Design of new protein drug delivery system (PDDS) with photoactive compounds as a potential application in the treatment of glioblastoma brain cancer

Protective effect of nanoemulsions containing CdTe quantum dots with potential application as a diagnostic agent

A nanoemulsion containing CdTe quantum dots (NE-CdTe-QD) was developed to shield cells from cadmium toxicity and shown to be a promising candidate for brain tumor diagnosis. CdTe-QD was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. CdTe-QD exhibited high luminescence emission at 700 nm, and their stability was maintained when encapsulated in lipidic/polymeric nanoemulsions (198 ± 2.0 nm; PDI = 0.174; - 49.0 mV). The biological effects of free and nanoemulsified CdTe-QD were tested in normal cells (NHF) and glioblastoma cell lines (U87-MG and T98G). Membrane colocalization of NE-CdTe-QD by T98G cells was observed. Instead, intracellular endoplasmic reticulum localization of NE-CdTe-QD was verified in U87-MG cells. Cell viability was reduced only when NE-CdTe-QD permeated the membrane of GBM cells, as observed in U87-MG cells, whereas no cytotoxic effects were observed in normal fibroblasts. Incorporating quantum dots directly into the brain cells is difficult. However, the nanoemulsions reduced the toxicity of CdTe-QD in zebrafish larvae and increased their circulation time, and direct injection into the zebrafish brain did not affect neural cell viability. This validates the potential application of these nanomaterials as diagnostic agents and satisfies the necessary criteria for their use as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.

Natural Food Components as Biocompatible Carriers: A Novel Approach to Glioblastoma Drug Delivery

Efficient drug delivery methods are crucial in modern pharmacotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy, minimize adverse effects, and improve patient compliance. Particularly in the context of glioblastoma treatment, there has been a recent surge in interest in using natural dietary components as innovative carriers for drug delivery. These food-derived carriers, known for their safety, biocompatibility, and multifunctional properties, offer significant potential in overcoming the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. This article thoroughly overviews numerous natural dietary components, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, used as drug carriers. Their mechanisms of action, applications in different drug delivery systems, and specific benefits in targeting glioblastoma are examined. Additionally, the safety, biocompatibility, and regulatory considerations of employing food components in drug formulations are discussed, highlighting their viability and future prospects in the pharmaceutical field.

Fabrication of folic acid-modified bovine serum albumin cloaked dual-drug loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive and targeted delivery of gastric cancer therapy

Combination therapy is a highly successful way to address the limitations of using a single treatment method and improve therapy's overall efficacy. In this study, we developed a unique hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticle (HMSN) coated with folic acid (FA)-modified bovine serum albumin (FA-BSA). This nanoparticle, referred to as HFB, was designed to target cancer cells and release dual therapeutic drugs, Indocyanine green (ICG) and Paclitaxel (PTX), in response to specific stimuli termed as HFB@IP. The BSA protein acts as a "gatekeeper" to prevent early drug releases and cargo leakage by detaching from BSA in reaction to GSH. The FA facilitates the targeted transport of the drug into cancer cells that express folate receptors (FR), enhancing the effectiveness of chemo-photodynamic treatment (PDT). The drug nanocarrier demonstrated in vitro pH/redox-triggered drug release from HFB@IP due to breaking the imine bonds between aldehyde-functionalized HMSN (CHO-HMSN) and FA-BSA with the disulfide bond inside BSA. In addition, various biological assessments, including cell uptake experiments, demonstrated that HFB@IP effectively targets SGC-7901 cells and induces apoptosis in vitro. Further, it exhibits remarkable efficiency in synergistically killing cancer cells through chemo-photodynamic therapy, as indicated by a combination index (CI) of 0.328. The results showed that combining HMSN with biodegradable stimuli-responsive BSA molecules could offer a promising approach for precise chemo-photodynamic therapy in treating gastric cancer, allowing for the controlled release of drugs as necessary.

Endothelialization of Whey Protein Isolate-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration

BACKGROUND

Whey protein isolate (WPI) is a by-product from the dairy industry, whose main component is β-lactoglobulin. Upon heating, WPI forms a hydrogel which can both support controlled drug delivery and enhance the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone-forming cells. This study makes a novel contribution by evaluating the ability of WPI hydrogels to support the growth of endothelial cells, which are essential for vascularization, which in turn is a pre-requisite for bone regeneration.

METHODS

In this study, the proliferation and antioxidant levels in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured with WPI supplementation were evaluated using real-time cell analysis and flow cytometry. Further, the attachment and growth of HUVECs seeded on WPI-based hydrogels with different concentrations of WPI (15%, 20%, 30%, 40%) were investigated.

RESULTS

Supplementation with WPI did not affect the viability or proliferation of HUVECs monitored with real-time cell analysis. At the highest used concentration of WPI (500 µg/mL), a slight induction of ROS production in HUVECs was detected as compared with control samples, but it was not accompanied by alterations in cellular thiol levels. Regarding WPI-based hydrogels, HUVEC adhered and spread on all samples, showing good metabolic activity. Notably, cell number was highest on samples containing 20% and 30% WPI.

CONCLUSIONS

The demonstration of the good compatibility of WPI hydrogels with endothelial cells in these experiments is an important step towards promoting the vascularization of hydrogels upon implantation in vivo, which is expected to improve implant outcomes in the future.

Zinc pthalocyanine loaded poly (lactic acid) nanoparticles by double emulsion methodology for photodynamic therapy against 9 L/LacZ gliosarcoma cells

Development delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, represent a growing area in biomedical research. Nanoparticles (NP) were prepared using a double-emulsion method to load zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc). NP were obtained using poly (lactic acid) (PLA). ZnPc is a second generation of photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). ZnPc loaded PLA nanoparticles (NPLA-ZnPc) were prepared by double-emulsion method, characterized and available in cellular culture. The mean nanoparticle size presented particle size was 384.7 ± 84.2 nm with polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.150 ± 0.015, and the encapsulation efficiency was of 83%. The nanoparticle formulations presented negative zeta potential values (-27.5 ± 1.0 mV), explaining their colloidal stability. ZnPc loaded nanoparticles maintain its photophysical behavior after encapsulation. Photosensitizer release from nanoparticles was sustained over 168 h with a biphasic ZnPc release profile. An in vitro phototoxic effect in range of 80% was observed in 9 L/LacZ gliosarcoma cells at laser light doses (10 J cm^-2) with 3.0 µg mL^-1 of NPLA-ZnPc. All the physical-chemical, photophysical and photobiological measurements performed allow us to conclude that ZnPc loaded PLGA nanoparticles is a promising drug delivery system for PDT.

Cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) as a novel drug delivery system to diagnose, delineate, and treat human glioblastoma

We have prepared and characterized a cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion called LDE, a mimic of classic lipoprotein macromolecules, that can be applied as a new drug delivery system for aluminum phthalocyanine chloride (PcAlCl). The LDE containing PcAlCl system prepared herein had mean size and zeta potential of 127 nm and -29 mV, respectively, and encapsulation rate efficiency was 81%, and stability of 17 months. Compared to classical liposomes, LDE was more efficient, especially in brain diseases like glioblastoma (GBM), as revealed by tests on the U-87 MG cell line. The LDEPc formulation did not display dark cytotoxicity, as expected. The best light dose for LDEPc was 1.0 J·cm^-2: its activity was 55% higher than PcAlCl in a compatible organic medium. In the U-87 MG cells, apoptosis was the preferential pathway activated by PDT. These results strongly support the use of LDE as a new theranostic system.

Recent advances on drug delivery nanocarriers for cerebral disorders

Pharmacotherapies for brain disorders are generally faced with obstacles from the blood-brain barrier (BBB). There are a variety of drug delivery systems that have been put forward to cross or bypass the BBB with the access to the central nervous system. Brain drug delivery systems have benefited greatly from the development of nanocarriers, including lipids, polymers and inorganic materials. Consequently, various kinds of brain drug delivery nano-systems have been established, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs), nanomicelles, nanohydrogels, dendrimers, mesoporous silica nanoparticles and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The characteristics of their carriers and preparations usually differ from each other, as well as their transportation mechanisms into intracerebral lesions. In this review, different types of brain drug delivery nanocarriers are classified and summarized, especially their significant achievements, to present several recommendations and directions for future strategies of cerebral delivery.