Targeting delivery of Radix Ophiopogonis polysaccharide to ischemic/reperfused rat myocardium by long-circulating macromolecular and liposomal carriers

Ultrasound-Triggered Microbubbles: Novel Targeted Core-Shell for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction Disease

Myocardial infarction (MI) is known as a main cardiovascular disease that leads to extensive cell death by destroying vasculature in the affected cardiac muscle. The development of ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction has inspired extensive interest in myocardial infarction therapeutics, targeted delivery of drugs, and biomedical imaging. In this work, we describe a novel therapeutic ultrasound system for the targeted delivery of biocompatible microstructures containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to the MI region. The microspheres were fabricated using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-heparin-polyethylene glycol- cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartate-platelet (PLGA-HP-PEG-cRGD-platelet). The micrometer-sized core-shell particles consisting of a perfluorohexane (PFH)-core and a PLGA-HP-PEG-cRGD-platelet-shell were prepared using microfluidics. These particles responded adequately to ultrasound irradiation by triggering the vaporization and phase transition of PFH from liquid to gas in order to achieve microbubbles. Ultrasound imaging, encapsulation efficiency cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake of bFGF-MSs were evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. In vivo imaging demonstrated effective accumulation of platelet- microspheres injected into the ischemic myocardium region. The results revealed the potential use of bFGF-loaded microbubbles as a noninvasive and effective carrier for MI therapy.

Biodegradable Nanoparticles Prepared from Chitosan and Casein for Delivery of Bioactive Polysaccharides

Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharides (OJPs) have great anti-inflammation and immunomodulatory abilities. However, the low bioavailability of OJPs reduces its applicability in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Chitosan (CS) has excellent mucoadhesive properties and absorption-enhancing ability in oral administration. Casein hydrolysate (CL) has good interfacial diffusivity and emulsifying ability, and can interact with polysaccharides to form complexes combining the individual properties of both. Therefore, chitosan and casein hydrolysate are good candidates for developing nanoformulations for oral delivery. In this study, bioactive polysaccharides (OJPs), CS and CL, were combined to prepare CS/OJPs/CL co-assembled biodegradable nanoparticles. The interactions between polysaccharides (CS and OJPs) and peptide (CL) resulted in the formation of nanoparticles with an average particle size of 198 nm and high OJPs loading efficiency. The colloidal properties of the nanoparticles were pH-dependent, which were changed significantly in simulated digestive fluid at different pH values. OJPs released from the CS/OJPs/CL nanoparticles were greatly affected by pH and enzymatic degradation (trypsin and lysozyme). The nanoparticles were easily internalized by macrophages, thereby enhancing the OJPs’ inhibitory ability against Ni²⁺-induced cytotoxicity and LPS-induced nitric oxide production. This study demonstrates that prepared polysaccharide/protein co-assembled nanoparticles can be potential nanocarriers for the oral delivery of bioactive polysaccharides with anti-inflammatory functions.

Protective Effects of Polysaccharides in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive degeneration and necrosis of neurons, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease and others. There are no existing therapies that correct the progression of these diseases, and current therapies provide merely symptomatic relief. The use of polysaccharides has received significant attention due to extensive biological activities and application prospects. Previous studies suggest that the polysaccharides as a candidate participate in neuronal protection and protect against NDs. In this review, we demonstrate that various polysaccharides mediate NDs, and share several common mechanisms characterized by autophagy, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction in PD and AD. Furthermore, this review reveals potential role of polysaccharides in vitro and in vivo models of NDs, and highlights the contributions of polysaccharides and prospects of their mechanism studies for the treatment of NDs. Finally, we suggest some remaining questions for the field and areas for new development.

A non-invasive nanoparticles for multimodal imaging of ischemic myocardium in rats

BACKGROUND

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and imposes a serious economic load. Thus, it is crucial to perform a timely and accurate diagnosis and monitoring in the early stage of myocardial ischemia. Currently, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools for multimodal imaging, because of their advantages of non-invasion, high-safety, and real-time dynamic imaging, providing valuable information for the diagnosis of heart diseases.

RESULTS

In this study, we prepared a targeted nanoprobe (termed IMTP-Fe3O4-PFH NPs) with enhanced ultrasound (US), photoacoustic (PA), and magnetic resonance (MR) performance for direct and non-invasive visual imaging of ischemic myocardium in a rat model. This successfully designed nanoprobe had excellent properties such as nanoscale size, good stability, phase transformation by acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV), and favorable safety profile. Besides, it realized obvious targeting performance toward hypoxia-injured cells as well as model rat hearts. After injection of NPs through the tail vein of model rats, in vivo imaging results showed a significantly enhanced US/PA/MR signal, well indicating the remarkable feasibility of nanoprobe to distinguish the ischemic myocardium.

CONCLUSIONS

IMTP-Fe3O4-PFH NPs may be a promising nanoplatform for early detection of ischemic myocardium and targeted treatment under visualization for the future.

Panax ginseng Polysaccharide Protected H9c2 Cardiomyocyte From Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury Through Regulating Mitochondrial Metabolism and RISK Pathway

Background and Objective: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been the major issue of public health. Panax ginseng (ginseng) has been verified as an effective traditional Chinese medicines and exerted cardioprotective effect. This study aimed to investigate the polysaccharide fraction of ginseng on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Ginseng was extracted by ethanol and fractionated by high-speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC) and column separation. The cardioprotective effect was evaluated in H9c2 cardiomyocytes underwent H/R treatment. The cell viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial respiration were examined.

Results: An acid polysaccharides fraction of ginseng (AP1) was identified the most effective fraction in protecting cardiomyocytes from H/R injury. AP1 restored the mitochondrial function by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), blocking the release of cytochrome C, and increasing the ATP generation and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, AP1 induced the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and estrogen receptor (ER) which further activated reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway. Finally, AP1 increased nitric oxide (NO) production and regulated endothelial function by increasing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and decreasing inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in H/R injury.

Conclusion: The results suggested that AP1 exerted a protective effect in myocardial H/R injury mainly through maintaining myocardial mitochondrial function, thereby inhibiting myocardial H/R caused apoptosis and increasing the expressions of GR and ER, which in turn mediated the activation of RISK pathway and eNOS-dependent mechanism to resist the reperfusion injury.

Radix Ophiopogonis polysaccharide extracts alleviate MPP+-induced PC-12 cell injury through inhibition of Notch signaling pathway

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of central nervous system. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP⁺) is a non-selective dopaminergic neurotoxin that induces cell injury similar to PD. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Radix Ophiopogonis polysaccharide extracts (ROP) on the MPP⁺-induced PC-12 cell injury. Methods: PC-12 cells were exposed to MPP⁺ with or without ROP treatment. Then the cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, calcium (Ca²⁺) concentration, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Cyctochrome C release, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, and the expression level of Notch signaling pathway were detected by CellTiter 96 AQ_ueous One Solution Cell Proliferation assay, fluorescent staining, flow cytometer analysis, and western blotting, respectively. Results: MPP⁺ treatment obviously induced PC-12 cell injury as evidenced by the cell viability loss and cell apoptosis enhancement. MPP⁺ markedly increased the concentrations of ROS and Ca²⁺ and the mitochondrial dysfunction in PC-12 cells. Moreover, the activation of Notch signaling pathway was found after MPP⁺ treatment. ROP significantly reversed the MPP⁺-induced PC-12 cell viability loss, apoptosis increase, intracellular oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress rise, mitochondrial dysfunction and the activation of Notch signaling pathways in PC-12 cells. Conclusion: ROP protected PC-12 cells from the MPP⁺-induced injury through suppressing the increase of the intracellular oxidative stress and ER stress and activation of Notch signaling pathway. These findings will be helpful for understanding the protective roles of ROP in nerve cell injury and provide potential therapeutic drug for PD.