Improved anti-tumor activity and safety profile of a paclitaxel-loaded glycyrrhetinic acid-graft-hyaluronic acid conjugate as a synergistically targeted drug delivery system

Co-Delivery of Glycyrrhizin and Paclitaxel via Gelatin-Based Core-Shell Nanoparticles Ameliorates 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Precancerous Lesions in Colon

Colorectal cancer is a lethal malignancy that begins from acquired/inherent premalignant lesions. Thus, targeting these lesions at an early stage of the disease could impede the oncogenesis and maximize the efficacy. The present work underscores a combinatorial therapy of paclitaxel (PTX) and glycyrrhizin (GL) delivered via gelatin-derived core-shell nanoparticles [AC-PCL(GL + PTX)-GNPs] for effective management of precancerous lesions. The desolvation method was adopted to prepare GL-loaded gelatin nanoparticles (GL-GNPs), which were coated with PTX and AC-PCL. The prepared NPs exhibited optimal physical attributes and had spherical morphology, as analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In vitro release studies revealed sustained release for ∼96 h. Cell culture studies in HTC 116, and HT-29 cells showed synergistic action with CI < 0.9 and DRI > 1. Moreover, AC-PCL(GL + PTX)-GNPs exhibited amplified intracellular uptake and thus significantly reduced IC50. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed substantiated pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC0-∞, Cmax, etc.). In vivo studies in a 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine-induced model revealed a decrease in the number of lesions, mucin depletion, and subside infiltrations. An immunohistochemical study revealed elevated expression of caspase-9 and suppressed expression of VEGF and Ki-67. Toxicity studies showed insignificant changes in systemic biomarkers along with no alterations in organ morphology and hemocompatibility. In essence, AC-PCL(GL + PTX)-GNPs render a competent and safer tactic to regulate early-stage precancerous lesions.

Self-assembled glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives for functional applications: a review

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a famous natural product, has been attracting more attention recently because of its remarkable biological activity, natural sweetness, and good biocompatibility. In the past few years, a considerable amount of literature has grown up around the theme of GA-based chemical modification to broaden its functional applications. Promising structures including gels, micelles, nanoparticles, liposomes, and so forth have been constantly reported. On the one hand, the assembly mechanisms of various materials based on GA derivatives have been elucidated via modern analytical techniques. On the other hand, their potential application prospects in edible additives, intelligent drug delivery, and other fields have been investigated fully due to availability, biocompatibility, and controllable degradability. Inspired by these findings, a systematic summary and classification of the materials formed by GA derivatives seems necessary and meaningful. This review sums up the new functional applications of GA derivatives for the first time and provides better prospects for their application and development.

Hyaluronic Acid within Self-Assembling Nanoparticles: Endless Possibilities for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Self-assembling nanoparticles (SANPs) based on hyaluronic acid (HA) represent unique tools in cancer therapy because they combine the HA targeting activity towards cancer cells with the advantageous features of the self-assembling nanosystems, i.e., chemical versatility and ease of preparation and scalability. This review describes the key outcomes arising from the combination of HA and SANPs, focusing on nanomaterials where HA and/or HA-derivatives are inserted within the self-assembling nanostructure. We elucidate the different HA derivatization strategies proposed for this scope, as well as the preparation methods used for the fabrication of the delivery device. After showing the biological results in the employed in vivo and in vitro models, we discussed the pros and cons of each nanosystem, opening a discussion on which approach represents the most promising strategy for further investigation and effective therapeutic protocol development.

Melatonin ameliorates paclitaxel-induced mice spermatogenesis and fertility defects

Chemotherapeutic drug of paclitaxel (PTX) has been shown to cause reproductive toxicity thus affecting male fertility, but its underlying molecular basis is unclear. Melatonin (MLT) can mitigate the reproductive damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. In this study, we aimed to identify impact of PTX on the main biological processes and protective effect of MLT on reproductive damage caused by PTX. Mice exposed to PTX mainly impaired spermatogenesis, such as decreased sperm counts, reduced sperm motility and increased abnormal sperm. Decreased expressions of germ cell proliferation‐associated protein PCNA and meiosis‐related protein SYCP3 induced by PTX were determined by Western blot, while MLT ameliorated this effect and increased the expressions of PCNA, SYCP3, DMC1, STRA8 and fertility‐related protein of HSPA2, resulting in significantly improved spermatogenesis and sperm quality levels. In vitro fertilization experiment showed that PTX significantly decreased blastocyst formation rates, which can be improved by MLT administration, but not two‐cell development rates. Taken together, this work demonstrated PTX can adversely affect germ cell proliferation and meiosis, which ultimately influence sperm quality and male fertility, and highlighted the protective ability of MLT on ameliorating the side effects of PTX, especially on sperm quality. The results provide information to further the study on the molecular mechanism of PTX's effects on male reproduction and the protective mechanism of MLT.

CD44 Receptor Targeting and Endosomal pH-Sensitive Dual Functional Hyaluronic Acid Micelles for Intracellular Paclitaxel Delivery

A novel CD44 receptor targeting and endosome pH-sensitive dual functional hyaluronic acid-deoxycholic acid-histidine (HA-DOCA-His) micellar system was designed for intracellular paclitaxel (PTX) delivery. The HA-DOCA-His micelles exhibited desirable endosome pH (5.0-6.0)-induced aggregation and deformation behavior verified by size distribution, critical micellar concentration, and zeta potential changes. The HA-DOCA-His micelles presented excellent encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of 90.0% and 18.9% for PTX, respectively. The PTX release from HA-DOCA-His micelles was pH-dependent, with more rapid PTX release at pH 6.0 and 5.0 than those at pH 7.4 and 6.5. The cellular uptake performance of HA-DOCA-His micelles was enhanced comparing with pH-insensitive HA-DOCA micelles by qualitative and quantitative measurements. HA-DOCA-His micelles could be taken up via CD44-receptor mediated endocytosis, transported into endosomes, and triggered drug release to cytoplasm. In vitro cytotoxicity study exhibited PTX-loaded HA-DOCA-His micelles were more active in tumor cell growth inhibition in MCF-7 cells at pH 5.8 than those at pH 6.8 and pH 7.4. A superior antitumor efficacy was demonstrated with HA-DOCA-His micelles in a MCF-7 breast tumor model. These indicated that the dual functional HA-DOCA-His micelles combined targeted intracellular delivery and endosomal release strategies could be developed as a promising nanocarrier for anticancer efficacy improvement of PTX.