Chemoprevention of bilirubin encephalopathy with a nanoceutical agent

Targeted Redox Balancing through Pulmonary Nanomedicine Delivery Reverses Oxidative Stress Induced Lung Inflammation

Non-invasive delivery of drugs is important for the reversal of respiratory diseases essentially by-passing metabolic pathways and targeting large surface area of drug absorption. Here, we study the inhalation of a redox nano medicine namely citrate functionalized Mn3O4 (C-Mn3O4) duly encapsulated in droplet evaporated aerosols for the balancing of oxidative stress generated by the exposure of Chromium (VI) ion, a potential lung carcinogenic agent. Our optical spectroscopic in-vitro experiments demonstrates the efficacy of redox balancing of the encapsulated nanoparticles (NP) for the maintenance of a homeostatic condition. The formation of Cr-NP complex as an excretion of the heavy metal is also demonstrated through optical spectroscopic and high resolution transmission optical microscopy (HRTEM). Our studies confirm the oxidative stress mitigation activity of the Cr-NP complex. A detailed immunological assay followed by histopathological studies and assessment of mitochondrial parameters in pre-clinical mice model with chromium (Cr) induced lung inflammation establishes the mechanism of drug action to be redox-buffering. Thus, localised delivery of C-Mn3O4 NPs in the respiratory tract via aerosols can act as an effective nanotherapeutic agent against oxidative stress induced lung inflammation.

Direct Functionalization of Polysaccharide-Based Xylan Phenyl Carbonate Nanoparticles with Tumor Cell Specific Antibodies

An efficient and easy-to-use approach is presented for obtaining biocompatible polysaccharide-based nanoparticles (NP) that can act as tumor-specific drug delivery agents. Two antibodies are directly immobilized onto reactive xylan phenyl carbonate (XPC) NP; namely Cetuximab (CTX) that binds to human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Atezolizumab (ATZ) that binds to programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). High coupling efficiency (up to 100 %) are achieved without any pre-activation and no aggregation occurs during antibody immobilization. By quartz crystal microbalance experiments with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), flow cytometry assays, and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging it is demonstrated that the functionalized XPC-NP specifically bind to cells carrying the corresponding antigens. Moreover, the NP retain the antibody specific bioactivities (growth inhibition for CTX and induction of T-cell cytotoxicity for ATZ).

Chitosan functionalized Mn3O4 nanoparticles counteracts ulcerative colitis in mice through modulation of cellular redox state

Recent findings suggest a key role for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Several studies have also highlighted the efficacy of citrate functionalized Mn3O4 nanoparticles as redox medicine against a number of ROS-mediated disorders. Here we show that synthesized nanoparticles consisting of chitosan functionalized tri-manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4) can restore redox balance in a mouse model of UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Our in-vitro characterization of the developed nanoparticle confirms critical electronic transitions in the nanoparticle to be important for the redox buffering activity in the animal model. A careful administration of the developed nanoparticle not only reduces inflammatory markers in the animals, but also reduces the mortality rate from the induced disease. This study provides a proof of concept for the use of nanomaterial with synergistic anti-inflammatory and redox buffering capacity to prevent and treat ulcerative colitis.