Naringin as Sustained Delivery Nanoparticles Ameliorates the Anti-inflammatory Activity in a Freund's Complete Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis Model

Integrating 3D-printed hydrogels and polymeric nanofibers in a double-layered transdermal patch for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory illness that affects the synovial joints, have a much worse quality of life. Mostly, oral or injectable formulations are used to treat RA, underscoring the critical need for an innovative medication delivery method to enhance therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance. The present study integrated 3D bioprinting and electrospinning technologies to create a unique double-layered transdermal patch (TDDP) for the treatment of RA. The first layer was prepared by 3D-printing a newly developed hydrogel (HG) containing hyaluronic acid (HA) that maintains the joint components and dexamethasone (DEX), an anti-inflammatory agent. A second layer of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers (NFs) loaded with naringin (NAR), an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory natural plant extract, was fabricated and integrated with the former layer. The morphology of the NFs was investigated using SEM, and their diameter ranged from 156.28 to 220.66 nm. The physicochemical properties of the suggested TDDP were investigated using FTIR and DSC. The DEX-loaded 3D-printed HG was able to release about 98% of the loaded DEX over a period of 10 days. In vivo experiments definitively confirmed the efficacy of the newly developed TDDPs, showcasing a substantial reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) through sandwich ELISA measurements in Rattus norvegicus plasma samples. Besides, the stained photomicrographs of the ankle joints of the animals confirmed the alleviation of the RA symptoms via reducing cell infiltration with a preserved joint tissue structure.

Nasal administration of Xingnaojing biomimetic nanoparticles for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Xingnaojing injection (XNJ), is the first-line Chinese medicine injection approved for treating ischemic stroke (IS). XNJ can attenuate the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, thus reversing neuronal damage of IS. This study aims to prepare the biomimetic nanoparticles (Bo-GEVs/XNJM) of nasal administration for IS treatment. The grapefruit extracellular vesicles (GEVs) loaded with microemulsions sourced from Xingnaojing injection (XNJM) are modified with borneol (Bo) to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Bo-GEVs/XNJM has the property of brain-targeting, and in vivo and in vitro experiments have validated that it has positive effects in reducing apoptosis, inhibiting oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, protecting mitochondrial function, and protecting the BBB. In summary, Bo-GEVs/XNJM has good neuroprotective effects, and provides an interventional method for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammation, and Melanogenesis Inhibition of Sang 5 CMU Rice (Oryza sativa) Byproduct for Cosmetic Applications

Prolonged exposure to environmental oxidative stress can result in visible signs of skin aging such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and thinning of the skin. Oryza sativa variety Sang 5 CMU, an inbred rice cultivar from northern Thailand, contains phenolic and flavonoid compounds in its bran and husk portions that are known for their natural antioxidant properties. In this study, we evaluated the cosmetic properties of crude extracts from rice bran and husk of Sang 5 CMU, focusing on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenesis, and collagen-regulating properties. Our findings suggest that both extracts possess antioxidant potential against DPPH, ABTS radicals, and metal ions. Additionally, they could downregulate TBARS levels from 125% to 100% of the control, approximately, while increasing the expression of genes related to the NRF2-mediated antioxidant pathway, such as NRF2 and HO-1, in H2O2-induced human fibroblast cells. Notably, rice bran and husk extracts could increase mRNA levels of HO-1 more greatly than the standard L-ascorbic acid, by about 1.29 and 1.07 times, respectively. Furthermore, the crude extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing nitric oxide production in both mouse macrophage and human fibroblast cells. Specifically, the bran and husk extracts inhibited the gene expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in LPS-induced inflammation in fibroblasts. Moreover, both extracts demonstrated potential for inhibiting melanin production and intracellular tyrosinase activity in human melanoma cells by decreasing the expression of the transcription factor MITF and the pigmentary genes TYR, TRP-1, and DCT. They also exhibit collagen-stimulating effects by reducing MMP-2 expression in H2O2-induced fibroblasts from 135% to 80% of the control, approximately, and increasing the gene associated with type I collagen production, COL1A1. Overall, the rice bran and husk extracts of Sang 5 CMU showed promise as effective natural ingredients for cosmetic applications.

Citrus flavonoids-loaded chitosan derivatives-route nanofilm as drug delivery systems for cutaneous wound healing

This study focuses on creating new forms of biomimetic nanofiber composites by combining copolymerizing and electrospinning approaches in the field of nanomedicine. The process involved utilizing the melt polymerization of proline (Pr) and hydroxyl proline (Hyp) to synthesize polymers based on Pr (PPE) and Hyp (PHPE). These polymers were then used in a grafting copolymerization process with chitosan (CS) to produce PHPC (1560 ± 81.08 KDa). A novel electrospun nanofiber scaffold was then produced using PHPC and/or CS, hyaluronic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, and naringenin (NR) as a loading drug. Finally, Mouse Dermal Fibroblast (MDF) cells were introduced to the wound dressing and assessed their therapeutic potential for wound healing in rats. The scaffolds were characterized by FTIR, NMR, DSC, and SEM analysis, which confirmed the amino acid grafting, loading drug, and porous and nanofibrous structures (>225 nm). The results showed that the PHPC-based scaffolds were more effective for swelling/absorption of wound secretions, had more elasticity/elongation, faster drug release, more MDF-cytocompatibility, and antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant S. aureus compared to CS-based scaffolds. The in vivo studies showed that NR in combination with MDF can accelerate cell migration/proliferation, and remodeling phases of wound healing in both PHPC/CS-based scaffolds. Moreover, PHPC-based scaffolds promote collagen content, and better wound contraction, epithelialization, and neovascularization than CS-based, showing potential as wound-dressing.

Empowering Naringin's Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Nanoencapsulation

Abundant in citrus fruits, naringin (NAR) is a flavonoid that has a wide spectrum of beneficial health effects, including its anti-inflammatory activity. However, its use in the clinic is limited due to extensive phase I and II first-pass metabolism, which limits its bioavailability. Thus, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) were used to protect and concentrate NAR in inflamed issues, to enhance its anti-inflammatory effects. To target LNPs to the CD44 receptor, overexpressed in activated macrophages, functionalization with hyaluronic acid (HA) was performed. The formulation with NAR and HA on the surface (NAR@NPsHA) has a size below 200 nm, a polydispersity around 0.245, a loading capacity of nearly 10%, and a zeta potential of about 10 mV. In vitro studies show the controlled release of NAR along the gastrointestinal tract, high cytocompatibility (L929 and THP-1 cell lines), and low hemolytic activity. It was also shown that the developed LNPs can regulate inflammatory mediators. In fact, NAR@NPsHA were able to decrease TNF-α and CCL-3 markers expression by 80 and 90% and manage to inhibit the effects of LPS by around 66% for IL-1β and around 45% for IL-6. Overall, the developed LNPs may represent an efficient drug delivery system with an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.

Lactoferrin/pectin nanocomplex encapsulating ciprofloxacin and naringin as a lung targeting antibacterial nanoplatform with oxidative stress alleviating effect

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium with adaptive metabolic abilities. It can cause hospital-acquired infections with significant mortality rates, particularly in people with already existing medical conditions. Its ability to develop resistance to common antibiotics makes managing this type of infections very challenging. Furthermore, oxidative stress is a common consequence of bacterial infection and antibiotic therapy, due to formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during their mode of action. In this study we aimed to alleviate oxidative stress and enhance the antibacterial efficacy of ciprofloxacin (CPR) antibiotic by its co-encapsulation with naringin (NAR) within a polyelectrolyte complex (PEX). The PEX comprised of polycationic lactoferrin (LF) and polyanionic pectin (PEC). CPR/NAR-loaded PEX exhibited spherical shape with particle size of 237 ± 3.5 nm, negatively charged zeta potential (-23 ± 2.2 mV) and EE% of 61.2 ± 4.9 for CPR and 76.2 ± 3.4 % for NAR. The LF/PEC complex showed prolonged sequential release profile of CPR to limit bacterial expansion, followed by slow liberation of NAR, which mitigates excess ROS produced by CPR's mechanism of action without affecting its efficacy. Interestingly, this PEX demonstrated good hemocompatibility with no significant in vivo toxicity regarding hepatic and renal functions. In addition, infected mice administrated this nanoplatform intravenously exhibited significant CFU reduction in the lungs and kidneys, along with reduced immunoreactivity against myeloperoxidase. Moreover, this PEX was found to reduce the lungs´ oxidative stress via increasing both glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels while lowering malondialdehyde (MDA). In conclusion, CPR/NAR-loaded PEX can offer a promising targeted lung delivery strategy while enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of CPR with reduced oxidative stress.

Research Progress on Immunomodulatory Effects of Poly (Lactic-co- Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles Loaded with Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers

Immunomodulatory mechanisms are indispensable and key factors in maintaining the balance of the environment in humans. When the immune function of the immune system is impaired, autoimmune diseases occur. Excessive body fatigue, natural aging of the human body, malnutrition, genetic factors and other reasons cause low immune function, due to which the body is prone to being infected by bacteria or cancer. Clinically, the existing therapeutic drugs still have problems such as high toxicity, long treatment cycle, drug resistance and high price, so we still need to explore and develop a high efficiency and low toxicity drug. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) refers to a nontoxic polymer compound that exhibits excellent biocompatibility. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers come from natural plants, and have the characteristics of high efficiency and low toxicity. Applying PLGA to TCM monomers can make up for the defects of traditional dosage forms, improve bioavailability, reduce the frequency and dosage of drug use, and reduce toxicity and side effects, thus having the characteristics of sustained release and targeting. Accordingly, PLGA nanoparticles loaded with TCM monomers have been the focus of development. The previous research on drug loading advantages, preparation methods, and immune regulation of TCM PLGA nanoparticles is summarized in the following sections.

Nano - Based Therapeutic Strategies in Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, progressively distinctive via cartilage destruction, auto-antibody production, severe joint pain, and synovial inflammation. Nanotechnology represents as one of the utmost promising scientific technologies of the 21st century. It exhibits remarkable potential in the field of medicine, including imaging techniques and diagnostic tools, drug delivery systems and providing advances in treatment of several diseases with nanosized structures (less than 100 nm).

OBJECTIVE

Conventional drugs as a cornerstone of RA management including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS), Glucocorticosteroids, etc are under clinical practice. Nevertheless, their low solubility profile, poor pharmacokinetics behaviour, and non-targeted distribution not only hamper their effectiveness, but also give rise to severe adverse effects which leads to the need for the emergence of nanoscale drug delivery systems.

METHODS

Several types of nano-diagnostic agents and nanocarriers have been identified; including polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, nanogels, metallic NPs, nanofibres, carbon nanotubes, nano fullerene etc. Various patents and clinical trial data have been reported in relevance to RA treatment.

RESULTS

Nanocarriers, unlike standard medications, encapsulate molecules with high drug loading efficacy and avoid drug leakage and burst release before reaching the inflamed sites. Because of its enhanced targeting specificity with the ability to solubilise hydrophobic drugs, it acts as an enhanced drug delivery system.

CONCLUSION

This study explores nanoparticles potential role in RA as a carrier for site-specific delivery and its promising strategies to overcome the drawbacks. Hence, it concludes that nanomedicine is advantageous compared with conventional therapy to enhanced futuristic approach.

Impact of Phytomolecules with Nanotechnology on the Treatment of Inflammation

Abstract:

Inflammation is a part of the biological response of body tissues against harmful stimuli, such as damaged cells, pathogens, irradiations, and toxic compounds. Numerous treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs that treat the condition of inflammation, are available for its management. Because of the severe adverse effects associated with synthetic medications, phytotherapy may be a promising and effective approach to treating inflammation. The therapeutic potential of herbs is due to their capacity to target a variety of inflammatory mediators, including chemokines, cytokines, nitric oxide, lipoxygenase, nuclear factor kappa-B, and arachidonic acid. Furthermore, nanomedicine may be a valuable and effective formulation approach for overcoming the drawbacks of phytoconstituents, such as their low bioavailability, high first-pass metabolism, and poor stability. The current manuscript provides a thorough description of many phytoconstituents and herbal plants that have great potential for treating inflammation-related diseases, as well as information on their limitations, drug formulations, and regulatory issues.

Direct osteogenesis and immunomodulation dual function via sustained release of naringin from the polymer scaffold

Many traditional Chinese medicine monomers, such as naringin (NG), can regulate the local immune microenvironment to benefit osteogenesis. However, the rapid release of NG from scaffolds severely influences the osteogenesis-promoting effect. Herein, NG was loaded into mesoporous bioglass (MBG) to achieve sustained release through physical adsorption and the barrier role of mesoporous channels, then MBG loaded with NG was added to poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) to fabricate composite scaffolds by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. The results showed that the NG-MBG/PLLA scaffolds could continuously and slowly release NG for 14 days compared with NG/PLLA scaffolds, and the cumulative release amount for the NG-MBG/PLLA scaffolds was 44.26%. In addition, the NG-MBG/PLLA scaffolds can promote the proliferation and osteogenesis differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs). Meanwhile, the composite scaffolds decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of RAW264.7 under the stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and significantly suppressed interleukin-6 (IL-6) and enhanced arginase-1 (Arg-1) protein expressions. Moreover, calcium nodule and alkaline phosphatase production of mBMSCs in a macrophage-conditioned medium for the NG-MBG/PLLA group also evidently increased compared with the PLLA and MBG/PLLA groups. These NG sustained-release composite scaffolds with osteo-immunomodulation function have great application prospects in the clinic.

Tailoring Deep Eutectic Solvents to Provoke Solubility and Bioavailability of Naringin: Implications of a Computational Approach

Recently, the applications of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as green and sustainable solvents for the solubilization of functional foods and phytophenols have dramatically risen concerning global issues on the utilization of organic solvents. Nevertheless, developing a suitable DES system for phytocomponents to enhance its solubility and bioavailability is complex and requires a sound experimental setup. Herein, we have attempted to develop DES encompassing the choline chloride (ChCl) along with oxalic acid (OA), l-glutamine (l-Glu), urea (U), and glycerol (Gro) at different ratios to elicit the solubility and bioavailability of naringin (NAR). Several DES systems were designed and tested for solubility, kinematic viscosity, and pH. Among these, DES-NAR encompassing ChCl/Gro in a 1:3 ratio exhibited the maximum solubility of NAR (232.56 ± 7.1 mg/mL) and neutral characteristic and thus considered suitable for NAR. Further, the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) has been employed to estimate the molecular and electrostatic interactions. DES-NAR was evaluated by polarized optical microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and ¹H NMR to investigate the molecular transition and interaction. Further, diffusion and permeability studies were performed, which suggest significant improvements in DES-NAR. Likewise, the pharmacokinetic studies revealed a two times increase in the oral bioavailability of NAR in a designed DES system. Thus, the work represents a systematic and efficient development of the DES system for a potential phytocomponent considering the biosafety impact, which may widen the interest in pharmaceutical and food sciences.

Properties of Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) and Progress of Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid)-Based Biodegradable Materials in Biomedical Research

In recent years, biodegradable polymers have gained the attention of many researchers for their promising applications, especially in drug delivery, due to their good biocompatibility and designable degradation time. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable functional polymer made from the polymerization of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) and is widely used in pharmaceuticals and medical engineering materials because of its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and good plasticity. The aim of this review is to illustrate the progress of research on PLGA in biomedical applications, as well as its shortcomings, to provide some assistance for its future research development.

Naringin: Nanotechnological Strategies for Potential Pharmaceutical Applications

Polyphenols comprise a number of natural substances, such as flavonoids, that show interesting biological effects. Among these substances is naringin, a naturally occurring flavanone glycoside found in citrus fruits and Chinese medicinal herbs. Several studies have shown that naringin has numerous biological properties, including cardioprotective, cholesterol-lowering, anti-Alzheimer’s, nephroprotective, antiageing, antihyperglycemic, antiosteoporotic and gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, anticancer and antiulcer effects. Despite its multiple benefits, the clinical application of naringin is severely restricted due to its susceptibility to oxidation, poor water solubility, and dissolution rate. In addition, naringin shows instability at acidic pH, is enzymatically metabolized by β-glycosidase in the stomach and is degraded in the bloodstream when administered intravenously. These limitations, however, have been overcome thanks to the development of naringin nanoformulations. This review summarizes recent research carried out on strategies designed to improve naringin’s bioactivity for potential therapeutic applications.

Modulating Inflammation-Mediated Diseases via Natural Phenolic Compounds Loaded in Nanocarrier Systems

The global increase and prevalence of inflammatory-mediated diseases have been a great menace to human welfare. Several works have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potentials of natural polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoid derivatives (EGCG, rutin, apigenin, naringenin) and phenolic acids (GA, CA, etc.), among others (resveratrol, curcumin, etc.). In order to improve the stability and bioavailability of these natural polyphenolic compounds, their recent loading applications in both organic (liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, etc.) and inorganic (mesoporous silica, heavy metals, etc.) nanocarrier technologies are being employed. A great number of studies have highlighted that, apart from improving their stability and bioavailability, nanocarrier systems also enhance their target delivery, while reducing drug toxicity and adverse effects. This review article, therefore, covers the recent advances in the drug delivery of anti-inflammatory agents loaded with natural polyphenolics by the application of both organic and inorganic nanocarriers. Even though nanocarrier technology offers a variety of possible anti-inflammatory advantages to naturally occurring polyphenols, the complexes' inherent properties and mechanisms of action have not yet been fully investigated. Thus, expanding the quest on novel natural polyphenolic-loaded delivery systems, together with the optimization of complexes' activity toward inflammation, will be a new direction of future efforts.

Polymeric Systems for the Controlled Release of Flavonoids

Flavonoids are natural compounds that are attracting great interest in the biomedical field thanks to the wide spectrum of their biological properties. Their employment as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic drugs, as well as for many other pharmacological applications, is extensively investigated. One of the most successful ways to increase their therapeutic efficacy is to encapsulate them into a polymeric matrix in order to control their concentration in the physiological fluids for a prolonged time. The aim of this article is to provide an updated overview of scientific literature on the polymeric systems developed so far for the controlled release of flavonoids. The different classes of flavonoids are described together with the polymers most commonly employed for drug delivery applications. Representative drug delivery systems are discussed, highlighting the most common techniques for their preparation. The flavonoids investigated for polymer system encapsulation are then presented with their main source of extraction and biological properties. Relevant literature on their employment in this context is reviewed in relationship to the targeted pharmacological and biomedical applications.

Protective Effects of Naringin-Dextrin Nanoformula against Chemically Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Wistar Rats: Roles of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Cell Apoptosis, and Proliferation

Nanotechnology holds great promise for the development of treatments for deadly human diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we compared the hepatoprotective effects of naringin-dextrin nanoparticles (NDNPs) against HCC in male Wistar rats with those of pure naringin and investigated the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. HCC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 150 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) per week) for two weeks, followed by oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF, 20 mg/kg b.w.) four times per week for three weeks. DEN/2AAF-administered rats were divided into three groups that respectively received 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (as vehicle), 10 mg/kg b.w. naringin, or 10 mg/kg b.w. NDNP every other day by oral gavage for 24 weeks. Both naringin and NDNP significantly attenuated the harmful effects of DEN on liver function. Both compounds also suppressed tumorigenesis as indicated by the reduced serum concentrations of liver tumor markers, and this antitumor effect was confirmed by histopathological evaluation. Additionally, naringin and NDNP prevented DEN-induced changes in hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant activities. In addition, naringin and NDNP suppressed inflammation induced by DEN. Moreover, naringin and NDNP significantly reduced the hepatic expression of Bcl-2 and increased Bax, p53, and PDCD5 expressions. Naringin and NDNP also reduced expression of IQGAP1, IQGAP3, Ras signaling, and Ki-67 while increasing expression of IQGAP2. Notably, NDNP more effectively mitigated oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling than free naringin and demonstrated improved antitumor efficacy, suggesting that this nanoformulation improves bioavailability within nascent tumor sites.

Electroanalysis of Naringin at Electroactivated Pencil Graphite Electrode for the Assessment of Polyphenolics with Intermediate Antioxidant Power

A simple and rapid differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method using a single-use electroactivated pencil graphite electrode (PGE*) is proposed for the rapid screening of the total content of polyphenolics (TCP) with intermediate antioxidant power (AOP) in grapefruit peel and fresh juice. The results were compared and correlated with those provided by the HPLC-DAD-MS method. NG voltammetric behavior at PGE* was studied by cyclic voltammetry and an oxidation mechanism was suggested. The experimental conditions (type of PGE, electroactivation procedure, pH, nature and concentration of supporting electrolyte) for NG DPV determination were optimized. The NG peak current varied linearly with the concentration in the ranges 1.40 × 10^-6-2.00 × 10^-5 and 2.00 × 10^-5-1.40 × 10^-4 mol/L NG and a limit of detection (LoD) of 6.02 × 10^-7 mol/L NG was attained. The method repeatability expressed as relative standard deviation was 7.62% for the concentration level of 2.00 × 10^-6 mol/L NG. After accumulation for 240 s of NG at PGE* the LoD was lowered to 1.35 × 10^-7 mol/L NG, the linear range being 6.00 × 10^-7-8.00 × 10^-6 mol/L NG. The developed electrochemical system was successfully tested on real samples and proved to be a cost-effective tool for the simple estimation of the TCP with intermediate AOP in citrus fruits.

Sustained release of naringin from silk-fibroin-nanohydroxyapatite scaffold for the enhancement of bone regeneration

Bone defects are a common challenge in the clinical setting. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is an effective treatment for the clinical problem of large bone defects. In this study, we fabricated silk fibroin (SF)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffolds inlaid with naringin poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres, investigating the feasibility of their application in BTE. Naringin PLGA microspheres were manufactured and adhered to the SF/HAp scaffold. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were inoculated onto the SF/HAp scaffold containing naringin PLGA microsphere to examine the biocompatibility of the SF/HAp scaffolds. A rabbit femoral distal bone defect model was used to evaluate the in vivo function of the SF/HAp scaffolds containing naringin-loaded PLGA microspheres. The current study demonstrated that SF/HAp scaffolds containing naringin-loaded PLGA microspheres show promise as osteo-modulatory biomaterials for bone regeneration.