Phosphorylated Silk Fibroin Matrix for Methotrexate Release

Therapeutic Potential of Methotrexate-Loaded Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Coated with Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and Polyethylene Glycol against Breast Cancer: Development, Characterization, and Comprehensive In Vitro Investigation

Novel superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) of Methotrexate (MTX) were developed using supercritical liquid technology and optimized with a Box-Behnken design in order to assess its potential as a candidate for the treatment of breast cancer. MTX-SPIONs coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethylene glycol 400 had an aggregate size of 500 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 46.8 ± 3.9%. The Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed a shift in the main bands due to intermolecular hydrogen bonds, whereas the differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed the absence of the MTX melting endotherm, indicating complete encapsulation with oxide nanoparticles. The zeta potential results indicated a value of 4.98 mV, whereas the in vitro release study revealed an initial burst release followed by a considerable release of 35.1 ± 2.78% after 12 h. Using flow cytometry, control, MTX, and MTX-SPIONs were evaluated for apoptosis, with MTX-SPIONs exhibiting greater apoptosis than the control group and MTX. In addition, MTX-SPIONs inhibited cell division and content organization while substantially increasing the proportion of cells in the G1 and G2 phases relative to the control group. MTX-SPIONs exhibited prolonged anticancer effects against MCF-7 cell lines compared to MTX alone, indicating that SPION-delivered chemotherapeutics may increase cytotoxicity. The medication was stable with low encapsulated drug loss, suggesting that the supercritical liquid technology-based method is a promising way for generating drug-polymer magnetic composite nanoparticles for cancer treatment.

In vitro phosphorylation as tool for modification of silk and keratin fibrous materials

An overview is given of the recent work on in vitro enzymatic phosphorylation of silk fibroin and human hair keratin. Opposing to many chemical "conventional" approaches, enzymatic phosphorylation is in fact a mild reaction and the treatment falls within "green chemistry" approach. Silk and keratin are not phosphorylated in vivo, but in vitro. This enzyme-driven modification is a major technological breakthrough. Harsh chemical chemicals are avoided, and mild conditions make enzymatic phosphorylation a real "green chemistry" approach. The current communication presents a novel approach stating that enzyme phosphorylation may be used as a tool to modify the surface charge of biocompatible materials such as keratin and silk.