Radioprotective effect of nanoniosome loaded by Mentha Pulegium essential oil on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to ionizing radiation

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to assess the radioprotective effect of nanoniosomes loaded by Mentha Pulegium essential oil (MPEO-N nanoparticles) as a natural antioxidant on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

SIGNIFICANCE

Despite the applications and advantages of ionizing radiation, there are many radiation risks to biological systems that are necessary to be reduced as much as possible.

METHODS

MPEO-N nanoparticles were prepared by the lipid thin film hydration method, and its physicochemical characteristics were analyzed. PBMCs were then irradiated with X-ray using a 6 MV linear accelerator at two radiation doses in the presence of nontoxic concentrations of MPEO-N nanoparticles (IC10). After 48 and 72 h of incubation, the radioprotective effect was investigated by measuring survival, apoptosis, and necrosis of PBMCs, using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

The hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of nanoniosomes were 106.0 ± 4.69 nm and -15.2 ± 0.9 mV, respectively. The mean survival percentage of PBMCs showed a significant increase only at a radiation dose of 200 cGy compared with the control group. The percentages of apoptosis and necrosis of cells in the presence of MPEO-N nanoparticles at both radiation doses and incubation periods (48 and 72 h) demonstrated a significant reduction compared with the control.

CONCLUSION

MPEO-N nanoparticles as a natural antioxidant, exhibited a favorable radioprotective effect by a significant reduction in the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of irradiated PBMCs.

Multi-sensitive functionalized niosomal nanocarriers for controllable gene delivery in vitro and in vivo

MicroRNAs, which can contribute to numerous cellular functions through post-transcriptional silencing, have become well-documented candidates for cancer treatment applications, particularly in chemo-resistant cancers. Herein, several formulations were examined to optimize the essential parameters, and the niosomal formulation consisting of cholesterol:tween-80:DOTAP:PEG with 9:69:15:7 ratio had the best physicochemical parameters including spherical shape, high entrapment efficiency, small diameter (81 ± 0.65 nm), and appropriate positive charge (23 ± 0.64 mV). Here, we aimed to design a system with increased delivery efficiency which was tested by the encapsulation of miR-34a within niosome NPs and assessed the nano-niosomal delivery of miR-34a as a tumor suppressor in MCF-7 human adenocarcinoma cells. The results showed that our novel niosome systems with non-ionic surfactants can successfully eliminate cancer cells by increasing the expression of p53 and reducing the expression of NF-κB. In comparison with the free dispersion of miR-34a, the lysis of a nano-sized delivery system demonstrated a better cytotoxicity effect against cancer cells. Similar results were obtained by performing in vivo test on the 4T1 xenografted Balb/C mouse tumor model and the miR-34a-loaded niosomes displayed a better reduction in tumor size by improving approximately + 13% in tumor inhabitation rate while maintaining the bodyweight close to the first day. Therefore, it is concluded that miR-34a delivery via niosomes has high potential as a tumor suppressor and a reliable procedure for breast cancer treatment.

Graphical Abstract

Lansoprazole as a potent HDAC2 inhibitor for treatment of colorectal cancer: An in-silico analysis and experimental validation

BACKGROUND

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), belonging to the class I HDAC family, holds significant therapeutic potential as a crucial target for diverse cancer types. As key players in the realm of epigenetic regulatory enzymes, histone deacetylases (HDACs) are intricately involved in the onset and progression of cancer. Consequently, pursuing isoform-specific inhibitors targeting histone deacetylases (HDACs) has garnered substantial interest in both biological and medical circles. The objective of the present investigation was to employ a drug repurposing approach to discover novel and potent HDAC2 inhibitors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, our protocol is presented on virtual screening to identify novel potential HDAC2 inhibitors through 3D-QSAR, molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Afterward, In-vitro assays were employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and migration of HCT-116 cell lines under treatment of hit compound and valproic acid as a control inhibitor. The expression levels of HDAC2, TP53, BCL2, and BAX were evaluated by QRT-PCR.

RESULTS

RMSD, RMSF, H-bond, and DSSP analysis results confirmed that among bioinformatically selected compounds, lansoprazole exhibited the highest HDAC2 inhibitory potential. Experimental validation revealed that lansoprazole displayed significant antiproliferative activity. The determined IC50 value was 400 ± 2.36 μM. Furthermore, the apoptotic cells ratio concentration-dependently increased under Lansoprazole treatment. Results of the Scratch assay indicated that lansoprazole led to decreasing the migration of CRC cells. Finally, under Lansoprazole treatment the expression level of BCL2 and HDAC2 decreased and BAX and TP53 increased.

CONCLUSION

Taking together the results of the current study indicated that Lansoprazole as a novel HDAC2 inhibitor, could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of CRC. Although, further experimental studies should be performed before using this compound in the clinic.

Chitosan/silk fibroin/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot/α-tricalcium phosphate nanocomposite electrospinned as a scaffold for wound healing application: In vitro and in vivo studies

A highly porous nanofibrous network that can functionalize antibacterial and therapeutic agents can be considered a suitable option for skin wound healing. In this study, α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP)/nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) nanocomposite was synthesized and then applied to the fabrication of novel chitosan (CS)/silk fibroin (SF)/N-CQDs/α-TCP wound dressing via electrospinning system. The prepared nanomaterials were well characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, scanning and transmission electron microscopes analyses, and antibacterial assay. Furthermore, nanofibers were evaluated regarding their physical properties, such as tensile behavior, water uptake capacity, and water contact angle. The results reveal that CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP showed lower MIC values against E. coli and S. aureus (1.45 ± 0.26 mg/mL and 1.59 ± 0.12 mg/mL) compared to other synthesized materials. Also, in-vitro investigations were performed, and the MTT assay on the HFF cell line revealed that CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber could possess good biocompatibility. Interestingly, the scratch test proved that faster cell migration and proliferation occurred in the presence of CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP (73 ± 3.12 %). Finally, we examined the wound healing ability of CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber using an animal model. The results confirmed that produced nanofiber could efficiently promote wound closure by 96.73 ± 1.25 % in 12 days. Histopathological analyses verified accelerated re-epithelization and well-structured epidermis in CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber-treated group. Based on our findings, the CS/SF/N-CQDs/α-TCP nanofiber with excellent antimicrobial properties is highly suitable for wound healing and skin tissue regeneration applications.

Liposomal Doxorubicin Kinetic Study in an In vitro 2D and 3D Tumor Model for Osteosarcoma in a Perfusion Bioreactor

BACKGROUND

In vivo drug screening in animal models is contrary to ethical values, costly and time-consuming. Traditional static in vitro models do not reflect the basic characteristics of bone tumor microenvironments; therefore, perfusion bioreactors, in particular, would be an applicable choice due to their advantages to regenerate versatile bone tumor models for studying in vitro novel drug delivery systems.

METHODS

In this study, an optimal drug formulation of liposomal doxorubicin was prepared, and the release kinetics of the drug and its toxicity effect on MG-63 bone cancer cell line were investigated in two-dimensional, static three-dimensional media on a PLGA/β-TCP scaffold and also in a dynamic media in a perfusion bioreactor. In this assay, the efficacy of the IC50 of this formulation which had been obtained in two-dimensional cell culture (= 0.1 μg/ml), was studied in static and dynamic threedimensional media after 3 and 7 days. Liposomes with good morphology and encapsulation efficiency of 95% had release kinetics of the Korsmeyer-Peppas model.

RESULTS

The results of cell growth before treatment and cell viability after treatment in all three environments were compared. Cell growth in 2D was rapid, while it was slow in static 3D conditions. In the dynamic 3D environment, it was significant compared to the static tumor models. Cell viability after 3 and 7 days from treatment was 54.73% and 13.39% in 2D conditions, 72.27% and 26.78% in the static 3D model, while 100% and 78.92% in the dynamic culture indicating the effect of drug toxicity over time, but drug resistance of 3D models compared to 2D culture. In the bioreactor, the formulation used in the mentioned concentration showed very small cytotoxicity demonstrating the dominance of mechanical stimuli on cell growth over drug toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Increasing drug resistance in 3D models compared to 2D models indicates the superiority of liposomal Dox over free form to reduce IC50 concentration.

Development of highly efficient niosomal systems for co-delivery of drugs and genes to treat breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

In this paper, we step forward in optimizing the efficiency of niosomal systems for carrying curcumin and miR-34a as single-/co-delivery to treat breast cancer. Curcumin, via regulation of p53 protein, affects the molecular signaling pathways and leads to cell death. Likewise, miRNAs, via alternation of the expression of genes, can suppress the development of tumor activities. To conquer and optimize the delivery limitation of curcumin and miRNA, niosomal systems with certain compositions (seven formulations) of Tween-80:Tween-60:cholesterol:DOTAP:PEG are introduced, which enhances the carrier size, surface charge, entrapment efficiency, transfection, and drug release. The results showed that Tween-60 has a significant influence on the entrapment efficiency of the composition. By including the PEG and DOTAP, high enhancements in the overall characteristics of the delivery system were observed. To assess the biological activity of samples, with/without the niosomal delivery system, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, in-vitro, and in-vivo cellular uptake were studied. The recorded data revealed better results from niosomal carriers than their free forms. The best result in single delivery was achieved by miRNA in F6, which had the highest apoptosis, uptake, and smallest tumor volumes under a controlled release. In conclusion, we successfully designed a nanoscale niosomal system to carry drugs and genes to the tumor site to treat cancer cells and provided remarkable data for the scientific society.

Microfluidic-assisted synthesis and modeling of stimuli-responsive monodispersed chitosan microgels for drug delivery applications

Droplet microfluidic has been established to synthesize and functionalize micro/nanoparticles for drug delivery and screening, biosensing, cell/tissue engineering, lab-on-a-chip, and organ-on-a-chip have attracted much attention in chemical and biomedical engineering. Chitosan (CS) has been suggested for different biomedical applications due to its unique characteristics, such as antibacterial bioactivities, immune-enhancing influences, and anticancer bioactivities. The simulation results exhibited an alternative for attaining visions in this complex method. In this regard, the role of the flow rate ratio on the CS droplet features, including the generation rate and droplet size, were thoroughly described. Based on the results, an appropriate protocol was advanced for controlling the CS droplet properties for comparing their properties, such as the rate and size of the CS droplets in the microchip. Also, a level set (LS) laminar two-phase flow system was utilized to study the CS droplet-breaking process in the Flow Focused-based microchip. The outcomes demonstrated that different sizes and geometries of CS droplets could be established via varying the several parameters that validated addressing the different challenges for several purposes like drug delivery (the droplets with smaller sizes), tissue engineering, and cell encapsulation (the droplets with larger sizes), lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, biosensing and bioimaging (the droplets with different sizes). An experimental study was added to confirm the simulation results. A drug delivery application was established to verify the claim.

Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated L-Lysine for Improving Cisplatin Delivery to Human Breast Cancer Cells

INTRODUCTION

Nano drug delivery is a broad field of research on the development of novel nano- carrier systems for effective therapeutic delivery of drugs. Here, an anticancer drug, cisplatin (CDDP) conjugated Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) via L-Lysine (Lys) linker.

METHODS

The produced nanodrug (GNPs-Lys-CDDP) was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta potentials and electron force microscopy. The cytotoxic efficacy of the GNPs-Lys-CDDP against human breast cancer cells (SKBR3) and normal cells (MCF- 10A) was evaluatedby MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and morphology changes were assessed by flowcytometery and Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EtBr) staining, respectively.

RESULTS

It was found that the GNPs-Lys-CDDP with a size of 85 nm and negatively charged with a zeta-potential of about -25 mV could be taken up by tumor cells. A marked change in the UV spectrum of GNPs-Lys-CDDP compare to GNPs showed a strong absorption shift in the 525 nm region. The LD 50 of GNPs-Lys-CDDP against SKBR3 (1 μg.mL -1), was found to be 8 times lower than that of naked CDDP against SKBR3 (8 μg.mL -1). The nanocomplex GNPs-Lys-CDDP also significantly increased the apoptosis of SKBR3 with the lowest cytotoxic effects on normal cells.

DISCUSSION

This work indicates that GNPs effectively could decrease the lethal dose of CDDP to 87%. Hence, GNPs modified by Lys, could be a good nano-carrier for chemotherapeutic drugs.

Ectopic microRNAs used to preserve human mesenchymal stem cell potency and epigenetics

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have remarkable potential for use in regenerative medicine. However, one of the great challenges is preserving their potency for long time. This study investigated the effect of miRNA ectopic expression on their proliferation and also on the expression level of Parp1 as an epigenetic switch preserving pluripotency in hMSCs. A cationic liposome was prepared as an efficient carrier for miRNA delivery. The miRNA loading efficiency and physical stability of vesicles were measured, and their scanning electron microscopic shapes determined. hMSCs were transfected with miR-302a and miR-34a followed by assessment of their proliferation potency with MTT assay and measurement of the expression of Parp1 by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR). Cell transfection with miR-302a and miR-34a efficiently and differentially affects the proliferation potency of hMSCs and the expression level of Parp1 as the key epigenetic factor involved in pluripotency. While miR-302a increases Parp1 expression, miR-34a suppresses it significantly, showing differential effects. Our results demonstrated that miRNA-based treatments represent efficient therapeutic systems and hold a great promise for future use in regenerative medicine through modification of hMSC pluripotency and epigenome.