Liposome co-encapsulation as a strategy for the delivery of curcumin and resveratrol

Calcium phosphates enhanced with liposomes - the future of bone regeneration and drug delivery

Effective healing and regeneration of various bone defects is still a major challenge and concern in modern medicine. Calcium phosphates have emerged as extensively studied bone substitute materials due to their structural and chemical resemblance to the mineral phase of bone, along with their versatile properties. Calcium phosphates present promising biological characteristics that make them suitable for bone substitution, but a critical limitation lies in their low osteoinductivity. To supplement these materials with properties that promote bone regeneration, prevent infections, and cure bone diseases locally, calcium phosphates can be biologically and therapeutically modified. A promising approach involves combining calcium phosphates with drug-containing liposomes, renowned for their high biocompatibility and ability to provide controlled and sustained drug delivery. Surprisingly, there is a lack of research focused on liposome-calcium phosphate composites, where liposomes are dispersed within a calcium phosphate matrix. This raises the question of why such studies are limited. In order to provide a comprehensive overview of existing liposome and calcium phosphate composites as bioactive substance delivery systems, the authors review the literature exploring the interactions between calcium phosphates and liposomes. Additionally, it seeks to identify potential interactions between calcium ions and liposomes, which may impact the feasibility of developing liposome-containing calcium phosphate composite materials. Liposome capacity to protect bioactive compounds and facilitate localized treatment can be particularly valuable in scenarios involving bone regeneration, infection prevention, and the management of bone diseases. This review explores the implications of liposomes and calcium phosphate material containing liposomes on drug delivery, bioavailability, and stability, offering insights into their advantages.

Development of a brain-targeted nano drug delivery system to enhance the treatment of neurodegenerative effects of resveratrol

As the aging population continues to increase, aging-related inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases have become serious global health threats. Resveratrol, a star molecule in natural polyphenols, has been widely reported to have physiological activities such as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotection. However, its poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability and poor targeting ability, which limits its application. Accordingly, a brain-targeted resveratrol liposome (ANG-RES-LIP) was developed to solve these issues. Experimental results showed that ANG-RES-LIP has a uniform size distribution, good biocompatibility, and a drug encapsulation rate of over 90%. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments showed that the modification of the targeting ligand ANG significantly increased the capability of RES to cross the BBB and neuronal uptake. Compared with free RES, ANG-RES-LIP demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity and the ability to rescue oxidatively damaged cells from apoptosis. Additionally, ANG-RES-LIP showed the ability to repair damaged neuronal mitochondrial membrane potential. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that ANG-RES-LIP improved cognitive function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation levels in the brains of aging model mice, repairing damaged neurons and glial cells, and increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In summary, this study not only provides a new method for further development and application of resveratrol but also a promising strategy for preventing and treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Ceftazidime and Usnic Acid Encapsulated in Chitosan-Coated Liposomes for Oral Administration against Colorectal Cancer-Inducing Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli has been associated with the induction of colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, combined therapy incorporating usnic acid (UA) and antibiotics such as ceftazidime (CAZ), co-encapsulated in liposomes, could be an alternative. Coating the liposomes with chitosan (Chi) could facilitate the oral administration of this nanocarrier. Liposomes were prepared using the lipid film hydration method, followed by sonication and chitosan coating via the drip technique. Characterization included particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH, encapsulation efficiency, and physicochemical analyses. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined against E. coli ATCC 25922, NCTC 13846, and H10407 using the microdilution method. Antibiofilm assays were conducted using the crystal violet method. The liposomes exhibited sizes ranging from 116.5 ± 5.3 to 240.3 ± 3.5 nm and zeta potentials between +16.4 ± 0.6 and +28 ± 0.8 mV. The encapsulation efficiencies were 51.5 ± 0.2% for CAZ and 99.94 ± 0.1% for UA. Lipo-CAZ-Chi and Lipo-UA-Chi exhibited antibacterial activity, inhibited biofilm formation, and preformed biofilms of E. coli. The Lipo-CAZ-UA-Chi and Lipo-CAZ-Chi + Lipo-UA-Chi formulations showed enhanced activities, potentially due to co-encapsulation or combination effects. These findings suggest potential for in vivo oral administration in future antibacterial and antibiofilm therapies against CRC-inducing bacteria.

Intestinal Targeted Nanogel with Broad-Spectrum Autonomous ROS Scavenging Performance for Enhancing the Bioactivity of trans-Resveratrol

Introduction

To improve the bioavailability of trans-resveratrol (trans-Res), it is commonly co-delivered with antioxidant bioactives using a complex synthetic intestinal targeted carrier, however, which makes practical application challenging.

Methods

A nanogel (Ngel), as broad-spectrum autonomous ROS scavenger, was prepared using selenized thiolated sodium alginate (TSA-Se) and crosslinked with calcium lactate (CL) for loading trans-Res to obtain Ngel@Res, which maintained spherical morphology in the upper digestive tract but broke down in the lower digestive tract, resulting in trans-Res release.

Results

Under protection of Ngel, trans-Res showed enhanced stability and broad-spectrum ROS scavenging activity. The synergistic mucoadhesion of Ngel prolonged the retention time of trans-Res in the intestine. Ngel and Ngel@Res increased the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans to 26.00 ± 2.17 and 26.00 ± 4.27 days by enhancing the activity of antioxidases, upregulating the expression of daf-16, sod-5 and skn-1, while downregulating the expression of daf-2 and age-1.

Conclusion

This readily available, intestinal targeted selenized alginate-based nanogel effectively improves the bioactivity of trans-Res.

Liposomes as Carriers of Bioactive Compounds in Human Nutrition

This article provides an overview of the literature data on the role of liposomal structures and encapsulated substances in food technology and human nutrition. The paper briefly describes how liposomes are created and how they encapsulate food ingredients, which can either be individual compounds or plant extracts. Another very interesting application of liposomes is their use as antimicrobial carriers to protect food products from spoilage during storage. The encapsulation of food ingredients in liposomes can increase their bioavailability, which is particularly important for compounds with health-promoting properties but low bioavailability. Particular attention was paid to compounds such as phytosterols, which lower blood cholesterol levels but have very low absorption in the human body. In addition, consumer expectations and regulations for liposomes in food are discussed. To date, no in vivo human studies have been conducted to indicate which encapsulation methods give the best results for gastrointestinal effects and which food-added substances are most stable during food storage and processing. The paper identifies further lines of research that are needed before liposomes can be introduced into food.

Enhancement of hepatoprotective activity of limonin from citrus seeds against acetaminophen-induced liver injury by HSCCC purification and liposomal encapsulation

Limonin is a natural tetracyclic triterpenoid compound in citrus seeds that presents hepatoprotective effects but is often discarded as agricultural waste because of its low content and low solubility. Herein, limonin with high purity (98.11%) from citrus seeds was obtained via purification by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and recrystallization. Limonin-loaded liposomes (Lip-LM) prepared by thin film hydration and high pressure homogenization method to enhance its solubility and hepatoprotective effect on APAP-induced liver injury (AILI). Lip-LM appeared as lipid nanoparticles under a transmission electron microscope, and showed well dispersed nano-scale size (69.04 ± 0.42 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (93.67% ± 2.51%), sustained release, fine stability. Lip-LM also exhibited significantly better hepatoprotective activity on AILI than free limonin in vivo. In summary, Lip-LM might be used as a potential hepatoprotective agent in the form of dietary supplement and provide an effective strategy to improve the potential value of citrus seeds.

Enhancing the Bioavailability of Resveratrol: Combine It, Derivatize It, or Encapsulate It?

Overcoming the limited bioavailability and extensive metabolism of effective in vitro drugs remains a challenge that limits the translation of promising drugs into clinical trials. Resveratrol, despite its well-reported therapeutic benefits, is not metabolically stable and thus has not been utilized as an effective clinical drug. This is because it needs to be consumed in large amounts to overcome the burdens of bioavailability and conversion into less effective metabolites. Herein, we summarize the more relevant approaches to modify resveratrol, aiming to increase its biological and therapeutic efficacy. We discuss combination therapies, derivatization, and the use of resveratrol nanoparticles. Interestingly, the combination of resveratrol with established chemotherapeutic drugs has shown promising therapeutic effects on colon cancer (with oxaliplatin), liver cancer (with cisplatin, 5-FU), and gastric cancer (with doxorubicin). On the other hand, derivatizing resveratrol, including hydroxylation, amination, amidation, imidation, methoxylation, prenylation, halogenation, glycosylation, and oligomerization, differentially modifies its bioavailability and could be used for preferential therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the encapsulation of resveratrol allows its trapping within different forms of shells for targeted therapy. Depending on the nanoparticle used, it can enhance its solubility and absorption, increasing its bioavailability and efficacy. These include polymers, metals, solid lipids, and other nanoparticles that have shown promising preclinical results, adding more "hype" to the research on resveratrol. This review provides a platform to compare the different approaches to allow directed research into better treatment options with resveratrol.

Folate-modified liposomes mediate the co-delivery of cisplatin with miR-219a-5p for the targeted treatment of cisplatin-resistant lung cancer

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance, often leading to first-line chemotherapy failure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), poses a significant challenge. MiR-219a-5p has been reported to enhance the sensitivity of human NSCLC to DDP. However, free miR-219a-5p is prone to degradation by nucleases in the bloodstream, rendering it unstable. In light of this, our study developed an efficient nanodrug delivery system that achieved targeted delivery of DDP and miR-219a-5p by modifying liposomes with folate (FA). Based on the results of material characterization, we successfully constructed a well-dispersed and uniformly sized (approximately 135.8 nm) Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA nanodrug. Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA exhibited good stability in serum, effectively protecting miR-219a-5p from degradation. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry experiments revealed that, due to FA modification, Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA could specifically bind to FA receptors on the surface of tumor cells (A549), thus enhancing drug internalization efficiency. Safety evaluations conducted in vitro demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA exhibited no significant toxicity to non-cancer cells (BEAS-2B) and displayed excellent blood compatibility. Cellular functional experiments, apoptosis assays, and western blot demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA effectively reversed DDP resistance in A549 cells, inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and further promoted apoptosis. In summary, the Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA nanodrug, through specific targeting of cancer cells and reducing their resistance to DDP, significantly enhanced the anti-NSCLC effects of DDP in vitro, providing a promising therapeutic option for the clinical treatment of NSCLC.

WPI-coated liposomes as a delivery vehicle for enhancing the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of luteolin

The practical application of luteolin in food systems faces challenges due to its inherent instability. This study aimed to develop luteolin-loaded liposomes coated with whey protein isolate (WPI) to enhance the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of luteolin. The physical characteristics of both luteolin-loaded liposomes (LUT-Lips) and WPI-coated luteolin-loaded liposomes (WPI-LUT-Lips) were assessed. At a 5% WPI concentration, WPI-LUT-Lips demonstrated excellent dispersibility and improved encapsulation efficiency. WPI interacted with the liposome membrane via hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic contact force, resulting in an efficient coating. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that WPI-LUT-Lips exhibited greater thermal stability compared to LUT-Lips, attributed to the protective effect of the WPI. Furthermore, WPI-LUT-Lips displayed superior antioxidant activity, as evidenced by their DPPH scavenging activity (86.36 ± 1.95%), TBARS reduction (25.33 ± 1.90%), and reducing power (82.86 ± 1.42%). Therefore, WPI-coated luteolin-loaded liposomes offer a promising way to enhance luteolin's integration into food systems.

Resveratrol-Loaded Polydimethylsiloxane-Silica Hybrid Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antitumoral Activity

In this work, hybrid materials within the polydimethylsiloxane-silica (PDMS-SiO2) system, synthesized via the sol-gel method, were developed and characterized for their potential to incorporate and release the bioactive compound resveratrol (RES). RES was incorporated into the materials with a high loading efficiency (>75%) using the rotary evaporator technique. This incorporation induced the amorphization of RES, resulting in enhanced solubility and in vitro release when compared to the free polyphenolic compound. The release profiles displayed pH dependence, exhibiting notably faster release at pH 5.2 compared to pH 7.4. The gradual release of RES over time demonstrated an initial time lag of approximately 4 h, being well described by the Weibull model. In vitro cytotoxicity studies were conducted on human osteosarcoma cells (MG-63), revealing a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability for RES-loaded samples (for concentrations >50 µg mL-1).

A neoteric annotation on the advances in combination therapy for Parkinson's disease: nanocarrier-based combination approach and future anticipation. Part II: nanocarrier design and development in focus

INTRODUCTION

The current treatment modalities available for Parkinson's disease (PD) prove inadequate due to the inherent constraints in effectively transporting bioactive compounds across the blood-brain barrier. The utilization of synergistic combinations of multiple drugs in conjunction with advanced nanotechnology, emerges as a promising avenue for the treatment of PD, offering potential breakthroughs in treatment efficacy, targeted therapy, and personalized medicine.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the efficacy of multifactorial interventions for PD, simultaneously addressing the primary challenges of conventional therapies and highlighting how advanced technologies can help overcome these limitations. Part II focuses on the effectiveness of nanotechnology for improving pharmacokinetics of conventional therapies, through the synergistic use of dual or multiple therapeutic agents into a single nanoformulation. Significant emphasis is laid on the advancements toward innovative integrations, such as CRISPR/Cas9 with neuroprotective agents and stem cells, all effectively synergized with nanocarriers.

EXPERT OPINION

By using drug combinations, we can leverage their combined effects to enhance treatment efficacy and mitigate side effects through lower dosages. This article is meant to give nanocarrier-mediated co-delivery of drugs and the strategic incorporation of CRISPR/Cas9, either as an independent intervention or synergized with a neuroprotective agent.

Enhancing Solubility and Bioefficacy of Stilbenes by Liposomal Encapsulation-The Case of Macasiamenene F

Stilbenes in food and medicinal plants have been described as potent antiphlogistic and antioxidant compounds, and therefore, they present an interesting potential for the development of dietary supplements. Among them, macasiamenene F (MF) has recently been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective agent that dampens peripheral and CNS inflammation in vitro. Nevertheless, this promising molecule, like other stilbenes and a large percentage of drugs under development, faces poor water solubility, which results in trickier in vivo administration and low bioavailability. With the aim of improving MF solubility and developing a form optimized for in vivo administration, eight types of conventional liposomal nanocarriers and one type of PEGylated liposomes were formulated and characterized. In order to select the appropriate form of MF encapsulation, the safety of MF liposomal formulations was evaluated on THP-1 and THP-1-XBlue-MD2-CD14 monocytes, BV-2 microglia, and primary cortical neurons in culture. Furthermore, the cellular uptake of liposomes and the effect of encapsulation on MF anti-inflammatory effectiveness were evaluated on THP-1-XBlue-MD2-CD14 monocytes and BV-2 microglia. MF (5 mol %) encapsulated in PEGylated liposomes with an average size of 160 nm and polydispersity index of 0.122 was stable, safe, and the most promising form of MF encapsulation keeping its cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

Recent Developments in Nanoparticle Formulations for Resveratrol Encapsulation as an Anticancer Agent

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound that has gained considerable attention in the past decade due to its multifaceted therapeutic potential, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, its anticancer efficacy is impeded by low water solubility, dose-limiting toxicity, low bioavailability, and rapid hepatic metabolism. To overcome these hurdles, various nanoparticles such as organic and inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, carbon nanotubes, bioactive glass nanoparticles, and mesoporous nanoparticles were employed to deliver resveratrol, enhancing its water solubility, bioavailability, and efficacy against various types of cancer. Resveratrol-loaded nanoparticle or resveratrol-conjugated nanoparticle administration exhibits excellent anticancer potency compared to free resveratrol. This review highlights the latest developments in nanoparticle-based delivery systems for resveratrol, focusing on the potential to overcome limitations associated with the compound's bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness.

Effect of resveratrol and curcumin and the potential synergism on hypertension: A mini-review of human and animal model studies

Resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR) are two of the most extensively studied bioactive compounds in cardiovascular research from the past until today. These compounds have effectively lowered blood pressure by downregulating the renin-angiotensin system, exerting antioxidant effects, and exhibiting antiproliferative activities on blood vessels. This study aims to summarize the results of human and animal studies investigating the effects of CUR, RES, and their combination on hypertension and the molecular mechanisms involved. The published trials' results are controversial regarding blood pressure reduction with different doses of RES and CUR, highlighting the need to address this issue.

A Mitochondrial Nanoguard Modulates Redox Homeostasis and Bioenergy Metabolism in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

As a major late complication of diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the primary reason for amputation. Nevertheless, there are no wonder drugs available. Regulating dysfunctional mitochondria is a key therapeutic target for DPN. Resveratrol (RSV) is widely proven to guard mitochondria, yet the unsatisfactory bioavailability restricts its clinical application. Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) are promising carriers due to their excellent cell entrance efficiency, biological safety, and structure editability. Here, RSV was intercalated into tFNAs to form the tFNAs-RSV complexes. tFNAs-RSV achieved enhanced stability, bioavailability, and biocompatibility compared with tFNAs and RSV alone. With its treatment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was minimized and reductases were activated in an in vitro model of DPN. Besides, respiratory function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production were enhanced. tFNAs-RSV also exhibited favorable therapeutic effects on sensory dysfunction, neurovascular deterioration, demyelination, and neuroapoptosis in DPN mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that redox regulation and energy metabolism were two principal mechanisms that were impacted during the process. Comprehensive inspections indicated that tFNAs-RSV inhibited nitrosation and oxidation and activated reductase and respiratory chain. In sum, tFNAs-RSV served as a mitochondrial nanoguard (mito-guard), representing a viable drilling target for clinical drug development of DPN.

Recent advances in oral delivery systems of resveratrol: foreseeing their use in functional foods

Herein, we review the current state-of-the-art on the use of micro- and nano-delivery systems, a possible solution to some of the drawbacks associated with the incorporation of resveratrol in foods. Specifically, we present an overview of a wide range of micro-nanostructures, namely, lipidic and polymeric, used for the delivery of resveratrol. Also, the gastrointestinal fate of resveratrol-loaded micro-nanostructures, as a critical parameter for their use as functional food, is explored in terms of stability, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability. Different micro-nanostructures are of interest for the development of functional foods given that they can provide different advantages and properties to these foods and even be tailor-made to address specific issues (e.g., controlled or targeted release). Therefore, we discuss a wide range of micro-nanostructures, namely, lipidic and polymeric, used to deliver resveratrol and aimed at the development of functional foods. It has been reported that the use of some production methodologies can be of greater interest than others, for example, emulsification, solvent displacement and electrohydrodynamic processing (EHDP) enable a greater increase in bioaccessibility. Additionally, the use of coatings facilitates further improvements in bioaccessibility, which is likely due to the increased gastric stability of the coated micro-nanostructures. Other properties, such as mucoadhesion, can also help improve bioaccessibility due to the increase in gut retention time. Additionally, cytotoxicity (e.g., biocompatibility, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory) and possible sensorial impact of resveratrol-loaded micro- and nano-systems in foods are highlighted.

Nano-Resveratrol Liposome: Physicochemical Stability, In Vitro Release, and Cytotoxicity

Nano-resveratrol liposome (RES-LIP) was prepared by the thin film rotary-evaporated method combined with ultrasonication and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR). The physicochemical stability, in vitro release, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of RES-LIP were studied. Data showed that RES-LIP was a spherical vesicle with a diameter of less than 100 nm, the zeta potential was - 60 mV and the encapsulation efficiency was 86.78%. The physicochemical stability of RES-LIP was determined by Ea, ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS, which suggested that the process of RES-LIP degradation was spontaneous and endothermic. The in vitro release of RES-LIP was pH-dependent, belonged to the Weibull model, and was non-Fick diffusion. The antioxidant activity of RES-LIP was stronger than free resveratrol. The MTT assay and flow cytometry results suggested that resveratrol decreased cytotoxicity after being encapsulated by liposome. The prepared RES-LIP had high encapsulation efficiency, was sustained-release, had low cytotoxicity, was pH-targeted, and had potential usage in food and medicine fields.

The potential of curcumin-based co-delivery systems for applications in the food industry: Food preservation, freshness monitoring, and functional food

Currently, curcumin-based co-delivery systems are receiving widespread attention. However, a systematic summary of the possibility of curcumin-based co-delivery systems used for the food industry from multiple directions based on the functional characteristics of curcumin is lacking. This review details the different forms of curcumin-based co-delivery systems including the single system of nanoparticle, liposome, double emulsion, and multiple systems composed of different hydrocolloids. The structural composition, stability, encapsulation efficiency, and protective effects of these forms are discussed comprehensively. The functional characteristics of curcumin-based co-delivery systems are summarized, involving biological activity (antimicrobial and antioxidant), pH-responsive discoloration, and bioaccessibility/bioavailability. Correspondingly, potential applications for food preservation, freshness detection, and functional foods are introduced. In the future, more novel co-delivery systems for active ingredients and food matrices should be developed. Besides, the synergistic mechanisms between active ingredients, delivery carrier/active ingredient, and external physical condition/active ingredient should be explored. In conclusion, curcumin-based co-delivery systems have the potential to be widely used in the food industry.

Encapsulating vitamins C and E using food-grade soy protein isolate and pectin particles as carrier: Insights on the vitamin additive antioxidant effects

Functional factors show additive effects in the same nutraceutical food. In this study, a core-shell structure based on soy protein isolate (SPI) and pectin was constructed as a delivery system for vitamins C and E under neutral (pH 7.0) and acidic environment (pH 4.0). The SPI-vitamin-pectin complex formed at pH 4.0 showed larger particle size, higher turbidity, lower fluorescence intensity, and higher vitamin E encapsulation efficiency than those formed at pH 7.0. Also, the addition of vitamin C significantly enhanced the vitamin E encapsulation efficiency in the particles. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals were increased by the addition of vitamin C, maximum values of 77%, 82%, and 65%, suggesting that vitamins C and E have additive antioxidant effects. These findings proposed a simple, structured protein-polysaccharide-based food-grade delivery system, which could serve as the basis for the design of products having multiple functional factors.

Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of Piperlongumine for cancer treatment using nano-liposomes mediated delivery

Piperlongumine (PL) is a well-known bioactive alkaloid that has been reported as a potent anticancer molecule but has failed to provide potential activity in translational and clinical applications due to some drawbacks like low bioavailability, hydrophobicity, and rapid degradation. However, nano-formulation is a good choice to increase the bioavailability and enhance cellular uptake of PL. In this study, PL loaded nano-liposomes (NPL) were formulated using the thin-film hydration method and analyzed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in order to treat cervical cancer. The NPL were thoroughly characterized using particle size, PDI, zeta potential, drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, SEM, AFM and FTIR. Different assays viz. MTT, AO/PI, DAPI, MMP, cell migration, DCFDA and apoptotic assay using Annexin V-FITC/PI were performed for anticancer potential of NPL in human cervical carcinoma cells (SiHa and HeLa). NPL showed enhanced cytotoxicity, diminished cell proliferation, reduced cell viability, enhanced nuclear condensation, reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cell migration, increased ROS level and promoted more apoptosis in both human cervical cancer cell lines. These findings demonstrated that NPL may be a potential therapeutic option for cervical cancer.

Potential of curcumin and niacin-loaded targeted chitosan coated liposomes to activate autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells: An in vitro evaluation in HePG2 cell line

The objective of this study is to activate autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma for the enhancement of its cellular degradation. Liposomes incorporated chitosan in the core used to improve the stability of lecithin and increase the niacin loading efficiency. Additionally, curcumin as a hydrophobic molecule entrapped into liposomal layers and used as a face layer to minimize the release of niacin in physiological pH 7.2. Folic acid-conjugated chitosan was used to facilitate the delivery of liposomes into a specific location of cancer cells. TEM, UV Visible spectrophotometer, and FTIR confirmed the successful liposomal formation and good encapsulation efficiency. Based on the cellular proliferation of HePG2, the results revealed that there was a significant inhibition of growth rate of HePG2 after 48 h of incubation at a concentration of 100 μg/mL by 91 % ± 1 %, P ≤ 0.002 (pure niacin), 55 % ± 3 %, P ≤ 0.001 (pure curcumin), 83 % ± 1.5 %, P ≤ 0.001 (niacin NPs), and 51 % ± 1.5 % P ≤ 0.0001 (curcumin-niacin NPs) of relative to the control. Increasingly, The expression of mRNA of mTOR was significantly increased by 0.72 ± 0.08 P ≤ 0.001, 1 ± 0.1, 0. P ≤ 0.001, 5 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.01, and 1.3 ± 0.02 P ≤ 0.001 folds) in pure niacin, pure curcumin, niacin NPs and curcumin -niacin NPs, respectively, relative to the control with an expression of 0.3 ± 0.08. Additionally, the expression of p62 mRNA was significantly increased by 0.92 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.05, 1.7 ± 0.07 P ≤ 0.0001, 0.72 ± 0.08 P ≤ 0.5, and 2.1 ± 0.1 P ≤ 0.0001 folds relative to that of the control with an expression of 0.72 ± 0.08. The results highlight the efficient therapies of biomaterials derived from natural sources that can be used in cancer therapies instead of traditional chemotherapies.

Influence of different anionic polysaccharide coating on the properties and delivery performance of nanoliposomes for quercetin

Nanoliposome is an effective delivery system for polyphenols, whereas it always suffers from low electrostatic stability and oxidation of lipid membranes. Here, different charged anionic polysaccharides including carrageenan (-62.67 ± 1.85 mV), trehalose (-20.73 ± 1.42 mV), and pectin (-4.47 ± 0.38 mV) were used as coating material to improve the stability of nanoliposomes. Results showed that carrageenan coating greatly inhibited aggregation and fusion of nanoliposome. The coating of the higher charged polysaccharides produced the more hydrogen bonds and made the inner chains of lipid molecules more compact, thus improving the rigidity of the membrane and thermal stability. In addition, the polysaccharide coating effectively reduced the lateral diffusion within the membrane and the propagation rate of oxidation reaction. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of anionic polysaccharides with different charges on coated nanoliposomes, provide reference for the delivery of quercetin.

Impact of polyphenols on heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy: clinical effects and molecular mechanisms

Polyphenols are abundant in regular diets and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Regarding the inadequacy of the current treatments in preventing cardiac remodeling following cardiovascular diseases, attention has been focused on improving cardiac function with potential alternatives such as polyphenols. The following online databases were searched for relevant orginial published from 2000 to 2023: EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy aimed to assess the effects of polyphenols on heart failure and keywords were "heart failure" and "polyphenols" and "cardiac hypertrophy" and "molecular mechanisms". Our results indicated polyphenols are repeatedly indicated to regulate various heart failure-related vital molecules and signaling pathways, such as inactivating fibrotic and hypertrophic factors, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical production, the underlying causes of apoptosis, and also improving lipid profile and cellular metabolism. In the current study, we aimed to review the most recent literature and investigations on the underlying mechanism of actions of different polyphenols subclasses in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure to provide deep insight into novel mechanistic treatments and direct future studies in this context. Moreover, due to polyphenols' low bioavailability from conventional oral and intravenous administration routes, in this study, we have also investigated the currently accessible nano-drug delivery methods to optimize the treatment outcomes by providing sufficient drug delivery, targeted therapy, and less off-target effects, as desired by precision medicine standards.

Synthesis and characterization of fucoidan/chitosan-coated nanoliposomes for enhanced stability and oral bioavailability of hydrophilic catechin and hydrophobic juglone

This study aimed to improve the thermodynamic performance of nanoliposomes (NLs) using fucoidan (F) as the second-layer coating biopolymer along with chitosan (CS), to control the delivery and bioavailability of catechin (C) and juglone (J). The stabilized liposomal carrier of F/CS-conjugated JC-NL (F-CS-JC-NL) was developed with optimum concentrations of CS (0.09 wt%) and F (0.10 wt%), with the highest encapsulation efficiency of juglone (95.47%) and catechin (90.88%). Physicochemical characterization revealed that F-CS-JC-NL disclosed improved stability under different pH and ionic strengths, with the maximum juglone/catechin retention under thermal, oxidative and storage conditions. In vitro digestion revealed that NL double-coating (F-CS-JC-NL) significantly reduced compound leakage in the gastrointestinal tract, providing a controlled release and better bioavailability of juglone/catechin compared to CS-JC-NL and JC-NL. Conclusively, this study provides a novel NL-based delivery carrier with enhanced physicochemical stability and controlled release that might have promising use in delivering functional ingredients.

Fabrication and characterization of self-assembled whey protein isolate/short linear glucan core-shell nanoparticles for sustained release of curcumin

The aim of this research was to prepare a bistratal nanocomplex with a high loading capacity (LC) and harsh environment stability for controlled release of curcumin (Cur) in gastrointestinal conditions. Whey protein isolate (WPI)/short linear glucan (SLG) core-shell nanoparticles were fabricated by self-assembly for the delivery of Cur. The results showed that Cur@WPI@SLG nanoparticles had a relatively high LC (12.89 %) and small particle size (89.4 nm). The nanocomplex remained relatively stable in extreme pH conditions (2-4 and 8-10), high temperatures (60-70 °C), and ionic strength (<400 mM). Core-shell nanostructures facilitated the sustained release of Cur in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. In addition, the nanocomplex had little cytotoxicity at high concentrations, yet significantly enhanced the DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power of Cur. This delivery system will significantly improve the sustained release effect of Cur and broaden the application of hydrophobic nutrients in foods.

Encapsulation of resveratrol within size-controlled nanoliposomes: Impact on solubility, stability, cellular permeability, and oral bioavailability

This study examined the influence of the nanoliposomes (LPs) particle size on the solubility, antioxidant stability, in vitro release profile, Caco-2 cellular transport activity, cellular antioxidant activity, and in vivo oral bioavailability of resveratrol (RSV). LPs with sizes of 300, 150, and 75 nm were prepared using the thin-lipid film hydration method, followed by ultrasonication for 0, 2, and 10 min, respectively. Formulating small LPs (< 100 nm) was effective to enhance the solubility, in vitro release profile, cellular permeability, and cellular antioxidant activity of RSV. A similar pattern was observed for in vivo oral bioavailability. However, the size reduction of RSV-loaded LPs did not promote the antioxidant stability of RSV, owing to their large surface area used to interact with harsh environments. This study provides the better understanding of the appropriate particle size range of LPs to improve their in vitro and in vivo performances of RSV as an effective carrier for oral administration.

Phytoglycogen to Enhance the Solubility and in-vitro Permeation of Resveratrol

This study investigated the capability of phytoglycogen (PG) to improve the water-soluble amount and bioavailability of resveratrol (RES). RES and PG were incorporated through co-solvent mixing and spray-drying to form PG-RES solid dispersions. The soluble amount of RES of PG-RES solid dispersions reached 289.6 μg/mL at PG:RES ratio of 50:1, compared with 45.6 μg/mL for RES alone. X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy tests suggested a significant reduction of RES crystallinity in PG-RES solid dispersions and the formation of hydrogen bonds between RES and PG. Caco-2 monolayer permeation tests showed that, at low RES loading concentrations (15 and 30 μg/mL), PG-RES solid dispersions achieved greater permeation of RES (0.60 and 1.32 μg/well, respectively) than RES alone (0.32 and 0.90 μg/well, respectively). At an RES loading of 150 μg/mL, PG-RES solid dispersion realized RES permeation of 5.89 μg/well, suggesting the potential of PG in enhancing the bioavailability of RES.

Co-administration of curcumin with other phytochemicals improves anticancer activity by regulating multiple molecular targets

Natural plant phytochemicals are effective against different types of diseases, including cancer. Curcumin, a powerful herbal polyphenol, exerts inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis through interaction with different molecular targets. However, the clinical use of curcumin is limited due to poor solubility in water and metabolism in the liver and intestine. The synergistic effects of curcumin with some phytochemicals such as resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and piperine can improve its clinical efficacy in cancer treatment. The present review specifically focuses on anticancer mechanisms related to the co-administration of curcumin with other phytochemicals, including resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and piperine. According to the molecular evidence, the phytochemical combinations exert synergistic effects on suppressing cell proliferation, reducing cellular invasion, and inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This review also emphasizes the significance of the co-delivery vehicles-based nanoparticles of such bioactive phytochemicals that could improve their bioavailability and reduce their systemic dose. Further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the phytochemical combinations.

Poly(pro-curcumin) Materials Exhibit Dual Release Rates and Prolonged Antioxidant Activity as Thin Films and Self-Assembled Particles

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that exhibits remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities; however, its clinical application is limited in part by its physiological instability. Here, we report the synthesis of curcumin-derived polyesters that release curcumin upon hydrolytic degradation to improve curcumin stability and solubility in physiological conditions. Curcumin was incorporated in the polymer backbone by a one-pot condensation polymerization in the presence of sebacoyl chloride and polyethylene glycol (PEG, M_n = 1 kDa). The thermal and mechanical properties, surface wettability, self-assembly behavior, and drug-release kinetics all depend sensitively on the mole percentage of curcumin incorporated in these statistical copolymers. Curcumin release was triggered by the hydrolysis of phenolic esters on the polymer backbone, which was confirmed using a PEGylated curcumin model compound, which represented a putative repeating unit within the polymer. The release rate of curcumin was controlled by the hydrophilicity of the polymers. Burst release (2 days) and extended release (>8 weeks) can be achieved from the same polymer depending on curcumin content in the copolymer. The materials can quench free radicals for at least 8 weeks and protect primary neurons from oxidative stress in vitro. Further, these copolymer materials could be processed into both thin films and self-assembled particles, depending on the solvent-based casting conditions. Finally, we envision that these materials may have potential for neural tissue engineering application, where antioxidant release can mitigate oxidative stress and the inflammatory response following neural injury.

Anti-Allergic Effects of Quercetin and Quercetin Liposomes in RBL-2H3 Cells

BACKGROUND

Quercetin is a kind of flavonoid with important bioactivities, such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties. Although it is unstable, it is worth exploring how to better exert its anti-allergic effect.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to elucidate the anti-allergic effect of quercetin liposomes on RBL-2H3 cells in vitro.

METHODS

Quercetin liposomes were prepared to improve the anti-allergic activity of quercetin through a green thin-film dispersion method. We compared the anti-allergic effects of quercetin and quercetin liposomes in RBL-2H3 cells. The anti-allergic activity of the quercetin liposomes was evaluated by the level of β-hexosaminidase, histamine, Ca2+, IL-4, IL-8, and MCP-1.

RESULTS

The results showed that quercetin liposomes could significantly restrain the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine, calcium influx, and the expression of inflammatory factors, whose effect is stronger than quercetin.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our research suggests that the quercetin liposome can be used as a potential allergy antagonist.

Ligustrazine as an Extract from Medicinal and Edible Plant Chuanxiong Encapsulated in Liposome–Hydrogel Exerting Antioxidant Effect on Preventing Skin Photoaging

Long-term sunlight exposure will cause the accumulation of free radicals in the skin and lead to oxidative damage and aging, antioxidant drugs have gradually become the focus of research, but there is little research on antioxidant drugs for percutaneous treatment. The purpose of this study was to prepare ligustrazine hydrochloride (TMPZ)-loaded liposome–hydrogel (TMPZ-LG), evaluate its antioxidant properties, and apply it on the skin of mice to observe whether it had preventive and therapeutic effect on the irradiation under the ultraviolet rays, in an attempt to make it into a new kind of delivery through the skin. TMPZ-LG was prepared by the combination of film dispersion and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (2%, CMC-Na) natural swelling method. The release rates in vitro permeation across the dialysis membrane and ex vivo transdermal had both reached 40%; the scavenging effect of TMPZ-LG on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and H₂O₂ were 65.57 ± 4.13% and 73.06 ± 5.65%; the inhibition rate of TMPZ-LG on malondialdehyde (MDA) production in liver homogenate and anti-low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation experiments ex vivo were 15.03 ± 0.9% and 21.57 ± 1.2%. Compared with untreated mice, the skin pathological symptoms of mice coated with TMPZ-LG were significantly reduced after ultraviolet irradiation, and there was statistical significance. The results showed TMPZ-LG could exert good antioxidant activity in vitro and ex vivo; therefore, it is feasible to prevent and treat skin oxidation.

Lipid-Encapsuled Grape Tannins Prevent Oxidative-Stress-Induced Neuronal Cell Death, Intracellular ROS Accumulation and Inflammation

The central nervous system (CNS) is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation, which affect neuronal function and survival. Nowadays, there is great interest in the development of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds extracted from natural products, as potential strategies to reduce the oxidative/inflammatory environment within the CNS and then preserve neuronal integrity and brain function. However, an important limitation of natural antioxidant formulations (mainly polyphenols) is their reduced in vivo bioavailability. The biological compatible delivery system containing polyphenols may serve as a novel compound for these antioxidant formulations. Accordingly, in the present study, we used liposomes as carriers for grape tannins, and we tested their ability to prevent neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation. Cultured catecholaminergic neurons (CAD) were used to establish the potential of lipid-encapsulated grape tannins (TLS) to prevent neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation following an oxidative insult. TLS rescued cell survival after H2O2 treatment (59.4 ± 8.8% vs. 90.4 ± 5.6% H2O2 vs. TLS+ H2O2; p < 0.05) and reduced intracellular ROS levels by ~38% (p < 0.05), despite displaying negligible antioxidant activity in solution. Additionally, TLS treatment dramatically reduced proinflammatory cytokines’ mRNA expression after H2O2 treatment (TNF-α: 400.3 ± 1.7 vs. 7.9 ± 1.9-fold; IL-1β: 423.4 ± 1.3 vs. 12.7 ± 2.6-fold; p < 0.05; H2O2 vs. TLS+ H2O2, respectively), without affecting pro/antioxidant biomarker expression, suggesting that liposomes efficiently delivered tannins inside neurons and promoted cell survival. In conclusion, we propose that lipid-encapsulated grape tannins could be an efficient tool to promote antioxidant/inflammatory cell defense.

Role of curcumin in the treatment of acute kidney injury: research challenges and opportunities

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in clinical inpatients, and it continues a high morbidity and mortality rate despite many clinical treatment measures. AKI is triggered by infections, surgery, heavy metal exposure and drug side effects, but current chemical drugs often fall short of expectations for AKI treatment and have toxic side effects. Therefore, finding new interventions and treatments, especially of natural origin, is of remarkable clinical significance and application. The herbal monomer curcumin is a natural phenolic compound extracted from the plant Curcuma longa and showed various biological activities, including AKI. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that curcumin restores renal function by modulating the immune system and the release of inflammatory mediators, scavenging oxygen free radicals, reducing apoptosis and improving mitochondrial dynamics. However, curcumin has a low bioavailability, which limits its clinical application. For this reason, it is essential to investigate the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of curcumin in AKI, as well as to improve its bioavailability for curcumin formulation development and clinical application.

PURPOSE

This review summarizes the sources, pharmacokinetics, and limitations in the clinical application of curcumin and explores methods to optimize its bioavailability using nanotechnology. In particular, the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of curcumin on AKI are highlighted to provide a theoretical basis for AKI treatment in clinical practices.

METHODS

This review was specifically searched by means of a search of three databases (Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct), till December 2021. Search terms were "Curcumin", "Acute kidney injury", "AKI", " Pharmacokinetics", "Mitochondria" and "Nano formulations". The retrieved data followed PRISMA criteria (preferred reporting items for systematic review) RESULTS: Studies have shown that curcumin responded to AKI-induced renal injury and restored renal tubular epithelial cell function by affecting multiple signaling pathways in AKI models induced by factors such as cisplatin, lipopolysaccharide, ischemia/reperfusion, gentamicin and potassium dichromate. Curcumin was able to affect NF-κB signaling pathway and reduce the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α, thus preventing renal inflammatory injury. In the prevention of renal tubular oxidative damage, curcumin reduced ROS production by activating the activity of Nrf2, HO-1 and PGC-1α. In addition, curcumin restored mitochondrial homeostasis by upregulating OPA1 and downregulating DRP1 expression, while reducing apoptosis by inhibiting the caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. In addition, due to the low bioavailability and poor absorption of curcumin in vivo, curcumin nanoformulations including nanoparticles, liposomes, and polymeric micelles are formulated to improve the bioavailability.

CONCLUSION

This review provides new ideas for the use of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of AKI by modulating the molecular targets of several different cellular signaling pathways.

Lecithin-Polysaccharide Self-Assembled Microspheres for Resveratrol Delivery

Poor water solubility and low chemical stability, seriously limit the efficient bioavailability of resveratrol. Here, we propose encapsulating resveratrol in lecithin-polysaccharide self-assembled microspheres (LPSM). An LPSM was designed with a lecithin core, and alginate-carboxymethyl chitosan biolayer shell. The LPSM had a spherical shape with 12.171 ± 0.960 μm of particle size and −30.86 ± 1.37 mV of zeta potential. The introduce of lecithin remarkably increased the encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol to 92.78 ± 0.82%. The LPSM elevated the antioxidant capacity and ultraviolet resistance of resveratrol. Moreover, LPSM inhibited release in a simulated gastric environment, promoted sustained release in simulated intestinal environment, and elevated the bioavailability of resveratrol during in vitro simulated digestion. Results indicate that LPSM is promising as a carrier for resveratrol delivery to enhance stability and bioaccessibility.

Curcumin-Based Nanoformulations: A Promising Adjuvant towards Cancer Treatment

Throughout the United States, cancer remains the second leading cause of death. Traditional treatments induce significant medical toxic effects and unpleasant adverse reactions, making them inappropriate for long-term use. Consequently, anticancer-drug resistance and relapse are frequent in certain situations. Thus, there is an urgent necessity to find effective antitumor medications that are specific and have few adverse consequences. Curcumin is a polyphenol derivative found in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa L.), and provides chemopreventive, antitumor, chemo-, and radio-sensitizing properties. In this paper, we summarize the new nano-based formulations of polyphenolic curcumin because of the growing interest in its application against cancers and tumors. According to recent studies, the use of nanoparticles can overcome the hydrophobic nature of curcumin, as well as improving its stability and cellular bioavailability in vitro and in vivo. Several strategies for nanocurcumin production have been developed, each with its own set of advantages and unique features. Because the majority of the curcumin-based nanoformulation evidence is still in the conceptual stage, there are still numerous issues impeding the provision of nanocurcumin as a possible therapeutic option. To support the science, further work is necessary to develop curcumin as a viable anti-cancer adjuvant. In this review, we cover the various curcumin nanoformulations and nanocurcumin implications for therapeutic uses for cancer, as well as the current state of clinical studies and patents. We further address the knowledge gaps and future research orientations required to develop curcumin as a feasible treatment candidate.

Recent Overview of Resveratrol's Beneficial Effects and Its Nano-Delivery Systems

Highlights

Abstract

Natural polyphenols have a wide variety of biological activities and are taken into account as healthcare materials. Resveratrol is one such natural polyphenol, belonging to a group known as stilbenoids (STBs). Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is mainly found in grapes, wine, nuts, and berries. A wide range of biological activities has been demonstrated by resveratrol, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, and antiaging effects, and many more are still under research. However, as with many other plant-based polyphenol products, resveratrol suffers from low bioavailability once administered in vivo due to its susceptibility to rapid enzyme degradation by the body’s innate immune system before it can exercise its therapeutic influence. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the best use of resveratrol by creating a proper resveratrol delivery system. Nanomedicine and nanodelivery systems utilize nanoscale materials as diagnostic tools or to deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled manner to specifically targeted locations. After a brief introduction about polyphenols, this review overviews the physicochemical characteristics of resveratrol, its beneficial effects, and recent advances on novel nanotechnological approaches for its delivery according to the type of nanocarrier utilized. Furthermore, the article summarizes the different potential applications of resveratrol as, for example, a therapeutic and disease-preventing anticancer and antiviral agent.

Estrone-Conjugated PEGylated Liposome Co-Loaded Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Improve Anti-Tumor Efficacy in Ovarian Cancer and Reduce Acute Toxicity of Chemo-Drugs

Purpose

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. The combination of paclitaxel (PTX) and carboplatin (CBP) is the first-line remedy for clinical ovarian cancer. However, due to the limitations of adverse reaction and lacking of targeting ability, the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer is still poorly effective. Here, a novel estrone (ES)-conjugated PEGylated liposome co-loaded PTX and CBP (ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP) was designed for overcoming the above disadvantages.

Methods

ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was prepared by film hydration method and could recognize estrogen receptor (ER) over-expressing on the surface of SKOV-3 cells. The characterizations, stability and in vitro release of ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP were studied. In vitro cellular uptake and its mechanism were observed by fluorescence microscope. In vivo targeting effect in tumor-bearing mice was determined. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were studied in ICR mice. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy were evaluated on SKOV-3 cells and tumor-bearing mice, respectively. Finally, the acute toxicity in ICR mice was explored for assessing the preliminary safety of ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP.

Results

Our results showed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was spherical shape without aggregation. ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP exhibited the optimum targeting effect on uptake in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacokinetics demonstrated ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP had improved the pharmacokinetic behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity showed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP maximally inhibited SKOV-3 cell proliferation and its IC₅₀ values was 1.6 times lower than that of non-ES conjugated liposomes at 72 h. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy study demonstrated that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP could lead strong SKOV-3 tumor growth suppression with a tumor volume inhibitory rate of 81.8%. Meanwhile, acute toxicity studies confirmed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP significantly reduced the toxicity of the chemo drugs.

Conclusion

ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was successfully prepared with an optimal physicochemical and ER targeting property. The data of pharmacokinetics, anti-tumor efficacy and safety study indicated that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP could become a promising therapeutic formulation for human ovarian cancer in the future clinic.

PNA-Modified Liposomes Improve the Delivery Efficacy of CAPIRI for the Synergistic Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Tumor-associated antigen mucin 1 (MUC1) is highly expressed in colorectal cancer and is positively correlated with advanced stage at diagnosis and poor patient outcomes. The combination of irinotecan and capecitabine is standard chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer and is known as XELIRI or CAPIRI, which significantly prolongs the progression-free survival and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients compared to a single drug alone. We previously reported that peanut agglutinin (PNA)-conjugated liposomes showed enhanced drug delivery efficiency to MUC1-positive liver cancer cells. In this study, we prepared irinotecan hydrochloride (IRI) and capecitabine (CAP)-coloaded liposomes modified by peanut agglutinin (IRI/CAP-PNA-Lips) to target MUC1-positive colorectal cancer. The results showed that IRI/CAP-PNA-Lips showed an enhanced ability to target MUC1-positive colorectal cancer cells compared to unmodified liposomes. Treatment with IRI/CAP-PNA-Lips also increased the proportion of apoptotic cells and inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. The targeting specificity for tumor cells and the antitumor effects of PNA-modified liposomes were significantly increased in tumor-bearing mice with no severe cytotoxicity to normal tissues. These results suggest that PNA-modified liposomes could provide a new delivery strategy for the synergistic treatment of colorectal cancer with clinical chemotherapeutic agents.

Stability, Morphology, and Effects of In Vitro Digestion on the Antioxidant Properties of Polyphenol Inclusion Complexes with β-Cyclodextrin

Polyphenols are inversely associated with the incidence of chronic diseases, but therapeutic use is limited by poor stability and bioaccessibility. Encapsulation has been shown to overcome some of these limitations. A selection of polyphenols (catechin, gallic acid, and epigallocatechin gallate) and their combinations were encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin (βCD). Encapsulation was characterized and the thermal and storage stability was evaluated using the 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The samples were then subjected to in vitro digestion using a simple digestion (SD) model (gastric and duodenal phases) and a more complex digestion (CD) model (oral, gastric, and duodenal phases). Thereafter, the chemical (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay) and cellular (dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay in Caco-2 cells) antioxidant and antiglycation (advanced glycation end-products assay) activities were determined. Inclusion complexes formed at a 1:1 molar ratio with a high encapsulation yield and efficiency. Encapsulation altered the morphology of the samples, increased the thermal stability of some and the storage stability of all samples. Encapsulation maintained the antioxidant activity of all samples and significantly improved the antiglycation and cellular antioxidant activities of some polyphenols following SD. In conclusion, the formed inclusion complexes of βCD with polyphenols had greater storage stability, without altering the beneficial cellular effects of the polyphenols.

Inulin-Modified Liposomes as a Novel Delivery System for Cinnamaldehyde

Cinnamaldehyde as an antioxidant was encapsulated in inulin-modified nanoliposomes in order to improve its physical and antioxidant stability. The microstructure, particle size and volume distribution of cinnamaldehyde liposomes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The particle size and polydispersion index (PDI) values of the inulin modified liposomes were 72.52 ± 0.71 nm and 0.223 ± 0.031, respectively. The results showed that the liposomes after surface modification with inulin remained spherical. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis showed that hydrogen bonds were formed between the inulin and the liposome membrane. Inulin binding also restricted the freedom of movement of lipid molecules and enhanced the order of the hydrophobic core of the membrane and the polar headgroup region in lipid molecules. Therefore, the addition of different concentrations of inulin influenced the permeability of the liposome bilayer membrane. However, when inulin was excessive, the capacity of the bilayer membrane to load the cinnamaldehyde was reduced, and the stability of the system was reduced. Additionally, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and retention rate (RR) of cinnamaldehyde from inulin-modified liposomes during storage were determined. The EE value of the inulin modified liposomes was 70.71 ± 0.53%. The liposomes with 1.5% inulin concentration had the highest retention rate (RR) and the smallest particle size during storage at 4 °C. The addition of inulin also enhanced the thermal stability of the liposomes. Based on the results, the surface modification improved the oxidation stability of liposomes, especially the DPPH scavenging ability. In conclusion, these results might help to develop inulin as a potential candidate for the effective modification of the surface of liposomes and provide data and conclusions for it.

Liposomal Nanoformulation as a Carrier for Curcumin and pEGCG—Study on Stability and Anticancer Potential

Nanoformulations are regarded as a promising tool to enable the efficient delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to the target site. One of the best-known and most studied nanoformulations are liposomes—spherical phospholipid bilayered nanocarriers resembling cell membranes. In order to assess the possible effect of a mixture of polyphenols on both the stability of the formulation and its biological activity, two compounds were embedded in the liposomes—(i) curcumin (CUR), (ii) a peracetylated derivative of (−)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (pEGCG), and (iii) a combination of the aforementioned. The stability of the formulations was assessed in two different temperature ranges (4–8 and 20 °C) by monitoring both the particle size and their concentration. It was found that after 28 days of the experiment, the liposomes remained largely unchanged in terms of the particle size distribution, with the greatest change from 130 to 146 nm. The potential decomposition of the carried substances was evaluated using HPLC. The combined CUR and pEGCG was sensitive to temperature conditions; however its stability was greatly increased when compared to the solutions of the individual compounds alone—up to 9.67% of the initial concentration of pEGCG in liposomes after 28 days storage compared to complete decomposition within hours for the non-encapsulated sample. The potential of the prepared formulations was assessed in vitro on prostate (LNCaP) and bladder cancer (5637) cell lines, as well as on a non-cancerous human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5), with the highest activity of IC₅₀ equal 15.33 ± 2.03 µM for the mixture of compounds towards the 5637 cell line.

Pulmonary delivery of resveratrol-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes for the prevention of zinc chloride smoke-induced acute lung injury

Smoke bombs are often used in military/fire training, which can produce a large amount of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) smoke. Inhalation of ZnCl₂ smoke usually causes acute lung injury (ALI) that would likely develop to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there is no effective prevention or treatment strategy for the smoke-induced ALI. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with good anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities, but its low solubility, stability, and bioavailability restrict its clinical application. In this study, an inhalable RES formulation composed of RES-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (RES-β-CD) was prepared for the prevention of ZnCl₂ smoke-induced ALI. RES-β-CD powders had a small mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.61 μm and a high fine particle fraction of 38.84%, suitable for pulmonary inhalation. RES-β-CD exhibited low BEAS-2B cytotoxicity. Pulmonary delivery of RES-β-CD to mice remarkably prevented the smoke-induced ALI with downregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, STAT3, and GATA3, and upregulation of T-bet and Foxp3. RES-β-CD protected the respiratory function, percutaneous oxygen saturation, physical activity, lung capillary integrity, and lung liquid balance, alleviating inflammation and apoptosis. Pulmonary delivery of the positive drug, budesonide (BUD), also alleviated the smoke-induced ALI by reduction of inflammation and cell apoptosis. RES-β-CD exhibited the regulation of the Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 balances, while BUD did not show any effect on immune balances. In conclusion, pulmonary delivery of RES-β-CD is a promising anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis strategy for the prevention of ZnCl₂ smoke-induced ALI by direct lung drug distribution and regulation of immune balance.

Improved stability and skin penetration through glycethosomes loaded with glycyrrhetinic acid

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) has been popularly used in cosmetics because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. However, due to the poor water solubility of GA and the barrier effect of human skin, the penetration of GA through the skin may be hindered. Liposomes are a common delivery system for functional compounds in cosmetics. Nonetheless, the stability and transdermal effect of traditional liposomes are limited. The aim of this work was to prepare a new liposome system that contained glycerol and ethanol to enhance the stability of the vesicles and promote the penetration of GA into the skin.

METHODS

The glycethosomes were prepared by ethanol injection and sonication method. The effects of different concentrations of glycerol and ethanol on the particle size, polydispersity (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE), stability and rheological properties of vesicles were evaluated. Lipophilic and hydrophilic fluorescent probes were used to investigate the microviscosity of vesicles. In vitro permeation tests were performed with pig skin in Franz cells and the concentration of GA in different skin layers was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ability of different vesicles to induce lipid extraction and fluidization was analyzed by using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).

RESULTS

When glycerol was 50% and ethanol was 25%, the obtained glycethosomes had the smallest particle size and the best stability with a mean particle size of 94.5 nm, PDI 0.216 and 99.8% EE. Fluorescence probe studies indicated that the microviscosity of glycethosomes was the largest when the concentration of glycerol and ethanol was 50% and 25%, which was consistent with the storage stability of glycethosomes. It was found that the glycethosomes had the best transdermal effect and the total skin permeation percentage of GA was 20.67%, while that of ethosomes, glycerosomes, liposomes and dispersion were 10.56%, 9.38%, 7.78% and 5.02%, respectively. And glycethosomes had effectively lipid extraction and fluidization effect on the skin stratum corneum.

CONCLUSION

Compared to other traditional liposomes, glycethosomes can significantly improve the stability of vesicles and the transdermal effect of GA. Glycethosomes are promising vesicles for the delivery of GA.