Antimetastatic efficacy of niosomal pentoxifylline and its combination with activated macrophages in murine B16F10 melanoma model

Recent Progress in Nanostructured Smart Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy: A Review

Traditional treatment approaches for cancer involve intravenous chemotherapy or other forms of drug delivery. These therapeutic measures suffer from several limitations such as nonspecific targeting, poor biodistribution, and buildup of drug resistances. However, significant technological advancements have been made in terms of superior modes of drug delivery over the last few decades. Technical capability in analyzing the molecular mechanisms of tumor biology, nanotechnology─particularly the development of biocompatible nanoparticles, surface modification techniques, microelectronics, and material sciences─has increased. As a result, a significant number of nanostructured carriers that can deliver drugs to specific cancerous sites with high efficiency have been developed. This particular maneuver that enables the introduction of a therapeutic nanostructured substance in the body by controlling the rate, time, and place is defined as the nanostructured drug delivery system (NDDS). Because of their versatility and ability to incorporate features such as specific targeting, water solubility, stability, biocompatibility, degradability, and ability to reverse drug resistance, they have attracted the interest of the scientific community, in general, and nanotechnologists as well as biomedical scientists. To keep pace with the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, specific technical aspects of the recent NDDSs and their prospects need to be reported coherently. To address these ongoing issues, this review article provides an overview of different NDDSs such as lipids, polymers, and inorganic nanoparticles. In addition, this review also reports the challenges of current NDDSs and points out the prospective research directions of these nanocarriers. From our focused review, we conclude that still now the most advanced and potent field of application for NDDSs is lipid-based, while other significantly potential fields include polymer-based and inorganic NDDSs. However, despite the promises, challenges remain in practical implementations of such NDDSs in terms of dosage and stability, and caution should be exercised regarding biocompatibility of materials. Considering these aspects objectively, this review on NDDSs will be particularly of interest for small-to-large scale industrial researchers and academicians with expertise in drug delivery, cancer research, and nanotechnology.

Dysregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors may participate in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction

BACKGROUND

Trophoblast invasion into the maternal endometrium serves an important function in human pregnancy. Dysregulation of the finely controlled process of trophoblast invasion can result in a wide spectrum of pregnancy abnormalities.

AIMS

We aimed to elucidate the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and pregnancy complication.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of placental bed biopsy tissues obtained from normal vaginal deliveries (N=15), normal cesarean deliveries (N=15), pre-eclampsia (N=24) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) (N=10). We evaluated the expressions of MMP-2, -8, -9, -11, -19, -15 (MT2-MMP), -16 (MT3-MMP), and -24 (MT5-MMP), as well as TIMP-1 and -3, by applying Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods.

SUBJECTS

Human placental tissues were used for this study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The expressions of MMP-2, -8, -9, -11, -19, -15 (MT2-MMP), -16 (MT3-MMP), and -24 (MT5-MMP), as well as TIMP-1 and -3 in human placenta tissues.

RESULTS

Compared with those in normal pregnancies, the expression of MMP-2, -8, -9 and -11 was downregulated in villous tissues of pre-eclampsia and FGR cases (p<0.05). TIMP-1 and -3 were increased in pre-eclampsia and FGR (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between normal vaginal deliveries and cesarean deliveries.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculate that the change in invasion-associated proteinase expression will affect placental development and may thus contribute to the development of complicated pregnancies.

Tumor regression of B16F10 melanoma in vivo by prevention of neovascularization: study on theophylline

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of theophylline on neovascularization and tumor regression in murine B16F10 melanoma. Theophylline had no direct toxicity to host and significantly reduced (p < 0.001) tumor volume and neovascularization in B16F10 melanoma implanted murine model. The effect of theophylline on neovascularization was observed distinctly in histologic analysis. This effect is mediated, in part by blocking endothelial cell proliferation, thereby preventing neovascularization of the tumor. Further investigations with theophylline can elucidate the exact mechanism of action which characterize neovascularization activity.