Preparation and evaluation of Baicalin-loaded cationic solid lipid nanoparticles conjugated with OX26 for improved delivery across the BBB

OX26-cojugated gangliosilated liposomes to improve the post-ischemic therapeutic effect of CDP-choline

Cerebrovascular impairment represents one of the main causes of death worldwide with a mortality rate of 5.5 million per year. The disability of 50% of surviving patients has high social impacts and costs in long period treatment for national healthcare systems. For these reasons, the efficacious clinical treatment of patients, with brain ischemic stroke, remains a medical need. To this aim, a liposome nanomedicine, with monosialic ganglioside type 1 (GM1), OX26 (an anti-transferrin receptor antibody), and CDP-choline (a neurotrophic drug) (CDP-choline/OX26Lip) was prepared. CDP-choline/OX26Lip were prepared by a freeze and thaw method and then extruded through polycarbonate filters, to have narrow size distributed liposomes of ~80 nm. CDP-choline/OX26Lip were stable in human serum, they had suitable pharmacokinetic properties, and 30.0 ± 4.2% of the injected drug was still present in the blood stream 12 h after its systemic injection. The post-ischemic therapeutic effect of CDP-choline/OX26Lip is higher than CDP-choline/Lip, thus showing a significantly high survival rate of the re-perfused post-ischemic rats, i.e. 96% and 78% after 8 days. The treatment with CDP-choline/OX26Lip significantly decreased the peroxidation rate of ~5-times compared to CDP-choline/Lip; and the resulting conjugated dienes, that was 13.9 ± 1.1 mmol/mg proteins for CDP-choline/Lip and 3.1 ± 0.8 for CDP-choline/OX26Lip. OX26 increased the accumulation of GM1-liposomes in the brain tissues and thus the efficacious of CDP-choline. Therefore, this nanomedicine may represent a strategy for the reassessment of CDP-choline to treat post-ischemic events caused by brain stroke, and respond to a significant clinical need.

Pharmacological mechanisms by which baicalin ameliorates cardiovascular disease

Baicalin is a flavonoid glycoside obtained from the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which belongs to the Labiatae family. Accumulating evidence indicates that baicalin has favorable therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have revealed the therapeutic effects of baicalin on atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, hypertension, and heart failure through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid metabolism mechanisms. In recent years, some new ideas related to baicalin in ferroptosis, coagulation and fibrinolytic systems have been proposed, and new progress has been made in understanding the mechanism by which baicalin protects cardiomyocytes. However, many relevant underlying mechanisms remain unexplained, and much experimental data is lacking. Therefore, further research is needed to determine these mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of baicalin, which include its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis; modulation of innate immunity; suppression of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation, migration, and contraction; regulation of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems; inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy; prevention of myocardial fibrosis; and anti-apoptotic effects on cardiomyocytes.

The potential of baicalin to enhance neuroprotection and mitochondrial function in a human neuronal cell model

Baicalin is a flavone glycoside derived from flowering plants belonging to the Scutellaria genus. Previous studies have reported baicalin's anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in rodent models, indicating the potential of baicalin in neuropsychiatric disorders where alterations in numerous processes are observed. However, the extent of baicalin's therapeutic effects remains undetermined in a human cell model, more specifically, neuronal cells to mimic the brain environment in vitro. As a proof of concept, we treated C8-B4 cells (murine cell model) with three different doses of baicalin (0.1, 1 and 5 μM) and vehicle control (DMSO) for 24 h after liposaccharide-induced inflammation and measured the levels of TNF-α in the medium by ELISA. NT2-N cells (human neuronal-like cell model) underwent identical baicalin treatment, followed by RNA extraction, genome-wide mRNA expression profiles and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). We also performed neurite outgrowth assays and mitochondrial flux bioanalysis (Seahorse) in NT2-N cells. We found that in C8-B4 cells, baicalin at ≥ 1 μM exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, lowering TNF-α levels in the cell culture media. In NT2-N cells, baicalin positively affected neurite outgrowth and transcriptionally up-regulated genes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the glycolysis pathway. Similarly, Seahorse analysis showed increased oxygen consumption rate in baicalin-treated NT2-N cells, an indicator of enhanced mitochondrial function. Together, our findings have confirmed the neuroprotective and mitochondria enhancing effects of baicalin in human-neuronal like cells. Given the increased prominence of mitochondrial mechanisms in diverse neuropsychiatric disorders and the paucity of mitochondrial therapeutics, this suggests the potential therapeutic application of baicalin in human neuropsychiatric disorders where these processes are altered.

CNS delivery of targeted protein degraders

Heterobifunctional small molecule degraders are a subset of targeted protein degraders (TPDs), consisting of two ligands joined by a linker to induce proteasomal degradation of a target protein. As compared to traditional small molecules these compounds generally demonstrate inflated physicochemical properties, which may require innovative formulation strategies to enable their delivery and exert pharmacodynamic effect. The blood brain barrier (BBB) serves an essential function in human physiology, but its presence requires advanced approaches for treating central nervous system (CNS) diseases. By integrating emerging modalities like TPDs with conventional concepts of drug delivery, novel strategies to overcome the BBB can be developed. Amongst the available routes, lipid and polymer-based long-acting delivery seems to be the most amenable to TPDs, due to their ability to encapsulate lipophilic cargo and potential to be functionalized for targeted delivery. Another key consideration will be understanding E3 ligase expression in the different regions of the brain. Discovery of new brain or CNS disease specific E3 ligases could help overcome some of the barriers currently associated with CNS delivery of TPDs. This review discusses the current strategies that exist to overcome and improve therapeutic delivery of TPDs to the CNS.

Exploring Chinese herbal medicine for ischemic stroke: insights into microglia and signaling pathways

Ischemic stroke is a prevalent clinical condition affecting the central nervous system, characterized by a high mortality and disability rate. Its incidence is progressively rising, particularly among younger individuals, posing a significant threat to human well-being. The activation and polarization of microglia, leading to pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, are widely recognized as pivotal factors in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs) boasts a rich historical background, notable efficacy, and minimal adverse effects. It exerts its effects by modulating microglia activation and polarization, suppressing inflammatory responses, and ameliorating nerve injury through the mediation of microglia and various associated pathways (such as NF-κB signaling pathway, Toll-like signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, among others). Consequently, this article focuses on microglia as a therapeutic target, reviewing relevant pathway of literature on TCHMs to mitigate neuroinflammation and mediate IS injury, while also exploring research on drug delivery of TCHMs. The ultimate goal is to provide new insights that can contribute to the clinical management of IS using TCHMs.

LA67 Liposome-Loaded Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogel with Active Targeting for Efficient Treatment of Keloid via Peritumoral Injection

A keloid is a benign tumor manifested as abnormal fibroplasia on the surface of the skin. Curing keloids has become a major clinical challenge, and searching for new treatments and medications has become critical. In this study, we developed a LA67 liposome-loaded thermo-sensitive hydrogel (LA67-RL-Gel) with active targeting for treating keloids via peritumoral injection and explored the anti-keloid mechanism. Firstly, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-modified liposomes (LA67-RL) loaded with LA67 were prepared with a particle size of 105.9 nm and a Zeta potential of -27.4 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 89.6 ± 3.7%. We then constructed a thermo-sensitive hydrogel loaded with LA67-RL by poloxamer 407 and 188. The formulation was optimized through the Box-Behnken design, where the impact of the proportion of the ingredients on the quality of the hydrogel was evaluated entirely. The optimal formulation was 20.7% P407 and 2.1% P188, and the gelation time at 37 °C was 9.5 s. LA67-RL-Gel slowly released 92.2 ± 0.8% of LA67 at pH 6.5 PBS for 72 h. LA67-RL-Gel increased adhesion with KF cells; increased uptake; promoted KF cells apoptosis; inhibited cell proliferation; reduced α-SMA content; decreased collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin deposition; inhibited angiogenesis; and modulated the keloid microenvironment, ultimately exerting anti-keloid effects. In summary, this simple, low-cost, and highly effective anti-keloid liposome hydrogel provides a novel approach for treating keloids and deserves further development.

Lipid-Based Delivery Systems for Flavonoids and Flavonolignans: Liposomes, Nanoemulsions, and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

Herbal chemicals with a long history in medicine have attracted a lot of attention. Flavonolignans and flavonoids are considered as two classes of the above-mentioned compounds with different functional groups which exhibit several therapeutic capabilities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. Based on the studies, high hydrophobic properties of the aforementioned compounds limit their bioavailability inside the human body and restrict their wide application. Nanoscale formulations such as solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and other types of lipid-based delivery systems have been introduced to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. This approach allows the aforementioned hydrophobic therapeutic compounds to be encapsulated between hydrophobic structures, resulting in improving their bioavailability. The above-mentioned enhanced delivery system improves delivery to the targeted sites and reduces the daily required dosage. Lowering the required daily dose improves the performance of the drug by diminishing its side effects on non-targeted tissues. The present study aims to highlight the recent improvements in implementing lipid-based nanocarriers to deliver flavonolignans and flavonoids.

Polylactic-co-glycolic acid-based nanoparticles modified with peptides and other linkers cross the blood-brain barrier for targeted drug delivery

Because of the blood-brain barrier, only a limited fraction of drugs can penetrate the brain. As a result, there is a need to take larger doses of the drug, which may result in numerous undesirable side effects. Over the past few decades, a plethora of research has been conducted to address this issue. In recent years, the field of nanomedicine research has reported promising findings. Currently, numerous types of polylactic-co-glycolic acid-based drug-delivery systems are being studied, and great progress has been made in the modification of their surfaces with a variety of ligands. In this review, the authors highlight the preparation of polylactic-co-glycolic acid-based nanoparticles and single- and dual-targeted peptide modifications for site-specific drug delivery into the brain.

Recent Progress of Lipid Nanoparticles-Based Lipophilic Drug Delivery: Focus on Surface Modifications

Numerous drugs have emerged to treat various diseases, such as COVID-19, cancer, and protect human health. Approximately 40% of them are lipophilic and are used for treating diseases through various delivery routes, including skin absorption, oral administration, and injection. However, as lipophilic drugs have a low solubility in the human body, drug delivery systems (DDSs) are being actively developed to increase drug bioavailability. Liposomes, micro-sponges, and polymer-based nanoparticles have been proposed as DDS carriers for lipophilic drugs. However, their instability, cytotoxicity, and lack of targeting ability limit their commercialization. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have fewer side effects, excellent biocompatibility, and high physical stability. LNPs are considered efficient vehicles of lipophilic drugs owing to their lipid-based internal structure. In addition, recent LNP studies suggest that the bioavailability of LNP can be increased through surface modifications, such as PEGylation, chitosan, and surfactant protein coating. Thus, their combinations have an abundant utilization potential in the fields of DDSs for carrying lipophilic drugs. In this review, the functions and efficiencies of various types of LNPs and surface modifications developed to optimize lipophilic drug delivery are discussed.

Parenteral Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for CNS Disorders: Integrating Various Facets of Preclinical Evaluation towards More Effective Clinical Translation

Contemporary trends in combinatorial chemistry and the design of pharmaceuticals targeting brain disorders have favored the development of drug candidates with increased lipophilicity and poorer water solubility, with the expected improvement in delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The growing availability of innovative excipients/ligands allowing improved brain targeting and controlled drug release makes the lipid nanocarriers a reasonable choice to overcome the factors impeding drug delivery through the BBB. However, a wide variety of methods, study designs and experimental conditions utilized in the literature hinder their systematic comparison, and thus slows the advances in brain-targeting by lipid-based nanoparticles. This review provides an overview of the methods most commonly utilized during the preclinical testing of liposomes, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers intended for the treatment of various CNS disorders via the parenteral route. In order to fully elucidate the structure, stability, safety profiles, biodistribution, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and immunological effects of such lipid-based nanoparticles, a transdisciplinary approach to preclinical characterization is mandatory, covering a comprehensive set of physical, chemical, in vitro and in vivo biological testing.

Ginsenoside Rg1 Nanoparticles Induce Demethylation of H3K27me3 in VEGF-A and Jagged 1 Promoter Regions to Activate Angiogenesis After Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Compared with traditional drugs, nanomaterial drugs have the benefits of improving the solubility, bioavailability, and absorption rate of insoluble drugs. Nanoporous complexes can increase the efficiency with which drugs can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and reach target organs. Ginsenoside Rg1 is an effective drug that promotes angiogenesis. Ginsenoside Rg1 composite nanoparticles were employed to induce the expression of several key epigenetic enzymes and then activate the VEGF and Notch pathways after the onset of ischemic brain lesions.

METHODS

We constructed nanoparticles to fully encapsulate the therapeutic drug (ginsenoside Rg1), which can be transferred into brain tissue via the receptor-mediated transfer of drug-encapsulated nanoparticles. Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of ginsenoside Rg1 complex nanovesicles (CNV) was performed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR), Western blot, immunohistochemistry staining (IHC), and Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) were employed to screen for epigenetic enzymes with an up-regulated expression post ginsenoside Rg1-CNV intervention. RNA sequencing, shRNA knockdown, and chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing were performed to detect the target genes of ginsenoside Rg1-CNV that regulate angiogenesis. Then, bioinformatic analysis was performed to investigate the mechanism of action of epigenetic modifying enzymes in regulating target genes.

RESULTS

The average of the synthesized ginsenoside Rg1-CNV was 203.78±6.83 nm, the polydispersion index was 0.135±0.007, and the Zeta potential was 23.13±1.65 mV. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that it promotes the proliferation, migration, and tubular formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Meanwhile, the intervention of ginsenoside Rg1-CNV promoted the demethylation of H3K27me3 within the promoter region of VEGF-A and Jagged1 genes and reduced the H3K27me3 modification within this region.

CONCLUSION

The ginsenoside Rg1 nanoparticles may be an available blood-brain barrier penetrating agent for ischemic stroke.

Better Bioactivity, Cerebral Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of Natural Medicine and Its Advanced Version

Currently, many people are afflicted by cerebral diseases that cause dysfunction in the brain and perturb normal daily life of people. Cerebral diseases are greatly affected by cerebral metabolism, including the anabolism and catabolism of neurotransmitters, hormones, neurotrophic molecules and other brain-specific chemicals. Natural medicines (NMs) have the advantages of low cost and low toxicity. NMs are potential treatments for cerebral diseases due to their ability to regulate cerebral metabolism. However, most NMs have low bioavailability due to their low solubility/permeability. The study is to summarize the better bioactivity, cerebral metabolism and pharmacokinetics of NMs and its advanced version. This study sums up research articles on the NMs to treat brain diseases. NMs affect cerebral metabolism and the related mechanisms are revealed. Nanotechnologies are applied to deliver NMs. Appropriate delivery systems (exosomes, nanoparticles, liposomes, lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, protein conjugation and nanosuspensions, etc.) provide better pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics of NMs. The structure-based metabolic reactions and enzyme-modulated catalytic reactions related to advanced versions of NMs alter the pharmacological activities of NMs.

Transferrin receptor-mediated liposomal drug delivery: recent trends in targeted therapy of cancer

INTRODUCTION

Compared to normal cells, malignant cancer cells require more iron for their growth and rapid proliferation, which can be supplied by a high expression level of transferrin receptor (TfR). It is well known that the expression of TfR on the tumor cells is considerably higher than that of normal cells, which makes TfR an attractive target in cancer therapy.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the primary focus is on the role of TfR as a valuable tool for cancer-targeted drug delivery, followed by the full coverage of available TfR ligands and their conjugation chemistry to the surface of liposomes. Finally, the most recent studies investigating the potential of TfR-targeted liposomes as promising drug delivery vehicles to different cancer cells are highlighted with emphasis on their improvement possibilities to become a part of future cancer medicines.

EXPERT OPINION

Liposomes as a valuable class of nanocarriers have gained much attention toward cancer therapy. From all the studies that have exploited the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of TfR on cancer cells, it can be realized that the systematic assessment of TfR ligands applied for liposomal targeted delivery has yet to be entirely accomplished.

Surface Modification of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles

There is a growing interest in the development of lipid-based nanocarriers for multiple purposes, including the recent increase of these nanocarriers as vaccine components during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of studies that involve the surface modification of nanocarriers to improve their performance (increase the delivery of a therapeutic to its target site with less off-site accumulation) is enormous. The present review aims to provide an overview of various methods associated with lipid nanoparticle grafting, including techniques used to separate grafted nanoparticles from unbound ligands or to characterize grafted nanoparticles. We also provide a critical perspective on the usefulness and true impact of these modifications on overcoming different biological barriers, with our prediction on what to expect in the near future in this field.

Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of brain tumor, and the clinically available approaches for its treatment are not curative. Despite the intensive research, biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and tumor cell membranes are major obstacles to developing novel effective therapies. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been explored as drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve GBM therapeutic strategies. NPs can circumvent many of the biological barriers posed by this devastating disease, enhancing drug accumulation in the target site. This can be achieved by employing strategies to target the transferrin receptor (TfR), which is heavily distributed in BBB and GBM cells. These targeting strategies comprise the modification of NPs’ surface with various molecules, such as transferrin (Tf), antibodies, and targeting peptides. This review provides an overview and discussion on the recent advances concerning the strategies to target the TfR in the treatment of GBM, as their benefits and limitations.

Engineered Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers as New Generations of Blood-Brain Barrier Transmitters

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered as the most challenging barrier in brain drug delivery. Indeed, there is a definite link between the BBB integrity defects and central nervous systems (CNS) disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers, increasing concerns in the contemporary era because of the inability of most therapeutic approaches. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have already been identified as having several advantages in facilitating the transportation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents across the BBB. This review first explains BBB functions and its challenges in brain drug delivery, followed by a brief description of nanoparticle-based drug delivery for brain diseases. A detailed presentation of recent progressions in optimizing SLNs and NLCs for controlled release drug delivery, gene therapy, targeted drug delivery, and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers is approached. Finally, the problems, challenges, and future perspectives in optimizing these carriers for potential clinical application were described briefly.

Lipid nanostructures for targeting brain cancer

Advancements in both material science and bionanotechnology are transforming the health care sector. To this end, nanoparticles are increasingly used to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Huge research is being carried out to improve the design, efficiency, and performance of these nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are also considered as a major area of research and development to meet the essential requirements for use in nanomedicine where safety, compatibility, biodegradability, biodistribution, stability, and effectiveness are requirements towards the desired application. In this regard, lipids have been used in pharmaceuticals and medical formulations for a long time. The present work focuses on the use of lipid nanostructures to combat brain tumors. In addition, this review summarizes the literature pertaining to solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (LNC), methods of preparation and characterization, developments achieved to overcome blood brain barrier (BBB), and modifications used to increase their effectiveness.

The Complexity of the Blood-Brain Barrier and the Concept of Age-Related Brain Targeting: Challenges and Potential of Novel Solid Lipid-Based Formulations

Diseases that affect the Central Nervous System (CNS) are one of the most exciting challenges of recent years, as they are ubiquitous and affect all ages. Although these disorders show different etiologies, all treatments share the same difficulty represented by the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). This barrier acts as a protective system of the delicate cerebral microenvironment, isolating it and making extremely arduous delivering drugs to the brain. To overtake the obstacles provided by the BBB it is essential to explore the changes that affect it, to understand how to exploit these findings in the study and design of innovative brain targeted formulations. Interestingly, the concept of age-related targeting could prove to be a winning choice, as it allows to consider the type of treatment according to the different needs and peculiarities depending on the disease and the age of onset. In this review was considered the prospective contribution of lipid-based formulations, namely Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs), which have been highlighted as able to overcome some limitations of other innovative approaches, thus representing a promising strategy for the non-invasive specific treatment of CNS-related diseases.

Novel Phospholipid-Based Labrasol Nanomicelles Loaded Flavonoids for Oral Delivery with Enhanced Penetration and Anti-Brain Tumor Efficiency

BACKGROUND

Owing to the rich anticancer properties of flavonoids, there is a need for their incorporation into drug delivery vehicles like nanomicelles for safe delivery of the drug into the brain tumor microenvironment.

OBJECTIVE

This study, therefore, aimed to prepare the phospholipid-based Labrasol/Pluronic F68 modified nano micelles loaded with flavonoids (Nano-flavonoids) for the delivery of the drug to the target brain tumor.

METHODS

Myricetin, quercetin and fisetin were selected as the initial drugs to evaluate the biodistribution and acute toxicity of the drug delivery vehicles in rats with implanted C6 glioma tumors after oral administration, while the uptake, retention, release in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and the effect on the brain endothelial barrier were investigated in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMECs).

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that nano-flavonoids loaded with myricetin showed more evenly distributed targeting tissues and enhanced anti-tumor efficiency in vivo without significant cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells and alteration in the Trans Epithelial Electric Resistance (TEER). There was no pathological evidence of renal, hepatic or other organs dysfunction after the administration of nanoflavonoids, which showed no significant influence on cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Labrasol/F68-NMs loaded with MYR and quercetin could enhance antiglioma effect in vitro and in vivo, which may be better tools for medical therapy, while the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nano-flavonoids may ensure optimal therapeutic benefits.

Baicalin mediated regulation of key signaling pathways in cancer

Baicalin has been widely investigated against different types of malignancies both at the cellular and molecular levels over the past few years. Due to its remarkable anti-proliferative potential in numerous cancer cell lines, it has created immense interest as a potential chemotherapeutic modality compared to other flavonoids. Thus, this review focuses on the recent accomplishments of baicalin and its limitations in cancer prevention and treatment. Further, combination studies and nanoformulations using baicalin to treat cancer along with the metabolism, bioavailability, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics have been discussed. The present review explains biological source, and anti-proliferative potential of baicalin against cancers including breast, colon, hepatic, leukemia, lung, and skin, as well as the relevant mechanism of action to modulate diverse signaling pathways including apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, and migration, angiogenesis, and autophagy. The anticancer mechanism of baicalin in orthotropic and xenograft mice models have been deliberated. The combination studies of baicalin in novel therapies as chemotherapeutic adjuvants have also been summarized. The low bioavailability, fast metabolism, and poor solubility, and other significant factors that limit the clinical use of baicalin have been examined as a challenge. The improvement in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of baicalin with newer approaches and the gaps are highlighted, which could establish baicalin as an effective and safe compound for cancer treatment as well as help to translate its potential from bench to bedside.

Antiviral effect of phytochemicals from medicinal plants: Applications and drug delivery strategies

Viral infections affect three to five million patients annually. While commonly used antivirals often show limited efficacy and serious adverse effects, herbal extracts have been in use for medicinal purposes since ancient times and are known for their antiviral properties and more tolerable side effects. Thus, naturally based pharmacotherapy may be a proper alternative for treating viral diseases. With that in mind, various pharmaceutical formulations and delivery systems including micelles, nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, solid dispersions, microspheres and crystals, self-nanoemulsifying and self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS and SMEDDS) have been developed and used for antiviral delivery of natural products. These diverse technologies offer effective and reliable delivery of medicinal phytochemicals. Given the challenges and possibilities of antiviral treatment, this review provides the verified data on the medicinal plants and related herbal substances with antiviral activity, as well as applied strategies for the delivery of these plant extracts and biologically active phytochemicals. Graphical Abstract.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers as Smart Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of brain tumor. In fact, tumor recurrence usually appears a few months after surgical resection and chemotherapy, mainly due to many factors that make GBM treatment a real challenge, such as tumor location, heterogeneity, presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and others. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represent the most promising carriers for therapeutics delivery into the central nervous system (CNS) owing to their inherent ability to cross the BBB. In this review, we present the main challenges in GBM treatment, a description of SLNs and NLCs and their valuable role as drug carriers in GBM treatment, and finally, a detailed description of all modification strategies that aim to change composition of SLNs and NLCs to enhance treatment outcomes. This includes modification of SLNs and NLCs to improve crossing the BBB, reduced GBM cell resistance, target GBM cells selectively minimizing side effects, and modification strategies to enhance SLNs and NLCs nose-to-brain delivery. Finally, future perspectives on their use are also be discussed, to provide insight about all strategies with SLNs and NLCs formulation that could result in drug delivery systems for GBM treatment with highly effective theraputic and minimum undesirable effects.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Dual Targeting: An Approach for Enhanced Baicalin Delivery to the Liver

In this study, water-soluble chitosan lactate (CL) was reacted with lactobionic acid (LA), a disaccharide with remarkable affinity to hepatic asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptors, to form dual liver-targeting LA-modified-CL polymer for site-specific drug delivery to the liver. The synthesized polymer was used to encapsulate baicalin (BA), a promising bioactive flavonoid with pH-dependent solubility, into ultrahigh drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) via the ionic gelation method. The successful chemical conjugation of LA with CL was tested and the formulated drug-loaded LA-modified-CL-NPs were assessed in terms of particle size (PS), encapsulation efficiency (EE) and zeta potential (ZP) using full factorial design. The in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of the designed NPs were assessed using ^99mTc-radiolabeled BA following oral administration to mice and results were compared to ^99mTc-BA-loaded-LA-free-NPs and ^99mTc-BA solution as controls. Results showed that the chemical modification of CL with LA was successfully achieved and the method of preparation of the optimized NPs was very efficient in encapsulating BA into nearly spherical particles with an extremely high EE exceeding 90%. The optimized BA-loaded-LA-modified-CL-NPs showed an average PS of 490 nm, EE of 93.7% and ZP of 48.1 mV. Oral administration of ^99mTc-BA-loaded-LA-modified-CL-NPs showed a remarkable increase in BA delivery to the liver over ^99mTc-BA-loaded-LA-free-CL-NPs and ^99mTc-BA oral solution. The mean area under the curve (AUC_0-24) estimates from liver data were determined to be 11-fold and 26-fold higher from ^99mTc-BA-loaded-LA-modified-CL-NPs relative to ^99mTc-BA-loaded-LA-free-CL-NPs and ^99mTc-BA solution respectively. In conclusion, the outcome of this study highlights the great potential of using LA-modified-CL-NPs for the ultrahigh encapsulation of therapeutic molecules with pH-dependent/poor water-solubility and for targeting the liver.

Antioxidants in Cancer Therapy: Recent Trends in Application of Nanotechnology for Enhanced Delivery

Recently, the occurrence of cancer has significantly increased; it represents the second-most frequent cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. Many dietary antioxidants have shown large impact as effective agents for cancer prevention by reducing oxidative stress, which has been a part in the development of many diseases, including cancer. One of the obstacles in the delivery of antioxidant therapies into the required domain lies in the inadequate delivery of these agents to their intended site of action. Using nanotechnology in delivery of antioxidants leads to increased therapeutic index and higher drug concentration in tumor tissues, thus enhancing anticancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the role of different antioxidants in cancer therapy and their improved therapeutic effect through their formulation using nanotechnology.

Brain targeting of Baicalin and Salvianolic acid B combination by OX26 functionalized nanostructured lipid carriers

In order to deliver Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and Baicalin (BA) to the brain tissue to repair neuron damage and improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), in our previous study, a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) containing BA and Sal B, and modified by the transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody OX26 (OX26-BA/Sal B-NLC) was constructed. The present study is to evaluate its in vitro release behavior, in vitro and in vivo targeting ability, in vitro pharmacodynamics and brain pharmacokinetics. The results showed that the release mechanism of the formulation was in line with the Weibull model release equation. The in-vitro and in-vivo targeting ability study exhibited that OX26 modified formulations was obviously higher than that of non-modified and solution groups. The results of in vitro preliminary study to investigate the protective effect of OX26-BA/Sal B-NLC on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injured cells showed that it could decrease the injury. Furthermore, the results of brain microdialysis study showed that the OX26-modified preparation group could significantly increase the content of BA in the brain. In the solution group and the unmodified group, Sal B can only be detected at few time points, while OX26-modified BA/Sal B-NLC could be detected within 4 h. These results indicating that OX26-modified NLC can promote the brain delivery of Sal B and BA combination.

Pharmacokinetics of B-Ring Unsubstituted Flavones

B-ring unsubstituted flavones (of which the most widely known are chrysin, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A) are 2-phenylchromen-4-one molecules of which the B-ring is devoid of any hydroxy, methoxy, or other substituent. They may be found naturally in a number of herbal products used for therapeutic purposes, and several have been designed by researchers and obtained in the laboratory. They have generated interest in the scientific community for their potential use in a variety of pathologies, and understanding their pharmacokinetics is important for a grasp of their optimal use. Based on a comprehensive survey of the relevant literature, this paper examines their absorption (with deglycosylation as a preliminary step) and their fate in the body, from metabolism to excretion. Differences among species (inter-individual) and within the same species (intra-individual) variability have been examined based on the available data, and finally, knowledge gaps and directions of future research are discussed.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability Enhancement of Baicalin: A Review

Baicalin is one of the major bioactive components of Scutellaria radix, a Chinese herb that has been used since ancient times. Baicalin has various pharmacological activities, including antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant, and has wide clinical applications. Baicalin displays a distinct pharmacokinetic profile including gastrointestinal hydrolysis, enterohepatic recycling, carrier-mediated transport, and complicated metabolism. The in vivo disposition of baicalin is affected by combinations of other herbs and baicalin can interact with other co-administered drugs due to competition between metabolic enzymes and protein binding. Furthermore, baicalin exhibits altered pharmacokinetic properties under different pathological conditions. Due to its low bioavailability, emerging novel baicalin preparations including nano/micro-scale baicalin delivery systems show better absorption and higher bioavailability in preclinical studies, and show promise for future clinical applications. Thus, this current review offers a comprehensive report on the pharmacokinetic behavior of baicalin and strategies to improve its bioavailability.

'Dendrimer-Cationized-Albumin' encrusted polymeric nanoparticle improves BBB penetration and anticancer activity of doxorubicin

Glioblastoma is one of the most rapaciously growing cancer within the brain with an average lifespan of 12-15 months (5-year survival <3-4%). Doxorubicin (DOX) is clinically utilized as a first line drug in the treatment of Glioblastoma, however, its restricted entry into the brain via the blood-brain barrier (BBB), limited blood-tumor barrier (BTB) permeability, hemotoxicity, short mean half-life of 1-3 hr as well as rapid body clearance results in tremendously diminished bioactivity in glioblastoma. Dendrimer-Cationized-Albumin (dCatAlb) was synthesized following the carboxyl activation technique and the synthesized biopolymer was characterized by FTIR, MALDI-TOF and zeta potential. The prepared dCatAlb was encrusted on DOX-loaded PLGA nanoparticle core to develop a novel hybrid DOX nanoformulation (dCatAlb-pDNP; particle size: 156 ± 10.85 nm; ƺ: -10.0 ± 2.1 mV surface charge). The formulated dCatAlb-pDNP showed a unique pH-dependent DOX release profile, diminished hemolytic toxicity, higher drug uptake (<0.001) and cytotoxicity in U87MG glioblastoma cells, increase levels of caspase-3 gene in U87MG cells (approximately 5.35-fold higher) inferred that anticancer activity is primarily taking place through caspase-mediated apoptosis mechanism. The developed novel DOX nanoformulation also showed superior trans-epithelial permeation transport across monolayer bEnd.3 cells as well as notable biocompatibility and stability. The dCatAlb-pDNP showed enhanced BBB permeation efficacy as confirmed permeation assay in bEnd.3 cell-based model. The long-term formulation stability of developed nanoformulations was studied by storing them at 5 ± 2 °C and 30 ± 2 °C/60 ± 5% Relative Humidity (% RH) in the stability chamber for a period of 60 days (ICHQ1A (R2)). The outcomes of this investigation evidently indicate that dCatAlb-pDNP offers superior anticancer activity of DOX in glioblastoma cells while significantly improving its BBB permeation. The developed formulation is a biocompatible, safer and commercially viable approach to delivering DOX selectively in sustained manner glioblastoma while countering its hemolytic toxic effect, which is a major ongoing issue with conventional DOX injectable available in the market today.

Cell penetrating peptides functionalized gambogic acid-nanostructured lipid carrier for cancer treatment

Tumor-targeted delivery is considered a crucial component of current anticancer drug development and is the best approach to increase the efficacy and reduce the toxicity. Nanomedicine, particularly ligand-based nanoparticles have shown a great potential for active targeting of tumor. Cell penetrating peptide is one of the promising ligands in a targeted cancer therapy. In this study, the gambogic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (GA-NLC) was modified with two kinds of cell penetrating peptides (cRGD and RGERPPR). The GA-NLC was prepared by emulsification and solvent evaporation method and coupled with cRGD, RGERPPR, and combination cRGD and RGERPPR to form GA-NLC-cRGD, GA-NLC-RGE, and GA-NLC-cRGD/RGE, respectively. The formulations were characterized by their particle size and morphology, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and differential scanning calorimetry. In vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake study of the formulations were performed against breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231). Furthermore, in vivo biodistribution and antitumor activity of the formulations were determined by in vivo imaging and in tumor-bearing nude mice, respectively. The result of in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that GA-NLC-RGE exhibited a significantly higher cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 as compared with GA-NLC and GA-Sol. Similarly, RGE-Cou-6-NLC showed remarkably higher uptake by the cells than other NLCs over the incubation period. The in vivo imaging study has demonstrated that among the formulations, the RGE-decorated DiR-NLC were more accumulated in the tumor site. The in vivo antitumor activity revealed that RGE-GA-NLC inhibits the tumor growth more efficiently than other formulations. In conclusion, RGERPPR has a potential as an effective carrier in targeting drug delivery of anticancer agents.

Targeted Theranostic Nanoparticles for Brain Tumor Treatment

The poor prognosis and rapid recurrence of glioblastoma (GB) are associated to its fast-growing process and invasive nature, which make difficult the complete removal of the cancer infiltrated tissues. Additionally, GB heterogeneity within and between patients demands a patient-focused method of treatment. Thus, the implementation of nanotechnology is an attractive approach considering all anatomic issues of GB, since it will potentially improve brain drug distribution, due to the interaction between the blood⁻brain barrier and nanoparticles (NPs). In recent years, theranostic techniques have also been proposed and regarded as promising. NPs are advantageous for this application, due to their respective size, easy surface modification and versatility to integrate multiple functional components in one system. The design of nanoparticles focused on therapeutic and diagnostic applications has increased exponentially for the treatment of cancer. This dual approach helps to understand the location of the tumor tissue, the biodistribution of nanoparticles, the progress and efficacy of the treatment, and is highly useful for personalized medicine-based therapeutic interventions. To improve theranostic approaches, different active strategies can be used to modulate the surface of the nanotheranostic particle, including surface markers, proteins, drugs or genes, and take advantage of the characteristics of the microenvironment using stimuli responsive triggers. This review focuses on the different strategies to improve the GB treatment, describing some cell surface markers and their ligands, and reports some strategies, and their efficacy, used in the current research.

Neuroprotective and Cognitive Enhancement Potentials of Baicalin: A Review

Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders that are characterized by the gradual loss of neurons. The development of effective neuroprotective agents to prevent and control neurodegenerative diseases is specifically important. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in selecting flavonoid compounds as potential neuroprotective agents, owing to their high effectiveness with low side effects. Baicalin is one of the important flavonoid compounds, which is mainly isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (an important Chinese medicinal herb). In recent years, a number of studies have shown that baicalin has a potent neuroprotective effect in various in vitro and in vivo models of neuronal injury. In particular, baicalin effectively prevents neurodegenerative diseases through various pharmacological mechanisms, including antioxidative stress, anti-excitotoxicity, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, stimulating neurogenesis, promoting the expression of neuronal protective factors, etc. This review mainly focuses on the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects of baicalin. The aim of the present review is to compile all information in relation to the neuroprotective and cognitive enhancement effects of baicalin and its molecular mechanisms of action in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Sustained Cytotoxicity of Wogonin on Breast Cancer Cells by Encapsulation in Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

While wogonin has been known to have cytotoxicity against various cancer cells, its bioavailability and cytotoxicity are low due to its low water solubility. Therefore, wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were fabricated using a hot-melted evaporation technique. The highest solubility of wogonin was observed in stearic acid. Hence, wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were composed of stearic acid as the lipid matrix. The physicochemical properties of the wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were evaluated by dynamic laser scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles exhibited sustained and controlled release up to 72 h. In addition, it was observed that the wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity and inhibited poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Overall, the results indicate that wogonin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles could be an efficient delivery system for the treatment of breast cancer.

Advances in the design of solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers for targeting brain diseases

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) comprise a category of versatile drug delivery systems that have been used in the biomedical field for >25years. SLNs and NLCs have been used for the treatment of various diseases including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, and are considered a standard treatment for the latter, due to their inherent ability to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this review, a presentation of the most important brain diseases (brain cancer, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis) is approached, followed by the basic fabrication techniques of SLNs and NLCs. A detailed description of the reported studies of the last seven years, of active and passive targeting SLNs and NLCs for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme and of other brain cancers, as well as for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is also carried out. Finally, a brief description of the advantages, the disadvantages, and the future perspectives in the use of these nanocarriers is reported, aiming at giving an insight of the limitations that have to be overcome in order to result in a delivery system with high therapeutic efficacy and without the limitations of the existing nano-systems.

Pharmacokinetic and ocular microdialysis study of oral ginkgo biloba extract in rabbits by UPLC-MS/MS determination

Objectives

The purpose of this work was to determine and investigate the absorption of ginkgo terpenoids (GT) in plasma and aqueous humour after oral administration of ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) by UPLC-MS/MS method.

Methods

The UPLC-MS/MS determination of GT employed the multiple reaction monitoring mode using an electrospray negative ionization. The rabbits were orally administered the suspension of GBE at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Serial plasma and dialysate samples were collected at the corresponding time and then analysed by UPLC-MS/MS.

Key findings

In plasma, the mean AUC from 0 to 48 h was 14.12, 12.59, 23.75, 1.51 h μg/ml for GLJ and 5.34 h μg/ml for GLA, GLB, GLC, GLJ and BLL, respectively. In aqueous humour, the five ginkgo terpenoids have been detected. Compared with the other four GT, BLL has better absorption in the eyes.

Conclusions

A selective and reproducible UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated to determine and investigate the absorption of ginkgo terpenoids in plasma and aqueous humour of rabbits after oral administration of GBE. The main five ginkgo terpenoids could be absorbed into eyes.

Self-assembled amphiphilic core-shell nanocarriers in line with the modern strategies for brain delivery

Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) represent increasing social and economic problems all over the world which makes the effective transport of drugs to the brain a crucial need. In the last decade, many strategies were introduced to deliver drugs to the brain trying to overcome the challenge of the blood brain barrier (BBB) using both invasive and non-invasive methods. Non-invasive strategy represented in the application of nanocarriers became very common. One of the most hopeful nanoscopic carriers for brain delivery is core-shell nanocarriers or polymeric micelles (PMs). They are more advantageous than other nanocarriers. They offer small size, ease of preparation, ease of sterilization and the possibility of surface modification with various ligands. Hence, the aim of this review is to discuss modern strategies for brain delivery, micelles as a successful delivery system for the brain and how micelles could be modified to act as "magic bullets" for brain delivery.

RGD modified and PEGylated lipid nanoparticles loaded with puerarin: Formulation, characterization and protective effects on acute myocardial ischemia model

CONTEXT

Puerarin has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, its rapid elimination half-life in plasma and poor water solubility limits its clinical efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

RGD modified and PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with puerarin (RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN) were developed to improve bioavailability of PUE, to prolong retention time in vivo and to enhance its protective effect on acute myocardial ischemia model.

METHODS

In the present study, RGD-PEG-DSPE was synthesized. RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN were prepared by the solvent evaporation method with some modifications. The physicochemical properties of NPs were characterized, the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, pharmacodynamic behavior of RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN were evaluated in acute MI rats.

RESULTS

The mean diameter, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency and drug loading capacity for RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN were observed as 110.5nm, -26.2mV, 85.7% and 16.5% respectively. PUE from RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN exhibited sustained drug release with a burst release during the initial 12h and a followed sustained release. Pharmacokinetics results indicated that AUC increased from 52.93 (μg/mLh) for free PUE to 176.5 (μg/mLh) for RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN. Similarly, T_1/2 increased from 0.73h for free PUE to 2.62h for RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN. RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN exhibited higher drug concentration in the heart and plasma compared with other PUE formulations. It can be clearly seen that the infarct size of RGD/PEG-PUE-SLN is the lowest among all the formulation.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that RGD modified and PEGylated SLN are promising candidate delivery vehicles for cardioprotective drugs in treatment of myocardial infarction.

Blood-brain barrier transport machineries and targeted therapy of brain diseases

Introduction: Desired clinical outcome of pharmacotherapy of brain diseases largely depends upon the safe drug delivery into the brain parenchyma. However, due to the robust blockade function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), drug transport into the brain is selectively controlled by the BBB formed by brain capillary endothelial cells and supported by astrocytes and pericytes.

Methods: In the current study, we have reviewed the most recent literature on the subject to provide an insight upon the role and impacts of BBB on brain drug delivery and targeting.

Results: All drugs, either small molecules or macromolecules, designated to treat brain diseases must adequately cross the BBB to provide their therapeutic properties on biological targets within the central nervous system (CNS). However, most of these pharmaceuticals do not sufficiently penetrate into CNS, failing to meet the intended therapeutic outcomes. Most lipophilic drugs capable of penetrating BBB are prone to the efflux functionality of BBB. In contrast, all hydrophilic drugs are facing severe infiltration blockage imposed by the tight cellular junctions of the BBB. Hence, a number of strategies have been devised to improve the efficiency of brain drug delivery and targeted therapy of CNS disorders using multimodal nanosystems (NSs).

Conclusions: In order to improve the therapeutic outcomes of CNS drug transfer and targeted delivery, the discriminatory permeability of BBB needs to be taken under control. The carrier-mediated transport machineries of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) can be exploited for the discovery, development and delivery of small molecules into the brain. Further, the receptor-mediated transport systems can be recruited for the delivery of macromolecular biologics and multimodal NSs into the brain.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of acetylpuerarin by poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles optimized using uniform design combined with response surface methodology

Acetylpuerarin (AP), an acetylated derivative of puerarin, shows brain-protective effects in animals. However, AP has low oral bioavailability because of its poor water solubility. The objective of this study was to design and develop poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance the oral bioavailability of AP. The NPs were prepared using a solvent diffusion method optimized via uniform design (UD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM) and characterized by their morphology, particle size, zeta (ζ)-potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), and in vitro drug release. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted in Wistar rats administered a single oral dose of 30 mg/kg AP. The optimized NPs were spherical and uniform in shape, with an average particle size of 145.0 nm, a polydispersity index (PI) of 0.153, and a ζ-potential of −14.81 mV. The release of AP from the PLGA NPs showed an initial burst release followed by a sustained release, following Higuchi’s model. The EE and DL determined in the experiments were 90.51% and 17.07%, respectively. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_0−∞) of AP-PLGA-NPs was 6,175.66±350.31 h ng/mL, which was 2.75 times greater than that obtained from an AP suspension. This study showed that PLGA NPs can significantly enhance the oral bioavailability of AP.

Targeted hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: transferrin modified, self-assembled polymeric nanomedicine for co-delivery of cisplatin and doxorubicin

BACKGROUND

Targeted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy was carried out to improve the efficacy of liver cancers. The aim of this study was to develop transferrin (Tf) modified, self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for co-delivery doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin (DDP), to achieve combination tumor therapy.

METHODS

Tf modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing DOX prodrug (Tf-PEG-DOX) was synthesized. DDP containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) materials (PLGA-DDP) were prepared. Tf modified DOX and DDP loaded PLGA nanoparticles (Tf-DOX/DDP NPs) were prepared by using nanoprecipitation method. The particles sizes, zeta potentials, drug loading effects were characterized. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was evaluated in human hepatoma carcinoma cell lines (HepG2 cells), and in vivo anti-tumor was observed in mice bearing human HepG2 cells model.

RESULTS

Tf-DOX/DDP NPs displayed higher cytotoxicity and enhanced antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo over their non-modified and single drug loaded counterparts.

CONCLUSION

Tf-DOX/DDP NPs can achieve outstanding anti-tumor activity due to the combination effect of two drugs and the active targeting ability of Tf ligands. The self-assembled polymeric nanomedicine could act as an efficient therapy method for HCC treatment.

Novel Antitransferrin Receptor Antibodies Improve the Blood-Brain Barrier Crossing Efficacy of Immunoliposomes

Surface functionalization with antitransferrin receptor (TfR) mAbs has been suggested as the strategy to enhance the transfer of nanoparticles (NPs) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to carry nonpermeant drugs from the blood into the brain. However, the efficiency of BBB crossing is currently too poor to be used in vivo. In the present investigation, we compared 6 different murine mAbs specific for different epitopes of the human TfR to identify the best performing one for the functionalization of NPs. For this purpose, we compared the ability of mAbs to cross an in vitro BBB model made of human brain capillary endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3). Liposomes functionalized with the best performing mAb (MYBE/4C1) were uptaken, crossed the BBB in vitro, and facilitated the BBB in vitro passage of doxorubicin, an anticancer drug, 3.9 folds more than liposomes functionalized with a nonspecific IgG, as assessed by confocal microscopy, radiochemical techniques, and fluorescence, and did not modify the cell monolayer structural or functional properties. These results show that MYBE/4C1 antihuman TfR mAb is a powerful resource for the enhancement of BBB crossing of NPs and is therefore potentially useful in the treatment of neurologic diseases and disorders including brain carcinomas.