Alpha mangostin loaded crosslinked silk fibroin-based nanoparticles for cancer chemotherapy

Silk-based microparticles for the adsorption of methylene blue: formulations, characterization, adsorption study, in silico molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation

Although silk-derived biomaterials have garnered attention for environmental remediation due to their sustainability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, the application of silk fibroin-based microparticles (FNP) for pollutant dye adsorption remains vastly underexplored. Hence, this study pioneers the fabrication and characterization of FNP for the removal of methylene blue (MB), offering a comprehensive comparison with two other silk-based states of raw silk cocoon pieces (SC) and sericin-degummed silk fibers (SD). Remarkably, FNP achieved an adsorption capacity of 122.98 mg g-1, over 32-fold higher than both SC and SD (3.8 mg g-1), highlighting its superior efficiency. The adsorption performance of FNP was strongly influenced by experimental variables including pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Structurally, FNP exhibited favorable physicochemical properties for adsorption, including uniform spherical morphology (∼2.45 μm), moderate surface area (21.894 m2 g-1), a mesoporous-to-macroporous structure (pore diameter 21.911 Å), and a point of zero charge (pHpzc) of 6.7, contributing to its effective electrostatic interactions with the cationic dye MB. Importantly, the adsorption data fitted the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm, indicating a chemisorption-dominated mechanism. Molecular docking further revealed specific fibroin-dye interactions at Lys62 (hydrogen bonding, -0.2 kcal mol-1) and Glu94 (ionic bonding, -1.9 kcal mol-1). Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations in water confirmed the docking results and demonstrated the aqueous stability of the fibroin-MB complex. Conclusively, this work not only establishes FNP as a high-performance, eco-friendly adsorbent for MB removal, but also provides mechanistic insights at the molecular level, offering a scientific foundation for the rational design of protein-based adsorbents in future environmental technologies.

PEGylated Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles for Oral Antibiotic Delivery: Insights into Drug-Carrier Interactions and Process Greenness

Insights into antibiotic-carrier interactions in the silk-fibroin-based nanoparticles and considerations on the formulation process greenness are limited. Hence, this work developed and characterized polyethylene glycol-functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles for oral delivery of cefotaxime (PEG/SFPs-CTX), with a focus on the in silico simulations and process greenness. The particles were formulated by the two methods of co-condensation and adsorption. Dependent on the processes, the particles possessed spherical shape, smooth/rough surfaces, nanosize (170-650 nm), negative charge (-23 to -30 mV), and drug entrapment efficiency of ∼50%. The system rapidly absorbed the drug within 30 min, followed second-order kinetics, and significantly controlled the drug release rate in the simulated gastrointestinal system, which could bypass the stomach acidic pH. Interestingly, in silico docking revealed that CTX mostly bound strongly and noncovalently with fibroin, particularly at glutamic acid, via hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and π-π interactions, while PEG enhanced the stability of the system. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the complex's stability under physiological conditions. Lastly, life cycle assessment analysis showed that both formulation methods were environmental friendly, with limited impacts on the ecosystem, and the adsorption method was "greener" than the co-condensation method.

Recent advances of bioaerogels in medicine: Preparation, property and application

Bioaerogels represent a type of three-dimensional porous materials fabricated from natural biopolymers, and show a significant potential for medical application due to their characteristics of extremely low density, high specific surface area, excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. The preparation method and parameters of bioaerogels are focused on, and their influence on the structure and properties of bioaerogels are discussed in detail. Then, to match the properties of bioaerogels with the medical applications, this work emphasizes the main properties (including biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical properties), structural parameters (such as suitable porosity, pore size and high specific surface area), and further summarizes the influence of single-component and composite bioaerogels on their properties. Moreover, according to the different applications (wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering and other fields), the function method, mechanism and practical effect of bioaerogels are comprehensively analyzed. Finally, the challenges, future research directions, and solutions for the practical application of bioaerogels in medicine are discussed.

Investigation of Chip Morphology in Elliptical Vibration Micro-Turning of Silk Fibroin

Silk fibroin, known for its biocompatibility and biodegradability, holds significant promise for biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery systems. The precise fabrication of silk fibroin particles, specifically those ranging from tens of nanometres to hundreds of microns, is critical for these uses. This study introduces elliptical vibration micro-turning as a method for producing silk fibroin particles in the form of cutting chips to serve as carriers for drug delivery systems. A hybrid finite element and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (FE-SPH) model was used to investigate how vibration parameters, such as frequency and amplitude, influence chip formation and morphology. This research is essential for determining the size and shape of silk fibroin particles, which are crucial for their effectiveness in drug delivery systems. The results demonstrate the superior capability of elliptical vibration micro-turning for producing shorter, spiral-shaped chips in the size range of tens of microns, in contrast to the long, continuous chips with zig-zag folds and segmented edges generated by conventional micro-turning. The unique zig-zag shapes result from the interplay between the high flexibility and hierarchical structure of silk fibroin and the controlled cutting environment provided by the diamond tool. Additionally, higher vibration frequencies and lower vertical amplitudes promote chip curling, facilitate breakage, and improve chip control, while reducing cutting forces. Experimental trials further validate the accuracy of the hybrid model. This study represents a significant advancement in the processing of silk fibroin film, offering a complementary approach to fabricating short, spiral-shaped silk fibroin particles with a high surface-area-to-volume ratio compared to traditional spheroids, which holds great potential for enhancing drug-loading efficiency in high-precision drug delivery systems.

Phytoactive Molecules and Nanodelivery Approaches for Breast Cancer Treatment: Current and Future Perspectives

One of the most common malignancies in women, breast cancer accounts for nearly 25% of all cancer cases. Breast cancer is a diverse cancer form that exhibits variability in both morphology and molecular characteristics and is linked to numerous risk factors. Although various approaches and research are ongoing in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer, medication resistance in the current breast cancer treatment contributes to the disease's relapse and recurrence. Phytoactive molecules are the subject of growing research in both breast cancer prevention and treatment, but currently used conventional medicines and techniques limit their application. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the field of nanotechnology, which has proven to be essential in the fight against drug resistance. The transport of synthetic and natural anticancer molecules via nanocarriers has recently been added to breast cancer therapy, greatly alleviating the constraints of the current approach. In light of these developments, interest in nano-delivery studies of phytoactive molecules has also increased. In this review, research of phytoactive molecules for breast cancers along with their clinical studies and nanoformulations, was presented from current and future perspectives.

Advancements in silk fibroin and silk sericin-based biomaterial applications for cancer therapy and wound dressing formulation: A comprehensive review

Silks are a class of proteins generated naturally by different arthropods, including silkworms, spiders, scorpions, mites, wasps, and bees. This review discusses the silk fibroin and silk sericin fabricated by Bombyx mori silkworm as versatile fibers. This silk fiber is predominantly composed of hydrophobic silk fibroin and hydrophilic silk sericin. Fibroin is defined as a structural protein that bestows silk with strength, while sericin is characterized as a gum-like protein, tying the two fibrous proteins together and endowing silk proteins with elasticity. Due to their versatile structures, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, they could be tailored into intricate structures to warrant particular demands. The intrinsic functional groups of both proteins enable their functionalization and cross-linking with various biomaterials to endow the matrix with favorable antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Depending on the target applications, they can be integrated with other materials to formulate nanofibrous, hydrogels, films, and micro-nanoparticles. Given the outstanding biological and controllable physicochemical features of fibroin and sericin, they could be exploited in pharmaceutical applications involving tissue engineering, wound repair, drug delivery, and cancer therapy. This review comprehensively discusses the advancements in the implementation of different formulations of silk fibroin and sericin in wound healing and drug delivery systems, particularly for cancer treatment.

Formulations of poly(vinyl alcohol) functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles for the oral delivery of zwitterionic ciprofloxacin

Fibroin nanoparticles (FNP) have been employed in numerous biomedical applications. However, limited research has focused on the oral delivery of FNP and in-depth molecular interactions between the encapsulated drug and FNP. Therefore, this work developed the FNP, functionalized with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), to orally deliver the zwitterionic ciprofloxacin, focused on the molecular interactions. The particles were formulated using both desolvation (the drug precipitated during the particles formulation) and adsorption (the drug adsorbed on the particles surfaces) methods. The optimal formula possessed a size of ~630 nm with narrow size distribution (measured by DLS method), spherical shape (determined by SEM), and moderate drug loading (confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, and DSC techniques) of ~50% for the desolvation method and ~43% for the adsorption method. More than 80% of the drug molecules resided on the particle surfaces, mainly via electrostatic forces with fibroin. The drug was physically adsorbed onto FNP, which followed Langmuir model and pseudo second-order kinetics. In the in-vitro simulated gastric condition at pH 1.2, the ciprofloxacin bound strongly with FNP via electrostatic forces, thus hindering the drug release (< 40%). Contrastingly, in the simulated intestinal condition at pH 6.8, the particles could control the drug release rates dependent on the PVA amount, with up to ~100% drug release. Lastly, the particles possessed adequate antibacterial activities on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, with MIC of 128, 8, and 32 μg/mL, respectively. In summary, the FNP and PVA functionalized FNP could be a potential oral delivery system for zwitterionic drugs.

Development of pH-responsive Eudragit S100-functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles as a prospective drug delivery system

Silk fibroin nanoparticles (FNP) have been increasingly investigated in biomedical fields due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability properties. To widen the FNP versatility and applications, and to control the drug release from the FNP, this study developed the Eudragit S100-functionalized FNP (ES100-FNP) as a pH-responsive drug delivery system, by two distinct methods of co-condensation and adsorption, employing the zwitterionic furosemide as a model drug. The particles were characterized by sizes and zeta potentials (DLS method), morphology (electron microscopy), drug entrapment efficiency and release profiles (UV-Vis spectroscopy), and chemical structures (FT-IR, XRD, and DSC). The ES100-FNP possessed nano-sizes of ∼200-350 nm, zeta potentials of ∼ -20 mV, silk-II structures, enhanced thermo-stability, non-cytotoxic to the erythrocytes, and drug entrapment efficiencies of 30%-60%, dependent on the formulation processes. Interestingly, the co-condensation method yielded the smooth spherical particles, whereas the adsorption method resulted in durian-shaped ones due to furosemide re-crystallization. The ES100-FNP adsorbed furosemide via physical adsorption, followed Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. In the simulated oral condition, the particles could protect the drug in the stomach (pH 1.2), and gradually released the drug in the intestine (pH 6.8). Remarkably, in different pH conditions of 6.8, 9.5, and 12, the ES100-FNP could control the furosemide release rates depending on the formulation methods. The ES100-FNP made by the co-condensation method was mainly controlled by the swelling and corrosion process of ES100, and followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas non-Fickian transport mechanism. Whereas, the ES100-FNP made by the adsorption method showed constant release rates, followed the zero-order kinetics, due to the gradual furosemide dissolution in the media. Conclusively, the ES100-FNP demonstrated high versatility as a pH-responsive drug delivery system for biomedical applications.

Exploiting Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery: Advancing the Anti-Cancer Effects of Autophagy-Modulating Compounds in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background

Cancer continues to be a prominent issue in the field of medicine, as demonstrated by recent studies emphasizing the significant role of autophagy in the development of cancer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a variety of anti-tumor agents capable of regulating autophagy. However, the clinical application of autophagy-modulating compounds derived from TCM is impeded by their restricted water solubility and bioavailability. To overcome this challenge, the utilization of nanotechnology has been suggested as a potential solution. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on nanoparticles delivering TCM-derived autophagy-modulating anti-tumor compounds for cancer treatment is limited, lacking comprehensive summaries and detailed descriptions.

Methods

Up to November 2023, a comprehensive research study was conducted to gather relevant data using a variety of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Web of Science, and CNKI. The keywords utilized in this investigation included "autophagy", "nanoparticles", "traditional Chinese medicine" and "anticancer".

Results

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of nanotechnology in overcoming delivery challenges and enhancing the anti-cancer properties of autophagy-modulating compounds in TCM. The evaluation is based on a synthesis of different classes of autophagy-modulating compounds in TCM, their mechanisms of action in cancer treatment, and their potential benefits as reported in various scholarly sources. The findings indicate that nanotechnology shows potential in enhancing the availability of autophagy-modulating agents in TCM, thereby opening up a plethora of potential therapeutic avenues.

Conclusion

Nanotechnology has the potential to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of autophagy-modulating compounds in traditional TCM, through regulation of autophagy.

Silk nanoparticles for the protection and delivery of guava leaf (Psidium guajava L.) extract for cosmetic industry, a new approach for an old herb

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a well-known plant containing high levels of natural antioxidants, the phenolic compounds, which have been employed in numerous cosmetic products. However, these molecules are unstable to oxidants, light, temperature, pH, water, and enzymatic activities. Therefore, to enhance their stability and preserve their antioxidant activity, this study investigated the silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) ability to encapsulate, deliver, and heat-protect the phenolic compounds of the guava leaves ethanolic extract. Firstly, the guava ethanolic extract was produced by maceration, which possessed a total phenolic content of 312.6 mg GAE/g DPW and a high antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 5.397 ± 0.618 µg/mL). Then, the extract loaded SFNs were manufactured by desolvation method, and the particles demonstrated appropriate sizes of 200-700 nm with narrow size distribution, spherical shape, silk-II crystalline structure, high drug entrapment efficiency of > 70% (dependent on the fibroin content), and a two-phase sustained drug release for at least 210 min. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of the guava extract was well-preserved in the extract loaded SFNs. Finally, after being treated with high temperature of 70 °C for 24 h, the guava extract almost loses all of its antioxidant property (5 times decrement), whereas the extract loaded SFNs could retain the extract activity. Conclusively, the SFNs proved much potential to deliver and heat-protect the guava extract phenolic compounds, and preserve their antioxidant activity. Confirmed by this case, SFNs could be further explored in protecting other natural compounds from environmental factors.

Application of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system: A review

Drug delivery systems have emerged as a prominent research focus in the field of drug development, offering enhanced stability and improved bioavailability. Among them, protein (silk, gelatin and whey) or polysaccharide (alginate, chitosan, cellulose, starch, pectin and carrageenan) aerogels derived from natural sources have gained increasing popularity due to their unique advantages, such as cost-effectiveness, flexible preparation, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, despite their growing significance, there remains a lack of comprehensive information and ongoing confusion regarding the application of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system. Hence, the objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress in protein/polysaccharide aerogels for drug delivery systems from the perspective of aerogels category, synthesis strategy, drug-loading method, performance characteristic and release mechanism. Furthermore, by consolidating the existing information, we aimed to present our own perspectives and insights on the future development of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system. In conclusion, this comprehensive review served as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars, addressing the current gaps in knowledge and clarifying the complex landscape of protein/polysaccharide aerogels in drug delivery system.

Onto the differences in formulating micro-/nanoparticulate drug delivery system from Thai silk and Vietnamese silk: A critical comparison

Silk fibroin is a natural polymer with physicochemical properties heavily dependent on its silkworm sources and cultivation conditions. Hence, this study critically compared the characteristics and capacity to generate micro-/nanoparticles of fibroin extracted from the Thai silk and Vietnamese silk. Both Thai fibroin (SFT) and Vietnamese fibroin (SFV) were extracted and fabricated into micro-/nanoparticles using the same methods of desalination and condensation, respectively. Firstly, the amino acid compositions of SFT and SFV were determined and found to be similar, suggesting that the different cultivation conditions did not alter the fibroin chemical contents. Secondly, utilizing various analytical techniques, the SFT structure revealed less heavy chains, more light chains and P-25 glycoproteins, and lower crystallinity than those of SFV. Accordingly, compared to the particles formed by SFT, the SFV-based particles were significantly bigger (∼1700 nm vs. ∼150 nm), and possessed less drug (Amphotericin B) entrapment efficiency (64.3 ± 4.4% vs. 79.3 ± 5.1%), higher hemototoxicity, and less biostability in the blood. Conclusively, these differences add more insights for the appropriate applications of each fibroin kind to best promote its qualities and effectiveness.

Nanoparticles loaded with pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: Biomedical applications and toxicity

Pharmacologically active natural products have played a significant role in the history of drug development. They have acted as sources of therapeutic drugs for various diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases. However, most natural products suffer from poor water solubility and low bioavailability, limiting their clinical applications. The rapid development of nanotechnology has opened up new directions for applying natural products and numerous studies have explored the biomedical applications of nanomaterials loaded with natural products. This review covers the recent research on applying plant-derived natural products (PDNPs) nanomaterials, including nanomedicines loaded with flavonoids, non-flavonoid polyphenols, alkaloids, and quinones, especially their use in treating various diseases. Furthermore, some drugs derived from natural products can be toxic to the body, so the toxicity of them is discussed. This comprehensive review includes fundamental discoveries and exploratory advances in natural product-loaded nanomaterials that may be helpful for future clinical development.

Mangosteen for malignancy prevention and intervention: Current evidence, molecular mechanisms, and future perspectives

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), also known as the "queen of fruits", is a tropical fruit of the Clusiacea family. While native to Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, and the Philippines, the fruit has gained popularity in the United States due to its health-promoting attributes. In traditional medicine, mangosteen has been used to treat a variety of illnesses, ranging from dysentery to wound healing. Mangosteen has been shown to exhibit numerous biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Disease-preventative and therapeutic properties of mangosteen have been ascribed to secondary metabolites called xanthones, present in several parts of the tree, including the pericarp, fruit rind, peel, stem bark, root bark, and leaf. Of the 68 mangosteen xanthones identified so far, the most widely-studied are α-mangostin and γ-mangostin. Emerging studies have found that mangosteen constituents and phytochemicals exert encouraging antineoplastic effects against a myriad of human malignancies. While there are a growing number of individual research papers on the anticancer properties of mangosteen, a complete and critical evaluation of published experimental findings has not been accomplished. Accordingly, the objective of this work is to present an in-depth analysis of the cancer preventive and anticancer potential of mangosteen constituents, with a special emphasis on the associated cellular and molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and safety of mangosteen-derived agents together with current challenges and future research avenues are also discussed.

Research progress of natural silk fibroin and the appplication for drug delivery in chemotherapies

Silk fibroin has been widely used in biological fields due to its biocompatibility, mechanical properties, biodegradability, and safety. Recently, silk fibroin as a drug carrier was developed rapidly and achieved remarkable progress in cancer treatment. The silk fibroin-based delivery system could effectively kill tumor cells without significant side effects and drug resistance. However, few studies have been reported on silk fibroin delivery systems for antitumor therapy. The advancement of silk fibroin-based drug delivery systems research and its applications in cancer therapy are highlighted in this study. The properties, applications, private opinions, and future prospects of silk fibroin carriers are discussed to understand better the development of anti-cancer drug delivery systems, which may also contribute to advancing silk fibroin innovation.

Controlled-Release Wedelia trilobata L. Flower Extract Loaded Fibroin Microparticles as Potential Anti-Aging Preparations for Cosmetic Trade Commercialization

Background

Wedelia trilobata L. (WT), a common herbal plant in Vietnam, is popularly used as a strong antioxidant in Vietnamese folk medicine. However, limited studies have reported the application of WT flower in cosmeceutical area.

Purpose

This study explored the potentials of WT loaded fibroin microparticles (FMPs-WT) as a novel anti-aging cosmeceutical product.

Methods

The WT flower was firstly extracted by maceration with methanol, ethanol 60%, and ethanol 96%, and its chemical compositions and total polyphenol content were investigated. Then, the FMPs-WT were developed by desolvation method and physicochemically characterized. Finally, the product antioxidant activities were in-vitro determined using DPPH assay.

Results

The optimal WT extract was the ethanol 60% extract, which contains polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and organic acids; with a total polyphenol content of 46.47 ± 2.32 mg GAE/g plant powder. The FMPs-WT were successfully formulated, with a distinct silk-II polymorph; varied sizes of 0.592 to 9.820 µm, depending on the fibroin concentrations and the WT extraction solvent; high entrapment efficiencies of >65%; and sustained-release patterns of polyphenol in pH 7.4 for >6 h. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the pure WT flower extracts possessed high scavenging actions with IC₅₀ of 7.98 ± 0.40 µg/mL, comparable with the standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 4.23 ± 0.21 µg/mL). Moreover, the FMPs-WT could retain the extract antioxidant capacity, and exert the effects in a timely manner, corresponding to its release profile.

Conclusion

The FMPs-WT could be further investigated to become a potential anti-aging cosmeceutical product in the market.

Determination of Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities of Alkaloids Isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait. Grown in Dak Nong, Vietnam

Traditional/herbal medicine has gained increasing interests recently, especially in Asian countries such as Vietnam, due to its diverse therapeutic actions. In the treasure of Vietnamese medicinal plants, one of the potential herbs is the roots of Sophora flavescens Ait. (SF, "Kho sam" in Vietnamese). However, limited information has been reported on the Vietnamese SF compositions and their respective alkaloids' anti-acetylcholinesterase action. Thus, this study investigated the extractions, isolations, identifications, and in-vitro antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, of the SF root extracts and their purified alkaloid compounds. To this end, four pure compounds were successfully isolated, purity-tested by HPLC, and structurally identified by spectroscopic techniques of FTIR, MS, and NMR. These compounds, confirmed to be oxysophocarpine, oxymatrine, matrine, and sophoridine, were then determined their therapeutic actions. The SF extracts and the compounds did not possess significant antioxidant activity using the DPPH and MDA assays, and cytotoxicity action using the MTT assay on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. On the other hand, the SF total extract yielded a moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibition effect, with an IC50 of 0.1077 ± 0.0023 mg/mL. In summary, the SF extract demonstrated potential effects as an anti-acetylcholinesterase agent and could be further researched to become a pharmaceutical product for diseases related to acetylcholine deficiency, such as dementia.

Magnetic Graphene-Based Nanosheets with Pluronic F127-Chitosan Biopolymers Encapsulated α-Mangosteen Drugs for Breast Cancer Cells Therapy

In this study, multifunctional chitosan-pluronic F127 with magnetic reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposites were developed through the immobilization of chitosan and an amphiphilic polymer (pluronic F127) onto the MRGO. Physicochemical characterizations and in-vitro cytotoxicity of nanocomposites were investigated through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, Raman spectroscopy and resazurin-based in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. FESEM observation shows that the magnetic nanoparticles could tethered on the surface of MRGO, promoting the magnetic properties of the nanocomposites. FTIR identification analysis revealed that the chitosan/pluronic F127 were successfully immobilized on the surface of MRGO. Furthermore, α-mangosteen, as a model of natural drug compound, was successfully encapsulated onto the chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites. According to in-vitro cytotoxicity assay, α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could significantly reduce the proliferation of human breast cancer (MFC-7) cells. Eventually, it would be anticipated that the novel α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could be promoted as a new potential material for magnetically targeting and killing cancer cells.

Bioactive Keratin and Fibroin Nanoparticles: An Overview of Their Preparation Strategies

In recent years, several studies have focused their attention on the preparation of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers of potential interest in the biomedical field, ranging from drug delivery systems to imaging and diagnosis. In this regard, natural biomolecules—such as proteins—represent an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers or inorganic materials, thanks to their numerous advantages, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Among the most interesting proteins, keratin extracted from wool and feathers, as well as fibroin extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons, possess all of the abovementioned features required for biomedical applications. In the present review, we therefore aim to give an overview of the most important and efficient methodologies for obtaining drug-loaded keratin and fibroin nanoparticles, and of their potential for biomedical applications.

Expanding the arsenal against pulmonary diseases using surface-functionalized polymeric micelles: breakthroughs and bottlenecks

Pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and tuberculosis have remained one of the common challenges globally. Polymeric micelles (PMs) have emerged as an effective technique for achieving targeted drug delivery for a local as well as a systemic effect. These PMs encapsulate and protect hydrophobic drugs, increase pulmonary targeting, decrease side effects and enhance drug efficacy through the inhalation route. In the current review, emphasis has been placed on the different barriers encountered by the drugs given via the pulmonary route and the mechanism of PMs in achieving drug targeting. The applications of PMs in different pulmonary diseases have also been discussed in detail.

Nanocarrier cancer therapeutics with functional stimuli-responsive mechanisms

Presently, nanocarriers (NCs) have gained huge attention for their structural ability, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The development of effective NCs with stimuli-responsive properties has acquired a huge interest among scientists. When developing drug delivery NCs, the fundamental goal is to tackle the delivery-related problems associated with standard chemotherapy and to carry medicines to the intended sites of action while avoiding undesirable side effects. These nanocarriers were able of delivering drugs to tumors through regulating their pH, temperature, enzyme responsiveness. With the use of nanocarriers, chemotherapeutic drugs could be supplied to tumors more accurately that can equally encapsulate and deliver them. Material carriers for chemotherapeutic medicines are discussed in this review keeping in viewpoint of the structural properties and targeting methods that make these carriers more therapeutically effective, in addition to metabolic pathways triggered by drug-loaded NCs. Largely, the development of NCs countering to endogenous and exogenous stimuli in tumor regions and understanding of mechanisms would encourage the progress for tumor therapy and precision diagnosis in future.

The Contribution of Silk Fibroin in Biomedical Engineering

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein (biopolymer) extracted from the cocoons of Bombyx mori L. (silkworm). It has many properties of interest in the field of biotechnology, the most important being biodegradability, biocompatibility and robust mechanical strength with high tensile strength. SF is usually dissolved in water-based solvents and can be easily reconstructed into a variety of material formats, including films, mats, hydrogels, and sponges, by various fabrication techniques (spin coating, electrospinning, freeze-drying, and physical or chemical crosslinking). Furthermore, SF is a feasible material used in many biomedical applications, including tissue engineering (3D scaffolds, wounds dressing), cancer therapy (mimicking the tumor microenvironment), controlled drug delivery (SF-based complexes), and bone, eye and skin regeneration. In this review, we describe the structure, composition, general properties, and structure-properties relationship of SF. In addition, the main methods used for ecological extraction and processing of SF that make it a green material are discussed. Lastly, technological advances in the use of SF-based materials are addressed, especially in healthcare applications such as tissue engineering and cancer therapeutics.

Silk fibroin hydrogel containing Sesbania sesban L. extract for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Purpose

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and progressive inflammation condition in the joints, has significantly reduced the patient quality of life and life expectancy. Crucially, there is no complete therapy for this disease, and the current treatments possess numerous side effects. Thus, novel therapeutic approach is necessary. To that end, this study developed novel silk fibroin in-situ hydrogel containing Sesbania sesban L. extract, a plant with high anti-inflammatory actions that are beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis treatments.

Methods

The hydrogels were manufactured using simple method of spontaneous gelation at different temperature. The gel properties of morphology, gelation time, viscosity, gel strength, stability, drug loading capacity, drug release rate, and in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity were investigated with appropriate methods.

Results

The optimal formulation had highly porous structure, with a gelation time of 0.5 h at room temperature and bodily temperature of 37 °C, a viscosity of 2530 ± 50 cP, a gel strength of 1880.14 ± 35.10 g, and a physical stability of >6 months. Moreover, the hydrogel contained the Sesbania sesban L. leaf extract with a total phenolic content of 92.8 ± 8.30 mg GAE/g, and sustained the release rate for >20 dạys, followed the Higuchi model. Regarding the in-vitro activities, all formulations were nontoxic to the RAW 264.7 cell line and demonstrated comparable anti-inflammatory activity to the free extract, in terms of the NO reduction levels.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the systems possessed potential properties to be further investigated to become a prospective rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Engineered protein nanodrug as an emerging therapeutic tool

Functional proteins are the most versatile macromolecules. They can be obtained by extraction from natural sources or by genetic engineering technologies. The outstanding selectivity, specificity, binding activity, and biocompatibility endow engineered proteins with outstanding performance for disease therapy. Nevertheless, their stability is dramatically impaired in blood circulation, hindering clinical translations. Thus, many strategies have been developed to improve the stability, efficacy, bioavailability, and productivity of therapeutic proteins for clinical applications. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the fabrication and application of therapeutic proteins. We first introduce various strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy via bioengineering and nanoassembly. Furthermore, we highlight their diverse applications as growth factors, nanovaccines, antibody-based drugs, bioimaging molecules, and cytokine receptor antagonists. Finally, a summary and perspective for the future development of therapeutic proteins are presented.

Biotin Transport-Targeting Polysaccharide-Modified PAMAM G3 Dendrimer as System Delivering α-Mangostin into Cancer Cells and C. elegans Worms

The natural xanthone α-mangostin (αM) exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antineoplastic and anti-nematode properties, but low water solubility and poor selectivity of the drug prevent its potential clinical use. Therefore, the targeted third-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM G3) delivery system was proposed, based on hyperbranched polymer showing good solubility, high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. A multifunctional nanocarrier was prepared by attaching αM to the surface amine groups of dendrimer via amide bond in the ratio 5 (G3^2B12gh5M) or 17 (G3^2B10gh17M) residues per one dendrimer molecule. Twelve or ten remaining amine groups were modified by conjugation with D-glucoheptono-1,4-lactone (gh) to block the amine groups, and two biotin (B) residues as targeting moieties. The biological activity of the obtained conjugates was studied in vitro on glioma U-118 MG and squamous cell carcinoma SCC-15 cancer cells compared to normal fibroblasts (BJ), and in vivo on a model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Dendrimer vehicle G3^2B12gh at concentrations up to 20 µM showed no anti-proliferative effect against tested cell lines, with a feeble cytotoxicity of the highest concentration seen only with SCC-15 cells. The attachment of αM to the vehicle significantly increased cytotoxic effect of the drug, even by 4- and 25-fold for G3^2B12gh5M and G3^2B10gh17M, respectively. A stronger inhibition of cells viability and influence on other metabolic parameters (proliferation, adhesion, ATP level and Caspase-3/7 activity) was observed for G3^2B10gh17M than for G3^2B12gh5M. Both bioconjugates were internalized efficiently into the cells. Similarly, the attachment of αM to the dendrimer vehicle increased its toxicity for C. elegans. Thus, the proposed α-mangostin delivery system allowed the drug to be more effective in the dendrimer-bound as compared to free state against both cultured the cancer cells and model organism, suggesting that this treatment is promising for anticancer as well as anti-nematode chemotherapy.

Nanoformulations of α-Mangostin for Cancer Drug Delivery System

Natural compounds are emerging as effective agents for the treatment of malignant diseases. The active constituent of α-mangostin from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana L. has earned significant interest as a plant base compound with anticancer properties. Despite α-mangostin's superior properties as an anticancer agent, its applications are limited due to its poor solubility and physicochemical stability, rapid systemic clearance, and low cellular uptake. Our review aimed to summarize and discuss the nanoparticle formulations of α-mangostin for cancer drug delivery systems from published papers recorded in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We investigated various types of α-mangostin nanoformulations to improve its anticancer efficacy by improving bioavailability, cellular uptake, and localization to specific areas These nanoformulations include nanofibers, lipid carrier nanostructures, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanomicelles, liposomes, and gold nanoparticles. Notably, polymeric nanoparticles and nanomicelles can increase the accumulation of α-mangostin into tumors and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. In addition, polymeric nanoparticles with the addition of target ligands can increase the cellular uptake of α-mangostin. In conclusion, nanoformulations of α-mangostin are a promising tool to enhance the cellular uptake, accumulation in cancer cells, and the efficacy of α-mangostin as a candidate for anticancer drugs.

Systemic and Local Silk-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

For years, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been the gold standards to treat cancer, although continuing research has sought a more effective approach. While advances can be seen in the development of anticancer drugs, the tools that can improve their delivery remain a challenge. As anticancer drugs can affect the entire body, the control of their distribution is desirable to prevent systemic toxicity. The application of a suitable drug delivery platform may resolve this problem. Among other materials, silks offer many advantageous properties, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and the possibility of obtaining a variety of morphological structures. These characteristics allow the exploration of silk for biomedical applications and as a platform for drug delivery. We have reviewed silk structures that can be used for local and systemic drug delivery for use in cancer therapy. After a short description of the most studied silks, we discuss the advantages of using silk for drug delivery. The tables summarize the descriptions of silk structures for the local and systemic transport of anticancer drugs. The most popular techniques for silk particle preparation are presented. Further prospects for using silk as a drug carrier are considered. The application of various silk biomaterials can improve cancer treatment by the controllable delivery of chemotherapeutics, immunotherapeutics, photosensitizers, hormones, nucleotherapeutics, targeted therapeutics (e.g., kinase inhibitors), and inorganic nanoparticles, among others.

Development of Metronidazole-loaded In situ Thermosensitive Hydrogel for Periodontitis Treatment

Objectives

Periodontal treatment focuses on the thorough removal of specific periodontal pathogens, mainly anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, by mechanical scaling and root planning. In case the periodontal abscess is detected after treatment, a high dose of antimicrobial agents is commonly applied via oral administration. However, this approach increases the risk of antibiotic resistance and systemic side effects and decreases efficacy. To overcome the aforementioned issues, this study focused on the development of thermosensitive hydrogel to deliver the antibiotic drug metronidazole (MTZ) directly and locally to the oral infection site.

Materials and Methods

The thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared by blending 28% w/v Pluronic F127 with various concentrations of methylcellulose (MC) and silk fibroin (SF). The gel properties, such as sol-gel transition time, viscosity, and gel strength, were investigated. The drug dissolution profiles, together with their theoretical models and gel dissolution characteristics, were also determined.

Results

All hydrogel formulations exhibited sol-gel transitions at 37°C within 1 min. An increase in MC content proportionally increased the viscosity but decreased the gel strength of the hydrogel. By contrast, the SF content did not significantly affect the viscosity but increased the gel strength of the hydrogel. The thermosensitive hydrogels also showed prolonged MTZ release characteristics for 10 days in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 6.6, which followed the Higuchi diffusion model. Moreover, MTZ-thermosensitive hydrogel exhibited delayed dissolution in PBS at 37°C for more than 9 days.

Conclusion

MTZ-thermosensitive hydrogels could be considered a prospective local oral drug delivery system to achieve efficient sustained release and improve the drug pharmacological properties in periodontitis treatment.

α-Mangostin Nanoparticles Cytotoxicity and Cell Death Modalities in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

α-Mangostin (AMG) is a potent anticancer xanthone that was discovered in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.). AMG possesses the highest opportunity for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic therapy. AMG inhibits every step in the process of carcinogenesis. AMG suppressed multiple breast cancer (BC) cell proliferation and apoptosis by decreasing the creation of cancerous compounds. Accumulating BC abnormalities and their associated molecular signaling pathways promotes novel treatment strategies. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment; due to the possibility of unpleasant side effects and multidrug resistance, there has been substantial progress in searching for alternative solutions, including the use of plant-derived natural chemicals. Due to the limitations of conventional cancer therapy, nanotechnology provides hope for effective and efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanotechnology enables the delivery of nanoparticles and increased solubility of drugs and drug targeting, resulting in increased cytotoxicity and cell death during BC treatment. This review summarizes the progress and development of AMG’s cytotoxicity and the mechanism of death BC cells. The combination of natural medicine and nanotechnology into a synergistic capital will provide various benefits. This information will aid in the development of AMG nanoparticle preparations and may open up new avenues for discovering an effective BC treatment.

Improving the bioavailability and bioactivity of garlic bioactive compounds via nanotechnology

This review highlights main bioactive compounds and important biological functions especially anticancer effects of the garlic. In addition, we review current literature on the stability and bioavailability of garlic components. Finally, this review aims to provide a potential strategy for using nanotechnology to increase the stability and solubility of garlic components, providing guidelines for the qualities of garlic products to improve their absorption and prevent their early degradation, and extend their circulation time in the body. The application of nanotechnology to improve the bioavailability and targeting of garlic compounds are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the functional components of garlic to treat human health. We review the improvement of bioavailability and bioactivity of garlic bioactive compounds via nanotechnology, which could promisingly overcome the limitations of conventional garlic products, and would be used to prevent and treat cancer and other diseases in the near future.

Fibroin nanoparticles: a promising drug delivery system

Fibroin is a dominant silk protein that possesses ideal properties as a biomaterial for drug delivery. Recently, the development of fibroin nanoparticles (FNPs) for various biomedical applications has been extensively studied. Due to their versatility and chemical modifiability, FNPs can encapsulate different types of therapeutic compounds, including small and big molecules, proteins, enzymes, vaccines, and genetic materials. Moreover, FNPs are able to be administered both parenterally and non-parenterally. This review summaries basic information on the silk and fibroin origin and characteristics, followed by the up-to-date data on the FNPs preparation and characterization methods. In addition, their medical applications as a drug delivery system are in-depth explored based on several administrative routes of parenteral, oral, transdermal, ocular, orthopedic, and respiratory. Finally, the challenges and suggested solutions, as well as the future outlooks of these systems are discussed.

Paclitaxel loaded EDC-crosslinked fibroin nanoparticles: a potential approach for colon cancer treatment

Colon cancer is one of the most life-threatening cancers with high incidence and mortality rates. Current first-line treatments are ineffective and possess many unwanted effects. The off-label use of paclitaxel encapsulated in nanoparticles proves an innovative approach. In this study, we reported novel paclitaxel loaded EDC-crosslinked fibroin nanoparticles (PTX-FNPs) for anticancer purpose. The particles were formulated using desolvation method and the physicochemical properties were controlled favorably, including the particle size (300-500 nm), zeta potential (- 15 to + 30 mV), drug entrapment efficiency (75-100%), crystallinity, drug solubility (1- to 10-fold increase), dissolution profiles, stability (> 24 h in intravenous diluent and > 6 months storage at 4 °C). In in vitro study, all formulations showed no toxicity on the red blood cells, whereas retained the paclitaxel cytotoxicity on MCF-7 breast cancer and Caco-2 colon cancer cells. Interestingly, PTX-FNPs can be uptaken rapidly by the Caco-2 cells, consequently increased paclitaxel potency up to 10-fold compared to the free drug. Graphical abstract.

Silk Particles as Carriers of Therapeutic Molecules for Cancer Treatment

Although progress is observed in cancer treatment, this disease continues to be the second leading cause of death worldwide. The current understanding of cancer indicates that treating cancer should not be limited to killing cancer cells alone, but that the target is the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). The application of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (DDS) can not only target cancer cells and TME, but also simultaneously resolve the severe side effects of various cancer treatment approaches, leading to more effective, precise, and less invasive therapy. Nanoparticles based on proteins derived from silkworms' cocoons (like silk fibroin and sericins) and silk proteins from spiders (spidroins) are intensively explored not only in the oncology field. This natural-derived material offer biocompatibility, biodegradability, and simplicity of preparation methods. The protein-based material can be tailored for size, stability, drug loading/release kinetics, and functionalized with targeting ligands. This review summarizes the current status of drug delivery systems' development based on proteins derived from silk fibroin, sericins, and spidroins, which application is focused on systemic cancer treatment. The nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapeutics, nucleic acid-based therapeutics, natural-derived agents, therapeutic proteins or peptides, inorganic compounds, as well as photosensitive molecules, are introduced.

Protein-Based Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems

Nanoparticles have been extensively used as carriers for the delivery of chemicals and biomolecular drugs, such as anticancer drugs and therapeutic proteins. Natural biomolecules, such as proteins, are an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers commonly used in nanoparticle formulation because of their safety. In general, protein nanoparticles offer many advantages, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. Moreover, the preparation of protein nanoparticles and the corresponding encapsulation process involved mild conditions without the use of toxic chemicals or organic solvents. Protein nanoparticles can be generated using proteins, such as fibroins, albumin, gelatin, gliadine, legumin, 30Kc19, lipoprotein, and ferritin proteins, and are prepared through emulsion, electrospray, and desolvation methods. This review introduces the proteins used and methods used in generating protein nanoparticles and compares the corresponding advantages and disadvantages of each.

Crosslinked Fibroin Nanoparticles: Investigations on Biostability, Cytotoxicity, and Cellular Internalization

Recently, crosslinked fibroin nanoparticles (FNP) using the crosslinker 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) or the polymer poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) have been developed and showed potentials as novel drug delivery systems. Thus, this study further investigated the biological properties of these crosslinked FNP by labeling them with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) for in vitro studies. All formulations possessed a mean particle size of approximately 300 nm and a tunable zeta potential (-20 to + 30 mV) dependent on the amount/type of crosslinkers. The FITC-bound FNP showed no significant difference in physical properties compared to the blank FNP. They possessed a binding efficacy of 3.3% w/w, and no FITC was released in sink condition up to 8 h. All formulations were colloidal stable in the sheep whole blood. The degradation rate of these FNP in blood could be controlled depending on their crosslink degree. Moreover, no potential toxicity in erythrocytes, Caco-2, HepG2, and 9L cells was noted for all formulations at particle concentrations of < 1 mg/mL. Finally, all FNP were internalized into the Caco-2 cells after 3 h incubation. The uptake rate of the positively charged particles was significantly higher than the negatively charged ones. In summary, the crosslinked FNP were safe and showed high potentials as versatile systems for biomedical applications.

In Vitro MCF-7 Cells Apoptosis Analysis of Carboplatin Loaded Silk Fibroin Particles

Breast cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Chemotherapy is commonly used directly or as neo-adjuvant therapy for the management of breast cancer with its attendant adverse effects, underscoring the need to develop biocompatible bioactive compounds for pharmacological applications. The aim of this study is to encapsulate carboplatin (CP) with silk fibroin protein (SF) by using an ionic gelation method as a drug carrier system and assess the apoptotic effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells during in vitro studies. The characterization of silk fibroin encapsulated carboplatin (SFCP) microparticles was analyzed by FTIR spectrophotometer, SEM, Mastersizer, and biodegradation methods. The encapsulation efficiency and release profile of SFCP microparticles were analyzed by an indirect UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. An apoptotic screening of MCF-7 cells was carried out with 10-200 µg/mL CP loaded SFCP, which were cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h. Data were analyzed using the Student's t test and analysis of variance. FTIR and drug release studies confirmed an interaction of silk fibroin with the carboplatin moiety. SFCP showed successful encapsulation of the carboplatin moiety. Apoptotic screening showed a dose dependent increase in absorbance, indicating significant cell death (p < 0.05). Thus, the direct apoptotic effect of SFCP microparticles on MCF-7 was confirmed.

Progress in Preparation of Silk Fibroin Microspheres for Biomedical Applications

As a natural biomaterial, silk fibroin (SF) holds great potential in biomedical applications with its broad availability, good biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, ease of fabrication, and controlled degradation. With emerging fabrication methods, nanoand microspheres made from SF have brought about unique opportunities in drug delivery, cell culture, and tissue engineering. For these applications, the size and distribution of silk fibroin particles (SFPs) are critical and require precise control during fabrication. Herein, we review common and emerging SFPs fabrication methods and their biomedical applications, and also the challenges and opportunities for SFPs in the near future. Lay Summary: The application of silk in textile has an extraordinarily long history and new biomedical applications emerged owing to the good biocompatibility and versatile fabrication options of its major protein component, silk fibroin. With the development of nanotechnology and microfabrication, silk fibroin has been fabricated into nano- or microspheres with precisely controlled shape and distribution. In this review, we summarize common and emerging silk fibroin particle fabrication methods and their biomedical applications, and also discuss their challenges and opportunities in the nearest future.