Recent advances and prospects in gemcitabine drug delivery systems

Chitosan-PLGA mucoadhesive nanoparticles for gemcitabine repurposing for glioblastoma therapy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly deadly brain tumor that does not respond satisfactorily to conventional treatment. The non-alkylating agent gemcitabine (GEM) has been proposed for treating GBM. It can overcome MGMT protein-mediated resistance, a major limitation of conventional therapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ). However, GEM's high systemic toxicity and poor permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) pose significant challenges for its delivery to the brain. Thus, mucoadhesive poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with chitosan (CH), suitable for intranasal GEM delivery, were proposed in this work. A central composite design (CCD) was implemented for NPs optimization, and NPs with appropriate characteristics for intranasal administration were obtained. in vitro studies revealed that the NPs possess excellent mucoadhesive properties and the ability to selectively release GEM in the simulated tumor tissue environment. in vitro studies using two human GBM cell lines (U215 and T98G) revealed the NPs' ability to promote GEM's antiproliferative activity to sensitize cells to the effect of TMZ. The findings of this work demonstrate that the developed CH-GEM-NPs are suitable delivery systems for GEM, both as a single therapy and as a chemosensitizer to the GBM gold standard therapy.

Nanotechnology in medicine revolutionizing drug delivery for cancer and viral infection treatments

Advancements in nanotechnology were vastly applied in medicine and pharmacy, especially in the field of nano-delivery systems. It took a long time for these systems to ensure precise delivery of very delicate molecules, such as RNA, to cells at concentrations that yield remarkable efficiency, with success rates reaching 95.0% and 94.5%. These days, there are several advantages to using nanotechnological solutions in the prevention and treatment of cancer and viral infections. Its interventions improve treatment outcomes both due to the increased effectiveness of the drug at the target location and by reducing adverse reactions, thereby increasing patient adherence to the therapy. Based on the current knowledge an updated review was made, and the perspective, opportunities and challenges in nanomedicine were discussed. The methods employed include comprehensive examination of existing literature and studies on nanoparticles and nano-delivery systems including both in vitro tests performed on cell cultures and in vivo assessments carried out on appropriate animal models, with a specific emphasis on their applications in oncology and virology. This brings together various aspects including both structure and formation as well as its association with characteristic behaviour in organisms, providing a novel perspective. Furthermore, the practical application of these systems in medicine and pharmacy with a focus on viral diseases and malignancies was explored. This review can serve as a valuable guide for fellow researchers, helping them navigate the abundance of findings in this field. The results indicate that applications of nanotechnological solutions for the delivery of medicinal products improving therapeutic outcomes will continue to expand.

Amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles decorated by silver nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin in breast and cervical cancer cells

Nanocarriers have demonstrated promising potential in the delivery of various anticancer drugs and in improving the efficiency of the treatment. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green-synthesized using the extracts of different parts of the pomegranate plant, including the peel, flower petals, and calyx. To obtain the most efficient extract used for the green synthesis of AgNPs, all three types of synthesized nanoparticles were characterized. Then, (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs-APTES) decorated with AgNPs were fabricated via a one-pot green-synthesis method. AgNPs were directly coated on the surface of MSNs-APTES by adding pomegranate extract enriched with a source of reducing agent leading to converting the silver ion to AgNPs. The MSN-APTES-AgNPs (MSNs-AgNPs) have been thoroughly characterized using nanoparticle characterization techniques. In addition, DNA cleavage and hemolysis activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed, confirming the biocompatibility of synthesized nanoparticles. The Doxorubicin (DOX, as a breast/cervical anti-cancer drug) loading (42.8%) and release profiles were investigated via UV-visible spectroscopy. The fibroblast, breast cancer, and cervical cancer cells' viability against DOX-loaded nanoparticles were also studied. The results of this high drug loading, uniform shape, and small functionalized nanoparticles demonstrated its great potential for breast and cervical cancer management.

Gemcitabine-Phospholipid Complex Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles for Improving Drug Loading, Stability, and Efficacy against Pancreatic Cancer

This study aims to encapsulate gemcitabine (GEM) using a phospholipid complex (PLC) in lipid nanoparticles (NPs) to achieve several desirable outcomes, including high drug loading, uniform particle size, improved therapeutic efficacy, and reduced toxicities. The successful preparation of GEM-loaded lipid NPs (GEM-NPs) was accomplished using the emulsification-solidification method, following optimization through Box-Behnken design. The size of the GEM-NP was 138.5 ± 6.7 nm, with a low polydispersity index of 0.282 ± 0.078, as measured by a zetasizer and confirmed by transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. GEM-NPs demonstrated sustained release behavior, surpassing the performance of the free GEM and phospholipid complex. Moreover, GEM-NPs exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell uptake in Panc-2 and Mia PaCa cells compared to the free GEM. The in vivo pharmacokinetics revealed approximately 4-fold higher bioavailability of GEM-NPs in comparison with free GEM. Additionally, the pharmacodynamic evaluation conducted in a DMBA-induced pancreatic cancer model, involving histological examination, serum IL-6 level estimation, and expression of cleaved caspase-3, showed the potential of GEM-NPs in the management of pancreatic cancer. Consequently, the lipid NP-based approach developed in our investigation demonstrates high stability and uniformity and holds promise for enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of GEM.

Ganoderma lucidum spores-derived particulate β-glucan treatment improves antitumor response by regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in triple-negative breast cancer

Granular β-1,3-glucan extracted from the wall of Ganoderma lucidum spores, named GPG, is a bioregulator. In this study, we investigated the structural, thermal, and other physical properties of GPG. We determined whether GPG ameliorated immunosuppression caused by Gemcitabine (GEM) chemotherapy. Triple-negative breast cancer mice with GPG combined with GEM treatment had reduced tumor burdens. In addition, GEM treatment alone altered the tumor microenvironment(TME), including a reduction in antitumor T cells and a rise in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, combined GPG treatment reversed the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment induced by GEM. GPG inhibited bone marrow (BM)-derived MDSC differentiation and reversed MDSC expansion induced by conditioned medium (CM) in GEM-treated E0771 cells through a Dectin-1 pathway. In addition, GPG downgraded PD-L1 and IDO1 expression on MDSC while boosting MHC-II, CD86, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that GPG could alleviate the adverse effects induced by GEM chemotherapy by regulating TME.

Emulation and evaluation of tumor cell combined chemotherapy in isotropic/anisotropic collagen fiber microenvironments

The rapid emergence of anisotropic collagen fibers in the tissue microenvironment is a critical transition point in late-stage breast cancer. Specifically, the fiber orientation facilitates the likelihood of high-speed tumor cell invasion and metastasis, which pose lethal threats to patients. Thus, based on this transition point, one key issue is how to determine and evaluate efficient combination chemotherapy treatments in late-stage cancer. In this study, we designed a collagen microarray chip containing 241 high-throughput microchambers with embedded metastatic breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231-RFP. By utilizing collagen's unique structure and hydromechanical properties, the chip constructed three-dimensional isotropic and anisotropic collagen fiber structures to emulate the tumor cell microenvironment at early and late stages. We injected different chemotherapeutic drugs into its four channels and obtained composite biochemical concentration profiles. Our results demonstrate that anisotropic collagen fibers promote cell proliferation and migration more than isotropic collagen fibers, suggesting that the geometric arrangement of fibers plays an important role in regulating cell behavior. Moreover, the presence of anisotropic collagen fibers may be a potential factor leading to the poor efficacy of combined chemotherapy in late-stage breast cancer. We investigated the efficacy of various chemotherapy drugs using cell proliferation inhibitors paclitaxel and gemcitabine and tumor cell migration inhibitors 7rh and PP2. To ensure the validity of our findings, we followed a systematic approach that involved testing the inhibitory effects of these drugs. According to our results, the drug combinations' effectiveness could be ordered as follows: paclitaxel + gemcitabine > gemcitabine + 7rh > PP2 + paclitaxel > 7rh + PP2. This study shows that the biomimetic chip system not only facilitates the creation of a realistic in vitro model for examining the cell migration mechanism in late-stage breast cancer but also has the potential to function as an effective tool for future chemotherapy assessment and personalized medicine.

Selenization of Small Molecule Drugs: A New Player on the Board

There is an urgent need to develop safer and more effective modalities for the treatment of a wide range of pathologies due to the increasing rates of drug resistance, undesired side effects, poor clinical outcomes, etc. Throughout the years, selenium (Se) has attracted a great deal of attention due to its important role in human health. Besides, a growing body of work has unveiled that the inclusion of Se motifs into a great number of molecules is a promising strategy for obtaining novel therapeutic agents. In the current Perspective, we have gathered the most recent literature related to the incorporation of different Se moieties into the scaffolds of a wide range of known drugs and their feasible pharmaceutical applications. In addition, we highlight different representative examples as well as provide our perspective on Se drugs and the possible future directions, promises, opportunities, and challenges of this ground-breaking area of research.

Targeted Delivery of Gemcitabine for Precision Therapy of Cholangiocarcinoma Using Hyaluronic Acid-Modified Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles

Chemotherapy is widely recognized as an important approach for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Gemcitabine (GEM) has been considered a first-line drug for treating cholangiocarcinoma due to its ability to effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells. However, the systemic toxicity, premature degradation, and lack of tumor-targeting properties of GEM limit its application in cholangiocarcinoma chemotherapy. Additionally, precise targeted delivery of GEM is necessary to align with the current concept of precision medicine. In this study, considering the overexpression of hyaluronic acid (HA) receptors (CD44) on cholangiocarcinoma cells, we designed GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs by loading GEM onto ZIF-67 and modifying its surface with HA. The structure, size, morphology, and elemental composition of GEM@ZIF-67-HA were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ζ-potential, and isothermal adsorption. Cell toxicity experiments demonstrated that GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs not only reduced cytotoxicity to normal cells but also effectively inhibited the viability of two types of cholangiocarcinoma tumor cells. In a subcutaneous tumor model, GEM@ZIF-67-HA significantly suppressed tumor growth. The tumor-targeting and controllable properties of GEM@ZIF-67-HA NPs hold promise for further development in the strategy of precise targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma.

Comprehensive analysis of disulfidptosis-related genes: a prognosis model construction and tumor microenvironment characterization in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Disulfidptosis, a form of cell death induced by abnormal intracellular accumulation of disulfides, is a newly recognized variety of cell death. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a usual urological tumor that poses serious health risks. There are few studies of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in ccRCC so far.

METHODS

The expression, transcriptional variants, and prognostic role of DRGs were assessed. Based on DRGs, consensus unsupervised clustering analysis was performed to stratify ccRCC patients into various subtypes and constructed a DRG risk scoring model. Patients were stratified into high or low-risk groups by this model. We focused on assessing the discrepancy in prognosis, TME, chemotherapeutic susceptibility, and landscape of immune between the two risk groups. Finally, we validated the expression and explored the biological function of the risk scoring gene FLRT3 through in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The different subtypes had significantly different gene expression, immune, and prognostic landscapes. In the two risk groups, the high-risk group had higher TME scores, more significant immune cell infiltration, and a higher probability of benefiting from immunotherapy, but had a worse prognosis. There were also remarkable differences in chemotherapeutic susceptibility between the two risk groups. In ccRCC cells, the expression of FLRT3 was shown to be lower and its overexpression caused a decrease in cell proliferation and metastatic capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Starting from disulfidptosis, we established a new risk scoring model which can provide new ideas for doctors to forecast patient survival and determine clinical treatment plans.

Gemcitabine-Vitamin E Prodrug-Loaded Micelles for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive cancer subtype presenting unmet clinical challenges. Conventional chemotherapy, which includes antimetabolite gemcitabine (GEM), is seriously undermined by a short half-life, its lack of targeting ability, and systemic toxicity. GEM incorporation in self-assembled nanosystems is still underexplored due to GEM's hydrophilicity which hinders efficient encapsulation. We hypothesized that vitamin E succinate-GEM prodrug (VES-GEM conjugate) combines hydrophobicity and multifunctionalities that can facilitate the development of Pluronic® F68 and Pluronic® F127 micelle-based nanocarriers, improving the therapeutic potential of GEM. Pluronic® F68/VES-GEM and Pluronic® F127/VES-GEM micelles covering a wide range of molar ratios were prepared by solvent evaporation applying different purification methods, and characterized regarding size, charge, polydispersity index, morphology, and encapsulation. Moreover, the effect of sonication and ultrasonication and the influence of a co-surfactant were explored together with drug release, stability, blood compatibility, efficacy against tumour cells, and cell uptake. The VES-GEM conjugate-loaded micelles showed acceptable size and high encapsulation efficiency (>95%) following an excipient reduction rationale. Pluronic® F127/VES-GEM micelles evidenced a superior VES-GEM release profile (cumulative release > 50%, pH = 7.4), stability, cell growth inhibition (<50% cell viability for 100 µM VES-GEM), blood compatibility, and extensive cell internalization, and therefore represent a promising approach to leveraging the efficacy and safety of GEM for PC-targeted therapies.

Screening for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Sri Lankan marine sponges through microfractionation: Isolation of bromopyrrole alkaloids from Stylissa massa

Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the richest geographical locations of marine sponges in the Indian ocean. However, the most extensive taxonomical study on Sri Lankan sponge biodiversity dates back ~100 years and only a limited number of studies have been conducted on sponge natural products. In the current study, 35 marine sponge specimens (collected from 16 sponge habitats around Sri Lanka) were identified, microfractionated and evaluated for antibacterial and anticancer assays. In total, 30 species were characterized, of which 19 species gave extracts with antibacterial and/or cytotoxic activities. Microfractionated organic extract of Aciculites orientalis gave the most potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and strongest lymphoma cell toxicity was exhibited by the organic extract of Acanthella sp. Guided by the molecular ion peaks in the bioactive fractions, large-scale extraction of Stylissa massa led to the isolation of three bromopyrrole alkaloids, sceptrin, hymenin and manzacidin A/C. Of these, sceptrin exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and S. aureus (MIC of 62.5 μM against both species). Based on natural product literature, seven promising species were identified as understudied. Their further exploration may lead to the discovery of structurally novel compounds.

JNTX-101, a novel albumin-encapsulated gemcitabine prodrug, is efficacious and operates via caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis

Albumin is an attractive candidate carrier for the development of novel therapeutic drugs. Gemcitabine has been FDA approved for the treatment of solid tumors; however, new drugs that optimize gemcitabine delivery are not available for clinical use. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a novel albumin-encapsulated gemcitabine prodrug, JNTX-101, and investigate whether Cav-1 expression predicts the therapeutic efficacy of JNTX-101. We first determined the treatment efficacy of JNTX-101 in a panel of pancreatic/lung cancer cell lines and found that increases in Cav-1 expression resulted in higher uptake of albumin, while Cav-1 depletion attenuated the sensitivity of cells to JNTX-101. In addition, decreased Cav-1 expression markedly reduced JNTX-101-induced apoptotic cell death in a panel of cells, particularly in low-serum conditions. Furthermore, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of JNTX-101 in xenograft models and the role of Cav-1 in JNTX-101 sensitivity using a Tet-on-inducible tumor model in vivo. Our data suggest that JNTX-101 effectively inhibits cell viability and tumor growth, and that Cav-1 expression dictates optimal sensitivity to JNTX-101. These data indicate that Cav-1 correlates with JNTX-101 sensitivity, especially under nutrient-deprived conditions, and supports a role for Cav-1 as a predictive biomarker for albumin-encapsulated therapeutics such as JNTX-101.

Multi-stimuli-responsive chitosan-functionalized magnetite/poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles as theranostic platforms for combined tumor magnetic resonance imaging and chemotherapy

Chitosan-functionalized magnetite/poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles were formulated by interfacial polymer disposition plus coacervation, and loaded with gemcitabine. That (core/shell)/shell nanostructure was confirmed by electron microscopy, elemental analysis, electrophoretic, and Fourier transform infrared characterizations. A short-term stability study proved the protection against particle aggregation provided by the chitosan shell. Superparamagnetic properties of the nanoparticles were characterized in vitro, while the definition of the longitudinal and transverse relaxivities was an initial indication of their capacity as T2 contrast agents. Safety of the particles was demonstrated in vitro on HFF-1 human fibroblasts, and ex vivo on SCID mice. The nanoparticles demonstrated in vitro pH- and heat-responsive gemcitabine release capabilities. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies and Prussian blue visualization of iron deposits in tissue samples defined the improvement in nanoparticle targeting into the tumor when using a magnetic field. This tri-stimuli (magnetite/poly(ε-caprolactone))/chitosan nanostructure could find theranostic applications (biomedical imaging & chemotherapy) against tumors.

PTEN deficiency facilitates gemcitabine efficacy in cancer by modulating the phosphorylation of PP2Ac and DCK

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that has been successfully used in the treatment of multiple cancers. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance reduces the chemotherapeutic potential of gemcitabine. Here, we revealed a previously unappreciated mechanism by which phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers, dominates the decision-making process that is central to the regulation of gemcitabine efficacy in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). By investigating a gemcitabine-treated CCA cohort, we found that PTEN deficiency was correlated with the improved efficacy of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Using cell-based drug sensitivity assays, cell line-derived xenograft, and patient-derived xenograft models, we further confirmed that PTEN deficiency or genetic-engineering down-regulation of PTEN facilitated gemcitabine efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PTEN directly binds to and dephosphorylates the C terminus of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac) to increase its enzymatic activity, which further dephosphorylates deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) at Ser⁷⁴ to diminish gemcitabine efficacy. Therefore, PTEN deficiency and high phosphorylation of DCK predict a better response to gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in CCA. We speculate that the combination of PP2A inhibitor and gemcitabine in PTEN-positive tumors could avoid the resistance of gemcitabine, which would benefit a large population of patients with cancer receiving gemcitabine or other nucleoside analogs.

Design of the New Closo-Dodecarborate-Containing Gemcitabine Analogue for the Albumin-Based Theranostics Composition

Combination therapy is becoming an increasingly important treatment strategy because multi-drugs can maximize therapeutic effect and overcome potential mechanisms of drug resistance. A new albumin-based theranostic containing gemcitabine closo-dodecaborate analogue has been developed for combining boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and chemotheraphy. An exo-heterocyclic amino group of gemcitabine was used to introduce closo-dodecaborate, and a 5′-hydroxy group was used to tether maleimide moiety through an acid-labile phosphamide linker. The N-trifluoroacylated homocysteine thiolactone was used to attach the gemcitabine analogue to human serum albumin (HSA) bearing Cy5 or Cy7 fluorescent dyes. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the designed theranostic relative to T98G cells was 0.47 mM with the correlation coefficient R = 0.82. BNCT experiments resulted in a decrease in the viability of T98G cells, and the survival fraction was ≈ 0.4.

Construction of lipid raft-coupled agarose gels as bioaffinity chromatography materials and validation with tropomyosin-related kinase A-targeted drugs

In order to improve the separation process of affinity chromatography that has silica as the main carrier material, we sought to construct Lipid Rafts@CNBr-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography model. We extracted the lipid rafts from U251 cells with a descaler method and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Afterwards, it was discovered via immunofluorescence that the lipid rafts contain a large amount of tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) protein. Also, agarose powder in the lyophilised state was pretreated, before the lipid rafts were coupled to the agarose gel in a coupling buffer of alkaline pH. CNBr-Sepharose 4B affinity gel packing was characterised using UV spectrophotometric, immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopic techniques, wherein and the results showed that the lipid rafts were successfully coupled to the agarose gels. Three compounds were used to verify the specific sorption of Sepharose 4B and CNBr-Sepharose 4B, which showed no specific sorption on the materials. Of note, the prepared Lipid Rafts@CNBr-Sepharose 4B agarose gels packed with TrkA-rich target proteins could be successfully validated for the active drug gefitinib with high affinity sorption efficiency and eluted with good recovery and reproducibility. This study broadens the range of affinity chromatography carrier materials and provides a reference for research in active drug screening.

Nitrogen Containing Heterocycles as Anticancer Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective

Cancer is one of the major healthcare challenges across the globe. Several anticancer drugs are available on the market but they either lack specificity or have poor safety, severe side effects, and suffer from resistance. So, there is a dire need to develop safer and target-specific anticancer drugs. More than 85% of all physiologically active pharmaceuticals are heterocycles or contain at least one heteroatom. Nitrogen heterocycles constituting the most common heterocyclic framework. In this study, we have compiled the FDA approved heterocyclic drugs with nitrogen atoms and their pharmacological properties. Moreover, we have reported nitrogen containing heterocycles, including pyrimidine, quinolone, carbazole, pyridine, imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole, β-lactam, indole, pyrazole, quinazoline, quinoxaline, isatin, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines, and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, which are used in the treatment of different types of cancer, concurrently covering the biochemical mechanisms of action and cellular targets.

Recent Advances in Well-Designed Therapeutic Nanosystems for the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Treatment Dilemma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant tumor with an extremely poor prognosis and low survival rate. Due to its inconspicuous symptoms, PDAC is difficult to diagnose early. Most patients are diagnosed in the middle and late stages, losing the opportunity for surgery. Chemotherapy is the main treatment in clinical practice and improves the survival of patients to some extent. However, the improved prognosis is associated with higher side effects, and the overall prognosis is far from satisfactory. In addition to resistance to chemotherapy, PDAC is significantly resistant to targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The failure of multiple treatment modalities indicates great dilemmas in treating PDAC, including high molecular heterogeneity, high drug resistance, an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and a dense matrix. Nanomedicine shows great potential to overcome the therapeutic barriers of PDAC. Through the careful design and rational modification of nanomaterials, multifunctional intelligent nanosystems can be obtained. These nanosystems can adapt to the environment's needs and compensate for conventional treatments' shortcomings. This review is focused on recent advances in the use of well-designed nanosystems in different therapeutic modalities to overcome the PDAC treatment dilemma, including a variety of novel therapeutic modalities. Finally, these nanosystems' bottlenecks in treating PDAC and the prospect of future clinical translation are briefly discussed.

A biomimetic nanodrug for enhanced chemotherapy of pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains to be one of the highest malignant tumors due to its poor chemotherapeutic efficacy and multidrug resistance. A major reason for the failure in chemotherapy is poor drug accumulation into PDAC tumor tissues due to the overexpressed extracellular matrix (ECM) stroma, which forms a major obstacle limiting the deep tissue penetration of chemotherapeutics. Herein, we report a tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive nanodrug, based on PDAC cell membrane-coated gold nanocages (AuNCs), to co-deliver the chemotherapeutics (GEM) and nitrogen oxide (NO) donor (L-Arg) to enhance drug accumulation and reduce chemoresistance. The high glutathione (GSH) level can trigger the cleavage of the disulfide bond on nanodrug to release GEM. Moreover, the elevated ROS level could activate L-Arg to generate NO, which synergistically facilitate GEM to penetrate into deep tissues by means of vasodilation and normalization of blood vessels in the PDAC tumor tissue. In addition, AuNCs not only serve as a photothermal agent for chemotherapy, but also generate photoacoustic signals to monitor drug accumulation and distribution. As expected, the strategy demonstrates to be remarkable in treating different xenograft mice models, especially in orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. The current study defines a useful therapeutic tool for treating PDAC tumors.

Oridonin Induces Apoptosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting Cytoskeletal Protein LASP1 and PDLIM1

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a severe malignancy for its high mortality and poor prognosis. Mainstay chemotherapies cause serious side effects for their ways of inducing cell death. Oridonin is the main bioactive constituent from natural plants that has anticancer ability and weak side effects. The proteomics method is efficient to understand the anticancer mechanism. However, proteins identified by proteomics aimed at understanding oridonin's anticancer mechanism is seldom overlapped by different groups. This study used proteomics based on two-dimensional electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE SDS-PAGE) integrated with mass spectrometry and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to understand the anticancer mechanism of oridonin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The results showed that oridonin induced ESCC cell death via apoptosis by decreasing the protein expression of LASP1 and PDLIM1.

The Progress of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Intravesical Bladder Cancer Treatment

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequently occurring cancer of the urinary system, with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) accounting for 75-85% of all the bladder cancers. Patients with NMIBC have a good survival rate but are at high risk for tumor recurrence and disease progression. Intravesical instillation of antitumor agents is the standard treatment for NMIBC following transurethral resection of bladder tumors. Chemotherapeutic drugs are broadly employed for bladder cancer treatment, but have limited efficacy due to chemo-resistance and systemic toxicity. Additionally, the periodic voiding of bladder and low permeability of the bladder urothelium impair the retention of drugs, resulting in a weak antitumoral response. Chitosan is a non-toxic and biocompatible polymer which enables better penetration of specific drugs to the deeper cell layers of the bladder as a consequence of temporarily abolishing the barrier function of urothelium, thus offering multifaceted biomedical applications in urinary bladder epithelial. Nowadays, the rapid development of nanoparticles significantly improves the tumor therapy with enhanced drug transport. This review presents an overview on the state of chitosan-based nanoparticles in the field of intravesical bladder cancer treatment.

Coacervate-mediated novel pancreatic cancer drug Aleuria Aurantia lectin delivery for augmented anticancer therapy

Background

Pancreatic cancer, one of the cancers with the highest mortality rate, has very limited clinical treatment. Cancer cells express abnormal glycans on the surface, and some lectins with a high affinity for the glycans induce apoptosis in cancer. In this study, the efficacy of Aleuria Aurantia lectin (AAL) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer was evaluated and the efficacy improvement through AAL delivery with mPEGylated coacervate (mPEG-Coa) was investigated.

Methods

AAL was treated with pancreatic cancer cells, PANC-1, and the expression level of caspase-3 and subsequent apoptosis was analyzed. In particular, the anticancer efficacy of AAL was compared with that of concanavalin A, one of the representative anticancer lectins. Then, methoxypolyethylene glycol-poly(ethylene arginylaspartate diglyceride), a polycation, was synthesized, and an mPEG-Coa complex was prepared with polyanion heparin. The AAL was incorporated into the mPEG-Coa and the release kinetics of the AAL from the mPEG-Coa and the cargo protection capacity of the mPEG-Coa were evaluated. Finally, improved anticancer ability through Coa-mediated AAL delivery was assessed.

Results

These results indicated that AAL is a potential effective pancreatic cancer treatment. Moreover, mPEG-Coa rapidly released AAL at pH 6.5, an acidic condition in the cancer microenvironment. The initial rapid release of AAL effectively suppressed pancreatic cancer cells, and the continuous supply of AAL through the Coa transporter effectively inhibited proliferation recurrence of cancer cells.

Conclusion

AAL is a potential novel drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer therapeutic agent. In addition, a continuous supply of drugs above the therapeutic threshold using mPEG-Coa could improve therapeutic efficacy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40824-022-00282-6.

Biodegradable gemcitabine-loaded microdevice with sustained local drug delivery and improved tumor recurrence inhibition abilities for postoperative pancreatic tumor treatment

At present, the 10-year survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer is still less than 4%, mainly due to the high cancer recurrence rate caused by incomplete surgery and lack of effective postoperative adjuvant treatment. Systemic chemotherapy remains the only choice for patients after surgery; however, it is accompanied by off-target effects and server systemic toxicity. Herein, we proposed a biodegradable microdevice for local sustained drug delivery and postoperative pancreatic cancer treatment as an alternative and safe option. Biodegradable poly(l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (P(L)LGA) was developed as the matrix material, gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM·HCl) was chosen as the therapeutic drug and polyethylene glycol (PEG) was employed as the drug release-controlled regulator. Through adjusting the amount and molecular weight of PEG, the controllable degradation of matrix and the sustained release of GEM·HCl were obtained, thus overcoming the unstable drug release properties of traditional microdevices. The drug release mechanism of microdevice and the regulating action of PEG were studied in detail. More importantly, in the treatment of the postoperative recurrence model of subcutaneous pancreatic tumor in mice, the microdevice showed effective inhibition of postoperative in situ recurrences of pancreatic tumors with excellent biosafety and minimum systemic toxicity. The microdevice developed in this study provides an option for postoperative adjuvant pancreatic treatment, and greatly broadens the application prospects of traditional chemotherapy drugs.

Development and Characterization of PEGDA Microneedles for Localized Drug Delivery of Gemcitabine to Treat Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is one of the most belligerent types of breast cancer. While various modalities exist in managing/treating IBC, drug delivery using microneedles (MNs) is considered to be the most innovative method of localized delivery of anti-cancer agents. Localized drug delivery helps to treat IBC could limit their adverse reactions. MNs are nothing but small needle like structures that cause little or no pain at the site of administration for drug delivery via layers of the skin. The polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) based MNs were fabricated by using three dimensional (3D) technology called Projection Micro-Stereo Lithography (PµSL). The fabricated microneedle patches (MNPs) were characterized and coated with a coating formulation comprising of gemcitabine and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose by a novel and inventive screen plate method. The drug coated MNPs were characterized by various instrumental methods of analysis and release profile studies were carried out using Franz diffusion cell. Coat-and-poke strategy was employed in administering the drug coated MNPs. Overall, the methods employed in the present study not only help in obtaining MNPs with accurate dimensions but also help in obtaining uniformly drug coated MNPs of gemcitabine for treatment of IBC. Most importantly, 100% drug release was achieved within the first one hour only.

Palladium-catalyzed difluoroalkylative carbonylation of styrenes toward difluoropentanedioates

The introduction of fluorine atoms into organic molecules is an attractive but challenging topic. In this work, an interesting palladium-catalyzed difluoroalkylative carbonylation of aryl olefins has been developed. A wide range of aryl olefins were transformed into the corresponding difluoropentanedioate compounds with good functional-group tolerance and excellent regioselectivity. Inexpensive ethyl bromodifluoroacetate acts both as a difluoroalkyl precursor and a nucleophile here. Additionally, a scale-up reaction was also performed successfully, and further transformations of the obtained product were shown as well.

Gemcitabine-Loaded Nanocarrier of Essential Oil from Pulicaria crispa: Preparation, Optimization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Anticancer Activity

The limitations of gemcitabine (GEM) in cancer therapy are due to its poor pharmacokinetics, which cause undesired adverse effects. The current study was aimed at investigating the anticancer effect and apoptotic mechanism of synthesized nanoemulsion (NE) containing Pulicaria crispa essential oil (PC-EO) and GEM (PC-NE:GEM) on MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cancer cell lines. An optimized NE formulation was selected based on the Box–Behnken method. The droplet size of the optimized PC-NE was 9.93 ± 0.53 nm, but after GEM loading, it was increased to 11.36 ± 0.0.21 nm. Results from FTIR revealed that GEM was successfully loaded onto PC-NE. The antineoplastic effect of PC-NE:GEM on MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cancer cells was increased more than 100-fold relative to that of GEM. A combination index and isobologram based on CompuSyn software revealed the synergistic effect of the formulation produced by a 1:1 ratio combination of PC-NE and GEM. These findings were confirmed by examination of cellular morphologies. The combination formulation strongly induced about 4.48-fold and 2.95-fold increases in apoptosis in MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cells, respectively, when compared with GEM. Moreover, PC-NE:GEM produced a synergistic increase in ROS production in MCF-7 cells (15.23%) and Hep-G2 cells (31.69%), when compared with GEM. In addition, PC-NE:GEM enhanced the activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway through upregulation of expressions of p53 and Caspase-3, and downregulation of Bcl-2 expression in MCF-7 cells, while the expressions of Caspase-3, Bax, and p53 were upregulated in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that the GEM-loaded NE containing PC-EO may reduce the dose of GEM and eliminate the associated side effects.

PD-1 Cellular Nanovesicles Carrying Gemcitabine to Inhibit the Proliferation of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell

PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda combined with chemotherapy for Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been approved for FDA, successfully representing the combination therapy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy for the first time in 2020. However, PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq combined with albumin paclitaxel using the similar strategy failed to achieve the expected effect. Therefore, it is still necessary to explore new effective immunotherapy and chemotherapy-based combined strategies. We developed a cell membrane-derived programmed death-ligand 1(PD-1) nanovesicle to encapsulate low-dose gemcitabine (PD-1&GEM NVs) to study the effect on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. We found that engineered PD-1&GEM NVs could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer, which interacted with PD-L1 in triple-negative breast cancer to disrupt the PD-L1/PD-1 immune inhibitory axis and promoted cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, PD-1&GEM NVs had better tumor targeting ability for PD-L1 highly-expressed TNBC cells, contributing to increasing the drug effectiveness and reducing toxicity. Importantly, gemcitabine-encapsulated PD-1 NVs exerted stronger effects on promoting apoptosis of tumor cells, increasing infiltrated CD8⁺ T cell activation, delaying the tumor growth and prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice than PD-1 NVs or gemcitabine alone. Thus, our study highlighted the power of combined low-dose gemcitabine and PD-1 in the nanovesicles as treatment to treat triple-negative breast cancer.

CD44-targeting hydrophobic phosphorylated gemcitabine prodrug nanotherapeutics augment lung cancer therapy

Gemcitabine (GEM) is among the most used chemotherapies for advanced malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer. The clinical efficacy of GEM is, however, downplayed by its poor bioavailability, short half-life, drug resistance, and dose-limiting toxicities (e.g. myelosuppression). In spite of many approaches exploited to improve the efficacy and safety of GEM, limited success was achieved. The short A6 peptide (sequence: Ac-KPSSPPEE-NH₂) is clinically validated for specific binding to CD44 on metastatic tumors. Here, we designed a robust and CD44-specific GEM nanotherapeutics by encapsulating hydrophobic phosphorylated gemcitabine prodrug (HPG) into the core of A6 peptide-functionalized disulfide-crosslinked micelles (A6-mHPG), which exhibited reduction-triggered HPG release and specific targetability to CD44 overexpressing tumor cells. Interestingly, A6 greatly enhanced the internalization and inhibitory activity of micellar HPG (mHPG) in CD44 positive A549 cells, and increased its accumulation in A549 cancerous lung, leading to potent repression of orthotopic tumor growth, depleted toxicity, and marked survival benefits compared to free HPG and mHPG (median survival time: 59 days versus 30 and 45 days, respectively). The targeted delivery of gemcitabine prodrug with disulfide-crosslinked biodegradable micelles appears to be a highly appealing strategy to boost gemcitabine therapy for advance tumors. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Gemcitabine (GEM) though widely used in clinics for treating advanced tumors is associated with poor bioavailability, short half-life and dose-limiting toxicities. Development of clinically translatable GEM formulations to improve its anti-tumor efficacy and safety is of great interest. Here, we report on CD44-targeting GEM nanotherapeutics obtained by encapsulating hydrophobic phosphorylated GEM prodrug (HPG), a single isomer of NUC-1031, into A6 peptide-functionalized disulfide-crosslinked micelles (A6-mHPG). A6-mHPG demonstrates stability against degradation, enhanced internalization and inhibition toward CD44⁺ cells, and increased accumulation in A549 lung tumor xenografts, leading to potent repression of orthotopic tumor growth, depleted toxicity and marked survival benefits. The targeted delivery of GEM prodrug using A6-mHPG is a highly appealing strategy to GEM cancer therapy.

Redox-responsive self-assembled polymeric nanoprodrug for delivery of gemcitabine in B-cell lymphoma therapy

Gemcitabine, as a standard and classic strategy for B-cell lymphoma in the clinic, is limited by its poor pharmacodynamics. Although stimuli-responsive polymeric nanodelivery systems have been widely investigated in the past decade, issues such as complicated procedures, low loading capacity, and uncontrollable release kinetics still hinder their clinical translation. In view of the above considerations, we attempt to construct hyperbranched polyprodrug micelles with considerable drug loading via simple procedures and make use of the particularity of the tumor microenvironment to ensure that the micelles are "inactivated" in normal tissues and "activated" in the tumor microenvironment. Hence, in this work, a redox-responsive polymeric gemcitabine-prodrug (GEM-S-S-PEG) was one-pot synthesized via facile esterification and acylation. The self-assembled subsize (< 100 nm) GEM-S-S-PEG (GSP NPs) with considerable loading capacity (≈ 24.6%) exhibited on-demand and accurate control of gemcitabine release under a simulated tumor microenvironment and thus significantly induced the apoptosis of B-cell lymphoma in vitro. Moreover, in the A20 tumor xenograft murine model, GSP NPs efficiently decreased the expansion of tumor tissues with minimal systemic toxicity. In summary, these redox-responsive and self-assembling GSP NPs with a facile one-pot synthesis procedure may hold great potency in clinical translation for enhanced chemotherapy of B-cell lymphoma. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A redox-responsive polymeric gemcitabine-prodrug (GEM-S-S-PEG) was one-pot synthesized via facile esterification and acylation. The self-assembled subsize (< 100 nm) GEM-S-S-PEG (GSP NPs) exhibited significant tumor therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo. The polyprodrug GEM-S-S-PEG prepared in this study shows the great potential of redox-responsive nanodrugs for antitumor activity, which provides a reference value for the optimization of the design of functional polyprodrugs.

Reproductive and developmental toxicities of 5-fluorouracil in model organisms and humans

Chemotherapy, as an important clinical treatment, has greatly enhanced survival in cancer patients, but the side effects and long-term sequelae bother both patients and clinicians. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the clinical treatment of various cancers, but several studies showed its adverse effects on reproduction. Reproductive toxicity of 5-FU often associates with developmental block, malformation and ovarian damage in the females. In males, 5-FU administration alters the morphology of sexual organs, the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones and the progression of spermatogenesis, ultimately reducing sperm numbers. Mechanistically, 5-FU exerts its effect through incorporating the active metabolites into nucleic acids directly, or inhibiting thymidylate synthase to disrupt the function of DNA and RNA, leading to profound effects on cellular metabolism and viability. However, some studies suggested that the toxicity of 5-FU on reproduction is reversible and certain drugs used in combination with 5-FU during chemotherapy could protect reproductive systems from 5-FU damage both in females and males. Herein, we summarise the recent findings and discuss underlying mechanisms of the 5-FU-induced reproductive toxicity, providing a reference for future research and clinical treatments.

Self-Delivery Janus-Prodrug for Precise Immuno-Chemotherapy of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

Aromatized thioketal (ATK) linked the immunoregulatory molecule (budesonide, Bud) and the cytotoxic molecule (gemcitabine, Gem) to construct a ROS-activated Janus-prodrug, termed as BAG. Benefiting from the hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and other intermolecular interactions, BAG could self-assemble into nanoaggregates (BAG NA) with a well-defined spherical shape and uniform size distribution. Compared to the carrier-based drug delivery system, BAG NA have ultrahigh drug loading content and ROS concentration-dependent drug release. Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) is a typical disease in which chronic inflammation transforms into tumors. BAG NA can be internalized by colon cancer C26 cells and then triggered by excessive intracellular ROS to release nearly 100% of the drugs. Based on this, BAG NA showed a stronger pro-apoptotic effect than free Bud combined with free Gem. What is gratifying is that orally administered BAG NA can precisely accumulate in the diseased colon tissues of CAC mice induced by AOM/DSS and simultaneously release Bud and Gem. Bud can regulate the tumor immune microenvironment to restore and enhance the cytotoxicity of Gem. Therefore, BAG NA maximizes the synergistic therapeutic effect through co-delivery of Bud and Gem. This work provided a cutting-edge method for constructing self-delivery Janus-prodrug based on ATK and confirmed its potential application in inflammation-related carcinogenesis.

Molecular interaction mechanisms of glycol chitosan self-healing hydrogel as a drug delivery system for gemcitabine and doxorubicin

Glycol chitosan is a derivative of chitosan that has attracted attention in recent years due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Due to its unique biological characteristics, it has been widely used in hydrogels and biomaterials. In this study, we explored the loading efficiency of a self-healing hydrogel (GC-DP) comprising glycol chitosan (GC) and telechelic difunctional poly(ethylene glycol) (DF-PEG) for delivering the anticancer drugs gemcitabine and doxorubicin through full atomistic simulations. We also constructed full atomistic models of the two drug delivery systems at three drug concentrations of 10%, 40%, and 80% to understand how the drug concentration affects the loading efficiency and molecular structure of the GC-DP hydrogels. Through the analysis of the results, we show that the GC-DP hydrogel exhibits excellent loading efficiency for both gemcitabine and doxorubicin at all drug concentrations (10%, 40% and 80%). Our results reveal that the main mechanism of interaction between the GC-DP hydrogels and gemcitabine is van der Waals adsorption and that the dominant interactions between the GC-DP hydrogel and doxorubicin are hydrogen bonds for the D10 model and van der Waals adsorption for the D40 and D80 models. Our results provide molecular insights into how drug molecules are carried by hydrogel materials and indicate that the GC-DP hydrogel is a promising candidate for carrying both gemcitabine and doxorubicin, and thus serving as a novel drug carrier for cancer treatment.

The modulatory impacts of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract against methotrexate-induced testicular dysfunction and oxidative stress

Glycyrrhiza glabra root (licorice) is a widely used herb for its beneficial effects on health. This study explored the protective effects of licorice extract against oxidative stress and testicular dysfunction caused by methotrexate (MTX). Mice were allocated into (i) negative control group that received saline; (ii) licorice extract group, orally administered with 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) licorice extract for 12 days; (iii) positive MTX-intoxicated group, injected with a single intraperitoneal dose of MTX (20 mg/kg bw) on day 7; and (iv) a protective group that received licorice extract for 12 days and then MTX on day 7 as in groups 2 and 3. Total proteins, albumin, globulins, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, IL-1, and IL-6 were measured in blood and testis samples collected from all groups. Testicular oxidative stress, serum reproductive hormones, and spermogram were examined. The expression of steroidogenesis-associated genes (translocator protein; and P450scc) was examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Bcl-2-associated X protein and cyclogenase-2 genes were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. The bioactive contents of licorice extract were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Pretreatment with licorice extract ameliorated the toxic effects of MTX on total proteins, albumin, and globulins and oxidative stress biomarkers and reversed the effect of MTX on examined serum and tissue antioxidants. Besides, MTX down-regulated mRNA expression of translocator protein and P450scc genes. Licorice extract averted the decrease in serum testosterone and the increase in IL-1β and IL-6 levels induced by MTX. Moreover, MTX increased sperm abnormalities and percentage of dead sperms and reduced sperm motility. These changes were absent in the licorice preadministered group. Licorice prevented the increase in immunoreactivity of testis for Bcl-2-associated X protein and cyclogenase-2 that were overexpressed in MTX-injected mice. Licorice extracts positively regulated the expression of steroidogenesis genes suppressed by MTX, increased antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, and catalase) and reduced biomarker of oxidative stress (testicular malondialdehyde) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and -6). Moreover, reduction in testicular tissue immunoreactivity to Bcl-2-associated X protein and cyclogenase-2. In conclusion, licorice extract mitigated the toxic effects of MTX-induced testicular dysfunction at biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels.

Dendrimer as a promising nanocarrier for the delivery of doxorubicin as an anticancer therapeutics

Dendrimers are macromolecules with high-polymeric branching capable of undergoing major modifications. These characteristics make them an efficient nanocarrier capable of encapsulating and delivering drug, antibodies, or any therapeutic gene. The failure of conventional techniques to deliver drug with higher efficacy and reduced side effects has led to the use of nanomedicines including dendrimers. Dendrimers are novel drug carriers that are modified, complexed, and conjugated with different ligands and receptors to target the delivery of drug at the specific site without impacting any of the normal cells in surrounding. Moreover, the biocompatibility and safety of the dendrimers can be altered accordingly by the process of functionalization by PEGylation, acetylation, or amination. Various dendrimers have been designed to incorporate and deliver anticancer drug either in free form or as codelivery in conjugation with other drugs or therapeutic siRNA/DNA. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one such chemotherapeutic drug that acts by disrupting the process of DNA repair in tumor cells and hence is, since long been used for anticancer therapy. Certain adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity has limited the use of conventional DOX and has shifted the focus on use of safe nanodelivery systems viz dendrimers. DOX either in free or salt form can be loaded or encapsulated accordingly within the core of the dendrimers and linked with different receptors expressed over tumor cells to improve targeting in any cancerous organ site. Positive results obtained after cytotoxicity assay and in vivo/in vitro studies on different cancerous cell lines, and grafted models suggested the potential use of multifunctional DOX-dendrimers characterized with controlled release, better penetration, improved bioavailability, and reduced organ toxicity. This review consolidates studies on different types of DOX-loaded dendrimers that were synthesized, investigated, and are currently being explored for better cancer targeting. Foreseeing the prospects of dendrimers and their compatibility with DOX (free/salt), the article was updated with all current insights.

Intranasal delivery of Naloxone-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles as a promising simple and non-invasive approach for the management of opioid overdose

Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist that can eradicate all pre-indications of the toxicity and inverse the opioid overdose. However, oral administration of naloxone offers limitations such as its extensive first-pass metabolism that results in poor therapeutic effects. In order to resolve this issue, we developed intranasal solid-lipid nanoparticles in which naloxone was incorporated for the higher brain disposition of naloxone with superior therapeutic effects for the reversal of toxicity of opioid overdose. The preparation of naloxone loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles was done by employing the solvent evaporation method. Later, the designed formulation was optimized by Quality by Design approach, specifically, Box-Behnken method. The composition of optimized formulation was Glyceryl monostearate as a solid lipid (40 mg), Pluronic127 (0.5%) and Tween 80 (0.1%) as a surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively. Furthermore, the characterization of optimized formulation was achieved in terms of particle size, PDI, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading which were 190.2 nm, 0.082, -16 mV, 95 ± 0.532% and 19.08 ± 0.106%, respectively. Afterwards, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments were performed in which higher drug release and superior drug uptake by nasal membrane were observed for naloxone-loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles, later it was confirmed by confocal microscopy of ex vivo nasal membrane tissue. The findings of gamma scintigraphy investigation exhibited better deposition of naloxone-loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles as compared to naloxone solution. Also, the better deposition of naloxone by gamma scintigraphy was further validated by the investigation through the biodistribution study. Additionally, the key findings of the pharmacokinetic study revealed C_max, T_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞, T_1/2 and K_e was found to be 163.95 ± 2.64 ng/ml, 240 ± 2.1 min, 17.75 ± 1.08 ng.hr/ml, 18.82 ± 2.51 ng.hr/ml, 70.71 ± 0.115 min, 0.098 ± 0.01 h^-1 respectively. Lastly, investigations such as weight variation and histopathological proved the plausible potential of naloxone-loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles in terms of safety as no toxicity was noticed even after the administration of the three-folds dose of the normal dose. Therefore, considering all these findings, it could be easy to say that these developed naloxone-loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles could be administrated via intranasal route and can act as successful novel nanoformulation for the effective treatment of opioid overdose.