Enhancing stability and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin in ulcerative colitis therapy using liposomes mediated colon-specific drug delivery system

Large Yellow Croaker Roe Protein Isolates/Gellan Gum Hydrogels Improve the Alleviating Effect of Curcumin on DSS-Induced Colitis

In this study, large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) protein isolates/gellan gum (PG) binary hydrogels with dense microstructure were used for embedding and delivery curcumin (Cur). The colitis-relieving effects of PG-Cur were further investigated using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model. Following PG-Cur treatment, weight loss, diarrhea, and shortening of the colon were significantly alleviated. Compared with the free Cur group, weight loss and colon length in the PG-Cur group increased about 1.05- and 1.12-fold. IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels in PG-Cur group were not significantly different from those of the normal mice, and the MPO and iNOS activities of the PG-Cur group were 29% and 20% lower than those in the Cur group, respectively. Moreover, fecal microbiota analysis of mice revealed that PG-Cur effectively restored gut dysbiosis in DSS-induced colitis, enriching beneficial bacteria while reducing harmful ones. Overall, the PG hydrogels have the potential to serve as carriers for oral curcumin formulations aimed at alleviating UC.

Polypeptide-based multilayer capsules with anti-inflammatory properties: exploring different strategies to incorporate hydrophobic drugs

More than 90% of drug candidates used in the drug development pipeline and about 40% of drugs on the market are poorly soluble in water based on the definition of the biopharmaceutical classification system. The advent of drug delivery approaches has represented a striking tool to overcome the challenges associated with the use of hydrophobic drugs, such as their low bioavailability and off-target effects. Drug carrier formulations composed of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, such as polypeptides, have been explored as platforms to host poorly water-soluble drugs to prolong drug circulation, enhance their safety, reduce their immunogenicity, and promote their controlled release. In this work, we evaluated three strategies-co-precipitation, post-encapsulation, and conjugation-to incorporate a hydrophobic model drug, i.e., curcumin (CUR), into biodegradable multilayer capsules fabricated via a layer-by-layer (LbL) approach. Poly(L-lysine) (PLys) and poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGlu) were adopted as building blocks and alternately assembled onto calcium carbonate (CaCO3) microparticles to build a polypeptide-multilayer membrane, which acted as a barrier to control the release of the drug. The application of our three formulations in in vitro inflammatory models of THP-1 derived human macrophages and murine microglia showed a reduction of the inflammation with the suppression of three pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α). Moreover, the intracellular release of CUR detected upon uptake studies on activated microglia suggested that our systems could represent a potential therapeutic approach to reduce acute neuroinflammation and modulate microglia phenotype.

Oral Lipid Nanoparticles for Improving the Efficiency of Drug Delivery Systems in Ulcerative Colitis: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent, recurrent, and relapsing inflammation of the mucosal layer. Its pathogenesis is complex and not yet fully understood, with current treatments mainly focused on alleviating symptoms through pharmacological methods. Direct drug administration for UC often leads to poor intestinal bioavailability, suboptimal targeting, and an increased risk of resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective drug delivery systems. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising candidates for UC drug delivery due to their high biocompatibility, stability, and customizable properties. Oral administration, as a preferred treatment approach for UC, offers benefits such as convenience, cost-effectiveness, and better patient compliance. However, oral drug delivery systems must navigate the complex gastrointestinal tract to effectively target colonic lesions, posing significant challenges for LNP-based systems. Researchers are exploring ways to enhance oral delivery efficiency by adjusting LNP composition, surface functionalization, and coating. This article reviews recent advancements in oral LNP research aimed at improving drug delivery efficiency for UC treatment and discusses future prospects.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery system for targeted therapy of ulcerative colitis from traditional Chinese medicine: A review

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic autoimmune disease and seriously affects the normal life of patients. Conventional therapeutic drugs are difficult to meet clinical needs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ingredients could effectively alleviate the symptoms of UC by anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, regulating the gut microbiota, and repairing the colonic epithelial barrier, but their low solubility and bioavailability severely limit their clinical application. Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) combined with TCM ingredients is a promising option for treating UC, and they could significantly enhance the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of TCM ingredients. The review describes the anti-UC mechanisms of TCM ingredients, systematically summarizes various kinds of NDDS for TCM ingredients according to different routes of administration, and highlights the advantages of NDDS for TCM ingredients in the treatmentof UC. In addition, we discuss the limitations of existing NDDS for TCM ingredients and the development direction in the future. This review will provide a basis for the future development of anti-UC NDDS for TCM ingredients.

Curcumin nanocrystals ameliorate ferroptosis of diabetic nephropathy through glutathione peroxidase 4

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin nanocrystals (Cur-NCs) on ferroptosis in high-glucose (HG)-induced HK-2 cells and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy model (DN) rats. The purpose is to determine whether Cur NCs can become a promising treatment option for diabetes nephropathy by reducing ferroptosis.

Methods

Cur-NCs were prepared using microfluidic technology and studied using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. HK-2 cells were treated with 30 mM HG to create a renal tubule damage cell model. Then, cell viability was evaluated in HK-2 cells treated with varying concentrations of Cur-NCs (0.23, 0.47, 0.94, 1.87, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 μg/mL) using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Furthermore, in vivo experiments were carried out to investigate the roles of Cur-NCs in STZ-induced DN rats.

Results

The results showed that HG treatment greatly enhanced the levels of LDH, MDA, Iron, lipid ROS, apoptosis, NCOA4, TFR-1, while decreasing the expression of GSH, GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH-1. These effects induced by HG could be attenuated by Cur-NCs. Cur-NCs also reduced the HG-induced decrease in cell viability, as well as the increase in lipid ROS and cell apoptosis, however erastin could inhibit their effects. Furthermore, the in vivo results showed that Cur-NCs reduced ferroptosis and inhibited renal damage in DN rats.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Cur-NCs can significantly attenuate ferroptosis in a STZ-induced renal damage model by recovering GPX4, implying that Cur-NCs may be a promising therapy option for DN.

Curcumin-loaded polysaccharide microparticles alleviated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving intestinal microecology and regulating MAPK/NF-κB/Nrf2/NLRP3 pathways

Curcumin (Cur) exerts many benefits on the host, but its application is limited by its poor bioavailability. In this study, composite polysaccharide microparticles loading Cur (Cur-CPM) was prepared by food-grade materials and gel technology. Its properties were analyzed via the in vitro and in vivo models, and then its benefit on gut health was assessed in DSS-treated mice. Compared to free Cur, CPM extended the residence time and absorption efficiency of Cur in the intestine, effectively ameliorating the symptoms of colitis. Cur-CPM alleviated colonic inflammation by inhibiting the activation of the MAPK and NF-κB pathways and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activity, affecting the expression of inflammation-related cytokines and mediators. In addition, Cur-CPM regulated the levels of antioxidants and oxidants in the colon tissues via Nrf2 activation, alleviating oxidative stress. Cur-CPM protected gut barrier function by maintaining the integrity of colonic mucosal layer and tight junction. The underlying mechanism can be attributed not only to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Cur but also to modulation of Cur and CPM on the gut microbiota and metabolites. It suggests that Cur-CPM holds the potential to be developed as a functional component to enhance gut health.

High internal phase emulsion stabilized by soy protein isolate-Rutin complex: Rheological properties, bioaccessibility and in vitro release kinetics

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are promising carrier materials for encapsulating and delivering hydrophobic bioactive compounds. By strategically adjusting the composition, particle size, or charge of HIPEs, it is possible to enhance both their stability and the bioaccessibility of hydrophobic polyphenols encapsulated within them. In this study, different soy protein isolate (SPI)-rutin (SPI-R) complexes (formed under various preheating temperatures) were used to stabilize HIPEs, while the particle size, and charge of HIPEs was further adjusted through different homogenization rates. The results demonstrated that an optimal preheating temperature of 70 °C for the complex and a homogenization rate of 15,000 rpm for HIPEs enhanced the stability of the entire emulsion system by producing more uniform and smaller droplet distribution with improved rheological properties. Furthermore, in vitro digestion experiments showed that HIPEs stabilized by the SPI-R complexes (HSR) at optimal homogenization rate had better loading efficiency (98.68 %) and bioaccessibility compared to other groups. Additionally, fitting results from release kinetics confirmed that rutin encapsulated by HSR could achieve sustained release effect. Overall, these findings suggest that HSR has great potential as an effective vehicle for delivering hydrophobic bioactive compounds like rutin within the food industry.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic bioactive compounds from edible traditional Chinese medicines and their action of mechanisms explored by multitarget affinity ultrafiltration with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Edible traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have a long‐standing history in tackling obesity, diabetes, and metabolic diseases, which, in turn, significantly promotes the exploration of functional food products derived from edible TCMs with lower toxicity and reduced side effects. However, most of bioactive components from TCMs and their mechanisms in regulating blood glucose and lipids remain elusive, which poses a challenge for the development of safer and more effective TCM products. In this context, the development of high‐throughput screening methods has become even more important for the identification of active components and the in‐depth evaluation of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this work provides an overview of edible TCMs for managing glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and summarizes the most recent progresses in identifying hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic bioactive compounds in edible TCMs through various screening methods. One significant approach involves the utilization of multitarget‐based ultrafiltration liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. This technique enables the concurrent screening and identification of potential pharmacodynamically active components in TCMs, as well as the investigation of their mechanisms of action. The bioactive compounds identified may serve as crucial active agents in reducing blood glucose and lipids, exhibiting promising potential for incorporation into functional foods or natural health products.

Recent developments and new directions in the use of natural products for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a significant global health challenge, and there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic interventions. Natural products have demonstrated highly promising effectiveness in the treatment of IBD.

PURPOSE

This study systematically reviews the latest research advancements in leveraging natural products for IBD treatment.

METHODS

This manuscript strictly adheres to the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant literature on the effects of natural products on IBD was retrieved from the PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases using the search terms "natural product," "inflammatory bowel disease," "colitis," "metagenomics", "target identification", "drug delivery systems", "polyphenols," "alkaloids," "terpenoids," and so on. The retrieved data were then systematically summarized and reviewed.

RESULTS

This review assessed the different effects of various natural products, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, quinones, and others, in the treatment of IBD. While these natural products offer promising avenues for IBD management, they also face challenges in terms of clinical translation and drug discovery. The advent of metagenomics, single-cell sequencing, target identification techniques, drug delivery systems, and other cutting-edge technologies heralds a new era in overcoming these challenges.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides an overview of current research progress in utilizing natural products for the treatment of IBD, exploring how contemporary technological innovations can aid in discovering and harnessing bioactive natural products for the treatment of IBD.

A curcumin-loaded biopolymeric nanocomposite alleviates dextran sulfate sodium induced ulcerative colitis via suppression of inflammation and oxidative stress

Functional drugs nano delivery systems manufactured from natural active products are promising for the field of biomedicines. In this study, an anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) curcumin loaded biopolymeric nanocomposite (CZNH) was fabricated and investigated. CZNH nanocomposite was obtained using the anti-solvent precipitation method, wherein curcumin-loaded zein colloidal particles served as the core, while sodium casein (NaCas) and hyaluronic acid (HA) formed the outermost layer of CZNH nanocomposite. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) findings demonstrated that CZNH nanocomposite was a double-layer spherical micelle (250 nm) resulting from the hydrogen bond interactions and electrostatic adsorptions between zein, NaCas, and HA. Furthermore, CZNH nanocomposite exhibited prominent resuspension and storage stability in aqueous solution, which can be stored at 4 °C for approximately 30 days. In vivo anti-UC studies showed that CZNH nanocomposite could effectively alleviate UC symptoms via mediating inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6], myeloperoxidase (MPO), and oxidative stress factor [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)]. This study suggested that the CZNH nanocomposite showed great promise as an efficient curcumin nanocarrier for UC therapy.

An overview on recent approaches for colonic drug delivery systems

Colon-targeted drug delivery systems have garnered significant interest as potential solutions for delivering various medications susceptible to acidic and catalytic degradation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or as a means of treating colonic diseases naturally with fewer overall side effects. The increasing demand for patient-friendly drug administration underscores the importance of colonic drug delivery, particularly through noninvasive methods like nanoparticulate drug delivery technologies. Such systems offer improved patient compliance, cost reduction, and therapeutic advantages. This study places particular emphasis on formulations and discusses recent advancements in various methods for designing colon-targeted drug delivery systems and their medicinal applications.

Bioinspired and bioderived nanomedicine for inflammatory bowel disease

Due to its chronic nature and complex pathophysiology, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges for treatment. The long-term therapies for patients, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, call for innovative strategies to target inflammation, minimize systemic drug exposure, and improve patients' therapeutic outcomes. Among the plethora of strategies currently pursued, bioinspired and bioderived nano-based formulations have garnered interest for their safety and versatility in the management of IBD. Bioinspired nanomedicine can host and deliver not only small drug molecules but also biotherapeutics, be made gastroresistant and mucoadhesive or mucopenetrating and, for these reasons, are largely investigated for oral administration, while surprisingly less for rectal delivery, recommended first-line treatment approach for several IBD patients. The use of bioderived nanocarriers, mostly extracellular vesicles (EVs), endowed with unique homing abilities, is still in its infancy with respect to the arsenal of nanomedicine under investigation for IBD treatment. An emerging source of EVs suited for oral administration is ingesta, that is, plants or milk, thanks to their remarkable ability to resist the harsh environment of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Inspired by the unparalleled properties of natural biomaterials, sophisticated avenues for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and advancing precision medicine approaches in IBD care are taking shape, although bottlenecks arising either from the complexity of the nanomedicine designed or from the lack of a clear regulatory pathway still hinder a smooth and efficient translation to the clinics. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

Review on novel targeted enzyme drug delivery systems: enzymosomes

The goal of this review is to present enzymosomes as an innovative means for site-specific drug delivery. Enzymosomes make use of an enzyme's special characteristics, such as its capacity to accelerate the reaction rate and bind to a particular substrate at a regulated rate. Enzymosomes are created when an enzyme forms a covalent linkage with a liposome or lipid vesicle surface. To construct enzymosomes with specialized activities, enzymes are linked using acylation, direct conjugation, physical adsorption, and encapsulation techniques. By reducing the negative side effects of earlier treatment techniques and exhibiting efficient medication release, these cutting-edge drug delivery systems improve long-term sickness treatments. They could be a good substitute for antiplatelet medication, gout treatment, and other traditional medicines. Recently developed supramolecular vesicular delivery systems called enzymosomes have the potential to improve drug targeting, physicochemical characteristics, and ultimately bioavailability in the pharmaceutical industry. Enzymosomes have advantages over narrow-therapeutic index pharmaceuticals as focusing on their site of action enhances both their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles. Additionally, it reduces changes in normal enzymatic activity, which enhances the half-life of an enzyme and accomplishes enzyme activity on specific locations.

Prospect of Gum Arabic-Cocoliposome Matrix to Encapsulate Curcumin for Oral Administration

Curcumin is an antioxidant that can effectively eliminate free radicals. However, as its oral bioavailability is low, an effective delivery method is required. Phospholipid-based liposomes can encapsulate lipophilic drugs, such as curcumin, while liposome, cholesterol, and gum Arabic (GA) can enhance the internal and external stability of drug membranes. This present study used concentrations of cholesterol (Cchol) and GA (CGA), ranging from 0 to 10, 20, 30, and 40% as well as 0 to 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40%, respectively, to encapsulate curcumin in a GA-cocoliposome (CCL/GA) matrix and test its efficacy in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The absence of new characteristic peaks in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra results indicate the presence of non-covalent interactions in the CCL/GA encapsulation. Furthermore, increasing the Cchol decreased the encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC), and antioxidant activity (IR) of the CCL/GA encapsulation but increased its release rate (RR). Conversely, increasing CGA increased its EE and IR but decreased its LC and RR. The two conditions applied confirmed this. Liposomal curcumin had the highest IR in SIF (84.081%) and the highest RR in SGF (0.657 ppm/day). Furthermore, liposomes loaded with 10% Cchol and 20% CGA performed best in SIF, while those loaded with 10% Cchol and 30% CGA performed best in SGF. Lastly, the CCL/GA performed better in SIF than SGF.

Enhancing the Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Curcumin for Disease Prevention and Treatment

Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic component from Curcuma longa roots, is the main bioactive component of turmeric spice and has gained increasing interest due to its proposed anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering effects, in addition to its thermogenic capacity. While intake from dietary sources such as curry may be sufficient to affect the intestinal microbiome and thus may act indirectly, intact curcumin in the body may be too low (<1 microM) and not sufficient to affect signaling and gene expression, as observed in vitro with cultured cells (10-20 microM). Several strategies can be envisioned to increase curcumin levels in the body, such as decreasing its metabolism or increasing absorption through the formation of nanoparticles. However, since high curcumin levels could also lead to undesired regulatory effects on cellular signaling and gene expression, such studies may need to be carefully monitored. Here, we review the bioavailability of curcumin and to what extent increasing curcumin levels using nanoformulations may increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of curcumin and its metabolites. This enhancement could potentially amplify the disease-preventing effects of curcumin, often by leveraging its robust antioxidant properties.

Preparation and Characterization of Novel Polyelectrolyte Liposomes Using Chitosan Succinate Layered over Chitosomes: A Potential Strategy for Colon Cancer Treatment

Chitosan succinate is distinguished by its ability to shield the loaded drug from the acidic environment, localize and keep the drug at the colon site, and release the drug over an extended time at basic pH. The current study attempts to develop polyelectrolyte liposomes (PEL), using chitosan and chitosan succinate (CSSC), as a carrier for liposomal-assisted colon target delivery of 5 fluorouracil (5FU). The central composite design was used to obtain an optimized formulation of 5FU-chitosomes. The chitosan-coated liposomes (chitosomes) were prepared by thin lipid film hydration technique. After that, the optimized formulation was coated with CSSC, which has several carboxylic (COOH) groups that produce an anionic charge that interacts with the cation NH2 in chitosan. The prepared 5FU-chitosomes formulations were evaluated for entrapment efficiency % (EE%), particle size, and in vitro drug release. The optimized 5FU-chitosomes formulation was examined for particle size, zeta potential, in vitro release, and mucoadhesive properties in comparison with the equivalent 5FU-liposomes and 5FU-PEL. The prepared 5FU-chitosomes exhibited high EE%, small particle size, low polydispersity index, and prolonged drug release. PEL significantly limited the drug release at acidic pH due to the deprotonation of carboxylate ions in CSSC, which resulted in strong repulsive forces, significant swelling, and prolonged drug release. According to a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, PEL treatment significantly decreased the viability of HT-29 cells. When compared to 5FU-liposome and 5FU-chitosome, the in vivo pharmacokinetics characteristics of 5FU-PEL significantly (p < 0.05) improved. The findings show that PEL enhances 5FU permeability, which permits high drug concentrations to enter cells and inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells. Based on the current research, PEL may be used as a liposomal-assisted colon-specific delivery.

Prospects of new targeted nanotherapy combining liponiosomes with berberine to combat colorectal cancer development: An in vivo experimental model

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most identified and deadly malignancies worldwide. It presents a serious challenge due to its quick growth, which finally culminates in severe malignancy. It is critical to improve the efficacy of berberine (BR) as an anticancer agent to overcome its limited bioavailability. Implementation of a novel, effective nanocarrier system of liponiosomes for BR (LipoNio.BR) can support mechanistic actions associated with its anti-CRC role. Following CRC induction in rats using 1,2 Dimethylhydrazine (40 mg DMH/kg/week), the potency and mechanistic actions of LipoNio.BR were assessed by evaluating the lesion severity and molecular mechanisms controlling oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses, and conducting histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations of colonic tissues. The results indicated that the severity of clinical signs comprising weight gain loss, increased diarrhea and rectal bleeding, and reduced survivability were greatly restored in the LipoNio.BR-treated group. LipoNio.BR remarkably reduced CRC development compared to FBR (free berberine), as it induced apoptosis via upregulating apoptotic genes (Bax and caspase3, increased up to 7.89 and 6.25-fold, respectively) and downregulating the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 by 2.25-fold. LipoNio.BR mitigated the oxidative stress associated with CRC and maintained redox homeostasis. Notably, the excessive inflammatory response associated with CRC was prominently reduced following administration of LipoNio.BR [which decreased iterleukin (IL-B, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), follistatin, and activin BA (beta-A) expression]. LipoNio.BR modulated the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which impacted tumor vascularity (decreased Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by 2.36-fold). The severity of the histopathological alterations in the colonic tissues, including the development of neoplastic epithelium and the invasion of some neoplastic masses, was greatly reduced in the LipoNio.BR group compared to the FBR-(free berberine) administrated group. Following CRC induction, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the overexpression of cyclin and COX-2 in colonic tissues were suppressed in the LipoNio.BR group. Taken together, these findings suggest that LipoNio.BR has a potential role in reducing CRC progression to a greater extent compared to free BR and could be considered a promising and potent therapy against CRC.

Recent research advances on oral colon-specific delivery system of nature bioactive components: A review

Oral colon-specific delivery system (OCDS) is a targeted approach that aims to directly deliver bioactive compounds directly to the colon following oral administration, thereby enhancing the colonic release of bioactive substances and minimizing adverse reactions. The effectiveness of bioactive substances in the colon hinges on the degree of release, which are affected by various factors including pH, mucosal barrier, delivery time and so on. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the key factors affecting oral colon-specific release of bioactive components firstly. Considering the oral safety, this review then mainly focuses on the types of carriers with edible OCDS and preparation strategies for OCDS. Finally, several preparation strategies for loading typical natural bioactive ingredients into oral safe OCDS are reviewed, along with future development prospects.

Co-administration of Thymoquinone and Propolis in Liposomal Formulations as a Potential Approach for Treatment of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis: Physiological and Histopathological Analysis

A severe form of autoimmune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is termed as ulcerative colitis (UC) which ultimately results in significant mucosal damage and ulceration. Herbal remedies may be employed as an alternative for treatment of UC instead of conventional medications such as Sulfasalazine. Promising natural remedies for the treatment of IBD, including colitis, are propolis extract (PP) and thymoquinone (TQ). This study is aimed at assessing the potential of liposomal formulations of TQ and Egyptian PP in combination therapy on improving their therapeutic efficacy against ulcerative colitis in order to maximize the potential of their beneficial clinical effects. Clinical, biochemical, and histological evaluations of colonic mucosal damage and inflammation were evaluated. The results exhibited a significant increase in tissue MDA, TNFα, and nitrite levels with activation of caspase-3 in the acetic acid-induced colitis group, which is predominantly downregulated in the treatment groups. The prepared formulations of TQ and PP revealed liposomal vesicles in a nanoscale size (192 ± 20.3 and 98.2 ± 20.3 nm, respectively) and accepted stability indicated with a zeta potential of 19.3 ± 0.11 and 17.1 ± 0.25 mV, respectively. They showed an entrapment efficiency of 85.3 ± 12.6% and 69.3 ± 11.8%, respectively. At comparable doses, combination therapy with thymoquinone liposomes and propolis liposomes considerably outperformed free TQ and free PP in reducing inflammation of UC as shown in the present study by clinical, biochemical, and histological evaluations.

"Dual sensitive supramolecular curcumin nanoparticles" in "advanced yeast particles" mediate macrophage reprogramming, ROS scavenging and inflammation resolution for ulcerative colitis treatment

Ulcerative colitis (UC) faces some barriers in oral therapy, such as how to safely deliver drugs to the colon and accumulate in the colon lesions. Hence, we report an advanced yeast particles system loaded with supramolecular nanoparticles with ROS scavenger (curcumin) to treat UC by reducing oxidative stress state and inflammatory response and accelerating the reprogramming of macrophages. In this study, the dual-sensitive materials are bonded on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), the D-mannose (Man) is modified to adamantane (ADA), and then loaded with curcumin (CUR), to form a functional supramolecular nano-delivery system (Man-CUR NPs) through the host-guest interaction. To improve gastrointestinal stability and colonic accumulation of Man-CUR NPs, yeast cell wall microparticles (YPs) encapsulated Man-CUR NPs to form Man-CUR NYPs via electrostatic adsorption and vacuum extrusion technologies. As expected, the YPs showed the strong stability in complex gastrointestinal environment. In addition, the Man modified supramolecular nanoparticles demonstrated excellent targeting ability to macrophages in the in vitro cellular uptake study and the pH/ROS sensitive effect of Man-CUR NPs was confirmed by the pH/ROS-dual stimulation evaluation. They also enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory model in macrophages through downregulation of pro-inflammatory factors, upregulation of anti-inflammatory factors, M2 macrophage polarization, and scavenging the excess ROS. Notably, in DSS-induced mice colitis model, Man-CUR NYPs can reduce the inflammatory responses by modulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways, alleviate oxidative stress by Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, promote macrophages reprogramming and improve the favorable recovery of the damaged colonic tissue. Taken together, this study not only provides strategy for "supramolecular curcumin nanoparticles with pH/ROS sensitive and multistage therapeutic effects" in "advanced yeast particles", but also provided strong theoretical support multi-effect therapy for UC.

Curcumin or quercetin loaded nutriosomes as oral adjuvants for malaria infections

Artemisinin, curcumin or quercetin, alone or in combination, were loaded in nutriosomes, special phospholipid vesicles enriched with Nutriose FM06®, a soluble dextrin with prebiotic activity, that makes these vesicles suitable for oral delivery. The resulting nutriosomes were sized between 93 and 146 nm, homogeneously dispersed, and had slightly negative zeta potential (around -8 mV). To improve their shelf life and storability over time, vesicle dispersions were freeze-dried and stored at 25 °C. Results confirmed that their main physico-chemical characteristics remained unchanged over a period of 12 months. Additionally, their size and polydispersity index did not undergo any significant variation after dilution with solutions at different pHs (1.2 and 7.0) and high ionic strength, mimicking the harsh conditions of the stomach and intestine. An in vitro study disclosed the delayed release of curcumin and quercetin from nutriosomes (∼53% at 48 h) while artemisinin was quickly released (∼100% at 48 h). Cytotoxicity assays using human colon adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proved the high biocompatibility of the prepared formulations. Finally, in vitro antimalarial activity tests, assessed against the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum, confirmed the effectiveness of nutriosomes in the delivery of curcumin and quercetin, which can be used as adjuvants in the antimalaria treatment. The efficacy of artemisinin was also confirmed but not improved. Overall results proved the possible use of these formulations as an accompanying treatment of malaria infections.

Oral hydrogel nanoemulsion co-delivery system treats inflammatory bowel disease via anti-inflammatory and promoting intestinal mucosa repair

BACKGROUND

Due to oral nano-delivery systems for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are often failed to accumulated to the colonic site and could not achieve controlled drug release, it's urgent to develop a microenvironment responsive drug delivery to improve therapy efficacy. Inflammation at the IBD site is mainly mediated by macrophages, which are the key effector cells. Excessive inflammation leads to oxidative stress and intestinal mucosal damage. The use of curcumin (CUR) and emodin (EMO) together for the treatment of IBD is promising due to their respective anti-inflammatory and intestinal mucosal repair effects. In view of the pH gradient environment of gastrointestinal tract, here we prepared pH-responsive sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel-coated nanoemulsions to co-deliver CUR and EMO (CUR/EMO NE@SA) to achieve controlled drug release and specifically target macrophages of the colon.

RESULTS

In this study, a pH-responsive CUR/EMO NE@SA was successfully developed, in which the CUR/EMO NE was loaded by chitosan and further crosslinked with sodium alginate. CUR/EMO NE@SA had a pH-responsive property and could achieve controlled drug release in the colon. The preparation could significantly alleviate and improve the colon inflammatory microenvironment by decreasing TNF-α and IL-6 expression, increasing IL-10 expression, scavenging reactive oxygen species in macrophages, and by ameliorating the restoration of intestinal mucosal tight junction protein expression. Furthermore, we revealed the molecular mechanism of the preparation for IBD treatment, which might due to the CUR and EMO synergic inhibition of NF-κB to improve the pro-inflammatory microenvironment. Our study provides a new IBD therapy strategy via synergically inhibiting inflammatory, repairing mucosal and clearing ROS by pH-sensitive hydrogel-encapsulated nanoemulsion drug delivery system, which might be developed for other chronic inflammatory disease treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

It's suggested that pH-sensitive hydrogel-coated nanoemulsion-based codelivery systems are a promising combinatorial platform in IBD.

The bioavailability, metabolism and microbial modulation of curcumin-loaded nanodelivery systems

Curcumin (Cur), the major bioactive component of turmeric (Curcuma longa) possesses many health benefits. However, low solubility, stability and bioavailability restricts its applications in food. Recently, nanocarriers such as complex coacervates, nanocapsules, liposomes, nanoparticles, nanomicelles, have been used as novel strategies to solve these problems. In this review, we have focused on the delivery systems responsive to the environmental stimuli such as pH-responsive, enzyme-responsive, targeted-to-specific cells or tissues, mucus-penetrating and mucoadhesive carriers. Besides, the metabolites and their biodistribution of Cur and Cur delivery systems are discussed. Most importantly, the interaction between Cur and their carriers with gut microbiota and their effects of modulating the gut health synergistically were discussed comprehensively. In the end, the biocompatibility of Cur delivery systems and the feasibility of their application in food industry is discussed. This review provided a comprehensive review of Cur nanodelivery systems, the health impacts of Cur nanocarriers and an insight into the application of Cur nanocarriers in food industry.

Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin Liposomes and Nanocrystals on Inflammatory Osteolysis: In Vitro and In Vivo Comparative Study

Curcumin could inhibit periprosthetic osteolysis induced by wear debris and adherent endotoxin, which commonly cause prosthesis loosening and negatively influence the long-term survival of joint arthroplasty. However, its limited water solubility and poor stability pose challenges for its further clinical application. To address these issues, we developed curcumin liposomes for intraarticular injection, as liposomes possess good lubricant capacity and pharmacological synergy with curcumin. Additionally, a nanocrystal dosage form was prepared to enable comparison with the liposomes based on their ability to disperse curcumin effectively. A microfluidic method was used for its controllability, repeatability, and scalability. The Box-Behnken Design was employed to screen the formulations and flow parameters, while computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate the mixing process and predict the formation of liposomes. The optimized curcumin liposomes (Cur-LPs) had a size of 132.9nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 97.1%, whereas the curcumin nanocrystals (Cur-NCs) had a size of 172.3nm. Both Cur-LPs and Cur-NCs inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages and reduced the expression and secretion of inflammatory factors. The mouse air pouch model further demonstrated that both dosage forms attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory fibrosis in subcutaneous tissues. Interestingly, the anti-inflammatory effect of Cur-LPs was more potent than that of Cur-NCs, both in vitro and in vivo, although the cellular uptake of Cur-NCs was quicker. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that Cur-LPs have great potential for the clinical treatment of inflammatory osteolysis and that the therapeutic effect is closely related to the liposomal dosage form.

Design of glucono-δ-lactone-induced pinto bean protein isolate/κ-carrageenan mixed gels with various microstructures: fabrication, characterization, and release behavior

BACKGROUND

Protein gels are used for different purposes, such as providing good texture, serving as fat replacers, and enhancing the nutritional and functional characteristics of foods. They can also deliver controlled release agents for sensitive drugs. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of κ-carrageenan (kcr) concentration (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 mg g^-1 ) on the morphological and physicochemical properties and release behavior of glucono-δ-lactone (GDL)-induced pinto bean protein aggregate (PBA) gels.

RESULTS

When κ-carrageenan concentration increased from 0 to 1.5 and 3 mg.g^-1 , the firmness of the samples increased significantly, by 2.04 and 3.7 fold, respectively (P < 0.05). A compact and homogenous network with considerable strength and maximum water-holding capacity (97.52 ± 1.17%) was obtained with the addition of 3 mg g^-1 κ-carrageenan to the gel system. Further increasing the κ-carrageenan concentration to 4.5 mg g^-1 produced a coarse gel structure with higher storage modulus (G'), firmness (6.30-fold), thermal stability, and entrapment efficiency (85.6%). Depending on the κ-carrageenan concentration, various microstructures from protein continuous phase to κ-carrageenan continuous phase were observed. The release test indicated that 70.25% of the loaded curcumin was released in the simulated gastrointestinal tract for pure PBA gels. In contrast, for binary gels containing 4.5 mg g^-1 κ-carrageenan, curcumin was protected in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and 64.45% of loaded curcumin was delivered to the colon.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that κ-carrageenan/PBA gels had high entrapment efficiency and could protect curcumin in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The hydrogels are therefore very valuable for colon-targeting delivery purposes. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Curcumin-Based Nanomedicines in the Treatment of Inflammatory and Immunomodulated Diseases: An Evidence-Based Comprehensive Review

Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa that possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. Despite CUR's numerous beneficial effects on human health, it has limitations, such as poor absorption. Nano-based drug delivery systems have recently been applied to improve CUR's solubility and bioavailability and potentialize its health effects. This review investigated the effects of different CUR-based nanomedicines on inflammatory and immunomodulated diseases. PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases were searched, and the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) was used for quality assessment and PRISMA guidelines. Overall, 66 studies were included comprising atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease (HD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), psoriasis, liver fibrosis, epilepsy, and COVID-19. The available scientific studies show that there are many known nanoformulations with curcumin. They can be found in nanosuspensions, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, solid lipid particles, nanocapsules, nanospheres, and liposomes. These formulations can improve CUR bioavailability and can effectively be used as adjuvants in several inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases such as atheroma plaque formation, RA, dementia, AD, PD, MS, IBD, psoriasis, epilepsy, COVID-19, and can be used as potent anti-fibrotic adjuvants in fibrotic liver disease.

β-Cell Autophagy Pathway and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Regulating-Role of Liposomal Curcumin in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus: A Molecular and Morphometric Study

Background: Autophagy can confer protection to pancreatic β-cells from the harmful effects of metabolic stress by delaying apoptosis. Curcumin (CUR) alleviates oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activates autophagy, reduces inflammation, and decreases β-cell damage in type I diabetes. Liposomal CUR (LPs-CUR) has a higher therapeutic value and better pharmacokinetics than CUR. Objectives: We determined LPs-CUR’s ability to alleviate stress, reduce β-cell damage and unraveled the mechanism underlying its protective effect using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetic rat model. Methods: Sprague−Dawley rats were grouped into vehicle control, STZ-diabetic (STZ 65 mg/kg), STZ-diabetic-3-MA (3-methyladenine [3-MA] 10 mg/kg b.wt), STZ. diabetic-LPs-CUR (LPs-CUR 10 mg/kg b.wt), and STZ diabetic-LPs-CUR-3-MA (LPs-CUR 10 mg/kg b.wt; 3-MA 10 mg/kg b.wt). Results: LPs-CUR significantly reduced blood glucose, oxidative stress, and cellular inflammation in the pancreatic tissue (p < 0.001). ER stress-dependent genes included ATF-6, eIF-2, CHOP, JNK, BiP, and XBP LPs-CUR significantly suppressed fold changes, while it upregulated the autophagic markers Beclin-1 and LC3-II. Conclusions: LP-CUR ameliorates β-cell damage by targeting the autophagy pathway with the regulatory miRNAs miR-137 and miR-29b, which functionally abrogates ER stress in β-cells. This study presents a new therapeutic target for managing type I diabetes using miR-137 and miR-29b.

Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activities and in vitro sustained release behaviour of co-encapsulated liposomes as vehicle for vitamin E and β-carotene

BACKGROUND

In this study the potential of liposomes as a vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (βC) delivery system was examined. The co-encapsulated liposomes of βC and VE (L-VE-βC) were prepared and characterized. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated by free radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation assay. The in vitro sustained release behaviour was then investigated and discussed.

RESULTS

VE and βC were co-encapsulated in liposomes with high encapsulation efficiency, up to 92.49% and 86.16% for βC and VE, respectively. The antioxidant activities of L-VE-βC samples were significantly higher than that of single loaded liposome. Among different ratios of VE/βC, L-VE-βC at 5:3 exhibited the highest radical scavenging rates, with 66.80%, 56.58% and 34.39% for DPPH, ABTS and OH radical, respectively. L-VE-βC samples also had a good ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation, especially the sample with ratios of VE/βC at 5:3 and 3:1. In simulated gastrointestinal release, L-VE-βC exhibited an excellent sustained release behaviour in SGF with the accumulated rate at about 20%, while the release rate in SIF increased to over 80%, where they should be absorbed. The release kinetics analysis indicated that βC was released in the Higuchi model in stomach, and the Korsmeyr-Peppas model in intestine.

CONCLUSION

Compared to single loaded liposomes, the combined-loaded liposomes exhibited higher antioxidant activity and bioavailability, suggesting the potential applications in functional foods. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Metallosurfactant based synthetic liposomes as a substitute for phospholipids to safely store curcumin

Curcumin has shown remarkable therapeutic utilization for various medical conditions. Still, its limited chemical stability and rapid hydrolysis capped its applications to a certain extent. Approaches have been made in the past to surpass these shortcomings by encapsulating the drug in surfactant-based micelles or liposomes and so far, natural surfactants have been used to do this bidding. Through this report, we are presenting curcumin entrapped inside synthetic metal-based liposomal assembly (metallosomes) based on hybrid-surfactants known as metallosurfactants (MS). Three metallosomes i.e. metallosomes (a), (b), and (c) were synthesized with increasing cholesterol (Chl) ratio w.r.t MS (MS:Chl 1:0, 1:0.5, and 1:1). Firstly, the membrane properties of the metallosomes were studied in the absence of the drug. The studies confirmed the direct influence of Chl concentration on the membrane properties and the metallosomes were found to be more hydrophobic, rigid, homogenous, stable, and less fluid with Chl incorporation. These studies were proven beneficial when drug-loaded metallosomes were studied and metallosomes (c), with the highest Chl content, emerged as the maximum drug loader due to their most hydrophobic nature. However, the drug was released at the slowest rate for this metallosomal system due to its less fluid and more rigid nature. On the other hand, these metallosomes were more efficient for shielding entrapped drug from acidic and alkaline environs as lesser drug degradation was observed in the experiments compared to the free curcumin. These metallosomes also exhibited efficient interactional behavior with bacterial (MRSA) DNA.

Novel drug delivery systems for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic illness characterized by relapsing inflammation of the intestines. The disorder is stratified according to the severity and is marked by its two main phenotypical representations: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Pathogenesis of the disease is ambiguous and is expected to have interactivity between genetic disposition, environmental factors such as bacterial agents, and dysregulated immune response. Treatment for IBD aims to reduce symptom extent and severity and halt disease progression. The mainstay drugs have been 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents. Parenteral, oral and rectal routes are the conventional methods of drug delivery, and among all, oral administration is most widely adopted. However, problems of systematic drug reactions and low specificity in delivering drugs to the inflamed sites have emerged with these regular routes of delivery. Novel drug delivery systems have been introduced to overcome several therapeutic obstacles and for localized drug delivery to target tissues. Enteric-coated microneedle pills, various nano-drug delivery techniques, prodrug systems, lipid-based vesicular systems, hybrid drug delivery systems, and biologic drug delivery systems constitute some of these novel methods. Microneedles are painless, they dislodge their content at the affected site, and their release can be prolonged. Recombinant bacteria such as genetically engineered Lactococcus Lactis and eukaryotic cells, including GM immune cells and red blood cells as nanoparticle carriers, can be plausible delivery methods when evaluating biologic systems. Nano-particle drug delivery systems consisting of various techniques are also employed as nanoparticles can penetrate through inflamed regions and adhere to the thick mucus of the diseased site. Prodrug systems such as 5-ASAs formulations or their derivatives are effective in reducing colonic damage. Liposomes can be modified with both hydrophilic and lipophilic particles and act as lipid-based vesicular systems, while hybrid drug delivery systems containing an internal nanoparticle section for loading drugs are potential routes too. Leukosomes are also considered as possible carrier systems, and results from mouse models have revealed that they control anti- and pro-inflammatory molecules.

Targeted delivery of doxorubicin by Thermo/pH-responsive magnetic nanoparticles in a rat model of breast cancer

The novel folate conjugated Thermo/pH-responsive magnetic nanoparticles (folate-poly-MNPs) have been developed as a potential nanocarrier for improving site-specific drug delivery, tumor drug accumulation, and therapeutic effects while reducing the adverse effects of conventional drug delivery systems. To evaluate the anticancer efficacy of developed tumor-targeted drug delivery system, forty rat models of breast cancer received saline as control, DOX, DOX-poly-MNPs, and DOX-folate-poly-MNPs at a dose of 2 mg/kg/48 h. The DOX-folate-poly-MNPs showed a significant increase in protein expression of BAX and C-caspase-3 with concomitant downregulation of Bcl-2 expression and ki67 proliferation index compared to the DOX group. The synergistic antitumor efficacy of passive and active drug targeting led to enhanced drug uptake, increased tumor cell apoptosis, decreased tumor volume, and a prolonged survival rate in animals, suggesting that DOX-folate-poly-MNPs may prove to be a promising nanomedicine for the smart treatment of breast cancer in the future.

Recent development in fabrication and evaluation of phenolic-dietary fiber composites for potential treatment of colonic diseases

Phenolics have been shown by in vitro and animal studies to have multiple pharmacological effects against various colonic diseases. However, their efficacy against colonic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer, is significantly compromised due to their chemical instability and susceptibility to modification along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) before reaching the colonic site. Dietary fibers are promising candidates that can form phenolic-dietary fiber composites (PDC) to carry phenolics to the colon, as they are natural polysaccharides that are non-digestible in the upper intestinal tract but can be partially or fully degradable by gut microbiota in the colon, triggering the release at this targeted site. In addition, soluble and fermentable dietary fibers confer additional health benefits as prebiotics when used in the PDC fabrication, and the possibility of synergistic relationship between phenolics and fibers in alleviating the disease conditions. The functionalities of PDC need to be characterized in terms of their particle characteristics, molecular interactions, release profiles in simulated digestion and colonic fermentation to fully understand the metabolic fate and health benefits. This review examines recent advancements regarding the approaches for fabrication, characterization, and evaluation of PDC in in vitro conditions.