Proof of concept studies for siRNA delivery by nonionic surfactant vesicles: in vitro and in vivo evaluation of protein knockdown

JNK2 silencing lipid nanoparticles for elastic matrix repair

The over-expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK2), a stress activated mitogen kinase, in the aortic wall plays a critical role in the formation and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This triggers chronic downstream upregulation of elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMPs2 and 9 to cause progressive proteolytic breakdown of the wall elastic matrix. We have previously shown that siNRA knockdown of JNK2 gene expression in an AAA culture model stimulates downstream elastin gene expression, elastic fiber formation, crosslinking and reduces elastolytic MMPs2 and 9. Since naked siRNA poorly routes to intracellular targets, has poor stability in blood, and could be potentially toxic and immunogenic, this project is aimed to develop PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery of JNK siRNA and to generate evidence of successful JNK2 knockdown and downstream attenuation of MMP2 gene and protein expressions. LNPs were formulated using thin-film hydration technique and had the size of 100-200 nm with zeta-potential ranging between 30 and 40 mV. JNK siRNA loaded PEGylated LNPs successfully knocked down JNK2 in cytokine-activated rat aneurysmal smooth muscle (EaRASMC) cultures. This resulted in a downstream decrease in MMP2 gene and protein expression and an upward trend in expression of genes for proteins critical for elastic fiber assembly such as elastin (ELN) and lysyl oxidase (LOX). Our result indicates cationic LNPs to be potential carriers for JNK siRNA delivery improving potency for elastin homeostasis required for AAA repair which could possibly provide benefits in preventing the progression of small AAAs.

Advancements in nanoparticle-based treatment approaches for skin cancer therapy

Skin cancer has emerged as the fifth most commonly reported cancer in the world, causing a burden on global health and the economy. The enormously rising environmental changes, industrialization, and genetic modification have further exacerbated skin cancer statistics. Current treatment modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are facing several issues related to cost, toxicity, and bioavailability thereby leading to declined anti-skin cancer therapeutic efficacy and poor patient compliance. In the context of overcoming this limitation, several nanotechnological advancements have been witnessed so far. Among various nanomaterials, nanoparticles have endowed exorbitant advantages by acting as both therapeutic agents and drug carriers for the remarkable treatment of skin cancer. The small size and large surface area to volume ratio of nanoparticles escalate the skin tumor uptake through their leaky vasculature resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this context, the present review provides up to date information about different types and pathology of skin cancer, followed by their current treatment modalities and associated drawbacks. Furthermore, it meticulously discusses the role of numerous inorganic, polymer, and lipid-based nanoparticles in skin cancer therapy with subsequent descriptions of their patents and clinical trials.

Monkeypox virus: An emerging epidemic

INTRODUCTION

A monkeypox outbreak is spreading in territories where the virus is not generally prevalent. The rapid and sudden emergence of monkeypox in numerous nations at the same time means that unreported transmission may have persisted. The number of reported cases is on a constant increase worldwide. At least 20 non-African countries, like Canada, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, have reported more than 57662 as of September 9th suspected or confirmed cases. This is the largest epidemic seen outside of Africa. Scientists are struggling to determine the responsible genes for the higher virulence and transmissibility of the virus. Because the viruses are related, several countries have begun acquiring smallpox vaccinations, which are believed to be very effective against monkeypox.

METHODS

Bibliographic databases and web-search engines were used to retrieve studies that assessed monkeypox basic biology, life cycle, and transmission. Data were evaluated and used to explain the therapeutics that are under use or have potential. Finally, here is a comparison between how vaccines are being made now and how they were made in the past to stop the spread of new viruses.

CONCLUSIONS

Available vaccines are believed to be effective if administered within four days of viral exposure, as the virus has a long incubation period. As the virus is zoonotic, there is still a great deal of concern about the viral genetic shift and the risk of spreading to humans. This review will discuss the virus's biology and how dangerous it is. It will also look at how it spreads, what vaccines and treatments are available, and what technologies could be used to make vaccines quickly using mRNA technologies.

Recent updates in curcumin delivery

Curcumin is a natural component extracted from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a natural plat with known medicinal uses for more than 4000 years. Most turmeric therapeutic effects are attributed to curcumin, a yellow-coloured extract. Curcumin has received considerable attention due to its biological activities, such as its use in arthritis, liver and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, and several types of cancers. Most of these curcumin therapeutic activities are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the clinical application of curcumin is hampered by some limitations that prevent its extensive clinical application. Curcumin high hydrophobicity of curcumin and limited water solubility are among the most important limitations. This poor solubility will result in low bioavailability due to its poor absorption into plasma and the target tissues. Curcumin also has rapid metabolism, which will significantly lower its bioavailability and shorten its half-life. Moreover, curcumin is photosensitive with limited chemical stability during manufacturing and storage. These limitations have been overcome by applying nanotechnology using several types of nanoparticles (NPs). This includes using NPs such as liposomes, niosomes, gold nanoparticles, and many others to improve the curcumin solubility and bioavailability. This review focuses on the different types of NPs investigated and the outcomes generated by their use in the most recent studies in this field. To follow the latest advances in the field of site-specific drug delivery using nanomaterials, an electronic databases search was conducted using PubMed, Google scholar and Scopus using the following keywords: lipid-based nanoparticles, curcumin delivery, niosomes, and liposomes.

SARS-CoV-2: vaccinology and emerging therapeutics; challenges and future developments

As SARS-CoV-2 emerge, variants such as Omicron (B.1.1.529), Delta (B.1.617.2), and those from the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), Brazil (P.1) and India (B.1.6.17 lineage) have raised concerns of the reduced neutralising ability of antibodies and increased ability to evade the current six approved COVID-19 vaccine candidates. This viewpoint advocates for countries to conduct prior efficacy studies before they embark on mass vaccination and addresses the role of nanoparticles as carrier vehicles for these vaccines with a view to explore the present challenges and forge a path for a stronger and more viable future for the development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics. We also look at the emerging prophylactics and therapeutics in the light of ongoing cases of severe and critical COVID-19.

Cationic liposomes mediated transdermal delivery of meloxicam and ketoprofen: Optimization of the composition, in vitro and in vivo assessment of efficiency

New liposomes modified with pyrrolidinium surfactants containing a hydroxyethyl fragment (C_nPB, n = 12, 14, 16) were prepared for transdermal delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to obtain the optimal composition, the surfactant/lipid molar ratio (0.02/1; 0.029/1; 0.04/1) and the amphiphile hydrocarbon tail length were varied. Rhodamine B was loaded in all formulations, while meloxicam and ketoprofen in selected ones. For liposomes studied the hydrodynamic diameter was in the range of 80-130 nm, the zeta potential ranged from +35 to +50 mV, EE was 75-99%. Liposome modification leads to a prolonged release of the rhodamine B (up to 10-12 h) and faster release of non-steroidal drugs (up to 7-8 h) in vitro. The ability to cross the skin barrier using Franz cells was investigated for liposomal meloxicam and ketoprofen. The total amount of meloxicam and ketoprofen passed through the Strat-M® membranes during 51 h was 51-114 μg/cm² and 87-105 μg/cm² respectively. The evaluation of transdermal diffusion ex vivo showed that total amount of liposomal ketoprofen passed through the skin during 51 h was 140-162 μg/cm². Liposomes modified with C₁₆PB were found as the most effective inflammation reducing formulation in the carrageenan edema model of rat paw.

siRNA Delivery to Melanoma Cells with Cationic Niosomes

RNA interference (RNAi) is a posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism that employs siRNA. It typically results in the degradation of a target mRNA that encodes a particular protein. Treatment with siRNA therapeutics requires the use of an effective drug delivery system to assist in delivering these therapeutics into the cytoplasm of the transfected cells. Here we describe the transfection of melanoma cancer cells with siRNA using cationic niosome nanoparticles as a delivery system. The method of niosome preparation is first introduced and is followed by complex formation with siRNA and the transfection method.

Use of Nanoparticles in Delivery of Nucleic Acids for Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma accounts for 4% of all skin cancer malignancies, with only 14% of diagnosed patients surviving for more than 5 years after diagnosis. Until now, there is no clear understanding of the detailed molecular contributors of melanoma pathogenesis. Accordingly, more research is needed to understand melanoma development and prognosis.All the treatment approaches that are currently applied have several significant limitations that prevent effective use in melanoma. One major limitation in the treatment of cancer is the acquisition of multidrug resistance (MDR). The MDR results in significant treatment failure and poor clinical outcomes in several cancers, including skin cancer. Treatment of melanoma is especially retarded by MDR. Despite the current advances in targeted and immune-mediated therapy, treatment arms of melanoma are severely limited and stand as a significant clinical challenge. Further, the poor pharmacokinetic profile of currently used chemotherapeutic agents is another reason for treatment failure. Therefore, more research is needed to develop novel drugs and carrier tools for more effective and targeted treatment.Nucleic acid therapy is based on nucleic acids or chemical compounds that are closely related, such as antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers, and small-interfering RNAs that are usually used in situations when a specific gene implicated in a disorder is deemed a therapeutically beneficial target for inhibition. However, the proper application for nucleic acid therapies is hampered by the development of an effective delivery system that can maintain their stability in the systemic circulation and enhance their uptake by the target cells. In this chapter, the prognosis of the different types of melanoma along with the currently used medications is highlighted, and the different types of nucleic acids along with the currently available nanoparticle systems for delivering these nucleic acids into melanoma cells are discussed. We also discuss recently conducted research on the use of different types of nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery into melanoma cells and highlight the most significant outcomes.

Liposomes: Advancements and innovation in the manufacturing process

Liposomes are well recognised as effective drug delivery systems, with a range of products approved, including follow on generic products. Current manufacturing processes used to produce liposomes are generally complex multi-batch processes. Furthermore, liposome preparation processes adopted in the laboratory setting do not offer easy translation to large scale production, which may delay the development and adoption of new liposomal systems. To promote advancement and innovation in liposome manufacturing processes, this review considers the range of manufacturing processes available for liposomes, from laboratory scale and scale up, through to large-scale manufacture and evaluates their advantages and limitations. The regulatory considerations associated with the manufacture of liposomes is also discussed. New innovations that support leaner scalable technologies for liposome fabrication are outlined including self-assembling liposome systems and microfluidic production. The critical process attributes that impact on the liposome product attributes are outlined to support potential wider adoption of these innovations.

Niosome-encapsulated balanocarpol: compound isolation, characterisation, and cytotoxicity evaluation against human breast and ovarian cancer cell lines

Natural products have been successfully used to treat various ailments since ancient times and currently several anticancer agents based on natural products are used as the main therapy to treat cancer patients, or as a complimentary treatment to chemotherapy or radiation. Balanocarpol, which is a promising natural product that has been isolated from Hopea dryobalanoides, has been studied as a potential anticancer agent but its application is limited due to its high toxicity, low water solubility, and poor bioavailability. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the characteristics of balanocarpol and increase its anticancer activity through its encapsulation in a bilayer structure of a lipid-based nanoparticle drug delivery system where the application of nanotechnology can help improve the limitations of balanocarpol. The compound was first extracted and isolated from H. dryobalanoides. Niosome nanoparticles composed of Span 80 (SP80) and cholesterol were formulated through an innovative microfluidic mixing method for the encapsulation and delivery of balanocarpol. The prepared particles were spherical, small, and uniform with an average particles size and polydispersity index ∼175 nm and 0.088, respectively. The encapsulation of balanocarpol into the SP80 niosomes resulted in an encapsulation efficiency of ∼40%. The niosomes formulation loaded with balanocarpol showed a superior anticancer effect over the free compound when tested in vitro on human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human breast carcinoma (ZR-75-1). This is the first study to report the use of SP80 niosomes for the successful encapsulation and delivery of balanocarpol into cancer cells.

Cationic Niosomes as Non-Viral Vehicles for Nucleic Acids: Challenges and Opportunities in Gene Delivery

Cationic niosomes have become important non-viral vehicles for transporting a good number of small drug molecules and macromolecules. Growing interest shown by these colloidal nanoparticles in therapy is determined by their structural similarities to liposomes. Cationic niosomes are usually obtained from the self-assembly of non-ionic surfactant molecules. This process can be governed not only by the nature of such surfactants but also by others factors like the presence of additives, formulation preparation and properties of the encapsulated hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules. This review is aimed at providing recent information for using cationic niosomes for gene delivery purposes with particular emphasis on improving the transportation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), aptamers and plasmids (pDNA).

Exosomes: fighting cancer with cancer

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by many cells, including cancer cells. Extensive research has been carried out to validate potential applications of exosomes and to evaluate their efficiency in a wide range of diseases, including cancer. The current knowledge on the origin, biogenesis and composition of exosomes is described. This review then focuses on the use of exosomes in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Microfluidic manufacturing of different niosomes nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulation: Physical characteristics, encapsulation efficacy, and drug release

Curcumin, a natural chemical compound found in Curcuma longa that has been used in antitumor and anti-inflammation applications, exhibits very limited water solubility and rapid in vivo degradation, which limits its clinical application. To overcome these limitations, niosome nanoparticles were prepared by microfluidic mixing for curcumin encapsulation. Niosome nanoparticles are lipid-based, and composed of non-ionic surfactants with cholesterol orientated into a membrane bilayer structure. Two different non-ionic surfactants were used and the mixing parameters were varied to optimize the characteristics of the prepared niosomes. The prepared niosomes had an average particle size of 70-230 nm depending on the type of non-ionic surfactant used and the mixing parameter. Moreover, all prepared niosomes were monodisperse with an average polydispersity index ranging from 0.07 to 0.3. All prepared niosomes were spherical as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Curcumin was encapsulated with a maximum encapsulation efficiency of around 60% using Tween 85 as the non-ionic surfactant. Niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing provided a controlled release of curcumin, as indicated by the release profile of curcumin, improving its therapeutic capability. These results demonstrate that niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing to encapsulate curcumin are a promising delivery system to reach target cells.