Synthesis and Characterization of a New Cationic Lipid: Efficient siRNA Delivery and Anticancer Activity of Survivin-siRNA Lipoplexes for the Treatment of Lung and Breast Cancers

TRPA1 siRNA-Loaded Nanoformulation Ameliorates Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has emerged as a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy, with significant promise for addressing peripheral neuropathies. Despite its immense revolutionary therapeutic potential, the application and sustained release of siRNA for the treatment of chronic pain remain an arduous scientific challenge. This study introduces a novel cationic lipid-based siRNA formulation specifically targeting transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) for the systemic treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP), a condition with no US-FDA-approved therapeutic options. CINP involves the upregulation of the TRPA1 channel, a key player in nociceptive signaling. Our approach leverages the selective silencing of the TRPA1 gene via siRNA encapsulated in liposomes, offering a targeted and safer therapeutic intervention. The proof-of-principle was established through in vivo experiments, demonstrating significant downregulation of TRPA1 mRNA and protein expressions in the spinal cord following intrathecal administration. Liposomal encapsulation improved siRNA stability and delivery, validated through sophisticated morphometric and analytical techniques. Behavioral assays revealed that both intravenous and intrathecal administrations of this TRPA1 siRNA formulation significantly reduced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity in CINP models. The sustained release profile of siRNA from liposomes ensured prolonged efficacy, contrasting sharply with the transient effects of nonencapsulated siRNA. Mechanistically, silencing of the TRPA1 gene led to decreased microglial activation and reduced expression of inflammatory markers such as ICAM-1 and iba1, mitigating neuroinflammatory responses in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord. Intravenous delivery notably outperformed intrathecal administration in downregulating TRPA1 and IL-6 expressions. Overall findings highlight the potential of this nanoengineered TRPA1 siRNA formulation to effectively modulate critical inflammatory pathways and manage CINP. This innovative and exciting strategy not only overcomes the limitations of conventional therapies but also paves the way for new approaches in chronic pain management with significant implications for future clinical applications.

Nanotechnology-Enhanced siRNA Delivery: Revolutionizing Cancer Therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a transformative approach for cancer therapy, enabling precise gene silencing through small interfering RNA (siRNA). However, the clinical application of siRNA-based treatments faces challenges such as rapid degradation, inefficient cellular uptake, and immune system clearance. Nanotechnology-enhanced siRNA delivery has revolutionized cancer therapy by addressing these limitations, improving siRNA stability, tumor-specific targeting, and therapeutic efficacy. Recent advancements in nanocarrier engineering have introduced innovative strategies to enhance the safety and precision of siRNA-based therapies, offering new opportunities for personalized medicine. This review highlights three key innovations in nanotechnology-enhanced siRNA delivery: artificial intelligence (AI)-driven nanocarrier design, multifunctional nanoparticles for combined therapeutic strategies, and biomimetic nanocarriers for enhanced biocompatibility. AI-driven nanocarriers utilize machine learning algorithms to optimize nanoparticle properties, improving drug release profiles and minimizing off-target effects. Multifunctional nanoparticles integrate siRNA with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or photothermal therapy, enabling synergistic treatment approaches that enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce drug resistance. Biomimetic nanocarriers, including exosome-mimicking systems and cell-membrane-coated nanoparticles, improve circulation time, immune evasion, and targeted tumor delivery. These innovations collectively enhance the precision, efficiency, and safety of siRNA-based cancer therapies. The scope and novelty of these advancements lie in their ability to overcome the primary barriers of siRNA delivery while paving the way for clinically viable solutions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest developments in nanocarrier fabrication, preclinical and clinical studies, and safety assessments. By integrating AI-driven design, multifunctionality, and biomimicry, nanotechnology-enhanced siRNA delivery holds immense potential for the future of precision cancer therapy.

Synthesis Methods and Therapeutic Journey of Carprofen and Its Derivatives: A Review

Carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) derived from propanoic acid, is known for its analgesic and antipyretic properties. Although it has long been employed in veterinary medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, its use in humans was discontinued shortly after its market launch due to costly raw materials, complex synthesis, and labor-intensive production processes-factors that made it less competitive compared with other NSAIDs. Despite this, the carprofen molecule remains a subject of significant scientific interest. Recent advancements in its synthesis have introduced simplified and more cost-effective methods, reigniting its potential for both novel applications and drug repurposing. Exciting new research is exploring carprofen's broader therapeutic possibilities, extending beyond its original anti-inflammatory role. Studies are investigating its efficacy in antimicrobial therapy-including antibiofilm, anticancer, antiviral, and anti-Alzheimer's applications-opening doors to a wealth of untapped possibilities. This review delves into these emerging areas, highlighting how carprofen's molecular structure and derivatives can be leveraged to expand its therapeutic reach. The literature review was conducted using four databases: Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Embase, and Reaxys. The review focused on English-language original research and review articles, examining carprofen and its derivatives in terms of their synthesis methods as well as their use as small molecules in various therapeutic applications, both human and veterinary. With ongoing research pushing the boundaries of its potential, carprofen remains a promising candidate for innovation in drug development and treatment strategies.

7S,15R-Stereoisomer of phenylethylamino derivative of colchicine exhibits potent in-vitro and in-vivo anti-cancer activity against prostate Cancer: Assessing the impact of stereochemistry on biological activity

The non-selective toxicity of colchicine remains a major barrier to its development as an anticancer agent. Here, we report a colchicine derivative, 8l, which exhibits potent and selective antiproliferative activity in prostate cancer cells. The present study investigates the impact of stereochemistry at the C10-substituted chiral amine fragment on the biological activity. Our findings reveal that the stereochemical configuration of 8l (7S,15R diastereomer) is critical for its efficacy, showing 12.5-fold greater antiproliferative activity than its counterpart, the 7S,15S diastereomer 8z. Additionally, 8l demonstrates superior α-tubulin polymerization inhibition compared to 8z, that were further corroborated by docking and simulation studies. Mechanistic insights indicate that 8l increases reactive oxygen species levels by modulating the NRF-2/KEAP-1 axis. In vivo, administration of 8l at doses of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg significantly suppresses tumor growth in a PC-3 xenograft mouse model. Collectively, this study highlights the therapeutic potential of 8l as a colchicine-based anticancer agent, effectively attenuating tumor progression through modulation of the NRF-2/KEAP-1 axis.

Photostable Mn(II) Complex of Curcumin for Effective Photodynamic Therapy and Precise Three-Dimensional In Vivo Tumor Imaging

Photoactive complexes of first-row transition metals with emission properties offer a dual approach to cancer treatment, enabling precise optical tumor detection and subsequent eradication using light. We report a photostable and photoactive mixed-ligand Mn(II) complex, Mn4, featuring a naturally occurring curcumin ligand and dipyridophenazine base. Mn4 demonstrates significant visible and red light-triggered phototoxicity against cancer cells and precise tumor imaging capability in vivo. The complex exhibits an absorption band in the visible region, extending its tail into the red region, and shows excellent dark and photostability in solution. Mn4 induces significant phototoxicity against HeLa (cervical), A549 (lung), and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cells (IC50 ≈ 1.0 μM), as well as 3D multicellular tumor spheroids, under low-energy visible (400-700 nm) and red-light (660 nm). This effect is mediated by cytotoxic singlet oxygen and proceeds via an apoptotic mechanism. Importantly, Mn4 displays significantly lower toxicity toward normal HPL1D lung and HEK-293 kidney cells under similar conditions. Cellular uptake studies reveal selective accumulation of Mn4 in A549 cancer cells, with mitochondrial localization, and negligible accumulation in BEAS-2B normal lung cells. Furthermore, 3D optical tumor imaging demonstrated Mn4's selective tumor accumulation in a 4T1 breast tumor-bearing in vivo mouse model. In vivo efficacy studies using a 4T1 tumor-bearing orthotopic mouse model show that Mn4 significantly reduces tumor volume and weight in a dose-dependent manner under low-energy blue laser (450 nm) irradiation, highlighting its potential as an effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent. Toxicological studies confirm that Mn4 does not induce abnormal biochemical or hematological parameters in healthy mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Mn(II) complex with curcumin and the first example of a metal complex with curcumin for combined in vivo PDT and noninvasive 3D optical tumor imaging, paving the way for nonmacrocyclic Mn-based cancer phototheranostics.

Recent Advances and Prospects of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics for Anti-Cancer Therapy

Nucleic acid therapeutics are promising alternatives to conventional anti-cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While conventional therapies have limitations, such as high side effects, low specificity, and drug resistance, nucleic acid therapeutics work at the gene level to eliminate the cause of the disease. Nucleic acid therapeutics treat diseases in various forms and using different mechanisms, including plasmid DNA (pDNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), anti-microRNA (anti-miR), microRNA mimics (miRNA mimic), messenger RNA (mRNA), aptamer, catalytic nucleic acid (CNA), and CRISPR cas9 guide RNA (gRNA). In addition, nucleic acids have many advantages as nanomaterials, such as high biocompatibility, design flexibility, low immunogenicity, small size, relatively low price, and easy functionalization. Nucleic acid therapeutics can have a high therapeutic effect by being used in combination with various nucleic acid nanostructures, inorganic nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), etc. to overcome low physiological stability and cell internalization efficiency. The field of nucleic acid therapeutics has advanced remarkably in recent decades, and as more and more nucleic acid therapeutics have been approved, they have already demonstrated their potential to treat diseases, including cancer. This review paper introduces the current status and recent advances in nucleic acid therapy for anti-cancer treatment and discusses the tasks and prospects ahead.

Lipoplexes' Structure, Preparation, and Role in Managing Different Diseases

Lipid-based vectors are becoming promising alternatives to traditional therapies over the last 2 decades specially for managing life-threatening diseases like cancer. Cationic lipids are the most prevalent non-viral vectors utilized in gene delivery. The increasing number of clinical trials about lipoplex-based gene therapy demonstrates their potential as well-established technology that can provide robust gene transfection. In this regard, this review will summarize this important point. These vectors however have a modest transfection efficiency. This limitation can be partly addressed by using functional lipids that provide a plethora of options for investigating nucleic acid-lipid interactions as well as in vitro and in vivo nucleic acid delivery for biomedical applications. Despite their lower gene transfer efficiency, lipid-based vectors such as lipoplexes have several advantages over viral ones: they are less toxic and immunogenic, can be targeted, and are simple to produce on a large scale. Researchers are actively investigating the parameters that are essential for an effective lipoplex delivery method. These include factors that influence the structure, stability, internalization, and transfection of the lipoplex. Thorough understanding of the design principles will enable synthesis of customized lipoplex formulations for life-saving therapy.

Glucosyltriazole amphiphile treatment attenuates breast cancer by modulating the AMPK signaling

Breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer among women. Out of various subtypes, triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) account for 15% of breast cancers and exhibit more aggressive characteristics as well as a worse prognosis due to their proclivity for metastatic progression and limited therapeutic strategies. It has been demonstrated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has context-specific protumorigenic implications in breast cancer cells. A set of glucosyltriazole amphiphiles, consisting of acetylated (9a-h) and unmodified sugar hydroxyl groups (10a-h), were synthesized and subjected to in vitro biological evaluation. Among them, 9h exhibited significant anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and 4T1 cell lines with IC50 values of 12.5, 15, and 12.55 μM, respectively. Further, compound 9h was evaluated for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis in in vitro models (using breast cancer cells) and antitumour activity in an in vivo model (orthotopic mouse model using 4T1 cells). Annexin-V assay results revealed that treatment with 9h caused 34% and 28% cell death at a concentration of 15 or 7.5 μM, respectively, while cell cycle analysis demonstrated that 9h arrested the cells at the G2/M or G1 phase in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells, respectively. Further, in vivo, investigation showed that compound 9h exhibited equipotent as doxorubicin at 7.5 mg/kg, and superior efficacy than doxorubicin at 15 mg/kg. The mechanistic approach revealed that 9h showed potent anticancer activity in an in vivo orthotopic model (4T1 cells) partly by suppressing the AMPK activation. Therefore, modulating the AMPK activation could be a probable approach for targeting breast cancer and mitigating cancer progression.

A systematic study of the effect of lipid architecture on cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of cationic cubosomes

HYPOTHESIS

Lipid nanoparticles containing a cationic lipid are increasingly used in drug and gene delivery as they can display improved cellular uptake, enhanced loading for anionic cargo such as siRNA and mRNA or exhibit additional functionality such as cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This research study tests the hypothesis that the molecular structure of the cationic lipid influences the structure of the lipid nanoparticle, the cellular uptake, and the resultant cytotoxicity.

EXPERIMENTS

Three potentially cytotoxic cationic lipids, with systematic variations to the hydrophobic moiety, were designed and synthesised. All the three cationic lipids synthesised contain pharmacophores such as the bicyclic coumarin group (CCA12), the tricyclic etodolac moiety (ETD12), or the large pentacyclic triterpenoid "ursolic" group (U12) conjugated to a quaternary ammonium cationic lipid containing twin C12 chains. The cationic lipids were doped into monoolein cubosomes at a range of concentrations from 0.1 mol% to 5 mol% and the effect of the lipid molecular architecture on the cubosome phase behaviour was assessed using a combination of Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta-potential and cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM). The resulting cytotoxicity of these particles against a range of cancerous and non-cancerous cell-lines was assessed, along with their cellular uptake.

FINDINGS

The molecular architecture of the cationic lipid was linked to the internal nanostructure of the resulting cationic cubosomes with a transition to more curved cubic and hexagonal phases generally observed. Cubosomes formed from the cationic lipid CCA12 were found to have improved cellular uptake and significantly higher cytotoxicity than the cationic lipids ETD12 and U12 against the gastric cancer cell-line (AGS) at lipid concentrations ≥ 75 µg/mL. CCA12 cationic cubosomes also displayed reasonable cytotoxicity against the prostate cancer PC-3 cell-line at lipid concentrations ≥ 100 µg/mL. In contrast, 2.5 mol% ETD12 and 2.5 mol% U12 cubosomes were generally non-toxic against both cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines over the entire concentration range tested. The molecular architecture of the cationic lipid was found to influence the cubosome phase behaviour, the cellular uptake and the toxicity although further studies are necessary to determine the exact relationship between structure and cellular uptake across a range of cell lines.

The application strategy of liposomes in organ targeting therapy

Liposomes-microscopic phospholipid bubbles with bilayered membrane structure-have been a focal point in drug delivery research for the past 30 years. Current liposomes possess a blend of biocompatibility, drug loading efficiency, prolonged circulation and targeted delivery. Tailored liposomes, varying in size, charge, lipid composition, and ratio, have been developed to address diseases in specific organs, thereby enhancing drug circulation, accumulation at lesion sites, intracellular delivery, and treatment efficacy for various organ-specific diseases. For further successful development of this field, this review summarized liposomal strategies for targeting different organs in series of major human diseases, including widely studied cardiovascular diseases, liver and spleen immune diseases, chronic or acute kidney injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and organ-specific tumors. It highlights recent advances of liposome-mediated therapeutic agent delivery for disease intervention and organ rehabilitation, offering practical guidelines for designing organ-targeted liposomes. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures.