Intracellular uptake of etoposide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles induces an enhancing inhibitory effect on gastric cancer through mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway

Co-delivery of paclitaxel and curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for improved targeting of lung cancer: In vitro and in vivo investigation

The objective of this study was to develop nanotechnology-mediated paclitaxel (PAC) and curcumin (CUR) co-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (PAC-CUR-SLNs) for the treatment of lung cancer, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Around 85 % cases of lungs cancer constitute non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PAC-CUR-SLNs were prepared via high pressure homogenization. The in vitro drug release of PAC-CUR-SLNs was checked followed by their in vitro cytotoxic investigation using adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) cell lines. Anticancer effects along with side effects of the synergistic delivery of PAC-CUR-SLNs were studied in vivo, using BALB/c mice. PAC-CUR-SLNs were nano sized (190 nm), homogeneously disseminated particles with %IE of both PAC and CUR above 94 %. PAC-CUR-SLNs released PAC and CUR in a controlled fashion when compared with free drug suspensions. The cytotoxicity of PAC-CUR-SLNs was higher than individual drug-loaded SLNs and pure drugs. Moreover, the co-delivery displayed synergistic effect, indicating potential of PAC-CUR-SLNs in lung cancer treatment. In vivo tumor investigation of PAC-CUR-SLNs exhibited 12-fold reduced tumor volume and almost no change in body weight of BALB/c mice, when compared with the experimental groups including control group. The inhibition of tumor rate on day 28 was 82.7 % in the PAC-CUR-SLNs group, which was significantly higher than the pure drugs and monotherapies. It can be concluded that, encapsulating the co-loaded antitumor drugs like PAC-CUR in SLNs may help in improved targeting of the tumor with enhanced anticancer effect.

Nanocrystal-Loaded Lipid Carriers for Improved Oral Absorption and Anticancer Efficacy of Etoposide: Formulation Development, Transport Mechanism, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

To improve the oral absorption and anticancer efficacy of the BCS-IV drug etoposide (ETO), oral nanocrystal-loaded lipid carriers (Lipo@NCs) were developed in this study by modifying the BCS-IV drug nanocrystal with the lipid bilayer. The ETO-Lipo@NCs were prepared by the thin film hydration high-pressure homogenization method, and the core of positively charged ETO nanocrystals was prepared by the sonoprecipitation-high pressure homogenization method. The optimized ETO-Lipo@NCs were spherical particles with an average particle size of 220.3 ± 14.2 nm and a zeta potential of -9.95 ± 0.81 mV, respectively. The successful coating of a lipid bilayer on the surface of nanocrystals in ETO-Lipo@NCs was confirmed by several characterization methods. Compared to nanocrystals, the release rate and degree of Lipo@NCs in SIF were significantly decreased, indicating that the lipid bilayer can effectively prevent the rapid dissolution of core nanocrystals. ETO-Lipo@NCs demonstrated a significant improvement in the intestinal permeability and absorption of ETO in a single intestinal perfusion experiment. In the cells, ETO-Lipo@NCs showed enhanced cellular uptake and transepithelial transport compared with ETO nanocrystals. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that ETO-Lipo@NCs had a longer plasma half-life than ETO solution, and the oral bioavailability of ETO-Lipo@NCs was 1.96- and 10.92-fold higher than that of ETO nanocrystals and ETO coarse crystals, respectively. Moreover, the ETO-Lipo@NCs orally dosed at 10 mg/kg exhibited an excellent inhibitory effect against tumors in a subcutaneous Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenograft model compared with other preparations. These results indicate that the Lipo@NCs formulation has an oral absorption-promoting effect of the BCS-IV drug ETO, which could warrant further application in the oral delivery of other poorly bioavailable drugs.

A comprehensive review on lipid nanocarrier systems for cancer treatment: fabrication, future prospects and clinical trials

Over the last few decades, cancer has been considered a clinical challenge, being among the leading causes of mortality all over the world. Although many treatment approaches have been developed for cancer, chemotherapy is still the most utilized in the clinical setting. However, the available chemotherapeutics-based treatments have several caveats including their lack of specificity, adverse effects as well as cancer relapse and metastasis which mainly explains the low survival rate of patients. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been utilized as promising nanocarrier systems for chemotherapeutics to overcome the challenges of the currently applied therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Loading chemotherapeutic agent(s) into LNPs improves drug delivery at different aspects including specific targeting of tumours, and enhancing the bioavailability of drugs at the tumour site through selective release of their payload, thus reducing their undesired side effects on healthy cells. This review article delineates an overview of the clinical challenges in many cancer treatments as well as depicts the role of LNPs in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the review contains a comprehensive description of the many LNPs categories used as nanocarriers in cancer treatment to date, as well as the potential of LNPs for future applications in other areas of medicine and research.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles as a Pivotal Delivery Approach in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Therapy

Triple-negative breast cancer is considered the most aggressive type of breast cancer among women and the lack of expressed receptors has made treatment options substantially limited. Recently, various types of nanoparticles have emerged as a therapeutic option against TNBC, to elevate the therapeutic efficacy of the existing chemotherapeutics. Among the various nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) viz. liposomes, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid nanocarriers, and lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles are developed for cancer treatment which is well confirmed and documented. LNPs include various therapeutic advantages as compared to conventional therapy and other nanoparticles, including increased loading capacity, enhanced temporal and thermal stability, decreased therapeutic dose and associated toxicity, and limited drug resistance. In addition to these, LNPs overcome physiological barriers which provide increased accumulation of therapeutics at the target site. Extensive efforts by the scientific community could make some of the liposomal formulations the clinical reality; however, the relatively high cost, problems in scaling up the formulations, and delivery in a more targetable fashion are some of the major issues that need to be addressed. In the present review, we have compiled the state of the art about different types of LNPs with the latest advances reported for the treatment of TNBC in recent years, along with their clinical status and toxicity in detail.

The Encapsulation of Citicoline within Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Enhances Its Capability to Counteract the 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells

(1) Backgrond: Considering the positive effects of citicoline (CIT) in the management of some neurodegenerative diseases, the aim of this work was to develop CIT-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (CIT-SLNs) for enhancing the therapeutic use of CIT in parkinsonian syndrome; (2) Methods: CIT-SLNs were prepared by the melt homogenization method using the self-emulsifying lipid Gelucire® 50/13 as lipid matrix. Solid-state features on CIT-SLNs were obtained with FT-IR, thermal analysis (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) studies. (3) Results: CIT-SLNs showed a mean diameter of 201 nm, −2.20 mV as zeta potential and a high percentage of entrapped CIT. DSC and XRPD analyses evidenced a greater amorphous state of CIT in CIT-SLNs. On confocal microscopy, fluorescent SLNs replacing unlabeled CIT-SLNs released the dye selectively in the cytoplasm. Biological evaluation showed that pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y dopaminergic cells with CIT-SLNs (50 µM) before the addition of 40 µM 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to mimic Parkinson’s disease’s degenerative pathways counteracts the cytotoxic effects induced by the neurotoxin, increasing cell viability with the consistent maintenance of both nuclear and cell morphology. In contrast, pre-treatment with CIT 50 and 60 µM or plain SLNs for 2 h followed by 6-OHDA (40 µM) did not significantly influence cell viability. (4) Conclusions: These data suggest an enhanced protection exerted by CIT-SLNs with respect to free CIT and prompt further investigation of possible molecular mechanisms that underlie this difference.

Receptor-Mediated Targeting in Breast Cancer through Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Its Mechanism

Nanoparticles have gained prominence in many areas and domains worldwide, such as metallic NP, carbon dots, quantum dots, polymeric NP, nano-suspension, nanocrystals, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), etc. and have been applied in the field of medicine as nanomedicine with promising results. Rise in cancer mortality rate has been an issue for a long time with female breast cancer as one of the most detected cancers. No permanent treatment has been developed till date could combat breast cancer with minimum side effects that are not long-lasting as there is no proper technique through which the anticancer drugs can recognize benign or malignant or normal cells that causes systematic toxicity. Advancement in technology has led to the discovery of many biological pathways and mechanisms. Tumor cells or cancer cells overexpress some high-affinity receptors that can be targeted to deliver the anticancer drugs at specific site using these pathways and mechanisms. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are among some of the excellent drug delivery systems, especially stealth SLN (sSLN). SLN, when conjugated with a ligand (called as sSLN), has affinity and specificity towards a specific receptor, and can deliver the drug in breast cancer cells overexpressing the receptors. Using this technique, various investigations have reported better anti-breast cancer activity than simple SLN (non-conjugated to ligand or no receptor targeting). This review includes the investigations and data on receptor-mediated targeting in breast cancer from 2010 to 2021 by searching different databases. Overall, information on SLN in different cancers is reviewed. In vivo investigations, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and stability are discussed to describe the efficacy of sSLN. Investigations included in this review demonstrate that sSLN delivers the drug by overcoming the biological barriers and shows enhanced and better activity than non-conjugated SLN which also verifies that a lesser concentration of drug can show anti-breast cancer activity. The efficacy of medicines could be increased with lower cancer deaths through stealth-SLN. Due to the low cost of synthesis, biocompatibility and easy to formulate, more study is needed in vitro and in vivo so that this novel technique could be utilized in the treatment of human breast cancer.

Lipid-based nanoparticles for treatment of cancer

Investigators were continuously creating novel nanotechnologies to address unmet requirements throughout the administration of therapeutic medicines & imaging agents for cancer treatment & diagnostics, appropriately. LNPs(Lipid nanoparticles) are legitimate particulates (approx. 100 nm in size) gathered from various lipid as well as other biochemical compounds which overall functionality to resolve biological barriers (biobarriers), allowing LNPs to selectively collect somewhere outside of disease-target cells again for responsive therapeutics. Most pharmaceutically important compounds were insoluble throughout water solutions, were chemical & physiologically unstable, or have toxicities. Among the most potential drug carrier for bioactive organic compounds is LBNPs (Lipid based nanoparticles) technologies. Its present use in chemotherapy have transformed treatment for cancer by increasing the antitumor effect of a number of chemotherapeutics. Because they may be created using naturally occurring sources, LBNPs have great temporal and thermal stability, maximum load potential, simplicity of preparations, cheap manufacturing costs, & big manufacturing output. Furthermore, combining chemotherapeutic drugs with LNPs reduces active therapeutic dosage and toxicities, lowers treatment resistance, & raises drug concentration in tumour cells while reducing concentrations in normal tissue. LBNPs were widely studied in cancer treatment, both in vitro and in vivo, with encouraging outcomes in certain clinical trials. This study provides an overview of the many types of LBNPs which have been created in latest years and their applications and contributions in different types of cancers.

Bioactive chemical constituents, in vitro anti-proliferative activity and in vivo toxicity of the extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used as a medicinal remedy in traditional and folk medicines for improving health as well as for treating some diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure. However, pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer activity and the safety of this plant has not been fully investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-growth activity of an extract derived from Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE) against cell lines as well as determine its phytochemical composition. The other goal of our study was to assess the safety of CSE in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main constituents in the extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated in several cancer and normal cell lines. The apoptotic activity of CSE and the expression of the apoptosis-related genes were investigated in AGS cells to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vivo toxicity of CSE was assessed via acute and subacute oral studies on Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively according to the guidelines 425 and 407 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The drug-related toxicity signs, mortality, body and organ weights were recoreded during the experimental period. In addition, the selected hematological and biochemical parameters, and histological alterations were determined at the end of the subacute toxicity test.

RESULTS

Germacrone, ar-turmerone, and curcumol were three sesquiterpene components found in the extract. CSE showed cytotoxic effects in different cancer cells, but had minimal effects on normal cells. Apoptosis in AGS cells was caused by CSE in a concentration-dependent pattern through increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c, which leads to activation of caspase-3/-7, caspase-9, as well as cleavage of PARP. In the acute toxicity test, no signs of toxicity and no mortality were recorded in rats at both doses of 1000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, CSE showed no drug-related adverse effects on water and food consumption, body and organ weights. CSE at a dose of 1000 mg/kg slightly increased WBC and platelet values in female rats, while it increased WBC values in male rats in all tested doses. The decrease of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were found in female rats treated CSE at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg. In addition, the increase of serum ALT and AST levels in rats treated at the dose of 1000 mg/kg were noted. No significant changes in histopathological structures of kidneys, spleen, heart and lungs, except liver tissue with minor modifications was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that CSE exhibited in vitro anti-proliferative effects on AGS cells by mainly activating the caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. CSE also showed in vivo toxicity signals at the dose of 1000 mg/kg with proven minor hepatic injuries, which should be avoided the high dose for prolonged use. Curcuma singularis rhizomes may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric cancer with in vitro anti-cancer investigation and in vivo biological safety evaluation.

Tree Turmeric: A Super Food and Contemporary Nutraceutical of 21st Century - A Laconic Review

Since ancient times the medicinal plants have been under use as food and potential therapeutic agent for the management of overall health and the use of all plant parts including fruits, seeds, is well reported in the literature. One such plant is Berberis aristata which is rich in vitamins, minerals, and various phytochemicals amongst which Berberine is the principal bioactive compound with a range of reported health benefits, and some of the commercial formulations like Rasaut, Darvyadi Leha are being used for the treatments of jaundice, malaria, typhoid fever, inflammation, eye infection, diarrhea, wound healing, etc. The hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor, anti-cancerous, properties are the recent additions to its functional importance. Berberine has significant bioactivities in the treatments of different diseases. Besides its remarkable applications, the berberine has low efficacy due to its low solubility in water, poor absorption, and low bioavailability. This problem can be solved by using some techniques like Nanotechnology which has been found to increase its solubility in water, bioavailability, and absorption and hence provide a better delivery system of berberine. This review illuminates the therapeutic applications of the plant Berberis aristata, scientific validation to its traditional uses, role of berberine in the treatment of various diseases through its different bioactivities, major flaws in berberine treatment, and the role of nanotechnology in minimizing those flaws and increasing its overall efficacy. Key teaching pointsPlant Berberis aristata has been used since ancient times for the treatment of various ailments like jaundice, hepatitis, fever, bleeding, inflammation, diarrhea, malaria, skin and eye infections, chronic rheumatism, and urinary disorders.Berberine is the major and most significant phytochemical among numerous phytochemicals present in plant Berberis aristata.Berberine has significantly shown many potent effect against emerging diseases like cancer and diabetes. Besides that, it has also shown antioxidant, anti-inflamation, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anti-gastrointestinal disorder properties.Berberine can be very effective in overcoming the demerits of berberine treatment like poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and poor absorption in the human body in the treatment of various diseases.

Nanotherapeutic approaches to target mitochondria in cancer

Treatment of cancer cells exemplifies a difficult test in the light of challenges associated with the nature of cancer cells and the severe side effects too. After making a large number of trials using both traditional and advanced therapies (immunotherapy and hormone therapy), approaches to design new therapies have reached a saturation level. However, nanotechnology-based approaches exhibit higher efficacy and great potential to bypass many of such therapeutic limitations. Because of their higher target specificity, the use of nanoparticles offers incredible potential in cancer therapeutics. Mitochondria, acting as a factory of energy production in cells, reveal an important role in the death as well as the survival of cells. Because of its significant involvement in the proliferation of cancer cells, it is being regarded as an important target for cancer therapeutics. Numerous studies reveal that nanotechnology-based approaches to directly target the mitochondria may help in improving the survival rate of cancer patients. In the current study, we have detailed the significance of mitochondria in the development of cancer phenotype, as well as indicated it as the potential targets for cancer therapy. Our study further highlights the importance of different nanoparticle-based approaches to target mitochondria of cancer cells and the associated outcomes of different studies. Though, nanotechnology-based approaches to target mitochondria of cancer cells demonstrate a potential and efficient way in cancer therapeutics. Yet, further study is needed to overcome the linked limitations.

Lipid-based nano-formulation platform for eplerenone oral delivery as a potential treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: in-vitro optimization and ex-vivo assessment

Purpose

Eplerenone (EPL) is a selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist used for treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy which characterized by accumulation of subretinal fluid causing a localized area of retinal detachment. unfortunately, EPL suffers from poor oral bioavailability due to poor aqueous solubility in addition to high hepatic first pass metabolism.

Method

Aiming to improve its oral bioavailability, EPL-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared by the emulsification solvent evaporation method and in-vitro evaluated for particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), and entrapment efficiency (EE%). A D-optimal design was used for study the effect of liquid lipid to solid lipid ratio, surfactant type and percentage on PS, PDI, EE%, and for data optimization. The optimized EPL-loaded NLCs system was further evaluated using in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo permeation studies through rabbit intestine in comparison to EPL aqueous suspension. The physicochemical properties of the drug in the optimized system were further examined using FT-IR and X-ray diffraction studies.

Results

The resultant NLCs showed small PS (100.85–346.60 nm), homogenous distribution (0.173–0.624), negatively charged particles (ZP −20.20 to −36.75 mV), in addition to EE% (34.31–70.64%). The optimized EPL-loaded NLCs system with a desirability value of 0.905 was suggested through the Design expert^® software, containing liquid to solid lipid ratio (2:1) in presence of 0.43%w/v Pluronic^® F127 as a surfactant. The optimized EPL-loaded NLCs system showed a PS of 134 nm and PDI of 0.31, in addition to high EE% (76 ± 6.56%w/w), and ZP (-32.37 mV). The ex-vivo permeation study showed two-fold higher drug permeation through rabbit intestine compared to that from the aqueous drug suspension after 24 h, confirming the ability of optimized EPL-loaded NLCs system as successful oral targeting delivery carrier.

Conclusion

Our results pave the way for a new oral nanotherapeutic approach toward CSCR treatment. In-vivo study is currently under investigation.

Molecular targeted treatment and drug delivery system for gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is still a major cancer worldwide. The early diagnosis rate of gastric cancer in most high incidence countries is low. At present, the overall treatment effect of gastric cancer is poor, and the median overall survival remains low. Most of the patients with gastric cancer are in an advanced stage when diagnosed, and drug treatment has become the main means. Thus, new targeted drugs and therapeutic strategies are the hope of improving the therapeutic effect of gastric cancer. In this review, we summarize the new methods and advances of targeted therapy for gastric cancer, including novel molecular targeted therapeutic agents and drug delivery systems, with a major focus on the development of drug delivery systems (drug carriers and targeting peptides). Elaborating these new methods and advances will contribute to the management of gastric cancer.

Pathways Related to the Anti-Cancer Effects of Metabolites Derived from Cerrado Biome Native Plants: An Update and Bioinformatics Analysis on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral cancer is a significant health problem worldwide. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant neoplasm of epithelial cells that mostly affects different anatomical sites in the head and neck and derives from the squamous epithelium or displays similar morphological characteristics. Generally, OSCC is often the end stage of several changes in the stratified squamous epithelium, which begin as epithelial dysplasia and progress by breaking the basement membrane and invading adjacent tissues. Several plant-based drugs with potent anti-cancer effects are considered inexpensive treatments with limited side effects for cancer and other diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to explore whether some Brazilian plant extracts or constituents exhibit anti-tumorigenic activity or have a cytotoxic effect on human oral carcinoma cells.

METHODS

Briefly, OSCC and several metabolites derived from Brazilian plants (i.e., flavonoids, vinblastine, irinotecan, etoposide and paclitaxel) were used as keywords to search the literature on PubMed, GenBank and GeneCards.

RESULTS

The results showed that these five chemical compounds found in Cerrado Biome plants exhibit anti-neoplastic effects. Evaluating the compounds revealed that they play a main role in the regulation of cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION

Preserving and utilising the biodiversity of our planet, especially in unique ecosystems, such as the Cerrado Biome, may prove essential to preserving and promoting human health in modern contexts.

Dually Enzyme- and Acid-Triggered Self-Immolative Ketal Glycoside Nanoparticles for Effective Cancer Prodrug Monotherapy

The use of glycoside prodrugs is a promising strategy for developing new targeted medicines for chemotherapy. However, the in vivo utility of such prodrugs is hindered by insufficient activation and the lack of convenient synthetic methods. We have developed an innovative strategy for synthesizing ketal glycoside prodrugs that are unique in being activated by a dual enzyme- and acid-triggered self-immolative mechanism. Amphiphilic glucosyl acetone-based ketal-linked etoposide glycoside prodrug isomers were synthesized and fabricated into excipient-free nanoparticles for effective cancer prodrug monotherapy. Hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkage or the ketal linkage triggered hydrolysis of the other linkage, which resulted in spontaneous self-immolative hydrolysis of the prodrugs. Nanoparticles of the prodrug isomer that was the most labile in a lysosome-mimicking environment displayed high intratumoral accumulation and strong antitumor activity in an A549 xenograft mouse model. Our strategy may be useful for the development of stimulus-responsive self-immolative prodrugs and their nanomedicines.

Nanoparticles guided drug delivery and imaging in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer represents a deadly malignancy worldwide, yet current therapeutic regimens remain ineffective. Nanoparticle (NP) -based solutions could allow the design of novel therapeutic methods to eliminate this fatal disease. NPs typically carry out a significant role in multifunctional, multimodal imaging, and drug delivery carriers. In the recent decade, they have emerged as candidate approaches for the design of novel treatment strategies. Tumor nanotherapeutics characteristically possess various distinct advantages compared to conventional anti-cancer medications, which suffer from nonspecific bio-distribution, low solubility, and poor bioavailability. In this review, we will discuss the application of NPs in diagnosis and controlled drug delivery in gastric cancer (GC). We will focus on various NPs-based strategies employed against GC.

Functionalized selenium nanoparticles enhance the anti-EV71 activity of oseltamivir in human astrocytoma cell model

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) which commonly caused the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) has become one of public health challenges worldwide. However, no effective vaccines or drugs for this disease has been developed. Thus, there is an urgent need to find a new strategy for treating the EV71 infection. Oseltamivir (OT) is an effective antiviral agent, but continuous use of oseltamivir leads to a diminished therapeutic effect in the clinic. In order to improve the antiviral activity of oseltamivir, oseltamivir was loaded onto surfaces of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to fabricate a functionalized antiviral nanoparticles SeNPs@OT. The size of SeNPs@OT was tested by TEM and dynamic light scattering. The chemical structure and elemental composition of SeNPs@OT were analyzed by FT-IR and EDX, respectively. SeNPs@OT exhibited good stability and effective drug release in serum and PBS. SeNPs@OT efficiently entered into human astrocyte U251 cells (host cells) via clathrin-associated endocytosis and inhibited EV71 proliferation, which could protect EV71-infected U251 cells from apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, SeNPs@OT inhibited EV71 activity probably by reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species in EV71-infected U251 cells. Interestingly, SeNPs obviously enhanced antiviral activity of oseltamivir in the anti-EV71 cell model. Taken together, SeNPs@OT is a promising antiviral drug candidate for EV71 infection.

Facile synthesis by a covalent binding reaction for pH-responsive drug release of carboxylated chitosan coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles

In this study, a promising drug nano-carrier system consisting of mono-dispersed and pH sensitive carboxylated chitosan-hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ccs-HMSNs) suitable for the treatment of malignant cells was synthesised and investigated. At neutral pH, the Ccs molecules are orderly aggregated state, which could effectively hinder the release of loaded drug molecules. However, in slightly acidic environment, Ccs chains are heavily and flexibly entangled in gel state, which would enhance the subsequent controlled release of the loaded drug. Using doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX•HCl) as the drug model, their results demonstrated that the system had an excellent loading efficiency (64.74 μg/mg Ccs-HMSNs) and exhibited a pH-sensitive release behaviour. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the Ccs-HMSNs nanocomposite could effectively deliver and release DOX•HCl to the nucleus of HeLa cells, thereby inducing apoptosis. In addition, MTT assay also confirmed that DOX•HCl loaded Ccs-HMSNs (DOX•HCl@Ccs-HMSNs) exhibited a good anticancer effect on HeLa cells with a time-dependent manner. Finally, haemolysis experiment showed Ccs-HMSNs had no haemolytic activity at all the tested concentrations (5-320 μg/mL). Thus, this biocompatible and effective nano-carrier system will have potential applications in controllable drug delivery and cancer therapy.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles: Application and Recent Advances in Cancer Treatment

Many therapeutically active molecules are non-soluble in aqueous systems, chemically and biologically fragile or present severe side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticle (LBNP) systems represent one of the most promising colloidal carriers for bioactive organic molecules. Their current application in oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment by improving the antitumor activity of several chemotherapeutic agents. LBNPs advantages include high temporal and thermal stability, high loading capacity, ease of preparation, low production costs, and large-scale industrial production since they can be prepared from natural sources. Moreover, the association of chemotherapeutic agents with lipid nanoparticles reduces active therapeutic dose and toxicity, decreases drug resistance and increases drug levels in tumor tissue by decreasing them in healthy tissue. LBNPs have been extensively assayed in in vitro cancer therapy but also in vivo, with promising results in some clinical trials. This review summarizes the types of LBNPs that have been developed in recent years and the main results when applied in cancer treatment, including essential assays in patients.

Enhanced bactericidal efficacy of polymer stabilized silver nanoparticles in conjugation with different classes of antibiotics

The paper presents the interaction mechanism of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different antibiotics and the antibacterial efficacy of the formed conjugates. The AgNPs used in this study were synthesized from silver nitrate using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent, in the presence of PVP as a protecting agent. Two antibiotics, amikacin and vancomycin with different modes of action, were used to functionalize the synthesized PVP-capped AgNPs. The formation of antibiotic-AgNPs conjugate was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the results suggest the conjugation of both drugs to silver nanoparticle surfaces. FTIR results indicate that intermolecular hydrogen bonding exists between PVP-coated AgNPs and antibiotics. The oxygen atom coordinated with PVP was available for interaction with either amine or amide groups of drugs. Further, the antibacterial efficacy of these PVP-capped AgNPs with selected antibiotics was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by agar well diffusion test. Synergetic bactericidal activity for antibiotic-AgNPs conjugate was observed against both microbes.

Synergetic effect of vancomycin loaded silver nanoparticles for enhanced antibacterial activity

In recent years, there is significant growth in the bacterial resistance to various classic antibiotics. This has opened and enhanced the field of metal nanoparticles and antibiotic-metal nanoparticle complex. This research was designed to load a glycopeptide antibiotic named vancomycin on citrate-capped silver nanoparticles to enhance its antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Colloidal solution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was prepared by chemical reduction method using silver nitrate (AgNO₃) as a precursor in the presence of ionic surfactant trisodium-citrate which acts as a both capping and reducing agent. Synthesized nanoparticles were functionalized with vancomycin to form nano-drug complex (Van@AgNPs). Various analytical techniques such as UV-vis absorption spectra, FTIR, DLS, TEM and XRD were carried out to study the loading and interaction of drug with silver nanoparticles. The observed shift in SPR peak of UV-vis and various reflections of XRD spectra is attributed towards the loading of vancomycin on silver nanoparticle surface. FTIR studies shows the hydrogen bonding between vancomycin and silver nanoparticles through NH (amine) group of vancomycin and oxygen of anionic citrate. The increase in average particle size and particle size distribution of vancomycin-loaded nanoparticles in comparison to bare NPs also hints the drug loading. Agar well diffusion method was used to study the synergetic antibacterial activity of vancomycin-loaded silver nanoparticles against both test strains. The well diffusion test showed the notable enhancement in antibacterial activity against both class of bacteria. This enhancement has been observed to be synergetic rather than the additive.

Sialic Acid-Functionalized PEG-PLGA Microspheres Loading Mitochondrial-Targeting-Modified Curcumin for Acute Lung Injury Therapy

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness without resultful therapeutic methods commonly. Recent studies indicate the importance of oxidative stress in the occurrence and development of ALI, and mitochondria targeted antioxidant has become a difficult and hot topic in the research of ALI. Therefore, a sialic acid (SA)-modified lung-targeted microsphere (MS) for ALI therapy are developed, with triphenylphosphonium cation (TPP)-modified curcumin (Cur-TPP) loaded, which could specifically target the mitochondria, increasing the effect of antioxidant. The results manifest that with the increase of microsphere, lung distribution of microsphere is also increased in murine mice, and after SA modification, the microsphere exhibits the ideal lung-targeted characteristic in ALI model mice, due to SA efficiently targeting to E-selectin expressed on inflammatory tissues. Further investigations indicate that SA/Cur-TPP/MS has better antioxidative capacity, decreases intracellular ROS generation, and increases mitochondrial membrane potential, contributing to a lower apoptosis rate in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) compared to H₂O₂ group. In vivo efficacy of SA/Cur-TPP/MS demonstrates that the inflammation has been alleviated markedly and the oxidative stress is ameliorated efficiently. Significant histological improvements by SA/Cur-TPP/MS are further proved via HE stains. In conclusion, SA/Cur-TPP/MS might act as a promising drug formulation for ALI therapy.

Synergistic combination therapy of lung cancer using paclitaxel- and triptolide-coloaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles

Purpose

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of lung cancer. Lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) combine the advantages of both polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes into a single delivery platform. In this study, we engineered LPNs as the co-delivery system of paclitaxel (PTX) and triptolide (TL) to achieve synergistic therapeutic effect and reduced drug resistance.

Materials and methods

In this study, PTX- and TL-coloaded LPNs (P/T-LPNs) were fabricated by nanoprecipitation method using lipid and polymeric materials. The P/T-LPNs combination effects on human lung cancer cells were studied. Therapeutic potentials of P/T-LPNs were further determined using lung cancer cells-bearing mice model.

Results

The average particle sizes of LPNs were around 160 nm, with narrow size distribution below 0.2. The zeta potential value of LPNs was about −30 mV. The encapsulating efficiency (EE) of PTX and TL loaded in LPNs was over 85%. The cytotoxicity of dual drug loaded LPNs was higher than single drug loaded LPNs. The combination therapy showed synergistic when PTX:TL weight ratio was 5:3, indicating the synergy effects of the LPNs. In vivo tumor growth curve of the experimental group was more gentle opposed to the control group, and tumor volumes of P/T-LPNs and control group were 392 and 1,737 mm³, respectively. The inhibition rate on day 20 was 77.4% in the P/T-LPNs group, which is higher than the free drugs solution.

Conclusion

The in vivo and in vitro results proved the synergetic effect of the two drugs coloaded in LPNs on the lung cancer xenografts, with the least systemic toxic side effect.

Co-delivery of paclitaxel and tanespimycin in lipid nanoparticles enhanced anti-gastric-tumor effect in vitro and in vivo

Combined administration regimens are commonly used in cancer therapy to reduce cell toxicity and drug resistance. In this study, we use solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as drug carriers and sought to investigate the effect of combined administration of paclitaxel (PTX) and tanespimycin (17-AAG) in gastric cancer. The SLNs loaded with paclitaxel and tanespimycin were prepared using the solvent injection method. The effect of encapsulated SLNs on cell viability and colony formation were measured in three human gastric cell lines. Cell apoptosis assay was carried out in MKN45 cells and xenograft model was used to investigate the effect of encapsulated SLNs in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of proteins involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis were measured by western blotting analysis. The encapsulated SLNs reduced cell viabilities and colony formation in gastric cell lines. These SLNs could also induce apoptosis in MKN45 cells, inhibit growth of xenograft and influence the protein levels of Hsp90, MnSOD, Cleaved caspase 3 and Cleaved PARP. The effect of encapsulated SLNs exceeded that of single treatment of PTX or 17-AAG. The combination administration of PTX or 17-AAG resulted in a synergetic anti-cancer effect, probably via an increased oxidative stress and apoptosis levels.

Dequalinium-based functional nanosomes show increased mitochondria targeting and anticancer effect

Mitochondria are targets with great potential for therapeutics for many human disorders. However, drug delivery systems for such therapeutics remain in need of more efficient mitochondrial-targeting carriers. In this study, we report that nanosomes composed of Dequalinium/DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane)/DOPE (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), called DQA80s, can act in the dual role of mitochondrial-targeting carrier and anticancer agent for therapeutic interventions against mitochondrial diseases. In cytotoxicity assays, DQA80s were shown to be more toxic than DQAsomes. The DQA80s showed significantly increased cellular uptake as compared to that of DQAsomes, and DQA80s also showed more efficient escape from the endolysosome to the cytosol. We observed the efficient targeting of DQA80s to mitochondria in living cells using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and TEM imaging. We also found evidence of anticancer potential that mitochondrial-targeted DQA80s induced apoptosis by production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via MAPK signaling pathways, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the caspase-3 activation. The present study demonstrates that DQA80s have excellent dual potential both as a carrier and as an anticancer therapeutic for mitochondria-related disease therapy in vivo.

Macroautophagy occurs in distal TMV-uninfected root tip tissue of tomato taking place systemic PCD

Autophagy is an important mechanism for recycling cell materials upon encountering stress conditions. Our previous studies had shown that TMV infection could lead to systemic PCD in the distal uninfected tissues, including root tip and shoot tip tissues. But it is not clear whether there is autophagy in the distal apical meristem of TMV-induced plants. To better understand the autophagy process during systemic PCD, here we investigated the formation and type of autophagy in the root meristem cells occurring PCD. Transmission electron microscopy assay revealed that the autophagic structures formed by the fusion of vesicles, containing the sequestered cytoplasm, multilamellar bodies, and degraded mitochondria. In the PCD progress, many mitochondria appeared degradation with blurred inner membrane structure. And the endoplasmic reticulum was broke into small fragments. Finally, the damaged mitochodria were engulfed and degraded by the autophagosomes. These results indicated that during the systemic PCD process of root tip cells, the classical macroautophagy occurred, and the cell contents and damaged organelles (mitochondria) would be self-digested by autophagy.

Functional nanosome for enhanced mitochondria-targeted gene delivery and expression

Mitochondria dysfunction plays a role in many human diseases. Therapeutic techniques for these disorders require novel delivery systems that can specifically target and penetrate mitochondria. In this study, we report a novel nanosome composed of dequalinium-DOTAP-DOPE (1,2 dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane-1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) (DQA80s) as a potential mitochondria-targeting delivery vector. The functional DQAsome, DQA80s, showed enhanced transfection efficiency compared to a vector DQAsomes in HeLa cells and dermal fibroblasts. In addition, DQA80s/pDNA complexes exhibited rapid escape from the endosome into the cytosol. We observed the delivery of pDNA to mitochondria in living cells using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and TME imaging. More specifically, we confirmed our results by co-localization of hmtZsGreen constructs to mitochondria when delivered via DQAsomes and DQA80s in living cells. The mitochondria-targeting DQAsomes and DQA80s induced mitochondrial dysfunction through depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Our data demonstrate that DQA80s show promise for use as a mitochondria-targeted carrier system for treatment of mitochondria diseases in vivo.

Enhanced photocytotoxicity of curcumin delivered by solid lipid nanoparticles

Curcumin (Cur) is a promising photosensitizer that could be used in photodynamic therapy. However, its poor solubility and hydrolytic instability limit its clinical use. The aim of the present study was to encapsulate Cur into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in order to improve its therapeutic activity. The Cur-loaded SLNs (Cur-SLNs) were prepared using an emulsification and low-temperature solidification method. The functions of Cur and Cur-SLNs were studied on the non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells for photodynamic therapy. The results revealed that Cur-SLNs induced ~2.27-fold toxicity higher than free Cur at a low concentration of 15 μM under light excitation, stocking more cell cycle at G2/M phase. Cur-SLNs could act as an efficient drug delivery system to increase the intracellular concentration of Cur and its accumulation in mitochondria; meanwhile, the hydrolytic stability of free Cur could be improved. Furthermore, Cur-SLNs exposed to 430 nm light could produce more reactive oxygen species to induce the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis revealed that Cur-SLNs increased the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 proteins and promoted the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Overall, the results from these studies demonstrated that the SLNs could enhance the phototoxic effects of Cur.

Co-delivery of etoposide and curcumin by lipid nanoparticulate drug delivery system for the treatment of gastric tumors

CONTEXT

Gastric carcinoma (GC) is one of the most common cancers and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths. Chemotherapy is an important therapeutic modality for GC. However, chemoresistance limited its success rate. Combination chemotherapy is often applied to prevent drug-induced resistance in cancers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the co-delivery of etoposide (ETP) and curcumin (CUR) with one nanoparticle can result in synergistic effects of both drugs.

METHODS

ETP- and CUR-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (ETP-CUR-NLC) were prepared by the solvent injection technique. Their average size, zeta potential and drug loading were evaluated. Human gastric cancer cell lines (SGC7901 cells) were used for the testing of in vitro cytotoxicity studies, and in vivo anti-tumor efficacies of the carriers were evaluated on mice bearing SGC7901 cells xenografts.

RESULTS

ETP-CUR-NLC has a particle size of 114 nm, EPT-loading quantity of 83% and CUR-loading quantity of 82%. ETP-CUR-NLC displayed high cytotoxicity and enhanced antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, ETP-CUR-NLC displayed low cytotoxicity in normal tissues in vivo.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that ETP-CUR-NLC can achieve impressive anti-tumor activity. By combining CUR, an effective NF-κB inhibitor, with ETP, a powerful anticancer drug, in NLC, we could improve the therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatments. Our results showed that such co-loaded delivery systems could serve as a promising therapeutic approach to improve clinical outcomes against various malignancies.

Rational Design of Multifunctional Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles to Load Curcumin and Enhance Efficacy for Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer is the primary reason for cancer-related death in women worldwide and the development of new formulations to treat breast cancer patients is crucial. Curcumin (Cur), a natural product, exerts promising anticancer activities against various cancer types. However, its therapeutic efficacy is hindered as a result of poor water solubility, instability, and low bioavailability. The aim of this work is to assess the curative effect of a novel nanoformulation, i.e., Cur-loaded and calcium-doped dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified with folic acid (Cur-Ca@DMSNs-FA) for breast cancer therapy. The results manifested that Cur-Ca@DMSNs-FA dispersed very well in aqueous solution, released Cur with a pH-responsible profile, and targeted efficiently to human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Further investigations indicated that Cur-Ca@DMSNs-FA effectively inhibited cell proliferation, increased intracellular ROS generation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced cell cycle retardation at G2/M phase, leading to a higher apoptosis rate in MCF-7 compared to free Cur. Moreover, the Western blotting analysis demonstrated that Cur-Ca@DMSNs-FA were more active than free Cur through suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. In addition, hemolysis assay showed that the Ca@DMSNs-FA exhibited good biocompatibility. Last, in vivo studies indicated that when Cur was encapsulated in Ca@DMSNs-FA, the Cur concentration in blood serum and tumor tissues was increased after 1 h intraperitoneal injection. In conclusion, Cur-Ca@DMSNs-FA might act as a potential anticancer drug formulation for breast cancer therapy.

Molecular beacon-decorated polymethylmethacrylate core-shell fluorescent nanoparticles for the detection of survivin mRNA in human cancer cells

One of the main goals of nanomedicine in cancer is the development of effective drug delivery systems, primarily nanoparticles. Survivin, an overexpressed anti-apoptotic protein in cancer, represents a pharmacological target for therapy and a Molecular Beacon (MB) specific for survivin mRNA is available. In this study, the ability of polymethylmethacrylate nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) to promote survivin MB uptake in human A549 cells was investigated. Fluorescent and positively charged core PMMA-NPs of nearly 60nm, obtained through an emulsion co-polymerization reaction, and the MB alone were evaluated in solution, for their analytical characterization; then, the MB specificity and functionality were verified after adsorption onto the PMMA-NPs. The carrier ability of PMMA-NPs in A549 was examined by confocal microscopy. With the optimized protocol, a hardly detectable fluorescent signal was obtained after incubation of the cells with the MB alone (fluorescent spots per cell of 1.90±0.40 with a mean area of 1.04±0.20µm²), while bright fluorescent spots inside the cells were evident by using the MB loaded onto the PMMA-NPs. (27.50±2.30 fluorescent spots per cell with a mean area of 2.35±0.16µm²). These results demonstrate the ability of the PMMA-NPs to promote the survivin-MB internalization, suggesting that this complex might represent a promising strategy for intracellular sensing and for the reduction of cancer cell proliferation.

Naringenin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: preparation, controlled delivery, cellular uptake, and pulmonary pharmacokinetics

Naringenin (NRG), a flavonoid compound, had been reported to exhibit extensive pharmacological effects, but its water solubility and oral bioavailability are only~46±6 µg/mL and 5.8%, respectively. The purpose of this study is to design and develop NRG-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (NRG-SLNs) to provide prolonged and sustained drug release, with improved stability, involving nontoxic nanocarriers, and increase the bioavailability by means of pulmonary administration. Initially, a group contribution method was used to screen the best solid lipid matrix for the preparation of SLNs. NRG-SLNs were prepared by an emulsification and low-temperature solidification method and optimized using an orthogonal experiment approach. The morphology was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the particle size and zeta potential were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy. The total drug content of NRG-SLNs was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE) was determined by Sephadex gel-50 chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The in vitro NRG release studies were carried out using a dialysis bag. The best cryoprotectant to prepare NRG-SLN lyophilized powder for future structural characterization was selected using differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The short-term stability, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cellular uptake, and pharmacokinetics in rats were studied after pulmonary administration of NRG-SLN lyophilized powder. Glycerol monostearate was selected to prepare SLNs, and the optimal formulation of NRG-SLNs was spherical in shape, with a particle size of 98 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.258, a zeta potential of −31.4 mV, a total drug content of 9.76 mg, an EE of 79.11%, and a cumulative drug release of 80% in 48 hours with a sustained profile. In addition, 5% mannitol (w/v) was screened as a cryoprotectant. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction studies confirmed that the drug was encapsulated into SLNs in an amorphous form. The lyophilized powder was stable at both refrigeration (4°C) and ambient temperature (25°C) for 3 months, and the MTT assay demonstrated that the SLNs were nontoxic. The cellular uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled SLNs in A549 cells was highly time dependent over a period of 3 hours, while the pharmacokinetic study in Sprague Dawley rats showed that the relative bioavailability of NRG-SLNs was 2.53-fold greater than that of NRG suspension after pulmonary administration. This study shows that SLNs offer a promising pulmonary delivery system to increase the bioavailability of the poorly water-soluble drug NRG.

Anti-glioma activity and the mechanism of cellular uptake of asiatic acid-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles

Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpene found in Centella Asiatica, has shown neuroprotective and anti-cancer activity against glioma. However, owing to its poor aqueous solubility, effective delivery and absorption across biological barriers, in particular the blood brain barrier (BBB), are challenging. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have shown a promising potential as a drug delivery system to carry lipophilic drugs across the BBB, a major obstacle in brain cancer therapy. Nevertheless, limited information is available about the cytotoxic mechanisms of nano-lipidic carriers with AA on normal and glioma cells. This study assessed the anti-cancer efficacy of AA-loaded SLNs against glioblastoma and their cellular uptake mechanism in comparison with SVG P12 (human foetal glial) cells. SLNs were systematically investigated for three different solid lipids; glyceryl monostearate (MS), glyceryl distearate (DS) and glyceryl tristearate (TS). The non-drug containing MS-SLNs (E-MS-SLNs) did not show any apparent toxicity towards normal SVG P12 cells, whilst the AA-loaded MS-SLNs (AA-MS-SLNs) displayed a more favourable drug release profile and higher cytotoxicity towards U87 MG cells. Therefore, MS-SLNs were chosen for further in vitro studies. Cytotoxicity studies of SLNs (± AA) were performed using MTT assay where AA-SLNs showed significantly higher cytotoxicity towards U87 MG cells than SVG P12 normal cells, as confirmed by flow cell cytometry. Cellular uptake of SLNs also appeared to be preferentially facilitated by energy-dependent endocytosis as evidenced by fluorescence imaging and flow cell cytometry. Using the Annexin V-PI double staining technique, it was found that these AA-MS-SLNs displayed concentration-dependent apoptotic activity on glioma cells, which further confirms the potential of exploiting these AA-loaded MS-SLNs for brain cancer therapy.

Etoposide-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for gastric cancer therapy

PURPOSE

Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common cancers and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize etoposide-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (ETP-NLCs) and evaluate their antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Novel ETP-NLCs were constructed. The physicochemical properties of the ETP-NLCs were investigated by particle-size analysis, zeta potential measurement, drug loading, drug entrapment efficiency, stability and in vitro drug release behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cells (SGC7901 cells) was investigated, and in vivo antitumor of NLCs was evaluated on mice bearing SGC7901 cells xenografts.

RESULTS

ETP-NLCs have a narrow size distribution at 91 nm, a zeta potential value of +23.1 mV, high drug entrapment efficiency of 78%. The drug release of ETP-NLCs exhibited a sustained behavior, which made it an ideal vehicle for drug delivery. Furthermore, ETP-NLCs could significantly enhance in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor effect against SGC7901 cells and gastric cancer animal model compared to the free drug.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that the NLCs might be a promising nanomedicine for the treatment of gastric carcinoma.