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Loo YS, Zahid NI, Madheswaran T, Ikeno S, Nurdin A, Mat Azmi ID. Coencapsulation of Gemcitabine and Thymoquinone in Citrem-Phosphatidylcholine Hexosome Nanocarriers Improves In Vitro Cellular Uptake in Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4611-4628. [PMID: 37587099 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoassemblies (LLCNs) are internally self-assembled (ISA)-somes formed by amphiphilic molecules in a mixture comprising a lipid, stabilizer, and/or surfactant and aqueous media/dispersant. LLCNs are unique nanoassemblies with versatile applications in a wide range of biomedical functions. However, they comprise a nanosystem that is yet to be fully explored for targeted systemic treatment of breast cancer. In this study, LLCNs proposed for gemcitabine and thymoquinone (Gem-TQ) co-delivery were prepared from soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), phytantriol (PHYT), or glycerol monostearate (MYVR) in optimized ratios containing a component of citric and fatty acid ester-based emulsifier (Grinsted citrem) or a triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127 (F127). Hydrodynamic particle sizes determined were below 400 nm (ranged between 96 and 365 nm), and the series of nanoformulations displayed negative surface charge. Nonlamellar phases identified by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) profiles comprise the hexagonal, cubic, and micellar phases. In addition, high entrapment efficiency that accounted for 98.3 ± 0.1% of Gem and 99.5 ± 0.1% of TQ encapsulated was demonstrated by the coloaded nanocarrier system, SPC/citrem/Gem-TQ hexosomes. Low cytotoxicity of SPC-citrem hexosomes was demonstrated in MCF10A cells consistent with hemo- and biocompatibility observed in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos for up to 96 h postfertilization (hpf). SPC/citrem/Gem-TQ hexosomes demonstrated IC50 of 24.7 ± 4.2 μM in MCF7 breast cancer cells following a 24 h treatment period with the moderately synergistic interaction between Gem and TQ retained (CI = 0.84). Taken together, biocompatible SPC/citrem/Gem-TQ hexosomes can be further developed as a multifunctional therapeutic nanodelivery approach, plausible for targeting breast cancer cells by incorporation of targeting ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shan Loo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - N Idayu Zahid
- Centre for Fundamental and Frontier Sciences in Nanostructure Self-Assembly, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thiagarajan Madheswaran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shinya Ikeno
- Department of Biological Functions Engineering, Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu, 808-01906 Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Armania Nurdin
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Intan Diana Mat Azmi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Centre of Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Shabani H, Karami MH, Kolour J, Sayyahi Z, Parvin MA, Soghala S, Baghini SS, Mardasi M, Chopani A, Moulavi P, Farkhondeh T, Darroudi M, Kabiri M, Samarghandian S. Anticancer activity of thymoquinone against breast cancer cells: Mechanisms of action and delivery approaches. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:114972. [PMID: 37481931 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of breast cancer has been a significant source of concern in the medical community. Regarding the adverse effects and consequences of current treatments, cancers' health, and socio-economical aspects have become more complicated, leaving research aimed at improved or new treatments on top priority. Medicinal herbs contain multitarget compounds that can control cancer development and advancement. Owing to Nigella Sativa's elements, it can treat many disorders. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a natural chemical derived from the black seeds of Nigella sativa Linn proved to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. TQ interferes in a broad spectrum of tumorigenic procedures and inhibits carcinogenesis, malignant development, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis owing to its multitargeting ability. It effectively facilitates miR-34a up-regulation, regulates the p53-dependent pathway, and suppresses Rac1 expression. TQ promotes apoptosis and controls the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. It has also been shown to diminish the phosphorylation of NF-B and IKK and decrease the metastasis and ERK1/2 and PI3K activity. We discuss TQ's cytotoxic effects for breast cancer treatment with a deep look at the relevant stimulatory or inhibitory signaling pathways. This review discusses the various forms of polymeric and non-polymeric nanocarriers (NC) and the encapsulation of TQ for increasing oral bioavailability and enhanced in vitro and in vivo efficacy of TQ-combined treatment with different chemotherapeutic agents against various breast cancer cell lines. This study can be useful to a broad scientific community, comprising pharmaceutical and biological scientists, as well as clinical investigators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Shabani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch, Iran
| | | | - Jalili Kolour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology master student, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Zeinab Sayyahi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amir Parvin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, school of Biology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrad Soghala
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Shojaei Baghini
- Plant Biotechnology Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology(NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mardasi
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G. C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Chopani
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooria Moulavi
- Department of Biology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Majid Darroudi
- Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur 9318614139, Iran
| | - Mahboubeh Kabiri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Healthy Ageing Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
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Ashique S, Garg A, Hussain A, Farid A, Kumar P, Taghizadeh‐Hesary F. Nanodelivery systems: An efficient and target-specific approach for drug-resistant cancers. Cancer Med 2023; 12:18797-18825. [PMID: 37668041 PMCID: PMC10557914 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer treatment is still a global health challenge. Nowadays, chemotherapy is widely applied for treating cancer and reducing its burden. However, its application might be in accordance with various adverse effects by exposing the healthy tissues and multidrug resistance (MDR), leading to disease relapse or metastasis. In addition, due to tumor heterogeneity and the varied pharmacokinetic features of prescribed drugs, combination therapy has only shown modestly improved results in MDR malignancies. Nanotechnology has been explored as a potential tool for cancer treatment, due to the efficiency of nanoparticles to function as a vehicle for drug delivery. METHODS With this viewpoint, functionalized nanosystems have been investigated as a potential strategy to overcome drug resistance. RESULTS This approach aims to improve the efficacy of anticancer medicines while decreasing their associated side effects through a range of mechanisms, such as bypassing drug efflux, controlling drug release, and disrupting metabolism. This review discusses the MDR mechanisms contributing to therapeutic failure, the most cutting-edge approaches used in nanomedicine to create and assess nanocarriers, and designed nanomedicine to counteract MDR with emphasis on recent developments, their potential, and limitations. CONCLUSIONS Studies have shown that nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery confers distinct benefits over traditional pharmaceuticals, including improved biocompatibility, stability, permeability, retention effect, and targeting capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumel Ashique
- Department of PharmaceuticsPandaveswar School of PharmacyPandaveswarIndia
| | - Ashish Garg
- Guru Ramdas Khalsa Institute of Science and Technology, PharmacyJabalpurIndia
| | - Afzal Hussain
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of PharmacyKing Saud UniversityRiyadhSaudi Arabia
| | - Arshad Farid
- Gomal Center of Biochemistry and BiotechnologyGomal UniversityDera Ismail KhanPakistan
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Teerthanker Mahaveer College of PharmacyTeerthanker Mahaveer UniversityMoradabadIndia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amity Institute of PharmacyAmity University Madhya Pradesh (AUMP)GwaliorIndia
| | - Farzad Taghizadeh‐Hesary
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of MedicineIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Clinical Oncology DepartmentIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
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siRNA and targeted delivery systems in breast cancer therapy. CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERATION OF SPANISH ONCOLOGY SOCIETIES AND OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF MEXICO 2022; 25:1167-1188. [PMID: 36562927 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-03043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recently, nucleic acid drugs have been considered as promising candidates in treatment of various diseases, especially cancer. Because of developing resistance to conventional chemotherapy, use of genetic tools in cancer therapy appears inevitable. siRNA is a RNAi tool with capacity of suppressing target gene. Owing to overexpression of oncogenic factors in cancer, siRNA can be used for suppressing those pathways. This review emphasizes the function of siRNA in treatment of breast tumor. The anti-apoptotic-related genes including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and survivin can be down-regulated by siRNA in triggering cell death in breast cancer. STAT3, STAT8, Notch1, E2F3 and NF-κB are among the factors with overexpression in breast cancer that their silencing by siRNA paves the way for impairing tumor proliferation and invasion. The oncogenic mechanisms in drug resistance development in breast tumor such as lncRNAs can be suppressed by siRNA. Furthermore, siRNA reducing P-gp activity can increase drug internalization in tumor cells. Because of siRNA degradation at bloodstream and low accumulation at tumor site, nanoplatforms have been employed for siRNA delivery to suppress breast tumor progression via improving siRNA efficacy in gene silencing. Development of biocompatible and efficient nanostructures for siRNA delivery can make milestone progress in alleviation of breast cancer patients.
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Imam SS, Gilani SJ, Bin Jumah MN, Rizwanullah M, Zafar A, Ahmed MM, Alshehri S. Harnessing Lipid Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of Thymoquinone: In Vitro and In Vivo Assessments. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:3705. [PMID: 36145851 PMCID: PMC9504729 DOI: 10.3390/polym14183705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical application of phytochemicals such as thymoquinone (THQ) is restricted due to their limited aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability. Developing mucoadhesive nanocarriers to deliver these natural compounds might provide new hope to enhance their oral bioavailability. Herein, this investigation aimed to develop THQ-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (THQ-LPHNPs) based on natural polymer chitosan. THQ-LPHNPs were fabricated by the nanoprecipitation technique and optimized by the 3-factor 3-level Box−Behnken design. The optimized LPHNPs represented excellent properties for ideal THQ delivery for oral administration. The optimized THQ-LPHNPs revealed the particles size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (%EE), and zeta potential (ZP) of <200 nm, <0.25, >85%, and >25 mV, respectively. THQ-LPHNPs represented excellent stability in the gastrointestinal milieu and storage stability in different environmental conditions. THQ-LPHNPs represented almost similar release profiles in both gastric as well as intestinal media with the initial fast release for 4 h and after that a sustained release up to 48 h. Further, the optimized THQ-LPHNPs represent excellent mucin binding efficiency (>70%). Cytotoxicity study revealed much better anti-breast cancer activity of THQ-LPHNPs compared with free THQ against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Moreover, ex vivo experiments revealed more than three times higher permeation from the intestine after THQ-LPHNPs administration compared to the conventional THQ suspension. Furthermore, the THQ-LPHNPs showed 4.74-fold enhanced bioavailability after oral administration in comparison with the conventional THQ suspension. Therefore, from the above outcomes, mucoadhesive LPHNPs might be suitable nano-scale carriers for enhanced oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of highly lipophilic phytochemicals such as THQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Sarim Imam
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sadaf Jamal Gilani
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, Preparatory Year, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - May Nasser Bin Jumah
- Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
- Environment and Biomaterial Unit, Health Sciences Research Center, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Society for Applied Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md. Rizwanullah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Ameeduzzafar Zafar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Muqtader Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sultan Alshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Wu C, Zhang Y, Li F, Bei S, Pan M, Feng L. Precise engineering of cholesterol-loaded chitosan micelles as a promising nanocarrier system for co-delivery drug-siRNA for the treatment of gastric cancer therapy. Process Biochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2022.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
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7
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Alam M, Hasan GM, Ansari MM, Sharma R, Yadav DK, Hassan MI. Therapeutic implications and clinical manifestations of thymoquinone. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2022; 200:113213. [PMID: 35472482 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ), a natural phytochemical predominantly found in Nigella sativa, has been investigated for its numerous health benefits. TQ showed anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, validated in various disease models. The anti-cancer potential of TQ is goverened by anti-proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS production, anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of cell migration and invasion action. Additionally, TQ exhibited antitumor activity via the modulation of multiple pathways and molecular targets, including Akt, ERK1/2, STAT3, and NF-κB. The present review highlighted the anticancer potential of TQ . We summarize the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of TQ, focusing on its molecular targets and its promising action in cancer therapy. We further described the molecular mechanisms by which TQ prevents signaling pathways that mediate cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzar Alam
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Gulam Mustafa Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Meraj Ansari
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, 160062, India
| | - Rishi Sharma
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India
| | - Dharmendra Kumar Yadav
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Hambakmoeiro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon City, 21924, South Korea.
| | - Md Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India.
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8
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Mallick AM, Tripathi A, Mishra S, Mukherjee A, Dutta C, Chatterjee A, Sinha Roy R. Emerging Approaches for Enabling RNAi Therapeutics. Chem Asian J 2022; 17:e202200451. [PMID: 35689534 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202200451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a primitive evolutionary mechanism developed to escape incorporation of foreign genetic material. siRNA has been instrumental in achieving the therapeutic potential of RNAi by theoretically silencing any gene of interest in a reversible and sequence-specific manner. Extrinsically administered siRNA generally needs a delivery vehicle to span across different physiological barriers and load into the RISC complex in the cytoplasm in its functional form to show its efficacy. This review discusses the designing principles and examples of different classes of delivery vehicles that have proved to be efficient in RNAi therapeutics. We also briefly discuss the role of RNAi therapeutics in genetic and rare diseases, epigenetic modifications, immunomodulation and combination modality to inch closer in creating a personalized therapy for metastatic cancer. At the end, we present, strategies and look into the opportunities to develop efficient delivery vehicles for RNAi which can be translated into clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha M Mallick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Archana Tripathi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Sukumar Mishra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Asmita Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Chiranjit Dutta
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.,Present address:Department of Biological Sciences, NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore (NUS), Block S2 #05-01, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Ananya Chatterjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Rituparna Sinha Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.,Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, 741246, Mohanpur, India.,Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, 741246, Mohanpur, India
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Luque M, Cristóbal I, Sanz-Álvarez M, Santos A, Zazo S, Eroles P, Arpí O, Rovira A, Albanell J, Madoz-Gúrpide J, García-Foncillas J, Rojo F. CIP2A as a Key Regulator for AKT Phosphorylation Has Partial Impact Determining Clinical Outcome in Breast Cancer. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061610. [PMID: 35329936 PMCID: PMC8955826 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Together with its reported ability to modulate AKT phosphorylation (p-AKT) status in several tumor types, the oncoprotein CIP2A has been described to induce breast cancer progression and drug resistance. However, the clinical and therapeutic relevance of the CIP2A/AKT interplay in breast cancer remains to be fully clarified. Here, we found high p-AKT levels in 80 out of 220 cases (36.4%), which were associated with negative estrogen receptor expression (p = 0.049) and CIP2A overexpression (p < 0.001). Interestingly, p-AKT determined substantially shorter overall (p = 0.002) and progression-free survival (p = 0.003), and multivariate analyses showed its CIP2A-independent prognostic value. Moreover, its clinical relevance was further confirmed in the triple negative and HER2-positive subgroups after stratifying our series by molecular subtype. Functionally, we confirmed in vitro the role of CIP2A as a regulator of p-AKT levels in breast cancer cell lines, and the importance of the CIP2A/AKT axis was also validated in vivo. Finally, p-AKT also showed a higher predictive value of response to doxorubicin than CIP2A in ex vivo analyses. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CIP2A overexpression is a key contributing event to AKT phosphorylation and highlights the CIP2A/AKT axis as a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer. However, our observations highlight the existence of alternative mechanisms that regulate AKT signaling in a subgroup of breast tumors without altered CIP2A expression that determines its independent value as a marker of poor outcome in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melani Luque
- Pathology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (M.S.-Á.); (S.Z.); (J.M.-G.)
| | - Ion Cristóbal
- Cancer Unit for Research on Novel Therapeutic Targets, Oncohealth Institute, ISS-FJD-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (I.C.); (F.R.); Tel.: +34-915-504-800 (I.C. & F.R.)
| | - Marta Sanz-Álvarez
- Pathology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (M.S.-Á.); (S.Z.); (J.M.-G.)
| | - Andrea Santos
- Cancer Unit for Research on Novel Therapeutic Targets, Oncohealth Institute, ISS-FJD-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sandra Zazo
- Pathology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (M.S.-Á.); (S.Z.); (J.M.-G.)
| | - Pilar Eroles
- Institute of Health Research INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Oriol Arpí
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (O.A.); (A.R.); (J.A.)
| | - Ana Rovira
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (O.A.); (A.R.); (J.A.)
| | - Joan Albanell
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (O.A.); (A.R.); (J.A.)
| | - Juan Madoz-Gúrpide
- Pathology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (M.S.-Á.); (S.Z.); (J.M.-G.)
| | - Jesús García-Foncillas
- Translational Oncology Division, Oncohealth Institute, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Federico Rojo
- Pathology Department, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Diaz-UAM, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (M.S.-Á.); (S.Z.); (J.M.-G.)
- Correspondence: (I.C.); (F.R.); Tel.: +34-915-504-800 (I.C. & F.R.)
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Paskeh MDA, Saebfar H, Mahabady MK, Orouei S, Hushmandi K, Entezari M, Hashemi M, Aref AR, Hamblin MR, Ang HL, Kumar AP, Zarrabi A, Samarghandian S. Overcoming doxorubicin resistance in cancer: siRNA-loaded nanoarchitectures for cancer gene therapy. Life Sci 2022; 298:120463. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Abstract
Finding out predisposition and makeup alterations in cancer cells has prompted the exploration of exogenous small interference RNA (siRNA) as a therapeutic agent to deal with cancer. siRNA is subjected to many limitations that hinders its cellular uptake. Various nanocarriers have been loaded with siRNA to improve their cellular transportation and have moved to clinical trials. However, many restrictions as low encapsulation efficiency, nanocarrier cytotoxicity and premature release of siRNA have impeded the single nanocarrier use. The realm of nanohybrid systems has emerged to overcome these limitations and to synergize the criteria of two or more nanocarriers. Different nanohybrid systems that were developed as cellular pathfinders for the exogenous siRNA to target cancer will be illustrated in this review.
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Limongi T, Susa F, Marini M, Allione M, Torre B, Pisano R, di Fabrizio E. Lipid-Based Nanovesicular Drug Delivery Systems. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:3391. [PMID: 34947740 PMCID: PMC8707227 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In designing a new drug, considering the preferred route of administration, various requirements must be fulfilled. Active molecules pharmacokinetics should be reliable with a valuable drug profile as well as well-tolerated. Over the past 20 years, nanotechnologies have provided alternative and complementary solutions to those of an exclusively pharmaceutical chemical nature since scientists and clinicians invested in the optimization of materials and methods capable of regulating effective drug delivery at the nanometer scale. Among the many drug delivery carriers, lipid nano vesicular ones successfully support clinical candidates approaching such problems as insolubility, biodegradation, and difficulty in overcoming the skin and biological barriers such as the blood-brain one. In this review, the authors discussed the structure, the biochemical composition, and the drug delivery applications of lipid nanovesicular carriers, namely, niosomes, proniosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, pharmacosomes, ufasomes, phytosomes, catanionic vesicles, and extracellular vesicles.
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13
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Functionalized niosomes as a smart delivery device in cancer and fungal infection. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 168:106052. [PMID: 34740786 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Various diseases remain untreated due to lack of suitable therapeutic moiety or a suitable drug delivery device, especially where toxicities and side effects are the primary reason for concern. Cancer and fungal infections are diseases where treatment schedules are not completed due to severe side effects or lengthy treatment protocols. Advanced treatment approaches such as active targeting and inhibition of angiogenesis may be preferred method for the treatment for malignancy over the conventional method. Niosomes may be a better alternative drug delivery carrier for various therapeutic moieties (either hydrophilic or hydrophobic) and also due to ease of surface modification, non-immunogenicity and economical. Active targeting approach may be done by targeting the receptors through coupling of suitable ligand on niosomal surface. Moreover, various receptors (CD44, folate, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) & Vascular growth factor receptor (VGFR)) expressed by malignant cells have also been reviewed. The preparation of suitable niosomal formulation also requires considerable attention, and its formulation depends upon various factors such as selection of non-ionic surfactant, method of fabrication, and fabrication parameters. A combination therapy (dual drug and immunotherapy) has been proposed for the treatment of fungal infection with special consideration for surface modification with suitable ligand on niosomal surface to sensitize the receptors (C-type lectin receptors, Toll-like receptors & Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors) present on immune cells involved in fungal immunity. Certain gene silencing concept has also been discussed as an advanced alternative treatment for cancer by silencing the mRNA at molecular level using short interfering RNA (si-RNA).
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14
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Pengnam S, Plianwong S, Yingyongnarongkul BE, Patrojanasophon P, Opanasopit P. Delivery of small interfering RNAs by nanovesicles for cancer therapy. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2021; 42:100425. [PMID: 34954489 DOI: 10.1016/j.dmpk.2021.100425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) are originally recognized as an intermediate of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. They can inhibit or silence various cellular pathways by knocking down specific messenger RNA molecules. In cancer cells, siRNAs can suppress the expression of several multidrug-resistant genes, leading to the increased deposition of chemotherapeutic drugs at the tumor site. siRNA therapy can be used to selectively increase apoptosis of cancer cells or activate an immune response to the cancer. However, delivering siRNAs to the targeted location is the main limitation in achieving safe and effective delivery of siRNAs. This review highlights some representative examples of nonviral delivery systems, especially nanovesicles such as exosomes, liposomes, and niosomes. Nanovesicles can improve the delivery of siRNAs by increasing their intracellular delivery, and they have demonstrated excellent potential for cancer therapy. This review focuses on recent discoveries of siRNA targets for cancer therapy and the use of siRNAs to successfully silence these targets. In addition, this review summarizes the recent progress in designing nanovesicles (liposomes or niosomes) for siRNA delivery to cancer cells and the effects of a combination of anticancer drugs and siRNA therapy in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supusson Pengnam
- Pharmaceutical Development of Green Innovations Group (PDGIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand
| | | | - Boon-Ek Yingyongnarongkul
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Prasopchai Patrojanasophon
- Pharmaceutical Development of Green Innovations Group (PDGIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand
| | - Praneet Opanasopit
- Pharmaceutical Development of Green Innovations Group (PDGIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand.
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15
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Raut PK, Lee HS, Joo SH, Chun KS. Thymoquinone induces oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis through downregulation of Jak2/STAT3 signaling pathway in human melanoma cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 157:112604. [PMID: 34627931 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer, and the incidence and mortality rates are increasing worldwide. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the active component of Nigella sativa seed extracts and exerts anticancer effects in various cancer cells. However, the anticancer effects of TQ on melanoma and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, TQ treatment induced apoptosis in SK-MEL-28 cells. Interestingly, constitutive phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was markedly decreased following TQ treatment. Furthermore, TQ treatment downregulated STAT3-dependent genes including cyclin D1, D2, and D3 and survivin. Moreover, inhibition of Jak2/STAT3 using AG490, an inhibitor of Jak2 or genetic ablation of STAT3, abrogated the expression of target genes. TQ increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas pretreatment with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, prevented the suppressive effect of TQ on Jak2/STAT3 activation and protected SK-MEL-28 cells from TQ-induced apoptosis. TQ administration further attenuated the growth of SK-MEL-28 tumor xenografts. Taken together, TQ induced apoptosis of SK-MEL-28 by hindering the Jak2/STAT3 signaling pathway through ROS generation. Our results support further development of TQ as a potential anticancer therapeutic agent for treating melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar Raut
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, 42601, South Korea
| | - Hui Seong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, 42601, South Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Joo
- College of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongbuk, 38430, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Soo Chun
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, 42601, South Korea.
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16
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Sahu R, Pattanayak SP. Strategic Developments & Future Perspective on Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer: Role of mTOR and Brk/ PTK6 as Molecular Targets. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 20:237-258. [PMID: 32807051 DOI: 10.2174/1566523220999200731002408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a serious health issue and a major concern in biomedical research. Alteration in major signaling (viz. PI3K-AKT-mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-Erk, NF-kB, cyclin D1, JAK-STAT, Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog signaling and apoptotic pathway) contributes to the development of major subtypes of mammary carcinoma such as HER2 positive, TNBC, luminal A and B and normal-like breast cancer. Further, mutation and expression parameters of different genes involved in the growth and development of cells play an important role in the progress of different types of carcinoma, making gene therapy an emerging new therapeutic approach for the management of life-threatening diseases like cancer. The genetic targets (oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes) play a major role in the formation of a tumor. Brk/PTK6 and mTOR are two central molecules that are involved in the regulation of numerous signaling related to cell growth, proliferation, angiogenesis, survival, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and autophagy. Since these two proteins are highly upregulated in mammary carcinogenesis, this can be used as targeted genes for the treatment of breast cancer. However, not much work has been done on them. This review highlights the therapeutic significance of Brk and mTOR and their associated signaling in mammary carcinogenesis, which may provide a strategy to develop gene therapy for breast cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roja Sahu
- Division of Advanced Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 835 215, India
| | - Shakti P Pattanayak
- Division of Advanced Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand- 835 215, India,Department of Pharmacy, Central University of South Bihar (Gaya), Bihar-824 236, India
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17
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Al-Gabri NA, Saghir SAM, Al-Hashedi SA, El-Far AH, Khafaga AF, Swelum AA, Al-Wajeeh AS, Mousa SA, Abd El-Hack ME, Naiel MAE, El-Tarabily KA. Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone and Its Nanoformulations in Pulmonary Injury: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:5117-5131. [PMID: 34349511 PMCID: PMC8326280 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s314321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a crucial organ, the lung is exposed to various harmful agents that may induce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may cause chronic or acute lung injury. Nigella sativa, also known as black seed, has been widely used to treat various diseases and is one of the most extensively researched medicinal plants. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component of black seed volatile oil and has been proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. The potential therapeutic properties of TQ against various pulmonary disorders have been studied in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnology may increase drug solubility, cellular absorption, drug release (sustained or control), and drug delivery to lung tissue target sites. As a result, fabricating TQ as nanoparticles (NPs) is a potential therapeutic approach against a variety of lung diseases. In this current review, we summarize recent findings on the efficacy of TQ and its nanotypes in lung disorders caused by immunocompromised conditions such as cancer, diabetes, gastric ulcers, and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is concluded that TQ nanoparticles with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiasthma, and antitumor activity may be safely applied to treat lung disorders. However, more research is required before TQ nanoparticles can be used as pharmaceutical preparations in human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif A Al-Gabri
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen.,Laboratory of Regional Djibouti Livestock Quarantine, Abu Yasar international Est. 1999, Arta, Djibouti
| | - Sultan A M Saghir
- Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, AlHussein Bin Talal University, Ma'an, 71111, Jordan
| | | | - Ali H El-Far
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt
| | - Asmaa F Khafaga
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, 22758, Egypt
| | - Ayman A Swelum
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | | | - Shaker A Mousa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
| | - Mohamed E Abd El-Hack
- Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Mohammed A E Naiel
- Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Khaled A El-Tarabily
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates.,Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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18
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Fatfat Z, Fatfat M, Gali-Muhtasib H. Therapeutic potential of thymoquinone in combination therapy against cancer and cancer stem cells. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:522-543. [PMID: 34367926 PMCID: PMC8317652 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i7.522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-term success of standard anticancer monotherapeutic strategies has been hampered by intolerable side effects, resistance to treatment and cancer relapse. These monotherapeutic strategies shrink the tumor bulk but do not effectively eliminate the population of self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are normally present within the tumor. These surviving CSCs develop mechanisms of resistance to treatment and refuel the tumor, thus causing cancer relapse. To ensure durable tumor control, research has moved away from adopting the monotreatment paradigm towards developing and using combination therapy. Combining different therapeutic modalities has demonstrated significant therapeutic outcomes by strengthening the anti-tumor potential of monotreatment against cancer and cancer stem cells, mitigating their toxic adverse effects, and ultimately overcoming resistance. Recently, there has been growing interest in combining natural products from different sources or with clinically used chemotherapeutics to further improve treatment efficacy and tolerability. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa, has gained great attention in combination therapy research after demonstrating its low toxicity to normal cells and remarkable anticancer efficacy in extensive preclinical studies in addition to its ability to target chemoresistant CSCs. Here, we provide an overview of the therapeutic responses resulting from combining TQ with conventional therapeutic agents such as alkylating agents, antimetabolites and antimicrotubules as well as with topoisomerase inhibitors and non-coding RNA. We also review data on anticancer effects of TQ when combined with ionizing radiation and several natural products such as vitamin D3, melatonin and other compounds derived from Chinese medicinal plants. The focus of this review is on two outcomes of TQ combination therapy, namely eradicating CSCs and treating various types of cancers. In conclusion, the ability of TQ to potentiate the anticancer activity of many chemotherapeutic agents and sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy makes it a promising molecule that could be used in combination therapy to overcome resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents and reduce their associated toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaynab Fatfat
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Maamoun Fatfat
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Hala Gali-Muhtasib
- Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
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19
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Ilhan-Ayisigi E, Ghazal A, Sartori B, Dimaki M, Svendsen WE, Yesil-Celiktas O, Yaghmur A. Continuous Microfluidic Production of Citrem-Phosphatidylcholine Nano-Self-Assemblies for Thymoquinone Delivery. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1510. [PMID: 34200457 PMCID: PMC8229635 DOI: 10.3390/nano11061510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline nanodispersions, including liposomes, cubosomes, and hexosomes are attractive platforms for drug delivery, bio-imaging, and related pharmaceutical applications. As compared to liposomes, there is a modest number of reports on the continuous production of cubosomes and hexosomes. Using a binary lipid mixture of citrem and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), we describe the continuous production of nanocarriers for delivering thymoquinone (TQ, a substance with various therapeutic potentials) by employing a commercial microfluidic hydrodynamic flow-focusing chip. In this study, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were employed to characterize TQ-free and TQ-loaded citrem/SPC nanodispersions. Microfluidic synthesis led to formation of TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanoparticles with mean sizes around 115 and 124 nm, and NTA findings indicated comparable nanoparticle size distributions in these nanodispersions. Despite the attractiveness of the microfluidic chip for continuous production of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies, it was not efficient as comparable mean nanoparticle sizes were obtained on employing a batch (discontinuous) method based on low-energy emulsification method. SAXS results indicated the formation of a biphasic feature of swollen lamellar (Lα) phase in coexistence with an inverse bicontinuous cubic Pn3m phase in all continuously produced TQ-free and TQ-loaded nanodispersions. Further, a set of SAXS experiments were conducted on samples prepared using the batch method for gaining further insight into the effects of ethanol and TQ concentration on the structural features of citrem/SPC nano-self-assemblies. We discuss these effects and comment on the need to introduce efficient microfluidic platforms for producing nanocarriers for delivering TQ and other therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Ilhan-Ayisigi
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey; (E.I.-A.); (O.Y.-C.)
- Genetic and Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, 40100 Kirsehir, Turkey
| | - Aghiad Ghazal
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk Park, 2760 Måløv, Denmark
| | - Barbara Sartori
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9/4, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Maria Dimaki
- DTU Bioengineering—Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads Bldg. 221, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (M.D.); (W.E.S.)
| | - Winnie Edith Svendsen
- DTU Bioengineering—Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads Bldg. 221, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (M.D.); (W.E.S.)
| | - Ozlem Yesil-Celiktas
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35100 Bornova-Izmir, Turkey; (E.I.-A.); (O.Y.-C.)
| | - Anan Yaghmur
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
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20
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Pal RR, Rajpal V, Singh P, Saraf SA. Recent Findings on Thymoquinone and Its Applications as a Nanocarrier for the Treatment of Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:775. [PMID: 34067322 PMCID: PMC8224699 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer causes a considerable amount of mortality in the world, while arthritis is an immunological dysregulation with multifactorial pathogenesis including genetic and environmental defects. Both conditions have inflammation as a part of their pathogenesis. Resistance to anticancer and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) happens frequently through the generation of energy-dependent transporters, which lead to the expulsion of cellular drug contents. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a bioactive molecule with anticancer as well as anti-inflammatory activities via the downregulation of several chemokines and cytokines. Nevertheless, the pharmacological importance and therapeutic feasibility of thymoquinone are underutilized due to intrinsic pharmacokinetics, including short half-life, inadequate biological stability, poor aqueous solubility, and low bioavailability. Owing to these pharmacokinetic limitations of TQ, nanoformulations have gained remarkable attention in recent years. Therefore, this compilation intends to critically analyze recent advancements in rheumatoid arthritis and cancer delivery of TQ. This literature search revealed that nanocarriers exhibit potential results in achieving targetability, maximizing drug internalization, as well as enhancing the anti-inflammatory and anticancer efficacy of TQ. Additionally, TQ-NPs (thymoquinone nanoparticles) as a therapeutic payload modulated autophagy as well as enhanced the potential of other drugs when given in combination. Moreover, nanoformulations improved pharmacokinetics, drug deposition, using EPR (enhanced permeability and retention) and receptor-mediated delivery, and enhanced anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. TQ's potential to reduce metal toxicity, its clinical trials and patents have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Raj Pal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Vasundhara Rajpal
- Department of Biotechology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India;
| | - Priya Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Shubhini A. Saraf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
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Allemailem KS, Alnuqaydan AM, Almatroudi A, Alrumaihi F, Aljaghwani A, Khalilullah H, Younus H, Khan A, Khan MA. Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy of Thymoquinone-Loaded Liposomes against Drug-Sensitive and Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13050677. [PMID: 34066874 PMCID: PMC8151670 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13050677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the activity of free thymoquinone (TQ) or liposomal thymoquinone (Lip-TQ) in comparison to standard antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) against the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. A liposomal formulation of TQ was prepared and characterized and its toxicity was evaluated by analyzing the hematological, liver and kidney function parameters. TQ was effective against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant A. baumannii as shown by the findings of drug susceptibility testing and time kill kinetics. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of TQ or Lip-TQ against A. baumannii was assessed by the survival rate and the bacterial load in the lung tissues of treated mice. The mice infected with drug-sensitive A. baumannii exhibited a 90% survival rate on day 30 post treatment with Lip-TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg, whereas the mice treated with AMX (10 mg/kg) had a 100% survival rate. On the other hand, the mice infected with drug-resistant A. baumannii had a 70% survival rate in the group treated with Lip-TQ, whereas AMX was ineffective against drug-resistant A. baumannii and all the mice died within day 30 after the treatment. Moreover, Lip-TQ treatment effectively reduced the bacterial load in the lung tissues of the mice infected with the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant A. baumannii. Moreover, the blood of the mice treated with Lip-TQ had reduced levels of inflammation markers, leukocytes and neutrophils. The results of the present study suggest that Lip-TQ may prove to be an effective therapeutic formulation in the treatment of the drug-sensitive or drug-resistant A. baumannii infection as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled S. Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.A.); (A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.A.); (A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Faris Alrumaihi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.A.); (A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Aseel Aljaghwani
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (K.S.A.); (A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Habibullah Khalilullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Hina Younus
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India;
| | - Arif Khan
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Masood A. Khan
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-507059437; Fax: +966-63801628
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Thymoquinone, as a Novel Therapeutic Candidate of Cancers. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040369. [PMID: 33923474 PMCID: PMC8074212 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, natural products are widely used as pharmaceutical agents for many human diseases and cancers. One of the most popular natural products that have been studied for anticancer properties is thymoquinone (TQ). As a bioactive compound of Nigella sativa, TQ has shown anticancer activities through the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The anticancer efficacy of TQ is being investigated in several human cancers such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia. Even though TQ induces apoptosis by regulating the expression of pro- apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes in many cancers, the TQ effect mechanism on such cancers is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the present review has highlighted the TQ effect mechanisms on several signaling pathways and expression of tumor suppressor genes (TSG). Data from relevant published experimental articles on TQ from 2015 to June 2020 were selected by using Google Scholar and PubMed search engines. The present study investigated the effectiveness of TQ alone or in combination with other anticancer therapeutic agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors on cancers, as a future anticancer therapy nominee by using nanotechnology.
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Ibrahim TS, Taher ES, Altyar AE, Y. Rizg W. Novel Levothyroxine HIV-TAT Nanoconjugates Suppressing HeLa Cell Lines Growth in Management of Cervical Cancer. INT J PHARMACOL 2021. [DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2021.300.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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El-Far AH, Darwish NHE, Mousa SA. Senescent Colon and Breast Cancer Cells Induced by Doxorubicin Exhibit Enhanced Sensitivity to Curcumin, Caffeine, and Thymoquinone. Integr Cancer Ther 2021; 19:1534735419901160. [PMID: 32054357 PMCID: PMC7025418 DOI: 10.1177/1534735419901160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a process of physiological growth arrest that can be induced by intrinsic or extrinsic stress signals. Some cancer therapies are associated with senescence of cancer cells with a typical cell cycle arrest. Doxorubicin (Dox) induces senescence by a p53-dependent pathway and telomere dysfunction of numerous cancers. However, cellular senescence induces suppression in proliferation activity, and these cells will remain metabolically active and play an important role in tumor relapse and development of drug resistance. In the current study, we investigated the apoptotic effect of curcumin (Cur), caffeine (Caff), and thymoquinone (TQ) on senescent colon cancer HCT116 and breast cancer MCF7 cell lines treated with Dox. Results showed typical senescence markers including decreased bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, increased accumulation of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), cell cycle arrest, and upregulation of p53, P-p53, and p21 proteins. Annexin-V analysis by flow cytometry revealed 2- to 6-fold increases in annexin-V–positive cells in Dox-treated MCF7 and HCT116 cells by Cur (15 µM), Caff (10 mM), and TQ (50 µM; P < .001). In comparison between proliferative and senescent of either HCT116 or MCF7 cells, Caff at 15 mM and TQ at 25 µM induced significant increases in apoptosis of Dox-treated cells compared with proliferative cells (P < .001). Data revealed that Cur, Caff, and TQ potentially induced apoptosis of both proliferative and senescent HCT116 and MCF7 cells. In vivo and clinical trials are of great importance to validate this result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali H El-Far
- Damanhour University, Damanhour, El-Beheira, Egypt
| | - Noureldien H E Darwish
- Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.,Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Shaker A Mousa
- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, USA
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Kundu M, Majumder R, Das CK, Mandal M. Natural products based nanoformulations for cancer treatment: Current evolution in Indian research. Biomed Mater 2021; 16. [PMID: 33621207 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/abe8f2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of medicinal plants is as ancient as human civilization. The development of phytochemistry and pharmacology facilitates the identification of natural bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action, including against cancer. The efficacy and the safety of a bioactive compound depend on its optimal delivery to the target site. Most natural bioactive compounds (phenols, flavonoids, tannins, etc.) are unable to reach their target sites due to their low water solubility, less cellular absorption, and high molecular weight, leading to their failure into clinical translation. Therefore, many scientific studies are going on to overcome the drawbacks of natural products for clinical applications. Several studies in India, as well as worldwide, have proposed the development of natural products-based nanoformulations to increase their efficacy and safety profile for cancer therapy by improving the delivery of natural bioactive compounds to their target site. Therefore, we are trying to discuss the development of natural products-based nanoformulations in India to improve the efficacy and safety of natural bioactive compounds against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Kundu
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Cancer biology lab, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, INDIA
| | - Ranabir Majumder
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Cancer biology lab, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, INDIA
| | - Chandan Kanta Das
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Cancer biology lab, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, INDIA
| | - Mahitosh Mandal
- SMST, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Cancer biology lab, Kharagpur, 721302, INDIA
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Ünal TD, Hamurcu Z, Delibaşı N, Çınar V, Güler A, Gökçe S, Nurdinov N, Ozpolat B. Thymoquinone Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of MDA-MB-231 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing Autophagy, Beclin-1 and LC3. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:355-364. [PMID: 32767958 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200807221047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis. A better understanding of the biology of this complex cancer is needed to develop novel therapeutic strategies for the improvement of patient survival. We have previously demonstrated that Thymoquinone (TQ), the major phenolic compound found in Nigella sativa, induces anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects and inhibits in vivo tumor growth in orthotopic TNBC models in mice. Also, we have previously shown that Beclin-1 and LC3 autophagy genes contributes to TNBC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, suggesting that Beclin-1 and LC3 genes provide proto-oncogenic effects in TNBC. However, the role of Beclin-1 and LC3 in mediating TQ-induced anti-tumor effects in TNBC is not known. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of TQ on the major autophagy mediators, Beclin-1 and LC3 expression, as well as autophagic activity in TNBC cells. METHODS Cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and autophagy activity were evaluated using MTS cell viability, colony formation assay, wound healing and acridine orange staining assays, respectively. Western blotting and RT-PCR assays were used to investigate LC3 and Beclin-1 protein and gene expressions, respectively, in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells in response to TQ treatments. RESULTS TQ treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and autophagic activity of MDA-MB-231 cells and suppressed LC3 and Beclin-1 expressions. Furthermore, TQ treatment led to the inhibition of Integrin-β1, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in TNBC cells. CONCLUSION TQ inhibits autophagic activity and expression of Beclin-1 and LC3 in TNBC cells and suppresses pathways related to cell migration/invasion and angiogenesis, including Integrin-β1, VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP- 9, suggesting that TQ may be used to control autophagic activity and oncogenic signaling in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba D Ünal
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zuhal Hamurcu
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Nesrin Delibaşı
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Venhar Çınar
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Ahsen Güler
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Sevda Gökçe
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Nursultan Nurdinov
- Betul-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Departments of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Martinelli C, Biglietti M. Nanotechnological approaches for counteracting multidrug resistance in cancer. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2020; 3:1003-1020. [PMID: 35582219 PMCID: PMC8992571 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2020.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Every year, cancer accounts for a vast portion of deaths worldwide. Established clinical protocols are based on chemotherapy, which, however, is not tumor-selective and produces a series of unbearable side effects in healthy tissues. As a consequence, multidrug resistance (MDR) can arise causing metastatic progression and disease relapse. Combination therapy has demonstrated limited responses in the treatment of MDR, mainly due to the different pharmacokinetic properties of administered drugs and to tumor heterogeneity, challenges that still need to be solved in a significant percentage of cancer patients. In this perspective, we briefly discuss the most relevant MDR mechanisms leading to therapy failure and we report the most advanced strategies adopted in the nanomedicine field for the design and evaluation of ad hoc nanocarriers. We present some emerging classes of nanocarriers developed to reverse MDR and discuss recent progress evidencing their limits and promises.
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Sunoqrot S, Alfaraj M, Hammad AM, Kasabri V, Shalabi D, Deeb AA, Hasan Ibrahim L, Shnewer K, Yousef I. Development of a Thymoquinone Polymeric Anticancer Nanomedicine through Optimization of Polymer Molecular Weight and Nanoparticle Architecture. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E811. [PMID: 32867015 PMCID: PMC7560238 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12090811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ) is a water-insoluble natural compound isolated from Nigella sativa that has demonstrated promising chemotherapeutic activity. The purpose of this study was to develop a polymeric nanoscale formulation for TQ to circumvent its delivery challenges. TQ-encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated using methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) copolymers by the nanoprecipitation technique. Formulation variables included PCL chain length and NP architecture (matrix-type nanospheres or reservoir-type nanocapsules). The formulations were characterized in terms of their particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), drug loading efficiency, and drug release. An optimized TQ NP formulation in the form of oil-filled nanocapsules (F2-NC) was obtained with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 117 nm, PDI of 0.16, about 60% loading efficiency, and sustained in vitro drug release. The formulation was then tested in cultured human cancer cell lines to verify its antiproliferative efficacy as a potential anticancer nanomedicine. A pilot pharmacokinetic study was also carried out in healthy mice to evaluate the oral bioavailability of the optimized formulation, which revealed a significant increase in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 1.3-fold increase in bioavailability compared to free TQ. Our findings demonstrate that the versatility of polymeric NPs can be effectively applied to design a nanoscale delivery platform for TQ that can overcome its biopharmaceutical limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhair Sunoqrot
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (M.A.); (A.M.H.); (A.A.D.); (L.H.I.)
| | - Malek Alfaraj
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (M.A.); (A.M.H.); (A.A.D.); (L.H.I.)
| | - Ala’a M. Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (M.A.); (A.M.H.); (A.A.D.); (L.H.I.)
| | - Violet Kasabri
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (V.K.); (D.S.)
| | - Dana Shalabi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (V.K.); (D.S.)
| | - Ahmad A. Deeb
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (M.A.); (A.M.H.); (A.A.D.); (L.H.I.)
| | - Lina Hasan Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan; (M.A.); (A.M.H.); (A.A.D.); (L.H.I.)
| | | | - Ismail Yousef
- Smart Medical Labs, Amman 11180, Jordan; (K.S.); (I.Y.)
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A. Fahmy U, A.A. Ahmed O, A. El-mose M, Asfour HZ, Alhakamy NA. Thymoquinone Loaded Zein Nanoparticles Improves the Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells. INT J PHARMACOL 2020. [DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2020.554.561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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30
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Alhakamy NA, Badr-Eldin SM, Fahmy UA, Alruwaili NK, Awan ZA, Caruso G, Alfaleh MA, Alaofi AL, Arif FO, Ahmed OAA, Alghaith AF. Thymoquinone-Loaded Soy-Phospholipid-Based Phytosomes Exhibit Anticancer Potential against Human Lung Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E761. [PMID: 32806507 PMCID: PMC7463966 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12080761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ), a natural polyphenol, has been associated with various pharmacological responses; however, low bioavailability of TQ limits its clinical application. Thus, a novel phytosomal delivery system of TQ-Phospholipon® 90H complex (TQ-phytosome) was developed by refluxing combined with anti-solvent precipitation. This TQ delivery system was optimized by a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design. The optimized TQ-phytosome size was (45.59 ± 1.82 nm) and the vesicle size was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The in vitro release pattern of the formulation indicated a biphasic release pattern, where an initial burst release was observed within 2 h, followed by a prolonged release. A remarkable increase in dose-dependent cytotoxicity was evident from the significant decrease in IC50 value of TQ-phytosomes (4.31 ± 2.21 µM) against the A549 cell line. The differential effect of TQ-phytosomes in cell cycle analysis was observed, where cancer cells were accumulated on G2-M and pre-G1 phases. Furthermore, increased apoptotic induction and cell necrosis of TQ-phytosomes were revealed with the annexin V staining technique via activation of caspase-3. In reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis, TQ-phytosomes acted to significantly increase ROS generation in A549 cells. In conclusion, the sustained release profile with significantly-improved anticancer potential could be obtained with TQ by this phytosomal nanocarrier platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil A. Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (S.M.B.-E.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Advanced Drug Delivery Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Excellence for Drug Research and Pharmaceutical Industries, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (S.M.B.-E.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Usama A. Fahmy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (S.M.B.-E.); (O.A.A.A.)
| | - Nabil K. Alruwaili
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf 2014, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Zuhier A. Awan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero, 73, 94018 Troina (EN), Italy;
| | - Mohamed A. Alfaleh
- Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahmed L. Alaofi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.L.A.); (A.F.A.)
| | - Faris O Arif
- General Surgery KAUH, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Osama A. A. Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.); (S.M.B.-E.); (O.A.A.A.)
- Advanced Drug Delivery Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel F. Alghaith
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.L.A.); (A.F.A.)
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Rathore C, Rathbone MJ, Chellappan DK, Tambuwala MM, Pinto TDJA, Dureja H, Hemrajani C, Gupta G, Dua K, Negi P. Nanocarriers: more than tour de force for thymoquinone. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 17:479-494. [PMID: 32077770 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1730808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Thymoquinone (TQ), 2-isopropyl-5-methylbenzo-1, 4-quinone, the main active constituent of Nigella sativa (NS) plant, has been proven to be of great therapeutic aid in various in vitro and in vivo conditions. Despite the promising therapeutic activities of TQ, this molecule is not yet in the clinical trials, restricted by its poor biopharmaceutical properties including photo-instability.Area covered: This review compiles the different types of polymeric and lipidic nanocarriers (NCs), encapsulating TQ for their improved oral bioavailability, and augmented in vitro and in vivo efficacy, evidenced on various pathologies. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive overview of TQ in relation to its encapsulation approaches advancing the delivery and improving the efficacy of TQ.Expert opinion: TQ was first identified in the essential oil of Nigella sativa L. black seed. TQ has not been used in formulations because it is a highly hydrophobic drug having poor aqueous solubility. To deal with the poor physicochemical problems associated with TQ, various NCs encapsulating TQ have been tried in the past. Nevertheless, these NCs could be impending in bringing forth this potential molecule to clinical reality. This will also be beneficial for a large research community including pharmaceutical & biological sciences and translational researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charul Rathore
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
| | | | - Dinesh K Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | | | - Harish Dureja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Chetna Hemrajani
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.,Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Australia & Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Poonam Negi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, India
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Nuñez-Rivera A, Fournier PGJ, Arellano DL, Rodriguez-Hernandez AG, Vazquez-Duhalt R, Cadena-Nava RD. Brome mosaic virus-like particles as siRNA nanocarriers for biomedical purposes. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 11:372-382. [PMID: 32175217 PMCID: PMC7059527 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.11.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in the use of plant viruses as vehicles for anti-cancer therapy. In particular, the plant virus brome mosaic virus (BMV) and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) are novel potential nanocarriers for different therapies in nanomedicine. In this work, BMV and CCMV were loaded with a fluorophore and assayed on breast tumor cells. The viruses BMV and CCMV were internalized into breast tumor cells. Both viruses, BMV and CCMV, did not show cytotoxic effects on tumor cells in vitro. However, only BMV did not activate macrophages in vitro. This suggests that BMV is less immunogenic and may be a potential carrier for therapy delivery in tumor cells. Furthermore, BMV virus-like particles (VLPs) were efficiently loaded with small interfering RNA (siRNA) without packaging signal. The gene silencing was demonstrated by VLPs loaded with siGFP and tested on breast tumor cells that constitutively express the green fluorescent protein (GPF). After VLP-siGFP treatment, GFP expression was efficiently inhibited corroborating the cargo release inside tumor cells and the gene silencing. In addition, BMV VLP carring siAkt1 inhibited the tumor growth in mice. These results show the attractive potential of plant virus VLPs to deliver molecular therapy to tumor cells with low immunogenic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Nuñez-Rivera
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) – Ensenada, Baja California, México
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Pierrick G J Fournier
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Danna L Arellano
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, (CICESE), Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Ana G Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) – Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Rafael Vazquez-Duhalt
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) – Ensenada, Baja California, México
| | - Ruben D Cadena-Nava
- Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) – Ensenada, Baja California, México
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Bidram E, Esmaeili Y, Ranji-Burachaloo H, Al-Zaubai N, Zarrabi A, Stewart A, Dunstan DE. A concise review on cancer treatment methods and delivery systems. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2019.101350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Kazan A, Yesil-Celiktas O, Zhang YS. Fabrication of Thymoquinone-Loaded Albumin Nanoparticles by Microfluidic Particle Synthesis and Their Effect on Planarian Regeneration. Macromol Biosci 2019; 19:e1900182. [PMID: 31609099 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201900182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Thymoquinone is the main bioactive component of the plant Nigella sativa, which is commonly known as black seeds and has several therapeutic effects. However, clinical applications of thymoquinone are limited due to its hydrophobic nature. In this study, thymoquinone is encapsulated in albumin nanoparticles by using a microfluidic platform to overcome this limitation. The mean particle sizes of empty and thymoquinone-loaded nanoparticles are determined as 271.3 and 315.6 nm, respectively, with polydispersity index values both lower than 0.25. In addition to particle size distribution measurements, characterizations of the prepared nanoparticles such as zeta potential measurements, in vitro release studies, as well as scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses are also carried out. To determine the effect of thymoquinone on neural regeneration, planarians are used as the model organism. After application of free and encapsulated thymoquinone, planarians are amputated and the fragments are observed in terms of head and tail regeneration, swimming pattern, and behavior. The results indicate that thymoquinone affects their behavior and primarily enhances head regeneration of planarians. In addition, it is shown that encapsulation of thymoquinone not only enhances the thermal stability of the molecule but also decreases its toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Kazan
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Yesil-Celiktas
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey.,Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Pivotal Role of AKT2 during Dynamic Phenotypic Change of Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081058. [PMID: 31357505 PMCID: PMC6721305 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance seen in aggressive forms of breast cancer remains challenging for current treatments. More than half of the patients suffer from a disease relapse, most of them with distant metastases. Cancer maintenance, resistance to therapy, and metastatic disease seem to be sustained by the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC) within a tumor. The difficulty in targeting this subpopulation derives from their dynamic interconversion process, where CSC can differentiate to non-CSC, which in turn de-differentiate into cells with CSC properties. Using fluorescent CSC models driven by the expression of ALDH1A 1(aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1), we confirmed this dynamic phenotypic change in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and to identify Serine/Threonine Kinase 2 (AKT2) as an important player in the process. To confirm the central role of AKT2, we silenced AKT2 expression via small interfering RNA and using a chemical inhibitor (CCT128930), in both CSC and non-CSC from different cancer cell lines. Our results revealed that AKT2 inhibition effectively prevents non-CSC reversion through mesenchymal to epithelial transition, reducing invasion and colony formation ability of both, non-CSC and CSC. Further, AKT2 inhibition reduced CSC survival in low attachment conditions. Interestingly, in orthotopic tumor mouse models, high expression levels of AKT2 were detected in circulating tumor cells (CTC). These findings suggest AKT2 as a promising target for future anti-cancer therapies at three important levels: (i) Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) reversion and maintenance of CSC subpopulation in primary tumors, (ii) reduction of CTC and the likelihood of metastatic spread, and (iii) prevention of tumor recurrence through inhibition of CSC tumorigenic and metastatic potential.
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Evaluation of Carum-loaded Niosomes on Breast Cancer Cells:Physicochemical Properties, In Vitro Cytotoxicity, Flow Cytometric, DNA Fragmentation and Cell Migration Assay. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7139. [PMID: 31073144 PMCID: PMC6509162 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43755-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical compound found in Carum carvil seeds (C. carvil), has a lot of applications in medical especially cancer therapy. However, TQ has a hydrophobic nature, and because of that, its solubility, permeability and its bioavailability in biological mediums are poor. To diminish these drawbacks, we have designed a herbal carrier composed of Ergosterol (herbal lipid), Carum carvil extract (Carum) and nonionic surfactants for herbal cancer treatment. C. carvil was extracted and characterized by GC/Mass. Two different formulations containing TQ and Carum were encapsulated into niosomes (Nio/TQ and Nio/Carum, respectively) and their properties were compared together. Morphology, size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), profile release rate, in vitro cytotoxicity, flow cytometric, DNA fragmentation and cell migration assay of formulations were evaluated. Results show that both loaded formulations have a spherical morphology, nanometric size and negative zeta potential. EE% of TQ and Carum loaded niosomes was about 92.32% ± 2.32 and 86.25% ± 1.85, respectively. Both loaded formulations provided a controlled release compared with free TQ. MTT assay showed that loaded niosomes have more anti-cancer activity compared with Free TQ and free Carum against MCF-7 cancer cell line and these results were confirmed by flow cytometric analysis. Cell cycle analysis showed G2/M arrest in TQ, Nio/TQ and Nio/Carum formulations. TQ, Nio/TQ and Nio/Carum decreased the migration of MCF7 cells remarkedly. These results show that the TQ and Carum loaded niosomes are novel carriers with high efficiency for encapsulation of low soluble phytochemicals and also would be favourable systems for breast cancer treatment.
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Lipid-Based Nanoparticles: Application and Recent Advances in Cancer Treatment. NANOMATERIALS 2019; 9:nano9040638. [PMID: 31010180 PMCID: PMC6523119 DOI: 10.3390/nano9040638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many therapeutically active molecules are non-soluble in aqueous systems, chemically and biologically fragile or present severe side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticle (LBNP) systems represent one of the most promising colloidal carriers for bioactive organic molecules. Their current application in oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment by improving the antitumor activity of several chemotherapeutic agents. LBNPs advantages include high temporal and thermal stability, high loading capacity, ease of preparation, low production costs, and large-scale industrial production since they can be prepared from natural sources. Moreover, the association of chemotherapeutic agents with lipid nanoparticles reduces active therapeutic dose and toxicity, decreases drug resistance and increases drug levels in tumor tissue by decreasing them in healthy tissue. LBNPs have been extensively assayed in in vitro cancer therapy but also in vivo, with promising results in some clinical trials. This review summarizes the types of LBNPs that have been developed in recent years and the main results when applied in cancer treatment, including essential assays in patients.
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Grijalvo S, Puras G, Zárate J, Sainz-Ramos M, Qtaish NAL, López T, Mashal M, Attia N, Díaz D, Pons R, Fernández E, Pedraz JL, Eritja R. Cationic Niosomes as Non-Viral Vehicles for Nucleic Acids: Challenges and Opportunities in Gene Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:E50. [PMID: 30678296 PMCID: PMC6409589 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic niosomes have become important non-viral vehicles for transporting a good number of small drug molecules and macromolecules. Growing interest shown by these colloidal nanoparticles in therapy is determined by their structural similarities to liposomes. Cationic niosomes are usually obtained from the self-assembly of non-ionic surfactant molecules. This process can be governed not only by the nature of such surfactants but also by others factors like the presence of additives, formulation preparation and properties of the encapsulated hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules. This review is aimed at providing recent information for using cationic niosomes for gene delivery purposes with particular emphasis on improving the transportation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), aptamers and plasmids (pDNA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Grijalvo
- Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
| | - Gustavo Puras
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Jon Zárate
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Myriam Sainz-Ramos
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Nuseibah A L Qtaish
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Tania López
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Mohamed Mashal
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Noha Attia
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - David Díaz
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología del CSIC, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Ramon Pons
- Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Eduardo Fernández
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- Neuroprothesis and Neuroengineering Research Group, Miguel Hernández University, E-03202 Elche, Spain.
| | - José Luis Pedraz
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Ramon Eritja
- Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
- Networking Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), E-08034 Barcelona, E-01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz and E-03202 Elche, Spain.
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Artiga Á, Serrano-Sevilla I, De Matteis L, Mitchell SG, de la Fuente JM. Current status and future perspectives of gold nanoparticle vectors for siRNA delivery. J Mater Chem B 2019; 7:876-896. [PMID: 32255093 DOI: 10.1039/c8tb02484g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Discovering the vast therapeutic potential of siRNA opened up new clinical research areas focussing on a number of diseases and applications; however significant problems with siRNA stability and delivery have hindered its clinical applicability. As a result, interest in the development of practical siRNA delivery systems has grown in recent years. Of the numerous siRNA delivery strategies currently on offer, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stand out thanks to their biocompatibility and capacity to protect siRNA against degradation; not to mention the versatility offered by their tuneable shape, size and optical properties. Herein this review provides a complete summary of the methodologies for functionalizing AuNPs with siRNA, paying singular attention to the AuNP shape, size and surface coating, since these key factors heavily influence cellular interaction, internalization and, ultimately, the efficacy of the hybrid particle. The most noteworthy hybridization strategies have been highlighted along with the most innovative and outstanding in vivo studies with a view to increasing clinical interest in the use of AuNPs as siRNA nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Artiga
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón (ICMA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Zaragoza and CIBER-BBN, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
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Khan MA, Aldebasi YH, Alsuhaibani SA, AlSahli MA, Alzohairy MA, Khan A, Younus H. Therapeutic potential of thymoquinone liposomes against the systemic infection of Candida albicans in diabetic mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208951. [PMID: 30589842 PMCID: PMC6320018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was aimed to develop a liposomal formulation of thymoquinone (Lip-TQ) to treat Candida albicans infection in diabetic mice. Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected to induce hyperglycemia and on day 3 post STZ administration, mice were intravenously infected with C. albicans. Various doses (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) of Free or Lip-TQ were administered in C. albicans infected diabetic mice. The effect of Lip-TQ was also determined on the organ indices, liver and kidney function parameters. Lip-TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg significantly reduced the level of the blood glucose and alleviated the systemic C. albicans infection in diabetic mice. C. albicans infected diabetic mice treated with Lip-TQ at a dose of 10 mg/kg showed the survival rate of 70% as compared to that of 20% in the group treated with free TQ. The treatment with Lip-TQ resulted in the recovery of the organ indices, liver inflammation, kidney functioning and pancreas regeneration in diabetic mice. Moreover, TQ formulations also showed the direct therapeutic effect against candidiasis in the untreated or metformin-treated diabetic mice. Therefore, the findings of the present study support the use of Lip-TQ in the treatment of candidiasis in the diabetic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masood A Khan
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousef H Aldebasi
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed A AlSahli
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Arif Khan
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hina Younus
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
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Mokhtary P, Javan B, Sharbatkhari M, Soltani A, Erfani-Moghadam V. Cationic vesicles for efficient shRNA transfection in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Int J Nanomedicine 2018; 13:7107-7121. [PMID: 30464462 PMCID: PMC6228047 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s177674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Novel and safe delivery solutions for RNAi therapeutics are essential to obtain the full potential of cancer gene therapy. METHODS In this study, cationic vesicular nanocarrier was applied for delivering lnc urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (lnc UCA1) shRNA expression vector to MCF-7 cells. The physicochemical characteristics, cytotoxicity, and transfection efficiency of cationic vesicles prepared from various molar ratios of amphiphilic surfactant Tween 80 (T), squalene (S), cationic charge lipid didodecyldimethylammonium bromide, and polyethylenimine were investigated. The particle sizes of the vesicles in the nanosize range were determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Gel protection assay with agarose gel electrophoresis showed cationic vesicles can protect the shRNA plasmid from DNase 1 enzyme. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H tetrazolium, inner salt result showed no significant cytotoxicity was caused in MCF-7 cancer cell line by (T:S):polyethylenimine cationic vesicles. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H tetrazolium, inner salt assay, fluorescence microscope images, and flow cytometry analyses confirmed that (T:S)1,040 μM with 4.3 μg/mL of PEI vesicles provided effective transfection without significant cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found efficient UCA1 shRNA transfection and significant (P<0.05) cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. CONCLUSION The novel nonviral vesicular nanocarrier, (T:S)1,040 μM with 4.3 μg/mL of PEI, might be safe and efficient for cancer gene therapy and can be used in further in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pardis Mokhtary
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran,
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran,
| | - Bita Javan
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran,
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | - Alireza Soltani
- Golestan Rheumatology Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Vahid Erfani-Moghadam
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran,
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran,
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Wang Y, Chen X, He D, Zhou Y, Qin L. Surface-Modified Nanoerythrocyte Loading DOX for Targeted Liver Cancer Chemotherapy. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:5728-5740. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuemin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Xiaomei Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Dahua He
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- The College of Pharmaceutics Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510436, China
| | - Linghao Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
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Chowdhury P, Nagesh PK, Khan S, Hafeez BB, Chauhan SC, Jaggi M, Yallapu MM. Development of polyvinylpyrrolidone/paclitaxel self-assemblies for breast cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2018; 8:602-614. [PMID: 30109184 PMCID: PMC6090082 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this investigation was to develop and demonstrate a polymer/paclitaxel self-assembly (PTX-SA) formulation. Polymer/PTX-SAs were screened based on smaller size of formulation using dynamic light scattering analysis. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry studies exhibited that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based PTX-SAs (PVP/PTX-SAs) had superior cellular internalization capability in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The optimized PVP/PTX-SAs exhibited less toxicity to human red blood cells indicating a suitable formulation for reducing systemic toxicity. The formation of PVP and PTX self-assemblies was confirmed using fluorescence quenching and transmission electron microscopy which indicated that the PVP/PTX-SAs were spherical in shape with an average size range of 53.81 nm as detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR spectral analysis demonstrates incorporation of polymer and paclitaxel functional groups in PVP/PTX-SAs. Both proliferation (MTS) and clonogenic (colony formation) assays were used to validate superior anticancer activity of PVP/PTX-SAs in breast cancer cells over paclitaxel. Such superior anticancer activity was also demonstrated by downregulation of the expression of pro-survival protein (Bcl-xL), upregulation of apoptosis-associated proteins (Bid, Bax, cleaved caspase 7, and cleaved PARP) and β-tubulin stabilization. These results support the hypothesis that PVP/PTX-SAs improved paclitaxel delivery to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Murali M. Yallapu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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Kumar BNP, Puvvada N, Rajput S, Sarkar S, Mahto MK, Yallapu MM, Pathak A, Emdad L, Das SK, Reis RL, Kundu SC, Fisher PB, Mandal M. Targeting of EGFR, VEGFR2, and Akt by Engineered Dual Drug Encapsulated Mesoporous Silica-Gold Nanoclusters Sensitizes Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:2698-2713. [PMID: 29787277 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Tamoxifen administration enhanced overall disease-free survival and diminished mortality rates in cancer patients. However, patients with breast cancer often fail to respond for tamoxifen therapy due to the development of a drug-resistant phenotype. Functional analysis and molecular studies suggest that protein mutation and dysregulation of survival signaling molecules such as epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and Akt contribute to tamoxifen resistance. Various strategies, including combinatorial therapies, show chemosensitize tamoxifen-resistant cancers. Based on chemotoxicity issues, researchers are actively investigating alternative therapeutic strategies. In the current study, we fabricate a mesoporous silica gold cluster nanodrug delivery system that displays exceptional tumor-targeting capability, thus promoting accretion of drug indices at the tumor site. We employ dual drugs, ZD6474, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that inhibit EGFR2, VEGFR2, and Akt signaling pathways since changes in these signaling pathways confer tamoxifen resistance in MCF 7 and T-47D cells. Mesoporous silica gold cluster nanodrug delivery of ZD6474 and EGCG sensitize tamoxifen-resistant cells to apoptosis. Western and immune-histochemical analyses confirmed the apoptotic inducing properties of the nanoformulation. Overall, results with these silica gold nanoclusters suggest that they may be a potent nanoformulation against chemoresistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- B N Prashanth Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research , University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis , Tennessee 38163 , United States
| | - Nagaprasad Puvvada
- Chemical Biology , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Uppal Road , Hyderabad 500007 , India
| | - Shashi Rajput
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance , Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Siddik Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , VCU Institute of Molecular Genetics, VCU Massey Cancer, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine , Richmond , Virginia 23298 , United States
| | | | - Murali M Yallapu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research , University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis , Tennessee 38163 , United States
| | | | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , VCU Institute of Molecular Genetics, VCU Massey Cancer, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine , Richmond , Virginia 23298 , United States
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , VCU Institute of Molecular Genetics, VCU Massey Cancer, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine , Richmond , Virginia 23298 , United States
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3Bs Research Group , Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho , Avepark - 4805-017 , Barco, Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - S C Kundu
- 3Bs Research Group , Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho , Avepark - 4805-017 , Barco, Guimaraes, Portugal
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , VCU Institute of Molecular Genetics, VCU Massey Cancer, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine , Richmond , Virginia 23298 , United States
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Nagesh PKB, Hatami E, Chowdhury P, Kashyap VK, Khan S, Hafeez BB, Chauhan SC, Jaggi M, Yallapu MM. Tannic Acid Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E68. [PMID: 29518944 PMCID: PMC5876643 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10030068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is an intriguing target with significant clinical importance in chemotherapy. Interference with ER functions can lead to the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as detected by transmembrane sensors that instigate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Therefore, controlling induced UPR via ER stress with natural compounds could be a novel therapeutic strategy for the management of prostate cancer. Tannic acid (a naturally occurring polyphenol) was used to examine the ER stress mediated UPR pathway in prostate cancer cells. Tannic acid treatment inhibited the growth, clonogenic, invasive, and migratory potential of prostate cancer cells. Tannic acid demonstrated activation of ER stress response (Protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)) and altered its regulatory proteins (ATF4, Bip, and PDI) expression. Tannic acid treatment affirmed upregulation of apoptosis-associated markers (Bak, Bim, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved PARP), while downregulation of pro-survival proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL). Tannic acid exhibited elevated G₁ population, due to increase in p18INK4C and p21WAF1/CIP1 expression, while cyclin D1 expression was inhibited. Reduction of MMP2 and MMP9, and reinstated E-cadherin signifies the anti-metastatic potential of this compound. Altogether, these results demonstrate that tannic acid can promote apoptosis via the ER stress mediated UPR pathway, indicating a potential candidate for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanth K B Nagesh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Elham Hatami
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Pallabita Chowdhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Vivek K Kashyap
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Sheema Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Bilal B Hafeez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Subhash C Chauhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Meena Jaggi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
| | - Murali M Yallapu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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Ahmadzada T, Reid G, McKenzie DR. Fundamentals of siRNA and miRNA therapeutics and a review of targeted nanoparticle delivery systems in breast cancer. Biophys Rev 2018; 10:69-86. [PMID: 29327101 PMCID: PMC5803180 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-017-0392-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene silencing via RNA interference (RNAi) is rapidly evolving as a personalized approach to cancer treatment. The effector molecules-small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)-can be used to silence or "switch off" specific cancer genes. Currently, the main barrier to implementing siRNA- and miRNA-based therapies in clinical practice is the lack of an effective delivery system that can protect the RNA molecules from nuclease degradation, deliver to them to tumor tissue, and release them into the cytoplasm of the target cancer cells, all without inducing adverse effects. Here, we review the fundamentals of RNAi, cell membrane transport pathways, and factors that affect intracellular delivery. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of nanoparticle delivery systems, with a focus on those that have been investigated in breast cancer in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamkin Ahmadzada
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Glen Reid
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, Australia
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Ballout F, Habli Z, Rahal ON, Fatfat M, Gali-Muhtasib H. Thymoquinone-based nanotechnology for cancer therapy: promises and challenges. Drug Discov Today 2018; 23:1089-1098. [PMID: 29374534 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Thymoquinone (TQ), the active ingredient of black seed, is a promising anticancer molecule that inhibits cancer cell growth and progression in vitro and in vivo. Despite the promising anticancer activities of TQ, its translation to the clinic is limited by its poor bioavailability and hydrophobicity. As such, we and others encapsulated TQ in nanoparticles to improve its delivery and limit undesirable cytotoxicity. These TQ-nanoparticle formulations showed improved anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities when compared with free TQ. Here, we provide an overview of the various TQ-nanoparticle formulations, highlight their superior efficacy and discuss up-to-date solutions to further enhance TQ bioavailability and anticancer activity, thus improving potential for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ballout
- Department of Biology and Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1103, Lebanon
| | - Zeina Habli
- Department of Biology and Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1103, Lebanon
| | - Omar Nasser Rahal
- School of Medicine, Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Dutch Caribbean 5016121, The Netherlands
| | - Maamoun Fatfat
- Department of Biology and Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1103, Lebanon
| | - Hala Gali-Muhtasib
- Department of Biology and Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1103, Lebanon; Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
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48
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Resensitization of Akt Induced Docetaxel Resistance in Breast Cancer by 'Iturin A' a Lipopeptide Molecule from Marine Bacteria Bacillus megaterium. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17324. [PMID: 29229973 PMCID: PMC5725499 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of the resistance is the major problem in cancer therapy. Docetaxel is a taxol alkaloid that is frequently used in metastatic breast cancer. However, resistance often limits the usefulness of this drug in many breast cancer patients. Manipulation of resistant cells to re-sensitize to the therapeutic effect of docetaxel is current strategy to overcome this problem. Here, we have introduced ‘Iturin A’ as a potent chemosensitizer in docetaxel resistant breast cancer cells. Combination of Iturin A and docetaxel treatment significantly hampered the proliferation of docetaxel resistant MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis also showed massive amount of apoptotic population (Sub G0/G1) in combination therapy. A number of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins were significantly altered in dual drug treated groups. Caspase 3 dependent cell death was observed in dual treatment. Molecular mechanism study showed that over-expression of Akt and its downstream signaling pathway was associated with docetaxel resistance. Iturin A significantly reduced Akt signaling pathway in resistant cells. This mechanistic action might be the reason behind the chemo-sensitization effect of Iturin A in docetaxel resistant breast cancer cells. In conclusion, Iturin A resensitized the resistant breast cancer cells to docetaxel therapy by inhibiting Akt activity.
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49
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Babu A, Munshi A, Ramesh R. Combinatorial therapeutic approaches with RNAi and anticancer drugs using nanodrug delivery systems. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2017; 43:1391-1401. [PMID: 28523942 PMCID: PMC6101010 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2017.1313861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is emerging as a powerful approach in cancer treatment. siRNA is an important RNAi tool that can be designed to specifically silence the expression of genes involved in drug resistance and chemotherapeutic inactivity. Combining siRNA and other therapeutic agents can overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenomenon by simultaneously silencing genes and enhancing chemotherapeutic activity. Moreover, the therapeutic efficiency of anticancer drugs can be significantly improved by additive or synergistic effects induced by siRNA and combined therapies. Co-delivery of these diverse anticancer agents, however, requires specially designed nanocarriers. This review highlights the recent trends in siRNA/anticancer drug co-delivery systems under the major categories of liposomes/lipid, polymeric and inorganic nanoplatforms. The objective is to discuss the strategies for nanocarrier-based co-delivery systems using siRNA/anticancer drug combinations, emphasizing various siRNA targets that help overcome MDR and enhance therapeutic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Babu
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
- Department of Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
| | - Anupama Munshi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
- Department of Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
| | - Rajagopal Ramesh
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
- Department of Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104; USA
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50
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Darvishi B, Farahmand L, Majidzadeh-A K. Stimuli-Responsive Mesoporous Silica NPs as Non-viral Dual siRNA/Chemotherapy Carriers for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 7:164-180. [PMID: 28624192 PMCID: PMC5415966 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and lethal subtype of breast cancer. It is associated with a very poor prognosis and intrinsically resistant to several conventional and targeted chemotherapy agents and has a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. Because the treatment options for TNBC are very limited and not efficient enough for achieving minimum desired goals, shifting toward a new generation of anti-cancer agents appears to be very critical. Among recent alternative approaches being proposed, small interfering RNA (siRNA) gene therapy can potently suppress Bcl-2 proto-oncogene and p-glycoprotein gene expression, the most important chemotherapy resistance inducers in TNBC. When resensitized, primarily ineffective chemotherapy drugs turn back into valuable sources for further intensive chemotherapy. Regrettably, siRNA's poor stability, rapid clearance in the circulatory system, and poor cellular uptake mostly hampers the beneficial outcomes of siRNA therapy. Considering these drawbacks, dual siRNA/chemotherapy drug encapsulation in targeted delivery vehicles, especially mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) appears to be the most reasonable solution. The literature is full of reports of successful treatments of multi-drug-resistant cancer cells by administration of dual drug/siRNA-loaded MSNs. Here we tried to answer the question of whether application of a similar approach with identical delivery devices in TNBC is rational.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrad Darvishi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, 1517964311 Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Farahmand
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, 1517964311 Tehran, Iran
| | - Keivan Majidzadeh-A
- Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, 1517964311 Tehran, Iran.
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