Nanoparticle impregnated self-supporting protein gel for enhanced reduction in oxidative stress: A molecular dynamics insight for lactoferrin-polyphenol interaction

Lactoferrin-chia seed mucilage complex coacervates for intestinal delivery of quercetin and fortification of set yogurt

This study aimed to develop complex coacervates utilizing lactoferrin (LF) and chia seed mucilage (CSM) for promoting intestinal delivery of quercetin (Q) and fortification of set yogurt. Three cross-linkers, including calcium chloride (CC), transglutaminase (TG), and polyphenolic complex (HP), were used to further reinforce the coacervate network. Cross-linked coacervates had higher values of coacervate yield, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity. They efficiently preserved Q under gastric condition (⁓87%-99%), with CSM-TG-Q-LF being most effective for intestinal delivery of Q. Moreover, digested pellets of the cross-linked coacervates displayed better antioxidant activity than the uncross-linked coacervates with CSM-TG-Q-LF pellets showing maximum bioactivity. The Q-loaded coacervates demonstrated superior assembly in the yogurt matrix compared to the unencapsulated Q. Moreover, the coacervate systems, especially CSM-TG-Q-LF significantly improved the textural properties of yogurt and the stability of Q in it. Therefore, CSM-TG-LF is a promising carrier to promote intestinal delivery and food application of hydrophobic molecules.

Manifesting the Dasatinib-gallic acid co-amorphous system to augment anticancer potential: Physicochemical characterization, in silico molecular simulation, ex vivo permeability, and in vitro efficacy

Dasatinib (DAB) has been explored for repurposing in the treatment of breast cancer (BC) due to its known effectiveness in treating leukemia, in addition to its role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Gallic acid (GA) was chosen as a co-former due to its anticancer potential in BC, as demonstrated in several previous studies. DAB is a low-solubility drug, which is a significant hurdle for its oral bioavailability. To address this limitation, a DAB and GA co-amorphous (DAB-GA-CA) system was developed using liquid-assisted grinding and ball mill technology to enhance solubility, bioavailability, and anti-tumor efficacy. Physical characterization investigation revealed that the emergence of the halo diffractogram in PXRD, single glass transition temperature (Tg) value at 111.7 °C in DSC thermogram, and irregularly shaped blocks with loose, porous surfaces in SEM analysis indicated the formation of the DAB-GA-CA system at 1:1 M ratio. Furthermore, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, in-silico molecular docking, and molecular dynamic studies confirmed the intermolecular hydrogen connections between DAB and GA. Moreover, the outcomes of the ligands (DAB and GA) and receptors (BCL-2, mTOR, estrogen receptor, and HER-2) docking studies demonstrated that both DAB and GA could interact with those receptors, leading to preventive action on BC cells. Additionally, the solubility and dissolution rate significantly improved at pH 6.8, and the permeability study indicated that DAB-GA-CA showed 1.9 times higher apparent permeability compared to crystalline DAB. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity assessments of the DAB-GA-CA system revealed 3.42 times lower IC50 than free DAB. The mitochondrial membrane depolarization, apoptotic index, and reactive oxygen species formation in MCF-7 cells were also notably higher in the DAB-GA-CA system than in free DAB. Hence, this research suggests that the DAB-GA-CA system could substantially enhance oral delivery, solubility, and therapeutic efficacy.

Transferrin-conjugated UiO-66 metal organic frameworks loaded with doxorubicin and indocyanine green: A multimodal nanoplatform for chemo-photothermal-photodynamic approach in cancer management

Stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms have been popular in controlled drug delivery research because of their ability to differentiate the tumor microenvironment from the normal tissue environment in a spatiotemporally controllable manner. The synergistic therapeutic approach of combining cancer chemotherapy with photothermal tumor ablation has improved the therapeutic efficacy of cancer therapeutics. In this study, a UiO-66 metal organic framework (MOF)-based system loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), surface decorated with the photothermal agents indocyanine green (ICG) and polydopamine (PDA), and conjugated with transferrin (TF) was successfully designed to operate as a responsive system to pH changes, featuring photothermal capabilities and target specificity for the purpose of treating breast cancer. The synthesized nanoplatform benefits from its uniform size, excellent DOX encapsulation efficiency (91.66 %), and efficient pH/NIR-mediated controlled release of the drug. In vitro photothermal studies indicate excellent photothermal stability of the formulation even after 6 on-off cycles of NIR irradiation. The in vitro cytotoxicity assessment using an NIR laser (808 nm) revealed that the DOX-loaded functionalized UiO-66 nanocarriers had outstanding inhibitory effects on 4T1 cells because of synergistic chemo-photo therapies, with no substantial toxicity by the carriers. In addition, cellular uptake evaluations revealed that UiO-DOX-ICG@PDA-TF could specifically target 4T1 cells on the basis of receptor-mediated internalization of transferrin receptors. Additionally, in vivo toxicity studies in Wistar rats indicated no signs of significant toxicity. The UiO-based nanoformulations effectively inhibited and destroyed cancer cells under 808 nm laser irradiation because of their minimal toxicity, strong biocompatibility, and outstanding synergistic chemo/photothermal/photodynamic treatment.

Computational-Based Polyphenol Therapy for Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer: Naringin Coamorphous Systems for Solubility and Bioavailability Enhancement

In this research, we utilized molecular simulations to create co-amorphous materials (CAMs) of ceritinib (CRT) with the objective of improving its solubility and bioavailability. We identified naringin (NRG) as a suitable co-former for CRT CAMs based on binding energy and intermolecular interactions through computational modeling. We used the solvent evaporation method to produce CAMs of CRT and NRG, expecting to enhance both solubility and bioavailability simultaneously. The solid-state characterization using techniques like differential scanning calorimeter, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy affirmed the formation of a single amorphous phase and the presence of intermolecular interactions between CRT and NRG in the CAMs. These materials remained physically stable for up to six months under dry conditions at 40 °C. Moreover, the CAMs demonstrated significant improvements in the solubility and dissolution of CRT (specifically in the ratio CRT:NRG 1:2). This, in turn, led to an increase in cytotoxicity, apoptotic cells, and G0/G1 phase inhibition in A549 cells compared to CRT alone. Furthermore, CRT permeability is also improved twofold, as estimated by the everted gut sac method. The enhanced solubility of CAMs also positively affected the pharmacokinetic parameters. When compared to the physical mixture, the CAMs of CRT:NRG 2:1 exhibited a 2.1-fold increase in CRT exposure (AUC0-t) and a 2.4-fold increase in plasma concentration (Cmax).

Complexation of bovine lactoferrin with selected phenolic acids via noncovalent interactions: Binding mechanism and altered functionality

Noncovalent interactions of 4 selected phenolic acids, including gallic acid (GA), caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and rosmarinic acid (RA) with lactoferrin (LF) were investigated. Compound combined with LF in the binding constant of CA > GA > RA > CGA, driven by van der Waals and hydrogen bonding for GA, and hydrophobic forces for others. Conformation of LF was affected at secondary and ternary structure levels. Molecular docking indicated that GA and CA located in the same site near the iron of the C-lobe, whereas RA and CGA bound to the C2 and N-lobe, respectively. Significantly enhanced antioxidant activity of complexes was found compared with pure LF, as demonstrated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis(2-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) models. Caffeic acid, CGA, and RA significantly decreased the emulsifying stability index and improved foam ability of LF, and the effect of CA and RA was the most remarkable, respectively.

Research progress of protein complex systems and their application in food: A review

Among the common natural biomolecules, the excellent properties of proteins have attracted extensive attention from researchers for functional applications, however, in native form proteins have many limitations in the performance of their functional attribute. However, with the deepening of research, it has been found that the combination of natural active substances such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, etc. with protein molecules will make the composite system have stronger functional properties, while the utilization of pH-driven method, ultrasonic treatment, heat treatment, etc. not only provides a guarantee for the overall protein-based composite system, but also gives more possibilities to the protein-composite system. Protein composite systems are emerging in the fields of novel active packaging, functional factor delivery systems and gel systems with high medical value. The products of these protein composite systems usually have high functional properties, mainly due to the interaction of the remaining natural active substances with protein molecules, which can be broadly categorized into covalent interactions and non-covalent interactions, and which, despite the differences in these interactions, together constitute the cornerstone for the stability of protein composite systems and for in-depth research.

Wurster Technology-Assisted Step-by-Step Engineering of Multi-layered Pellets (Sprinkles): Microscopy, Micro-CT, and e-Tongue-Based Analysis

The advancement in the formulation and characterization techniques have paved the path for development of new as well as modification of existing dosage forms. The present work explores the role of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) as advanced characterization technique for multi-layered-coated pellets to ascertain the quality of coated pellets. The work further explored in-house e-tongue technique for understanding palatability of formulation in early stages of development thus by reducing clinical taste evaluation time. The developed multi-layered-coated pellets were characterized using microscopy (optical and electron microscopy). The obtained results demonstrated formation of spherical-shaped pellets with uniform coating. The uniform coating was further confirmed by results obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cross-sectional SEM analysis, which showed visible difference in pellet surface before and after multi-layered coating. The micro-CT results confirmed the visible demarcation of layers (drug and polymer, i.e., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and eudragit (EPO)) along with uniform thickness of various layering. The dissolution study of developed pellets suggested the role of layering EPO on drug release from pellets. The e-tongue analysis proved to be an excellent tool for early prediction of taste masking of drug via multi-layered pellets and can serve as potential platform for taste masking with high specificity. The overall results suggest the suitability of developed multi-layered platform as efficient dosage form (sprinkle) in pediatric/geriatric product development.

Nutraceutical and Health-Promoting Potential of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein in Human and Animal: Current Knowledge

Lactoferrin is a natural cationic iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family found in bovine milk and other exocrine secretions, including lacrimal fluid, saliva, and bile. Lactoferrin has been investigated for its numerous powerful influences, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-osteoporotic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and other beneficial health effects. Lactoferrin demonstrated several nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potentials and have a significant impact on improving the health of humans and animals. Lactoferrin plays a critical role in keeping the normal physiological homeostasis associated with the development of pathological disorders. The current review highlights the medicinal value, nutraceutical role, therapeutic application, and outstanding favorable health sides of lactoferrin, which would benefit from more exploration of this glycoprotein for the design of effective medicines, drugs, and pharmaceuticals for safeguarding different health issues in animals and humans.

Bioderived cellulose fibre-guar gum grafted poly (N, N'-dimethylacrylamide) polymer network for controlled release of metformin hydrochloride

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of areca cellulose and guar gum grafted with poly (N, N'-dimethylacrylamide) was made by microwave irradiation technique. N, N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) was used as the crosslinking agent. The network polymer was characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The chemical interaction between the drug and the polymer was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The swelling of the gel was measured under different pH conditions and the swelling parameters were evaluated. The gel was loaded with an anti-diabetic drug, Metformin Hydrochloride, and the in vitro drug release was studied in gastric and intestinal conditions. The results indicated complete release of the drug in 6 h under pH 1.2 and in 10 h under pH 7.4. The kinetic analysis of release data indicated the drug release to follow Higuchi's model. The release exponent "n" of Korsmeyer-Peppas model was found to be >0.45 indicating the drug diffusion to be a non-Fickian process.

Molecular docking and dynamics guided approach to identify potential anti-inflammatory molecules as NRF2 activator to protect against drug-induced liver injury (DILI): a computational study

Inflammation and oxidative stress can contribute to the etiology of metabolic and chronic illnesses. The ability to prevent oxidative stress induced diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others has been the subject of global research. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) pathogenesis can be either due to oxidative stress or inflammatory response elicited by the drug, its metabolite, or herbal supplements. Our present research uses computational studies to identify a molecule with anti-inflammatory properties that can operate as an NRF2 activator. Acquiring and preparing the KEAP1-NRF2 Protein (PDB: 4L7D) with Schrodinger Suite was followed by developing a ligand library (Anti-inflammatory library downloaded from ChemDiv database). Molecular docking studies were performed in HTVS, SP, and XP modes, respectively. Based on the docking score, interaction, ADMET and binding free energy, the top ten compounds were selected and subjected to induced-fit docking (IFD) analysis for further study. The top three molecules were chosen for a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. Using the Desmond module of the Schrodinger Suite, the stability of the protein-ligand complex and protein-ligand contact throughout 100ns were evaluated during the MD simulation study. In our study, it was observed that three compounds exhibit exceptional stability and retain the essential interaction throughout the studies, and it is anticipated that these compounds may act as effective NRF2 activators. Further in vitro and in vivo assessments can be conducted to determine its potential to prevent DILI via acting as an NRF2 activator for future drug development.

Antibacterial, Anti-Biofilm and Pro-Migratory Effects of Double Layered Hydrogels Packaged with Lactoferrin-DsiRNA-Silver Nanoparticles for Chronic Wound Therapy

Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation in diabetic foot infections worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in more severe infections and increased amputations. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a dressing that could effectively aid in the wound healing process and prevent bacterial infections by exerting both antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and lactoferrin (LTF) have been investigated as alternative antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents, respectively, while dicer-substrate short interfering RNA (DsiRNA) has also been studied for its wound healing effect in diabetic wounds. In this study, AgNPs were complexed with LTF and DsiRNA via simple complexation before packaging in gelatin hydrogels. The formed hydrogels exhibited 1668% maximum swellability, with a 46.67 ± 10.33 µm average pore size. The hydrogels demonstrated positive antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects toward the selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hydrogel containing AgLTF at 125 µg/mL was also non-cytotoxic on HaCaT cells for up to 72 h of incubation. The hydrogels containing DsiRNA and LTF demonstrated superior pro-migratory effects compared to the control group. In conclusion, the AgLTF-DsiRNA-loaded hydrogel possessed antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and pro-migratory activities. These findings provide a further understanding and knowledge on forming multipronged AgNPs consisting of DsiRNA and LTF for chronic wound therapy.

How can machine learning and multiscale modeling benefit ocular drug development?

The eyes possess sophisticated physiological structures, diverse disease targets, limited drug delivery space, distinctive barriers, and complicated biomechanical processes, requiring a more in-depth understanding of the interactions between drug delivery systems and biological systems for ocular formulation development. However, the tiny size of the eyes makes sampling difficult and invasive studies costly and ethically constrained. Developing ocular formulations following conventional trial-and-error formulation and manufacturing process screening procedures is inefficient. Along with the popularity of computational pharmaceutics, non-invasive in silico modeling & simulation offer new opportunities for the paradigm shift of ocular formulation development. The current work first systematically reviews the theoretical underpinnings, advanced applications, and unique advantages of data-driven machine learning and multiscale simulation approaches represented by molecular simulation, mathematical modeling, and pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling for ocular drug development. Following this, a new computer-driven framework for rational pharmaceutical formulation design is proposed, inspired by the potential of in silico explorations in understanding drug delivery details and facilitating drug formulation design. Lastly, to promote the paradigm shift, integrated in silico methodologies were highlighted, and discussions on data challenges, model practicality, personalized modeling, regulatory science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and talent training were conducted in detail with a view to achieving more efficient objective-oriented pharmaceutical formulation design.

Molecular docking and dynamics supported investigation of antiviral activity of Lichen metabolites of Roccella montagnei: an in silico and in vitro study

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that have been traditionally used for treating different kinds of ailments. As there are only a few reports on the antiviral activity of lichens, we thought of evaluating the anti-Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) activity of methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei and their isolated compounds. Fractionation of crude methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei by column chromatography isolated two pure compounds. Antiviral activity was assessed using a CPE inhibition assay at non-cytotoxic concentrations on Vero cells. Molecular docking and dynamics studies were carried out against Herpes simplex type-1 thymidine kinase to understand the binding interactions of the isolated compounds with reference to acyclovir. Isolated compounds were characterized as methyl orsellinate and montagnetol by spectral methods. Methanolic extract of Roccella montagnei exhibited an EC50 value of 56.51 µg/ml, while the compounds methyl orsellinate and montagnetol offered EC50 values of 13.50 µg/ml and 37.52 µg/ml, respectively, against HSV-1 viral infection on Vero cell lines. The selectively index (SI) of montagnetol (10.93) was found to be higher when compared to that of methyl orsellinate (5.55), indicating its better anti-HSV-1 activity. The docking and dynamics studies showed montagnetol was stable throughout the 100 ns, having better interactions and docking scores with HSV-1 thymidine kinase than methyl orsellinate, as well as the standard. To understand the mechanism of montagnetol's anti-HSV-1 activity, more research is required, and this could lead to the discovery of new and effective antiviral agents.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Research Progress on Process-Intensified Water Treatment Applications

Process intensification (PI) is aimed towards essentially smaller, cleaner, safer, energy-efficient sustainable technologies involving the application of a number of strategies, including reducing the number of devices, miniaturization, process integration, improving mass and heat transfer, novel energy and separation techniques and combined optimization and control methodologies. Over the recent years, PI has attracted attention in the domain of aqueous medium adsorptive separations and wastewater treatment as well. Thus far, a limited number of investigations have appeared in the literature; in addition, there is yet a lack of published methods to follow the intensified solutions for processes in wastewater treatment. In this connection, this article aims to present an overview of the recent applications and advances in process-intensified decolorization of dyes; removal of aromatic hydrocarbons from wastewaters; and recovery of proteins, heavy metals and rare earth elements from aqueous media. Selected applications have been identified in terms of the PI techniques, and the corresponding process improvements have been discussed for a variety of examples with the aim of contributing to the future progress of applications. It has been confirmed that considerable process improvements could be possible, such as intensified process efficiency, improved adsorption and separation performance, and minimized sorbent requirement and processing time. Even though there have been considerable developments in the field, there is still a need for further developments for the enhancement of the technologies in adsorption wastewater treatment using a systems approach.

Molecular docking and dynamics approach to in silico drug repurposing for inflammatory bowels disease by targeting TNF alpha

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disorder of the large intestine with the prevalence of approximately 400 cases in 100000, and it is rising day by day. However, several drugs like sulfasalazine (composed of sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid or 5-ASA), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants manage the disease. But there are no absolute treatments for the pain and inflammation of the disease. TNFα is an important target, and drugs like infliximab and adalimumab have pharmacological potency but with pronounced toxicity. So, we choose this major target TNFα for the virtual screening of US-FDA-approved drugs for its repurposing using the in silico method. The protein TNFα (PDB ID: 2AZ5) with small molecule inhibitor and the US-FDA-approved drug molecules (from Zinc database) were first imported and prepared using Protein Preparation Wizard and LigPrep, respectively, followed by molecular docking, ADMET analysis and prime MMGBSA. After that, the drugs were shortlisted according to dock score, ADMET parameters and MM GBSA dG binding score. After that, the shortlisted drug molecules were subjected to an induced-fit docking analysis. Two of the most promising molecules, ZINC000003830957 (Iopromide) and ZINC000003830635 (Deferoxamine), were chosen for molecular dynamics simulation. Finally, the bioisosteric replacement was used to improve the ADMET properties of these molecules. This research provides an idea for drug exploration and computational tools for drug discovery in treating inflammatory bowel disease.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Establishment and Characterization of Stable Zein/Glycosylated Lactoferrin Nanoparticles to Enhance the Storage Stability and in vitro Bioaccessibility of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone

In this work, the lactoferrin (LF) was glycosylated by dextran (molecular weight 10, 40, and 70 kDa, LF 10K, LF 40K, and LF 70K) via Maillard reaction as a stabilizer to establish zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles and encapsulate 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF). Three zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles (79.27–87.24 nm) with low turbidity (<0.220) and polydispersity index (PDI) (<0.230) were successfully established by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Compared with zein/LF nanoparticles, zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles further increased stability to ionic strength (0–500 mM NaCl) at low pH conditions. Zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles had nanoscale spherical shape and glycosylated LF changed surface morphology of zein nanoparticles. Besides, encapsulated 7,8-DHF exhibited an amorphous state inside zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles. Most importantly, zein/glycosylated LF nanoparticles had good water redispersibility, high encapsulation efficiency (above 98.50%), favorable storage stability, and bioaccessibility for 7,8-DHF, particularly LF 40K. Collectively, the above research provides a theoretical reference for the application of zein-based delivery systems.