Oral Bioavailability Evaluation of Celastrol-Encapsulated Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles Using an Optimized LC-MS/MS Method

microRNAs associated with the quality of follicular fluids affect oocyte and early embryonic development

Purpose

Oocyte and embryo quality differs significantly among individuals. Follicular fluid (FF) is a solo environment of oocyte maturation and may flux into the oviduct. Supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) and culture (IVC) medium with extracellular vesicles of FFs supports oocyte maturation and embryonic development. We addressed a hypothesis that miRNA profiles in FFs are crucial background of oocyte maturation and embryonic development.

Methods

FFs were collected from the ovaries of individual cows, and the FFs were classified into Good or Poor FF based on the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of enclosed oocytes. miRNAs associated with the Good FFs were explored using small RNA sequencing. In addition, FFs were classified using the concentration of Good-FF-associated miRNAs. These classified FFs or miRNA were added to the IVM or IVC mediums.

Results

Supplementation of IVM and IVC medium with Good FF improved embryonic development. Good FFs contained miR-151-3p and miR-425-5p at a high concentration compared with those in Poor FFs. FFs selected by the concentration of miR-151-3p and miR-425-5p improved oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Supplementation of IVM or IVC medium with either miR-151-3p or miR-425-5p improved embryonic development to the blastocyst stage.

Conclusion

miRNAs were associated with the Good FFs determined oocyte maturation and embryonic development.

Celastrol as an emerging anticancer agent: Current status, challenges and therapeutic strategies

Celastrol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., which has multiple pharmacological activities. In particular, modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that celastrol exhibits significant broad-spectrum anticancer activities in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, hematological malignancies, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, breast cancer, bone tumor, brain tumor, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer. Therefore, by searching the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and CNKI, this review comprehensively summarizes the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effects of celastrol. According to the data, the anticancer effects of celastrol can be mediated by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, inducing cell apoptosis, suppressing autophagy, hindering angiogenesis and inhibiting tumor metastasis. More importantly, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Bcl-2/Bax-caspase 9/3, EGFR, ROS/JNK, NF-κB, STAT3, JNK/Nrf2/HO-1, VEGF, AR/miR-101, HSF1-LKB1-AMPKα-YAP, Wnt/β-catenin and CIP2A/c-MYC signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for the anticancer effects of celastrol. Subsequently, studies of its toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties showed that celastrol has some adverse effects, low oral bioavailability and a narrow therapeutic window. In addition, the current challenges of celastrol and the corresponding therapeutic strategies are also discussed, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development and application of celastrol in the clinic.

Surface-Modified Inhaled Microparticle-Encapsulated Celastrol for Enhanced Efficacy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the pleural lining of the lungs. Celastrol (Cela), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, has demonstrated promising therapeutic potential as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective agent, and anti-cancer agent. In this study, we developed inhaled surface-modified Cela-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microparticles (Cela MPs) for the treatment of MPM using a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The optimized Cela MPs exhibited high entrapment efficiency (72.8 ± 6.1%) and possessed a wrinkled surface with a mean geometric diameter of ~2 µm and an aerodynamic diameter of 4.5 ± 0.1 µm, suggesting them to be suitable for pulmonary delivery. A subsequent release study showed an initial burst release up to 59.9 ± 2.9%, followed by sustained release. The therapeutic efficacy of Cela MPs was evaluated against four mesothelioma cell lines, where Cela MP exhibited significant reduction in IC50 values, and blank MPs produced no toxicity to normal cells. Additionally, a 3D-spheroid study was performed where a single dose of Cela MP at 1.0 µM significantly inhibited spheroid growth. Cela MP was also able to retain the antioxidant activity of Cela only while mechanistic studies revealed triggered autophagy and an induction of apoptosis. Therefore, these studies highlight the anti-mesothelioma activity of Cela and demonstrate that Cela MPs are a promising inhalable medicine for MPM treatment.

Selenized Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery of Tripterine with Ameliorative Oral Anti-Enteritis Activity and Bioavailability

The oral delivery of insoluble and enterotoxic drugs has been largely plagued by gastrointestinal irritation, side effects, and limited bioavailability. Tripterine (Tri) ranks as the hotspot of anti-inflammatory research other than inferior water-solubility and biocompatibility. This study was intended to develop selenized polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles loading Tri (Se@Tri-PLNs) for enteritis intervention by improving its cellular uptake and bioavailability. Se@Tri-PLNs were fabricated by a solvent diffusion-in situ reduction technique and characterized by particle size, ζ potential, morphology, and entrapment efficiency (EE). The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, oral pharmacokinetics, and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect were evaluated. The resultant Se@Tri-PLNs were 123 nm around in particle size, with a PDI of 0.183, ζ potential of −29.70 mV, and EE of 98.95%. Se@Tri-PLNs exhibited retardant drug release and better stability in the digestive fluids compared with the unmodified counterpart (Tri-PLNs). Moreover, Se@Tri-PLNs manifested higher cellular uptake in Caco-2 cells as evidenced by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The oral bioavailability of Tri-PLNs and Se@Tri-PLNs was up to 280% and 397% relative to Tri suspensions, respectively. Furthermore, Se@Tri-PLNs demonstrated more potent in vivo anti-enteritis activity, which resulted in a marked resolution of ulcerative colitis. Polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLNs) enabled drug supersaturation in the gut and the sustained release of Tri to facilitate absorption, while selenium surface engineering reinforced the formulation performance and in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy. The present work provides a proof-of-concept for the combined therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using phytomedicine and Se in an integrated nanosystem. Selenized PLNs loading anti-inflammatory phytomedicine may be valuable for the treatment of intractable inflammatory diseases.