Self-assembled supramolecular nanomicelles from a bile acid-docetaxel conjugate are highly tolerable with improved therapeutic efficacy

Engineered Nanomicelles Delivering the Combination of Steroids and Antioxidants Can Mitigate Local and Systemic Inflammation, Including Sepsis

Chronic inflammation is mainly characterized by the release of proinflammatory cytokines (cytokine storm) and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from the successive chronic inflammatory responses toward infection, leading to multiple organ failure and, ultimately, death. As inflammation and oxidative stress are known to nourish each other and initiate an uncontrolled immune response, inhibiting the cross-talk between the inflammatory response using anti-inflammatory drugs and oxidative stress using antioxidants can be a promising strategy to target sepsis. Here, we present the engineering of chimeric nanomicelles (NMs) using an ester-linked polyethylene glycol-derived lithocholic acid-drug conjugate using dexamethasone (DEX), a potent glucocorticoid possessing anti-inflammatory properties, and vitamin E (VITE), an antioxidant to target oxidative stress. Interestingly, these chimeric DEX-VITE NMs show enhanced accumulation at the inflamed sites driven by enhanced permeation and retention effect and mitigate localized acute inflammation in paw, lung, and liver inflammation models. We further demonstrated the efficacy of these NMs in mitigating LPS-induced endotoxemia and CLP-induced microbial sepsis, conferring survival advantages. DEX-VITE NMs also modulate immune homeostasis by decreasing the infiltration of total immune cells, neutrophils, and overall macrophages. Finally, administration of DEX-VITE NMs also reduces the release of proinflammatory cytokines and prevents vascular damage, two critical factors of sepsis pathogenesis. Therefore, this therapeutic approach of chimeric NMs can effectively deliver steroids and antioxidants to mitigate uncontrolled localized and systemic inflammation.

Preparation of Glutathione-Responsive Paclitaxel Prodrug Based on Endogenous Molecule of L-Glutathione Oxidized for Cancer Therapy

Using an endogenous carrier is the best method to address the biocompatibility of carriers in the drug delivery field. Herein, we prepared a glutathione-responsive paclitaxel prodrug micelle based on an endogenous molecule of L-glutathione oxidized (GSSG) for cancer therapy using one-pot synthesis. The carboxyl groups in L-glutathione oxidized were reacted with the hydroxyl group in paclitaxel (PTX) using the catalysts dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). Then, the amino-polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (mPEG-NH2) was conjugated with GSSG to prepare PTX-GSSG-PEG. The structure of PTX-GSSG-PEG was characterized using infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). The drug release kinetics of PTX within PTX-GSSG-PEG were quantified using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The size of the PTX-GSSG-PEG micelles was 83 nm, as evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), and their particle size remained stable in a pH 7.4 PBS for 7 days. Moreover, the micelles could responsively degrade and release PTX in a reduced glutathione environment. The drug loading of PTX in PTX-GSSG-PEG was 13%, as determined using NMR. Furthermore, the cumulative drug release rate of PTX from the micelles reached 72.1% in a reduced glutathione environment of 5 mg/mL at 120 h. Cell viability experiments demonstrated that the PTX-GSSG-PEG micelles could induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Additionally, cell uptake showed that the micelles could distribute to the cell nuclei within 7 h. To sum up, with this glutathione-responsive paclitaxel prodrug micelle based on the endogenous molecule GSSG, it may be possible to develop novel nanomedicines in the future.

Recent developments in membrane targeting antifungal agents to mitigate antifungal resistance

Fungal infections cause severe and life-threatening complications especially in immunocompromised individuals. Antifungals targeting cellular machinery and cell membranes including azoles are used in clinical practice to manage topical to systemic fungal infections. However, continuous exposure to clinically used antifungal agents in managing the fungal infections results in the development of multi-drug resistance via adapting different kinds of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. The unique chemical composition of fungal membranes presents attractive targets for antifungal drug discovery as it is difficult for fungal cells to modify the membrane targets for emergence of drug resistance. Here, we discussed available antifungal drugs with their detailed mechanism of action and described different antifungal resistance mechanisms. We further emphasized structure-activity relationship studies of membrane-targeting antifungal agents, and classified membrane-targeting antifungal agents on the basis of their core scaffold with detailed pharmacological properties. This review aims to pique the interest of potential researchers who could explore this interesting and intricate fungal realm.

Bile acid-based advanced drug delivery systems, bilosomes and micelles as novel carriers for therapeutics

Diabetes mellitus affects almost half a billion patients worldwide and results from either destruction of β-cells responsible for insulin secretion or increased tissue resistance to insulin stimulation and the reduction of glycemic control. Novel drug delivery systems can improve treatment efficacy in diabetic patients. The low aqueous solubility of most oral antidiabetic drugs decreases drug bioavailability; therefore, there is a demand for the use of novel methods to overcome this issue. The application of bile acids mixed micelles and bilosomes can provide an enhancement in drug efficacy. Bile acids are amphiphilic steroidal molecules that contain a saturated tetracyclic hydrocarbon cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring, and consist of three 6-membered rings and a 5-membered ring, a short aliphatic side chain, and a tough steroid nucleus. This review offers a comprehensive and informative data focusing on the great potential of bile acid, their salts, and their derivatives for the development of new antidiabetic drug delivery system.

Application of the pH-Responsive PCL/PEG-Nar Nanofiber Membrane in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Electrospinning technology is widely used in the field of drug delivery due to its advantages of convenience, high efficiency, and low cost. To investigate the therapeutic effect of naringenin (Nar) on osteoarthritis (OA), the pH-responsive system of the polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol-naringenin (PCL/PEG-Nar) nanofiber membrane was designed and used as drug delivery systems (DDS) in the treatment of OA. The PEG-Nar conjugate was constructed via ester linkage between mPEG-COOH and the carboxyl group of naringenin, and the PCL/PEG-Nar nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning technology. When placed in the weak acid OA microenvironment, the PCL/PEG-Nar nanofiber membrane can be cleverly “turned on” to continuously release Nar with anti-inflammatory effect to alleviate the severity of OA. In this study, the construction and the application of the pH-responsive PCL/PEG-Nar nanofiber membrane drug delivery platform would throw new light on OA treatment.