Nanoformulations of α-Mangostin for Cancer Drug Delivery System

Enhanced Delivery and Potency of Chemotherapeutics in Melanoma Treatment via Magnetite Nanobioconjugates

Melanoma, known for its aggressive metastatic potential, poses significant treatment challenges. Despite the potent antiproliferative effects of anticancer drugs, systemic toxicity and low water solubility limit their efficacy. This study addresses these challenges by employing magnetite (Fe3O4) nanobioconjugates as a drug delivery system, aimed at enhancing drug solubility and reducing off-target effects in melanoma therapy. Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were engineered with functional molecules and loaded with the anticancer agents Temozolomide (TMZ) or paclitaxel (PTX). The nanobioconjugates were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results validated the efficacious synthesis and drug loading, attaining efficiencies ranging from 32 to 72% for TMZ and 32 to 60% for PTX. Biocompatibility assessments demonstrated excellent tolerance, with minimal hemolysis rates and platelet aggregation. In vitro studies revealed enhanced cytotoxicity against A-375 human melanoma cells compared to free drugs, with cellular uptake facilitated primarily through macropinocytosis, caveolin-, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, the nanobioconjugates exhibited significant efficacy in targeting A-375 melanoma spheroids, underlining their potential in melanoma therapy. This research underscores magnetite nanobioconjugates as a promising avenue for targeted melanoma treatment, offering enhanced drug delivery specificity and reduced systemic toxicity in oncological drug delivery systems.

Enhancing the tissue penetration to improve sonodynamic immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using membrane-camouflaged nanoplatform

PURPOSE

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising strategy as an "in situ vaccine" to enhance activation of antitumor immune responses in solid tumors. However, the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) lead to hypoxia and limited penetration of most drugs, aggravating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and limiting the efficacy of synergistic sonodynamic immunotherapy. Therefore, it is essential to regulate ECM in order to alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhance the efficacy of sonodynamic immunotherapy for PDAC.

METHODS

The CPIM nanoplatform, consisting of a macrophage membrane-coated oxygen and drug delivery system (CM@PFOB-ICG-α-Mangostin), was synthesized using ultrasound and extrusion methods. The in vivo homologous targeting and hypoxia alleviation capabilities of CPIM were evaluated through near-infrared (NIR) imaging and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The tumor growth inhibition potential and ability to reprogram the tumor microenvironment by the CPIM nanoplatform were also investigated.

RESULTS

Co-delivery of α-Mangostin inhibits CAFs and enhances stromal depletion, thereby facilitating better infiltration of macromolecules. Additionally, the nanoemulsion containing perfluorocarbon (PFC) can target tumor cells and accumulate within them through homologous targeting. The US irradiation results in the rapid release of oxygen, serving as a potential source of sonodynamic therapy for hypoxic tumors. Moreover, CPIM reshapes the immunosuppressive microenvironment increasing the population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and enhancing their anti-tumor immune response through the use of anti-PDL1 antibodies to block immune checkpoints.

CONCLUSION

The present study offers a potential strategy for the co-delivery of oxygen and α-Mangostin, aiming to enhance the penetration of tumors to improve SDT. This approach effectively addresses the existing limitations of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment in solid tumors, while simultaneously boosting the immune response through synergistic sonodynamic immunotherapy.

Enhanced Stability of α-Mangostin-Rich Extract and Selective Cytotoxicity against Cancer Cells via Encapsulation in Antioxidant Nanoparticles (AME@NanoAOX)

α-Mangostin-rich extract (AME) shows promise as a functional ingredient for cancer chemotherapy. Here, we encapsulated AME in our originally designed antioxidant nanoparticles (NanoAOX) to increase its solubility and prevent oxidative degradation (AME@NanoAOX). In this study, two types of self-assembled polymers containing nitroxide radicals were engineered. These polymers were self-assembled into nanoscale particles in aqueous media, entrapping AME (abbreviated as AME@NanoAOX(B) and AME@NanoAOX(G)). These formulations considerably improved the stability of AME against oxidative degradation and exhibited different release profiles of α-mangostin under different pH conditions. Furthermore, AME-encapsulated nanoparticles exhibited potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, including human breast cancer (MCF-7), human lung cancer (A549), human colon cancer (Caco-2), human cervical cancer (HeLa), and human liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines, with minimal cytotoxicity in normal human mammary epithelial cells (hTERT-HME1), thus providing a high selectivity index (SI). These results indicated the promising feature of AME-encapsulated antioxidant nanoparticles (AME@NanoAOX) for cancer chemotherapy.

Fabrication and optimization of naringin-loaded MOF-5 encapsulated by liponiosomes as smart drug delivery, cytotoxicity, and apoptotic on breast cancer cells

INTRODUCTION

Cancers are regarded as hazardous due to their high worldwide death rate, with breast cancer (BC), which affects practically all cancer patients globally, playing a significant role in this statistic. The therapeutic approach for BC has not advanced using standard techniques, such as specialized naringin (NG) chemotherapy. Instead, a novel strategy has been utilized to enhance smart drug delivery (SDD) to tumors.

SIGNIFICANCE

Herein, we established NG-loaded zinc metal-organic framework-5 (NG-MOF-5) coated with liponiosomes (LNs) to manufacture NG-MOF-5@LNs nanoparticles (NPs) for antibacterial and cancer treatment.

METHODS

MOF-5, NG, and NG-MOF-5@LNs were evaluated with XRD, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, SEM, TEM, PDI, ZP, encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading efficiency (LE), and drug release (DR) kinetics. We examined the antibacterial activity involving minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and zone of inhibition by NG, MOF-5, and NG-MOF-5@LNs. The cell viability, necrosis, and total apoptosis (late and early) were evaluated for anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 BC cells.

RESULTS

TEM results demonstrated that NG-MOF-5@LNs formed monodispersed spherical-like particles with a size of 122.5 nm, PDI of 0.139, and ZP of +21 mV. The anti-microbial activity results indicated that NG-MOF-5@LNs exhibited potent antibacterial effects, as evidenced by inhibition zones and MIC values. The Higuchi model indicates an excellent fit (R2 = 0.9988). The MTT assay revealed anti-tumor activity against MCF-7 BC cells, with IC50 of 21 µg/mL for NG-MOF-5@LNs and demonstrating a total apoptosis effect of 68.2% on MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSION

NG-MOF-5@LNs is anticipated to show as an effective antimicrobial and novel long-term-release antitumor agent and might be more suitable for MCF-7 cell therapy.

Therapeutic Potential of Mangosteen Pericarp Extract-Loaded Liposomes against Superficial Skin Infection Caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in a Murine Model

α-mangostin (α-MG) demonstrates antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus species. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the antibacterial activity of α-MG-rich mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE)-loaded liposomes against Staphylococcus isolates from companion animal skin diseases in vitro and evaluated their therapeutic potential in a murine model of superficial skin infection caused by S. pseudintermedius. α-MG-rich extract was purified from mangosteen pericarp and then complexed with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), forming the inclusion complexes. Nanoliposomes containing MPE and γ-CD complexes were prepared by adding lecithin and casein. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of MPE-loaded liposomes were determined using agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. The therapeutic potential of MPE-loaded liposomes was evaluated in vivo on tape-stripped skin lesions infected with S. pseudintermedius. Purified MPE and MPE-loaded liposomes contained 402.43 mg/g and 18.18 mg/g α-MG, respectively. MPE-loaded liposomes showed antibacterial activity against clinical Staphylococcus isolates in vitro but did not show antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterial isolates. MPE-loaded liposomes demonstrated consistent MICs and MBCs against Staphylococcus isolates. These liposomes significantly reduced bacterial numbers and lesional sizes in a superficial skin infection model. Moreover, they reconstructed the epidermal barrier in skin lesions. The therapeutic concentrations of MPE-loaded liposomes did not induce cytotoxicity in canine progenitor epidermal keratinocyte cells. In conclusion, MPE-loaded liposomes hold promise for the development of a prospective topical formulation to treat superficial pyoderma in companion animals.

Current Drug Delivery Strategies for Buccal Cavity Ailments using Mouth Dissolving Wafer Technology: A Comprehensive Review on the Present State of the Art

BACKGROUND

Mouth-dissolving wafer is polymer-based matrice that incorporates various pharmaceutical agents for oral drug delivery. This polymeric wafer is ingenious in the way that it needs not be administered with water, like in conventional tablet dosage form. It has better compliance among the pediatric and geriatric groups owing to its ease of administration.

OBJECTIVE

The polymeric wafer dissolves quickly in the oral cavity and is highly effective for a targeted local effect in buccal-specific ailments. It is a safe, effective, and versatile drug delivery carrier for a range of drugs used to treat a plethora of oral cavity-specific ailments that inflict common people, like thrush, canker sores, periodontal disease, benign oral cavity tumors, buccal neoplasm, and malignancies. This review paper focuses thoroughly on the present state of the art in mouth-dissolving wafer technology for buccal drug delivery and targeting. Moreover, we have also addressed present-time limitations associated with wafer technology to aid researchers in future developments in the arena of buccal drug delivery.

CONCLUSION

This dynamic novel formulation has tremendous future implications for designing drug delivery systems to target pernicious ailments and diseases specific to the buccal mucosa. In a nutshell, this review paper aims to summarize the present state of the art in buccal targeted drug delivery.

Structure and activity relationship analysis of xanthones from mangosteen: Identifying garcinone E as a potent dual EGFR and VEGFR2 inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Xanthones are among the most fundamental phytochemicals in nature. The anti-cancer activities of xanthones and their derivatives have been extensively studied. Recently, we found that garcinone E (GE), an effective anti-cancer phytochemical isolated from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostanal.), showed promising anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. However, little is known about its effects on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) activity.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify potent dual EGFR and VEGFR2 inhibitors from mangosteen-derived xanthones using structure-activity relationship analyses.

STUDY DESIGN

The interaction of xanthones with EGFR and VEGFR2 was analyzed using molecular docking experiments. The kinase activities of EGFR and VEGFR2 were determined using bioluminescence assays. The rat aortic ring and Matrigel plug angiogenesis assays were used to evaluate blood vessel formation ex vivo and in vivo. A breast tumor-bearing nude mouse model was established to examine the anti-tumor effects of different xanthones.

RESULTS

Molecular docking analysis showed that GE bound tightly to EGFR and VEGFR2, with binding energies of -9.73 and -9.56 kcal/mol, respectively. Kinase activity assessment showed that GE strongly inhibited both EGFR and VEGFR2 kinase activity, with IC50 values of 315.4 and 158.2 nM, respectively. Moreover, GE significantly abolished the EGF- and VEGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and VEGFR2, respectively. GE also showed strong inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth, endothelial cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. Ex vivo and in vivo angiogenesis assays showed that GE dose-dependently suppressed blood vessel formation in the rat aorta, Matrigel plugs, and transgenic zebrafish embryos, with the lowest effective concentration of 0.25 μM. Furthermore, GE (2 mg/kg) strongly inhibited tumor growth and reduced tumor weight in MDA-MB-231 breast tumor-xenografted mice. GE significantly reduced microvessel density and downregulated the expression of VEGFR2, EGFR, and Ki67 in tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that GE was the most potent dual inhibitor of EGFR and VEGFR2 among all xanthones tested. These findings may provide valuable information for the future development of novel and effective dual inhibitors of EGFR and VEGFR2.

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems targeting cancer cell surfaces

Traditional cancer chemotherapy easily produces serious toxic and side effects due to the lack of specific selection of tumor cells, which restricts its curative effect. Targeted delivery can increase the concentration of drugs in the target site and reduce their toxic and side effects on normal tissues and cells. Biocompatible and surface-modifiable nanocarriers are novel drug delivery systems, which are used to specifically target tumor sites in a controllable way. One of the effective ways to design effective targeting nanocarriers is to decorate with functional ligands, which can bind to specific receptors overexpressed on the surfaces of cancer cells. Various functional ligands, including transferrin, folic acid, polypeptide and hyaluronic acid, have been widely explored to develop tumor-selective drug delivery systems. This review focuses on the research progress of various receptors overexpressed on the surfaces of cancer cells and different nano-delivery systems of anticancer drugs targeted on the surfaces of cancer cells. We believe that through continuous research and development, actively targeted cancer nano-drugs will make a breakthrough and become an indispensable platform for accurate cancer treatment.

Biochemical features and therapeutic potential of α-Mangostin: Mechanism of action, medicinal values, and health benefits

α-Mangostin (α-MG) is a natural xanthone obtained from the pericarps of mangosteen. It exhibits excellent potential, including anti-cancer, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, and induces apoptosis. α-MG controls cell proliferation by modulating signaling molecules, thus implicated in cancer therapy. It possesses incredible pharmacological features and modulates crucial cellular and molecular factors. Due to its lesser water solubility and pitiable target selectivity, α-MG has limited clinical application. As a known antioxidant, α-MG has gained significant attention from the scientific community, increasing interest in extensive technical and biomedical applications. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems were designed to improve the pharmacological features and efficiency of α-MG. This review is focused on recent developments on the therapeutic potential of α-MG in managing cancer and neurological diseases, with a special focus on its mechanism of action. In addition, we highlighted biochemical and pharmacological features, metabolism, functions, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects and pre-clinical applications of α-MG.

General toxicity studies of alpha mangostin from Garcinia mangostana: A systematic review

Alpha mangostin (AM), the main xanthone derivative contained in mangosteen pericarp (Garcinia mangostana/GM), has many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antiproliferation, antiinflammatory, and anticancer. Several general toxicity studies of AM have been previously reported to assess the safety profile of AM. Toxicity studies were carried out by various methods such as on test animals, interventions, and various routes of administration, but the test results have not been well documented. Our study aimed to systematically summarizes research on the safety profile of GM containing AM through general toxicity tests to get the LD₅₀ and NOAEL values, and so, can be used as a database related to AM toxicity profiles. This could facilitate other researchers in determining further development of GM-or-AM-based products. Pubmed, Google scholar, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO were chosen to collect the articles while ARRIVE 2.0 was used to evaluate the quality and risk-of-bias of the in vivo toxicity studies included in this systematic review. A total of 20 articles met the eligibility criteria and were reviewed to predict the LD₅₀ and NOAEL of AM. The results showed that the LD₅₀ of AM is between >15.480 mg/kgBW to ≤6000 mg/kgBW while the NOAEL value is between <100 and ≤2000 mg/kgBW.

Nanoparticles loaded with pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: Biomedical applications and toxicity

Pharmacologically active natural products have played a significant role in the history of drug development. They have acted as sources of therapeutic drugs for various diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases. However, most natural products suffer from poor water solubility and low bioavailability, limiting their clinical applications. The rapid development of nanotechnology has opened up new directions for applying natural products and numerous studies have explored the biomedical applications of nanomaterials loaded with natural products. This review covers the recent research on applying plant-derived natural products (PDNPs) nanomaterials, including nanomedicines loaded with flavonoids, non-flavonoid polyphenols, alkaloids, and quinones, especially their use in treating various diseases. Furthermore, some drugs derived from natural products can be toxic to the body, so the toxicity of them is discussed. This comprehensive review includes fundamental discoveries and exploratory advances in natural product-loaded nanomaterials that may be helpful for future clinical development.

Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Chitosan Nanoparticles as an Active Targeted Carrier of Alpha Mangostin for Breast Cancer Cells

Alpha mangostin (AM) has potential anticancer properties for breast cancer. This study aims to assess the potential of chitosan nanoparticles coated with hyaluronic acid for the targeted delivery of AM (AM-CS/HA) against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. AM-CS/HA showed a spherical shape with an average diameter of 304 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.3, and a negative charge of 24.43 mV. High encapsulation efficiency (90%) and drug loading (8.5%) were achieved. AM released from AM-CS/HA at an acidic pH of 5.5 was higher than the physiological pH of 7.4 and showed sustained release. The cytotoxic effect of AM-CS/HA (IC₅₀ 4.37 µg/mL) on MCF-7 was significantly higher than AM nanoparticles without HA coating (AM-CS) (IC₅₀ 4.48 µg/mL) and AM (IC₅₀ 5.27 µg/mL). These findings suggest that AM-CS/HA enhances AM cytotoxicity and has potential applications for breast cancer therapy.

Mangosteen for malignancy prevention and intervention: Current evidence, molecular mechanisms, and future perspectives

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), also known as the "queen of fruits", is a tropical fruit of the Clusiacea family. While native to Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, and the Philippines, the fruit has gained popularity in the United States due to its health-promoting attributes. In traditional medicine, mangosteen has been used to treat a variety of illnesses, ranging from dysentery to wound healing. Mangosteen has been shown to exhibit numerous biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Disease-preventative and therapeutic properties of mangosteen have been ascribed to secondary metabolites called xanthones, present in several parts of the tree, including the pericarp, fruit rind, peel, stem bark, root bark, and leaf. Of the 68 mangosteen xanthones identified so far, the most widely-studied are α-mangostin and γ-mangostin. Emerging studies have found that mangosteen constituents and phytochemicals exert encouraging antineoplastic effects against a myriad of human malignancies. While there are a growing number of individual research papers on the anticancer properties of mangosteen, a complete and critical evaluation of published experimental findings has not been accomplished. Accordingly, the objective of this work is to present an in-depth analysis of the cancer preventive and anticancer potential of mangosteen constituents, with a special emphasis on the associated cellular and molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and safety of mangosteen-derived agents together with current challenges and future research avenues are also discussed.

Natural and Synthetic Xanthone Derivatives Counteract Oxidative Stress via Nrf2 Modulation in Inflamed Human Macrophages

Natural products have attracted attention due to their safety and potential effectiveness as anti-inflammatory drugs. Particularly, xanthones owning a unique 9H-xanthen-9-one scaffold, are endowed with a large diversity of medical applications, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, because their core accommodates a vast variety of substituents at different positions. Among others, α- and γ-mangostin are the major known xanthones purified from Garcinia mangostana with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by in vitro and in vivo modulation of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2) pathway. However, the main mechanism of action of xanthones and their derivatives is still only partially disclosed, and further investigations are needed to improve their potential clinical outcomes. In this light, a library of xanthone derivatives was synthesized and biologically evaluated in vitro on human macrophages under pro-inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were performed by means of matched molecular pairs (MMPs). The data obtained revealed that the most promising compounds in terms of biocompatibility and counteraction of cytotoxicity are the ones that enhance the Nrf2 translocation, confirming a tight relationship between the xanthone scaffold and the Nrf2 activation as a sign of intracellular cell response towards oxidative stress and inflammation.