Targeted therapeutic effect against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 with a CuFe2O4/silica/cisplatin nanocomposite formulation

Multifunctional CuFe2O4@HA as a GSH-depleting nanoplatform for targeted photothermal/enhanced-chemodynamic synergistic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), which converts overexpressed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in tumor cells to hydroxyl radicals (•OH) by Fenton reactions, is considered a prospective strategy in anticancer therapy. However, the high level of glutathione (GSH) and poor Fenton catalytic efficiency contribute to the suboptimal efficiency of CDT. Herein, we present a multifunctional nanoplatform (CuFe2O4@HA) that can induce GSH depletion and combine with photothermal therapy (PTT) to enhance antitumor efficacy. CuFe2O4@HA nanoparticles could release Cu2+ and Fe3+ after entering tumor cells by targeting hyaluronic acid (HA). Subsequently, Cu2+ and Fe3+ were reduced to Cu+ and Fe2+ by GSH, where Cu+/Fe2+ significantly catalyzed H2O2 to produce a higher level of •OH, and the depletion of GSH disrupted the antioxidant capacity of the tumor. Therefore, depleting GSH substantially enhances the level of •OH in tumor cells. In addition, CuFe2O4@HA nanoparticles have considerable absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region, which can stimulate excellent PTT effects. More importantly, the heat generated by PTT can further enhance the Fenton catalysis efficiency. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated the excellent tumor-killing effect of CuFe2O4@HA nanoparticles. This strategy overcomes the problem of insufficient CDT efficacy caused by GSH overexpression and poor catalytic efficiency. Moreover, this versatile nanoplatform provides a reference for self-enhanced CDT and PTT/CDT synergistic targeted therapy.

Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Anion-Exchange Resin: Influence of Synthesis Parameters on the Cubic Phase Stability

Copper ferrite is of great interest to researchers as a material with unique magnetic, optical, catalytic, and structural properties. In particular, the magnetic properties of this material are structurally sensitive and can be tuned by changing the distribution of Cu and Fe cations in octahedral and tetrahedral positions by controlling the synthesis parameters. In this study, we propose a new, simple, and convenient method for the synthesis of copper ferrite nanoparticles using a strongly basic anion-exchange resin in the OH form. The effect and possible mechanism of polysaccharide addition on the elemental composition, yield, and particle size of CuFe₂O₄ are investigated and discussed. It is shown that anion-exchange resin precipitation leads to a mixture of unstable cubic (c-CuFe₂O₄) phases at standard temperature and stable tetragonal (t-CuFe₂O₄) phases. The effect of reaction conditions on the stability of c-CuFe₂O₄ is studied by temperature-dependent XRD measurements and discussed in terms of cation distribution, cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion, and Cu²⁺ and oxygen vacancies in the copper ferrite lattice. The observed differences in the values of the saturation magnetization and coercivity of the prepared samples are explained in terms of variations in the particle size and structural properties of copper ferrite.

Insights of Platinum Drug Interaction with Spinel Magnetic Nanocomposites for Targeted Anti-Cancer Effect

In nanotherapeutics, gaining insight about the drug interaction with the pore architecture and surface functional groups of nanocarriers is crucial to aid in the development of targeted drug delivery. Manganese ferrite impregnated graphene oxide (MnFe₂O₄/GO) with a two-dimensional sheet and spherical silica with a three-dimensional interconnected porous structure (MnFe₂O₄/silica) were evaluated for cisplatin release and cytotoxic effects. Characterization studies revealed the presence of Mn²⁺ species with a variable spinel cubic phase and superparamagnetic effect. We used first principles calculations to study the physisorption of cisplatin on monodispersed silica and on single- and multi-layered GO. The binding energy of cisplatin on silica and single-layer GO was ~1.5 eV, while it was about double that value for the multilayer GO structure. Moreover, we treated MCF-7 (breast cancer cells) and HFF-1 (human foreskin fibroblast) with our nanocomposites and used the cell viability assay MTT. Both nanocomposites significantly reduced the cell viability. Pt⁴⁺ species of cisplatin on the spinel ferrite/silica nanocomposite had a better effect on the cytotoxic capability when compared to GO. The EC50 for MnFe₂O₄/silica/cisplatin and MnFe₂O₄/GO/cisplatin on MCF-7 was: 48.43 µg/mL and 85.36 µg/mL, respectively. The EC50 for the same conditions on HFF was: 102.92 µg/mL and 102.21 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, immunofluorescence images using c-caspase 3/7, and TEM analysis indicated that treating cells with these nanocomposites resulted in apoptosis as the major mechanism of cell death.

Synergistic action of curcumin and cisplatin on spinel ferrite/hierarchical MCM-41 nanocomposite against MCF-7, HeLa and HCT 116 cancer cell line

Background

Platinum-based drugs are widely used in cancer therapy, but are known for toxic side effects and resistance. Combinational drug delivery represents an effective chemotherapeutic strategy, but often leads to an increased toxicity. Aim of this study is to test the co-delivery of cisplatin with natural antioxidants on hierarchial porous large surface area hexagonal nanocarriers for synergistic action.

Results

A series of structured mesoporous materials were impregnated with magnetic spinel ferrite (30% CuFe2O4) and then coated with curcumin (25% wt/wt). Mesosilicalite and MCM-41 with high curcumin release abilities were functionalized with cisplatin (5% wt/wt) for synergistic effect of combinational drugs. The cytotoxic efficiency of our nanocomposites was tested on cell viability of MCF7 (human breast cancer), human cervical cancer (HeLa), colorectal cancer (HCT116), and HFF (human foreskin fibroblasts) cell lines using the MTT cell viability assay. At a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, CuFe2O4/mesosilicalite/curcumin/cisplatin resulted in 89.53% reduction in viability in MCF7, 94.03% in HeLa, 64% in HCT116 and 87% in HFF; whereas, CuFe2O4/MCM-41/curcumin/cisplatin resulted in 76% reduction in viability in MCF7, 64.46% in HeLa, 64% in HCT116 and 24% in HFF. The EC50 for CuFe2O4/mesosilicalite/curcumin/cisplatin was 81.23 µg/ml in MCF7, 47.55 µg/ml in HeLa, 48.96 µg/ml in HCT116 and 76.83 µg/ml in HFF. The EC50 for CuFe2O4/MCM-41/curcumin/cisplatin was 72.51 µg/ml in MCF7, 58.6 µg/ml in HeLa, 62.58 µg/ml in HCT116 and 154.2 µg/ml in HFF. Furthermore, cells treated with both nanocomposites had a high number of cleaved Caspase 3-positive cells suggesting that the reduction in cell viability was triggered by activating the apoptotic signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Our results show that CuFe2O4/MCM-41/curcumin/cisplatin is a better candidate for combinational drug therapy due to its lowest EC50 value and the wider difference in EC50 (a fold change) between cancerous and non-cancerous cell line.

Nanoarchitectonics: Complexes and Conjugates of Platinum Drugs with Silicon Containing Nanocarriers. An Overview

The development in the area of novel anticancer prodrugs (conjugates and complexes) has attracted growing attention from many research groups. The dangerous side effects of currently used anticancer drugs, including cisplatin and other platinum based drugs, as well their systemic toxicity is a driving force for intensive search and presents a safer way in delivery platform of active molecules. Silicon based nanocarriers play an important role in achieving the goal of synthesis of the more effective prodrugs. It is worth to underline that silicon based platform including silica and silsesquioxane nanocarriers offers higher stability, biocompatibility of such the materials and pro-longed release of active platinum drugs. Silicon nanomaterials themselves are well-known for improving drug delivery, being themselves non-toxic, and versatile, and tailored surface chemistry. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art within constructs of silicon-containing nano-carriers conjugated and complexed with platinum based drugs. Contrary to a number of other reviews, it stresses the role of nano-chemistry as a primary tool in the development of novel prodrugs.

Lipid, polymeric, inorganic-based drug delivery applications for platinum-based anticancer drugs

The three main FDA-approved platinum drugs in chemotherapy such as carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin are extensively applied in cancer treatments. Although the clinical applications of platinum-based drugs are extremely effective, their toxicity profile restricts their extensive application. Therefore, recent studies focus on developing new platinum drug formulations, expanding the therapeutic aspect. In this sense, recent advances in the development of novel drug delivery carriers will help with the increase of drug stability and biodisponibility, concomitantly with the reduction of drug efflux and undesirable secondary toxic effects of platinum compounds. The present review describes the state of the art of platinum drugs with their biological effects, pre- and clinical studies, and novel drug delivery nanodevices based on lipids, polymers, and inorganic.

EGFR/VEGFR-2 dual inhibitor and apoptotic inducer: Design, synthesis, anticancer activity and docking study of new 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4one derivatives

AIMS

EGFR and VEGFR-2 have emerged as promising targets for cancer management as they play a crucial role in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. A novel series of 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as apoptotic inducers and EGFR/VEGFR-2 dual inhibitors.

MAIN METHODS

The cytotoxic activities of all synthesized compounds were tested against MCF-7, HepG2 and A549 cell lines. The molecular mechanism of the most promising cytotoxic compounds was investigated via a series of assays including in vitro EGFR and VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity in MCF-7 cell line. Additionally, levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 7, 9 as well as cell cycle analysis were assessed in MCF-7 cell line to gain better understanding of their apoptotic activity. Molecular docking study was carried out to predict binding pattern of these compounds with EGFR and VEGFR-2 active sites. Finally, in silico ADME and drug-likeness profiling were calculated.

KEY FINDINGS

Compounds 6 and 8a exhibited superior cytotoxic activity compared to sorafenib and erlotinib, against the three tested cell lines. In the same context, 6 and 8a showed better EGFR and VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity compared to the reference compounds. The later effect was further supported by the docking study. Furthermore, these compounds displayed potent apoptotic activity as evident by cell accumulation at pre-G1 phase and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase together with increased p53, caspae-7 and caspase-9 levels and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Finally, synthesized compounds have acceptable drug likeness.

SIGNIFICANCE

Compounds 6 and 8a act as potent dual EGFR/VEGFR-2 inhibitors with evident apoptotic activity.

Novel HDAC/Tubulin Dual Inhibitor: Design, Synthesis and Docking Studies of α-Phthalimido-Chalcone Hybrids as Potential Anticancer Agents with Apoptosis-Inducing Activity

Introduction

In order to develop novel anticancer HDAC/tubulin dual inhibitors, a novel series of α-phthalimido-substituted chalcones-based hybrids was synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.

Methods

All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HepG2 human cancer cell lines using MTT assay. To explore the mechanism of action of the synthesized compounds, in vitro β-tubulin polymerization and HDAC 1 and 2 inhibitory activity were measured for the most potent anticancer hybrids. Further, cell cycle analysis was also evaluated.

Results

The trimethoxy derivative 7j showed the most potent anticancer activity, possessed the most potent β-tubulin polymerase and HDAC 1 and 2 inhibitory activity and efficiently induced cell cycle arrest at both G2/M and preG1phases in the MCF-7 cell line.