Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A promising candidate for lung cancer targeting

Lung cancer stands as the foremost health issue and the principal reason for mortality worldwide. It is projected that India will see over 1.73 million new cases and more than 880,000 deaths related to cancer, with lung cancer being a significant contributor. The efficiency of existing chemotherapy procedures is not optimal because of less soluble nature and short half-life of anticancer substances. More precipitated toxicity and non-existence of targeting propensity can lead to severe side effects, non-compliance, and inconvenience for patients. Nonetheless, the domain of nanomedicine has undergone a revolution in the past few years with the advent of novel drug delivery mechanisms that tackle the drawbacks of conventional approaches. Diverse nanoparticle-based drug delivery methods, including liposomes, nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carrier and solid lipid nanoparticle that encapsulated chemotherapy drugs, are currently employed for efficient lung cancer therapy. NLCs, recognized as the second-generation lipid nanocarriers, are a focused drug delivery mechanism that has garnered significant interest owing to their multitude of advantages such as increased stability, minimal toxicity, prolonged shelf life, superior encapsulation capability, and biocompatible nature. This review focuses on the NLCs carrier system, discussing its preparation methods, types, characterization, applications, and future prospects in lung cancer treatment.

Recent advances of tryptanthrin and its derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Tryptanthrin is one of the well-known natural alkaloids with a broad spectrum of biological activities and can act as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitubercular, and other agents. Owing to its potent anticancer activity, tryptanthrin has been widely explored for the therapy of various cancers besides being effective against other diseases. Tryptanthrin with a pharmacological indoloquinazoline moiety can not only be modified by different functional groups to achieve various tryptanthrin derivatives, which may realize the improvement of anticancer activity, but also bind with different metal ions to obtain varied tryptanthrin metal complexes as potential anticancer agents, due to their higher anticancer activities in comparison with tryptanthrin (or its derivatives) and cisplatin. This review outlines the recent advances in the syntheses, structures, and anticancer activities of tryptanthrin derivatives and their metal complexes, trying to reveal their structure-activity relationships and to provide a helpful way for medicinal chemists in the development of new and effective tryptanthrin-based anticancer agents.

Atorvastatin-loaded pro-nanolipospheres with ameliorated oral bioavailability and antidyslipidemic activity

Despite significant advances in oral drug delivery technologies, many drugs are prone to limited oral bioavailability due to biological barriers that hinder drug absorption. Pro-nanolipospheres (PNL) are a form of delivery system that can potentiate the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs through a variety of processes, including increased drug solubility and protecting them from degradation by intestinal or hepatic first-pass metabolism. In this study, pro-nanolipospheres were employed as a delivery vehicle for improving the oral bioavailability of the lipophilic statin, atorvastatin (ATR). Various ATR-loaded PNL formulations, composed of various pharmaceutical ingredients, were prepared by the pre-concentrate method and characterized by determining particle size, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. An optimized formula (ATR-PT PNL) showing the smallest particle size, highest zeta potential, and highest encapsulation efficiency was selected for further in vivo investigations. The in vivo pharmacodynamic experiments demonstrated that the optimized ATR-PT PNL formulation exerted a potent hypolipidemic effect in a Poloxamer® 407-induced hyper-lipidaemia rat model by restoring normal cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels along with alleviating serum levels of LDL while elevating serum HDL levels, compared to pure drug suspensions and marketed ATR (Lipitor®). Most importantly, oral administration of the optimized ATR-PT PNL formulation showed a dramatic increase in ATR oral bioavailability, as evinced by a 1.7- and 3.6-fold rise in systemic bioavailability when compared with oral commercial ATR suspensions (Lipitor®) and pure drug suspension, respectively. Collectively, pro-nanolipospheres might represent a promising delivery vehicle for enhancing the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Unravelling the Therapeutic Potential of Nano-Delivered Functional Foods in Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract is one of the most concerning public health issues, as it can lead to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), some of which are more detrimental than others. Chronic respiratory diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis. The conventional drug therapies for the management and treatment of CRDs only address the symptoms and fail to reverse or recover the chronic-inflammation-mediated structural and functional damage of the respiratory tract. In addition, the low efficacy and adverse effects of these drugs have directed the attention of researchers towards nutraceuticals in search of potential treatment strategies that can not only ameliorate CRD symptoms but also can repair and reverse inflammatory damage. Hence, there is a growing interest toward investigating the medicinal benefits of nutraceuticals, such as rutin, curcumin, zerumbone, and others. Nutraceuticals carry many nutritional and therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity properties, and usually do not have as many adverse effects, as they are naturally sourced. Recently, the use of nanoparticles has also been increasingly studied for the nano drug delivery of these nutraceuticals. The discrete size of nanoparticles holds great potential for the level of permeability that can be achieved when transporting these nutraceutical compounds. This review is aimed to provide an understanding of the use of nutraceuticals in combination with nanoparticles against CRDs and their mechanisms involved in slowing down or reversing the progression of CRDs by inhibiting pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.

Herbal nanomedicines: Recent advancements, challenges, opportunities and regulatory overview

BACKGROUND

Herbal Nano Medicines (HNMs) are nano-sized medicine containing herbal drugs as extracts, enriched fractions or biomarker constituents. HNMs have certain advantages because of their increased bioavailability and reduced toxicities. There are very few literature reports that address the common challenges of herbal nanoformulations, such as selecting the type/class of nanoformulation for an extract or a phytochemical, selection and optimisation of preparation method and physicochemical parameters. Although researchers have shown more interest in this field in the last decade, there is still an urgent need for systematic analysis of HNMs.

PURPOSE

This review aims to provide the recent advancement in various herbal nanomedicines like polymeric herbal nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, phytosomes, nano-micelles, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system, nanofibers, liposomes, dendrimers, ethosomes, nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, and carbon nanotube; their evaluation parameters, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, regulatory aspects and future perspectives of herbal nanomedicines are also being covered to some extent.

METHODS

The scientific data provided in this review article are retrieved by a thorough analysis of numerous research and review articles, textbooks, and patents searched using the electronic search tools like Sci-Finder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ACS, Medline Plus and Web of Science.

RESULTS

In this review, the authors suggested the suitability of nanoformulation for a particular type of extracts or enriched fraction of phytoconstituents based on their solubility and permeability profile (similar to the BCS class of drugs). This review focuses on different strategies for optimising preparation methods for various HNMs to ensure reproducibility in context with all the physicochemical parameters like particle size, surface area, zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and drug release, along with the consistent therapeutic index.

CONCLUSION

A combination of herbal medicine with nanotechnology can be an essential tool for the advancement of herbal medicine research with enhanced bioavailability and fewer toxicities. Despite the challenges related to traditional medicine's safe and effective use, there is huge scope for nanotechnology-based herbal medicines. Overall, it is well stabilized that herbal nanomedicines are safer, have higher bioavailability, and have enhanced therapeutic value than conventional herbal and synthetic drugs.

Cancer Chemoprevention: A Strategic Approach Using Phytochemicals

Cancer chemoprevention approaches are aimed at preventing, delaying, or suppressing tumor incidence using synthetic or natural bioactive agents. Mechanistically, chemopreventive agents also aid in mitigating cancer development, either by impeding DNA damage or by blocking the division of premalignant cells with DNA damage. Several pre-clinical studies have substantiated the benefits of using various dietary components as chemopreventives in cancer therapy. The incessant rise in the number of cancer cases globally is an issue of major concern. The excessive toxicity and chemoresistance associated with conventional chemotherapies decrease the success rates of the existent chemotherapeutic regimen, which warrants the need for an efficient and safer alternative therapeutic approach. In this scenario, chemopreventive agents have been proven to be successful in protecting the high-risk populations from cancer, which further validates chemoprevention strategy as rational and promising. Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of this approach in managing cancers of different origins. Phytochemicals, which constitute an appreciable proportion of currently used chemotherapeutic drugs, have been tested for their chemopreventive efficacy. This review primarily aims to highlight the efficacy of phytochemicals, currently being investigated globally as chemopreventives. The clinical relevance of chemoprevention, with special emphasis on the phytochemicals, curcumin, resveratrol, tryptanthrin, kaempferol, gingerol, emodin, quercetin genistein and epigallocatechingallate, which are potential candidates due to their ability to regulate multiple survival pathways without inducing toxicity, forms the crux of this review. The majority of these phytochemicals are polyphenols and flavanoids. We have analyzed how the key molecular targets of these chemopreventives potentially counteract the key drivers of chemoresistance, causing minimum toxicity to the body. An overview of the underlying mechanism of action of these phytochemicals in regulating the key players of cancer progression and tumor suppression is discussed in this review. A summary of the clinical trials on the important phytochemicals that emerge as chemopreventives is also incorporated. We elaborate on the pre-clinical and clinical observations, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, and molecular targets of some of these natural products. To summarize, the scope of this review comprises of the current status, limitations, and future directions of cancer chemoprevention, emphasizing the potency of phytochemicals as effective chemopreventives.

Tryptanthrin derivatives as efficient singlet oxygen sensitizers

Halogenated tryptanthrin and aminotryptanthrin were synthesized from indigo or isatin precursors. Dibromo- and tetrabromo-tryptanthrin were obtained from indigo dyes following green chemistry procedures, through microwave-assisted synthesis in mild oxidation conditions. Spectral and photophysical properties of the compounds, including quantitative determination of all the different deactivation pathways of S₁ and T₁, were obtained in different solvents and temperatures. The triplet state (T₁) has a dominant role on the photophysical properties of these compounds, which is further enhanced by the halogens at the fused-phenyl rings. Substitution with an amino group, 2-aminotryptanthrin (TRYP-NH₂), leads a dominance of the radiative decay channel. Moreover, with the sole exception of TRYP-NH₂, S₁ ~  ~  > T₁ intersystem crossing constitutes the dominant route, with internal conversion playing a minor role in the deactivation of S₁ in all the studied derivatives. In agreement with tryptanthrin, emission of the triplet state of tryptanthrin derivatives (with exception of TRYP-NH₂), was observed together with an enhancement of the singlet oxygen sensitization quantum yield: from 70% in tryptanthrin to 92% in the iodine derivative. This strongly contrasts with indigo and its derivatives, where singlet oxygen sensitization is found inefficient.

Lung cancer chemotherapy using nanoparticles: Enhanced target ability of redox-responsive and pH-sensitive cisplatin prodrug and paclitaxel

Platinum-based combination therapy is more effective and less toxic, but lack of targeting, and is not capable to enrich in the tumor zone. To obstacle these drawbacks, prodrug and nanotechnology strategies have been investigated in this study. GSH-responsive and pH-responsive cisplatin prodrug was synthesized. Cisplatin prodrug and paclitaxel co-loaded nanoparticles: DDP-P/PTX NPs were constructed. The drug release behavior and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was assessed in vitro. In vivo anticancer efficiency and toxicity were evaluated on lung cancer bearing mice animal model. DDP-P/PTX NPs had a nanoscale size of 112.9 ± 3.5 nm. A reduction and pH triggered drug release with a synergistic tumor cell inhibition ability was observed by DDP-P/PTX NPs. DDP-P/PTX NPs also exhibited high tumor distribution, low systemic toxicity and remarkable antitumor effects in vivo. DDP-P/PTX NPs could be applied as promising anticancer system for the treatment of NSCLC.

Evaluation of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Produced with Interesterified Buriti Oil

Research background

Extracted from the pulp of an Amazonian fruit, buriti oil is rich in micronutrients with antioxidant properties and high biological value. The few studies available indicate that this oil could be used in a wide range of applications; however, there are no studies that work on the improvement in the characteristics of this oil for commercial application. The enzymatic interesterification is one of the tools available to improve the properties of oils and fats and our recent studies have demonstrated that the lipase could specifically act on buriti oil to produce structured lipids rich in oleic acid, while preserving most of the minor compounds present in this oil. Still looking for ways to expand the applicability of this raw oil, in this work, we are interested in studying the behaviour of this structured oil in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs).

Experimental approach

The NLCs were produced with interesterified buriti oil and the stability, droplet size, electrical charge, microstructure, polymorphism and antioxidant activity of the samples were evaluated by ORAC and FRAP methods.

Results and conclusions

The results showed that the interesterification formed more unsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs), and NLCs prepared with interesterified buriti oil had smaller droplets than NLCs with crude buriti oil. Particles remained stable throughout the storage period and NLCs exhibited complex polymorphism with the presence of three crystalline forms. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value was approx. 23% higher in nanolipid carries with structured lipids than in the nanolipid carriers with crude buriti oil, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value 16% higher, demonstrating the influence of interesterification on the antioxidant activity of nanocarriers. Thus, NLCs prepared with interesterified buriti oil had small droplets, high stability and antioxidant capacity, and have a potential for nutritional and biological applications.

Novelty and scientific contribution

This research showed that interesterification positively influenced the physicochemical properties of NLCs, producing the oil rich in oleic acid, high stability and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, it may be interesting to use these nanocarriers to obtain efficient carrier systems for future applications.

Bergamot oil as an integral component of nanostructured lipid carriers and a photosensitizer for photodynamic treatment of vitiligo: Characterization and clinical experimentation

Background: Bergamot oil (BO) is a photosensitizer that can be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of dermatological diseases such as vitiligo. Being an oil, it can be integrated within the lipidic matrix of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as the liquid lipid constituent, hence exhibiting a dual role. Research design and methods: NLCs were prepared with different emulsifiers and coemulsifiers, and the effect of the preparation method and formulation variables on the NLCs' size was elucidated. The prepared NLCs were further characterized for their in vitro release, viscosity, thermal behavior, and in vitro photostability. Furthermore, a preclinical photodynamic study on animal skin was conducted, followed by clinical experimentation on patients with vitiligo. Results: Results showed that BO was successfully incorporated within the NLCs. The selected NLCs formulation was in the nanometer range with a gel consistency, and it provided sustained release of BO for 24 h. NLCs improved the photostability and photodynamic properties of BO, and displayed promising preclinical and clinical results for the topical PDT of vitiligo. Expert Opinion: BO containing NLCs was proven to be promising means for PDT of vitiligo, and can be further explored in other dermatological diseases.

Does alpha-lipoic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers improve post-thawed sperm quality and ameliorate apoptosis-related genes of rooster sperm?

Oxidative stress could be prevented by antioxidant-loaded nanoparticles. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 10 (A10), 20 (A20), 30 (A30), 40 (A40), and 50 (A50) μM alpha-lipoic acid and alpha-lipoic acid nanostructured lipid carriers (ALN) at 10 (ALN10), 20 (ALN20), 30 (ALN30), 40 (ALN40), and 50 (ALN50) μM on post-thawed sperm quality, fertility, and apoptosis-related genes of rooster sperm. The extender supplemented with ALN30 led to higher total and progressive motility, straight-line velocity, and linearity in comparison to the control group. The ALN30 resulted in higher percentage of mitochondria activity and glutathione peroxidase level compared with control (P < 0.05). The extender supplemented with ALN30 led to lower percentage of apoptotic sperm, when compared with the control. CASPASE 3 expression in ALN30 was lower (P < 0.05) than the other groups. The results showed that BCL-2 mRNA expression of sperm was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in ALN30 compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Higher percentages of fertility and hatchability rates were observed in ALN30 group. The results indicate that ALN30 could be regarded as a novel potential cryoprotectant for the cryopreservation of rooster semen. Therefore, nanostructured lipid carriers improve not only the active compound (such as alpha-lipoic acid) of biomedical applicability but also the potential for industrial application in sperm cryopreservation.

A promising approach to develop nanostructured lipid carriers from solid lipid nanoparticles: preparation, characterization, cytotoxicity and nucleic acid binding ability

We aimed to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) displaying similar characteristics - particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential - with the model solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for better comparability. By considering the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values of solid and liquid lipids, five out of six NLCs and eight out of eight cationic NLCs (cNLCs) were successfully prepared with similar characteristics to their precursor SLN and cationic SLNs (cSLNs), respectively. Among cationic formulations, two cSLNs containing different surfactant/co-surfactant concentrations (4% and 8% S/CoS; w/w) and their cNLC versions prepared with Labrafac lipophile WL 1349 (LWL) or Labrafac PG were selected to compare cytotoxicity, stability, and nucleic acid binding ability. All formulations are well-tolerated by L-929 cells, cSLNs being least toxic. The formulations containing 4% S/CoS had higher stability after 24-months. All nanoparticles formed complexes with pDNA (Binding ability: cNLCs > cSLNs). cSLN and LWL-cNLC containing 4% S/CoS showed the highest pDNA binding capacity in each group, and their spherical/oval shape was revealed by electron microscopy. However, they did not form complexes with siRNA. The developed approach has the potential to simplify the production of (c)NLCs having similar physicochemical properties with the optimum (c)SLN and may provide better insight for (c)SLN vs.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: A Review

The efficacy of current standard chemotherapy is suboptimal due to the poor solubility and short half-lives of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as their high toxicity and lack of specificity which may result in severe side effects, noncompliance and patient inconvenience. The application of nanotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry and attracted increasing attention as a significant means for optimizing the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and enhancing their efficiency and safety profiles. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are lipid-based formulations that have been broadly studied as drug delivery systems. They have a solid matrix at room temperature and are considered superior to many other traditional lipid-based nanocarriers such as nanoemulsions, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) due to their enhanced physical stability, improved drug loading capacity, and biocompatibility. This review focuses on the latest advances in the use of NLCs as drug delivery systems and their preparation and characterization techniques with special emphasis on their applications as delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents and different strategies for their use in tumor targeting.

Nano-encapsulated tryptanthrin derivative for combined anticancer therapy via inhibiting indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and inducing immunogenic cell death

Aim: We developed a polycaprolactone-based nanoparticle (NP) to encapsulate tryptanthrin derivative CY-1-4 and evaluated its antitumor efficacy. Materials & methods: CY-1-4 NPs were prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxicity and associated mechanisms, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-inhibitory ability, immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing ability and antitumor efficacy. Results: CY-1-4 NPs were 123 nm in size. In vitro experiments indicated that they could both induce ICD and inhibit IDO. In vivo studies indicated that a medium dose reduced 58% of the tumor burden in a B16-F10-bearing mouse model, decreased IDO expression in tumor tissues and regulated lymphocytes subsets in spleen and tumors. Conclusion: CY-1-4 is a potential antitumor candidate that could act as a single agent with combined functions of IDO inhibition and ICD induction.

Zerumbone-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Induces Apoptosis of Canine Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cells

Canine mammary gland tumor (CMT) is the most common tumor in intact female dog. Zerumbone (ZER) has promising anticancer properties, but plagued with poor water solubility, poor absorption, bioavailability, and delivery to target tissues. To solubilize, ZER was loaded into nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) to produce ZER-loaded NLC (ZER-NLC). The objectives of this study were to determine the antiproliferative effect and the mode of cell death induced by ZER-NLC and ZER on a canine mammary gland tumor (CMT) adenocarcinoma primary cell line. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between ZER-NLC and ZER treatments in the inhibition of CMT cell proliferation; thus, the loading of ZER into NLC did not compromise the cytotoxic effect of ZER. Microscopically, ZER-NLC- and ZER-treated CMT cells showed apoptotic cell morphology. ZER-NLC and ZER treatments significantly downregulated the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and upregulated the proapoptotic Bax gene expressions in CMT cells. Both ZER-NLC and ZER-treated CMT cells showed significant (p<0.0001) increases in caspase-8, -9, and -3/7 protein activities. In conclusion, ZER-NLC induced CMT cell death via regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax gene expressions and caspase activations, indicating the involvement of both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis. This study provided evidences for the potential of ZER-NLC as an anticanine mammary gland adenocarcinoma chemotherapy.

Clinical cosmeceutical repurposing of melatonin in androgenic alopecia using nanostructured lipid carriers prepared with antioxidant oils

BACKGROUND

The present work aims to formulate nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) exhibiting high skin deposition and high inherent antioxidant potential to repurpose the use of melatonin hormone and some antioxidant oils in the treatment of androgenic alopecia (AGA).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

NLCs were characterized for their size, charge, drug entrapment, anti-oxidant potential, physical stability, in vitro release, surface morphology, and ex-vivo skin deposition. Their merits were clinically tested on patients suffering from AGA by calculating the degree of improvement, conduction of hair pull test, histometric assessment, and dermoscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

Results revealed that melatonin NLCs showed nanometer size, negatively charged surface, high entrapment efficiency, and high anti-oxidant potential, in addition to sustained release for 6 h. Furthermore, NLCs displayed good storage stability and they were able to increase the skin deposition of melatonin 4.5-folds in stratum corneum, 7-folds in epidermis, and 6.8-folds in the dermis compared to melatonin solution. Melatonin NLCs displayed more clinically desirable results compared to the melatonin solution in AGA patients, manifested by increased hair density and thickness and decreased hair loss.

CONCLUSIONS

The aforementioned system was shown to be a very promising treatment modality for AGA, which is worthy of futuristic experimentation.

Solid lipid nanoparticles improve octyl gallate antimetastatic activity and ameliorate its renal and hepatic toxic effects

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related death and requires the development of effective treatments with reduced toxicity and effective anticancer activity. Gallic acid derivatives have shown significant biological properties including antitumoral activity as shown in a previous study with octyl gallate (G8) in vitro. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the antimetastatic effect of free and solid lipid nanoparticle-loaded G8 in mice in a lung metastasis model. Animals inoculated with melanoma cells presented metastasis in lungs, which was significantly inhibited by treatment with G8 and solid lipid nanoparticle-loaded G8, named G8-NVM. However, G8-treated mice showed an increase in several toxicological parameters, which were almost completely circumvented by G8-NVM treatment. This study supports the need for pharmacological studies on new potential medicinal plants to treat cancer and can provide new perspectives on using nanotechnology to improve biological activities while decreasing the chemotherapy toxicological effects of anticancer drugs.

Hyaluronic acid-coated, prodrug-based nanostructured lipid carriers for enhanced pancreatic cancer therapy

CONTEXT

Gemcitabine (GEM) and Baicalein (BCL) are reported to have anti-tumor effects including pancreatic cancer. Hyaluronic acid (HA) can bind to over-expressed receptors in various kinds of cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to develop prodrugs containing HA, BCL and GEM, and construct nanomedicine incorporate GEM and BCL in the core and HA on the surface. This system could target the cancer cells and co-deliver the drugs.

METHODS

GEM-stearic acid lipid prodrug (GEM-SA) and hyaluronic acid-amino acid-baicalein prodrug (HA-AA-BCL) were synthesized. Then, GEM and BCL prodrug-based targeted nanostructured lipid carriers (HA-GEM-BCL NLCs) were prepared by the nanoprecipitation technique. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies of the NLCs were evaluated on AsPC1 pancreatic cancer cell line. In vivo anti-tumor effects were observed on the murine-bearing pancreatic cancer model.

RESULTS

HA-GEM-BCL NLCs were effective in entering pancreatic cancer cells over-expressing HA receptors, and showed cytotoxicity of tumor cells in vitro. In vivo study revealed significant tumor growth inhibition ability of HA-GEM-BCL NLCs in murine pancreatic cancer model.

CONCLUSION

It could be concluded that HA-GEM-BCL NLCs could be featured as promising co-delivery, tumor-targeted nanomedicine for the treatment of cancers.

The Impact of Variables on Particle Size of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers; A Comparative Literature Review

During the past decade, pharmaceutical science has seen rapid growth in interest for nanoscale materials. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are popular research topics recently introduced as nano-scale drug carriers; they have shown numerous merits in drug delivery. Size is the most important index in a nanocarrier affecting its drug delivery efficiency. The influence of preparation conditions and type of lipidic components on the size of SLN and NLC in comparable states seems to be interesting for researchers who investigate these types of carriers. This review highlights the results of SLN and NLC particle size and size distribution comparisons.

Quercetin and Tryptanthrin: Two Broad Spectrum Anticancer Agents for Future Chemotherapeutic Interventions

The idea and practice of developing or identifying compounds capable of eliminating the transformed cells or cancer cells without being nontoxic to their normal counterparts deserves much importance. Since ages, plants have been considered and proven to be repertoires of chemicals possessing immense therapeutic potential. A proportion of these plant-derived compounds or phytochemicals were shown to be highly competent anticancer agents besides being effective against many other diseases. Representative compounds of different classes of phytochemicals are in clinical use against cancer. In this chapter, we discuss the anticancer potential of two compounds: quercetin, a flavonoid and tryptanthrin, an indoloquinazoline alkaloid, and the mechanisms behind their cytotoxic effects on cancers of different origin. The chapter also gives a brief mention of their properties that make them effective against cancer.

Prodrug-based nano-drug delivery system for co-encapsulate paclitaxel and carboplatin for lung cancer treatment

CONTEXT

Paclitaxel (PTX) and carboplatin (CBP) are widely used for the combined chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the development of multidrug resistance of cancer cells, as well as systemic toxic side effects resulting from nonspecific localization of anticancer drugs to non-tumor areas are major obstacles to the success of chemotherapy in treating cancers.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to engineer a prodrug-based nano-drug delivery system for co-encapsulate hydrophilic (CBP) and hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs (PTX). This system was expected to resolve the multidrug resistance cause by single drug, and the dual-drug-loaded liposome was also planned to specifically target the cancer cells without obvious influence on normal cells and tissues.

METHODS

In this paper, PLGA-PEG-CBP was synthesized by the conjugation between the carboxylic group of PLGA-PEG-COOH and the amino group of CBP. Then, self-assembled nanoparticles for combination delivery of PTX and PLGA-PEG-CBP (PTX/CBP NPs) were prepared by solvent displacement technique. The in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy was assessed in NCL-H460 human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line.

RESULTS

PTX/CBP NPs achieved the highest cytotoxic effect among all formulations in vitro, as compared with single drug delivery NPs. In vivo investigation on NSCLC animal models showed that co-delivery of PTX and CBP possessed high tumor-targeting capacity and strong anti-tumor activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The PTX/CBP NPs constructed in this research offers an effective strategy for targeted combinational lung cancer therapy.

Delivery of baicalein and paclitaxel using self-assembled nanoparticles: synergistic antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo

Purpose

Combination anticancer therapy is promising to generate synergistic anticancer effects to maximize the treatment effect and overcome multidrug resistance. The aim of the study reported here was to develop multifunctional, dual-ligand, modified, self-assembled nanoparticles (NPs) for the combination delivery of baicalein (BCL) and paclitaxel (PTX) prodrugs.

Methods

Prodrug of PTX and prodrug of BCL, containing dual-targeted ligands of folate (FA) and hyaluronic acid (HA), were synthesized. Multifunctional self-assembled NPs for combination delivery of PTX prodrug and BCL prodrug (PTX-BCL) were prepared and the synergistic antitumor effect was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro transfection efficiency of the novel modified vectors was evaluated in human lung cancer A549 cells and drug-resistant lung cancer A549/PTX cells. The in vivo antitumor efficiency and systemic toxicity of different formulations were further investigated in mice bearing A549/PTX drug-resistant human lung cancer xenografts.

Results

The size of the PTX-BCL NPs was approximately 90 nm, with a positive zeta potential of +3.3. The PTX-BCL NPs displayed remarkably better antitumor activity over a wide range of drug concentrations, and showed an obvious synergism effect with CI₅₀ values of 0.707 and 0.513, indicating that double-ligand modification and the co-delivery of PTX and BCL prodrugs with self-assembled NPs had remarkable superiority over other formulations.

Conclusion

The prepared PTX-BCL NP drug-delivery system was proven efficient by its targeting of drug-resistant human lung cancer cells and delivering of BCL and PTX prodrugs. Enhanced synergistic anticancer effects were achieved by PTX-BCL NPs, and multidrug resistance of PTX was overcome by this promising targeted nanomedicine.

Targeted lung cancer therapy: preparation and optimization of transferrin-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers as novel nanomedicine for co-delivery of anticancer drugs and DNA

Purpose

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) represent an improved generation of lipid nanoparticles. They have specific nanostructures to accommodate drugs/genes, and thus achieve higher loading capacity. The aim of this study was to develop transferrin (Tf)-decorated NLC as multifunctional nanomedicine for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and enhanced green fluorescence protein plasmid.

Methods

Firstly, Tf-conjugated ligands were synthesized. Secondly, PTX- and DNA-loaded NLC (PTX-DNA-NLC) was prepared. Finally, Tf-containing ligands were used for the surface decoration of NLC. Their average size, zeta potential, drug, and gene loading were evaluated. Human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line (NCl-H460 cells) was used for the testing of in vitro transfection efficiency, and in vivo transfection efficiency of NLC was evaluated on mice bearing NCl-H460 cells.

Results

Tf-decorated PTX and DNA co-encapsulated NLC (Tf-PTX-DNA-NLC) were nano-sized particles with positive zeta potential. Tf-PTX-DNA-NLC displayed low cytotoxicity, high gene transfection efficiency, and enhanced antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that Tf-PTX-DNA-NLC can achieve impressive antitumor activity and gene transfection efficiency. Tf decoration also enhanced the active targeting ability of the carriers to NCl-H460 cells. The novel drug and gene delivery system offers a promising strategy for the treatment of lung cancer.

Compritol 888 ATO: a multifunctional lipid excipient in drug delivery systems and nanopharmaceuticals

INTRODUCTION

Compritol® 888 ATO is a lipid excipient that is generally used in cosmetic industry as a surfactant, emulsifying agent and viscosity-inducing agent in emulsions or creams. Based on its chemical composition, Compritol 888 ATO is a blend of different esters of behenic acid with glycerol.

AREAS COVERED

Recently, there has been great interest in the multiple roles that Compritol 888 ATO plays in various pharmaceutical delivery systems. Accordingly, this review aimed at summarizing the current and potential applications of Compritol 888 ATO in various drug delivery areas.

EXPERT OPINION

Different researches have highlighted the feasibility of using Compritol 888 ATO as a lubricant or coating agent for oral solid dosage formulations. It has also been explored as a matrix-forming agent for controlling drug release. At present, the most common pharmaceutical application of Compritol 888 ATO is in lipid-based colloidal drug delivery system such as solid lipid microparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers. Although, Compritol 888 ATO has acceptable regulatory and safety profiles and although the number of articles that emphasize on its applicability as an innovative excipient in pharmaceutical technology is continuously increasing, it is not widely used in the pharmaceutical market products and its use is limited to its sustain release ability in extended release tablets.

Alpha-lipoic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier: sustained release and biocompatibility to HaCaT cells in vitro

ALA-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (ALA-NLC) was designed to improve physicochemical stability and water solubility, and promote sustained release of ALA as well as determine the biocompatibility of ALA-NLC. The ALA-NLC manufactured using hot high-pressure homogenization technique was investigated in terms of size, zeta potential, FTIR analysis and release behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity and biocompatibility were determined by incubating with HaCaT cells using the MTT assay, HE staining and Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell behavior and cellular division of HaCaT cells untreated and treated by ALA-NLC were investigated in real-time images gathered using time-lapse imaging system. The release investigation illustrated that only 6.9% of ALA released in 30 min from ALA-NLC formation, whereas it was 30.3% in free ALA system. ALA-NLC possessed a satisfactory release behavior of sustained release up to 72 h. It showed that ALA-NLC did not exert hazardous effect on HaCaT cells up to 81.9 mg/L without morphological alterations, revealing a satisfactory biocompatibility. Evidence was provided from time-lapse imaging system that cell behavior and cellular division of ALA-NLC treated HaCaT cells were in accordance with the control. These results of this investigation demonstrated that NLC encapsulated ALA formation (ALA-NLC) can improve stability, solubility and release of ALA; ALA-NLC was biocompatible to HaCaT cells.

Zerumbone-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers: preparation, characterization, and antileukemic effect

Zerumbone, a natural dietary lipophilic compound with low water solubility (1.296 mg/L at 25°C) was used in this investigation. The zerumbone was loaded into nanostructured lipid carriers using a hot, high-pressure homogenization technique. The physicochemical properties of the zerumbone-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (ZER-NLC) were determined. The ZER-NLC particles had an average size of 52.68 ± 0.1 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.29 ± 0.004 μm. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the particles were spherical in shape. The zeta potential of the ZER-NLC was −25.03 ± 1.24 mV, entrapment efficiency was 99.03%, and drug loading was 7.92%. In vitro drug release of zerumbone from ZER-NLC was 46.7%, and for a pure zerumbone dispersion was 90.5% over 48 hours, following a zero equation. Using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Jurkat) cells, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ZER-NLC was 5.64 ± 0.38 μg/mL, and for free zerumbone was 5.39 ± 0.43 μg/mL after 72 hours of treatment. This study strongly suggests that ZER-NLC have potential as a sustained-release drug carrier system for the treatment of leukemia.

Imaging vertebrate digestive function and lipid metabolism in vivo

Challenges in imaging lipid-processing events in live, intact vertebrate models have historically led to reliance on cultured cell studies, thus hampering our understanding of lipid metabolism and gastrointestinal physiology. Fluorescently-labeled molecules, such as BODIPY-labeled lipids, can reveal lipid-processing events in live zebrafish (Danio rerio) and has expanded our understanding of digestive physiology. This review will cover recent advances from the past two to three years in the use of fluorescence-based imaging techniques in live zebrafish to characterize gastrointestinal physiology in health and disease and to conduct small molecule screens to discover therapeutic compounds.

Modification of polyethylene glycol onto solid lipid nanoparticles encapsulating a novel chemotherapeutic agent (PK-L4) to enhance solubility for injection delivery

BACKGROUND

The synthetic potential chemotherapeutic agent 3-Chloro-4-[(4-methoxyphenyl) amino]furo[2,3-b]quinoline (PK-L4) is an analog of amsacrine. The half-life of PK-L4 is longer than that of amsacrine; however, PK-L4 is difficult to dissolve in aqueous media, which is problematic for administration by intravenous injection.

AIMS

To utilize solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to improve the delivery of PK-L4 and investigate its biodistribution behavior after intravenous administration.

RESULTS

The particle size of the PK-L4-loaded SLNs was 47.3 nm and the size of the PEGylated form was smaller, at 28 nm. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) of PK-L4 in SLNs with and without PEG showed a high capacity of approximately 100% encapsulation. Results also showed that the amount of PK-L4 released over a prolonged period from SLNs both with and without PEG was comparable to the non-formulated group, with 16.48% and 30.04%, respectively, of the drug being released, which fit a zero-order equation. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of PK-L4-loaded SLNs with and those without PEG were significantly reduced by 45%-64% in the human lung carcinoma cell line (A549), 99% in the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line with estrogen receptor (MCF7), and 95% in the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231). The amount of PK-L4 released by SLNs with PEG was significantly higher than that from the PK-L4 solution (P < 0.05). After intravenous bolus of the PK-L4-loaded SLNs with PEG, there was a marked significant difference in half-life alpha (0.136 ± 0.046 hours) when compared with the PK-L4 solution (0.078 ± 0.023 hours); also the area under the curve from zero to infinity did not change in plasma when compared to the PK-L4 solution. This demonstrated that PK-L4-loaded SLNs were rapidly distributed from central areas to tissues and exhibited higher accumulation in specific organs. The highest deposition of PK-L4-loaded SLNs with PEG was found in the lung and spine.

CONCLUSION

Sufficient amounts of PK-L4 were entrapped in the SLNs, and the pharmacokinetic behavior of PK-L4-loaded SLNs was established. This formulation successfully resolved the delivery problem, and the drug was localized in particular organs.

Solid lipid nanoparticles of paclitaxel strengthened by hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as an oral delivery system

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of surface-modified paclitaxel (PTX)-incorporated solid lipid nanoparticles with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (smPSH). The smPSH released 89.70 ± 3.99% of its entrapped PTX within 24 h when placed in dissolution medium containing sodium lauryl sulfate. The cellular uptake of PTX from smPSH in Caco-2 cells was 5.3-fold increased compared to a PTX solution based on a Taxol formulation. Moreover, smPSH showed an increased cytotoxicity compared to PTX solution. In addition, AUC (5.43 µg•h/ml) and Cmax (1.44 µg/ml) of smPSH were higher than those (1.81 µg•h/ml and 0.73 µg/ml) of PTX solution. The drug concentration of smPSH (11.12 ± 4.45 ng/mg of lymph tissue) in lymph nodes was higher than that of the PTX solution (0.89 ± 0.75 ng/mg of lymph tissue), suggesting that more PTX was transported to the lymphatic vessels in the form of smPSH. In conclusion, smPSH have a potential as an alternative delivery system for oral administration of PTX.

Distribution of encapsulated materials in colloidal particles and its impact on oxidative stability of encapsulated materials

The oxidative stability of encapsulated product is a critical parameter in many products from food to pharmaceutical to cosmetic industries. The overall objective of this study was to correlate differences in the distribution pattern of encapsulated material within solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) with the relative susceptibility of these materials to undergo oxidation. The distribution of an encapsulated lipid soluble dye (Nile Red) in SLNs and NLCs was quantitatively measured using fluorescence imaging. The relative susceptibility of the encapsulated material to react with free radicals generated in the aqueous phase and oxygen from the ambient environment was measured using peroxyl radical and oxygen sensitive fluorescent dyes encapsulated in the lipid phase of colloidal particles respectively. Imaging measurements demonstrate a significant exclusion of the encapsulated dye molecules from the lipid core of SLNs as compared to NLCs. Imaging results also showed significant differences in the intraparticle distribution of encapsulated dye between NLCs containing 1 and 10% liquid lipid. On the basis of these differences in distribution, we hypothesized that the relative susceptibility of encapsulated material to peroxyl radicals and oxygen would be in the order SLNs > 1% NLC > 10% NLC. Measurement of relative susceptibility of peroxyl radical sensitive dye encapsulated in SLNs and NLCs to peroxyl radicals generated in the aqueous phase validated the proposed hypotheses. However, the susceptibility of encapsulated oxygen sensitive dye to ambient oxygen was not significantly different between SLNs and NLCs. The results of this study demonstrate that difference in distribution pattern of encapsulated material within colloidal particles can significantly influence the susceptibility of encapsulated material to react with free radicals. Overall, this study demonstrates a comprehensive approach to characterize the susceptibility of encapsulated materials in colloidal particles to oxidation processes.

Galactosylated nanostructured lipid carriers for delivery of 5-FU to hepatocellular carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to design a targeted delivery system of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lactobionic acid (LB) was conjugated to stearyl amine (SA) by a chemical reaction. The nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), containing LB conjugate, lecithin, glyceryl monostearate, oil [oleic acid (OA) or Labrafac 5 or 10%], and 5-FU, were dissolved in alcohol/acetone, the oil phase was added to the aqueous phase containing Tween 80 or Solutol(®) HS15 (0.25 or 0.5%), and NLCs were prepared by an emulsification-solvent diffusion method. Physical properties and drug release were studied in NLCs. The thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay was used to study the cytotoxicity of NLCs on HepG(2) cells, and the cellular uptake of NLCs was determined by flow cytometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and (1)H-NMR spectra confirmed the successful conjugation of LB and SA. The optimized NLCs consisted of 0.5% Solutol HS15 and 10% OA oil. The particle size of these nanoparticles was 139.2 nm, with a zeta potential of -18 mV, loading efficiency of 34.2%, release efficiency after 2 hours of the release test was 72.6%, and crystallinity was 0.63%. The galactosylated NLCs of 5-FU were cytotoxic on the HepG(2) cell line in a half concentration of 5-FU and seems promising in reducing 5-FU dose in HCC.