Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial and anti-diabetic activity of berberine encapsulated in guar-acacia gum nanocomplexes

In the present study, the anti-diabetic and antimicrobial properties of berberine were improved using non-ionic guar gum and ionic acacia gum as nanocarriers. Berberine loaded guar-acacia gum nanocomplexes were synthesized by employing ionic complexation method. The formulation was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated for in vitro dissolution study, anti-diabetic activity and antimicrobial activity. The optimized berberine loaded guar-acacia gum nanocomplexes had a particle size of 290.2 nm as indicated by DLS and drug entrapment efficiency of 96.5%. Morphological analysis revealed that berberine nanocomplexes were spherical-shaped with a smooth surface and size in the range of 100–250 nm. Moreover, berberine loaded guar-acacia nanocomplexes showed good stability and controlled released property in vitro. Antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains and fungal strains demonstrated the higher antimicrobial potential of berberine loaded gum nanocomplexes than gum nanocomplexes (blank) and pure berberine as indicated by the greater zone of inhibition diameter. In vitro anti-diabetic assessment showed higher percentage inhibition of the α-amylase enzyme by berberine loaded gum nanocomplexes as compared to pure berberine and blank nanocomplexes. In conclusion, the improved biological potency of berberine upon encapsulation into gum nanocomplexes indicates that berberine loaded guar-acacia gum nanocomplexes can be used as a promising candidate against diabetes and pathogenic microorganisms in the near future.

Expatiating the Pharmacological and Nanotechnological Aspects of the Alkaloidal Drug Berberine: Current and Future Trends

Traditionally, herbal compounds have been the focus of scientific interest for the last several centuries, and continuous research into their medicinal potential is underway. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from plants that possess a broad array of medicinal properties, including anti-diarrheal, anti-fibrotic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects, and is frequently utilized as a traditional Chinese medicine. BBR promotes metabolisms of glucose and lipids by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, stimulating glycolysis and inhibiting functions of mitochondria; all of these ameliorate type 2 diabetes mellitus. BBR has also been shown to have benefits in congestive heart failure, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. BBR has been investigated as an interesting pharmacophore with the potential to contribute significantly to the research and development of novel therapeutic medicines for a variety of disorders. Despite its enormous therapeutic promise, the clinical application of this alkaloid was severely limited because of its unpleasant pharmacokinetic characteristics. Poor bioavailability, limited absorption, and poor water solubility are some of the obstacles that restricted its use. Nanotechnology has been suggested as a possible solution to these problems. The present review aims at recent updates on important therapeutic activities of BBR and different types of nanocarriers used for the delivery of BBR in different diseases.

Fabrication, characterization and in vitro cell exposure study of zein-chitosan nanoparticles for co-delivery of curcumin and berberine

For the first time, we synthesized the co-delivery nanopolymers using zein protein as the core and chitosan polysaccharide as the shell to deliver curcumin (Cur) and berberine (Ber) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. It has been shown that Cur and Ber altogether have synergistic effects on multiple cancers. Herein, the curcumin-zein-berberine-chitosan (Cur-Z-Ber-Ch) nanoparticles were fabricated and their organization procedure was reported. Physicochemical properties of synthesized nanoparticles were determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, XRD and fluorescence spectroscopy analyses. The nanoparticles included relatively small particles (d = 168.24 nm) with +36.76 mV zeta potential. The resulting nanoparticles had high entrapment efficiency (about 75%) for Cur and 60% for Ber. The Cur-Z-Ber-Ch nanoparticles represented ideal redispersibility and storage stability after 4 months. Drug release of the freeze-dried nanoparticles had pH-sensitive characteristic. In vitro cytoxicity assay demonstrated that Cur-Z-Ber-Ch nanoparticles induced elevated cytotoxic effect in MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cells. In vitro studies in MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated that the Cur-Z-Ber-Ch nanoparticles could successfully increase cellular uptake and apoptosis with significant inhibition of IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines in comparison to the free Cur + Ber bioactive molecules. These bio-nanoparticles are the co-delivery vehicle for Cur and Ber which could be beneficial for participating them into pharmaceutical products.

Applying Box-Behnken Design for Formulation and Optimization of PLGA-Coffee Nanoparticles and Detecting Enhanced Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities

In an attempt to prove biological activity enhancement upon particle size reduction to the nanoscale, coffee (Cf) was chosen to be formulated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) using the single emulsion-solvent evaporation (SE-SE) method via Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to study the impact of certain process and formulation parameters on the particle size and size homogeneity, surface stability and encapsulation efficiency (EE%). The coffee-loaded PLGA (PLGA-Cf) NPs were characterized by different methods to aid in selecting the optimum formulation conditions. The desirable physicochemical characteristics involved small particle sizes with an average of 318.60 ± 5.65 nm, uniformly distributed within a narrow range (PDI of 0.074 ± 0.015), with considerable stability (Zeta Potential of -20.50 ± 0.52 mV) and the highest EE% (85.92 ± 4.01%). The antioxidant and anticancer activities of plain PLGA NPs, pure Cf and the optimum PLGA-Cf NPs, were evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, respectively. As a result of nano-encapsulation, antioxidant activity was enhanced by 26.5%. Encapsulated Cf showed higher anticancer potency than pure Cf against different cancerous cell lines with an increase of 86.78%, 78.17%, 85.84% and 84.84% against MCF-7, A-549, HeLa and HepG-2, respectively. The in vitro release followed the Weibull release model with slow and biphasic release profile in both tested pH media, 7.4 and 5.5.

Nanotechnological approach to delivering nutraceuticals as promising drug candidates for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is Caesar's sword, which poses a huge risk to the present generation. Understanding the atherosclerotic disease cycle would allow ensuring improved diagnosis, better care, and treatment. Unfortunately, a highly effective and safe way of treating atherosclerosis in the medical community remains a continuous challenge. Conventional treatments have shown considerable success, but have some adverse effects on the human body. Natural derived medications or nutraceuticals have gained immense popularity in the treatment of atherosclerosis due to their decreased side effects and toxicity-related issues. In hindsight, the contribution of nutraceuticals in imparting enhanced clinical efficacy against atherosclerosis warrants more experimental evidence. On the other hand, nanotechnology and drug delivery systems (DDS) have revolutionized the way therapeutics are performed and researchers have been constantly exploring the positive effects that DDS brings to the field of therapeutic techniques. It could be as exciting as ever to apply nano-mediated delivery of nutraceuticals as an additional strategy to target the atherosclerotic sites boasting high therapeutic efficiency of the nutraceuticals and fewer side effects.

Further Evidence of Possible Therapeutic Uses of Sambucus nigra L. Extracts by the Assessment of the In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Its PLGA and PCL-Based Nanoformulations

Sambucus nigra L. is widely used in traditional medicine with different applications. However, confirmative studies are strongly required. This study aimed to assess the biological activities of the S. nigra flower's extract encapsulated into two different types of nanoparticles for optimizing its properties and producing further evidence of its potential therapeutic uses. Different nanoparticles (poly(lactide-co-glycolide, PLGA) and poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), both with oleic acid, were prepared by emulsification/solvent diffusion and solvent-displacement methods, respectively. Oleic acid was used as a capping agent. After the nanoparticles' preparation, they were characterized and the biological activities were studied in terms of collagenase, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, and in vitro cell viability. Rutin and naringenin were found to be the major phenolic compounds in the studied extract. The encapsulation efficiency was higher than 76% and revealed to have an impact on the release of the extract, mainly for the PLGA. Moreover, biochemical and histopathological analyses confirmed that the extract-loaded PLGA-based nanoparticles displayed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. In addition to supporting the previously reported evidence of potential therapeutic uses of S. nigra, these results could draw the pharmaceutical industry's interest to the novelty of the nanoproducts.

Improving sciatic nerve regeneration by using alginate/chitosan hydrogel containing berberine

Peripheral nerve injuries are the common results of trauma that lead to pain and handicap in patients. Berberine due to its properties like antibiotic, immunostimulant, antitumor, antimotility, and positive effect on neurological disorders can be used to enhance peripheral nerve injuries. In this study, alginate/chitosan hydrogel containing different concentrations of berberine (0, 0.1, 1, 10% (w/v)) was created, evaluated, and applied as a scaffold for sciatic nerve regeneration. To prepare hydrogel, sodium alginate was dissolved in distilled water and cross-linked with CaCl2, and chitosan was dissolved in acetic acid and cross-linked with β-glycerol phosphate. The structure, release, swelling, weight loss, cytocompatibility, and hemocompatibility of the prepared hydrogels were assessed. The sciatic nerve crush was created in rats and fabricated hydrogels were injected, and functional analysis was used to evaluate their effectiveness. The results of physical characterization of the hydrogel indicated that the initial average pore size was about 39 μm and about 70% of the main weight of hydrogels was lost after incubation for 21 days and hemocompatibility of hydrogels was also confirmed. The MTT assay showed the cytocompatiblity of hydrogels and also indicated that berberine has dose-dependence effect on cell proliferation. The in vivo results showed the positive effect of berberine especially the hydrogel contained 1% of berberine on regeneration of sciatic nerve. Based on this study, Alg/Chit hydrogel can be applied as a treatment to heal peripheral nerve injuries. Graphical abstract.

Nanoparticles based on complex of berberine chloride and polymethacrylic or polyacrylic acid with antioxidant and in vitro antitumor activities

Berberine chloride (Brb) is a natural isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid that displayed a set of beneficial biological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Brb is poorly soluble in water and body fluids and its intestinal absorption is very low, which predetermine its low bioavailability. Polymeric nanoparticles seem to be a good platform to overcome these drawbacks. In this study, for the first time, stable aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles (NPs) based on complexes of Brb and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), were successfully prepared by mixing their dilute aqueous solutions as evidenced by the performed dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. It was found that the mean diameter and zeta potential of NPs depended on the Brb molar fraction. In the case of Brb/PMA and Brb/PAA NPs the encapsulation efficiency was observed to approach a maximum value of 58.9 ± 0.5% and of 78.4 ± 0.9%, respectively, at values of Brb molar fraction at which maximum amount of complexes was obtained. The performed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that Brb incorporated in the NPs was in the amorphous state. The Brb release profile was pH-dependent. The Brb-containing NPs displayed good antioxidant capacity close to that of free Brb. In vitro cell viability studies demonstrated that the Brb/PMA (PAA) NPs exerted a higher cytotoxicity against HeLa tumor cell than non-tumor BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Thus, the obtained NPs are promising candidates in the drug delivery systems in the treatment of cervical tumors.

Berberine as a potential autophagy modulator

Today, pharmacognosy is considered a valuable science in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Among herbals, Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in the Berberis species. Surprisingly, it shows antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiarrheal, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory potential. Furthermore, it diminishes drug resistance in cancer therapy and enhances tumor suppression in part through autophagy and cell cycle arrest mechanisms. In the present review, we discuss the effect of berberine on diverse cellular pathways and describe how berberine acts as an autophagy modulator to adjust physiologic and pathologic conditions and diminishes drug resistance in cancer therapy.

Dual-functionalised shellac nanocarriers give a super-boost of the antimicrobial action of berberine

We have developed highly efficient antimicrobial nanocarriers for berberine (BRB) based on shellac nanoparticles (NPs) which were surface-functionalised with a surface active polymer, Poloxamer 407 (P407), and the cationic surfactant octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTAB). These shellac nanocarriers were produced in a two-step process which involves: (i) a pH change from aqueous ammonium shellac solution using P407 as a steric stabilizer in the presence of berberine chloride, and (ii) addition of ODTAB to yield shellac nanocarriers of cationic surface. We determined the BRB encapsulation efficiency and release profiles from such nanocarriers. We explored the antimicrobial action of these nanocarriers at different stages of their preparation which allowed us gain better understanding how they work, fine tune their design and reveal the impact of the nanoparticle coatings on to its antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial action of BRB loaded within such shellac NPs with cationic surface functionality was examined on three different microorganisms, C. reinhardtii, S. cerevisiae and E. coli and compared with the effect of free BRB as well as non-coated BRB-loaded nanocarriers at the same BRB concentrations. We found that the cationic surface coating of the shellac NPs strongly amplified the efficiency of the encapsulated BRB across all tested microorganisms. The effect was attributed to the increased attraction between the ODTAB-coated BRB-loaded NPs and the anionic surface of the cell walls which delivers locally high BRB concentration. This nanotechnological approach could lead to more effective antimicrobial and disinfecting agents, dental formulations for plaque control, wound dressings, antialgal/antibiofouling formulations and antifungal agents.

Milk-derived multi-fluorescent graphene quantum dot-based cancer theranostic system

An economical green-chemistry approach was used for the synthesis of aqueous soluble graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from cow milk for simultaneous imaging and drug delivery in cancer. The GQDs synthesized using one-pot microwave-assisted heating were multi-fluorescent, spherical in shape having a lateral size of ca. 5nm. The role of processing parameters such as heating time and ionic strength showed a profound effect on photoluminescence properties of GQDs. The GQDs were N-doped and oxygen-rich as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Cysteamine hydrochloride (Cys) was used to attach an anti-cancer drug berberine hydrochloride (BHC) on GQDs forming GQDs@Cys-BHC complex with c.a. 88% drug loading efficiency. In vitro drug release was studied at the acidic-basic environment and drug kinetics was studied using pharmacokinetic statistical models. The GQDs were biocompatible on L929 cells whereas theranostic GQDs@Cys-BHC complex showed a potent cytotoxic effect on different cancerous cell line models: cervical cancer cell lines such as HeLa cells and breast cancer cells such as MDA-MB-231 confirmed by Trypan blue and MTT-based cytotoxic assays. Furthermore, multi-excitation based cellular bioimaging was demonstrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence microscopy using GQDs as well as GQDs@Cys-BHC complex. Thus, drug delivery (therapeutic) and bioimaging (diagnostic) properties of GQDs@Cys-BHC complex are thought to have a potential in vitro theranostic application in cancer therapy.

Silver nanoparticle loaded PLGA composite nanoparticles for improving therapeutic efficacy of recombinant IFNγ by targeting the cell surface

The field of medical science has advanced significantly with the discoveries of new drugs and the development of sophisticated biomedical tools; still cancer therapy remains one of the major hurdles currently. Herein, we report a new approach, which exhibits complementary anti-cancer effects of recombinant IFNγ protein and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) when loaded together in PLGA composite NPs (GST IFNγ-Ag PLGA NPs). IFNγ acts as an antiviral and tumoricidal agent. To augment therapeutic efficacy, IFNγ was cloned, purified as GST tagged IFNγ recombinant protein, and immobilized on the composite NPs preloaded with Ag NPs. The NPs were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Finally, the composite NPs were delivered into two different human cancer cell types, HeLa (cervical cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells. Our results demonstrated that the recombinant IFNγ could block the cell cycle at the G1 phase and its anticancer activity could be potentiated in the presence of Ag NPs. The interaction between the recombinant IFNγ with its cell surface receptors facilitated the delivery of the composite NPs, and thus the combination of the duos ultimately led to induction of apoptosis in the cancer cells.