Design of casein-based nanocarriers for targeted delivery of daunorubicin to leukemia cells

Daunorubicin (DAU) is a chemotherapy drug approved for the treatment of some cancers. However, the clinical compatibility of DAU is limited due to its lack of specificity and its highly toxic effects, which interfere with normal cells. This toxicity can be reduced with nanocarriers and targeted drug delivery systems. In this study, to develop the drug delivery of DAU, the surface of synthesized nanoparticles was modified by folic acid to target cancer cells optimally. Encapsulation of DAU in protein sodium caseinate (NaCAS) was done by adding calcium ions to bring the casein (CAS) in the solution to a micellar structure to synthesize dense nanoparticles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy transmission, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and zeta potential studies designed and distinguished the synthesized nanocomplexes. The results showed that CAS nanoparticles successfully encapsulated DAU, and the protein surface was targeted by folic acid. Light scattering analysis determined that the particles with a scattering index number of 306.0 and an average size of 8.117 nm were synthesized. The zeta potential of CAS micelles is more harmful than CAS nanoparticles. This is because calcium ions are added during the formation of CAS nanoparticles during the drug-loading stages. These studies prove that the synthesized "NaCAS-DAU" and "NaCAS-DAU-folic acid" complexes can be favorable carriers in the targeted drug delivery of cancer drugs.

Isoalantolactone: a review on its pharmacological effects

Isoalantolactone (ISA) is a sesquiterpene lactone that could be isolated from Inula helenium as well as many other herbal plants belonging to Asteraceae. Over the past 2 decades, lots of researches have been made on ISA, which owns multiple pharmacological effects, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidepressant-like activity, as well as others. The anticancer effects of ISA involve proliferation inhibition, ROS overproduction, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. Through inhibiting NF-κB signaling, ISA exerts its anti-inflammatory effects which are involved in the neuroprotection of ISA. This review hackled the reported pharmacological effects of ISA and associated mechanisms, providing an update on understanding its potential in drug development.

Design of Conjugates Based on Sesquiterpene Lactones with Polyalkoxybenzenes by "Click" Chemistry to Create Potential Anticancer Agents

Using the methodology of "click" chemistry, a singular method has been developed for the synthesis of unique conjugates based on sesquiterpene lactones: dehydrocostuslactone and alantolactone with polyalkoxybenzenes. To expand the structural range of the resulting conjugates, the length of the 1,2,3-triazole spacer was varied. For all synthesized compounds, the cytotoxic profile was determined on the cell lines of tumor origin (SH-SY5Y, HeLa, Hep-2, A549) and normal Hek 293 cells. It was found that the compounds based on alantolactone 7a-d with a long spacer and substances containing dehydrocostuslactone 10a-d with a short spacer have the greatest toxic effect. The decrease in cell survival under the action of these conjugates may be due to their ability to cause dissipation of the transmembrane potential of mitochondria and inhibit the process of glycolysis, leading to cell death. The obtained results confirm the assumption that the development of conjugates based on sesquiterpene lactones and polyalkoxybenzenes can be considered as a promising strategy for the search for potential antitumor agents.

Alantolactone: A sesquiterpene lactone with diverse pharmacological effects

Alantolactone (Ala) is a sesquiterpene lactone that can be isolated from many herbal plants belonging to Asteraceae. Besides the antimicrobial activities against bacteria, fungi and viruses, Ala has also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects in various models by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPKs to decrease the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. The antitumor effects of Ala have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo via inducing intrinsic apoptosis, oxidative stress, ER stress, cell cycle arrest and inhibiting autophagy and STAT3 phosphorylation, which are also involved in its combination or synergy with other antitumor drugs. Ala also has neuroprotective activity through attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, besides its modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. This review summarizes the recent advances of the pharmacological effects of Ala, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, neuroprotective activities, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Ala might be employed as a potential lead to develop drugs for multiple diseases.

N-Alkylation of Anthracycline Antibiotics by Natural Sesquiterpene Lactones as a Way to Obtain Antitumor Agents with Reduced Side Effects

Anthracycline antitumor antibiotics are one of the promising classes of chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment. The main deterrent to their use is high toxicity to a healthy environment, including cumulative cardiotoxicity. In our work, bipharmacophore molecules containing in their structure a fragment of the known anthracycline antibiotics daunorubicin and doxorubicin and natural sesquiterpene lactones were obtained for the first time. When studying the biological activity of the synthesized compounds, it was found that with equal and, in some cases, higher cytotoxicity and glycolysis inhibition by anthracycline antibiotics conjugates with sesquiterpene lactones in comparison with doxo- and daunorubicin, a reduced damaging effect on the functioning of rat heart mitochondria was observed. The results obtained allow us to confirm the assumption that the chemical modification of the anthracycline antibiotics molecules doxo- and daunorubicin by natural sesquiterpene lactones can be a promising strategy for creating potential antitumor chemotherapeutic drugs with a pronounced cytotoxic effect on tumor cells and a reduced damaging effect on healthy cells of the human organism.

Synthetic routes to nanoconjugates of anthracyclines

Anthracyclines (Anth) are widely used in the treatment of various types of cancer. Unfortunately, they exhibit serious adverse effects, such as hematopoietic depression and cardiotoxicity, leading to heart failure. In this review, we focus on recently developed conjugates of anthracyclines with a range of nanocarriers, such as polymers, peptides, DNA or inorganic systems. Manipulation of the composition, size and shape of chemical entities at the nanometer scale makes possible the design and development of a range of prodrugs. In this review we concentrate on synthetic chemistry in the long process leading to the introduction of novel therapeutic products.