Insight into oral amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles for colorectal cancer: comprehensive mathematical model of drug release kinetic studies and antitumoral efficacy in 3D spheroid colon tumors

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer type globally and ranks second in cancer-related deaths. With the current treatment possibilities, a definitive, safe, and effective treatment approach for CRC has not been presented yet. However, new drug delivery systems show promise in this field. Amphiphilic cyclodextrin-based nanocarriers are innovative and interesting formulation approaches for targeting the colon through oral administration. In our previous studies, oral chemotherapy for colon tumors was aimed and promising results were obtained with formulation development studies, mucin interaction, mucus penetration, cytotoxicity, and permeability in 2D cell culture, and furthermore in vivo antitumoral and antimetastatic efficacy in early and late-stage colon cancer models and biodistribution after single dose oral administration. This study was carried out to further elucidate oral camptothecin (CPT)-loaded amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles for the local treatment of colorectal tumors in terms of their drug release behavior and efficacy in 3-dimensional tumor models to predict the in vivo efficacy of different nanocarriers. The main objective was to build a bridge between formulation development and in vitro phase and animal studies. In this context, CPT-loaded polycationic-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles caused reduced cell viability in CT26 and HT29 colon carcinoma spheroid tumors of mice and human origin, respectively. In addition, the release profile, which is one of the critical quality parameters in new drug delivery systems, was investigated mathematically by release kinetic modeling for the first time. The overall findings indicated that the strategy of orally targeting anticancer drugs such as CPT with positively charged poly-β-CD-C6 nanoparticles to colon tumors for local and/or systemic efficacy is a promising approach.

Dramatic influence of the hydroxy functionality of azasugar moiety in the head group region of tocopherol-based cationic lipids on in vitro gene transfection efficacies

Cationic lipids have been effectively used as nonviral vectors for the delivery of polynucleic acids into the cytosol.

Cyclodextrin-Based Functional Glyconanomaterials

Cyclodextrins (CDs) have long occupied a prominent position in most pharmaceutical laboratories as "off-the-shelve" tools to manipulate the pharmacokinetics of a broad range of active principles, due to their unique combination of biocompatibility and inclusion abilities. The development of precision chemical methods for their selective functionalization, in combination with "click" multiconjugation procedures, have further leveraged the nanoscaffold nature of these oligosaccharides, creating a direct link between the glyco and the nano worlds. CDs have greatly contributed to understand and exploit the interactions between multivalent glycodisplays and carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins) and to improve the drug-loading and functional properties of nanomaterials through host-guest strategies. The whole range of capabilities can be enabled through self-assembly, template-assisted assembly or covalent connection of CD/glycan building blocks. This review discusses the advancements made in this field during the last decade and the amazing variety of functional glyconanomaterials empowered by the versatility of the CD component.

Erlotinib entrapped in cholesterol-depleting cyclodextrin nanoparticles shows improved antitumoral efficacy in 3D spheroid tumors of the lung and the liver

Erlotinib (ERL), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for therapeutic use in non-small cell lung cancer is further researched for eventual liver cancer treatment. However, conventional ERL has important bioavailability problems resulting from oral administration, poor solubility and gastrointestinal degradation into inactive metabolites. Alternative administration routes and nanoparticulate drug delivery systems are studied to prevent or reduce these drawbacks. In this study, ERL-loaded CD nanosphere and nanocapsule formulations capable of cholesterol depletion in resistant cancer cells were evaluated for ERL delivery. Drug loading and release profile depended largely on the surface charge of nanoparticles. Antiproliferative activity data obtained from 2D and 3D cell culture models demonstrated that polycationic βCD nanocapsules were the most effective formulation for ERL delivery to lung and liver cancer cells. 3D tumour tumoral penetration studies further revealed that nanocapsule formulations penetrated deeper into the tumour through the multilayered cells. Furthermore, all formulations were able to extract membrane cholesterol from lung and liver cancer cell lines, indicating the induction of apoptosis and overcoming drug resistance. In conclusion, given their tumoral penetration and cell membrane cholesterol depletion abilities, amphiphilic CD nanocapsules emerge as promising alternatives to improve the safety and efficiency of ERL treatment of both liver and lung tumours.

Cyclodextrin nanoparticle bound oral camptothecin for colorectal cancer: Formulation development and optimization

Chemotherapeutic drugs for colorectal cancer(CRC) which is currently the third most lethal cancer globally, are administered intravenously (iv) due to their low oral bioavailability resulting from their physicochemical properties. Non-selective biodistribution and difficulties of parenteral administration reduce treatment efficacy. The aim of this work is to develop cyclodextrin (CD) based cationic nanoparticles (NPs) for CRC treatment with model drug camptothecin (CPT) that can be administered orally, protecting CPT through gastrointestinal tract (GIT), accumulating at mucus layer and providing an effective local treatment for the tumor area. NPs using two different amphiphilic CDs were prepared and coated with polyethylenimine (PEI) or chitosan (CS) to obtain positively charged surface for all formulations. Pre-formulation studies resulted in optimal formulation, CPT loaded Poly-β-CD-C6 NPs, with 135 nm diameter and zeta potential of + 40 mV. In vitro release study was designed to represent gastrointestinal pH and transit time revealing 52% of encapsulated CPT successfully delivered all the way to simulated colon. CPT bound to Poly-β-CD-C6 NPs exhibited higher cytotoxicity on HT-29 cells compared to equivalent CPT in solution. Caco-2 cell permeability studies showed 276% increase in CPT permeability and significantly higher mucosal penetration in cationic CD nanoparticle form.

Trehalose-based Siamese twin amphiphiles with tunable self-assembling, DNA nanocomplexing and gene delivery properties

Trehalose Siamese twin vectors, encompassing gemini and facial amphiphilicity, promote pDNA compaction into core–shell nanocomplexes and selective delivery in the lungs.

Plasmid-Templated Control of DNA-Cyclodextrin Nanoparticle Morphology through Molecular Vector Design for Effective Gene Delivery

Engineering self-assembled superstructures through complexation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and single-isomer nanometric size macromolecules (molecular nanoparticles) is a promising strategy for gene delivery. Notably, the functionality and overall architecture of the vector can be precisely molded at the atomic level by chemical tailoring, thereby enabling unprecedented opportunities for structure/self-assembling/pDNA delivery relationship studies. Beyond this notion, by judiciously preorganizing the functional elements in cyclodextrin (CD)-based molecular nanoparticles through covalent dimerization, here we demonstrate that the morphology of the resulting nanocomplexes (CDplexes) can be tuned, from spherical to ellipsoidal, rod-type, or worm-like nanoparticles, which makes it possible to gain understanding of their shape-dependent transfection properties. The experimental findings are in agreement with a shift from chelate to cross-linking interactions on going from primary-face- to secondary-face-linked CD dimers, the pDNA partner acting as an active payload and as a template. Most interestingly, the transfection efficiency in different cells was shown to be differently impacted by modifications of the CDplex morphology, which has led to the identification of an optimal prototype for tissue-selective DNA delivery to the spleen in vivo.

Cyclodextrins as versatile building blocks for regenerative medicine

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are one of the most versatile substances produced by nature, and it is in the aqueous biological environment where the multifaceted potential of CDs can be completely unveiled. CDs form inclusion complexes with a variety of guest molecules, including polymers, producing very diverse biocompatible supramolecular structures. Additionally, CDs themselves can trigger cell differentiation to distinct lineages depending on the substituent groups and also promote salt nucleation. These features together with the affinity-driven regulated release of therapeutic molecules, growth factors and gene vectors explain the rising interest for CDs as building blocks in regenerative medicine. Supramolecular poly(pseudo)rotaxane structures and zipper-like assemblies exhibit outstanding viscoelastic properties, performing as syringeable implants. The sharp shear-responsiveness of the supramolecular assemblies is opening new avenues for the design of bioinks for 3D printing and also of electrospun fibers. CDs can also be transformed into polymerizable monomers to prepare alternative nanostructured materials. The aim of this review is to analyze the role that CDs may play in regenerative medicine through the analysis of the last decade research. Most applications of CD-based scaffolds are focussed on non-healing bone fractures, cartilage reparation and skin recovery, but also on even more challenging demands such as neural grafts. For the sake of clarity, main sections of this review are organized according to the architecture of the CD-based scaffolds, mainly syringeable supramolecular hydrogels, 3D printed scaffolds, electrospun fibers, and composites, since the same scaffold type may find application in different tissues.

Molecular determinants for cyclo-oligosaccharide-based nanoparticle-mediated effective siRNA transfection

AIM

To study the structural requirements that a cyclooligosaccharide-based nanoparticle must fulfill to be an efficient siRNA transfection vector.

MATERIALS & METHODS

siRNA protection from degradation by RNAses, transfection efficiency and the thermodynamic parameters of the nanoparticle/siRNA interactions were studied on pairs of amphiphilic molecules using biochemical techniques and molecular dynamics.

RESULTS

The lower the siRNA solvent accessible surface area in the presence of the nanoparticle, higher the protection from RNAse-mediated degradation in the corresponding nanocomplex; a moderate nanoparticle/siRNA binding energy value further facilitates reversible complexation and binding to the target cellular mRNA.

CONCLUSION

The use, in advance, of these parameters will provide a useful indication of the potential of a molecular nanoparticle as siRNA transfecting vector.

Degradable polyesters via ring-opening polymerization of functional valerolactones for efficient gene delivery

Degradable polymers as gene and drug carriers are emerging as one of the most promising types of materials in the biomedical and pharmaceutical areas.