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Azevedo A, Coelho MP, Pinho JO, Soares PIP, Reis CP, Borges JP, Gaspar MM. An alternative hybrid lipid nanosystem combining cytotoxic and magnetic properties as a tool to potentiate antitumor effect of 5-fluorouracil. Life Sci 2024; 344:122558. [PMID: 38471621 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Colorectal cancer is the third most frequent type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The majority of cases are diagnosed at a later stage, leading to the need for more aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), known for its high cytotoxic properties has emerged as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, it presents several drawbacks such as lack of specificity and short half-life. To reduce these drawbacks, several strategies have been designed namely chemical modification or association to drug delivery systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS Current research was focused on the design, physicochemical characterization and in vitro evaluation of a lipid-based system loaded with 5-FU. Furthermore, aiming to maximize preferential targeting and release at tumour sites, a hybrid lipid-based system, combining both therapeutic and magnetic properties was developed and validated. For this purpose, liposomes co-loaded with 5-FU and iron oxide (II, III) nanoparticles were accomplished. KEY FINDINGS The characterization of the developed nanoformulation was performed in terms of incorporation parameters, mean size and surface charge. In vitro studies assessed in a murine colon cancer cell line confirmed that 5-FU antiproliferative activity was preserved after incorporation in liposomes. In same model, iron oxide (II, III) nanoparticles did not exhibit cytotoxic properties. Additionally, the presence of these nanoparticles was shown to confer magnetic properties to the liposomes, allowing them to respond to external magnetic fields. SIGNIFICANCE Overall, a lipid nanosystem loading a chemotherapeutic agent displaying magnetic characteristics was successfully designed and physicochemically characterized, for further in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afonso Azevedo
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Mariana P Coelho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paula I P Soares
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina P Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; IBEB, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João P Borges
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; IBEB, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Liu Q, Wang L, He D, Wu Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Chen Z, Dong Z, Luo Y, Song Y. Application Value of Antimicrobial Peptides in Gastrointestinal Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16718. [PMID: 38069041 PMCID: PMC10706433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is a common clinical malignant tumor disease that seriously endangers human health and lacks effective treatment methods. As part of the innate immune defense of many organisms, antimicrobial peptides not only have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity but also can specifically kill tumor cells. The positive charge of antimicrobial peptides under neutral conditions determines their high selectivity to tumor cells. In addition, antimicrobial peptides also have unique anticancer mechanisms, such as inducing apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, membrane destruction, and inhibition of metastasis, which highlights the low drug resistance and high specificity of antimicrobial peptides. In this review, we summarize the related studies on antimicrobial peptides in the treatment of digestive tract tumors, mainly oral cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. This paper describes the therapeutic advantages of antimicrobial peptides due to their unique anticancer mechanisms. The length, net charge, and secondary structure of antimicrobial peptides can be modified by design or modification to further enhance their anticancer effects. In summary, as an emerging cancer treatment drug, antimicrobial peptides need to be further studied to realize their application in gastrointestinal cancer diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Dongxia He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuewei Wu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xian Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yahan Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhizhi Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhan Dong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Ying Luo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuzhu Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Medical College, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
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3
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Ahmed S, Nadeem M, Hussain I, Fatima S, Anwar S, Rizvi MA, Hassan MI, Tabish M. Preparation of nanoformulation of 5-fluorouracil to improve anticancer efficacy: integrated spectroscopic, docking, and MD simulation approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37850451 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2270704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Nanoformulations (NFs) can be used as a novel drug delivery system to treat all cancer types. One of the major drawbacks of conventional anticancer drugs is that they have poor specificity and higher toxicity towards normal cells. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-studied anticancer drug that has a significant role in various cancers, specifically colorectal cancer therapy. This study was performed to determine the functional groups, particle size, surface charge, heterogeneity, and stability of the NF. The NFs of 5-FU were prepared through the ultrasonication technique by increasing the surfactant (Tween-80) concentrations. Among all three NFs, nanoformulated 5-FU (n5-FU) showed the most effective particle size (10.72 nm) with a zeta potential of (-4.57 mV). The cytotoxicity and apoptosis profiles confirmed that n5-FU enhanced the anticancer effect of the pure drug in HCT-116 cells, as evident from MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, and FACS analysis. In HCT-116 cells, the IC50 values of pure and n5-FU were obtained as 41.3 μM and 18.8 μM, respectively, indicating that n5-FU was more effective against the cancer cell line. The cellular uptake study was performed to check the intake of NF in cancer cells. However, the microtubule-affinity regulating kinase-4 (MARK-4), a cancer-target protein, was purified to study the inhibition and interaction studies. The inhibition assay confirmed the inhibitory potential of 5-FU against MARK-4 protein. the multi-spectroscopic, molecular docking and MD simulation studies were performed to analyse the conformational changes, binding studies, intermolecular interactions, and stability of MARK-4 protein upon binding 5-FU. This demonstrates that NF can enhance the effectiveness of anticancer drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
| | - Masood Nadeem
- Department of Biosciences, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Irfan Hussain
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
| | - Sana Fatima
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
| | - Saleha Anwar
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Md Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Tabish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
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Mertens RT, Gukathasan S, Arojojoye AS, Olelewe C, Awuah SG. Next Generation Gold Drugs and Probes: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:6612-6667. [PMID: 37071737 PMCID: PMC10317554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The gold drugs, gold sodium thiomalate (Myocrisin), aurothioglucose (Solganal), and the orally administered auranofin (Ridaura), are utilized in modern medicine for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis; however, new gold agents have been slow to enter the clinic. Repurposing of auranofin in different disease indications such as cancer, parasitic, and microbial infections in the clinic has provided impetus for the development of new gold complexes for biomedical applications based on unique mechanistic insights differentiated from auranofin. Various chemical methods for the preparation of physiologically stable gold complexes and associated mechanisms have been explored in biomedicine such as therapeutics or chemical probes. In this Review, we discuss the chemistry of next generation gold drugs, which encompasses oxidation states, geometry, ligands, coordination, and organometallic compounds for infectious diseases, cancer, inflammation, and as tools for chemical biology via gold-protein interactions. We will focus on the development of gold agents in biomedicine within the past decade. The Review provides readers with an accessible overview of the utility, development, and mechanism of action of gold-based small molecules to establish context and basis for the thriving resurgence of gold in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tyler Mertens
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sailajah Gukathasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Adedamola S Arojojoye
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Chibuzor Olelewe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Samuel G Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
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5
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Jayasinghe M, Prathiraja O, Caldera D, Jena R, Coffie-Pierre JA, Silva MS, Siddiqui OS. Colon Cancer Screening Methods: 2023 Update. Cureus 2023; 15:e37509. [PMID: 37193451 PMCID: PMC10182334 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. National screening guidelines have been implemented to identify and remove precancerous polyps before they become cancer. Routine CRC screening is advised for people with average risk starting at age 45 because it is a common and preventable malignancy. Various screening modalities are currently in use, ranging from stool-based tests (fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and FIT-DNA test), radiologic tests (computed tomographic colonography (CTC), double contrast barium enema), and visual endoscopic examinations (flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), colonoscopy, and colon capsule endoscopy (CCE)) with their varying sensitivity and specificity. Biomarkers also play a vital role in assessing the recurrence of CRC. This review offers a summary of the current screening options, including biomarkers available to detect CRC, highlighting the benefits and challenges encompassing each screening modality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rahul Jena
- Neurology/Internal Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College/Bharati Hospital, Pune, IND
| | | | | | - Ozair S Siddiqui
- Medicine, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Dharpur-Patan, Patan, IND
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Matias M, Santos AO, Silvestre S, Alves G. Fighting Epilepsy with Nanomedicines-Is This the Right Weapon? Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020306. [PMID: 36839629 PMCID: PMC9959131 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic and complex condition and is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting about 50 million people worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has been, and is likely to remain, the main treatment approach for this disease. Although a large number of new antiseizure drugs (ASDs) has been introduced into the market in the last few years, many patients suffer from uncontrolled seizures, demanding the development of more effective therapies. Nanomedicines have emerged as a promising approach to deliver drugs to the brain, potentiating their therapeutic index. Moreover, nanomedicine has applied the knowledge of nanoscience, not only in disease treatment but also in prevention and diagnosis. In the current review, the general features and therapeutic management of epilepsy will be addressed, as well as the main barriers to overcome to obtain better antiseizure therapies. Furthermore, the role of nanomedicines as a valuable tool to selectively deliver drugs will be discussed, considering the ability of nanocarriers to deal with the less favourable physical-chemical properties of some ASDs, enhance their brain penetration, reduce the adverse effects, and circumvent the concerning drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Matias
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (A.O.S.); Tel.: +351-275-329-002 (M.M.); +351-275-329-079 (A.O.S.)
| | - Adriana O. Santos
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (A.O.S.); Tel.: +351-275-329-002 (M.M.); +351-275-329-079 (A.O.S.)
| | - Samuel Silvestre
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- CNC—Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gilberto Alves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
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7
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Mono-Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants Synthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Detrimentally Affect Colorectal Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122799. [PMID: 36559292 PMCID: PMC9782318 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, glycolipid-type biosurfactant compounds have been postulated as novel, naturally synthesized anticancer agents. This study utilized a recombinant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to biosynthesize a preparation of mono-rhamnolipids that were purified via both liquid and solid-phase extraction, characterized by HPLC-MS, and utilized to treat two colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and Caco2) and a healthy colonic epithelial cell line CCD-841-CoN. Additionally, the anticancer activity of these mono-rhamnolipids was compared to an alternative naturally derived anticancer agent, Piceatannol. XTT cell viability assays showed that treatment with mono-rhamnolipid significantly reduced the viability of both colorectal cancer cell lines whilst having little effect on the healthy colonic epithelial cell line. At the concentrations tested mono-rhamnolipids were also shown to be more cytotoxic to the colorectal cancer cells than Piceatannol. Staining of mono-rhamnolipid-treated cells with propidium iodine and acridine orange appeared to show that these compounds induced necrosis in both colorectal cancer cell lines. These data provide an early in vitro proof-of-principle for utilizing these compounds either as active pharmaceutical ingredient for the treatment of colorectal cancer or incorporations into nutraceutical formulations to potentially prevent gastrointestinal tract cancer.
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8
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Polymeric Nanosystems Applied for Metal-Based Drugs and Photosensitizers Delivery: The State of the Art and Recent Advancements. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071506. [PMID: 35890401 PMCID: PMC9320085 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanotechnology-based approaches for targeting the delivery and controlled release of metal-based therapeutic agents have revealed significant potential as tools for enhancing the therapeutic effect of metal-based agents and minimizing their systemic toxicities. In this context, a series of polymer-based nanosized systems designed to physically load or covalently conjugate metal-based therapeutic agents have been remarkably improving their bioavailability and anticancer efficacy. Initially, the polymeric nanocarriers were applied for platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents resulting in some nanoformulations currently in clinical tests and even in medical applications. At present, these nanoassemblies have been slowly expanding for nonplatinum-containing metal-based chemotherapeutic agents. Interestingly, for metal-based photosensitizers (PS) applied in photodynamic therapy (PDT), especially for cancer treatment, strategies employing polymeric nanocarriers have been investigated for almost 30 years. In this review, we address the polymeric nanocarrier-assisted metal-based therapeutics agent delivery systems with a specific focus on non-platinum systems; we explore some biological and physicochemical aspects of the polymer–metallodrug assembly. Finally, we summarize some recent advances in polymeric nanosystems coupled with metal-based compounds that present potential for successful clinical applications as chemotherapeutic or photosensitizing agents. We hope this review can provide a fertile ground for the innovative design of polymeric nanosystems for targeting the delivery and controlled release of metal-containing therapeutic agents.
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Ribeiro N, Albino M, Ferreira A, Escrevente C, Barral DC, Pessoa JC, Reis CP, Gaspar MM, Correia I. Liposomal Formulations of a New Zinc(II) Complex Exhibiting High Therapeutic Potential in a Murine Colon Cancer Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126728. [PMID: 35743176 PMCID: PMC9223407 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Many current therapies rely on chemotherapeutic agents with poor specificity for tumor cells. The clinical success of cisplatin has prompted the research and design of a huge number of metal-based complexes as potential chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, two zinc(II) complexes, [ZnL2] and [ZnL(AcO)], where AcO is acetate and L is an organic compound combining 8-hydroxyquinoline and a benzothiazole moiety, were developed and characterized. Analytical and spectroscopic studies, namely, NMR, FTIR, and UV-Vis allowed us to establish the complexes’ structures, demonstrating the ligand-binding versatility: tetradentate in [ZnL(AcO)] and bidentate in [ZnL2]. Complexes were screened in vitro using murine and human colon cancer cells cultured in 2D and 3D settings. In 2D cells, the IC50 values were <22 µM, while in 3D settings, much higher concentrations were required. [ZnL(AcO)] displayed more suitable antiproliferative properties than [ZnL2] and was chosen for further studies. Moreover, based on the weak selectivity of the zinc-based complex towards cancer cell lines in comparison to the non-tumorigenic cell line, its incorporation in long-blood-circulating liposomes was performed, aiming to improve its targetability. The resultant optimized liposomal nanoformulation presented an I.E. of 76% with a mean size under 130 nm and a neutral surface charge and released the metal complex in a pH-dependent manner. The antiproliferative properties of [ZnL(AcO)] were maintained after liposomal incorporation. Preliminary safety assays were carried out through hemolytic activity that never surpassed 2% for the free and liposomal forms of [ZnL(AcO)]. Finally, in a syngeneic murine colon cancer mouse model, while free [ZnL(AcO)] was not able to impair tumor progression, the respective liposomal nanoformulation was able to reduce the relative tumor volume in the same manner as the positive control 5-fluorouracil but, most importantly, using a dosage that was 3-fold lower. Overall, our results show that liposomes were able to solve the solubility issues of the new metal-based complex and target it to tumor sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia Ribeiro
- Centro Química Estrutural, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.R.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Melissa Albino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.A.); (C.P.R.)
| | - Andreia Ferreira
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.F.); (C.E.); (D.C.B.)
| | - Cristina Escrevente
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.F.); (C.E.); (D.C.B.)
| | - Duarte C. Barral
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.F.); (C.E.); (D.C.B.)
| | - João Costa Pessoa
- Centro Química Estrutural, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.R.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.A.); (C.P.R.)
- IBEB, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.A.); (C.P.R.)
- Correspondence: (M.M.G.); (I.C.)
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro Química Estrutural, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (N.R.); (J.C.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.M.G.); (I.C.)
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10
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Relevance of Fluorinated Ligands to the Design of Metallodrugs for Their Potential Use in Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020402. [PMID: 35214133 PMCID: PMC8874657 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorination of pharmaceutical agents has afforded crucial modifications to their pharmacological profiles, leading to important advances in medicinal chemistry. On the other hand, metallodrugs are considered to be valuable candidates in the treatment of several diseases, albeit with the caveat that they may exhibit pharmacological disadvantages, such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability and short circulating time. To surmount these limitations, two approaches have been developed: one based on the design of novel metallodrug-delivering carriers and the other based on optimizing the structure of the ligands bound to the metal center. In this context, fluorination of the ligands may bring beneficial changes (physicochemical and biological) that can help to elude the aforementioned drawbacks. Thus, in this review, we discuss the use of fluorinated ligands in the design of metallodrugs that may exhibit potential anticancer activity.
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11
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Khan H, Alam W, Alsharif KF, Aschner M, Pervez S, Saso L. Alkaloids and Colon Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications for Cell Cycle Arrest. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27030920. [PMID: 35164185 PMCID: PMC8838632 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second most fatal disease worldwide, with colon cancer being the third most prevalent and fatal form of cancer in several Western countries. The risk of acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy remains a significant hurdle in the management of various types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Therefore, it is essential to develop alternative treatment modalities. Naturally occurring alkaloids have been shown to regulate various mechanistic pathways linked to cell proliferation, cell cycle, and metastasis. This review aims to shed light on the potential of alkaloids as anti-colon-cancer chemotherapy agents that can modulate or arrest the cell cycle. Preclinical investigated alkaloids have shown anti-colon cancer activities and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation via cell cycle arrest at different stages, suggesting that alkaloids may have the potential to act as anticancer molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan;
- Correspondence: or
| | - Waqas Alam
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan;
| | - Khalaf F. Alsharif
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099,Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Samreen Pervez
- Department of Pharmacy, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar 29050, Pakistan;
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
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Bonelli J, Ortega-Forte E, Vigueras G, Bosch M, Cutillas N, Rocas J, Ruiz J, Marchan V. Polyurethane-polyurea hybrid nanocapsules as efficient delivery systems of anticancer Ir(III) metallodrugs. Inorg Chem Front 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1qi01542g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes hold great promise as an alternative to platinum metallodrugs for therapy and diagnosis of cancer. However, low aqueous solubility and poor cell membrane permeability difficult in vivo...
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Pinho JO, da Silva IV, Amaral JD, Rodrigues CMP, Casini A, Soveral G, Gaspar MM. Therapeutic potential of a copper complex loaded in pH-sensitive long circulating liposomes for colon cancer management. Int J Pharm 2021; 599:120463. [PMID: 33711474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma is a complex malignancy and current therapies are hampered by systemic toxicity and tumor resistance to treatment. In the field of cancer therapy, copper (Cu) compounds hold great promise, with some reaching clinical trials. However, the anticancer potential of Cu complexes has not yet been fully disclosed due to speciation in biological systems, leading to inactivation and/or potential side effects. This is the case of the widely studied Cu(II) complexes featuring phenanthroline ligands, with potent antiproliferative effects in vitro, but often failing in vivo. Aiming to overcome these limitations and maximize its anticancer effects in vivo, the Cu(II) complex (Cu(1,10-phenanthroline)Cl2) (Cuphen), displaying IC50 values <6 μM against different tumor cell lines, was loaded in long circulating liposomes with pH-sensitive properties (F1, DMPC:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG; F2, DOPE:CHEMS:DMPC:DSPE-PEG). This enabled a pH-dependent Cuphen release, with F1 and F2 releasing 36/78% and 47/94% of Cuphen at pH 6/4.5, respectively. The so formed nanoformulations preserved Cuphen effects towards cancer cell lines, with F2 presenting IC50 of 2.7 μM and 4.9 μM towards colon cancer CT-26 and HCT-116 cells, respectively. Additional in vitro studies confirmed that Cuphen antiproliferative activity towards colon cancer cells does not rely on cell cycle effect. Furthermore, in these cells, Cuphen reduced glycerol permeation and impaired cell migration. At 24 h incubation, wound closure was reduced by Cuphen, with migration values of 29% vs 54% (control) and 45% (1,10-phenanthroline) in CT-26 cells, and 33% vs ~44% (control and 1,10-phenanthroline) in HCT-116 cells. These effects were probably due to inhibition of aquaglyceroporins, membrane water and glycerol channels that are often abnormally expressed in tumors. In a syngeneic murine colon cancer model, F2 significantly reduced tumor progression, compared to the control group and to mice treated with free Cuphen or with the ligand, 1,10-phenanthroline, without eliciting toxic side effects. F2 led to a tumor volume reduction of ca. 50%. This was confirmed by RTV analysis, where F2 reached a value of 1.3 vs 4.4 (Control), 5.8 (Phen) and 3.8 (free Cuphen). These results clearly demonstrated the important role of the Cu(II) for the observed biological activity that was maximized following the association to a lipid-based nanosystem. Overall, this study represents a step forward in the development of pH-sensitive nanotherapeutic strategies of metallodrugs for colon cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês V da Silva
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana D Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Angela Casini
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Graça Soveral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
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