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Viegas C, Patrício AB, Prata J, Fonseca L, Macedo AS, Duarte SOD, Fonte P. Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment by Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2363. [PMID: 37765331 PMCID: PMC10536303 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer represents one of the most lethal cancer types worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Due to the inability to diagnose it promptly and the lack of efficacy of existing treatments, research and development of innovative therapies and new diagnostics are crucial to increase the survival rate and decrease mortality. Nanomedicine has been gaining importance as an innovative approach for drug delivery and diagnosis, opening new horizons through the implementation of smart nanocarrier systems, which can deliver drugs to the specific tissue or organ at an optimal concentration, enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity. Varied materials such as lipids, polymers, and inorganic materials have been used to obtain nanoparticles and develop innovative drug delivery systems for pancreatic cancer treatment. In this review, it is discussed the main scientific advances in pancreatic cancer treatment by nano-based drug delivery systems. The advantages and disadvantages of such delivery systems in pancreatic cancer treatment are also addressed. More importantly, the different types of nanocarriers and therapeutic strategies developed so far are scrutinized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Viegas
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
- Center for Marine Sciences (CCMar), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana B. Patrício
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Prata
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Leonor Fonseca
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Macedo
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Applied Chemistry Lab—Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia O. D. Duarte
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Fonte
- Center for Marine Sciences (CCMar), University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.B.P.); (S.O.D.D.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
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Pinho JO, Matias M, Godinho-Santos A, Amaral JD, Mendes E, Jesus Perry M, Paula Francisco A, Rodrigues CMP, Manuela Gaspar M. A step forward on the in vitro and in vivo assessment of a novel nanomedicine against melanoma. Int J Pharm 2023; 640:123011. [PMID: 37146952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with increasing incidence and mortality rates. To overcome current treatment limitations, a hybrid molecule (HM) combining a triazene and a ʟ-tyrosine analogue, was recently synthesized, incorporated in long blood circulating liposomes (LIP HM) and validated in an immunocompetent melanoma model. The present work constitutes a step forward in the therapeutic assessment of HM formulations. Here, human melanoma cells, A375 and MNT-1, were used and dacarbazine (DTIC), a triazene drug clinically available as first-line treatment for melanoma, constituted the positive control. In cell cycle analysis, A375 cells, after 24-h incubation with HM (60 μM) and DTIC (70 μM), resulted in a 1.2 fold increase (related to control) in the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase. The therapeutic activity was evaluated in a human murine melanoma model (subcutaneously injected with A375 cells) to most closely resemble the human pathology. Animals treated with LIP HM exhibited the highest antimelanoma effect resulting in a 6-, 5- and 4-fold reduction on tumor volume compared to negative control, Free HM and DTIC groups, respectively. No toxic side effects were detected. Overall, these results constitute another step forward in the validation of the antimelanoma activity of LIP HM, using a murine model that more accurately simulates the pathology that occurs in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Mariana Matias
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
| | - Ana Godinho-Santos
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana D Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Mendes
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Maria Jesus Perry
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana Paula Francisco
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Ribeiro N, Farinha PF, Pinho JO, Luiz H, Mészáros JP, Galvão AM, Costa Pessoa J, Enyedy ÉA, Reis CP, Correia I, Gaspar MM. Metal Coordination and Biological Screening of a Schiff Base Derived from 8-Hydroxyquinoline and Benzothiazole. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122583. [PMID: 36559078 PMCID: PMC9785144 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing new metallodrugs for anticancer therapy is a driving force in the scientific community. Aiming to contribute to this field, we hereby report the development of a Schiff base (H2L) derived from the condensation of 2-carbaldehyde-8-hydroxyquinoline with 2-hydrazinobenzothiazole and its complexation with transition metal ions. All compounds were characterised by analytical and spectroscopic techniques, which disclosed their structure: [Cu(HL)Cl], [Cu(HL)2], [Ni(HL)(acetate)], [Ni(HL)2], [Ru(HL)Cl(DMSO)], [VO(HL)2] and [Fe(HL)2Cl(H2O)]. Different binding modes were proposed, showing the ligand’s coordination versatility. The ligand proton dissociation constants were determined, and the tested compounds showed high lipophilicity and light sensitivity. The stability of all complexes in aqueous media and their ability to bind to albumin were screened. Based on an antiproliferative in vitro screening, [Ni(HL)(acetate)] and [Ru(HL)Cl(DMSO)] were selected for further studies aiming to investigate their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential towards colon cancer. The complexes displayed IC50 < 21 μM towards murine (CT-26) and human (HCT-116) colon cancer cell lines. Importantly, both complexes exhibited superior antiproliferative properties compared to the clinically approved 5-fluorouracil. [Ni(HL)(acetate)] induced cell cycle arrest in S phase in CT-26 cells. For [Ru(HL)Cl(DMSO)] this effect was observed in both colon cancer cell lines. Additionally, both compounds significantly inhibited cell migration particularly in the human colon cancer cell line, HCT-116. Overall, the therapeutic potential of both metal complexes was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia Ribeiro
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro F. Farinha
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta O. Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Hugo Luiz
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - János P. Mészáros
- MTA-SZTE Lendület Functional Metal Complexes Research Group, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Adelino M. Galvão
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Costa Pessoa
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Éva A. Enyedy
- MTA-SZTE Lendület Functional Metal Complexes Research Group, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (I.C.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (I.C.); (M.M.G.)
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Magalhães M, Domínguez-Martín EM, Jorge J, Gonçalves AC, Díaz-Lanza AM, Manadas B, Efferth T, Rijo P, Cabral C. Parvifloron D-based potential therapy for glioblastoma: Inducing apoptosis via the mitochondria dependent pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1006832. [PMID: 36313298 PMCID: PMC9605735 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1006832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. The lack of diagnostic tools and the poor prognosis associated with this tumor type leads to restricted and limited options of treatment, namely surgical resection and radio-chemotherapy. However, despite these treatments, in almost all cases, patients experience relapse, leading to survival rates shorter than 5 years (∼15-18 months after diagnosis). Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently required (either by discovering new medicines or by repurposing drugs) to surpass the limitations of conventional treatments and improve patients' survival rate and quality of life. In the present work, we investigated the antitumor potential of parvifloron D (ParvD), a drug lead of natural origin, in a GB cell line panel. This natural drug lead induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via activation of the intrinsic mitochondria-dependent pathway. Moreover, the necessary doses of ParvD to induce pronounced inhibitory effects were substantially lower than that of temozolomide (TMZ, first-line treatment) required to promote comparable effects. Therefore, ParvD may have the potential to overcome the resistance related to TMZ and contribute to the pursuit of hopeful treatments based on ParvD as a drug lead for future chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Magalhães
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Clinic Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Eva María Domínguez-Martín
- CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Jorge
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology, University Clinic of Hematology and Applied Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- iCBR, Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO)—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology, University Clinic of Hematology and Applied Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- iCBR, Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO)—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana María Díaz-Lanza
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruno Manadas
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBIOS—Universidade Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Célia Cabral
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Clinic Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Pinto S, Gaspar MM, Ascensão L, Faísca P, Reis CP, Pacheco R. Nanoformulation of Seaweed Eisenia bicyclis in Albumin Nanoparticles Targeting Cardiovascular Diseases: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:608. [PMID: 36286431 PMCID: PMC9605150 DOI: 10.3390/md20100608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products, especially those derived from seaweeds, are starting to be seen as effective against various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to design a novel oral formulation of bovine albumin serum nanoparticles (BSA NPs) loaded with an extract of Eisenia bicyclis and to validate its beneficial health effects, particularly targeting hypercholesterolemia and CVD prevention. Small and well-defined BSA NPs loaded with Eisenia bicyclis extract were successfully prepared exhibiting high encapsulation efficiency. Antioxidant activity and cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme 3-hydroxy-3 methylutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) inhibition, as well as reduction of cholesterol permeation in intestinal lining model cells, were assessed for the extract both in free and nanoformulated forms. The nanoformulation was more efficient than the free extract, particularly in terms of HMGR inhibition and cholesterol permeation reduction. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo assays in Wistar rats were performed to evaluate its safety and overall effects on metabolism. The results demonstrated that the Eisenia bicyclis extract and BSA NPs were not cytotoxic against human intestinal Caco-2 and liver HepG2 cells and were also safe after oral administration in the rat model. In addition, an innovative approach was adopted to compare the metabolomic profile of the serum from the animals involved in the in vivo assay, which showed the extract and nanoformulation's impact on CVD-associated key metabolites. Altogether, these preliminary results revealed that the seaweed extract and the nanoformulation may constitute an alternative natural dosage form which is safe and simple to produce, capable of reducing cholesterol levels, and consequently helpful in preventing hypercholesterolemia, the main risk factor of CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pinto
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Avenida Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologia, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
- CBIOS-Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologia, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Pacheco
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Avenida Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Matos CP, Albino M, Lopes J, Viana AS, Côrte-Real L, Mendes F, Pessoa JC, Tomaz AI, Reis CP, Gaspar MM, Correia I. New iron(III) anti-cancer aminobisphenolate/phenanthroline complexes: Enhancing their therapeutic potential using nanoliposomes. Int J Pharm 2022; 623:121925. [PMID: 35718249 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is an aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer and novel and improved therapeutic options are needed. A promising strategy involves the use of metallodrugs combined with liposomes for targeted delivery to cancer cells. In this work, a family of iron(III) complexes was synthesized bearing a trianionic aminobisphenolate ligand (L) and phenanthroline-type co-ligands (NN). Four ternary iron complexes of general formula [Fe(L)(NN)] were obtained: [Fe(L)(amphen)] (1), [Fe(L)(phen)] (2), [Fe(L)(Clphen)] (3), and [Fe(L)(Mephen)] (4), as well as a fifth complex [Fe(L)(NEt3)(H2O)] (5) without the bidentate co-ligand. All complexes were characterized by analytic and spectroscopic techniques and demonstrated to be stable in aqueous environment. Complexes 1 and 2 were able to bind DNA and presented high cytotoxic activity towards human cancer cells. Complex 1 (IronC) was selected for incorporation into different liposomal formulations, which were fully characterized and screened against murine melanoma cells. The IronC liposomal formulation with the highest incorporation efficiency (∼95%) and a low IC50 value (7.1 ± 0.7 μM) was selected for in vivo evaluation. In a syngeneic murine melanoma model the liposomal formulation of IronC yielded the highest impairment on tumour progression when compared with the control, temozolomide, and with the iron complex in free form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina P Matos
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Melissa Albino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Lopes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Silveira Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Leonor Côrte-Real
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Filipa Mendes
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - João Costa Pessoa
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Tomaz
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Departamento de Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Etsassala NGER, Badmus JA, Marnewick JL, Egieyeh S, Iwuoha EI, Nchu F, Hussein AA. Alpha-Glucosidase and Alpha-Amylase Inhibitory Activities, Molecular Docking, and Antioxidant Capacities of Plectranthus ecklonii Constituents. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020378. [PMID: 35204260 PMCID: PMC8869333 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Shortage in insulin secretion or degradation of produced insulin is the principal characteristic of the metabolic disorder of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, because the current medications for the treatment of DM have many detrimental side effects, it is necessary to develop more effective antidiabetic drugs with minimal side effects. Alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitors are directly implicated in the delay of carbohydrate digestion. Pharmacologically, these inhibitors could be targeted for the reduction in glucose absorption rate and, subsequently, decreasing the postprandial rise in plasma glucose and the risk for long-term diabetes complications. The main objectives of this research study were to isolate different phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extract of Plectranthusecklonii and evaluate their alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities and antioxidant capacity. The phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of P. ecklonii yielded three known compounds, viz. parvifloron D, F, and G (1–3, respectively). Parvifloron G was isolated for the first time from P. ecklonii. The in vitro bio-evaluation of the methanolic extract of P. ecklonii and its isolated compounds against alpha-glucosidase showed that 3 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 41.3 ± 1.2 μg/mL. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity demonstrated by 3. Additionally, strong antioxidant capacities were demonstrated by 3 and 1 on ORAC (28726.1 ± 8.1; 3942.9.6.6 ± 0.1 µM TE/g), respectively, which were comparable with the reference antioxidant epigallocatechingallate (EGCG). Furthermore, 3 also showed strong activity on TEAC (3526.1 ± 0.6 µM TE/g), followed by 2 (1069.3 ± 2.4 µM TE/g), as well as on FRAP (1455.4 ± 2.0 µM AAE/g). The methanolic extract of P. ecklonii is a rich source of abietane diterpenes with strong antioxidant activities. This is the first scientific report on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities, molecular docking, and antioxidant capacities of P. ecklonii constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninon G. E. R. Etsassala
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Road, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-810-728-472
| | - Jelili A. Badmus
- Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa; (J.A.B.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Jeanine L. Marnewick
- Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa; (J.A.B.); (J.L.M.)
| | - Samuel Egieyeh
- School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
| | - Emmanuel. I. Iwuoha
- Chemistry Department, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
| | - Felix Nchu
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Road, Bellville, Cape Town 7535, South Africa;
| | - Ahmed A. Hussein
- Chemistry Department, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Symphony Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
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8
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Herbals and Plants in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030619. [PMID: 35276978 PMCID: PMC8839014 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic cancer represents the most lethal malignancy among all digestive cancers. Despite the therapeutic advances achieved during recent years, the prognosis of this neoplasm remains disappointing. An enormous amount of experimental (mainly) and clinical research has recently emerged referring to the effectiveness of various plants administered either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Apart from Asian countries, the use of these plants and herbals in the treatment of digestive cancer is also increasing in a number of Western countries as well. The aim of this study is to review the available literature regarding the efficacy of plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The authors have reviewed all the experimental and clinical studies published in Medline and Embase, up to June 2021. Results: More than 100 plants and herbals were thoroughly investigated. Favorable effects concerning the inhibition of cancer cell lines in the experimental studies and a favorable clinical outcome after combining various plants with established chemotherapeutic agents were observed. These herbals and plants exerted their activity against pancreatic cancer via a number of mechanisms. The number and severity of side-effects are generally of a mild degree. Conclusion: A quite high number of clinical and experimental studies confirmed the beneficial effect of many plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. More large, double-blind clinical studies assessing these natural products, either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents should be conducted.
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9
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Gupta S, Tejavath KK. Nano Phytoceuticals: A Step Forward in Tracking Down Paths for Therapy Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. J CLUST SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10876-021-02213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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10
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Antão AR, Bangay G, Domínguez-Martín EM, Díaz-Lanza AM, Ríjo P. Plectranthus ecklonii Benth: A Comprehensive Review Into its Phytochemistry and Exerted Biological Activities. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:768268. [PMID: 34916943 PMCID: PMC8670309 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.768268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Plectranthus genus (Lamiaceae family) contain several species with acknowledged ethnopharmacological uses, such as, for gastrointestinal and respiratory-related problems, due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The bioactivity of isolated medicinal compounds from this genus justifies the increased interest in recent times for species of Plectranthus, placing them in the spotlight for natural product drug development. Aim of the study: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on the biological activities of Plectranthus ecklonii Benth. As such, the aim of this review was three-fold: 1) to summarize the chemical compounds isolated from P. ecklonii; 2) to collate the biological activities and mechanisms of action of these compounds from in vitro studies; and 3) to evaluate the documented uses and potential applications of this species, in order to postulate on the direction of pharmaceutical uses of this species. Materials and methods: An extensive database retrieval was performed using the electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The search criteria consisted of the keywords "Plectranthus ecklonii", "Plectranthus ecklonii + review", "Plectranthus ecklonii + diterpenes" or "Plectranthus ecklonii + abietanes", "ecklonii + parviflorone D", searched individually and as combinations. Eligibility criteria were set out and titles in English, Portuguese and Spanish were reviewed, with all references included dating from 1970 to 2021. A total of 169 papers were selected and included. Chemical structures were drawn using ChemDraw 20.0, CID numbers were searched in PubChem and the PRISMA diagram was created using PowerPoint 2012. Results: To date, a total of 28 compounds have been isolated from P. ecklonii, including diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids. Most focused on the antimicrobial action of its constituents, although compounds have demonstrated other bioactivities, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor. The most recent studies emphasize the diterpenoids, particularly parviflorone D, with the help of nanotechnology. Conclusions: The widespread ethnobotanical and traditional uses of P. ecklonii can be scientifically justified by a range of biological activities, demonstrated by isolated secondary metabolites. These bioactivities showcase the potential of this species in the development of economically important active pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly in anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ribeirinha Antão
- CBIOS -Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabrielle Bangay
- CBIOS -Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Alcalá de Henares, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology Area (Pharmacognosy Laboratory), New Antitumor Compounds: Toxic Action on Leukemia Cells Research Group, Campus University, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Eva María Domínguez-Martín
- CBIOS -Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Alcalá de Henares, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology Area (Pharmacognosy Laboratory), New Antitumor Compounds: Toxic Action on Leukemia Cells Research Group, Campus University, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Ana María Díaz-Lanza
- University of Alcalá de Henares, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology Area (Pharmacognosy Laboratory), New Antitumor Compounds: Toxic Action on Leukemia Cells Research Group, Campus University, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Patrícia Ríjo
- CBIOS -Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Huang WY, Lai CH, Peng SL, Hsu CY, Hsu PH, Chu PY, Feng CL, Lin YH. Targeting Tumor Cells with Nanoparticles for Enhanced Co-Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1327. [PMID: 34575403 PMCID: PMC8465501 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a fatal malignant tumor, and effective therapies to attenuate its progression are lacking. Nanoparticle (NP)-based solutions may enable the design of novel treatments to eliminate GC. Refined, receptor-targetable NPs can selectively target cancer cells and improve the cellular uptake of drugs. To overcome the current limitations and enhance the therapeutic effects, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and low-concentration doxorubicin (DX) were encapsulated in fucoidan and d-alpha-tocopherylpoly (ethylene glycol) succinate-conjugated hyaluronic acid-based NPs for targeting P-selectin-and cluster of differentiation (CD)44-expressing gastric tumors. The EGCG/DX-loaded NPs bound to GC cells and released bioactive combination drugs, demonstrating better anti-cancer effects than the EGCG/DX combination solution. In vivo assays in an orthotopic gastric tumor mouse model showed that the EGCG/DX-loaded NPs significantly increased the activity of gastric tumors without inducing organ injury. Overall, our EGCG/DX-NP system exerted a beneficial effect on GC treatment and may facilitate the development of nanomedicine-based combination chemotherapy against GC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ying Huang
- Department of Applied Cosmetology, Hung-Kuang University, Taichung 433304, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Ho Lai
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333323, Taiwan;
| | - Shin-Lei Peng
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan;
| | - Che-Yu Hsu
- Department of Pharmacy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (P.-Y.C.)
| | - Po-Hung Hsu
- Center for Advanced Molecular Imaging and Translation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
| | - Pei-Yi Chu
- Department of Pharmacy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (P.-Y.C.)
| | - Chun-Lung Feng
- Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Hsin Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan; (C.-Y.H.); (P.-Y.C.)
- Center for Advanced Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Research, Department and Institute of Pharmacology, Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
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12
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A Newfangled Collagenase Inhibitor Topical Formulation Based on Ethosomes with Sambucus nigra L. Extract. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050467. [PMID: 34063413 PMCID: PMC8155848 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sambucus nigra L. (S. nigra) is a shrub widespread in Europe and western Asia, traditionally used in medicine, that has become popular in recent years as a potential source of a wide range of interesting bioactive compounds. The aim of the present work was to develop a topical S. nigra extract formulation based on ethosomes and thus to support its health claims with scientific evidence. S. nigra extract was prepared by an ultrasound-assisted method and then included in ethosomes. The ethosomes were analyzed in terms of their size, stability over time, morphology, entrapment capacity (EC), extract release profile, stability over time and several biological activities. The prepared ethosomes were indicated to be well defined, presenting sizes around 600 nm. The extract entrapment capacity in ethosomes was 73.9 ± 24.8%, with an interesting slow extract release profile over 24 h. The extract-loaded ethosomes presented collagenase inhibition activity and a very good skin compatibility after human application. This study demonstrates the potential use of S. nigra extract incorporated in ethosomes as a potential cosmeceutical ingredient and on further studies should be performed to better understand the impact of S. nigra compounds on skin care over the time.
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13
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Pinho JO, da Silva IV, Amaral JD, Rodrigues CMP, Casini A, Soveral G, Gaspar MM. Therapeutic potential of a copper complex loaded in pH-sensitive long circulating liposomes for colon cancer management. Int J Pharm 2021; 599:120463. [PMID: 33711474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma is a complex malignancy and current therapies are hampered by systemic toxicity and tumor resistance to treatment. In the field of cancer therapy, copper (Cu) compounds hold great promise, with some reaching clinical trials. However, the anticancer potential of Cu complexes has not yet been fully disclosed due to speciation in biological systems, leading to inactivation and/or potential side effects. This is the case of the widely studied Cu(II) complexes featuring phenanthroline ligands, with potent antiproliferative effects in vitro, but often failing in vivo. Aiming to overcome these limitations and maximize its anticancer effects in vivo, the Cu(II) complex (Cu(1,10-phenanthroline)Cl2) (Cuphen), displaying IC50 values <6 μM against different tumor cell lines, was loaded in long circulating liposomes with pH-sensitive properties (F1, DMPC:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG; F2, DOPE:CHEMS:DMPC:DSPE-PEG). This enabled a pH-dependent Cuphen release, with F1 and F2 releasing 36/78% and 47/94% of Cuphen at pH 6/4.5, respectively. The so formed nanoformulations preserved Cuphen effects towards cancer cell lines, with F2 presenting IC50 of 2.7 μM and 4.9 μM towards colon cancer CT-26 and HCT-116 cells, respectively. Additional in vitro studies confirmed that Cuphen antiproliferative activity towards colon cancer cells does not rely on cell cycle effect. Furthermore, in these cells, Cuphen reduced glycerol permeation and impaired cell migration. At 24 h incubation, wound closure was reduced by Cuphen, with migration values of 29% vs 54% (control) and 45% (1,10-phenanthroline) in CT-26 cells, and 33% vs ~44% (control and 1,10-phenanthroline) in HCT-116 cells. These effects were probably due to inhibition of aquaglyceroporins, membrane water and glycerol channels that are often abnormally expressed in tumors. In a syngeneic murine colon cancer model, F2 significantly reduced tumor progression, compared to the control group and to mice treated with free Cuphen or with the ligand, 1,10-phenanthroline, without eliciting toxic side effects. F2 led to a tumor volume reduction of ca. 50%. This was confirmed by RTV analysis, where F2 reached a value of 1.3 vs 4.4 (Control), 5.8 (Phen) and 3.8 (free Cuphen). These results clearly demonstrated the important role of the Cu(II) for the observed biological activity that was maximized following the association to a lipid-based nanosystem. Overall, this study represents a step forward in the development of pH-sensitive nanotherapeutic strategies of metallodrugs for colon cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês V da Silva
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana D Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Angela Casini
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Graça Soveral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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14
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Ferreira M, Pinto SN, Aires-da-Silva F, Bettencourt A, Aguiar SI, Gaspar MM. Liposomes as a Nanoplatform to Improve the Delivery of Antibiotics into Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13030321. [PMID: 33801281 PMCID: PMC7999762 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13030321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated infections are a major public health concern. Current therapies are hampered by reduced penetration of antibiotics through biofilm and low accumulation levels at infected sites, requiring prolonged usage. To overcome these, repurposing antibiotics in combination with nanotechnological platforms is one of the most appealing fast-track and cost-effective approaches. In the present work, we assessed the potential therapeutic benefit of three antibiotics, vancomycin, levofloxacin and rifabutin (RFB), through their incorporation in liposomes. Free RFB displayed the utmost antibacterial effect with MIC and MBIC50 below 0.006 µg/mL towards a methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). RFB was selected for further in vitro studies and the influence of different lipid compositions on bacterial biofilm interactions was evaluated. Although positively charged RFB liposomes displayed the highest interaction with MSSA biofilms, RFB incorporated in negatively charged liposomes displayed lower MBIC50 values in comparison to the antibiotic in the free form. Preliminary safety assessment on all RFB formulations towards osteoblast and fibroblast cell lines demonstrated that a reduction on cell viability was only observed for the positively charged liposomes. Overall, negatively charged RFB liposomes are a promising approach against biofilm S. aureus infections and further in vivo studies should be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Ferreira
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.F.); (F.A.-d.-S.)
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Sandra N. Pinto
- Department of Bioengineering, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Frederico Aires-da-Silva
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.F.); (F.A.-d.-S.)
| | - Ana Bettencourt
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Sandra I. Aguiar
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.F.); (F.A.-d.-S.)
- Correspondence: (S.I.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (S.I.A.); (M.M.G.)
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15
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Mota AH, Duarte N, Serra AT, Ferreira A, Bronze MR, Custódio L, Gaspar MM, Simões S, Rijo P, Ascensão L, Faísca P, Viana AS, Pinto R, Kumar P, Almeida AJ, Reis CP. Further Evidence of Possible Therapeutic Uses of Sambucus nigra L. Extracts by the Assessment of the In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Its PLGA and PCL-Based Nanoformulations. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E1181. [PMID: 33291738 PMCID: PMC7761993 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12121181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sambucus nigra L. is widely used in traditional medicine with different applications. However, confirmative studies are strongly required. This study aimed to assess the biological activities of the S. nigra flower's extract encapsulated into two different types of nanoparticles for optimizing its properties and producing further evidence of its potential therapeutic uses. Different nanoparticles (poly(lactide-co-glycolide, PLGA) and poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), both with oleic acid, were prepared by emulsification/solvent diffusion and solvent-displacement methods, respectively. Oleic acid was used as a capping agent. After the nanoparticles' preparation, they were characterized and the biological activities were studied in terms of collagenase, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, and in vitro cell viability. Rutin and naringenin were found to be the major phenolic compounds in the studied extract. The encapsulation efficiency was higher than 76% and revealed to have an impact on the release of the extract, mainly for the PLGA. Moreover, biochemical and histopathological analyses confirmed that the extract-loaded PLGA-based nanoparticles displayed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. In addition to supporting the previously reported evidence of potential therapeutic uses of S. nigra, these results could draw the pharmaceutical industry's interest to the novelty of the nanoproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Henriques Mota
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Noélia Duarte
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Ana Teresa Serra
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - António Ferreira
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Maria Rosário Bronze
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Luísa Custódio
- Centre of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Sandra Simões
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária—Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias/DNAtech Laboratório Veterinário, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Ana Silveira Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Rui Pinto
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- Joaquim Chaves Saude. Dr. Joaquim Chaves, Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, 1495-068 Miraflores-Algés, Portugal
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa;
| | - António José Almeida
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- IBEB, Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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16
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Gromisch C, Qadan M, Machado MA, Liu K, Colson Y, Grinstaff MW. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Unconventional Approaches for an Unconventional Disease. Cancer Res 2020; 80:3179-3192. [PMID: 32220831 PMCID: PMC7755309 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-2731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights current treatments, limitations, and pitfalls in the management of pancreatic cancer and discusses current research in novel targets and drug development to overcome these clinical challenges. We begin with a review of the clinical landscape of pancreatic cancer, including genetic and environmental risk factors, as well as limitations in disease diagnosis and prevention. We next discuss current treatment paradigms for pancreatic cancer and the shortcomings of targeted therapy in this disease. Targeting major driver mutations in pancreatic cancer, such as dysregulation in the KRAS and TGFβ signaling pathways, have failed to improve survival outcomes compared with nontargeted chemotherapy; thus, we describe new advances in therapy such as Ras-binding pocket inhibitors. We then review next-generation approaches in nanomedicine and drug delivery, focusing on preclinical advancements in novel optical probes, antibodies, small-molecule agents, and nucleic acids to improve surgical outcomes in resectable disease, augment current therapies, expand druggable targets, and minimize morbidity. We conclude by summarizing progress in current research, identifying areas for future exploration in drug development and nanotechnology, and discussing future prospects for management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Gromisch
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Motaz Qadan
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mariana Albuquerque Machado
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Yolonda Colson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark W Grinstaff
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
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17
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Mahmoud Hamdy AEA, Mohamed Salah K. Antiviral and Antinematodal potentials of chitosan: Review. JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE AND PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2020; 4:055-059. [DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
For many years, chemical pesticides have been performed to control different pests and diseases and this may be due to their broad spectrum of action, easy of application and the relatively low cost. But these chemicals have environmental risks, thus alternative control agents are needed. Chitosan is one of the novel suggested solutions to reduce the economic losses associated with chemical pesticides. Chitosan is naturally-occurring compound, as well as safe and biodegradable which obtained from certain natural sources. Chitosan have unique properties which help to control viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, plant nematodes and other pests locally and systemically.
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Diterpenoids from Plectranthus spp. as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents via Apoptosis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13060123. [PMID: 32560101 PMCID: PMC7344685 DOI: 10.3390/ph13060123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Plectranthus spp. is widely known for its medicinal properties and bioactive metabolites. The cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of the four known abietane diterpenoids: 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (Roy), 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (Deroy), 7β,6β-dihydroxyroyleanone6 (Diroy), and Parvifloron D (Parv), isolated from P. madagascariensis (Roy, DeRoy, and Diroy) and P. ecklonii (Parv) were evaluated. The tested compounds showed cytotoxic effects against the human leukemia cell line CCRF-CEM and the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. All tested compounds induced apoptosis by altering the level of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. The results show that from the tested diterpenoids, Roy and Parv demonstrated the strongest activity in both human cancer cell lines, changing the permeability mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and possibly inducing mtDNA or nDNA damage. In conclusion, the abietane diterpenoids tested may be used in the future as potential natural chemotherapeutic agents
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19
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Insight the Biological Activities of Selected Abietane Diterpenes Isolated from Plectranthus spp. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10020194. [PMID: 32012853 PMCID: PMC7072155 DOI: 10.3390/biom10020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds isolated from plants are excellent starting points in drug design and have been widely studied as anticancer agents; they hence find use in a considerable proportion of anticancer drugs. The genus Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) comprises a large and widespread group of species with various applications in traditional medicine. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of treatment with four abietane diterpenoids isolated from P. madagascariensis and P. ecklonii, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, 7β,6β-dihydroxyroyleanone, 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone and parvifloron D, in initiating apoptosis in a glioma cell line. The pure compounds were found to exhibit anticancer effects in primary H7PX glioma cells line by inducing apoptosis G2/M cell cycle arrest and double-strand breaks, indicated by increased levels of phosphorylated H2A.X and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential; they also influenced the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes (Bax, Bcl-2, TP53, or Cas-3). Our findings indicate that these compounds may offer potential as beneficial antitumor drugs but further in vivo studies are needed.
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20
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Saraiva N, Costa JG, Reis C, Almeida N, Rijo P, Fernandes AS. Anti-Migratory and Pro-Apoptotic Properties of Parvifloron D on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10010158. [PMID: 31963771 PMCID: PMC7023143 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants are important sources of new bioactive compounds with potential anticancer activity. Parvifloron D (ParvD) is an abietane diterpenoid, isolated in high amounts from Plectranthus ecklonii Benth. Previous reports have suggested potential therapeutic properties for ParvD. ParvD has shown pro-apoptotic and cytotoxic effects in leukemia and melanoma cell lines. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models. TNBC is a breast cancer subtype characterized by an aggressive behavior with poor clinical outcomes and weak overall therapeutic responses to the current treatment options. This work aimed at evaluating the anticancer effect of ParvD in MDA-MB-231 cells, a model of human TNBC. To obtain sufficient amounts of purified ParvD the efficiency of several extraction methods was compared. ParvD (0.1–10 µM) decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with ParvD (5 µM) significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic nuclei and exposure to 3 µM ParvD increased the sub-G1 population. Since altered cell adherence, migration, and invasion are determinant processes for the formation of metastases, the effect of ParvD on these cellular processes was tested. Although treatment with ParvD (1 µM) had no effect on cell-substrate attachment, ParvD (1 µM) significantly reduced cell chemotaxis and invasion. This is the first report describing the proapoptotic effect of ParvD in TNBC cells. Moreover, for the first time we have shown that ParvD reduces cell motility, unraveling potential anti-metastatic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Saraiva
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
| | - João G. Costa
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Reis
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Almeida
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Fernandes
- CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.S.); (J.G.C.); (C.R.); (N.A.); (P.R.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Santos-Rebelo A, Kumar P, Pillay V, Choonara YE, Eleutério C, Figueira M, Viana AS, Ascensão L, Molpeceres J, Rijo P, Correia I, Amaral J, Solá S, Rodrigues CMP, Gaspar MM, Reis CP. Development and Mechanistic Insight into the Enhanced Cytotoxic Potential of Parvifloron D Albumin Nanoparticles in EGFR-Overexpressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111733. [PMID: 31694306 PMCID: PMC6895893 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, with an extremely poor prognosis. The development of more effective therapies is thus imperative. Natural origin compounds isolated from Plectranthus genus, such as parvifloron D (PvD), have cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity against human tumour cells. However, PvD is a very low water-soluble compound, being nanotechnology a promising alternative strategy to solve this problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize a nanosystem for preferential delivery of PvD to pancreatic tumour cells. Albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) were produced through a desolvation method. Glucose cross-linking and bioactive functionalization profiles of BSA platform were elucidated and analysed using static lattice atomistic simulations in vacuum. Using the optimized methodology, PvD was encapsulated (yield higher than 80%) while NPs were characterized in terms of size (100–400 nm) and morphology. Importantly, to achieve a preferential targeting to pancreatic cancer cells, erlotinib and cetuximab were attached to the PvD-loaded nanoparticle surface, and their antiproliferative effects were evaluated in BxPC3 and Panc-1 cell lines. Erlotinib conjugated NPs presented the highest antiproliferative effect toward pancreatic tumour cells. Accordingly, cell cycle analysis of the BxPC3 cell line showed marked accumulation of tumour cells in G1-phase and cell cycle arrest promoted by NPs. As a result, erlotinib conjugated PvD-loaded BSA NPs must be considered a suitable and promising carrier to deliver PvD at the tumour site, improving the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Santos-Rebelo
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.-R.); (P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra. A2 km 33,600 Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Viness Pillay
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Yahya E. Choonara
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Carla Eleutério
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
| | - Mariana Figueira
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
| | - Ana S. Viana
- CQB, CQE, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Jesús Molpeceres
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra. A2 km 33,600 Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.-R.); (P.R.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade de Lisboa,1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Joana Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Susana Solá
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
- IBEB, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-217-946-400; Fax: +351-217-946-470
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Marianecci C, Carafa M. Smart Nanovesicles for Drug Targeting and Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11040147. [PMID: 30934841 PMCID: PMC6523643 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11040147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Marianecci
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Carafa
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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