Doxorubicin conjugates: a practical approach for its cardiotoxicity alleviation

INTRODUCTION

Doxorubicin (DOX) emerges as a cornerstone in the arsenal of potent chemotherapeutic agents. Yet, the clinical deployment of DOX is tarnished by its proclivity to induce severe cardiotoxic effects, culminating in heart failure and other consequential morbidities. In response, a panoply of strategies has undergone rigorous exploration over recent decades, all aimed at attenuating DOX's cardiotoxic impact. The advent of encapsulating DOX within lipidic or polymeric nanocarriers has yielded a dual triumph, augmenting DOX's therapeutic efficacy while mitigating its deleterious side effects.

AREAS COVERED

Recent strides have spotlighted the emergence of DOX conjugates as particularly auspicious avenues for ameliorating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. These conjugates entail the fusion of DOX through physical or chemical bonds with diminutive natural or synthetic moieties, polymers, biomolecules, and nanoparticles. This spectrum encompasses interventions that impinge upon DOX's cardiotoxic mechanism, modulate cellular uptake and localization, confer antioxidative properties, or refine cellular targeting.

EXPERT OPINION

The endorsement of DOX conjugates as a compelling stratagem to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity resounds from this exegesis, amplifying safety margins and the therapeutic profile of this venerated chemotherapeutic agent. Within this ambit, DOX conjugates stand as a beacon of promise in the perpetual pursuit of refining chemotherapy-induced cardiac compromise.

Preparation of novel shell-ionotropically crosslinked micelles based on hexadecylamine and tripolyphosphate for cancer drug delivery

AIMS

Micellar systems have the advantage of being easily prepared, cheap, and readily loadable with bioactive molecular cargo. However, their fundamental pitfall is poor stability, particularly under dilution conditions. We propose to use simple quaternary ammonium surfactants, namely, hexadecylamine (HDA) and hexadecylpyridinium (HDAP), together with tripolyphosphate (TPP) anion, to generate ionotropically stabilized micelles capable of drug delivery into cancer cells.

METHODS

optimized mixed HDA/HDAP micelles were prepared and stabilized with TPP. Curcumin was used as a loaded model drug. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, their cellular uptake was assessed using flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

The prepared nanoparticles were found to be stable under dilution and at high temperatures and to have a size range from 139 nm to 580 nm, depending on pH (4.6-7.4), dilution (up to 100 times), and temperature (25 - 80 °C). They were effective at delivering their load into cancer cells. Additionally, flow cytometry indicated the resulting stabilized micellar nanoparticles to be non-cytotoxic.

CONCLUSIONS

The described novel stabilized micelles are simple to prepare and viable for cancer delivery.

In vitro dissolution equivalence of Jordanian sildenafil generics via validated, stability-indicating HPLC method

This study was conducted to compare dissolution profiles of four Jordanian registered sildenafil (SDF) products to the originator. Dissolution samples were analyzed utilizing a validated and stability-indicating HPLC method in human plasma. Validation was performed for specificity, linearity, limit of detection, lower limit of quantification, precision, trueness and stability. SDF was extracted from plasma samples using liquid-liquid extraction. The analysis was performed utilizing isocratic elution on C18 column with 1.0 ml/min flow rate. The regression value was ∼0.999 over 3 days with drug recovery between 86.6 to 89.8%with 10 ng/ml lower limit of quantitation. This method displayed a good selectivity of SDF with improved stability under various conditions. The method was used for SDF quantification in dissolution medium. Similarity factors for local products varied according to the used mediums, but all SDF local products passed the dissolution in vitro test since all of them showed a released of >85% after 60 min at the dissolution mediums.

Liposome bilayer stability: emphasis on cholesterol and its alternatives

Liposomes are spherical lipidic nanocarriers composed of natural or synthetic phospholipids with a hydrophobic bilayer and aqueous core, which are arranged into a polar head and a long hydrophobic tail, forming an amphipathic nano/micro-particle. Despite numerous liposomal applications, their use encounters many challenges related to the physicochemical properties strongly affected by their constituents, colloidal stability, and interactions with the biological environment. This review aims to provide a perspective and a clear idea about the main factors that regulate the liposomes' colloidal and bilayer stability, emphasising the roles of cholesterol and its possible alternatives. Moreover, this review will analyse strategies that offer possible approaches to provide more stable in vitro and in vivo liposomes with enhanced drug release and encapsulation efficiencies.

Preparation, Optimization and In vitro Evaluation of Doxorubicin-loaded into Hyaluronic Acid Coated Niosomes Against Breast Cancer

Doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used against solid tumors. Niosomes are self-assembled nanocarriers of non-ionic surfactants. DOX loaded into cationic niosomes (DOX-Nio) was prepared via thin film hydration method. DOX-Nio was then decorated with a hyaluronic acid (DOX-HA-Nio) via electrostatic interaction. DOX-Nio and DOX-HA-Nio displayed a particle size of 120.0±1.02 and 182.9±2.3 nm, and charge of + 35.5±0.15 and -15.6±0.25 mV, respectively, with PDI < 0.3. DOX-HA-Nio showed a good stability regarding size and charge over 4 weeks at 4 °C and maintain their integrity after lyophilization. HPLC results showed a 94.1±4.2 % encapsulation efficiency of DOX with good entrapment and slow, prolonged DOX release even after 48 hrs. Cell viability assay showed an IC50 of 14.26 nM for the DOX-HA-Nio against MCF-7 cell line with micromolar IC50 results against CD-44 negative cell lines (NIH/3T3). DOX-HA-Nio was proven to be an effective, targeted nanocarrier for DOX against MCF-7 cell line.

Dual stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles combining soluplus and chitosan for enhanced breast cancer targeting

A dual stimuli-responsive nanocarrier was developed from smart biocompatible chitosan and soluplus graft copolymers. The copolymerization was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The optimized chitosan-soluplus nanoparticles (CS-SP NPs) were further used for the encapsulation of a poorly water-soluble anticancer drug. Tamoxifen citrate (TC) was used as the model drug and it was loaded in CS-SP NPs. TC CS-SP NPs were characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and physical stability. The nanoparticles showed homogenous spherical features with a size around 94 nm, a slightly positive zeta potential, and an encapsulation efficiency around 96.66%. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity confirmed that the created nano-system is smart and exhibits pH and temperature-responsive behavior. In vitro cellular uptake was evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The nanoparticles revealed a triggered increase in size upon reaching the lower critical solution temperature of SP, with 70% of drug release at acidic pH and 40 °C within the first hour and a 3.5-fold increase in cytotoxicity against MCF7 cells incubated at 40 °C. The cellular uptake study manifested that the prepared nanoparticles succeeded in delivering drug molecules to MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In summary, the distinctive characteristics provided by these novel CS-SP NPs result in a promising nano-platform for effective drug delivery in cancer treatment.

Development and validation of reversed-phase-HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of fulvestrant and disulfiram in liposomes

This study aims to develop and validate an HPLC technique for the determination of fulvestrant and disulfiram in liposomes. Encapsulation of both drugs into liposomes may improve their anticancer potential. Validation was performed following the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for specificity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, accuracy and robustness. Method specificity displayed no interference and linearity over 25-200 and 12.5-100 μg/ml for fulvestrant and disulfiram, respectively. Precision and accuracy exhibited a low relative standard deviation (<1.70%) and appropriate recovery. The validated method could be designated as a proper method for the simultaneous determination of fulvestrant and disulfiram in liposomes. The liposomes displayed 148.5 ± 5.1 nm size. The encapsulation efficiencies were 73.52 and 50.50% for fulvestrant and disulfiram, respectively.

Aptasensors: employing molecular probes for precise medical diagnostics and drug monitoring

Accurate detection and monitoring of therapeutic drug levels are vital for effective patient care and treatment management. Aptamers, composed of single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules, are integral components of biosensors designed for both qualitative and quantitative detection of biological samples. Aptasensors play crucial roles in target identification, validation, detection of drug-target interactions and screening potential of drug candidates. This review focuses on the pivotal role of aptasensors in early disease detection, particularly in identifying biomarkers associated with various diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases and cardiovascular disorders. Aptasensors have demonstrated exceptional potential in enhancing disease diagnostics and monitoring therapeutic drug levels. Aptamer-based biosensors represent a transformative technology in the field of healthcare, enabling precise diagnostics, drug monitoring and disease detection.

Preparation, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity of PEGylated Nano Liposomal Loaded with Rutin against Human Carcinoma Cells (HT-29)

The abstract discusses the development of rutin-loaded nanoliposomes and their anti-colorectal cancer activity against human carcinoma cells (HT-29). The study characterizes the nanoliposomes using the thin-film hydration method and analyzes their size, charge, and polydispersity index. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading ability of rutin at different concentrations were investigated. The nanoliposomes were found to be stable for up to one month at 4 °C and showed sustained drug release for up to 24 h. The anti-cancer activity of the rutin-loaded nanoliposomes was found to be concentration-dependent and significantly improved compared to free rutin. PEGylated nanoliposomes with rutin (1.8 mg/ml) showed the highest encapsulation efficiency and drug loading ability, along with improved selectivity against cancer cells. Overall, the study provides important insights into the potential use of rutin-loaded nanoliposomes for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Synergistic combination of doxorubicin with hydralazine, and disulfiram against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Disulfiram and hydralazine have recently been reported to have anti-cancer action, and repositioned to be used as adjuvant in cancer therapy. Chemotherapy combined with other medications, such as those that affect the immune system or epigenetic cell profile, can overcome resistance with fewer adverse effects compared to chemotherapy alone. In the present study, a combination of doxorubicin (DOX) with hydrazine (Hyd) and disulfiram (Dis), as a triple treatment, was evaluated against wild-type and DOX-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Both wild-type MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7_WT) and DOX-resistant MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7_DoxR) were treated with different combination ratios of DOX, Dis, and Hyd followed by measuring the cell viability using the MTT assay. Synergism was determined using a combination index, isobologram analysis, and dose-reducing index. The anti-proliferation activity and mechanism of the triple combination were investigated by apoptosis analysis. The results showed a reduction in the IC50 values of DOX in MCF-7_WT cells (from 0.24 μM to 0.012 μM) and MCF-7_DoxR cells (from 1.13 μM to 0.44 μM) when treated with Dis (0.03μM), and Hyd (20μM) combination. Moreover, The triple combination DOX/Hyd/Dis induced significant apoptosis in both MCF-7_WT and MCF-7_DoxR cells compared to DOX alone. The triple combination of DOX, Dis, and Hyd showed a synergistic drugs combination to decrease the DOX dose needed to kill both MCF-7_WT and MCF-7_DoxR cancer cells and enhanced chemosensitivity to DOX.

Development and validation of Ran as a prognostic marker in stage I and stage II primary breast cancer

PURPOSE

Existing prognostic biomarkers are inadequate for stratifying breast cancer patients with the highest risk of tumor progression at the time of diagnosis. Here, we demonstrate that the small GTPase Ran has predictive value for breast cancer (BC) patients as a whole, and for specific BC subtypes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ran expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry in 263 patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed at the Breast Unit, Royal Liverpool Hospital. Additionally as an independent validation, we also analyzed the mRNA expressions of Ran, ER, PR, and Cerb-2, the triple-negative endocrine receptors, and their associations with patient survival in a combined patient cohorts of multiple public datasets (n = 1079). We analyzed the data with Spearman's rank correlation and Kaplan-Meier plots coupled with Wilcoxon-Gehan tests, respectively. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Ran nuclear, cytoplasmic, and total staining are substantially associated with poor survival, independent of conventional prognostic markers such as estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and lymph node status. According to the datasets, Ran was significantly correlated with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).

CONCLUSION

We found that Ran expression is a unique predictive biomarker for patient survival, metastasis, and tumor relapse. This biomarker could be used for diagnostic purposes, using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy samples from breast cancer patients in the early stages.

Biological Performance of Primary Dental Pulp Stem Cells Treated with Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are one of the most stable nanoparticles that have been prevalently used as examples for biological and biomedical applications. Herein, we evaluate the effect of AuNPs on the biological processes of dental pulp stem cells derived from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Two different shapes of PEGylated AuNPs, rods (AuNR-PEG) and spheres (AuNS-PEG), were prepared and characterized. SHED cells were treated with different concentrations of AuNR-PEG and AuNS-PEG to determine their effect on the stemness profile of stem cells (SCs), proliferation, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), for cells cultured in media containing-fetal bovine serum (FBS) and serum-free media (SFM). Our results showed that both nanoparticle shapes maintained the expression profile of MSC surface markers. Moreover, AuNS-PEG showed a stimulatory effect on the proliferation rate and lower toxicity on SHED, compared to AuNR-PEG. Higher concentrations of 0.5-0.125 nM of AuNR-PEG have been demonstrated to cause more toxicity in cells. Additionally, cells treated with AuNPs and cultured in FBS showed a higher proliferative rate and lower toxicity when compared to the SFM. For cellular uptake, both AuNS-PEG and AuNR-PEG were uptaken by treated cells efficiently. However, cells cultured in SFM media showed a higher percentage of cellular uptake. For ROS, AuNR-PEG showed a significant reduction in ROS at lower concentrations (<0.03 nM), while AuNS-PEG did not show any significant difference compared to the control untreated cells. Thus, our results give evidence about the optimum concentration and shape of AuNPs that can be used for the differentiation of stem cells into specific cell lineages in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Development of Pegylated Nano-Phytosome Formulation with Oleuropein and Rutin to Compare Anti-Colonic Cancer Activity with Olea Europaea Leaves Extract

Olive leaf extract is a valuable source of phenolic compounds; primarily, oleuropein (major component) and rutin. This natural olive leaf extract has potential use as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. However, its clinical application is hindered by poor pharmacokinetics and low stability. To overcome these limitations, this study aimed to enhance the anticancer activity and stability of oleuropein and rutin by loading them into PEGylated Nano-phytosomes. The developed PEGylated Nano-phytosomes exhibited favorable characteristics in terms of size, charge, and stability. Notably, the anticolonic cancer activity of the Pegylated Nano-phytosomes loaded with oleuropein (IC50=0.14 μM) and rutin (IC50=0.44 μM) surpassed that of pure oleuropein and rutin alone. This outcome highlights the advantageous impact of Nano-phytosomes to augment the anticancer potential of oleuropein and rutin. These results present a promising pathway for the future development of oleuropein and rutin Nano-phytosomes as effective options for passive tumor-targeted therapy, given their improved stability and efficacy.

Understanding the challenges to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment options, herd immunity and probability of reinfection

Unlike pandemics in the past, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which rapidly spread worldwide, was met with a different approach to control and measures implemented across affected countries. The lack of understanding of the fundamental nature of the outbreak continues to make COVID-19 challenging to manage for both healthcare practitioners and the scientific community. Challenges to vaccine development and evaluation, current therapeutic options, convalescent plasma therapy, herd immunity, and the emergence of reinfection and new variants remain the major obstacles to combating COVID-19. This review discusses these challenges in the management of COVID-19 at length and highlights the mechanisms needed to provide better understanding of this pandemic.

Formulating co-loaded nanoliposomes with gallic acid and quercetin for enhanced cancer therapy

Cancer is considered one of the top global causes of death. Natural products have been used in oncology medicine either in crude form or by utilizing isolated secondary metabolites. Biologically active phytomolecules such as gallic acid and quercetin have confirmed antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and neoplastic properties. There is an agreement that microorganisms could mediate oncogenesis or alter the immune system. This research project aims to develop a novel formulation of co-loaded gallic acid and quercetin into nanoliposomes and investigate the efficacy of the free and combined agents against multiple cancerous cell lines and bacterial strains. Thin-film hydration technique was adopted to synthesize the nanocarriers. Particle characteristics were measured using a Zetasizer. The morphology of nanoliposomes was examined by scanning electron microscopy, Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were evaluated using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Cytotoxicity was determined against Breast Cancer Cells MCF-7, Human Carcinoma Cells HT-29, and A549 Lung Cancer Cells. The antibacterial activities were evaluated against Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Therapeutic formulas were categorized into groups: free gallic acid, free quercetin, free-mix, and their nano-counterparts. Findings revealed that drug loading capacity was 0.204 for the mix formula compared to 0.092 and 0.68 for free gallic acid and quercetin, respectively. Regarding the Zeta potential, the mix formula showed more amphiphilic charge than the free quercetin and free gallic acid formulas (P-values 0.003 and 0.002 receptively). On the contrary, no significant difference in polydispersity indices was reported. Lung cancerous cells were the most affected by the treatments. The best estimated IC50 values were observed in breast and lung cancer lines for the nano-gallic acid and co-loaded particles. The nano-quercetin formula exhibited the least cytotoxicity with an IC50 value of ≥200 μg/mL in both breast (MCF-7) and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (HT-29) with no activity against the lung. A remarkable improvement in the efficacy of quercetin was measured after mixing it with gallic acid against the breast and lungs. The tested therapeutic agents exhibited antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Nano-liposomes can either enhance or reduce the cytotoxicity activity of active compounds depending on the physical and chemical properties of drug-loaded and type of cancer cells.

Impact of nanotechnology on the oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds

Nanotechnology is an advanced field that has remarkable nutraceutical and food applications. Phyto-bioactive compounds (PBCs) play critical roles in promoting health and disease treatment. However, PBCs generally encounter several limitations that delay their widespread application. For example, most PBCs have low aqueous solubility, poor biostability, poor bioavailability, and a lack of target specificity. Moreover, the high concentrations of effective PBC doses also limit their application. As a result, encapsulating PBCs into an appropriate nanocarrier may increase their solubility and biostability and protect them from premature degradation. Moreover, nanoencapsulation could improve absorption and prolong circulation with a high opportunity for targeted delivery that may decrease unwanted toxicity. This review addresses the main parameters, variables, and barriers that control and affect oral PBC delivery. Moreover, this review discusses the potential role of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers in improving the water solubility, chemical stability, bioavailability, and specificity/selectivity of PBCs.

Role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in oncogenesis

The signalling system known as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is believed to be required for several biological activities involving cell proliferation. The serine-threonine kinase identified as mTOR recognises PI3K-AKT stress signals. It is well established in the scientific literature that the deregulation of the mTOR pathway plays a crucial role in cancer growth and advancement. This review focuses on the normal functions of mTOR as well as its abnormal roles in cancer development.

Discovery of new STAT3 inhibitors as anticancer agents using ligand-receptor contact fingerprints and docking-augmented machine learning

STAT3 belongs to a family of seven vital transcription factors. High levels of STAT3 are detected in several types of cancer. Hence, STAT3 inhibition is considered a promising therapeutic anti-cancer strategy. In this work, we used multiple docked poses of STAT3 inhibitors to augment training data for machine learning QSAR modeling. Ligand-Receptor Contact Fingerprints and scoring values were implemented as descriptor variables. Escalating docking-scoring consensus levels were scanned against orthogonal machine learners, and the best learners (Random Forests and XGBoost) were coupled with genetic algorithm and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) to identify critical descriptors that determine anti-STAT3 bioactivity to be translated into pharmacophore model(s). Two successful pharmacophores were deduced and subsequently used for in silico screening against the National Cancer Institute (NCI) database. A total of 26 hits were evaluated in vitro for their anti-STAT3 bioactivities. Out of which, three hits of novel chemotypes, showed cytotoxic IC50 values in the nanomolar range (35 nM to 6.7 μM). However, two are potent dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors and therefore should have significant indirect STAT3 inhibitory effects. The third hit (cytotoxic IC50 = 0.44 μM) is purely direct STAT3 inhibitor (devoid of DHFR activity) and caused, at its cytotoxic IC50, more than two-fold reduction in the expression of STAT3 downstream genes (c-Myc and Bcl-xL). The presented work indicates that the concept of data augmentation using multiple docked poses is a promising strategy for generating valid machine learning models capable of discriminating active from inactive compounds.

Corrigendum: Pyrazolyl-s-triazine with indole motif as a novel of epidermal growth factor receptor/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 dual inhibitors

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1078163.].

Quality by Design Approach in Liposomal Formulations: Robust Product Development

Nanomedicine is an emerging field with continuous growth and differentiation. Liposomal formulations are a major platform in nanomedicine, with more than fifteen FDA-approved liposomal products in the market. However, as is the case for other types of nanoparticle-based delivery systems, liposomal formulations and manufacturing is intrinsically complex and associated with a set of dependent and independent variables, rendering experiential optimization a tedious process in general. Quality by design (QbD) is a powerful approach that can be applied in such complex systems to facilitate product development and ensure reproducible manufacturing processes, which are an essential pre-requisite for efficient and safe therapeutics. Input variables (related to materials, processes and experiment design) and the quality attributes for the final liposomal product should follow a systematic and planned experimental design to identify critical variables and optimal formulations/processes, where these elements are subjected to risk assessment. This review discusses the current practices that employ QbD in developing liposomal-based nano-pharmaceuticals.

Pyrazolyl-s-triazine with indole motif as a novel of epidermal growth factor receptor/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 dual inhibitors

A series of pyrazolyl-s-triazine compounds with an indole motif was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anticancer activity targeting dual EGFR and CDK-2 inhibitors. The compounds were tested for cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Compounds 3h, 3i, and 3j showed promising cytotoxic activity against two cancer cell lines, namely A549, MCF-7, and HDFs (non-cancerous human dermal fibroblasts). Compound 3j was the most active candidate against A549, with an IC₅₀ of 2.32 ± 0.21 μM. Compounds 3h and 3i were found to be the most active hybrids against MCF-7 and HDFs, with an IC₅₀ of 2.66 ± 0.26 μM and 3.78 ± 0.55 μM, respectively. Interestingly, 3i showed potent EGFR inhibition, with an IC₅₀ of 34.1 nM compared to Erlotinib (IC₅₀ = 67.3 nM). At 10 μM, this candidate caused 93.6% and 91.4% of EGFR and CDK-2 inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, 3i enhanced total lung cancer cell apoptosis 71.6-fold (43.7% compared to 0.61% for the control). Given the potent cytotoxicity exerted by 3i through apoptosis-mediated activity, this compound emerges as a promising target-oriented anticancer agent.

Effects of cyclic acute and chronic hypoxia on the expression levels of metabolism related genes in a pancreatic cancer cell line

The aim of this study was to characterize cycling hypoxia-induced changes in the expression of metabolism-related genes in the pancreatic cancer cell line PANC1. PANC1 cells were exposed to either 7 h cycles of hypoxia every other day for 20 cycles (cyclic acute hypoxia), or for 72 h cycles of hypoxia once a week for 5 cycles (cyclic chronic hypoxia). Changes in gene expression were profiled using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and compared to cells cultured under normoxic conditions. Western blotting analysis confirmed upregulation of HIF1-α, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, and ribokinase at the mRNA level. Upregulation in genes encoding enzymes involved in glycolysis was greater in cells cultured under cyclic acute hypoxia compared with cells cultured under chronic hypoxia including hexokinase2 and phosphoglycerate kinase 1. Genes encoding the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) enzymes (transketolase and transaldolase) were upregulated to a similar degree. The expression of genes encoding pyruvate dehydrogenases that block pyruvate flow to the TCA cycle was significantly upregulated. Thus, exposure of PANC1 cells to acute hypoxia resulted in the upregulation of genes that shift the metabolism of cells towards glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in adaptation to hypoxic stress.

Acetic Acid Mediated for One-Pot Synthesis of Novel Pyrazolyl s-Triazine Derivatives for the Targeted Therapy of Triple-Negative Breast Tumor Cells (MDA-MB-231) via EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Cascades

Here, we described the synthesis of novel pyrazole-s-triazine derivatives via an easy one-pot procedure for the reaction of β-dicarbonyl compounds (ethylacetoacetate, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadione or 1,3-cyclohexadionone) with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal, followed by addition of 2-hydrazinyl-4,6-disubstituted-s-triazine either in ethanol-acetic acid or neat acetic acid to afford a novel pyrazole and pyrazole-fused cycloalkanone systems. The synthetic protocol proved to be efficient, with a shorter reaction time and high chemical yield with broad substrates. The new pyrazolyl-s-triazine derivatives were tested against the following cell lines: MCF-7 (breast cancer); MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative breast cancer); U-87 MG (glioblastoma); A549 (non-small cell lung cancer); PANC-1 (pancreatic cancer); and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The cell viability assay revealed that most of the s-triazine compounds induced cytotoxicity in all the cell lines tested. However, compounds 7d, 7f and 7c, which all have a piperidine or morpholine moiety with one aniline ring or two aniline rings in their structures, were the most effective. Compounds 7f and 7d showed potent EGFR inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 59.24 and 70.3 nM, respectively, compared to Tamoxifen (IC₅₀ value of 69.1 nM). Compound 7c exhibited moderate activity, with IC₅₀ values of 81.6 nM. Interestingly, hybrids 7d and 7f exerted remarkable PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitory activity with 0.66/0.82/0.80 and 0.35/0.56/0.66-fold, respectively, by inhibiting their concentrations to 4.39, 37.3, and 69.3 ng/mL in the 7d-treatment, and to 2.39, 25.34 and 57.6 ng/mL in the 7f-treatment compared to the untreated control.

Noncovalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes as a scaffold for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering is one of the hot topics in recent research that needs special requirements. It depends on the development of scaffolds that allow tissue formation with certain characteristics, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-collagen composite attracted the attention of the researchers with this respect. However, CNTs suffer from low water dispersibility, which hampered their utilization. Therefore, we aim to functionalize CNTs non-covalently with pyrene moiety using an appropriate hydrophilic linker derivatized from polyethylene glycol (PEG) terminated with hydroxyl or carboxyl group to disperse them in water. The functionalization of the CNTs is successfully confirmed by TEM, absorption spectroscopy, TGA, and zeta potential analysis. 3T3 cells-based engineered connective tissues (ECTs) are generated with different concentrations of the functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs). These tissues show a significant enhancement in electrical conductivity at a concentration of 0.025%, however, the cell viability is reduced by about 10 to 20%. All ECTs containing f-CNTs show a significant reduction in tissue fibrosis and matrix porosity relative to the control tissues. Taken together, the developed constructs show great potential for further in vivo studies as engineered tissue.

Ciprofloxacin-loaded dissolving polymeric microneedles as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections

Microneedles have been widely studied for many topical and transdermal therapeutics due to their ability to painlessly puncture the skin, thereby bypassing the stratum corneum, the main skin barrier. In this study, ciprofloxacin (CIP) was loaded into dissolving polymeric microneedles prepared by a two-layer centrifugation method as a potential treatment of skin infections such as cellulitis. The polymers used were polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Two formulations were investigated, namely CIP_MN1, composed of 10 mg ciprofloxacin incorporated into a polymer matrix of PVA and PVP with a weight ratio of (9:1), and CIP_MN2, composed of 10 mg ciprofloxacin incorporated into PVA polymer. CIP_MN1 and CIP_MN2 showed a mean microneedle height of 188 and 179 µm, respectively. Since Parafilm has been proven as a model to examine the perforation of microneedles in skin, it was used to evaluate the ability of microneedles to perforate the skin. CIP_MN1 showed almost complete perforation of Parafilm, 190 pores, compared to CIP_MN2 which created only 85 pores in Parafilm, and therefore CIP_MN1 was used for subsequent studies. Examining CIP_MN1 on agarose gel as an in vitro model of human skin showed that the formula was able to fully perforate the agarose gel. Moreover, this formula showed significantly greater antimicrobial activity (p < 0.0001) compared to a free gel of ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus in an agarose gel-based model. This was evidenced by a zone of inhibition of 29 mm for the microneedle formulation of ciprofloxacin (CIP_MN1) compared to 2 mm for the free gel of ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, the CIP_MN1 showed complete dissolution in human skin after 60 min from application. Finally, the skin deposition of CIP_MN1 was investigated in ex vivo excised human skin. CIP_MN1 showed significantly more deposition of ciprofloxacin in deeper skin layers compared to the free gel of ciprofloxacin, and the released ciprofloxacin from the microneedles tends to migrate to deeper layers with time. Collectively, these results suggest that CIP_MN1 can be a potential delivery system for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections.

Liposomes: structure, composition, types, and clinical applications

Liposomes are now considered the most commonly used nanocarriers for various potentially active hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules due to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Liposomes also proved to enhance drug solubility and controlled distribution, as well as their capacity for surface modifications for targeted, prolonged, and sustained release. Based on the composition, liposomes can be considered to have evolved from conventional, long-circulating, targeted, and immune-liposomes to stimuli-responsive and actively targeted liposomes. Many liposomal-based drug delivery systems are currently clinically approved to treat several diseases, such as cancer, fungal and viral infections; more liposomes have reached advanced phases in clinical trials. This review describes liposomes structure, composition, preparation methods, and clinical applications.

Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Breast Milk: MicroRNA Contents and Potential Epigenetic Effects

Infants who are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of age receive adequate nutrients, achieving optimal immune protection and growth. In addition to the known nutritional components of human breast milk (HBM), i.e., water, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it is also a rich source of microRNAs, which impact epigenetic mechanisms. This comprehensive work presents an up-to-date overview of the immunomodulatory constituents of HBM, highlighting its content of circulating microRNAs. The epigenetic effects of HBM are discussed, especially those regulated by miRNAs. HBM contains more than 1400 microRNAs. The majority of these microRNAs originate from the lactating gland and are based on the remodeling of cells in the gland during breastfeeding. These miRNAs can affect epigenetic patterns by several mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA regulation, which could ultimately result in alterations in gene expressions. Therefore, the unique microRNA profile of HBM, including exosomal microRNAs, is implicated in the regulation of the genes responsible for a variety of immunological and physiological functions, such as FTO, INS, IGF1, NRF2, GLUT1 and FOXP3 genes. Hence, studying the HBM miRNA composition is important for improving the nutritional approaches for pregnancy and infant's early life and preventing diseases that could occur in the future. Interestingly, the composition of miRNAs in HBM is affected by multiple factors, including diet, environmental and genetic factors.

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

Since the ancient times, bee products (i.e., honey, propolis, pollen, bee venom, bee bread, and royal jelly) have been considered as natural remedies with therapeutic effects against a number of diseases. The therapeutic pleiotropy of bee products is due to their diverse composition and chemical properties, which is independent on the bee species. This has encouraged researchers to extensively study the therapeutic potentials of these products, especially honey. On the other hand, amid the unprecedented growth in nanotechnology research and applications, nanomaterials with various characteristics have been utilized to improve the therapeutic efficiency of these products. Towards keeping the bee products as natural and non-toxic therapeutics, the green synthesis of nanocarriers loaded with these products or their extracts has received a special attention. Alginate is a naturally produced biopolymer derived from brown algae, the desirable properties of which include biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. This review presents an overview of alginates, including their properties, nanoformulations, and pharmaceutical applications, placing a particular emphasis on their applications for the enhancement of the therapeutic effects of bee products. Despite the paucity of studies on fabrication of alginate-based nanomaterials loaded with bee products or their extracts, recent advances in the area of utilizing alginate-based nanomaterials and other types of materials to enhance the therapeutic potentials of bee products are summarized in this work. As the most widespread and well-studied bee products, honey and propolis have garnered a special interest; combining them with alginate-based nanomaterials has led to promising findings, especially for wound healing and skin tissue engineering. Furthermore, future directions are proposed and discussed to encourage researchers to develop alginate-based stingless bee product nanomedicines, and to help in selecting suitable methods for devising nanoformulations based on multi-criteria decision making models. Also, the commercialization prospects of nanocomposites based on alginates and bee products are discussed. In conclusion, preserving original characteristics of the bee products is a critical challenge in developing nano-carrier systems. Alginate-based nanomaterials are well suited for this task because they can be fabricated without the use of harsh conditions, such as shear force and freeze-drying, which are often used for other nano-carriers. Further, conjunction of alginates with natural polymers such as honey does not only combine the medicinal properties of alginates and honey, but it could also enhance the mechanical properties and cell adhesion capacity of alginates.

Synthesis of Mono-Amino Substituted γ-CD: Host–Guest Complexation and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Investigation

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides which can trap hydrophobic molecules and improve their chemical, physical, and biological properties. γ-CD showed the highest aqueous solubility with the largest cavity diameter among other CD types. The current study describes a direct and easy method for nucleophilic mono-aminos to be substituted with γ-CD and tested for their ability to host the guest curcumin (CUR) as a hydrophobic drug model. The mass spectrometry and NMR analyses showed the successful synthesis of three amino-modified γ-CDs: mono-6-amino-6-deoxy-cyclodextrine (γ-CD-NH₂), mono-6-deoxy-6-ethanolamine-γ-cyclodextrine (γ-CD-NHCH₂CH₂OH), and mono-6-deoxy-6-aminoethylamino)-γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD-NHCH₂CH₂NH₂). These three amino-modified γ-CDs were proven to be able to host CUR as native γ-CDs with formation constants equal to 6.70 ± 1.02, 5.85 ± 0.80, and 8.98 ± 0.90 mM⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, these amino-modified γ-CDs showed no significant toxicity against human dermal fibroblast cells. In conclusion, the current work describes a mono-substitution of amino-modified γ-CDs that can still host guests and showed low toxicity in human dermal fibroblasts cells. Therefore, the amino-modified γ-CDs can be used as a carrier host and be conjugated with a wide range of molecules for different biomedical applications, especially for active loading methods.

Preparation, characterization, and biological activity study of thymoquinone-cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complex

In this study, the formation of a host–guest inclusion complex between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and thymoquinone (TQ) was investigated in aqueous solution. The formation of a stable inclusion complex, CB[7]–TQ, was confirmed by using different techniques, such as ¹H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The aqueous solubility of TQ was clearly enhanced upon the addition of CB[7], which provided an initial indication for supramolecular complexation. The complexation stoichiometry and the binding constant of the inclusion complex were determined through a combination of two sets of titration methods, including UV-visible and fluorescence displacement titrations. Both methods suggested the formation of a 1 : 1 stoichiometry between CB[7] and TQ with moderate binding affinity of 3 × 10³ M⁻¹. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to verify the structure of the resulted host–guest complex and to support the complexation stoichiometry. The theoretical calculations were in agreement with experimental results obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Most importantly, the cytotoxic effect of the CB[7]–TQ complex was investigated against cancer and normal cell lines. The results showed that the anticancer activity of TQ against MDA-MB-231 cells was enhanced by the complexation with CB[7], while no significant effect was observed in MCF-7 cells. The results also confirmed the low toxicity of the CB[7] host molecule that supports the use of CB[7] as a drug carrier.

The host–guest inclusion complexation of thymoquinone by cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution is established, which results in an enhanced biological activity.

Cinnamaldehyde–cucurbituril complex: investigation of loading efficiency and its role in enhancing cinnamaldehyde in vitro anti-tumor activity

This study aimed to clarify the physico-chemical properties of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cinnamaldehyde (Cinn) inclusion complexes (CB[7]–Cinn) and their resulting antitumor activity.

Curcumin-tannic acid-poloxamer nanoassemblies enhance curcumin's uptake and bioactivity against cancer cells in vitro

Curcumin (CUR) is a bioactive natural compound with potent antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, its poor water solubility has been a major limitation against its widespread clinical use. The aim of this study was to develop a nanoscale formulation for CUR to improve its solubility and potentially enhance its bioactivity, by leveraging the self-assembly behavior of tannic acid (TA) and amphiphilic poloxamers to form CUR-entrapped nanoassemblies. To optimize drug loading, formulation variables included the CUR: TA ratio and the type of amphiphilic polymer (Pluronic® F-127 or Pluronic® P-123). The optimal CUR nanoparticles (NPs) were around 200 nm in size with a high degree of monodispersity and 56% entrapment efficiency. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of intermolecular interactions between CUR and the NP formulation components. X-ray diffraction revealed that CUR was entrapped in the NPs in an amorphous state. The NPs maintained excellent colloidal stability under various conditions. In vitro release of CUR from the NPs showed a biphasic controlled release pattern up to 72 h. Antioxidant and antiproliferative assays against a panel of human cancer cell lines revealed significantly higher activity for CUR NPs compared to free CUR, particularly in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. This was attributed to greater cellular uptake of the NPs compared to the free drug as verified by confocal microscopy imaging and flow cytometry measurements. Our findings present a highly promising NP delivery platform for CUR prepared via a simple self-assembly process with the ability to potentiate its bioactivity in cancer and other diseases where oxidative stress is implicated.

The role of TNFR2+ Tregs in COVID-19: An overview and a potential therapeutic strategy

COVID-19 is a multi-faceted disease ranging from asymptomatic to severely ill condition that primarily affects the lungs and could advance to other organs as well. It's causing factor, SARS-CoV-2 is recognized to develop robust cell-mediated immunity that responsible to either control or exaggerate the infection. As an important cell subset that control immune responses and are significantly dysregulated in COVID-19, Tregs is proposed to be considered for COVID-19 management. Among its hallmark, TNFR2 is recently recognized to play important role in the function and survival of Tregs. This review gathers available TNFR2 agonists to directly target Tregs as a potential approach to overcome immune dysregulation that affect the severity in COVID-19. Furthermore, this review performs a rigid body docking of TNF-TNFR2 interaction and such interaction with TNFR2 agonist to predict the optimal targeting approach.

Aptamer-Aptamer Chimera for Targeted Delivery and ATP-Responsive Release of Doxorubicin into Cancer Cells

Aptamers offer a great opportunity to develop innovative drug delivery systems that can deliver cargos specifically into targeted cells. In this study, a chimera consisting of two aptamers was developed to deliver doxorubicin into cancer cells and release the drug in cytoplasm in response to adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) binding. The chimera was composed of the AS1411 anti-nucleolin aptamer for cancer cell targeting and the ATP aptamer for loading and triggering the release of doxorubicin in cells. The chimera was first produced by hybridizing the ATP aptamer with its complementary DNA sequence, which is linked with the AS1411 aptamer via a poly-thymine linker. Doxorubicin was then loaded inside the hybridized DNA region of the chimera. Our results show that the AS1411-ATP aptamer chimera was able to release loaded doxorubicin in cells in response to ATP. In addition, selective uptake of the chimera into cancer cells was demonstrated using flow cytometry. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy showed the successful delivery of the doxorubicin loaded in chimeras to the nuclei of targeted cells. Moreover, the doxorubicin-loaded chimeras effectively inhibited the growth of cancer cell lines and reduced the cytotoxic effect on the normal cells. Overall, the results of this study show that the AS1411-ATP aptamer chimera could be used as an innovative approach for the selective delivery of doxorubicin to cancer cells, which may improve the therapeutic potency and decrease the off-target cytotoxicity of doxorubicin.

Preparation, Characterization, and Anticancer Effects of Capsaicin-Loaded Nanoliposomes

BACKGROUND

Medicinal plants have proven their value as a source of molecules with therapeutic potential, and recent studies have shown that capsaicin has profound anticancer effects in several types of human cancers. However, its clinical use is handicapped due to its poor pharmacokinetics. This study aims to enhance capsaicin's pharmacokinetic properties by loading the molecule into nanoliposomes model and testing its anticancer activity.

METHODS

Nanoliposomes were prepared using the thin-film method, and characteristics were examined followed by qualitative and quantitative analyses of encapsulation efficiency and drug loading using HPLC at different lipid/capsaicin ratios. Cell viability assay (MTT) was used to determine IC50.

RESULTS

Capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes showed optimum characteristics of morphology, particle size, zeta potential, and stability. In vitro anticancer activity of capsaicin and capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes were compared against MCF7, MDA-MB-231, K562, PANC1, and A375 cell lines. Capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes showed significant improvement in anticancer activity against cancers cell lines studied (p < 0.001), with increased selectivity against cancer cells compared to capsaicin.

CONCLUSION

The encapsulated capsaicin nanoliposomes produced an improvement in pharmacokinetics properties, enhancing the anticancer activity and selectivity compared with capsaicin. This model seems to offer a potential for developing capsaicin formulations for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Alleviation of diabetic nephropathy by zinc oxide nanoparticles in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats

This study examines the effect of nanoparticles with zinc oxides (ZnONPs) on diabetic nephropathy, which is the primary cause of mortality for diabetic patients with end‐stage renal disease. Diabetes in adult male rats was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. ZnONPs were intraperitoneally administered to diabetic rats daily for 7 weeks. Diabetes was associated with increases in blood glucose level, 24‐h urinary albumin excretion rate, glomerular basement membrane thickness, renal oxidative stress markers, and renal mRNA or protein expression of transforming growth factor‐β1, fibronectin, collagen‐IV, tumour necrosis factor‐α and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A. Moreover, the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 were decreased in the diabetic group. These changes were not detected in the control group and were significantly prevented by ZnONP treatment. These results provide evidence that ZnONPs ameliorate the renal damage induced in a diabetic rat model of nephropathy through improving renal functionality; inhibiting renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis; and delaying the development of podocyte injury. The present findings may help design the clinical application of ZnONPs for protection against the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Investigating the association of CD36 gene polymorphisms (rs1761667 and rs1527483) with T2DM and dyslipidemia: Statistical analysis, machine learning based prediction, and meta-analysis

CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) is a membrane protein involved in lipid metabolism and has been linked to pathological conditions associated with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and dyslipidemia. A case-control study was conducted and included 177 patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 173 control subjects to study the involvement of CD36 gene rs1761667 (G>A) and rs1527483 (C>T) polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of T2DM and dyslipidemia among Jordanian population. Lipid profile, blood sugar, gender and age were measured and recorded. Also, genotyping analysis for both polymorphisms was performed. Following statistical analysis, 10 different neural networks and machine learning (ML) tools were used to predict subjects with diabetes or dyslipidemia. Towards further understanding of the role of CD36 protein and gene in T2DM and dyslipidemia, a protein-protein interaction network and meta-analysis were carried out. For both polymorphisms, the genotypic frequencies were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). On the other hand, some ML tools like multilayer perceptron gave high prediction accuracy (≥ 0.75) and Cohen's kappa (κ) (≥ 0.5). Interestingly, in K-star tool, the accuracy and Cohen's κ values were enhanced by including the genotyping results as inputs (0.73 and 0.46, respectively, compared to 0.67 and 0.34 without including them). This study confirmed, for the first time, that there is no association between CD36 polymorphisms and T2DM or dyslipidemia among Jordanian population. Prediction of T2DM and dyslipidemia, using these extensive ML tools and based on such input data, is a promising approach for developing diagnostic and prognostic prediction models for a wide spectrum of diseases, especially based on large medical databases.

1,4-Naphthoquinone Is a Potent Inhibitor of IRAK1 Kinases and the Production of Inflammatory Cytokines in THP-1 Differentiated Macrophages

Quinones are a class of cyclic organic compounds that are widely distributed in nature and have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancerous activities. However, the molecular mechanisms/signaling by which these molecules exert their effect are still not fully understood. In this study, a group of quinone-derived compounds were examined for their potential inhibitory effect against human IRAK1 and IRAK4 kinases in vitro. We have identified five compounds: 1,4-naphthoquinone, emodin, shikonin, plumbagin, and menadione (vitamin K3) as active and selective inhibitors of human IRAK1 enzyme in vitro. The biochemical binding and molecular interactions between the active compounds and IRAK1's catalytic site were demonstrated in silico using structural-based docking and dynamic simulation analysis. Also, 1,4-naphthoquinone was found to effectively inhibit the growth of cancer cell lines overexpressing IRAK1. Furthermore, 1,4-naphthoquinone potently suppressed the production and secretion of key proinflammatory cytokine proteins IL-8, IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated PMA-induced human THP-1 macrophages. In conclusion, 1,4-naphthoquinone is an effective inhibitor of IRAK1 kinases and their mediated inflammatory cytokines production in LPS-stimulated PMA-induced human THP-1 macrophages.

Lipid nanostructures for targeting brain cancer

Advancements in both material science and bionanotechnology are transforming the health care sector. To this end, nanoparticles are increasingly used to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Huge research is being carried out to improve the design, efficiency, and performance of these nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are also considered as a major area of research and development to meet the essential requirements for use in nanomedicine where safety, compatibility, biodegradability, biodistribution, stability, and effectiveness are requirements towards the desired application. In this regard, lipids have been used in pharmaceuticals and medical formulations for a long time. The present work focuses on the use of lipid nanostructures to combat brain tumors. In addition, this review summarizes the literature pertaining to solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (LNC), methods of preparation and characterization, developments achieved to overcome blood brain barrier (BBB), and modifications used to increase their effectiveness.

Loading of capsaicin-in-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes into PEGylated liposomes and the inhibitory effect on IL-8 production by MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cell lines

Capsaicin (CAP) is an active component in Capsicum annuum L. known to have anti inflammatory and anticancer activity. CAP is highly lipophilic and suffers low bioavailability. Therefore, developing delivery systems that enhance solubility and bioavailability can provide more promising therapeutic applications for CAP. In the current work, CAP was complexed with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) to form capsaicin-in-β-cyclodextrin (CAP-in-βCD) inclusion complexes. Then, the CAP-in-βCD inclusion complexes were characterized and loaded into PEGylated liposomes using the thin-film hydration extrusion method. The size, charge, and polydispersity index (PDI) of the PEGylated liposomes were characterized. The levels of IL-8 production were quantified after treatment using array beads. The results of this work showed that the successful formation of inclusion complexes at 1:5 M ratio of CAP to βCD respectively. PEGylated liposomes loaded with βCD/CAP inclusion complexes (CAP-in-βCD-in-liposomes) have a hydrodynamic diameter of (181 ± 36) nm, zeta potential of (-2.63 ± 4.00) mV, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of (38.65 ± 3.70)%, drug loading (DL) of (1.65 ± 0.16)%, and a stable release profile. Both free CAP and liposomal CAP showed a significant reduction in the IL-8 production by the MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cell lines after treatment. In conclusion, a liposomal-based drug delivery system for CAP was achieved.

siRNA: Mechanism of action, challenges, and therapeutic approaches

Owing to specific and compelling gene silencing, RNA interference (RNAi) is expected to become an essential approach in treating a variety of infectious, hemato-oncological, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative conditions. The mechanism of action of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is based on post-transcriptional gene silencing. siRNA molecules are usually specific and efficient in the knockdown of disease-related genes. However, they are characterized by low cellular uptake and are susceptible to nuclease-mediated degradation. Therefore, siRNAs require a carrier for their protection and efficient delivery into target cells. The current review highlights the siRNA-based mechanism of action, challanges, and recent advances in clinical applications.

No impact of soluble epoxide hydrolase rs4149243, rs2234914 and rs751142 genetic variants on the development of type II diabetes and its hypertensive complication among Jordanian patients

BACKGROUND

Human soluble epoxide hydrolase plays a major role in cardiovascular homoeostasis. Genetic variants in the EPHX2 gene among different ethnic groups are associated with cardiovascular complications, such as hypertension. However, no reports regarding the association of EPHX2 genotype with hypertension among type II diabetic (T2D) patients of Middle Eastern Jordanian origin exist.

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to elucidate the association of the EPHX2 allele, genotype and haplotype with T2D, hypertension and parameters of lipid profile parameters among Jordanian T2D patients.

METHODS

Ninety-three genomic DNA samples of non-diabetic controls and 97 samples from T2D patients were genotyped for EPHX2 rs4149243, rs2234914 and rs751142 genetic variants. The DNA samples were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced using Applied Biosystems Model (ABI3730x1). The functionality of intronic EPHX2 variants was predicted using the in silico Berkely Drosophila Genome Project software.

RESULTS

We found no significant (P >.05) association between the EPHX2 rs4149243, rs2234914 and rs751142 allele, genotype and haplotype and the incidence of T2D and hypertension. Additionally, no association (P >.05) between these EPHX2 genetic variants with the baseline total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides among both non-diabetic and diabetic volunteers was found. However, we found an inter-ethnic variation (χ² -test, P value ˂ .05) in the allele frequency of the EPHX2 rs4149243 and rs2234914 variants between Jordanians and other ethnic populations. Also, the in silico Berkely Drosophila Genome Project software predicted that the intronic EPHX2 rs4149243 could alter the splicing of intron 7.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded from this study that EPHX2 rs4149243, rs2234914 and rs751142 genetic variants do not play a role in the development of T2D and hypertension among Jordanian T2D patients. Further genetic studies with larger sample sizes are needed to find out the association of other functional EPHX2 variants with cardiovascular diseases among T2D patients in Jordan.

An In Vitro Comparison of Anti-Tumoral Potential of Wharton's Jelly and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exhibited by Cell Cycle Arrest in Glioma Cells (U87MG)

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for various malignancies is currently under investigation due to their unique properties. However, many discrepancies regarding their anti-tumoral or pro-tumoral properties have raised uncertainty about their application for anti-cancer therapies. To investigate, if the anti-tumoral or pro-tumoral properties are subjective to the type of MSCs under different experimental conditions we set out these experiments. Three treatments namely cell lysates (CL), serum-free conditioned media and FBS conditioned media (FBSCM) from each of Wharton’s Jelly MSCs and Bone Marrow-MSCs were applied to evaluate the anti-tumoral or pro-tumoral effect on the glioma cells (U87MG). The functional analysis included; Morphological evaluation, proliferation and migration potential, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis for glioma cells. The fibroblast cell line was added to investigate the stimulatory or inhibitory effect of treatments on the proliferation of the normal cell. We found that cell lysates induced a generalized inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the glioma cells and the fibroblasts from both types of MSCs. Similarly, both types of conditioned media from two types of MSCs exerted the same inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the glioma cells. However, the effect of two types of conditioned media on the proliferation of fibroblasts was stimulatory from BM-MSCs and variable from WJ-MSCs. Moreover, all three treatments exerted a likewise inhibitory effect on the migration potential of the glioma cells. Furthermore, we found that the cell cycle was arrested significantly at the G1 phase after treating cells with conditioned media which may have led to inhibit the proliferative and migratory abilities of the glioma cells (U87MG). We conclude that cell extracts of MSCs in the form of secretome can induce specific anti-tumoral properties in serum-free conditions for the glioma cells particularly the WJ-MSCs and the effect is mediated by the cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase.

COVID-19 infection and nanomedicine applications for development of vaccines and therapeutics: An overview and future perspectives based on polymersomes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in December 2019 and caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, took the world by surprise with an unprecedented public health emergency. Since this pandemic began, extraordinary efforts have been made by scientists to understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and to fight the infection by providing various preventive, diagnostic and treatment opportunities based on either novel hypotheses or past experiences. Despite all the achievements, COVID-19 continues to be an accelerating health threat with no specifically approved vaccine or therapy. This review highlights the recent advances in COVID-19 infection, with a particular emphasis on nanomedicine applications that can help in the development of effective vaccines or therapeutics against COVID-19. A novel future perspective has been proposed in this review based on utilizing polymersome nano-objects for effectively suppressing the cytokine storm, which may reduce the severity of COVID-19 infection.

Anticancer Cardenolides from the aerial parts of Calortopis procera

Column chromatography (CC) analysis of methanol and butanol extracts of the aerial parts of Calortopis procera as well as the methanol extract of its latex, led to the isolation of 8 cardenolides, of which the structures were elucidated by NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopy. They also revealed several triterpenes and flavonoid glycoside. Based on the antiproliferative activity reported for cardenolides, the activity of calotropin and calotoxin was tested against two common cancer cell lines, human triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549). The high toxicity of the latex also encouraged performing the same test on the same cancer cell lines. The anti-proliferative activity of calotropin and calotoxin was compared to the methanol extract and the wax of the latex. The results showed that calotropin and calotoxin have significant cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 and A549 cell lines ranging from 0.046 to 0.072 μM compared to the methanol extract and the wax of its latex ranging from 0.47 to 58.41 μM. Moreover, the results showed lower toxicity of all treatments to the human skin fibroblasts compared to the toxicity to both MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cells lines except the higher toxicity of Methanolic extracts of C. procera latex to the MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, C. procera is a medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of cardinolides including calotropin and calotoxin, which are promising agents for targeted cancer phytotherapy.

Aptamer-functionalized pH-sensitive liposomes for a selective delivery of echinomycin into cancer cells

Echinomycin (quinomycin A) is a peptide antibiotic from the quinoxaline family, which has a DNA bifunctional intercalating activity and an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1α). Echinomycin was discovered in 1957 as a potent antitumor agent; however, it was not successful in clinical use due to its low water solubility and short half-life. To revitalize this potent drug, it is important to increase its aqueous solubility and bioavailability. In this study, echinomycin was loaded into PEGylated pH-sensitive liposomes (_PEGLip_pH) and functionalized with anti-nucleolin aptamer (Apt_NCL) for selective targeting and pH-responsive release of echinomycin into cancer cells. Echinomycin was complexed with γ-cyclodextrin (ECγCD) to enhance its water solubility and then encapsulated into pH-sensitive liposomes (_PEGLip_pH-ECγCD). Then, liposomes were functionalized with Apt_NCL (Apt_NCL-PEGLip_pH-ECγCD) and the successful functionalization was confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and gel electrophoresis. Cellular uptake for Apt_NCL-PEGLip_pH was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis using MDA-MB-231, MCF7, A549 cancer cell lines with respect to the normal fibroblast cells. The results showed a higher uptake and selectivity for Apt_NCL-PEGLip_pH compared to _PEGLip_pH. The anti-proliferative effects of Apt_NCL-PEGLip_pH-ECγCD were more potent than _PEGLip_pH-ECγCD by 3.5, 4, and 5 folds for A549, MDA-MB-231, and MCF7, respectively. Selectivity indices (SI) for Apt_NCL-PEGLip_pH-ECγCD for the tumor cell lines compared to the normal cell line after 72 h were MDA-MB-231 (43.3), MCF7 (16.9), and A549 (8.5). Furthermore, SI after 3 h for the three cancer cell lines were 4.7, 2.5, 2.8, respectively.

Echinomycin was loaded into PEGylated pH-sensitive liposomes and functionalized with anti-nucleolin aptamer for selective targeting and pH-responsive release of echinomycin into cancer cells.