Nanomedicine Reformulation of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

Targeting cellular mitophagy as a strategy for human cancers

Mitophagy is the cellular process to selectively eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria, governing the number and quality of mitochondria. Dysregulation of mitophagy may lead to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria, which plays an important role in the initiation and development of tumors. Mitophagy includes ubiquitin-dependent pathways mediated by PINK1/Parkin and non-ubiquitin dependent pathways mediated by mitochondrial autophagic receptors including NIX, BNIP3, and FUNDC1. Cellular mitophagy widely participates in multiple cellular process including metabolic reprogramming, anti-tumor immunity, ferroptosis, as well as the interaction between tumor cells and tumor-microenvironment. And cellular mitophagy also regulates tumor proliferation and metastasis, stemness, chemoresistance, resistance to targeted therapy and radiotherapy. In this review, we summarized the underlying molecular mechanisms of mitophagy and discussed the complex role of mitophagy in diverse contexts of tumors, indicating it as a promising target in the mitophagy-related anti-tumor therapy.

Risk factors of using late-autophagy inhibitors: Aspects to consider when combined with anticancer therapies

Cancer resistance to therapy is still an unsolved scientific and clinical problem. In 2022, the hallmarks of cancer have been expanded to include four new features, including cellular senescence. Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) is a stressor-based response to conventional treatment methods, e.g. chemo- and radiotherapy, but also to non-conventional targeted therapies. Since TIS reinforces resistance in cancers, new strategies for sensitizing cancer cells to therapy are being adopted. These include macroautophagy as a potential target for inhibition due to its potential cytoprotective role in many cancers. The mechanism of late-stage autophagy inhibitors is based on blockage of autophagolysosome formation or an increase in lysosomal pH, resulting in disrupted cargo degradation. Such inhibitors are relevant candidates for increasing anticancer therapy effectiveness. In particular, 4-aminoquoline derivatives: chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) have been tested in multiple clinical trials in combination with senescence-inducing anti-cancer drugs. In this review, we summarize the properties of selected late-autophagy inhibitors and their role in the regulation of autophagy and senescent cell phenotype in vitro and in vivo models of cancer as well as treatment response in clinical trials on oncological patients. Additionally, we point out that, although these compounds increase the effectiveness of treatment in some cases, their practical usage might be hindered due to systemic toxicity, hypoxic environment, dose- ant time-dependent inhibitory effects, as well as a possible contribution to escaping from TIS.

Special Issue "Nanotechnology to Overcome the World's Most Critical Health Issues: Liposomes and Beyond-A Themed Issue Dedicated to Professor Yechezkel Barenholz"

This Special Issue is intended to celebrate Professor Yechezkel Barenholz's distinguished achievements [...].

Electrochemical sensor based on a ZnO-doped graphitized carbon for the electrocatalytic detection of the antibiotic hydroxychloroquine. Application: tap water and human urine

Abstract

In December 2019, the world experienced a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causing coronavirus disease 2019 originating from Wuhan.The virus has crossed national borders and now affects more than 200 countries and territories. Hydroxychloroquine has been considered as a drug capable of treating COVID-19. The objective of this work is to establish a simple platform for electrocatalytic detection of hydroxychloroquine in human urine samples and pharmaceutical samples (tablets) using a ZnO@CPE sensor constructed by simple and inexpensive hydrothermal methods using a square wave voltammetry method. The best results are obtained in a PBS electrolyte with irreversible behavior of the hydroxychloroquine complement and controlled by diffusion coupled with absorption phenomena. The ZnO@CPE shifts the oxidation potential of hydroxychloroquine with the formation of a single very intense peak at the position of Epa = 0.5 V/(vs Ag/AgCl) with a shift is ΔEp = 0.1 V(vs Ag/AgCl) compared to the unmodified electrode. The obtained ZnO@CPE hybrid nanocomposite was characterized by different techniques and showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and higher active surface area compared to the bare carbon paste electrode. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the ZnO@CPE sensor showed good analytical performance for the determination of trace amounts of hydroxychloroquine, a wide linearity range from 10^-3 M to 0.8 × 10^-6 M with a very low detection limit in the range of 1.33 × 10^-7 M, satisfactory selectivity, acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. The calculated recovery and coefficient of variation for the two samples analyzed are very satisfactory, ranging from 97.6 to 102% and 1.2 to 2.3% respectively. The proposed applied method and the fabricated sensor offer the possibility to analyze traces of hydroxychloroquine in real human urine and water samples.

Graphical abstract

Strategy for the electro-oxidation reaction of hydroxychloroquine on the electro-catalytic surface of the ZnO@Carbon graphite electrode and real-time detection of hydroxychloroquine.

Additively manufactured electrodes for the electrochemical detection of hydroxychloroquine

Although studies have demonstrated the inactivity of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) towards SARS-CoV-2, this compound was one of the most prescribed by medical organizations for the treatment of hospitalized patients during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of it, HCQ has been considered as a potential emerging contaminant in aquatic environments. In this context, we propose a complete electrochemical device comprising cell and working electrode fabricated by the additive manufacture (3D-printing) technology for HCQ monitoring. For this, a 3D-printed working electrode made of a conductive PLA containing carbon black assembled in a 3D-printed cell was associated with square wave voltammetry (SWV) for the fast and sensitive determination of HCQ. After a simple surface activation procedure, the proposed 3D-printed sensor showed a linear response towards HCQ detection (0.4-7.5 μmol L^-1) with a limit of detection of 0.04 μmol L^-1 and precision of 2.4% (n = 10). The applicability of this device was shown to the analysis of pharmaceutical and water samples. Recovery values between 99 and 112% were achieved for tap water samples and, in addition, the obtained concentration values for pharmaceutical tablets agreed with the values obtained by spectrophotometry (UV region) at a 95% confidence level. The proposed device combined with portable instrumentation is promising for on-site HCQ detection.

Pulmonary Delivery of Hydroxychloroquine Nanostructured Lipid Carrier as a Potential Treatment of COVID-19

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Pneumonia is considered the most severe and long-term complication of COVID-19. Among other drugs, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was repurposed for the management of COVID-19; however, low efficacy and cardiac toxicity of the conventional dosage form limited its use in COVID-19. Therefore, utilizing nanotechnology, a pulmonary delivery system of HCQ was investigated to overcome these limitations. HCQ was formulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (HCQ-NLCs) using the hot emulsification–ultrasonication method. Furthermore, the prepared formulation was evaluated in vitro. Moreover, the efficacy was tested in vivo in a bleomycin-induced acute lung injury mice model. Intriguingly, nanoformulations were given by the intratracheal route for 6 days. HCQ-NLCs showed a mean particle size of 277 nm and a good drug release profile. Remarkably, acute lung injury induced by bleomycin was associated with a marked elevation of inflammatory markers and histological alterations in lung tissues. Astoundingly, all these changes were significantly attenuated with HCQ-NLCs. The pulmonary delivery of HCQ-NLCs likely provided adequate targeting to lung tissues. Nevertheless, there is hope that this novel strategy will eventually lead to the improved effectiveness and diminished probability of alarming adverse drug reactions.

Preparation, characterization, and evaluation of eosin B-loaded nano-liposomes for growth inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum

Malaria is a deadly disease in humans caused by the Plasmodium parasite. High prevalence of malaria and resistance of malaria parasite to currently proposed drugs have increased the need to introduce and use new and effective antimalarial agents. In this study, eosin B was used as an effective antimalarial agent, the efficacy of which has already been confirmed by in vitro models. Also, for efficacy and safety improvement of eosin B, liposomal nanocarrier was used because of diversity and adaptability in controlled drug delivery and targeting. Eosin B was trapped inside liposomal nanocarriers by thin layer hydration method and its optimization was performed based on size, polydispersity index, and drug entrapment efficiency. Finally, the eosin B-loaded liposomes were tested on Plasmodium falciparum in culture to evaluate its anti-plasmodial effect. According to the results, the formulation with DSPC:cholesterol 8:1 (molar ratio) and drug concentration of 3 mg/ml was selected as the optimal form. The optimal nano-liposomes showed a size of 163.3 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.250, and an encapsulation efficiency of 69.94%. The process of drug release from nanocarriers was also obtained about 63% at the end of 72 h. Stability studies over 2 months at 25 °C and 4 °C on the optimum sample showed that the samples stored in the refrigerator were more stable in terms of size characteristics, polydispersity index, and drug entrapment efficiency. The results indicate a greater effect of liposomal-formulated eosin B on inhibiting parasite growth compared to the free eosin B.

How to exploit different endocytosis pathways to allow selective delivery of anticancer drugs to cancer cells over healthy cells

It was recently shown that it is possible to exploit the nanoparticle shape to selectively target endocytosis pathways found in cancer and not healthy cells. It is important to understand and compare the endocytosis pathways of nanoparticles in both cancer and healthy cells to restrict the healthy cells from taking up anticancer drugs to help reduce the side effects for patients. Here, the clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitor, hydroxychloroquine, and the anticancer drug, doxorubicin, are loaded into the same mesoporous silica nanorods. The use of nanorods was found to restrict the uptake by healthy cells but allowed cancer cells to take up the nanorods via the macropinocytosis pathway. Furthermore, it is shown that the nanorods can selectively deliver doxorubicin to the nucleus of breast cancer cells and to the cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cells. The dual-drug-loaded nanorods were able to selectively kill the breast cancer cells in the presence of healthy breast cells. This study opens exciting possibilities of targeting cancer cells based on the material shape rather than targeting antibodies.

It was recently shown that it is possible to exploit the nanoparticle shape to selectively target endocytosis pathways found in cancer and not healthy cells.

Combination Chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Chloroquine: Effect of Encapsulation in Micelles Formed by Self-Assembling Hybrid Dendritic-Linear-Dendritic Block Copolymers

Clinical outcomes of conventional drug combinations are not ideal due to high toxicity to healthy tissues. Cisplatin (CDDP) is the standard component for many cancer treatments, yet its principal dose-limiting side effect is nephrotoxicity. Thus, CDDP is commonly used in combination with other drugs, such as the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ), to enhance tumor cell killing efficacy and prevent the development of chemoresistance. In addition, nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems can overcome chemotherapy limitations, decreasing side effects and increasing tumor accumulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of CQ and CDDP against tumor and non-tumor cells when used in a combined treatment. For this purpose, two types of micelles based on Pluronic^® F127 hybrid dendritic–linear–dendritic block copolymers (HDLDBCs) modified with polyester or poly(esteramide) dendrons derived from 2,2′-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (HDLDBC-bMPA) or 2,2′-bis(glycyloxymethyl)propionic acid (HDLDBC-bGMPA) were explored as delivery nanocarriers. Our results indicated that the combined treatment with HDLDBC-bMPA(CQ) or HDLDBC-bGMPA(CQ) and CDDP increased cytotoxicity in tumor cells compared to the single treatment with CDDP. Encapsulations demonstrated less short-term cytotoxicity individually or when used in combination compared to the free drugs. However, and more importantly, a low degree of cytotoxicity against non-tumor cells was maintained, even when drugs were given simultaneously.