Encapsulation of Nedaplatin in Novel PEGylated Liposomes Increases Its Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity against A549 and U2OS Human Cancer Cells

Computational assessment of the use of graphene-based nanosheets as PtII chemotherapeutics delivery systems

Graphene is the newest form of elemental carbon and it is becoming rapidly a potential candidate in the framework of nano-bio research. Many reports confirm the successful use of graphene-based materials as carriers of anticancer drugs having relatively high loading capacities compared with other nanocarriers. Here, the outcomes of a systematic study of the adsorption behavior of FDA approved PtII drugs cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin on surface models of pristine, holey, and nitrogen-doped holey graphene are reported. DFT investigations in water solvent have been carried out considering several initial orientations of the drugs with respect to the surfaces. Adsorption free energies, calculated including basis set superposition error (BSSE) corrections, result to be significantly negative for many of the drug@carrier adducts indicating that tested layers could be used as potential carriers for the delivery of anticancer PtII drugs. The reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis allows to show that many kinds of non-covalent interactions, including canonical H-bond, are responsible for the stabilization of the formed adducts.

State of the art in pediatric nanomedicines

In recent years, the continuous development of innovative nanopharmaceuticals is expanding their biomedical and clinical applications. Nanomedicines are being revolutionized to circumvent the limitations of unbound therapeutic agents as well as overcome barriers posed by biological interfaces at the cellular, organ, system, and microenvironment levels. In many ways, the use of nanoconfigured delivery systems has eased challenges associated with patient differences, and in our opinion, this forms the foundation for their potential usefulness in developing innovative medicines and diagnostics for special patient populations. Here, we present a comprehensive review of nanomedicines specifically designed and evaluated for disease management in the pediatric population. Typically, the pediatric population has distinguishing needs relative to those of adults majorly because of their constantly growing bodies and age-related physiological changes, which often need specialized drug formulation interventions to provide desirable therapeutic effects and outcomes. Besides, child-centric drug carriers have unique delivery routes, dosing flexibility, organoleptic properties (e.g., taste, flavor), and caregiver requirements that are often not met by traditional formulations and can impact adherence to therapy. Engineering pediatric medicines as nanoconfigured structures can potentially resolve these limitations stemming from traditional drug carriers because of their unique capabilities. Consequently, researchers from different specialties relentlessly and creatively investigate the usefulness of nanomedicines for pediatric disease management as extensively captured in this compilation. Some examples of nanomedicines covered include nanoparticles, liposomes, and nanomicelles for cancer; solid lipid and lipid-based nanostructured carriers for hypertension; self-nanoemulsifying lipid-based systems and niosomes for infections; and nanocapsules for asthma pharmacotherapy.

Platinum-based chemotherapy: trends in organic nanodelivery systems

Despite the investment in platinum drugs research, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are still the only Pt-based compounds used as first line treatments for several cancers, with a few other compounds being approved for administration in some Asian countries. However, due to the severe and worldwide impact of oncological diseases, there is an urge for improved chemotherapeutic approaches. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical application of platinum complexes is hindered by their inherent toxicity and acquired resistance. Nanodelivery systems rose as a key strategy to overcome these challenges, with recognized versatility and ability towards improving the safety, bioavailability and efficacy of the available drugs. Among the known nanocarriers, organic systems have been widely applied, taking advantage of their potential as drug vehicles. Researchers have mainly focused on the development of lipidic and polymeric carriers, including supramolecular structures, with an overall improvement of encapsulated platinum complexes. Herein, an overview of recent trends and strategies is presented, with the main focus on the encapsulation of platinum compounds into organic nanocarriers, showcasing the evolution in the design and development of these promising systems. This comprehensive review highlights formulation methods as well as characterization procedures, providing insights that may be helpful for the development of novel platinum nanocarriers aiming at future pharmaceutical applications.

A Novel Epigenetic Strategy to Concurrently Block Immune Checkpoints PD-1/PD-L1 and CD155/TIGIT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Tumor microenvironment is an intricate web of stromal and immune cells creating an immune suppressive cordon around the tumor. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Tumor microenvironment is a formidable barrier towards novel immune therapeutic approaches recently evading the oncology field. In this study, the main aim was to identify the intricate immune evasion tactics mediated by HCC cells and to study the epigenetic modulation of the immune checkpoints; Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/ Programmed death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT)/Cluster of Differentiation 155 (CD155) at the tumor-immune synapse. Thus, liver tissues, PBMCs and sera were collected from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), HCC as well as healthy individuals. Screening was performed to PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT axes in HCC patients. PDL1, CD155, PD-1 and TIGIT were found to be significantly upregulated in liver tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCC patients. An array of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs validated to regulate such immune checkpoints were screened. The lncRNAs; CCAT-1, H19, and MALAT-1 were all significantly upregulated in the sera, PBMCs, and tissues of HCC patients as compared to HCV patients and healthy controls. However, miR-944-5p, miR-105-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-506-5p, and miR-30a-5p were downregulated in the sera and liver tissues of HCC patients. On the tumor cell side, knocking down of lncRNAs-CCAT-1, MALAT-1, or H19-markedly repressed the co-expression of PD-L1 and CD155 and accordingly induced the cytotoxicity of co-cultured primary immune cells. On the immune side, ectopic expression of the under-expressed microRNAs; miR-486-5p, miR-506-5p, and miR-30a-5p significantly decreased the transcript levels of PD-1 in PBMCs with no effect on TIGIT. On the other hand, ectopic expression of miR-944-5p and miR-105-5p in PBMCs dramatically reduced the co-expression of PD-1 and TIGIT. Finally, all studied miRNAs enhanced the cytotoxic effects of PBMCs against Huh7 cells. However, miR-105-5p showed the highest augmentation for PBMCs cytotoxicity against HCC cells. In conclusion, this study highlights a novel co-targeting strategy using miR-105-5p mimics, MALAT-1, CCAT-1 and H19 siRNAs to efficiently hampers the immune checkpoints; PD-L1/PD-1 and CD155/TIGIT immune evasion properties in HCC.

Emerging tendencies for the nano-delivery of gambogic acid: a promising approach in oncotherapy

Despite the advancements in cancer therapies during the past few years, chemo/photo resistance, severe toxic effects, recurrence of metastatic tumors, and non-selective targeting remain incomprehensible. Thus, much effort has been spent exploring natural anticancer compounds endowed with biosafety and high effectiveness in cancer prevention and therapy. Gambogic acid (GA) is a promising natural compound in cancer therapy. It is the major xanthone component of the dry resin extracted from the Garcinia hanburyi Hook. f. tree. GA has significant antiproliferative effects on different types of cancer, and it exerts its anticancer activities through various pathways. Nonetheless, the clinical translation of GA has been hampered, partly due to its water insolubility, low bioavailability, poor pharmacokinetics, rapid plasma clearance, early degradation in blood circulation, and detrimental vascular irritation. Lately, procedures have been invented demonstrating the ability of nanoparticles to overcome the challenges associated with the clinical use of natural compounds both in vitro and in vivo. This review sheds light on the recent emerging trends for the nanodelivery of GA to cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, no similar recent review described the different nanoformulations designed to improve the anticancer therapeutic activity and targeting ability of GA.

Repurposing proteasome inhibitors for improved treatment of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options due to the lack of important receptors (estrogen receptor [ER], progesterone receptor [PR], and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]) used for targeted therapy. However, high-throughput in vitro drug screening of cell lines is a powerful tool for identifying effective drugs for a disease. Here, we determine the intrinsic chemosensitivity of TNBC cell lines to proteasome inhibitors (PIs), thereby identifying potentially potent 2-drug combinations for TNBC. Eight TNBC cell lines (BT-549, CAL-148, HCC1806, HCC38, HCC70, MDA-MB-436, MDA-MB-453, and MDA-MB-468) and two controls (MCF-10A and MCF-7) were first exposed to 18 drugs (11 PIs and 7 clinically relevant chemotherapeutic agents) as monotherapy, followed by prediction of potent 2-drug combinations using the IDACombo pipeline. The synergistic effects of the 2-drug combinations were evaluated with SynergyFinder in four TNBC cell lines (CAL-148, HCC1806, HCC38, and MDA-MB-468) and three controls (BT-474, MCF-7, and T47D) in vitro, followed by further evaluation of tumor regression in zebrafish tumor models established using HCC1806 and MCF-7 cells. Monotherapy identified nine effective drugs (bortezomib, carfilzomib, cisplatin, delanzomib, docetaxel, epoxomicin, MLN-2238, MLN-9708, and nedaplatin) across all cell lines. PIs (e.g., bortezomib, delanzomib, and epoxomicin) were highly potent drugs in TNBC cells, of which bortezomib and delanzomib inhibited the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20 S proteasome by 100% at 10 µM. Moreover, several potent 2-drug combinations (e.g., bortezomib+nedaplatin and epoxomicin+epirubicin) that killed virtually 100% of cells were also identified. Although HCC1806- and MCF-7-derived xenografts treated with bortezomib+nedaplatin and carboplatin+paclitaxel were smaller, HCC1806 cells frequently metastasized to the trunk region. Taken together, we show that PIs used in combination with platinum agents or topoisomerase inhibitors exhibit increased efficiency with almost 100% inhibition in TNBC cell lines, indicating that PIs are therefore promising compounds to use as combination therapy for TNBC.

Platinum-based drugs and hydrogel: a promising anti-tumor combination

Platinum-based drugs are widely used as first-line anti-tumor chemotherapy agents. However, they also have nonnegligible side effects due to the free drugs in circulation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop efficient and safe delivery systems for better tumor cell targeting. Hydrogel is a promising anti-tumor drug carrier that can form a platinum/hydrogel combination system for drug release, which has shown better anti-tumor effects in some studies. However, there is a lack of systematic summary in this field. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the platinum/hydrogel combination system with the following sections: firstly, an introduction of platinum-based drugs; secondly, an analysis of the platinum/hydrogel combination system; and thirdly, a discussion of the advantages of the hydrogel-based delivery system. We hope this review can offer some insights for the development of the platinum/hydrogel combination system for better cancer therapy.

A Snapshot of Photoresponsive Liposomes in Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy: Opportunities and Challenges

To provide precise medical regimens, photonics technologies have been involved in the field of nanomedicine. Phototriggered liposomes have been cast as promising nanosystems that achieve controlled release of payloads in several pathological conditions such as cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. In contrast to the conventional liposomes, this photoresponsive element greatly improves therapeutic efficacy and reduces the adverse effects of gene/drug therapy during treatment. Recently, cancer immunotherpay has been one of the hot topics in the field of oncology due to the great success and therapeutic benefits that were well-recognized by the patients. However, several side effects have been encountered due to the unmonitored augmentation of the immune system. This Review highlights the most recent advancements in the development of photoresponsive liposome nanosystems in the field of oncology, with a specific emphasis on challenges and opportunities in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

PEGylated Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded with Betaine and Nedaplatin Hamper Breast Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The current study investigates the anticancer effects of PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) coloaded with betaine (BT) and nedaplatin (ND) on breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells and breast cancer-bearing rats. Hereof, the ionotropic gelation approach was implemented for the synthesis of PEG-uncoated and PEG-coated CS NPs encompassing either BT, ND, or both (BT-ND). The sizes of the developed BT/CS NPs, ND/CS NPs, and BT-ND/CS NPs were 176.84 ± 7.45, 204.1 ± 13.6, and 201.1 ± 23.35 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, the sizes of the synthesized BT/PEG-CS NPs, ND/PEG-CS NPs, and BT-ND/PEG-CS NPs were 165.1 ± 32.40, 148.2 ± 20.98, and 143.7 ± 7.72 nm, respectively. The surface charges of the fabricated nanoparticles were considerably high. All of the synthesized nanoparticles displayed a spherical form and significant entrapment efficiency. Release experiments demonstrated that the PEGylated and non-PEGylated CS NPs could discharge their contents into the tumor cells' microenvironments (pH 5.5). In addition, the NPs demonstrated an outstanding ability to reduce the viability of the MCF-7 cell line. In addition, BT-ND/PEG-CS NPs were found to be the strongest among all NP preparations, where they caused around 90% decrease in the size of mammary gland tumors in rats compared to vehicle-treated animals.

Box-Behnken design of thermo-responsive nano-liposomes loaded with a platinum(iv) anticancer complex: evaluation of cytotoxicity and apoptotic pathways in triple negative breast cancer cells

Herein, thermo-responsive liposomes (TLs) loaded with Asp (Asp/TLs) were produced by self-assembling DPPC, DSPE-PEG2000, and cholesterol. The preparation variables were optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimized Asp/TLs exhibited an average particle size of 114.05 ± 1.56 nm, PDI of 0.15 ± 0.015, zeta potential of -15.24 ± 0.65 mV, and entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 84.08 ± 2.75%. In addition, under physiological conditions, Asp/TLs showed spherical shape, outstanding stability and thermo-triggered the release of Asp at 38 °C, reaching the maximum Asp release at 40 °C. The MTT assay showed that the optimal Asp/TLs exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity upon exposure to mild hyperthermia (40 °C) against the invasive triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) when compared to other preparations. The IC50 of Asp/TLs (40 °C) was estimated at 0.9 μg mL-1, while that of free Asp (40 °C) was 3.83 μg mL-1. As such, the optimal Asp/TLs were shown to increase the cytotoxic activity of Asp by 4-fold upon exposure to mild hyperthermia. The IC50 values of Asp and Asp/TLs without exposure to 40 °C were 6.6 μg mL-1 and 186 μg mL-1, respectively. This indicated that Asp was released only when placed at 40 °C. The apoptosis assay revealed that Asp/TLs (40 °C) caused a remarkable increase in the percentage of cell population among both the late apoptosis and necrosis quartiles, as well as a significant decline in the viable cell quartile (P ≤ 0.001) when compared to Asp (40 °C). Asp/TLs (40 °C) and Asp (40 °C) could stimulate the intrinsic apoptosis pathway by upregulating the apoptotic genes Bak and Bax, while downregulating the anti-apoptotic genes, BCL-xL and BCL-2. The free Asp (40 °C) increased the gene expression of Bak and Bax by 4.4- and 5.2-folds, while reducing the expression of BCL-xL and BCL-2 by 50% and 73%, respectively. The optimal Asp TLs (40 °C) manifested more potent effects as demonstrated by the upregulation of Bak, Bax, and P53 by 5.6-, 7.2-, and 1.3-folds, as well as the downregulation of BCL-xL and BCL-2 by 70% and 85%, respectively. As such, the optimal Asp TLs (40 °C) treatment displayed the most potent cytotoxic profile and induced both apoptosis and necrosis in MDA-MB-231.

Preparation of PEGylated nedaplatin liposomes with sustained release behavior for enhancing the antitumor efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer

Nedaplatin (NDP) plays an important role in the chemotherapies of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, dose-limiting toxicities such as myelosuppression and drug resistance restrict its clinical application. Herein, we intended to overcome these defects by developing a PEGylated liposomal formulation encapsulated NDP (NDP-LPs). For the first time, we found the incompatibility between NDP and natural phospholipids such as egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The orthogonal experimental design was applied to optimize the conditions for preparing NDP-LPs, with encapsulation efficiency (EE) as the evaluation indicator. The physicochemical properties of optimized NDP-LPs were further characterized, including particle size, zeta potential, EE, drug release profiles, and so on. Results showed that a significantly sustained-release profile of NDP-LPs was observed and the releasing time of NDP could reach as long as 8 days. At the cellular level, NDP encapsulated in the PEGylated liposomes enhanced its cellular uptake and possessed potent cytotoxic activity. After intravenous injection, NDP-LPs could accumulate at tumor sites and effectivelyinhibit tumor growth of mice without obvious adverse effects. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PEGylated liposomes could serve as a promising carrier to enhance the therapeutic effects of NDP.

Oral Delivery of Psoralidin by Mucoadhesive Surface-Modified Bilosomes Showed Boosted Apoptotic and Necrotic Effects against Breast and Lung Cancer Cells

This study aims to design and optimize chitosan-coated bilosomal formulations loaded with psoralidin (Ps-CS/BLs) with improved physicochemical properties, oral bioavailability, and boosted apoptotic and necrotic effects. In this regard, uncoated bilosomes loaded with Ps (Ps/BLs) were nanoformulated using the thin-film hydration technique using different molar ratios of phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol (Ch), Span 60 (S60), and sodium deoxycholate (SDC) (1:0.4:0.2:0.125, 1:0.4:0.2:0.25, and 1:0.4:0.2:0.5, respectively). The best-optimized formulation with respect to size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE% was selected and then coated with chitosan at two different concentrations (0.125 and 0.25 w/v%), forming Ps-CS/BLs. The optimized Ps/BLs and Ps-CS/BLs showed a spherical shape and relatively homogenous size with negligible apparent agglomerations. Additionally, it was demonstrated that coating Ps/BLs with chitosan has significantly increased the particle size from 123.16 ± 6.90 in the case of Ps/BLs to 183.90 ± 15.93 nm in the case of Ps-CS/BLs. In addition, Ps-CS/BLs exhibited higher zeta potential (+30.78 ± 1.44 mV) as compared to Ps/BLs (−18.59 ± 2.13 mV). Furthermore, Ps-CS/BL showed enhanced entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 92.15 ± 7.20% as compared to Ps/BLs (68.90 ± 5.95%). Moreover, Ps-CS/BLs exhibited a more sustained release behavior of Ps compared to Ps/BLs over 48 h, and both formulations were best obeying the Higuchi diffusion model. More importantly, Ps-CS/BLs displayed the highest mucoadhesive efficiency% (74.89 ± 3.5%) as compared to Ps/BLs (26.78 ± 2.9%), indicating the ability of the designed nanoformulation to improve oral bioavailability and extend the residence time inside the gastrointestinal tract upon oral administration. Moreover, upon evaluating the apoptotic and necrotic effects of free Ps and Ps-CS/BLs on human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549), there was a dramatic increase in the percentages of the apoptotic and necrotic cell compared to the control and free Ps. Our findings suggest the possible oral use of Ps-CS/BLs in hampering breast and lung cancers.

Formulation Development of Doxycycline-Loaded Lipid Nanocarriers using Microfluidics by QbD Approach

Liposomes have been used to improve therapeutic efficacy of drugs by increasing their bioavailability and altering biodistribution. The loading capacity of small molecules in liposomes remains a critical issue. Besides, the manufacturing process of liposomes requires multi-step procedures which hinders the clinical development. In this study, we developed a promising lipid-based nanocarriers (LN) delivery system for hydrophilic charged compounds using doxycycline (Doxy) as a model drug. This Doxy-loaded lipid nanocarrier (LN-Doxy) was fabricated by microfluidic technology. Design of experiments (DoE) was constructed to outline the interactions among the critical attributes of formulation, the parameters of microfluidic systems and excipient compositions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was furthered used for the optimization of LN-Doxy formulation. The LN-Doxy developed in this study showed high drug to lipid ratio and uniform distribution of particle size. Compared to Doxy solution, this LN-Doxy has reduced in vitro cellular toxicity and significant therapeutic efficacy which was verified in a peritonitis animal model. These results show the feasibility of using microfluidic technology combined with QbD approach to develop the LN formulation with high loading efficiency for ionizable hydrophilic drugs.

(Nano)platforms in bladder cancer therapy: Challenges and opportunities

Urological cancers are among the most common malignancies around the world. In particular, bladder cancer severely threatens human health due to its aggressive and heterogeneous nature. Various therapeutic modalities have been considered for the treatment of bladder cancer although its prognosis remains unfavorable. It is perceived that treatment of bladder cancer depends on an interdisciplinary approach combining biology and engineering. The nanotechnological approaches have been introduced in the treatment of various cancers, especially bladder cancer. The current review aims to emphasize and highlight possible applications of nanomedicine in eradication of bladder tumor. Nanoparticles can improve efficacy of drugs in bladder cancer therapy through elevating their bioavailability. The potential of genetic tools such as siRNA and miRNA in gene expression regulation can be boosted using nanostructures by facilitating their internalization and accumulation at tumor sites and cells. Nanoparticles can provide photodynamic and photothermal therapy for ROS overgeneration and hyperthermia, respectively, in the suppression of bladder cancer. Furthermore, remodeling of tumor microenvironment and infiltration of immune cells for the purpose of immunotherapy are achieved through cargo-loaded nanocarriers. Nanocarriers are mainly internalized in bladder tumor cells by endocytosis, and proper design of smart nanoparticles such as pH-, redox-, and light-responsive nanocarriers is of importance for targeted tumor therapy. Bladder cancer biomarkers can be detected using nanoparticles for timely diagnosis of patients. Based on their accumulation at the tumor site, they can be employed for tumor imaging. The clinical translation and challenges are also covered in current review.

Genotoxicity of nedaplatin in cultured lymphocytes: modulation by vitamin E

Nedaplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent used widely in cancer therapy. Nedaplatin has been shown to cause DNA damage to cells via the induction of oxidative stress. Vitamin E (Vit E) has an anti-mutagenic activity that can protect cells from DNA damaging agents. The objective of this study is to examine the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of nedaplatin in human cultured lymphocytes. In addition, modulation of such effects by Vit E was also examined. The frequencies of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) were used as an indicator for genotoxicity. The mitotic and proliferative indices were used to examine the cytotoxic effects of nedaplatin. The results showed that nedaplatin significantly elevated SCE and CA frequencies in human lymphocytes (p ˂ 0.01). The increases in the frequencies of SCE and CA caused by nedaplatin were lowered by pretreatment treatment with Vit E (p < 0.05). Nedaplatin significantly lowered mitotic index but Vit E pretreatment did not modulate this effect. These results suggest that Vit E has the potential to ameliorate the genotoxicity of nedaplatin in cultured lymphocytes.

Thermosensitive Liposomes Encapsulating Nedaplatin and Picoplatin Demonstrate Enhanced Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells

Thermosensitive liposomes (TSL) have been used for localized temperature-responsive release of chemotherapeutics into solid cancers, with a minimum of one invention currently in clinical trials (phase III). In this study, TSL was designed using a lipid blend comprising 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), cholesterol, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[maleimide(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG-2000) (molar ratio of 88:9:2.8:0.2). Either nedaplatin (ND) or p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene-nedaplatin was encapsulated in the aqueous inner layer of TSL to form (ND-TSL) or p-SC4-ND-TSL, respectively. The hydrophobic platinum-based drug picoplatin (P) was loaded into the external lipid bilayer of the TSL to develop P-TSL. The three nanosystems were studied in terms of size, PDI, surface charge, and on-shelf stability. Moreover, the entrapment efficiency (EE%) and release % at 37 and 40 °C were evaluated. In a 30 min in vitro release study, the maximum release of ND, p-SC4-ND, and picoplatin at 40 °C reached 74, 79, and 75%, respectively, compared to approximately 10% at 37 °C. This demonstrated temperature-triggered drug release from the TSL in all three developed systems. The designed TSL exhibited significant in vitro anticancer activity at 40 °C when tested on human mammary gland/breast adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231). The cytotoxicity of ND-TSL, p-SC4-ND-TSL, and P-TSL at 40 °C was approximately twice those observed at 37 °C. This study suggests that TSL is a promising nanoplatform for the temperature-triggered release of platinum-based drugs into cancer cells.

Molecular Engines, Therapeutic Targets, and Challenges in Pediatric Brain Tumors: A Special Emphasis on Hydrogen Sulfide and RNA-Based Nano-Delivery

Pediatric primary brain tumors represent a real challenge in the oncology arena. Besides the psychosocial burden, brain tumors are considered one of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies due to their sophisticated cellular and molecular pathophysiology. Notwithstanding the advances in research and the substantial efforts to develop a suitable therapy, a full understanding of the molecular pathways involved in primary brain tumors is still demanded. On the other hand, the physiological nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the efficiency of many available treatments, including molecular therapeutic approaches. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), as a member of the gasotransmitters family, and its synthesizing machinery have represented promising molecular targets for plentiful cancer types. However, its role in primary brain tumors, generally, and pediatric types, particularly, is barely investigated. In this review, the authors shed the light on the novel role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as a prominent player in pediatric brain tumor pathophysiology and its potential as a therapeutic avenue for brain tumors. In addition, the review also focuses on the challenges and opportunities of several molecular targeting approaches and proposes promising brain-delivery strategies for the sake of achieving better therapeutic results for brain tumor patients.

Can Cisplatin Therapy Be Improved? Pathways That Can Be Targeted

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II)) is the oldest known chemotherapeutic agent. Since the identification of its anti-tumour activity, it earned a remarkable place as a treatment of choice for several cancer types. It remains effective against testicular, bladder, lung, head and neck, ovarian, and other cancers. Cisplatin treatment triggers different cellular responses. However, it exerts its cytotoxic effects by generating inter-strand and intra-strand crosslinks in DNA. Tumour cells often develop tolerance mechanisms by effectively repairing cisplatin-induced DNA lesions or tolerate the damage by adopting translesion DNA synthesis. Cisplatin-associated nephrotoxicity is also a huge challenge for effective therapy. Several preclinical and clinical studies attempted to understand the major limitations associated with cisplatin therapy, and so far, there is no definitive solution. As such, a more comprehensive molecular and genetic profiling of patients is needed to identify those individuals that can benefit from platinum therapy. Additionally, the treatment regimen can be improved by combining cisplatin with certain molecular targeted therapies to achieve a balance between tumour toxicity and tolerance mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the importance of various biological processes that contribute to the resistance of cisplatin and its derivatives. We aim to highlight the processes that can be modulated to suppress cisplatin resistance and provide an insight into the role of uptake transporters in enhancing drug efficacy.

Enhanced Antioxidant, Antiviral, and Anticancer Activities of the Extract of Fermented Egyptian Rice Bran Complexed with Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Egyptian rice bran was fermented with baker's yeast, and released phenolics were extracted with aqueous methanol to give fermented rice bran extract (FRBE). The analysis of the FRBE with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry revealed 21 compounds, mainly phenolic acids and flavonoids. The FRBE was then complexed with (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) via noncovalent host-guest inclusion complexation using the thin-film hydration technique to improve the hydrophilicity and bioactivity of the FRBE. The formation of the inclusion complex was confirmed using HPLC, ¹H NMR, FT-IR, and a phase solubility study. In addition, the biological activities of the complex were investigated. The FRBE/HPβCD inclusion complex had more pronounced antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer activities compared to free FRBE. These findings warrant the future investigation of potential medical applications of FRBE.

Synthesis, Characterization and Host-Guest Complexation of Asplatin: Improved In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Biocompatibility as Compared to Cisplatin

Para-sulfocalix[n]arenes are promising host molecules that can accommodate various chemotherapeutic drugs. Pt(IV)-based complexes, including satraplatin and asplatin, are promising alternatives that overcome the shortcomings of Pt(II) complexes. In this study, asplatin has been synthesized by fusing acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and cisplatin. Furthermore, it has been characterized using 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and UHPLC. A host-guest complex of asplatin and p-sulfocalix[4]arene (PSC4) has been developed and characterized using UV, Job's plot analysis, HPLC, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The experimental and computational investigations propose that a 1:1 complex between asplatin and PSC4 is formed. The stability constant of the designed complex has been determined using Job's plot and UHPLC and computed to be 9.1 × 104 M-1 and 8.7 × 104 M-1, which corresponds to a free energy of complexation of -6.8 kcal mol-1, while the calculated value for the inclusion free energy is -13.2 kcal mol-1. Both experimentally and theoretically estimated complexation free energy show that a stable host-guest complex can be formed in solution. The in vitro drug release study displayed the ability of the complex to release its cargo at a cancerous pH (pH of 5.5). Additionally, the asplatin/PSC4 complex is shown to be biocompatible when tested on human skin fibroblast noncancerous cells, demonstrating the highest in vitro cytotoxic activity against (MCF-7), cervical (HeLa), and lung cancer cells (A-549), with IC50 values of 0.75, 2.15, and 3.60 µg/mL, respectively. This is as compared to either cisplatin (IC50 of 5.47, 5.94 and 9.61 µg/mL, respectively) or asplatin (IC50 of 1.54, 5.05 and 3.91 µg/mL, respectively). On the other hand, the free asplatin exhibited higher cytotoxicity on cancerous cells and lower toxicity on noncancerous cells. The outcomes of the present joint theoretical and experimental investigation reinforce the interest in platinum-based anticancer therapeutics when they are protected from undesired interactions and suggest the use of the PSC4 macromolecule as a promising carrier for Pt(IV) anticancer drugs. The formed asplatin/PSC4 inclusion complex may represent an effective chemotherapeutic agent.

Enhanced Anticancer Activity of Nedaplatin Loaded onto Copper Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Red Algae

Marine algae are a rich source of biologically active compounds that can be utilized in various food and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized to maximize yield and total carbohydrate content extracted from the red algae, Pterocladia capillacea. The extract was shown to possess potent antioxidant activity of up to ~70%, and was successfully used as a reducing and capping agent in the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles, which were characterized by UV-spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Primarily, CuO nanoparticles with an average size of 62 nm were produced. FTIR spectra for the extract and algal-mediated CuO nanoparticles showed characteristic polysaccharide peaks. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles were subsequently loaded with nedaplatin where UV data suggested a complex formation. Nedaplatin release profiles showed a sustained release that reached a maximum at 120 h. The formulation was shown to have greater cytotoxicity relative to nedaplatin on hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer and ovarian cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.40 ± 0.08, 1.50 ± 0.12, and 0.70 ± 0.09 µg/mL, respectively. Loading nedaplatin onto CuO nanoparticles synthesized using red algae extract, greatly enhances its anticancer effect.

PEGylated Chitosan Nanoparticles Encapsulating Ascorbic Acid and Oxaliplatin Exhibit Dramatic Apoptotic Effects against Breast Cancer Cells

This study aims to design a pH-responsive dual-loaded nanosystem based on PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles loaded with ascorbic acid (AA) and oxaliplatin (OX) for the effective treatment of breast cancer. In this regard, non-PEGylated and PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) loaded with either ascorbic acid (AA), oxaliplatin (OX), or dual-loaded with AA-OX were fabricated using the ionotropic gelation method. The hydrodynamic diameters of the fabricated AA/CS NPs, OX/CS NPs, and AA-OX/CS NPs were 157.20 ± 2.40, 188.10 ± 9.70, and 261.10 ± 9.19 nm, respectively. While the hydrodynamic diameters of the designed AA/PEG-CS NPs, OX/PEG-CS NPs, and AA-OX/PEG-CS NPs were 152.20 ± 2.40, 156.60 ± 4.82, and 176.00 ± 4.21 nm, respectively. The ζ-potential of the prepared nanoparticles demonstrated high positive surface charges of +22.02 ± 1.50, +22.58 ± 1.85 and +40.4 ± 2.71 mV for AA/CS NPs, OX/CS NPs, and AA-OX/CS NPs, respectively. The ζ-potential of the PEGylated CS NPs was reduced owing to the shielding of the positive charges by the PEG chains. Additionally, all the prepared nanoparticles exhibited high entrapment efficiencies (EE%) and spherical-shaped morphology. The chemical features of the prepared nanoparticles were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Release studies showed the capability of the prepared non-PEGylated and PEGylated chitosan NPs to release their cargo in the acidic environment of cancer tissue (pH 5.5). Furthermore, the AA/CS NPs, AA/PEG-CS NPs, OX/CS NPs, OX/PEG-CS NPs, AA-OX/CS NPs and AA-OX/PEG-CS NPs exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activities against breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells with IC50 values of 44.87 ± 11.49, 23.3 ± 3.73, 23.88 ± 6.29, 17.98 ± 3.99, 18.69 ± 2.22, and 7.5 ± 0.69 µg/mL, respectively; as compared to free AA and OX (IC50 of 150.80 ± 26.50 and 147.70 ± 63.91 µg/mL, respectively). Additionally, treatment of MCF-7 cells with IC50 concentrations of AA, AA/CS NPs, AA/PEG-CS NPs, OX, OX/CS NPs, OX/PEG-CS NPs, AA-OX/CS NPs or AA-OX/PEG-CS NPs increased the percentages of early apoptotic cells to 5.28%, 9.53%, 11.20%, 5.27%, 13.80%, 8.43%, 2.32%, and 10.10%, respectively, and increased the percentages of late apoptotic cells to 0.98%, 0.37%, 2.41%, 2.06%, 0.97%, 9.66%, 56%, and 81.50%, respectively. These results clearly indicate that PEGylation enhances the apoptotic effect of AA and OX alone, in addition to potentiating the apoptotic effect of AA and OX when combined on MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating AA, OX, or AA and OX represent an effective formula for induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.

PLGA/PEG Nanoparticles Loaded with Cyclodextrin-Peganum harmala Alkaloid Complex and Ascorbic Acid with Promising Antimicrobial Activities

Antimicrobial drugs face numerous challenges, including drug resistance, systemic toxic effects, and poor bioavailability. To date, treatment choices are limited, which warrants the search for novel potent antivirals, including those extracted from natural products. The seeds of Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae family) have been reported to have antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. In the present study, a 2-hydroxy propyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD)/harmala alkaloid-rich fraction (HARF) host-guest complex was prepared using a thin-film hydration method to improve the water solubility and bioavailability of HARF. The designed complex was then co-encapsulated with ascorbic acid into PLGA nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (HARF-HPßCD/AA@PLGA-PEG NPs) using the W/O/W multiple emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The average particle size, PDI, and zeta potential were 207.90 ± 2.60 nm, 0.17 ± 0.01, and 31.6 ± 0.20 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiency for HARF was 81.60 ± 1.20% and for ascorbic acid was 88 ± 2.20%. HARF-HPßCD/AA@PLGA-PEG NPs had the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (MIC of 0.025 mg/mL). They also exhibited high selective antiviral activity against the H1N1 influenza virus (IC50 2.7 μg/mL) without affecting the host (MDCK cells). In conclusion, the co-encapsulation of HPCD-HARF complex and ascorbic acid into PLGA-PEG nanoparticles significantly increased the selective H1N1 killing activity with minimum host toxic effects.

Chitosan-Coated PLGA Nanoparticles Loaded with Peganum harmala Alkaloids with Promising Antibacterial and Wound Healing Activities

Wound healing is a major healthcare concern, and complicated wounds may lead to severe outcomes such as septicemia and amputations. To date, management choices are limited, which warrants the search for new potent wound healing agents. Natural products loaded in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coated with chitosan (CS) constitute a promising antibacterial wound healing formulation. In this work, harmala alkaloid-rich fraction (HARF) loaded into PLGA nanoparticles coated with chitosan (H/CS/PLGA NPs) were designed using the emulsion-solvent evaporation method. Optimization of the formulation variables (HARF: PLGA and CS: PLGA weight ratios, sonication time) was performed using the 33 Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimal NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The prepared NPs had an average particle size of 202.27 ± 2.44 nm, a PDI of 0.23 ± 0.01, a zeta potential of 9.22 ± 0.94 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 86.77 ± 4.18%. In vitro drug release experiments showed a biphasic pattern where an initial burst of 82.50 ± 0.20% took place in the first 2 h, which increased to 87.50 ± 0.50% over 72 h. The designed optimal H/CS/PLGA NPs exerted high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (MIC of 0.125 and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively) compared to unloaded HARF (MIC of 0.50 mg/mL). The prepared nanoparticles were found to be biocompatible when tested on human skin fibroblasts. Moreover, the wound closure percentage after 24 h of applying H/CS/PLGA NPs was found to be 94.4 ± 8.0%, compared to free HARF and blank NPs (68.20 ± 5.10 and 50.50 ± 9.40%, respectively). In conclusion, the three components of the developed nanoformulation (PLGA, chitosan, and HARF) have synergistic antibacterial and wound healing properties for the management of infected wounds.

Preparation and characterization of withaferin A loaded pegylated nanoliposomal formulation with high loading efficacy: In vitro and in vivo anti-tumour study

Withaferin A (WA) is a natural steroidal lactone with promising therapeutic applications. However, its clinical application is limited due to the low bioavailability and hydrophobic nature. In this study, we had prepared PEGylated nanoliposomal withaferin A (LWA) using thin-film hydration method. Dynamic light scattering, Transmission electron microscopy, and HPLC were used to investigate the impact of prepared formulations on the size, charge, morphology, and encapsulation efficiency of the LWA. The prepared nanoliposomal system had spherical vesicles, with the mean particle size of 125 nm and had an encapsulation efficiency of 83.65% with good stability. The characterization results indicated that nanoliposomal formulation is able to improve biocompatibility and bioavailability of WA. In vitro drug release study showed that LWA had an enhanced sustained drug release effect than the free drug. In vitro studies using ascites cell lines (DLA and EAC) showed that LWA treatment could induce apoptosis in ascites cells evidenced by acridine orange/ethidium bromide, Hoechst, and Giemsa staining. In vivo tumour study revealed that LWA treatment significantly reduced tumour growth and improved survival in DLA tumour bearing mice. In vivo results further demonstrated that LWA mitigated solid tumour development by regulating Ki-67 and cyclin D1 protein expression. The overall study results reveal that nanoliposome encapsulated WA exhibits therapeutic efficacy over WA in regulating tumour development as evidenced from ascites cell apoptosis as well as experimental tumour reduction studies.

Liposome Photosensitizer Formulations for Effective Cancer Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising non-invasive strategy in the fight against that which circumvents the systemic toxic effects of chemotherapeutics. It relies on photosensitizers (PSs), which are photoactivated by light irradiation and interaction with molecular oxygen. This generates highly reactive oxygen species (such as ¹O₂, H₂O₂, O₂, ·OH), which kill cancer cells by necrosis or apoptosis. Despite the promising effects of PDT in cancer treatment, it still suffers from several shortcomings, such as poor biodistribution of hydrophobic PSs, low cellular uptake, and low efficacy in treating bulky or deep tumors. Hence, various nanoplatforms have been developed to increase PDT treatment effectiveness and minimize off-target adverse effects. Liposomes showed great potential in accommodating different PSs, chemotherapeutic drugs, and other therapeutically active molecules. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in encapsulating PSs alone or combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs into liposomes for effective tumor PDT.

Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, and the Kidney

The kidneys are vital organs performing several essential functions. Their primary function is the filtration of blood and the removal of metabolic waste products as well as fluid homeostasis. Renal filtration is the main pathway for drug removal, highlighting the importance of this organ to the growing field of nanomedicine. The kidneys (i) have a key role in the transport and clearance of nanoparticles (NPs), (ii) are exposed to potential NPs’ toxicity, and (iii) are the targets of diseases that nanomedicine can study, detect, and treat. In this review, we aim to summarize the latest research on kidney-nanoparticle interaction. We first give a brief overview of the kidney’s anatomy and renal filtration, describe how nanoparticle characteristics influence their renal clearance, and the approaches taken to image and treat the kidney, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Finally, we discuss the future and some of the challenges faced by nanomedicine.

Betaine host-guest complexation with a calixarene receptor: enhanced in vitro anticancer effect

p-Sulfonatocalix[n]arenes have shown excellent potential for accommodating chemotherapeutic drugs through host-guest complexation and enhancing their anticancer activity. Betaine has been reported to exert an anticancer effect at high concentrations. In order to increase its concentration in cancer cells, we have complexed it with p-SC4, which releases its content in an acidic environment typical of cancer tissue. In this work, a host-guest complex of the chemically stable, natural, and safe active methyl donor (betaine) and p-sulfonatocalix[4]arenes (p-SC4) was designed and characterized using 1H NMR, UV, Job's plot analysis, DFT calculations, and molecular modeling for use in cancer therapeutics. The peak amplitude of the prepared host-guest complexes was linearly proportional to the concentration of betaine in the range of 1.0 × 10-5 M-1 to 2.5 × 10-4 M-1. The reaction stoichiometry between p-SC4 and betaine in the formed complex was 1 : 1. The stability constant for the complex is 8.9 × 104 M-1 which corresponds to a complexation free energy of -6.74 kcal mol-1. Complexation between betaine and p-SC4 was found to involve the insertion of the trimethylammonium group of betaine into the p-SC4 cavity, as supported by the experimental data. The complex displayed enhanced cytotoxic activities against breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and cervical cancer cells (HeLa) compared to free betaine. In conclusion, the host-guest complexation of betaine with p-SC4 increases its concentration in cancer cells, which warrants further investigation for cancer therapy.

The Combination of Liposomes and Metallic Nanoparticles as Multifunctional Nanostructures in the Therapy and Medical Imaging-A Review

Nanotechnology has introduced a new quality and has definitely developed the possibilities of treating and diagnosing various diseases. One of the scientists' interests is liposomes and metallic nanoparticles (LipoMNPs)-the combination of which has introduced new properties and applications. However, the field of creating hybrid nanostructures consisting of liposomes and metallic nanoparticles is relatively little understood. The purpose of this review was to compile the latest reports in the field of treatment and medical imaging using of LipoMNPs. The authors focused on presenting this issue in the direction of improving the used conventional treatment and imaging methods. Most of all, the nature of bio-interactions between nanostructures and cells is not sufficiently taken into account. As a result, overcoming the existing limitations in the implementation of such solutions in the clinic is difficult. We concluded that hybrid nanostructures are used in a very wide range, especially in the treatment of cancer and magnetic resonance imaging. There were also solutions that combine treatments with simultaneous imaging, creating a theragnostic approach. In the future, researchers should focus on the description of the biological interactions and the long-term effects of the nanostructures to use LipoMNPs in the treatment of patients.

Drug Resistance in Osteosarcoma: Emerging Biomarkers, Therapeutic Targets and Treatment Strategies

Simple Summary

Despite the adoption of aggressive, multimodal treatment schedules, the cure rate of high-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS) has not significantly improved in the last 30 years. The most relevant problem preventing improvement in HGOS prognosis is drug resistance. Therefore, validated novel biomarkers that help to identify those patients who could benefit from innovative treatment options and the development of drugs enabling personalized therapeutic protocols are necessary. The aim of this review was to give an overview on the most relevant emerging drug resistance-related biomarkers, therapeutic targets and new agents or novel candidate treatment strategies, which have been highlighted and suggested for HGOS to improve the success rate of clinical trials.

Abstract

High-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS), the most common primary malignant tumor of bone, is a highly aggressive neoplasm with a cure rate of approximately 40–50% in unselected patient populations. The major clinical problems opposing the cure of HGOS are the presence of inherent or acquired drug resistance and the development of metastasis. Since the drugs used in first-line chemotherapy protocols for HGOS and clinical outcome have not significantly evolved in the past three decades, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic biomarkers and targeted treatment strategies, which may increase the currently available spectrum of cure modalities. Unresponsive or chemoresistant (refractory) HGOS patients usually encounter a dismal prognosis, mostly because therapeutic options and drugs effective for rescue treatments are scarce. Tailored treatments for different subgroups of HGOS patients stratified according to drug resistance-related biomarkers thus appear as an option that may improve this situation. This review explores drug resistance-related biomarkers, therapeutic targets and new candidate treatment strategies, which have emerged in HGOS. In addition to consolidated biomarkers, specific attention has been paid to the role of non-coding RNAs, tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, and cancer stem cells as contributors to drug resistance in HGOS, in order to highlight new candidate markers and therapeutic targets. The possible use of new non-conventional drugs to overcome the main mechanisms of drug resistance in HGOS are finally discussed.

Peganum harmala Alkaloids Self-Assembled Supramolecular Nanocapsules with Enhanced Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities

Amphiphilic macrocycles, such as p-sulfonatocalix[6]arenes (p-SC6), have demonstrated great potential in designing synthetic nanovesicles based on self-assembly approaches. These supramolecular nanovesicles are capable of improving the solubility, stability, and biological activity of various drugs. In the present study, the biologically active harmala alkaloid-rich fraction (HARF) was extracted from Peganum harmala L. seeds. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS) analysis of HARF revealed 15 alkaloids. The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis revealed three peaks: peganine, harmol, and harmine. The HARF was then encapsulated in p-SC6 nanocapsules employing a thin-film hydration approach. The designed nanocapsules had an average particle size of 264.8 ± 10.6 nm, and a surface charge of -30.3 ± 2.2 mV. They were able to encapsulate 89.3 ± 1.4, 74.4 ± 1.3, and 76.1 ± 1.7% of the three harmala alkaloids; harmine, harmol, and peganine; respectively. The in vitro drug release experiments showed the potential of the designed nanocapsules to release their cargo at a pH of 5.5 (typical of cancerous tissue). The IC₅₀ values of HARF encapsulated in p-SC6 (H/p-SC6 nanocapsules) were 5 and 2.7 μg/mL against ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) and breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7), respectively. The prepared nanocapsules were found to be biocompatible when tested on human skin fibroblasts. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the designed nanocapsules was 5 times that of the free powder fraction; the IC₅₀ of the H/p-SC6 nanocapsules was 30.1 ± 1.3 μg/mL, and that of the HARF was 169.3 ± 7.2 μg/mL. In conclusion, encapsulation of P. harmala alkaloid-rich fraction into self-assembled p-SC6 significantly increases its antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

Green Synthesis of Platinum and Palladium Nanoparticles Using Peganum harmala L. Seed Alkaloids: Biological and Computational Studies

This study reports a facile and eco-friendly method for the green synthesis of platinum and palladium nanoparticles (Pt NPs and Pd NPs) using Peganum harmala seed alkaloid fraction. The ζ-potential of the synthesized Pt NPs, Pd NPs and Pt–Pd NPs were −11.2 ± 0.5, −9.7 ±1.2, and −12.7 ± 2.1 mV; respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the formation of spherical-shaped nanoparticles with smooth margins. The mean diameters of the synthesized Pt NPs, Pd NPs, and Pt–Pd NPs were determined using TEM analysis and were found to be 20.3 ± 1.9, 22.5 ± 5.7, and 33.5 ± 5.4 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles’ bioreduction was confirmed by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and their organic contents were determined by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The Pt–Pd NPs mixture showed more pronounced antioxidant activity of 843.0 ± 60 μM Trolox equivalent (TE)/mg NPs compared to the individual Pt NPs (277.3 ± 13.5 μM TE/mg NPs) and Pd NPs (167.6 ± 4.8 μM TE/mg NPs). Furthermore, the Pt–Pd NPs exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against lung cancer (A549) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells, IC₅₀ of 8.8 and 3.6 µg/mL, respectively; as compared to Pt NPs (IC₅₀ of 10.9 and 6.7 µg/mL, respectively) and Pd NPs (IC₅₀ of 31 and 10.8 µg/mL, respectively and compared to carboplatin (IC₅₀ of 23 and 9.5 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, molecular docking studies were conducted to explore the possible anticancer and antioxidant mechanisms of the biogenic nanoparticles. Pt NPs, Pd NPs, and their mixture showed inhibitory activity against cysteine proteinase, which supports their high antitumor activity, but moderate antioxidant activity. In conclusion, Pd-Pt NPs mixture prepared using harmala seed alkaloid fraction showed potential as effective antineoplastic agents.

Host-Guest Complexation of Oxaliplatin and Para-Sulfonatocalix[n]Arenes for Potential Use in Cancer Therapy

P-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes have demonstrated a great potential for encapsulation of therapeutic drugs via host-guest complexation to improve solubility, stability, and bioavailability of encapsulated drugs. In this work, guest-host complexes of a third-generation anticancer drug (oxaliplatin) and p-4-sulfocalix[n]arenes (n = 4 and 6; p-SC4 and p-SC6, respectively) were prepared and investigated, using 1H NMR, UV, Job's plot analysis, and DFT calculations, for use as cancer therapeutics. The peak amplitude of the prepared host-guest complexes was linearly proportional to the concentration of oxaliplatin in the range of 1.0 × 10-5 M-1 to 2.1 × 10-4 M-1. The reaction stoichiometry between either p-SC4 or p-SC6 and oxaliplatin in the formed complexes was 1:1. The stability constants for the complexes were 5.07 × 104 M-1 and 6.3 × 104 M-1. These correspond to complexation free energy of -6.39 and -6.52 kcal/mol for p-SC4 and p-SC6, respectively. Complexation between oxaliplatin and p-SC4 or p-SC6 was found to involve hydrogen bonds. Both complexes exhibited enhanced biological and high cytotoxic activities against HT-29 colorectal cells and MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma compared to free oxaliplatin, which warrants further investigation for cancer therapy.

Experimental and Computational Investigations of Carboplatin Supramolecular Complexes

Supramolecular systems (macromolecules), such as calix[n]arenes (SCn), cyclodextrins (CDs), and cucurbiturils (CBs), are promising vehicles for anticancer drugs. In this work, guest-host complexes of carboplatin, a second-generation platinum-based anticancer drug, and p-4-sulfocalix[n]arenes (n = 4 and 6; PS4 and PS6, respectively) were prepared and studied using ¹H NMR, UV, Job's plot analysis, HPLC, and density-functional theory calculations. The experimental and the computational studies suggest the formation of 1:1 complexes between carboplatin and each of PS4 and PS6. The stability constants of the formed complexes were estimated to be 5.3 × 10⁴ M^-1 and 9.8 × 10⁴ M^-1, which correspond to free energy of complexation of -6.40 and -6.81 kcal mol^-1, in the case of PS4 and PS6, respectively. The interaction free energy depends on the different inclusion modes of carboplatin in the host cavities. UV-vis findings and atoms in molecules analysis showed that hydrogen bond interactions stabilize the host-guest complexes without the full inclusion in the host cavity. The in vitro anticancer study revealed that both complexes exhibited stronger anticancer activities against breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and lung cancer cells (A-549) compared to free carboplatin, preluding to their potential use in cancer therapy.