Enhancement of cytotoxicty of diallyl disulfide toward colon cancer by Eudragit S100/PLGA nanoparticles

Nanomedicine innovations in colon and rectal cancer: advances in targeted drug and gene delivery systems

Nanotechnology has revolutionized cancer diagnostics and therapy, offering unprecedented possibilities to overcome the constraints of conventional treatments. This study provides a detailed overview of the current progress and difficulties in the creation of nanostructured materials, with a specific emphasis on their use in drug and gene delivery systems. The study examines tactics that attempt to improve the effectiveness and safety of chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin (Dox) by focusing on the potential of antibody-drug conjugates and functionalized nanoparticles. Moreover, it clarifies the challenges encountered in administering nanoparticles orally for gastrointestinal treatments, emphasizing the crucial physicochemical properties that affect their behavior in the gastrointestinal system. This study highlights the transformational potential of nanostructured materials in precision oncology by examining advanced breakthroughs such cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles designed for gastrointestinal disorders. The text investigates the processes involved in the absorption of nanoparticles and their destruction in lysosomes, revealing the many methods in which enterocytes take up these particles. This study strongly supports the use of advanced nanoparticle-based methods to reduce the harmful effects on the whole body and improve the effectiveness of therapy, based on a thorough examination of current experiments on animals and humans. The main objective of this paper is to provide a fundamental comprehension that will stimulate more investigation and practical use in the field of cancer nanomedicine, advancing its boundaries.

Advanced polymeric systems for colon drug delivery: from experimental models to market applications

In recent years, nano and micro drug delivery systems targeting the colon have gained more attention due to increasing interest in treating colon diseases such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, i.e., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Usually, nanocarriers are exploited for their enhanced permeability properties, allowing higher penetration effects and bioavailability, while microcarriers are primarily used for localized and sustained release. In bowel diseases, carriers must go into a delicate environment with a strict balance of gut bacteria (e.g., colon), and natural or biodegradable polymers capable of ensuring lower toxicity are preferred. However, these systems are primarily delivered orally, so the carrier must go through the whole gastrointestinal tract, where it encounters significant pH fluctuations, different mucus layers, several enzymes, and a long transit time. For this reason, various approaches have been explored and evaluated, especially using pH-responsive and time-dependent systems. This review provides an overview of the contemporary methodologies employed in orally administered nano- and microparticles for colon delivery, encompassing both in vivo and in vitro investigations. It evaluates their strengths, weaknesses, constraints, and potential enhancements, leveraging mathematical and microfluidic models. Furthermore, it focuses explicitly on systems that have already reached the market and are presently employed in treating severe colon diseases.

Enhanced anti-angiogenic effects of aprepitant-loaded nanoparticles in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Recent advancements in cancer therapy have led to the development of novel nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems aimed at enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. This study focuses on evaluating aprepitant-loaded PLGA and Eudragit RS 100 nanoparticles for their potential antiangiogenic effects. Characterization studies revealed that aprepitant-loaded nanoparticles exhibited particle sizes ranging from 208.50 to 238.67 nm, with monodisperse distributions (PDI < 0.7) and stable zeta potentials (between - 5.0 and - 15.0 mV). Encapsulation efficiencies exceeding 99% were achieved, highlighting the efficacy of PLGA and Eudragit RS 100 as carriers for aprepitant. Cellular uptake studies demonstrated enhanced internalization of aprepitant-loaded nanoparticles by HUVEC cells compared to free aprepitant, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays revealed significant dose-dependent effects of aprepitant-loaded nanoparticles on HUVEC cell viability, with IC50 values at 24 h of 11.9 µg/mL for Eudragit RS 100 and 94.3 µg/mL for PLGA formulations. Importantly, these nanoparticles effectively inhibited HUVEC cell migration and invasion induced by M2c supernatant, as evidenced by real-time cell analysis and gene expression studies. Moreover, aprepitant-loaded nanoparticles downregulated VEGFA and VEGFB gene expressions and reduced VEGFR-2 protein levels in HUVEC cells, highlighting their potential as antiangiogenic agents. Overall, this research underscores the promise of nanoparticle-based aprepitant formulations in targeted cancer therapy, offering enhanced therapeutic outcomes through improved drug delivery and efficacy against angiogenesis.

Functionalized liposomes as a potential drug delivery systems for colon cancer treatment: A systematic review

Colon cancer is one of the lethal diseases in the world with approximately 700,000 fatalities annually. Nowadays, due to the side effects of existing methods in the treatment of colon cancer such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the use of targeted nanocarriers in cancer treatment has received wide attention, and among them, especially liposomes have been studied a lot. Based on this, anti-tumor drugs hidden in targeted active liposomes can selectively act on cancer cells. In this systematic review, the use of various ligands such as folic acid, transferrin, aptamer, hyaluronic acid and cRGD for active targeting of liposomes to achieve improved drug delivery to colon cancer cells has been reviewed. The original articles published in English in the databases of Science Direct, PubMed and Google scholar from 2012 to 2022 were reviewed. From the total of 26,256 published articles, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that targeted liposomes lead to increasing the efficacy of anti-cancer agents on colon cancer cells with reducing side effects compared to free drugs and non-targeted liposomes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review showing promising results for improvement treatment of colon cancer using targeted liposomes.

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

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

Defective copper-based metal-organic frameworks for the efficient extraction of organosulfur compounds from garlic-processing wastewater

Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) in garlic-processing wastewater are decomposed and generated to toxic and harmful substances with unpleasant odors under anaerobic conditions. Herein, were report the successful development of novel copper-based metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) adsorbents with high adsorption capacities for OSCs in aqueous media. Defect-rich Cu-MOF-X samples, with particle sizes between 360 and 750 nm, synthesized hydrothermal in the presence of acetic acid (where X denotes the molar ratio of acetic acid relative to the pentadentate MOF linker H4PPYD). OSC adsorption experiments using allicin, ajoene and 2-ethenyl-4H-1,3-dithiine (2-VDT) showed that Cu-MOF-200 delivered fast adsorption kinetics and high OSC adsorption capacities (149.02-171.33 mg g-1) owing to the pore accessibility and range of adsorption sites in the MOF. FT-IR, Raman, and XPS analyses, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, verified the strong yet reversible adsorption of OSCs in Cu-MOF-200. Results guide the development of improved adsorbents for OSC capture from garlic-processing wastewater.

Potential antitumor activity of garlic against colorectal cancer: focus on the molecular mechanisms of action

PURPOSE

The aim of this review is to highlight the potential of garlic phytoconstituents as antitumor agents in colorectal cancer management based on their molecular mechanisms of action, while asking if their consumption, as part of the human diet, might contribute to the prevention of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

To gather information on appropriate in vitro, in vivo and human observational studies on this topic, the keywords "Allium sativum", "garlic", "colorectal cancer", "antitumor effect", "in vitro", "in vivo", "garlic consumption" and "colorectal cancer risk" were searched in different combinations in the international databases ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar. After duplicate and reviews removal, 61 research articles and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2022 in peer-reviewed journals were found and included in this review.

RESULTS

Garlic (Allium sativum) proves to be a rich source of compounds with antitumor potential. Garlic-derived extracts and several of its individual constituents, especially organosulfur compounds such as allicin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, diallyl tetrasulfide, allylmethylsulfide, S-allylmercaptocysteine, Z-ajoene, thiacremonone and Se-methyl-L-selenocysteine were found to possess cytotoxic, cytostatic, antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities in different in vitro and in vivo models of colorectal cancer. The molecular mechanisms for their antitumor effects are associated with the modulation of several well-known signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression, especially G1-S and G2-M transitions, as well as both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. However, even though in various animal models some of these compounds have chemopreventive effects, based on different human observational studies, a diet rich in garlic is not consistently associated with a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION

Independent of the impact of garlic consumption on colorectal cancer initiation and promotion in humans, its constituents might be good candidates for future conventional and/or complementary therapies, based on their diverse mechanisms of action.

A short appraisal of polylactic-co-glycolic acid based polymer nanotechnology for colon cancer: recent advances and literature evidences

The currently available formulations provided non-targeted treatment of colon cancer, the deadliest cancer variant. Due to biopharmaceutical hindrances, the majority of the drugs are unable to reach the target site. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is one of the versatile polymers in cancer treatment, diagnostics and theranostics. The unique mechanism of surface modifications in PLGA properties in colon cancer has been a keen interest to be used in different nanoparticles for improving biopharmaceutical attributes. The ongoing use of these smart nano-carriers has allowed targeted delivery of several active components on a wide scale. The main goal of this review is to compile information on PLGA-based nanocarriers which possess several desirable properties for drug delivery applications, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and tunable drug-release kinetics.

Diallyl Disulfide: A Bioactive Garlic Compound with Anticancer Potential

Cancer is a life-threatening disease caused by the uncontrolled division of cells, which culminates in a solid mass of cells known as a tumor or liquid cancer. It is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and the number of cancer patients has been increasing at an alarming rate, with an estimated 20 million cases expected by 2030. Thus, the use of complementary or alternative therapeutic techniques that can help prevent cancer has been the subject of increased attention. Garlic, the most widely used plant medicinal product, exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antibacterial, hypo-lipidemic, antithrombotic, and anticancer effects. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a major organosulfur compound contained within garlic. Recently, several experimental studies have demonstrated that DADS exhibits anti-tumor activity against many types of tumor cells, including gynecological cancers (cervical cancer, ovarian cancer), hematological cancers (leukemia, lymphoma), lung cancer, neural cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal tract and associated cancers (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer), hepatocellular cancer cell line, etc. The mechanisms behind the anticancer action of DADS include epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and migration. This article aims to review the available information regarding the anti-cancer potential of DADS, as well as summarize its mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics from published clinical and toxicity studies.