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Moreira DA, Santos SD, Leiro V, Pêgo AP. Dendrimers and Derivatives as Multifunctional Nanotherapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041054. [PMID: 37111540 PMCID: PMC10140951 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. It affects more than 30 million people worldwide and costs over US$ 1.3 trillion annually. AD is characterized by the brain accumulation of amyloid β peptide in fibrillar structures and the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates in neurons, both leading to toxicity and neuronal death. At present, there are only seven drugs approved for the treatment of AD, of which only two can slow down cognitive decline. Moreover, their use is only recommended for the early stages of AD, meaning that the major portion of AD patients still have no disease-modifying treatment options. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient therapies for AD. In this context, nanobiomaterials, and dendrimers in particular, offer the possibility of developing multifunctional and multitargeted therapies. Due to their intrinsic characteristics, dendrimers are first-in-class macromolecules for drug delivery. They have a globular, well-defined, and hyperbranched structure, controllable nanosize and multivalency, which allows them to act as efficient and versatile nanocarriers of different therapeutic molecules. In addition, different types of dendrimers display antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-prion, and most importantly for the AD field, anti-amyloidogenic properties. Therefore, dendrimers can not only be excellent nanocarriers, but also be used as drugs per se. Here, the outstanding properties of dendrimers and derivatives that make them excellent AD nanotherapeutics are reviewed and critically discussed. The biological properties of several dendritic structures (dendrimers, derivatives, and dendrimer-like polymers) that enable them to be used as drugs for AD treatment will be pointed out and the chemical and structural characteristics behind those properties will be analysed. The reported use of these nanomaterials as nanocarriers in AD preclinical research is also presented. Finally, future perspectives and challenges that need to be overcome to make their use in the clinic a reality are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora A Moreira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FEUP-Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia D Santos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Victoria Leiro
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P Pêgo
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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Arbez-Gindre C, Steele BR, Micha-Screttas M. Dendrimers in Alzheimer’s Disease: Recent Approaches in Multi-Targeting Strategies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030898. [PMID: 36986759 PMCID: PMC10059864 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomaterials play an increasingly important role in current medicinal practice. As one of the most significant causes of human mortality, and one that is increasing year by year, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been the subject of a very great body of research and is an area in which nanomedicinal approaches show great promise. Dendrimers are a class of multivalent nanomaterials which can accommodate a wide range of modifications that enable them to be used as drug delivery systems. By means of suitable design, they can incorporate multiple functionalities to enable transport across the blood–brain barrier and subsequently target the diseased areas of the brain. In addition, a number of dendrimers by themselves often display therapeutic potential for AD. In this review, the various hypotheses relating to the development of AD and the proposed therapeutic interventions involving dendrimer–base systems are outlined. Special attention is focused on more recent results and on the importance of aspects such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in approaches to the design of new treatments.
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Dendrimers in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Processes (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/pr11020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are characterized by progressive loss of structure or function of neurons. Current therapies for NDs are only symptomatic and long-term ineffective. This challenge has promoted the development of new therapies against relevant targets in these pathologies. In this review, we will focus on the most promising therapeutic approaches based on dendrimers (DDs) specially designed for the treatment and diagnosis of NDs. DDs are well-defined polymeric structures that provide a multifunctional platform for developing different nanosystems for a myriad of applications. DDs have been proposed as interesting drug delivery systems with the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and increase the bioavailability of classical drugs in the brain, as well as genetic material, by reducing the synthesis of specific targets, as β-amyloid peptide. Moreover, DDs have been shown to be promising anti-amyloidogenic systems against amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and Tau aggregation, powerful agents for blocking α-synuclein (α-syn) fibrillation, exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, promote cellular uptake to certain cell types, and are potential tools for ND diagnosis. In summary, DDs have emerged as promising alternatives to current ND therapies since they may limit the extent of damage and provide neuroprotection to the affected tissues.
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Li H, Zha S, Li H, Liu H, Wong KL, All AH. Polymeric Dendrimers as Nanocarrier Vectors for Neurotheranostics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2203629. [PMID: 36084240 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202203629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dendrimers are polymers with well-defined 3D branched structures that are vastly utilized in various neurotheranostics and biomedical applications, particularly as nanocarrier vectors. Imaging agents can be loaded into dendrimers to improve the accuracy of diagnostic imaging processes. Likewise, combining pharmaceutical agents and anticancer drugs with dendrimers can enhance their solubility, biocompatibility, and efficiency. Practically, by modifying ligands on the surface of dendrimers, effective therapeutic and diagnostic platforms can be constructed and implemented for targeted delivery. Dendrimer-based nanocarriers also show great potential in gene delivery. Since enzymes can degrade genetic materials during their blood circulation, dendrimers exhibit promising packaging and delivery alternatives, particularly for central nervous system (CNS) treatments. The DNA and RNA encapsulated in dendrimers represented by polyamidoamine that are used for targeted brain delivery, via chemical-structural adjustments and appropriate generation, significantly improve the correlation between transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. This article reports a comprehensive review of dendrimers' structures, synthesis processes, and biological applications. Recent progress in diagnostic imaging processes and therapeutic applications for cancers and other CNS diseases are presented. Potential challenges and future directions in the development of dendrimers, which provide the theoretical basis for their broader applications in healthcare, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengde Li
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Zha
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Haolan Li
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Haitao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Ka-Leung Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Angelo H All
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
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Roy R, Bhattacharya P, Borah A. Targeting the Pathological Hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease Through Nanovesicleaided Drug Delivery Approach. Curr Drug Metab 2022; 23:693-707. [PMID: 35619248 DOI: 10.2174/1389200223666220526094802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nanovesicle technology is making a huge contribution to the progress of treatment studies for various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the leading neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment. Despite the prevalence of several forms of anti-AD drugs, the accelerating pace of AD incidence cannot becurbed, and for rescue, nanovesicle technology has grabbed much attention. METHODOLOGY Comprehensive literature search was carried out using relevant keywords and online database platforms. The main concepts that have been covered included a complex pathomechanism underlying increased acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, β-amyloid aggregation, and tau-hyperphosphorylation forming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain, which are amongst the major hallmarks of AD pathology. Therapeutic recommendations exist in the form of AchE inhibitors, along with anti-amyloid and anti-tau therapeutics, which are being explored at a high pace. The degree of the therapeutic outcome, however, gets restricted by the pharmacological limitations. Susceptibility to peripheral metabolism and rapid elimination, inefficiency to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reach the target brain site are the factors that lower the biostability and bioavailability of anti-AD drugs. The nanovesicle technology has emerged as a route to preserve the therapeutic efficiency of the anti-AD drugs and promote AD treatment. The review hereby aims to summarize the developments made by the nanovesicle technology in aiding the delivery of synthetic and plant-based therapeutics targeting the molecular mechanism of AD pathology. CONCLUSION Nanovesicles appear to efficiently aid in target-specific delivery of anti-AD therapeutics and nullify the drawbacks posed by free drugs, besides reducing the dosage requirement and the adversities associated. In addition, the nanovesicle technology also appears to uplift the therapeutic potential of several phyto-compounds with immense anti-AD properties. Furthermore, the review also sheds light on future perspectives to mend the gaps that prevail in the nanovesicle-mediated drug delivery in AD treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubina Roy
- Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Assam University, Silchar- 788011, Assam, India
| | - Pallab Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad - 382355, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Anupom Borah
- Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Assam University, Silchar- 788011, Assam, India
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Abdel-Aal RA, Hussein OA, Elsaady RG, Abdelzaher LA. Naproxen as a potential candidate for promoting rivastigmine anti-Alzheimer activity against aluminum chloride-prompted Alzheimer's-like disease in rats; neurogenesis and apoptosis modulation as a possible underlying mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 915:174695. [PMID: 34914971 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dependence and disability among the elderly worldwide. The traditional anti-Alzheimer medication, rivastigmine, one of the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), fails to achieve a definitive cure. We tested the hypothesis that naproxen administration to the rivastigmine-treated aluminum chloride (AlCl3) Alzheimer's rat model could provide an additive neuroprotective effect compared to rivastigmine alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS The studied groups were control (Cont), AlCl3 treated (Al), rivastigmine treated (RIVA), naproxen treated (Napro), and combined rivastigmine and naproxen treated (RIVA + Napro). Rats' memory, spatial learning, and cognitive behavior were assessed followed by evaluation of hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Hippocampal and cerebellar histopathology were thoroughly examined. Activated caspase-3 and the neuroepithelial stem cells marker; nestin expressions were immunohistochemically assayed. RESULTS AD rats displayed significantly impaired memory and cognitive function, augmented hippocampal AChE activity; massive neurodegeneration associated with enhanced astrogliosis, apoptosis, and impaired neurogenesis. Except for the enhancement of neurogenesis and suppression of apoptosis, the combination therapy had no additional neuroprotective benefit over rivastigmine-only therapy. CONCLUSION Naproxen's efficacy was established by its ability to function at the cellular level, improved neurogenesis, and decreased, apoptosis without having an additional mitigating impact on cognitive impairment in rivastigmine-treated AD rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raafat A Abdel-Aal
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ola A Hussein
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Reham G Elsaady
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Lobna A Abdelzaher
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
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Elzoghby AO, Abdelmoneem MA, Hassanin IA, Abd Elwakil MM, Elnaggar MA, Mokhtar S, Fang JY, Elkhodairy KA. Lactoferrin, a multi-functional glycoprotein: Active therapeutic, drug nanocarrier & targeting ligand. Biomaterials 2020; 263:120355. [PMID: 32932142 PMCID: PMC7480805 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in protein-based nanomedicine, inspired by the success of Abraxane® albumin-paclitaxel nanoparticles, have resulted in novel therapeutics used for treatment of challenging diseases like cancer and viral infections. However, absence of specific drug targeting, poor pharmacokinetics, premature drug release, and off-target toxicity are still formidable challenges in the clinic. Therefore, alternative protein-based nanomedicines were developed to overcome those challenges. In this regard, lactoferrin (Lf), a glycoprotein of transferrin family, offers a promising biodegradable well tolerated material that could be exploited both as an active therapeutic and drug nanocarrier. This review highlights the major pharmacological actions of Lf including anti-cancer, antiviral, and immunomodulatory actions. Delivery technologies of Lf to improve its pries and enhance its efficacy were also reviewed. Moreover, different nano-engineering strategies used for fabrication of drug-loaded Lf nanocarriers were discussed. In addition, the use of Lf for functionalization of drug nanocarriers with emphasis on tumor-targeted drug delivery was illustrated. Besides its wide application in oncology nano-therapeutics, we discussed the recent advances of Lf-based nanocarriers as efficient platforms for delivery of anti-parkinsonian, anti-Alzheimer, anti-viral drugs, immunomodulatory and bone engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O Elzoghby
- Center for Engineered Therapeutics, Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology (HST), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
| | - Mona A Abdelmoneem
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhur University, Damanhur, 22516, Egypt
| | - Islam A Hassanin
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21526, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Abd Elwakil
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Laboratory of Innovative Nanomedicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Manar A Elnaggar
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Nanotechnology Program, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo (AUC), New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Sarah Mokhtar
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Jia-You Fang
- Pharmaceutics Laboratory, Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan; Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Kadria A Elkhodairy
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt; Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
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