Co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin via cRGD-peptide modified PEG-PLA self-assembly nanomicelles for lung cancer therapy

Intranasal Delivery of Curcumin Nanoparticles Improves Neuroinflammation and Neurological Deficits in Mice with Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents one of the most severe subtypes of stroke. Due to the complexity of the brain injury mechanisms following ICH, there are currently no effective treatments to significantly improve patient functional outcomes. Curcumin, as a potential therapeutic agent for ICH, is limited by its poor water solubility and oral bioavailability. In this study, mPEG-PCL is used to encapsulate curcumin, forming curcumin nanoparticles, and utilized the intranasal administration route to directly deliver curcumin nanoparticles from the nasal cavity to the brain. By inhibiting pro-inflammatory neuroinflammation of microglia following ICH in mice, reprogramming pro-inflammatory microglia toward an anti-inflammatory function, and consequently reducing neuronal inflammatory death and hematoma volume, this approach improved blood-brain barrier damage in ICH mice and promoted the recovery of neurological function post-stroke. This study offers a promising therapeutic strategy for ICH to mediate neuroinflammatory microenvironments.

On the Development of Polylactic Acid/Polycaprolactone Blended Films with High Retention Capacity

The retention capacity of polymers is related to the development of systems that combine high surface-to-volume ratio with good handling and specific functionality. Biodegradability and biocompatibility are also key features for extending the field of applications to areas such as biomedicine. With this in mind, the aim of this work is to develop biodegradable, biocompatible, and highly functionalized porous films, that ensure suitable handling and a good surface-to-volume ratio. Polylactic acid (PLA) is applied as a polymer matrix to which a polycaprolactone with a star-shaped architecture (PCL-COOH) to ensure a high concentration of carboxylic end functionalities is added. The porous films are prepared using the phase inversion technique, which, as shown by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, promotes good dispersion of the PCL-COOH domains. Absorption and release measurements performed with a positively charged model molecule show that the retention capacity and release rate can be tuned by changing the PCL-COOH concentration in the systems. Moreover, the adsorption properties for the formulation with the highest PCL-COOH content are also demonstrated with a real and widely used drug, namely doxorubicin. Finally, the bio- and hemocompatibility of the films, which are enzymatically degradable, are evaluated by using human keratinocytes and red blood cells, respectively.

Novel targeting liposomes with enhanced endosomal escape for co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin

Effective endosomal escape is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of nanodrug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a novel liposomal system utilizing acid-sensitive N-(3-amino-propyl) imidazole cholesterol (IM-Chol), specifically designed for the targeted co-delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Designated as GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR, this liposomal system incorporates glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) to improve target specificity toward HCC cells. Notably, both drugs exhibited pH-sensitive release profiles, facilitating precise drug release within acidic environments. Our investigation into cellular uptake demonstrated that modified liposomes, GA-IM-LIP@FITC and IM-LIP@FITC, achieved progressively enhanced intracellular accumulation of FITC compared to unmodified liposomes. Competitive inhibition assays utilizing free GA further validated the targeting efficacy of GA. Moreover, the GA-IM-LIP@FITC and IM-LIP@FITC groups exhibited rapid endosomal escape of FITC within the first two hours, in contrast to delayed escape observed in the LIP@FITC group, confirming that the protonation of IM-Chol promotes drug release into the cytosol. In vivo studies substantiated that GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR effectively inhibited tumor growth. This research provides significant insights into the design and functionality of the GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR liposomal system, underscoring its potential to enhance drug delivery strategies in the treatment of HCC.

Cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin-Curcumin Nanoparticles Conjugated with Two Different Peptides (CKR and EVQ) against FLT3 Protein in Leukemic Stem Cells

A targeted micellar formation of doxorubicin (Dox) and curcumin (Cur) was evaluated to enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of these drugs in KG1a leukemic stem cells (LSCs) compared to EoL-1 leukemic cells. Dox-Cur-micelle (DCM) was developed to improve the cell uptake of both compounds in LSCs. Cur-micelle (CM) was produced to compare with DCM. DCM and CM were conjugated with two FLT3 (FMS-like tyrosine kinase)-specific peptides (CKR; C and EVQ; E) to increase drug delivery to KG1a via the FLT3 receptor (AML marker). They were formulated using a film-hydration technique together with a pH-induced self-assembly method. The optimal drug-to-polymer weight ratios for the DCM and CM formulations were 1:40. The weight ratio of Dox and Cur in DCM was 1:9. DCM and CM exhibited a particle size of 20-25 nm with neutral charge and a high %EE. Each micelle exhibited colloidal stability and prolonged drug release. Poloxamer 407 (P407) was modified with terminal azides and conjugated to FLT3-targeting peptides with terminal alkynes. DCM and CM coupled with peptides C, E, and C + E exhibited a higher particle size. Moreover, DCM-C + E and CM-C + E showed the highest toxicity in KG-1a and EoL-1 cells. Using two peptides likely improves the probability of micelles binding to the FLT3 receptor and induces cytotoxicity in leukemic stem cells.

Mechanism of Peptide Self-assembly and Its Study in Biomedicine

The development of peptide-based materials is one of the most challenging aspects of biomaterials research in recent years. The assembly of peptides is mainly controlled by forces such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic interaction, and π-π accumulation. Peptides have unique advantages such as simple structure, easy synthesis, good biocompatibility, non-toxicity, easy modification, etc. These factors make peptides turn into ideal biomedical materials, and they have a broad application prospect in biomedical materials, and thus have received wide attention. In this review, the mechanism and classification of peptide self-assembly and its applications in biomedicine and hydrogels were introduced.

A Triple-Responsive Polymeric Prodrug Nanoplatform with Extracellular ROS Consumption and Intracellular H2O2 Self-Generation for Imaging-Guided Tumor Chemo-Ferroptosis-Immunotherapy

High reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in tumor microenvironment (TME) impair both immunogenic cell death (ICD) efficacy and T cell activity. Furthermore, tumor escapes immunosurveillance via programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) signal, and the insufficient intracellular hydrogen peroxide weakens ferroptosis efficacy. To tackle the above issues, a glutathione (GSH)/ROS/pH triple-responsive prodrug nanomedicine that encapsulates Fe2O3 nanoparticle via electrostatic interaction is constructed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided multi-mode theranostics with chemotherapy/ferroptosis/immunotherapy. The diselenide bond consumes ROS in TME to increase T cells and ICD efficacy, the cleavage of which facilitates PD-L1 antagonist D peptide release to block immune checkpoint. After intracellular internalization, Fe2O3 nanoparticle is released in the acidic endosome for MRI simultaneously with lipid peroxides generation for tumor ferroptosis. Doxorubicin is cleaved from polymers in the condition of high intracellular GSH level accompanied by tumor ICD, which simultaneously potentiates ferroptosis by NADPH oxidase mediated H2O2 self-generation. In vivo results indicate that the nanoplatform strengthens tumor ICD, induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes proliferation, inhibits 4T1 tumor regression and metastasis, and prolongs survival median. In all, a new strategy is proposed in strengthening ICD and T cells activity cascade with ferroptosis as well as immune checkpoint blockade for effective tumor immunotherapy.

A DNA tetrahedron-based ferroptosis-suppressing nanoparticle: superior delivery of curcumin and alleviation of diabetic osteoporosis

Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a significant complication that poses continuous threat to the bone health of patients with diabetes; however, currently, there are no effective treatment strategies. In patients with diabetes, the increased levels of ferroptosis affect the osteogenic commitment and differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), leading to significant skeletal changes. To address this issue, we aimed to target ferroptosis and propose a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of DOP. We synthesized ferroptosis-suppressing nanoparticles, which could deliver curcumin, a natural compound, to the bone marrow using tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA). This delivery system demonstrated excellent curcumin bioavailability and stability, as well as synergistic properties with tFNA. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that nanoparticles could enhance mitochondrial function by activating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway, inhibiting ferroptosis, promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the diabetic microenvironment, reducing trabecular loss, and increasing bone formation. These findings suggest that curcumin-containing DNA tetrahedron-based ferroptosis-suppressing nanoparticles have a promising potential for the treatment of DOP and other ferroptosis-related diseases.

Nanomedicine Combats Drug Resistance in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy are currently available as treatment methods. However, drug resistance is a significant factor in the failure of lung cancer treatments. Novel therapeutics have been exploited to address complicated resistance mechanisms of lung cancer and the advancement of nanomedicine is extremely promising in terms of overcoming drug resistance. Nanomedicine equipped with multifunctional and tunable physiochemical properties in alignment with tumor genetic profiles can achieve precise, safe, and effective treatment while minimizing or eradicating drug resistance in cancer. Here, this work reviews the discovered resistance mechanisms for lung cancer chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, and outlines novel strategies for the development of nanomedicine against drug resistance. This work focuses on engineering design, customized delivery, current challenges, and clinical translation of nanomedicine in the application of resistant lung cancer.

Sensitizing chemotherapy for glioma with fisetin mediated by a microenvironment-responsive nano-drug delivery system

Drug resistance has become an obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapies, with therapeutic agents effectively traversing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remaining a great challenge. A microenvironment responsive and active targeting nanoparticle was constructed to enhance the penetration of drugs, leading to improved therapeutic effects. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the prepared nanoparticle had a uniform size. The cRGD modification renders the nanoparticle with active targeting capabilities to traverse the BBB for chemotherapy. The disulfide-bond-containing nanoparticle can be disintegrated in response to a high concentration of endogenous glutathione (GSH) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor-specific drug release, resulting in more effective accumulation. Notably, the released fisetin further increased the uptake of doxorubicin by glioma cells and exerted synergistic effects to promote apoptosis, induce cellular G2/M cycle arrest, and inhibit cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, the nanoparticle showed favorable anti-glioma effects in vivo. Our study provides a new strategy to overcome drug resistance by utilizing a natural product to sensitize conventional chemotherapeutics with well-designed targeted nanodelivery systems for cancer treatment.

Preparation of Self-Assembled, Curcumin-Loaded Nano-Micelles Using Quarternized Chitosan-Vanillin Imine (QCS-Vani Imine) Conjugate and Evaluation of Synergistic Anticancer Effect with Cisplatin

Nano-micelles are self-assembling colloidal dispersions applied to enhance the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, the conjugate of quarternized chitosan and vanillin imine (QCS-Vani imine) was synthesized using the reaction of a Schiff base characterized by proton-NMR (1HNMR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and FT-IR. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), particle size, and zeta potential of the resulting product were determined. The QCS-Vani imine conjugate was used as a carrier for the development of curcumin-loaded nano-micelles, and their entrapment efficiency (%EE), drug-loading capacity (%LC) and in vitro release were investigated using HPLC analysis. Moreover, the nano-micelles containing curcumin were combined with various concentrations of cisplatin and evaluated for a possible anticancer synergistic effect. The anticancer activity was evaluated against lung cancer A549 and mouse fibroblast L929 cell lines. The percent yield (%) of the QCS-Vani imine conjugate was 93.18%. The curcumin-loaded QCS-Vani imine nano-micelles were characterized and found to have a spherical shape (by TEM) with size < 200 nm (by DLS) with high %EE up to 67.61% and %LC up to 6.15 ± 0.41%. The loaded lyophilized powder of the nano-micelles was more stable at 4 °C than at room temperature during 120 days of storage. pH-sensitive release properties were observed to have a higher curcumin release at pH 5.5 (cancer environment) than at pH 7.4 (systemic environment). Curcumin-loaded QCS-Vani imine nano-micelles showed higher cytotoxicity and selectivity toward lung cancer A549 cell lines and exhibited lower toxicity toward the normal cell (H9C2) than pure curcumin. Moreover, the curcumin-loaded QCS-Vani imine nano-micelles exhibited an enhanced property of inducing cell cycle arrest during the S-phase against A549 cells and showed prominently induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells compared to that with curcumin. The co-treatment of cisplatin with curcumin-loaded QCS-Vani imine nano-micelles presented an enhanced anticancer effect, showing 8.66 ± 0.88 μM as the IC50 value, in comparison to the treatment with cisplatin alone (14.22 ± 1.01 μM). These findings suggest that the developed QCS-Vani imine nano-micelle is a potential drug delivery system and could be a promising approach for treating lung cancer in combination with cisplatin.

Application of curcumin nanoformulations to target folic acid receptor in cancer: Recent trends and advances

Curcumin, derived from turmeric, has a strong anticancer potential known for millennia. The development of this phytochemical as a medicine has been hampered by several significant deficiencies, including its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. This review article discusses possibilities to overcome these bottlenecks by focusing on this natural polyphenol's nanoformulation. Moreover, preparation of curcumin conjugates containing folates as ligands for folic acid receptors can add a new important dimension in this field, allowing specific targeting of cancer cells, considering the significantly higher expression of these receptors in malignant tissues compared to normal cells. It is highly expected that simultaneous improvement of different aspects of curcumin in fighting against such a complex and multifaceted disease like cancer. Therefore, we can better comprehend cancer biology by developing a mechanistic understanding of curcumin, which will also inspire the scientific community to develop new pharmacological models, and exploration of emerging directions to revitalize application of natural products in cancer therapy.

Dissolvable hybrid microneedle patch for efficient delivery of curcumin to reduce intraocular inflammation

Intraocular inflammation seriously impairs vision, and the effectiveness of intraocular drug delivery is hampered by various physiological barriers, such as the corneal barrier. In this paper, we present a simple approach to fabricating a dissolvable hybrid microneedles (MNs) patch for the efficient delivery of curcumin to treat intraocular inflammatory disorders. Water-insoluble curcumin was first encapsulated into polymeric micelles with high anti-inflammatory capacities, and then were combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) to create a dissolvable hybrid MNs patch using a simple micromolding method. Curcumin was amorphously dispersed within the MNs patch as indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. According to an in vitro drug release study, the proposed MNs patch provided sustainable drug release over 8 h. Following its in vivo topical application, the MNs patch demonstrated an extended pre-corneal retention time over 3.5 h and exhibited great ocular biocompatibility. Additionally, such MNs patch could reversibly penetrate the corneal epithelium, generating an array of microchannels on the corneal surface, thereby increasing ocular bioavailability. Of greater significance, the use of MNs patch demonstrated the improved therapeutic effectiveness in treating endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in a rabbit model compared to curcumin eye drops via a significant reduction in the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as CD45+ leukocytes and CD68+ macrophages. Overall, the topical application of the MNs patch as an efficient ocular drug delivery system could potentially serve as a promising approach for treating different types of intraocular disorders.

Formulation and Evaluation on Synergetic Anti-Hepatoma Effect of a Chemically Stable and Release-Controlled Nanoself-Assembly with Natural Monomers

Introduction

Hepatoma is the leading cause of death among liver diseases worldwide. Modern pharmacological studies suggest that some natural monomeric compounds have a significant effect on inhibiting tumor growth. However, poor stability and solubility, and side effects are the main factors limiting the clinical application of natural monomeric compounds.

Methods

In this paper, drug-co-loaded nanoself-assemblies were selected as a delivery system to improve the chemical stability and solubility of Tanshinone II A and Glycyrrhetinic acid, and to produce a synergetic anti-hepatoma effect.

Results

The study suggested that the drug co-loaded nanoself-assemblies showed high drug loading capacity, good physical and chemical stability, and controlled release. In vitro cell experiments verified that the drug-co-loaded nanoself-assemblies could increase the cellular uptake and cell inhibitory activity. In vivo studies verified that the drug co-loaded nanoself-assemblies could prolong the MRT_0-∞, increase accumulation in tumor and liver tissues, and show strong synergistic anti-tumor effect and good bio-safety in H22 tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion

This work indicates that natural monomeric compounds co-loaded nanoself-assemblies would be a potential strategy for the treatment of hepatoma.

Antimicrobial peptides as drugs with double response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfections in lung cancer

Tuberculosis and lung cancer are, in many cases, correlated diseases that can be confused because they have similar symptoms. Many meta-analyses have proven that there is a greater chance of developing lung cancer in patients who have active pulmonary tuberculosis. It is, therefore, important to monitor the patient for a long time after recovery and search for combined therapies that can treat both diseases, as well as face the great problem of drug resistance. Peptides are molecules derived from the breakdown of proteins, and the membranolytic class is already being studied. It has been proposed that these molecules destabilize cellular homeostasis, performing a dual antimicrobial and anticancer function and offering several possibilities of adaptation for adequate delivery and action. In this review, we focus on two important reason for the use of multifunctional peptides or peptides, namely the double activity and no harmful effects on humans. We review some of the main antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory bioactive peptides and highlight four that have anti-tuberculosis and anti-cancer activity, which may contribute to obtaining drugs with this dual functionality.

Multifunctional and multimodality theranostic nanomedicine for enhanced phototherapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in recent years for its favorable therapeutic efficacy in cancer therapy. However, PDT alone is insufficient to improve the therapeutic efficiency mainly due to the limited penetration depth of light, the insufficient O₂ supply in the hypoxic microenvironment, and the high level of reducing substances in cancer cells. To overcome these limitations, a multifunctional MnO₂ nanoparticle was constructed with honeycomb MnO₂ which was loaded with the photosensitizer Ce6 and modified with polydopamine on its surface (HMnO₂/C&P) to achieve efficient PDT/mild photothermal treatment (PTT) combination therapy. HMnO₂/C&P had high drug loading contents (11.2% Ce6) and can be responsive to the tumor microenvironment (TME), supply O₂ to alleviate the hypoxic microenvironment, and clear GSH to reduce the consumption of ROS, thus enhancing the PDT effect. The introduction of PDA can improve the stability of HMnO₂/C&P, and further give the ability of PTT to act as nanomedicine. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments show that HMnO₂/C&P based PDT/mild PTT combination therapy has an excellent inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Meanwhile, HMnO₂/C&P can act as a fluorescence imaging reagent and a TME triggerable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, thus having excellent multimodal self-tracking abilities. Collectively, this study provides a new perspective on the design of multifunctional theranostic nanomedicine to maximize the efficacy of cancer phototherapy.

Rational Optimizations of the Marine-Derived Peptide Sungsanpin as Novel Inhibitors of Cell Invasion

Cancer metastasis, including cell invasion, is a major cause of poor clinical outcomes and death in numerous cancer patients. In recent years, many efforts have been made to develop potent therapeutic molecules from naturally derived peptides. Sungsanpin is a naturally derived lasso peptide that inhibits A549 cell invasion. We aimed to evaluate the potential of sungsanpin derivatives as candidates for anti-invasion drugs. We synthesized an analog of sungsanpin (Sun A) using a solid-phase peptide synthesis strategy (SPPS) and further modified its structure to improve its anti-invasion activity. All peptides were tested for their proliferative inhibition and anti-invasion activities in the A549 cell lines. Octapeptide S3 and cyclooctapeptide S4 upregulated the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA effectively and thus improved the inhibitory effect on the invasion of A549 cells. The two peptides can inhibit the invasion of A549 cells by up to 60 %, suggesting that they have potential as lead molecules for the development of peptide inhibitors.

Engineering Transferrin-Decorated Pullulan-Based Prodrug Nanoparticles for Redox Responsive Paclitaxel Delivery to Metastatic Lung Cancer Cells

Paclitaxel (PTX) remains a cornerstone in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer. To improve its therapeutic indices against lung cancer, novel redox-sensitive pullulan/PTX-based prodrug NPs (PULL-SS-PTX NPs) were accomplished, which were further surface-decorated with transferrin (TF), a cancer cell-targeting ligand, to afford TF-PULL-SS-PTX NPs. These prodrug NPs (drug content, >37% and average size, 134-163 nm) rapidly dismantled their self-assembled architecture upon exposure to simulated reducing conditions, causing a triggered drug release as compared to the control scaffold (PULL-CC-PTX NPs). These scaffolds also evidenced outstanding colloidal stability, cellular uptake efficiency, and discriminating cytotoxicity between the cancer and healthy cells. Intravenously delivered redox-sensitive NPs exhibited improved tumor-suppressing properties as compared to the control nanovesicles (PULL-CC-PTX NPs) in a B16-F10 melanoma lung metastasis mice model. The targeting efficiency and associated augmented anticancer potentials of TF-PULL-SS-PTX NPs relative to TF-free redox-responsive NPs and Taxol intravenous injection were also established on the transferrin receptor (TFR) overexpressed Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC-luc) cell-bearing mice model. Moreover, the TF-functionalized scaffold displayed a reduced systemic toxicity compared to that of Taxol intravenous injection. Overall, the proposed TF-decorated prodrug NPs could be a promising nanomedicine for intracellular PTX delivery against metastatic lung cancer.