Development of electrosprayed artesunate-loaded core–shell nanoparticles

Hybrid Nanoparticle for Co-delivering Paclitaxel and Dihydroartemisinin to Exhibit Synergic Anticancer Therapeutics

AIM

Anticancer treatment is required to provide effective and safe patient medicines. This research aided in developing and applying nanoparticles (NPs) for cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND

The poor solubility of paclitaxel (PTX) restricts its therapeutic efficacy because of allergic side effects caused by formulation excipients. To overcome this, PTX was coupled with artemisinin derivatives and loaded into an NP drug delivery system to enhance its effects while addressing its low solubility.

OBJECTIVES

This study prepared and characterized a hybrid PLGA-lecithin NP containing dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and PTX for synergic anticancer therapy. A lyophilization study improved the stability of the NP drug formulations.

METHODS

Dual PTX- and DHA-loaded PLGA- and lecithin-based NPs were prepared using a single-step solvent evaporation method. The NP suspensions were lyophilized, and the types and ratios of cryoprotectants were investigated. The physicochemical properties of NPs and lyophilized cakes (Lyo-NPs) were characterized. The stability of the Lyo-NPs was investigated at 2-8°C and room conditions. The anticancer effects of the drug combination, NP suspension, and lyophilized powder were analyzed using an in vitro cytotoxicity assay and an in vivo model.

RESULTS

The optimal PTX-DHA loaded PLGA-lecithin-NP was formulated (200 nm, PDI: 0.248 ± 0.003, Zeta potential: -33.60 ± 3.39 mV). Mannitol was selected for lyophilization. Lyo-NPs improved the stability of the NPs (1 year), wherein the physicochemical properties of the NPs were maintained (RDI was close to 1.0). An in-vitro cytotoxicity assay of PTX combined with DHA showed a synergistic anticancer effect (CI <1.0). The suppressive effects of Lyo-NPs on tumor growth in vivo were dose-dependent. While the cocktail of free drugs showed high toxicity (7.5 mg PTX-15 mg DHA/kg) in-vivo, Lyo-NPs showed no statistical differences in hematological and biochemical parameters compared to the control.

CONCLUSION

Dual-drug-loaded hybrid PLGA-lecithin NP is a potential system to minimize severe side effects while enhancing antitumor efficacy, in which lyophilization is a key process to increase stability.

Formulation and characterization of hydroxyethyl cellulose-based gel containing metronidazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for buccal mucosal drug delivery

Local delivery of drug is a promising strategy to manage periodontitis characterized by chronic inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth. An optimized system should prolong the drug retention time and exhibit controlled drug permeation through the buccal mucosal layer. This study was aimed to develop hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)-based gel containing metronidazole (MTZ) loaded in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), and to enhance the antimicrobial activity of MTZ. SLNs were prepared using a combination method of solvent evaporation and hot homogenization. The results showed that the fabricated SLNs, comprising of Precirol (2.93%, w/v), Tween 80 (1.8%, w/v), and the drug:lipid ratio of 19.3% (w/w), were approximately 200 nm in size, with a narrow distribution. The HEC (3%, w/w)-based gel formed a smooth, homogeneous structure and had preferable mechanical and rheological properties. Moreover, the MTZ-loaded SLNs-based HEC gel (equivalent to 1% of MTZ, w/w) exhibited a sustained in vitro drug release pattern, optimal ex vivo permeability, and enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity after 24 h of treatment. These findings indicate the potential of the MTZ-loaded SLNs-based HEC formulation for local drug delivery at the buccal mucosa in managing periodontal disease.

Fluoxetine hydrochloride loaded lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles showed possible efficiency against SARS-CoV-2 infection

Up to date, there were no approved drugs against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease that dangerously affects global health and the economy. Repurposing the existing drugs would be a promising approach for COVID-19 management. The antidepressant drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class, have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant effects, which makes them auspicious drugs for COVID 19 treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to predict the possible therapeutic activity of SSRIs against COVID-19. Firstly, molecular docking studies were performed to hypothesize the possible interaction of SSRIs to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) main protease. Secondly, the candidate drug was loaded in lipid polymer hybrid (LPH) nanoparticles to enhance its activity. The studied SSRIs were Fluoxetine hydrochloride (FH), Atomoxteine, Paroxetine, Nisoxteine, Repoxteine RR, and Repoxteine SS. Interestingly, FH could effectively bind with SARS-COV-2 main protease via hydrogen bond formation with low binding energy (-6.7 kcal/mol). Moreover, the optimization of FH-LPH formulation achieved 65.1 ± 2.7% encapsulation efficiency, 10.3 ± 0.4% loading efficiency, 98.5 ± 3.5 nm particle size, and -10.5 ± 0.45 mV zeta potential. Additionally, it improved cellular internalization in a time-dependent manner with good biocompatibility on Human lung fibroblast (CCD-19Lu) cells. Therefore, the study suggested the potential activity of FH-LPH nanoparticles against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preparation, evaluation, and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of artesunate-loaded glycyrrhetinic acid decorated PEG-PLGA nanoparticles

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to prepare the liver targeting drug delivery system (TDDS) of artesunate (ART)-loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG)-poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) modified by glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), and evaluate its in vitro cytotoxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE

The GA-PEG-PLGA-ART NPs enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity on HCC cell lines. The development of GA-PEG-PLGA NPs will greatly push the clinical applications of ART as a novel anticancer drug.

METHODS

The NPs were prepared using solvent evaporation method, and the formulation was optimized through an orthogonal design. In addition, physical properties were determined, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), morphology, drug loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE), and in vitro drug release. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity of NPs with three human cancer cell lines viz. HepG2, Hep3B, and SMCC-7721 was conducted using the SRB assay. Additionally, lyophilization was conducted to improve the long-term physical stability.

RESULTS

The GA-PEG-PLGA-ART NPs have spherical shape, small particle size (around 88 nm) with a narrow size distribution (PDI < 0.3), high drug LC (up to 59.3 ± 1.65%), and high EE (up to 73.13 ± 5.17%). In vitro drug release behavior showed that drugs were released from NPs in a sustained and controlled release pattern. Cytotoxicity study indicated the NPs achieved lower cancer cell survival fraction. The GA-PEG-PLGA NPs freeze-dried with 3% (w/v) of mannitol showed better effect on long-term physical stability.

CONCLUSION

The GA-PEG-PLGA-ART NPs appear as a potential liver targeted intracellular delivery platform for ART.

Polymeric nanoencapsulation of alpha interferon increases drug bioavailability and induces a sustained antiviral response in vivo

Polymeric nanoparticulate systems allow the encapsulation of bio-active substances, giving them protection against external agents and increasing the drug's bioavailability. The use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers usually guarantees the harmless character of the formulation, and a controlled drug release is also assured. A relatively easy procedure to obtain polymeric formulations of bioactive agents is ionotropic gelation, which allows the synthesis of chitosan (CS) - sodium tri-polyphosphate nanoparticles (NPs) loading encapsulated proteins. In this work, Bovine serum albumin (BSA) model protein and a recombinant porcine alpha interferon variant were used to obtain nanoparticulate formulations. The internalization of the encapsulated material by cells was studied using a BSA-fluorescein system; the fluorescent conjugate was observable inside the cells after 20 h of incubation. The therapeutic CS-alpha interferon formulation showed a maximum of protein released in vitro at around 90 h. This system was found to be safe in a cytotoxicity assay, while biological activity experiments in vitro showed antiviral protection of cells in the presence of encapsulated porcine alpha interferon. In vivo experiments in pigs revealed a significant and sustained antiviral response through overexpression of the antiviral markers OAS2 and PKR. This proves the preservation of porcine alpha interferon biological activity, and also that a lasting response was obtained. This procedure is an effective and safe method to formulate drugs in nanoparticulate systems, representing a significant contribution to the search for more effective drug delivery strategies.

Combination of microfluidic chip and electrostatic atomization for the preparation of drug-loaded core-shell nanoparticles

To overcome the shortcoming of drug-loaded nanoparticles, such as high initial burst release and wide size distribution, a novel manufacturing technique for core-shell structure nanoparticle was developed by combining microfluidic chip and electrohydrodynamic atomization. In this study, the mixture solution of the surfactant 1, 2- dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol and the polymeric coating material polylactic-glycolic-acid was introduced into the outer microchannel of the microfluidic chip as the particle's shell. And the encapsulated drug paclitaxel was pumped into the inner microchannel as the core. Then, the particles with a nanoscale-size core-shell structure were generated by applying an electric field on the laminar flow which was formed in the microfluidic chip. Operation parameters, including working voltage, carrier material and surfactant concentration as well as liquid flow rates were optimized for nanoparticles generation. The properties of drug-loaded nanoparticles in terms of their particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency were investigated. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the particle size was approximately 145 nm and encapsulation efficiency reached 92%. Moreover, the drug release of these nanoparticles could be prolonged over a significant period for more than ten days. It can be expected that this innovative approach could provide a useful platform for drug-loaded core-shell nanoparticles developing.

Preformulation Study of Electrospun Haemanthamine-Loaded Amphiphilic Nanofibers Intended for a Solid Template for Self-Assembled Liposomes

Haemanthamine (HAE) has been proven as a potential anticancer agent. However, the therapeutic use of this plant-origin alkaloid to date is limited due to the chemical instability and poorly water-soluble characteristics of the agent. To overcome these challenges, we developed novel amphiphilic electrospun nanofibers (NFs) loaded with HAE, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and intended for a stabilizing platform (template) of self-assembled liposomes of the active agent. The NFs were fabricated with a solvent-based electrospinning method. The chemical structure of HAE and the geometric properties, molecular interactions and physical solid-state properties of the NFs were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. An in-house dialysis-based dissolution method was used to investigate the drug release in vitro. The HAE-loaded fibers showed a nanoscale size ranging from 197 nm to 534 nm. The liposomes with a diameter between 63 nm and 401 nm were spontaneously formed as the NFs were exposed to water. HAE dispersed inside liposomes showed a tri-modal dissolution behavior. In conclusion, the present amphiphilic NFs loaded with HAE are an alternative approach for the formulation of a liposomal drug delivery system and stabilization of the liposomes of the present alkaloid.

Coaxial Electrohydrodynamic Atomization for the Production of Drug-Loaded Micro/Nanoparticles

Coaxial electrohydrodynamic atomization (CEHDA) presents a promising technology for preparing drug-loaded micro/nanoparticles with core-shell structures. Recently, CEHDA has attracted tremendous attention based on its specific advantages, including precise control over particle size and size distribution, reduced initial burst release and mild preparation conditions. Moreover, with different needles, CEHDA can produce a variety of drug-loaded micro/nanoparticles for drug delivery systems. In this review, we summarize recent advances in using double-layer structure, multilayer structure and multicomponent encapsulation strategies for developing micro/nanoparticles. The merits of applying multiplexed electrospray sources for high-throughput production are also highlighted.