Edible ginger-derived nanoparticles: A novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated cancer

Internalization of Garlic-Derived Nanovesicles on Liver Cells is Triggered by Interaction With CD98

The mechanism of how plant-derived nanovesicles are uptaken by cells remains unknown. In this study, the garlic-derived nanovesicles (GDVs) were isolated and digested with trypsin to remove all surface proteins. Digested GDVs showed less uptake compared to undigested GDVs, confirming that the surface proteins played a role in the endocytosis. On the cell side (HepG2), interestingly, blocking the CD98 receptors significantly reduced the uptake of GDVs. During the cellular internalization of GDVs, we observed that some surface proteins of GDVs were co-localized with CD98. A total lysate of the GDV surface showed a high presence of a mannose-specific binding protein, II lectin. Blocking GDV II lectin (using mannose preincubation) highly reduced the GDV internalization, which supports that direct interaction between II lectin and CD98 plays an important role in internalization. The GDVs also exhibited in vitro anti-inflammatory effect by downregulating proinflammatory factors on the HepG2 cells. This work contributes to understanding a part of the GDV internalization process and the cellular anti-inflammatory effects of garlic.

MicroRNAs Regulate Intestinal Immunity and Gut Microbiota for Gastrointestinal Health: A Comprehensive Review

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The regulation of microRNA expression in the gut intestine is gradually recognized as one of the crucial contributors of intestinal homeostasis and overall health. Recent studies indicated that both the microRNAs endogenous in the gut intestine and exogenous from diets could play influential roles in modulating microbial colonization and intestinal immunity. In this review, we discuss the biological functions of microRNAs in regulating intestinal homeostasis by modulating intestinal immune responses and gut microbiota. We particularly focus on addressing the microRNA-dependent communication and interactions among microRNA, gut microbiota, and intestinal immune system. Besides, we also summarize the roles of diet-derived microRNAs in host-microbiome homeostasis and their benefits on intestinal health. A better understanding of the relationships among intestinal disorders, microRNAs, and other factors influencing intestinal health can facilitate the application of microRNA-based therapeutics for gastrointestinal diseases.

Use of Nanovesicles from Orange Juice to Reverse Diet-Induced Gut Modifications in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

We have determined whether orange juice-derived nanovesicles (ONVs) could be used for the treatment of obesity-associated intestinal complications. ONVs were characterized by lipidomic, metabolomic, electron microscopy. In vitro, intestinal barriers (IBs = Caco-2+HT-29-MTX) were treated with ONVs and co-cultured with adipocytes to monitor IB fat release. In vivo, obesity was induced with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHSD mice) for 12 weeks. Then, half of HFHSD mice were gavaged with ONVs. One-month ONV treatment did not modify HFHSD-induced insulin resistance but reversed diet-induced gut modifications. In the jejunum, ONVs increased villi size, reduced triglyceride content, and modulated mRNA levels of genes involved in immune response (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-1β), barrier permeability (CLDN1, OCLN, ZO1), fat absorption, and chylomicron release. ONVs targeted microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and angiopoietin-like protein-4 (ANGPTL4), two therapeutic targets to reduce plasma lipids and inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases. Interestingly, ONV treatment did not aggravate liver steatosis, as MTP mRNA was increased in the liver. Therefore, ONVs protected both intestine and the liver from fat overload associated with the HFHSD. As ONVs concentrated amino acids and bioactive lipids versus orange juice, which are deficient in obese patients, the use of ONVs as a dietary supplement could bring physiological relevant compounds in the jejunum to accelerate the restoration of intestinal functions during weight loss in obese patients.

New Insights of Oral Colonic Drug Delivery Systems for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy

Colonic Drug Delivery Systems (CDDS) are especially advantageous for local treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Site-targeted drug release allows to obtain a high drug concentration in injured tissues and less systemic adverse effects, as consequence of less/null drug absorption in small intestine. This review focused on the reported contributions in the last four years to improve the effectiveness of treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases. The work concludes that there has been an increase in the development of CDDS in which pH, specific enzymes, reactive oxygen species (ROS), or a combination of all of these triggers the release. These delivery systems demonstrated a therapeutic improvement with fewer adverse effects. Future perspectives to the treatment of this disease include the elucidation of molecular basis of IBD diseases in order to design more specific treatments, and the performance of more in vivo assays to validate the specificity and stability of the obtained systems.

Characterization of and isolation methods for plant leaf nanovesicles and small extracellular vesicles

Mammalian small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can deliver diverse molecules to target cells. However, they are difficult to obtain in large quantities and can activate host immune responses. Plant-derived vesicles may help to overcome these challenges. We optimized isolation methods for two types of plant vesicles, nanovesicles from disrupted leaf and sEVs from the extracellular apoplastic space of Arabidopsis thaliana. Both preparations yielded intact vesicles of uniform size, and a mean membrane charge of approximately -25 mV. We also demonstrated applicability of these preparative methods using Brassicaceae vegetables. Proteomic analysis of a subset of vesicles with a density of 1.1-1.19 g mL^-1 sheds light on the likely cellular origin and complexity of the vesicles. Both leaf nanovesicles and sEVs were taken up by cancer cells, with sEVs showing an approximately three-fold higher efficiency compared to leaf nanovesicles. These results support the potential of plant-derived vesicles as vehicles for therapeutic delivery.

Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Nanoplatforms for Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent disease worldwide, and patients at late stages of CRC often suffer from a high mortality rate after surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapeutics (ACs) have been extensively developed to improve the survival rate of such patients, but conventionally formulated ACs inevitably distribute toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy organs and thus often trigger severe side effects. CRC cells may also develop drug resistance following repeat dosing of conventional ACs, limiting their effectiveness. Given these limitations, researchers have sought to use targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), specifically the nanotechnology-based DDSs, to deliver the ACs. As lipid-based nanoplatforms have shown the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of various cytotoxic drugs (such as paclitaxel and vincristine) in the clinical treatment of gastric cancer and leukemia, the preclinical progress of lipid-based nanoplatforms has attracted increasing interest. The lipid-based nanoplatforms might be the most promising DDSs to succeed in entering a clinical trial for CRC treatment. This review will briefly examine the history of preclinical research on lipid-based nanoplatforms, summarize the current progress, and discuss the challenges and prospects of using such approaches in the treatment of CRC.

Autologous Exosome Transfer: A New Personalised Treatment Concept to Prevent Colitis in a Murine Model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Epigenetic information delivered by intestinal exosomes can be useful for diagnosing intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, but the therapeutic effects of intestinal exosomes have not been fully exploited. We herein developed an autologous exosome therapy that could treat intestinal disease without any risk of inducing a systemic immunological reaction.

METHODS

Intestinal exosomes were isolated and purified from faeces by our newly developed multi-step sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation method. Lipopolysaccharide [LPS]-activated macrophages were employed to test the in vitro anti-inflammatory ability of intestinal exosomes. To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of our system, we gavaged dextran sulphate sodium [DSS]-induced colitic mice with their own healing phase intestinal exosomes.

RESULTS

Mouse intestinal exosomes are round extracellular vesicles with a hydrodynamic diameter of ~140 [±20] nm and a surface charge of ~-12 [±3] mV. Among the exosomes obtained at four different stages of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis [1, before treatment; 2, DSS-treated; 3, healing phase; and 4, back to normal], the healing phase exosomes showed the best in vitro anti-inflammatory effects and promotion of wound healing. Moreover, oral co-administration of autologous healing phase exosomes with DSS was found to significantly reduce the risk of a second round of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal exosomes obtained during the healing phase that follows induced intestinal inflammation could strongly promote wound healing in the host. Oral administration of autologous exosomes from the healing phase could be a safe and effective approach for treating the ulcerative colitis of a given patient in the context of personalised medicine.

Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds in Wild Indigenous Medicinal Ginger (Zingiber barbatum Wall.) from Myanmar

The emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) strongly depend on the plant species and are differently represented in specific taxa. VOCs have a degree of chemical diversity and also can serve as chemotaxonomic markers. Zingiber barbatum Wall. is a wild medicinal ginger plant endemic to Myanmar whose VOC composition has never been screened before. In this study, we screened the rhizome of Z. barbatum to identify the VOC composition by the application of gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). The resulting VOC profile of Z. barbatum showed that it consists mainly of monoterpenes (21%) and sesquiterpenes (30%). Intraspecific similarities and dissimilarities were found to exist between Z. barbatum genotypes in terms of VOC composition. Four accessions (ZO191, ZO223, ZO217, and the control accession ZO105) collected from the Shan State and Mandalay region of Myanmar were found to share a similar VOC profile, while two accessions (ZO64 and ZO160) collected from the Bago region were found to vary in their VOC profiles compared with the control accession. The two identified compounds, i.e., α-bergamotene and β-(E)-guaiene may serve as discriminative chemical markers for the characterization of Z. barbatum species collected in these three geographical regions of Myanmar. This study represents a first attempt to identify and describe the VOCs in the medicinal species Z. barbatum that have not been reported to date.

Natural Product-Based Nanomedicine in Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

: Many synthetic drugs and monoclonal antibodies are currently in use to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). However, they all are implicated in causing severe side effects and long-term use results in many complications. Numerous in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that phytochemicals and natural macromolecules from plants and animals reduce IBD-related complications with encouraging results. Additionally, many of them modify enzymatic activity, alleviate oxidative stress, and downregulate pro-inflammatory transcriptional factors and cytokine secretion. Translational significance of natural nanomedicine and strategies to investigate future natural product-based nanomedicine is discussed. Our focus in this review is to summarize the use of phytochemicals and macromolecules encapsulated in nanoparticles for the treatment of IBD and IBD-associated colorectal cancer.

Apoptosis Exerts a Vital Role in the Treatment of Colitis-Associated Cancer by Herbal Medicine

Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-developed colorectal cancer, the pathogenesis of which involves the occurrence of apoptosis. Western drugs clinically applied to CAC are often single-targeted and exert many adverse reactions after long-term administration, so it is urgent to develop new drugs for the treatment of CAC. Herbal medicines commonly have multiple components with multiple targets, and most of them are low-toxicity. Some herbal medicines have been reported to ameliorate CAC through inducing apoptosis, but there is still a lack of systematic review. In this work, we reviewed articles published in Sci Finder, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, CNKI, and other databases in recent years by setting the keywords as apoptosis in combination with colitis-associated cancer. We summarized the herbal medicine extracts or their compounds that can prevent CAC by modulating apoptosis and analyzed the mechanism of action. The results show the following. (1) Herbal medicines regulate both the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and death receptor apoptosis pathway. (2) Herbal medicines modulate the above two apoptotic pathways by affecting signal transductions of IL-6/STAT3, MAPK/NF-κ B, Oxidative stress, Non-canonical TGF-β1, WNT/β-catenin, and Cell cycle, thereby ameliorating CAC. We conclude that following. (1) Studies on the role of herbal medicine in regulating apoptosis through the Ras/Raf/ERK, WNT/β-catenin, and Cell cycle pathways have not yet been carried out in sufficient depth. (2) The active constituents of reported anti-CAC herbal medicine mainly include polyphenols, terpenoids, and saccharide. Also, we identified other herbal medicines with the constituents mentioned above as their main components, aiming to provide a reference for the clinical use of herbal medicine in the treatment of CAC. (3) New dosage forms can be utilized to elevate the targeting and reduce the toxicity of herbal medicine.

Nanophytomedicines for the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome: A Pharmacological and Biopharmaceutical Review

Metabolic syndrome includes a series of metabolic abnormalities that leads to diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Plant extracts, due to their unique advantages like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and insulin sensitizing properties, are interesting therapeutic options to manage MetS; however, the poor solubility and low bioavailability of lipophilic bioactive components in the herbal extracts are two critical challenges. Nano-scale delivery systems are suitable to improve delivery of herbal extracts. This review, for the first time, focuses on nanoformulations of herbal extracts in MetS and related complications. Included studies showed that several forms of nano drug delivery systems such as nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanobiocomposites, and green-synthesized silver, gold, and zinc oxide nanoparticles have been developed using herbal extracts. It was shown that the method of preparation and related parameters such as temperature and type of polymer are important factors affecting physicochemical stability and therapeutic activity of the final product. Many of these formulations could successfully decrease the lipid profile, inflammation, oxidative damage, and insulin resistance in in vitro and in vivo models of MetS-related complications. Further studies are still needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of these novel herbal formulations for clinical application.

Exosomes in Food: Health Benefits and Clinical Relevance in Diseases

Exosomes are membrane-bound organelles generally secreted by eukaryotic cells that contain mRNAs, microRNAs, and/or proteins. However, recent studies have reported the isolation of these particles from foods such as lemon, ginger, and milk. Owing to their absorption by intestinal cells and further travel via the bloodstream, exosomes can reach distant organs and affect overall health in both infants and adults. The potential role of food-derived exosomes (FDEs) in alleviating diseases, as well as in modulating the gut microbiota has been shown, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Moreover, exosomes may provide biocompatible vehicles for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin. Thus, exosomes may allow medical nutritionists and clinicians to develop safe and targeted therapies for the treatment of various pathologies. The present review introduces FDEs and their contents, highlights their role in disease and infant/adult health, and explores their potential use as therapeutic agents.

Garcinol Exhibits Anti-Neoplastic Effects by Targeting Diverse Oncogenic Factors in Tumor Cells

Garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone, is the medicinal component obtained from fruits and leaves of Garcinia indica (G. indica) and has traditionally been extensively used for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it has been also been experimentally illustrated to elicit anti-cancer properties. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have illustrated the potential therapeutic efficiency of garcinol in management of different malignancies. It mainly acts as an inhibitor of cellular processes via regulation of transcription factors NF-κB and JAK/STAT3 in tumor cells and have been demonstrated to effectively inhibit growth of malignant cell population. Numerous studies have highlighted the anti-neoplastic potential of garcinol in different oncological transformations including colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. However, use of garcinol is still in its pre-clinical stage and this is mainly attributed to the limitations of conclusive evaluation of pharmacological parameters. This necessitates evaluation of garcinol pharmacokinetics to precisely identify an appropriate dose and route of administration, tolerability, and potency under physiological conditions along with characterization of a therapeutic index. Hence, the research is presently ongoing in the dimension of exploring the precise metabolic mechanism of garcinol. Despite various lacunae, garcinol has presented with promising anti-cancer effects. Hence, this review is motivated by the constantly emerging and promising positive anti-cancerous effects of garcinol. This review is the first effort to summarize the mechanism of action of garcinol in modulation of anti-cancer effect via regulation of different cellular processes.

Emerging Role of Exosomes in Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

To communicate with each other, cells release exosomes that transfer their composition, including lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, to neighboring cells, thus playing a role in various pathophysiological processes. During an infection with pathogenic bacteria, such as adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) associated with Crohn disease, exosomes secreted by infected cells can have an impact on the innate immune responses of surrounding cells to infection. Furthermore, inflammation can be amplified via the exosomal shuttle during infection with pathogenic bacteria, which could contribute to the development of the associated disease. Since these vesicles can be released in various biological fluids, changes in exosomal content may provide a means for the identification of non-invasive biomarkers for infectious and inflammatory bowel diseases. Moreover, evidence suggests that exosomes could be used as vaccines to prime the immune system to recognize and kill invading pathogens, and as therapeutic components relieving intestinal inflammation. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of exosomes in bacterial infections and highlight their potential use as biomarkers, vaccines and conveyers of therapeutic molecules in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Natural-lipid nanoparticle-based therapeutic approach to deliver 6-shogaol and its metabolites M2 and M13 to the colon to treat ulcerative colitis

The anti-inflammatory drug candidate, 6-shogaol, has demonstrated excellent efficacies in various in vitro studies. However, its rapid metabolism after oral administration results in poor bioavailability and undetectable in vivo pharmacokinetics. Here, we constructed a natural-lipid (NL) nanoparticle drug delivery system (NP-DDS) to encapsulate 6-shogaol and undertake its controlled release to the proposed drug target (colon). Our in vitro drug-release assay revealed that NL-encapsulated 6-shogaol (6-S-NL) exhibits a delayed drug-release profile compared to free 6-shogaol (free-6-S). Consistent with our expectations, orally administrated 6-S-NL exhibits a superior anti-inflammatory efficacy likely due to the controlled release compared to free 6-S in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model of colitis. Although 6-S-NL treatment yields an enhanced concentration of 6-shogaol at the target site (colon), this concentration is still far below the effective level. We hypothesize that the released 6-shogaol undergoes rapid metabolism and that the metabolites of 6-shogaol may contribute to the anti-inflammatory efficacy of 6-S-NL. We thus examined the in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacies of two highly abundant colonic metabolites, M2 (a cysteine-conjugated metabolite) and M13 (a glutathione-conjugated metabolite), against macrophage cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data showed that both M2 and M13 (at 1.0 μg/mL) could down-regulate pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and up-regulate an anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) in inflamed Raw 264.7 cells. Subsequent in vitro wound-healing assays also confirmed that M2 and M13 accelerate the wound recovery process of Caco-2 cells at the concentrations seen in the colon (1.0 μg/mL). Further, in the DSS-induced mouse model of colitis, oral administration of M2- or M13-loaded NL nanoparticles (M2-NL, M13-NL) demonstrated excellent in vivo wound-healing effects, and these activities were better than those observed for 6-S-NL. Combined with the 6-S-NL's bio-distribution assay, our data show that: the 6-shogaol metabolites, M2 and M13, are more potent anti-inflammatory compounds than 6-shogaol itself; NL nanoparticles can effectively deliver 6-shogaol to the colon, with little accumulation seen in the kidney or liver; and the actions of M2 and M13 mostly confer the anti-inflammatory effect of 6-S-NL. Our results explained the discrepancy between the low tissue concentrations of NL delivered 6-shogaol and its effectiveness against ulcerative colitis (UC) in a mouse model. This study paved the way for further developing the NL-loaded active metabolites, M2 or M13, as novel targeted therapeutic approaches for curing UC.

Oral Delivery of Biologics for Precision Medicine

The emerging field of precision medicine is rapidly growing, fostered by the advances in genome mapping and molecular diagnosis. In general, the translation of these advances into precision treatments relies on the use of biological macromolecules, whose structure offers a high specificity and potency. Unfortunately, due to their complex structure and limited ability to overcome biological barriers, these macromolecules need to be administered via injection. The scientific community has devoted significant effort to making the oral administration of macromolecules plausible thanks to the implementation of drug delivery technologies. Here, an overview of the current situation and future prospects in the field of oral delivery of biologics is provided. Technologies in clinical trials, as well as recent and disruptive delivery systems proposed in the literature for local and systemic delivery of biologics including peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acids, are described. Strategies for the specific targeting of gastrointestinal regions-stomach, small bowel, and colon-cell populations, and internalization pathways, are analyzed. Finally, challenges associated with the clinical translation, future prospects, and identified opportunities for advancement in this field are also discussed.

A cost-effective polyethylene glycol-based method for the isolation of functional edible nanoparticles from ginger rhizomes

Edible nanoparticles (ENPs) are nano-sized vesicles derived from edible plants. These ENPs are loaded with plant derived microRNAs, protein, lipids and phytochemicals. Recently, ginger derived ENPs was shown to prevent inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer, in vivo, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Conventionally, differential centrifugation with an ultra-centrifugation step is employed to purify these ENPs which imposes limitation on the cost-effectiveness of their purification. Herein, we developed polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG6000) based ginger ENP purification (PEG-ENPs) method, which eliminates the need for expensive ultracentrifugation. Using different PEG6000 concentrations, we could recover between 60% to 90% of ENPs compared to ultracentrifugation method. PEG-ENPs exhibit near identical size and zeta potential similar to ultra-ENPs. The biochemical composition of PEG-ENPs, such as proteins, lipids, small RNAs and bioactive content is comparable to that of ultra-ENPs. In addition, similar to ultra-ENPs, PEG-ENPs are efficiently taken up by the murine macrophages and protects cells from hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress. Since PEG has been approved as food additive, the PEG method described here will provide a cost-effective alternative to purify ENPs, which can be directly used as a dietary supplement in therapeutic formulations.

Protective Role of Shiitake Mushroom-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles in D-Galactosamine and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a rare, life-threatening liver disease with a poor prognosis. Administration of D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers acute liver injury in mice, simulating many clinical features of FHF in humans; therefore, this disease model is often used to investigate potential therapeutic interventions to treat FHF. Recently, suppression of the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat related (NLR) family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, was shown to alleviate the severity of GalN/LPS-induced liver damage in mice. Therefore, the goal of this study was to find dietary exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) with therapeutic potential in curbing FHF by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome. Seven commonly consumed mushrooms were used to extract ELNs. These mushrooms were found to contain ELNs composed of RNAs, proteins, and lipids. Among these mushroom-derived ELNs, only shiitake mushroom-derived ELNs (S-ELNs) substantially inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation by preventing inflammasome formation in primary macrophages. S-ELNs also suppressed the secretion of interleukin (IL)-6, as well as both protein and mRNA levels of the Il1b gene. Remarkably, pre-treatment with S-ELNs protected mice from GalN/LPS-induced acute liver injury. Therefore, S-ELNs, identified as potent new inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome, represent a promising class of agents with the potential to combat FHF.

Preparation and Characterization of Ginger Lipid-derived Nanoparticles for Colon-targeted siRNA Delivery

Synthetic nanoparticle-based drug delivery system is widely known for its ability to increase the efficacy and specificity of loaded drugs, but it often suffers from relatively higher immunotoxicity and higher costs as compared to traditional drug formulations. Contrarily, plant-derived nanoparticles appear to be free from these limitations of synthetic nanoparticles; they are naturally occurring biocompatible vesicles that do not generate immunotoxicity and are easy to obtain. Additionally, lipids isolated from plant-derived nanoparticles have shown the capability of assembling themselves to spherical nano-sized liposomal particles. Herein, we employ lipids extracted from ginger-derived nanoparticles and load them with therapeutic siRNA (CD98-siRNA) to create CD98-siRNA/ginger-lipid nanoparticles. Characterization of the CD98-siRNA/ginger-lipid nanoparticles showed that they present a spherical shape, with a diameter of around 189.5 nm. The surface zeta potential of the nanoparticles varies from -18.1 to -18.4 mV. Furthermore, in recent research, the CD98-siRNA/ginger-lipid nanoparticles have shown specific colon targeting capability and excellent anti-inflammatory efficacy in a Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) induced mouse model of colitis.

Oral Targeted Delivery by Nanoparticles Enhances Efficacy of an Hsp90 Inhibitor by Reducing Systemic Exposure in Murine Models of Colitis and Colitis-Associated Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Heat shock protein 90 [Hsp90]-targeted therapy has been proposed as a promising strategy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis [UC] and colitis-associated cancer [CAC]. Systemic administration of the Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-AAG, was found to be profoundly protective in preclinical mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. However, the therapeutic potential of 17-AAG is limited by potential side effects associated with its systemic exposure and the modest bioavailability afforded by its oral administration.

METHODS

To address these issues, we used a versatile single-step surface-functionalizing technique to prepare a 17-AAG oral delivery system using PLGA/PLA-PEG-FA nanoparticles [NP-PEG-FA/17-AAG].

RESULTS

NP-PEG-FA could be efficiently taken up by mouse Colon-26 cells and activated Raw 264.7 cells in vitro and by inflamed mouse colitis tissues in vivo. The therapeutic efficacy of orally administrated NP-PEG-FA/17-AAG was evaluated in in vivo models using dextran sulphate sodium [DSS]-induced UC and azoxymethane [AOM]/DSS-induced CAC, and the results indicated that NP-PEG-FA/17-AAG significantly alleviated the symptoms of UC and CAC. More importantly, our inflamed colitis-targeted 17-AAG nano-formulation reduced systemic exposure and provided a degree of therapeutic response similar to that obtained by systemic administration [intraperitoneal] of 17-AAG, but at a ten-fold lower dose.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe a convenient, orally administrated 17-AAG delivery system that exhibits enhanced efficacy in UC and CAC therapy while reducing systemic exposure. This system may represent a promising therapeutic approach for treating UC and CAC.

Highly Biocompatible Functionalized Layer-by-Layer Ginger Lipid Nano Vectors Targeting P-selectin for Delivery of Doxorubicin to Treat Colon Cancer

A biocompatible natural nanoparticle drug delivery system that has specific cancer-targeting function holds vast promise for cancer therapy. Here, a fucoidan/poly-lysine-functionalized layer-by-layer ginger-derived lipid vector (LbL-GDLV) was designed to target P-selectin (overexpressed by endothelial cells) and deliver a loaded drug into vascularized colon cancer. In vitro, LbL-GDLVs selectively bound to P-selectin, and the degradation of the fucoidan outer layer in a milieu similar to the cancer microenvironment resulted in rapid attachment of the cancer cell and internalization of the remaining positively charged poly-lysine coated-GDLVs. Upon enzymolysis of the poly-lysine layer inside the cancer cell, the GDLV core released loaded doxorubicin (Dox) which had the expected effects. In vivo bio-distribution studies showed that intravenously injected LbL-GDLVs exhibited enhanced accumulation at the vascularized tumor site (~ 4.4-fold higher than control vesicles), presumably due to P-selectin-mediated targeting plus the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). In two animal models used to screen anti-cancer efficacy (Luc-HT-29 and HCT-116 xenografts), Dox-loaded LbL-GDLVs (LbL-GDLVs/Dox) significantly inhibited tumor growth and demonstrated much better therapeutic efficiency than free Dox. More importantly, LbL-GDLVs/Dox exhibited excellent biocompatibility, and LbL-GDLVs encapsulation largely reduced the cardiotoxicity of free Dox and avoided the notorious drug resistance of colon cells against free Dox. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential of our newly designed and highly biocompatible plant-derived LbL nanoparticles and their precise colon cancer drug delivery function.

Phytofabrication of Nanoparticles as Novel Drugs for Anticancer Applications

Cancer is one of the foremost causes of death globally and also the major stumbling block of increasing life expectancy. Although the primary treatment of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have greatly reduced the mortality of cancer, the survival rate is still low because of the metastasis of tumor, a range of adverse drug reactions, and drug resistance. For all this, it is relevant to mention that a growing amount of research has shown the anticarcinogenic effect of phytochemicals which can modulate the molecular pathways and cellular events include apoptosis, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, their pharmacological potential is hindered by their low water solubility, low stability, poor absorption, and rapid metabolism. In this scenario, the development of nanotechnology has created novel formulations to maximize the potential use of phytochemicals in anticancer treatment. Nanocarriers can enhance the solubility and stability of phytochemicals, prolong their half-life in blood and even achieve site-targeting delivery. This review summarizes the advances in utilizing nanoparticles in cancer therapy. In particular, we introduce several applications of nanoparticles combined with apigenin, resveratrol, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, 6-gingerol, and quercetin in cancer treatment.

Thrifty, Rapid Intestinal Monolayers (TRIM) Using Caco-2 Epithelial Cells for Oral Drug Delivery Experiments

PURPOSE

Caco-2 monolayers are the most common model of the intestinal epithelium and are critical to the development of oral drug delivery strategies and gastrointestinal disease treatments. However, current monolayer systems are cost- and/or time-intensive, hampering progress. This study evaluates two separate methods to reduce resource input: FB Essence as a fetal bovine serum (FBS) alternative and a new, 3-day Caco-2 system deemed "thrifty, rapid intestinal monolayers" (TRIM).

METHODS

Caco-2 cells were cultured with FB Essence and compared to cells in 10% FBS for proliferation and monolayer formation. TRIM were compared to commonly-used 21-day and Corning® HTS monolayer systems, as well as mouse intestines, for permeability behavior, epithelial gene expression, and tight junction arrangement.

RESULTS

No amount of FB Essence maintained Caco-2 cells beyond 10 passages. In contrast, TRIM compared favorably in permeability and gene expression to intestinal tissues. Furthermore, TRIM cost $109 and required 1.3 h of time per 24-well plate, compared to $164 and 3.7 h for 21-day monolayers, and $340 plus 1.0 h for the HTS system.

CONCLUSIONS

TRIM offer a new approach to generating Caco-2 monolayers that resemble the intestinal epithelium. They are anticipated to accelerate the pace of in vitro intestinal experiments while easing financial burden.

Exosome-like nanoplatform modified with targeting ligand improves anti-cancer and anti-inflammation effects of imperialine

Currently, most anti-cancer therapies are still haunted by serious and deleterious adverse effects. Here, we report a highly biocompatible tumor cell-targeting delivery systems utilizing exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) that delivers a low-toxicity anti-cancer agent imperialine against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First, we introduced a novel micelle-aided method to efficiently load imperialine into intact ELVs. Then, integrin α3β1-binding octapeptide cNGQGEQc was modified onto ELV platform for tumor targeting as integrin α3β1 is overexpressed on NSCLC cells. This system not only significantly improved imperialine tumor accumulation and retention, but also had extremely low systemic toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Our discoveries offer new ways to utilize ELV more efficiently for both drug loading and targeting. The solid pharmacokinetics improvement and extraordinary safety of this system also highlight possibilities of alternative long course cancer therapies using similar strategies.

Strategies for the use of Extracellular Vesicles for the Delivery of Therapeutics

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized, membrane-bound vesicles released from eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells that can transport cargo containing DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins, between cells as a means of intercellular communication. Although EVs were initially considered to be cellular debris deprived of any essential biological functions, emerging literature highlights the critical roles of EVs in the context of intercellular signaling, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, modulation of immune responses, inflammation, cancer progression, angiogenesis, and coagulation under both physiological and pathological states. Based on the ability of EVs to shuttle proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs, chromosomal DNA, and mitochondrial DNA into target cells, the presence and content of EVs in biofluids have been exploited for biomarker research in the context of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies. Additionally, owing to the characteristics of EVs such as stability in circulation, biocompatibility as well as low immunogenicity and toxicity, these vesicles have become attractive systems for the delivery of therapeutics. More recently, EVs are increasingly being exploited as conduits for delivery of therapeutics for anticancer strategies, immunomodulation, targeted drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and vaccination. In this review, we highlight and discuss the multiple strategies that are employed for the use of EVs as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents, including the potential advantages and challenges involved. Graphical abstract.

Studies on olive-and silicone-oils-based Janus macroemulsions containing ginger to manage primary dysmenorrheal pain

Ginger (GIN) powder-loaded oil-in-water (o/w) macroemulsions were prepared based on olive-and silicone-oils. The dispersed oil droplets with paired-beans structure were evident and thus the final emulsion can be termed as Janus macroemulsions. The objectives of the present study are (1) to identify the marker compound present in GIN powder via HPLC analysis, (2) to process the GIN powder via anti-solvent precipitation technique, (3) to see the solubility of GIN powder in various single oils or oil combination, (4) to optimize the GIN-loaded o/w macroemulsions using the central composite design (CCD) with respect to mean particle size of dispersed oil droplets and highest percentage drug entrapment efficiency values (DEE) and (5) to evaluate the pain reducing activity of optimized GIN-loaded macroemulsion via in vivo primary dysmenorrhea (PD) mice model. Both predicted and obtained values of percentage DEE (76.29 Vs.76.09) and mean particle size (245.99 Vs. 272.51 μm) were almost the same indicating the CCD statistical design applicability. The optimized Janus macroemulsion was stable at 4 °C for over a period of 90 days. Using the PD mice model, the counting of writhing reaction produced by the tested GIN-loaded macroemulsions at low and high doses did not reveal significant difference in comparison to the positive control (aspirin treated). Only the high dose of GIN-loaded macroemulsion was able to restore the uterine tissue's normal histomorphological structure after the H & E staining. Nevertheless, the paired beans structure should be tested for entrapping the plant-derived drugs having dissimilar physicochemical characteristics but similar therapeutic activity.

Novel drug delivery systems of Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic intestinal inflammatory disease that comprises ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). IBD involves the ileum, rectum, and colon, and common clinical manifestations of IBD are diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even bloody stools. Currently, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressive agents are used for the treatment of IBD, while their clinical application is severely limited due to unwanted side effects. Chinese medicine (CM) is appealing more and more attention and investigation for the treatment of IBD owing to the potent anti-inflammation pharmacological efficacy and high acceptance by patients. In recent years, novel drug delivery systems are introduced apace to encapsulate CM and many CM-derived active constituents in order to improve solubility, stability and targeting ability. In this review, advanced drug delivery systems developed in the past and present to deliver CM for the treatment of IBD are summarized and future directions are discussed.

Vaccine and antibody production in plants: developments and computational tools

Plants as bioreactors have been widely used to express efficient vaccine antigens against viral, bacterial and protozoan infections. To date, many different plant-based expression systems have been analyzed, with a growing preference for transient expression systems. Antibody expression in diverse plant species for therapeutic applications is well known, and this review provides an overview of various aspects of plant-based biopharmaceutical production. Here, we highlight conventional and gene expression technologies in plants along with some illustrative examples. In addition, the portfolio of products that are being produced and how they relate to the success of this field are discussed. Stable and transient gene expression in plants, agrofiltration and virus infection vectors are also reviewed. Further, the present report draws attention to antibody epitope prediction using computational tools, one of the crucial steps of vaccine design. Finally, regulatory issues, biosafety and public perception of this technology are also discussed.

Biological properties of plant-derived extracellular vesicles

Identification of active constituents of our diet is crucial to understand the impact of food on health, and disease development, and for the formulation of functional food and nutraceuticals. Until now research into the pharmacological properties of the components of our diet has focused on vitamins, sterols, polyphenols, fiber, etc. But very recently, it has been found that plants contain various types of vesicles which are in contact with the intestinal tract throughout our lives. They participate in intestinal tissue renewal processes and modulate gut microbiota in healthy subjects and have important biological functions against inflammatory diseases (e.g.; colitis injury, liver steatosis) or cancers associated with their specific lipid and miRNA content. In addition, recent data have suggested that plant-derived nanovesicles would be excellent candidates for the delivery of therapeutic agents (e.g.; anti-cancerous drugs, siRNAs) or poorly soluble natural compounds (e.g.; curcumin), as they are able to cross mammalian barriers without inducing either an inflammatory response or necrosis, conversely to conventional liposomes. It is thus important to consider these plant-derived vesicles as new components of our food in order to evaluate their potential for health benefit and food-derived technology.

Exosome-like Nanoparticles from Ginger Rhizomes Inhibited NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a key regulator of innate immune responses, and its aberrant activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes. Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome could hold promise to combat these complex diseases, but therapies specifically inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome have not been developed for patient treatment. The current study aimed to identify food-borne exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) that inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activity. Nine vegetables or fruits were selected to extract ELNs, which were examined for their inhibitory effects on activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in primary macrophages. Although most of the tested ELNs posed minimal impacts, the ELNs from ginger rhizomes (G-ELNs) strongly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The G-ELNs contained lipids, proteins, and RNAs and were easily taken up by macrophages. G-ELN treatment suppressed pathways downstream of inflammasome activation including caspase1 autocleavage, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 secretion, and pyroptotic cell death. Apoptotic speck protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization and speck formation assays indicated that G-ELNs blocked assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The lipids in G-ELNs, rather than the RNAs or proteins, were responsible for the inhibitory activity observed. Together, the data suggested G-ELNs as new potent agents that block NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation. The unique features of G-ELNs including biomolecule protection and tissue bioavailability should facilitate the development of G-ELN-based therapy to target the NLRP3 inflammasome in the disease settings.

Dietary non-coding RNAs from plants: Fairy tale or treasure?

The past two decades have witnessed soaring interest in the field of non-coding RNAs, largely attributed by its regulatory role in controlling two third of human transcriptional output. Though, there are several classes of non-coding RNAs found in nature, microRNAs takes the central stage because of their pleiotropic roles. In particular, extracellular microRNAs are gaining traction due to their relative stability and bio availability. Extracellular microRNAs has been shown to occur in all living organisms, including dietary plants. Some of the recent reports suggest that these dietary microRNAs pass through the gut, enter systemic circulation and exert biological effects on animal physiology. However, evidences against this hypothesis are also presented in literature and hence this area has been strongly debated. In this review, I will briefly summarise the evidences accumulated for and against this hypothesis and discuss potential implications of such findings in human health.

Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a common and widely used spice. It is rich in various chemical constituents, including phenolic compounds, terpenes, polysaccharides, lipids, organic acids, and raw fibers. The health benefits of ginger are mainly attributed to its phenolic compounds, such as gingerols and shogaols. Accumulated investigations have demonstrated that ginger possesses multiple biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, respiratory protective, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antinausea, and antiemetic activities. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the bioactive compounds and bioactivities of ginger, and the mechanisms of action are also discussed. We hope that this updated review paper will attract more attention to ginger and its further applications, including its potential to be developed into functional foods or nutraceuticals for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Zingiber officinale and oxidative stress in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in ulcerative colitis (UC) initiation and severity. We aimed to investigate the effect of ginger as a well-known antioxidant agent on the quality of life, disease activity index and oxidative stress in patients with UC.

METHODS

Forty six patients with active mild to moderate UC randomly assigned to consume 2000 mg/day dried ginger powder in 4 capsules or similar placebo capsules for 12 weeks. Disease activity index, quality of life and some oxidative stress factors were measured before, at the middle and at the end of the intervention through valid and reliable questionnaires and blood sampling.

RESULTS

Ginger reduced Malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly after 6 weeks (p = 0.003) and 12 weeks (p < 0.001) of intervention, whereas it did not affect serum total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC). The scores of severity of disease activity at 12th week was significantly improved in ginger group in comparison to placebo (p = 0.017). Moreover, ginger increased patients quality of life significantly at 12th week (p = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that ginger supplementation can improve treatment of patients with UC. Further clinical trials with different dosages and duration of ginger or its standard extract supplementation are needed to obtain firm conclusion.

Oral Gavage of Ginger Nanoparticle-Derived Lipid Vectors Carrying Dmt1 siRNA Blunts Iron Loading in Murine Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been utilized to deliver drugs to the intestinal epithelium in vivo. Moreover, NPs derived from edible plants are less toxic than synthetic NPs. Here, we utilized ginger NP-derived lipid vectors (GDLVs) in a proof-of-concept investigation to test the hypothesis that inhibiting expression of divalent metal-ion transporter 1 (Dmt1) would attenuate iron loading in a mouse model of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Initial experiments using duodenal epithelial organ cultures from intestine-specific Dmt1 knockout (KO) (Dmt1int/int) mice in the Ussing chamber established that Dmt1 is the only active iron importer during iron-deficiency anemia. Further, when Dmt1int/int mice were crossed with mice lacking the iron-regulatory hormone, hepcidin (Hepc-/-), iron loading was abolished. Hence, intestinal Dmt1 is required for the excessive iron absorption that typifies HH. Additional experiments established a protocol to produce GDLVs carrying functional Dmt1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and to target these gene delivery vehicles to the duodenal epithelium in vivo (by incorporating folic acid [FA]). When FA-GDLVs carrying Dmt1 siRNA were administered to weanling Hepc-/- mice for 16 days, intestinal Dmt1 mRNA expression was attenuated and tissue iron accumulation was blunted. Oral delivery of functional siRNAs by FA-GDLVs is a suitable therapeutic approach to mitigate iron loading in murine HH.

Alginate/chitosan microcapsules for in-situ delivery of the protein, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), for the treatment of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model

Targeted delivery of bioactive compounds such as proteins to the colon has numerous advantages for the therapeutic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The present study sought to fabricate alginate/chitosan microcapsules containing IL-1Ra (Alg/Chi/IL-1Ra MC) via a single-step electrospraying method. Two important factors of efficacy were measured-the pH-responsiveness of the microcapsule and the in-vitro drug release profile. The DSS-induced colitis mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the Alg/Chi/IL-1Ra microcapsules, with results showing the protective effect of the Alg/Chi microcapsules for the passage of IL-1Ra through the harsh environment of the upper gastrointestinal tract. This effect was owing to the pH-sensitive response of the microcapsule, which allowed the targeted release of IL-1Ra in the colon. DAI evaluation, colon length, colon tissue morphology, histologic damage scores and relative protein concentrations (MPO, TNF-α and IL-1β) demonstrated that the Alg/Chi/IL-1Ra microcapsules alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice. The present study thus demonstrates a practical means of oral delivery of proteins, in-situ colon release, and a promising application of IL-1Ra in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Recent Advances in the Development of Polymeric Nanocarrier Formulations for the Treatment of Colon Cancer

Background:

Many efforts have been explored in the last decade to treat colon cancer but nanoparticulate drug delivery systems are making a vital contribution in the improvement of drug delivery to colon cancer cells.

Objective:

In this review, we attempt to highlight recent advancements in the development of novel drug delivery systems of nanoparticles for the targeted drug delivery to colon. Polymers like Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) aptamer chitosan, Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Chitosan (CS)– Carboxymethyl Starch (CMS), silsesquioxane capped mesoporous silica, Near IR (NIR) fluorescent Human Serum Albumin (HAS), poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated hyaluronic acid etc. have been discussed by employing various anticancer drugs like doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil etc.

Conclusion:

These novel drug delivery systems have been determined to be more efficacious in terms of stability, sustained and targeted drug delivery, therapeutic efficacy, improved bioavailability and enhanced anticancer activity.

Progress in active compounds effective on ulcerative colitis from Chinese medicines

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon, has a rising incidence worldwide. The known pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves genetic predisposition, epithelial barrier defects, dysregulated immune responses, and environmental factors. Nowadays, the drugs for UC include 5-aminosalicylic acid, steroids, and immunosuppressants. Long-term use of these drugs, however, may cause several side effects, such as hepatic and renal toxicity, drug resistance and allergic reactions. Moreover, the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of UC shows significantly positive effects, low recurrence rate, few side effects and other obvious advantages. This paper summarizes several kinds of active compounds used in the experimental research of anti-UC effects extracted from TCM, mainly including flavonoids, acids, terpenoids, phenols, alkaloids, quinones, and bile acids from some animal medicines. It is found that the anti-UC activities are mainly focused on targeting inflammation or oxidative stress, which is associated with increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4, IL-10, SOD), suppressing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, NF-κB, NO), reducing the activity of MPO, MDA, IFN-γ, and iNOS. This review may offer valuable reference for UC-related studies on the compounds from natural medicines.

Therapeutic effects of lentinan on inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated cancer

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of lentinan in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Lentinan decreased the disease activity index and macroscopic and microscopic colon tissue damage in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced or TNBS-induced models of colitis. High-dose lentinan was more effective than salicylazosulfapyridine in the mouse models of colitis. Lentinan decreased the number of tumours, inflammatory cell infiltration, atypical hyperplasia and nuclear atypia in azoxymethane/DSS-induced CAC model. It also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-13 and CD30L, in IBD and CAC model mice possibly by inhibiting Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signalling and the expression of colon cancer markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 8, CK18 and p53, in CAC model mice. In addition, lentinan restored the intestinal bacterial microbiotal community structure in IBD model mice. Thus, it shows therapeutic potential in IBD and CAC model mice possibly by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signalling-mediated inflammatory responses and disruption of the intestinal microbiotal structure.