and simulation based on model nanoparticles, we estimated the number of molecules forming the albumin nanoparticles, which allowed us to infer the ratio of anthocyanin/nanoparticles. Measurements by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ potential, electron transmission microscopy, and rheology at room (25 °C) and physiological (37 °C) temperatures were performed. The spectroscopy measurements allowed identifying additional hydrophobic sites created during the irradiation process of the nanoparticle. On the basis of the rheological studies, it was observed that the BSA-NP trend is a Newtonian flow behavior type for all the temperatures selected, and there is a direct correlation between dynamic viscosity and temperature values. Furthermore, when anthocyanins are added, the system increases its resistance to the flow as reflected in the morphological changes observed by TEM, thus confirming the relationship between viscosity values and aggregate formation.

Two-Step Preparation of Protein-Decorated Biohybrid Quantum Dot Nanoparticles for Cellular Uptake

Decoration of nanoparticles with specific molecules such as antibodies, peptides, and proteins that preserve their biological properties is essential for the recognition and internalization of their specific target cells. Inefficient preparation of such decorated nanoparticles leads to nonspecific interactions diverting them from their desired target. We report a simple two-step procedure for the preparation of biohybrid nanoparticles containing a core of hydrophobic quantum dots coated with a multilayer of human serum albumin. These nanoparticles were prepared by ultra-sonication, crosslinked using glutaraldehyde, and decorated with proteins such as human serum albumin or human transferrin in their native conformations. These nanoparticles were homogeneous in size (20-30 nm), retained the fluorescent properties of quantum dots, and did not show a "corona effect" in the presence of serum. The uptake of transferrin-decorated quantum dot nanoparticles was observed in A549 lung cancer and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells but not in non-cancerous 16HB14o- or retinoic acid dopaminergic neurons differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, digitoxin-loaded transferrin-decorated nanoparticles decreased the number of A549 cells without effect on 16HB14o-. Finally, we analyzed the in vivo uptake of these biohybrids by murine retinal cells, demonstrating their capacity to selectively target and deliver into specific cell types with excellent traceability.

BSA-PEI Nanoparticle Mediated Efficient Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 into MDA-MB-231 Cells

The discovery of bacterial-derived Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has revolutionized genome engineering and gene therapy due to its wide range of applications. One of the major challenging issues in CRISPR/Cas system is the lack of an efficient, safe, and clinically suitable delivery of the system’s components into target cells. Here, we describe the development of polyethylenimine coated-bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-PEI NPs) for efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system in both DNA (px458 plasmid) and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) forms into MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line. Our data showed that synthesized BSA-PEI (BP) NPs delivered plasmid px458 at concentrations of 0.15, 0.25, and 0.35 µg/µl with efficiencies of approximately 29.7, 54.8, and 84.1% into MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Our study demonstrated that Cas9/sgRNA RNP complex efficiently (~ 92.6%) delivered by BSA-PEI NPs into the same cells. Analysis of toxicity and biocompatibility of synthesized NPs on human red blood cells, MDA-MB-231 cells, and mice showed that the selected concentration (28 µg/µl) of BSA-PEI NPs for transfection had no remarkable toxicity effects. Thus, obtained results suggest BSA-PEI NPs as one of the most promising carrier for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 to target cells.

IAEA Contribution to Nanosized Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals for Drug Delivery

The rapidly growing interest in the application of nanoscience in the future design of radiopharmaceuticals and the development of nanosized radiopharmaceuticals in the late 2000′s, resulted in the creation of a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2014. This CRP entitled ‘Nanosized delivery systems for radiopharmaceuticals’ involved a team of expert scientist from various member states. This team of scientists worked on a number of cutting-edge areas of nanoscience with a focus on developing well-defined, highly effective and site-specific delivery systems of radiopharmaceuticals. Specifically, focus areas of various teams of scientists comprised of the development of nanoparticles (NPs) based on metals, polymers, and gels, and their conjugation/encapsulation or decoration with various tumor avid ligands such as peptides, folates, and small molecule phytochemicals. The research and development efforts also comprised of developing optimum radiolabeling methods of various nano vectors using diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides including Tc-99m, Ga-68, Lu-177 and Au-198. Concerted efforts of teams of scientists within this CRP has resulted in the development of various protocols and guidelines on delivery systems of nanoradiopharmaceuticals, training of numerous graduate students/post-doctoral fellows and publications in peer reviewed journals while establishing numerous productive scientific networks in various participating member states. Some of the innovative nanoconstructs were chosen for further preclinical applications—all aimed at ultimate clinical translation for treating human cancer patients. This review article summarizes outcomes of this major international scientific endeavor.

Media interaction and stability of a gamma irradiated albumin nanoparticle

Protein nanoparticle designing at the nanoscale is challenging because of protein vulnerability to chemical and physical degradation during processing and biodistribution. We present a crosslinked gamma irradiated albumin-based nanoparticle as a potential drug delivery system. The focus was set on the study of the nanoparticle under adverse experimental conditions: different pH values, SDS, tween 80 and urea. The albumin-based nanoparticle was also tested against time stabilityand ionic strength solutions Regarding its stability against pH, the nanoparticle showed similarity to the behaviour of albumin, whilst the stability of the nanoparticle improved in urea and Tween 80. The nanoparticle was stable for 15 days, and presented no protein degradation in solutions up to 2 M salt concentration. Moreover, it presented a better and controlled drug release at slightly acidic pH values than at physiological pH. Results highlight the potentiality of the nanoparticle due to its biophysical properties as a drug delivery system. The hydrophobic character of the albumin molecules changes when they are in aggregating conditions, and treated with gamma irradiation. Our results reveal that stability of the nanoparticle can result from a competition between short-range attraction and long-range repulsion. They provide a framework for understanding the stability and functioning of nanoparticles. Most interesting, the results here serve as a platform for improving the design of the nanoparticle for future in vivo testing.