Just add sugar for carbohydrate induced self-assembly of curcumin

Nematic lyotropic liquid crystalline ordering in rhizome powder of Curcuma species and water mixtures: rheological properties and antioxidant applications

This study focuses on developing a self-assembled lyotropic phase in four Curcuma species viz. Curcuma amada (CA), Curcuma caesia (CC), Curcuma Longa (CL), and Curcuma Zedoaria (CZ) using their rhizome powder in an aqueous environment. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) depicts the maltese cross textures with twisted thread and fractional topological charge of +1/2, which confirms the formation of nematic phases in CA, CC, CL, and CZ/water mixtures along with orientation order parameters 0.34, 0.44, 0.54, and 0.46, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows a broad diffraction peak at 2θ ≅ 20°, which further validates the nematic ordering in these mixtures. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirms the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding among keto/enol forms of curcumin and starch molecules with water. Rheological studies demonstrate the shear-thinning behaviour with negative values of power-law exponent n, and strong elastic properties of nematic phases in all the cases. The viscosity of these species varies according to their molecular alignment. Specifically, CL exhibited the highest molecular alignment and viscosity. Nematic lyotropic mixtures are further explored for antioxidant potential through DPPH and phosphomolybdenum assays. The lowest IC50 (25.3 and 26.6, respectively) values for CL-based nematic lyotropic phases are noted for both assays, predicting their best antioxidant potential. The biodegradable and non-toxic nature of Curcuma-based nematic lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) offers their potential for advanced material formulations, therapeutic delivery systems, cosmetic applications, and anti-aging formulations, aligning with global trends toward sustainable and green product development.

Guanosine Monophosphate Induced Solubilization of Folic Acid Leading to Hydrogel Formation for Targeted Delivery of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs

Hydrogels are emerging as one of the most sought-after drug carriers due to their biocompatibility, high water content mimicking tissue-like environment, injectability, and stimuli responsiveness. Sustained drug release accompanied by targeted delivery to cancer cells can abate numerous adverse side effects of conventional chemotherapy. Folate receptors are overexpressed in various cancer cells, and their high binding affinity to folic acid (FA) makes folic acid-anchored drug carriers a specific targeting entity. Reports of folic acid-based hydrogels are still scarce, owing to their low solubility in water. In this study, we present a simple approach to generate a self-assembled supramolecular hydrogel by employing an amphiphilic low molecular weight gelator (LMWG), guanosine monophosphate (GMP), which noncovalently interacts and coassembles with FA. The hydrogel shows biocompatibility, thermoreversibility, self-healing, injectability, thixotropy, and self-adhesive properties. The hydrogel could encapsulate and release both hydrophilic (doxorubicin) and hydrophobic (curcumin) drugs in a sustained manner. In vitro studies on cancer cells showed that encapsulating the drugs within the hydrogel matrix resulted in enhanced uptake by the cancer cells, thereby increasing their therapeutic efficacy through upregulating tumor suppressor, apoptotic gene expression, and inhibiting cell proliferation markers. Thus, a straightforward fabrication procedure, cost-effectiveness, and treatment potency make the FA-GMP hydrogel a promising drug carrier for practical use in biomedical applications.

Carrier-free nanoparticles-new strategy of improving druggability of natural products

There are abundant natural products resources and extensive clinical use experience in China. However, the active components of natural products generally have problems such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability, which limit their druggability. Carrier-free nanoparticles, such as nanocrystals, self-assembled nanoparticles, and extracellular vesicles derived from both animal and plant sources, have great application potential in improving the safety and efficacy of drugs due to their simple and flexible preparation methods, high drug loading capacity and delivery efficiency, as well as long half-life in blood circulation. It has been widely used in biomedical fields such as anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation. Therefore, based on the natural products that have been used in clinic, this review focuses on the advantages of carrier-free nanoparticles in delivering active compounds, in order to improve the delivery process of natural products in vivo and improve their draggability.

Formation of self-assembly aggregates in traditional Chinese medicine decoctions and their application in cancer treatments

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, based on the principles of Chinese medicine, have a long history and are widely applied in the treatment of diseases. Compared to single-component drugs, TCM formulas demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy and fewer side effects owing to their synergistic effects and mechanisms of detoxification and efficacy enhancement. However, various drawbacks, such as the uncertainty of functional targets and molecular mechanisms, poor solubility of components, and low bioavailability, have limited the global promotion and application of TCM formulas. To overcome these limitations, self-assembled aggregate (SA) nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution. SA nanotechnology significantly enhances the bioavailability and anti-tumor efficacy of TCM by improving its absorption, distribution, and precise targeting capabilities, thereby providing an innovative solution for the modernization and internationalization of TCM. This review delves into the nature and common interactions of SAs based on the latest research developments. The structural characteristics of SAs in TCM formulas, paired-herb decoctions, and single-herb decoctions are analyzed and their self-assembly mechanisms are systematically elucidated. In addition, this article elaborates on the advantages of SAs in cancer treatment, particularly in enhancing the bioavailability and targeting capabilities. Furthermore, this review aims to provide new perspectives for the study of TCM compatibility and its clinical applications, thereby driving the innovative development of nanomaterials in this field. On addressing the technological challenges, SAs are expected to further promote the global application and recognition of TCM in the healthcare sector.

Chitosan and hyaluronic acid in colorectal cancer therapy: A review on EMT regulation, metastasis, and overcoming drug resistance

Up to 90% of cancer-related fatalities could be attributed to metastasis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that facilitate tumor cell metastasis is beneficial for improving patient survival and results. EMT is considered the main process involved in the invasion and spread of CRC. Essential molecular components like Wnt, TGF-β, and PI3K/Akt play a role in controlling EMT in CRC, frequently triggered by various factors such as Snail, Twist, and ZEB1. These factors affect not only the spread of CRC but also determine the reaction to chemotherapy. The influence of non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs, on the regulation of EMT is clear in CRC. Exosomes, involved in cell-to-cell communication, can affect the TME and metastasis of CRC. Pharmacological substances and nanoparticles demonstrate promise as efficient modulators of EMT in CRC. Chitosan and HA are two major carbohydrate polymers with considerable potential in inhibiting CRC. Chitosan and HA can be employed to modify nanoparticles to enhance cargo transport for reducing CRC. Additionally, chitosan and HA-modified nanocarriers, which can be utilized as potential approaches in suppressing EMT and reversing drug resistance in CRC, can inhibit EMT and chemoresistance, crucial components in tumorigenesis.

Fatty Alcohol Membrane Model for Quantifying and Predicting Amphiphilicity

Amphiphilicity is an important property for drug development and self-assembly. This paper introduces a general approach based on a simple fatty alcohol (dodecanol) membrane model that can be used to quantify the amphiphilicity of small molecules that are in good agreement with experimental surface tension data. By applying the model to a systematic series of compounds, it was possible to elucidate the effect of different motifs on amphiphilicity. The results further indicate that amphiphilicity correlates strongly with water-octanol partition coefficients (logP) for the 29 organic molecules examined in the 0 < logP < 4 range. Importantly, the simulation of the model membrane is an order of magnitude faster than a phospholipid membrane (e.g., 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) simulation and offers a simple atomistic approach for quantifying and predicting amphiphilicity of small drug-like molecules that could be used in quantitative structure-activity relationship studies.

Natural Products from Herbal Medicine Self-Assemble into Advanced Bioactive Materials

Novel biomaterials are becoming more crucial in treating human diseases. However, many materials require complex artificial modifications and synthesis, leading to potential difficulties in preparation, side effects, and clinical translation. Recently, significant progress has been achieved in terms of direct self-assembly of natural products from herbal medicine (NPHM), an important source for novel medications, resulting in a wide range of bioactive supramolecular materials including gels, and nanoparticles. The NPHM-based supramolecular bioactive materials are produced from renewable resources, are simple to prepare, and have demonstrated multi-functionality including slow-release, smart-responsive release, and especially possess powerful biological effects to treat various diseases. In this review, NPHM-based supramolecular bioactive materials have been revealed as an emerging, revolutionary, and promising strategy. The development, advantages, and limitations of NPHM, as well as the advantageous position of NPHM-based materials, are first reviewed. Subsequently, a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the self-assembly strategies specific to seven major classes of NPHM is highlighted. Insights into the influence of NPHM structural features on the formation of supramolecular materials are also provided. Finally, the drivers and preparations are summarized, emphasizing the biomedical applications, future scientific challenges, and opportunities, with the hope of igniting inspiration for future research and applications.

Self-Assembly of Polymers and Their Applications in the Fields of Biomedicine and Materials

Polymer self-assembly can prepare various shapes and sizes of pores, making it widely used. The complexity and diversity of biomolecules make them a unique class of building blocks for precise assembly. They are particularly suitable for the new generation of biomaterials integrated with life systems as they possess inherent characteristics such as accurate identification, self-organization, and adaptability. Therefore, many excellent methods developed have led to various practical results. At the same time, the development of advanced science and technology has also expanded the application scope of self-assembly of synthetic polymers. By utilizing this technology, materials with unique shapes and properties can be prepared and applied in the field of tissue engineering. Nanomaterials with transparent and conductive properties can be prepared and applied in fields such as electronic displays and smart glass. Multi-dimensional, controllable, and multi-level self-assembly between nanostructures has been achieved through quantitative control of polymer dosage and combination, chemical modification, and composite methods. Here, we list the classic applications of natural- and artificially synthesized polymer self-assembly in the fields of biomedicine and materials, introduce the cutting-edge technologies involved in these applications, and discuss in-depth the advantages, disadvantages, and future development directions of each type of polymer self-assembly.

Self-Delivery Nanobooster to Enhance Immunogenic Cell Death for Cancer Chemoimmunotherapy

Inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Shikonin (SHK), a naphthoquinone compound from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, can stimulate antitumor immunity by inducing ICD. Nevertheless, the immunogenicity of tumor cells killed by SHK is weak. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is an important intracellular pathway of the ICD effect. Curcumin (CUR) can directly induce ER stress by disrupting Ca2+ homeostasis, which might enhance SHK-induced ICD effect. A self-delivery ICD effect nanobooster (CS-PEG NPs) was developed by the self-assembly of SHK (ICD inducer) and CUR (ICD enhancer) with the assistance of DSPE-PEG2K for cancer chemoimmunotherapy. CS-PEG NPs possessed effective CT26 tumor cell cellular uptake and tumor accumulation ability. Moreover, enhanced cytotoxicity against tumor cells and apoptosis promotion were achieved due to the synergistic effect of CUR and SHK. Notably, CS-PEG NPs induced obvious Ca2+ homeostasis disruption, ER stress, and ICD effect. Subsequently, the neoantigens produced by the robust ICD effect in vivo promoted dendritic cell maturation, which further recruited and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Superior antitumor efficacy and systemic antitumor immunity were observed in the CT26-bearing BALB/c mouse model without side effects in major organs. This study offers a promising self-delivery nanobooster to induce strong ICD effect and antitumor immunity for cancer chemoimmunotherapy.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate stabilizes aqueous curcumin by generating nanoparticles and its application in beverages

In this study, we addressed the limited water solubility of curcumin by utilizing epigallocatechin-3-gallate to form nanoparticles through self-assembly. The resulting particles, ranging from 100 to 150 nm, exhibited a redshift in the UV-visible spectrum, from 425 nm to 435 nm, indicative of potential π-π stacking. Molecular docking experiments supported this finding. Curcumin loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate showed exceptional dispersibility in aqueous solutions, with 90.92 % remaining after 60 days. The electrostatic screening effect arises from the charge carried by epigallocatechin-3-gallate on the nanoparticles, leading to enhanced retention of curcumin under different pH, temperature, and ionic strength conditions. Furthermore, epigallocatechin-3-gallate can interact with other hydrophobic polyphenols, improving their dispersibility and stability in aqueous systems. Applying this principle, a palatable beverage was formulated by combining turmeric extract and green tea. The nanoparticles encapsulated with epigallocatechin-3-gallate show potential for improving the applicability of curcumin in aqueous food systems.

Mix and Shake: A Mild Way to Drug-Loaded Lysozyme Nanoparticles

Biocompatible nanoparticles as drug carriers can improve the therapeutic efficiency of hydrophobic drugs. However, the synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles can be time-consuming and often involves toxic solvents. Here, a simple method for protein-based stable drug-loaded particles with a narrow polydispersity is introduced. In this process, lysozyme is mixed with hydrophobic drugs (curcumin, ellipticine, and dasatinib) and fructose to prepare lysozyme-based drug particles of around 150 nm in size. Fructose is mixed with the drug to generate nanoparticles that serve as templates for the lysozyme coating. The effect of lysozyme on the physicochemical properties of these nanoparticles is studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scattering techniques (e.g., dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)). We observed that lysozyme significantly stabilized the curcumin fructose particles for 7 days. Moreover, additional drugs, such as ellipticine and dasatinib, can be loaded to form dual-drug particles with narrow polydispersity and spherical morphology. The results also reveal that lysozyme dual ellipticine/dasatinib curcumin particles enhance the cytotoxicity and uptake on MCF-7 cells, RAW 264.7 cells, and U-87 MG cells due to the larger and rigid hydrophobic core. In summary, lysozyme in combination with fructose and curcumin can serve as a powerful combination to form protein-based stable particles for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Maximizing Aqueous Drug Encapsulation: Small Nanoparticles Formation Enabled by Glycopolymers Combining Glucose and Tyrosine

Highly potent heterocyclic drugs are frequently poorly water soluble, leading to limited or abandoned further drug development. Nanoparticle technology offers a powerful delivery approach by enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic therapeutics. However, the common usage of organic solvents causes unwanted toxicity and process complexity, therefore limiting the scale-up of nanomedicine technology for clinical translation. Here, we show that an organic-solvent-free methodology for hydrophobic drug encapsulation can be obtained using polymers based on glucose and tyrosine. An aqueous solution based on a tyrosine-containing glycopolymer is able to dissolve solid dasatinib directly without adding an organic solvent, resulting in the formation of very small nanoparticles of around 10 nm loaded with up to 16 wt % of drug. This polymer is observed to function as both a drug solubilizer and a nanocarrier at the same time, offering a simple route for the delivery of insoluble drugs.

Self-assembled nanodrug delivery systems for anti-cancer drugs from traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a combination of raw herbs and herbal extracts with a plethora of documented beneficial bioactivities, which has unique advantages in anti-tumor therapy, and many of its major bioactive molecules have been identified in recent years due to advances in chemical separation and structural analysis. However, the major chemical classes of plant-derived bioactive compounds frequently possess chemical properties, including poor water solubility, stability, and bioavailability, that limit their therapeutic application. Alternatively, natural small molecules (NSMs) containing these components possess modifiable groups, multiple action sites, hydrophobic side chains, and a rigid skeleton with self-assembly properties that can be exploited to construct self-assembled nanoparticles with therapeutic effects superior to their individual constituents. For instance, the construction of a self-assembled nanodrug delivery system can effectively overcome the strong hydrophobicity and poor in vivo stability of NSMs, thereby greatly improving their bioavailability and enhancing their anti-tumor efficacy. This review summarizes the self-assembly methods, mechanisms, and applications of a variety of NSMs, including terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, and saponins, providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent research on NSMs and the development of SANDDS.

Nanoparticle encapsulation using self-assembly abietic acid to improve oral bioavailability of curcumin

This research constructed composite nanoparticles (NPs) using abietic acid (AA) as a carrier for significantly enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin (CCM). CCM-loaded AA NPs were synthesized using a low-energy microemulsification method, and the obtained nanoparticles had a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 458.66 nm, a narrow size distribution and a negative surface charge of -19.13 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of CCM was 17.98 %, while its solubility was 20-fold that of free curcumin. FITR, UV, and MD revealed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces between AA and CCM. Thein-vitrorelease profile showed sustainable release of CCM in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids up to 2 h at 37 °C. In cellular studies, CCM-loaded AA NPs with the same CCM concentration exhibited greater bioaccessibility and bioavailability than free CCM. These data suggested a possible utilization of AA NPs in improving water solubility, bioavailability and activity of lipophilic bioactive food factors.

Polydopamine Nanosystems in Drug Delivery: Effect of Size, Morphology, and Surface Charge

Recently, drug delivery strategies based on nanomaterials have attracted a lot of interest in different kinds of therapies because of their superior properties. Polydopamine (PDA), one of the most interesting materials in nanomedicine because of its versatility and biocompatibility, has been widely investigated in the drug delivery field. It can be easily functionalized to favor processes like cellular uptake and blood circulation, and it can also induce drug release through two kinds of stimuli: NIR light irradiation and pH. In this review, we describe PDA nanomaterials' performance on drug delivery, based on their size, morphology, and surface charge. Indeed, these characteristics strongly influence the main mechanisms involved in a drug delivery system: blood circulation, cellular uptake, drug loading, and drug release. The understanding of the connections between PDA nanosystems' properties and these phenomena is pivotal to obtain a controlled design of new nanocarriers based on the specific drug delivery applications.

A Core-Shell Nanoreinforced Ion-Conductive Implantable Hydrogel Bioelectronic Patch with High Sensitivity and Bioactivity for Real-Time Synchronous Heart Monitoring and Repairing

To achieve synchronous repair and real-time monitoring the infarcted myocardium based on an integrated ion-conductive hydrogel patch is challenging yet intriguing. Herein, a novel synthetic strategy is reported based on core-shell-structured curcumin-nanocomposite-reinforced ion-conductive hydrogel for synchronous heart electrophysiological signal monitoring and infarcted heart repair. The nanoreinforcement and multisite cross-linking of bioactive curcumin nanoparticles enable well elasticity with negligible hysteresis, implantability, ultrahigh mechanoelectrical sensitivity (37 ms), and reliable sensing capacity (over 3000 cycles) for the nanoreinforced hydrogel. Results of in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that such solely physical microenvironment of electrophysiological and biomechanical characteristics combining with the role of bioactive curcumin exert the synchronous benefit of regulating inflammatory microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing myocardial fibrosis for effective myocardial infarction (MI) repair. Especially, the hydrogel sensors offer the access for achieving accurate acquisition of cardiac signals, thus monitoring the whole MI healing process. This novel bioactive and electrophysiological-sensing ion-conductive hydrogel cardiac patch highlights a versatile strategy promising for synchronous integration of in vivo real-time monitoring the MI status and excellent MI repair performance.

Oral Delivery of Transformable Bilirubin Self-Assembled System for Targeted Therapy of Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a high incidence disease worldwide and clinically presents as relapsing and incurable inflammation of the colon. Bilirubin (BR), a natural antioxidant with significant anti-colitic effects, is utilized in preclinical studies as an intestinal disease therapy. Due to their water-insolubility, the design of BR-based agents usually involves complicated chemosynthetic processes, introducing various uncertainties in BR development. After screening numerous materials, it is identified that chondroitin sulfate can efficiently mediate the construction of BR self-assembled nanomedicine (BSNM) via intermolecular hydrogen bonds between dense sulfate and carboxyl of chondroitin sulfate and imino groups of BR. BSNM exhibits pH sensitivity and reactive oxygen species responsiveness, enabling targeted delivery to the colon. After oral administration, BSNM significantly inhibits colonic fibrosis and apoptosis of colon and goblet cells; it also reduces the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, BSNM maintains the normal level of zonula occludens-1 and occludin to sustain the integrity of intestinal barrier, regulates the macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 type, and promotes the ecological recovery of intestinal flora. Collectively, the work provides a colon-targeted and transformable BSNM that is simple to prepare and is useful as an efficient targeted UC therapy.

Recent developments in natural biopolymer based drug delivery systems

Targeted delivery of drug molecules to diseased sites is a great challenge in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. Fabrication of drug delivery systems (DDS) to target and/or diagnose sick cells is an effective means to achieve good therapeutic results along with a minimal toxicological impact on healthy cells. Biopolymers are becoming an important class of materials owing to their biodegradability, good compatibility, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and long blood circulation time and high drug loading ratio for both macros as well as micro-sized drug molecules. This review summarizes the recent trends in biopolymer-based DDS, forecasting their broad future clinical applications. Cellulose chitosan, starch, silk fibroins, collagen, albumin, gelatin, alginate, agar, proteins and peptides have shown potential applications in DDS. A range of synthetic techniques have been reported to design the DDS and are discussed in the current study which is being successfully employed in ocular, dental, transdermal and intranasal delivery systems. Different formulations of DDS are also overviewed in this review article along with synthesis techniques employed for designing the DDS. The possibility of these biopolymer applications points to a new route for creating unique DDS with enhanced therapeutic qualities for scaling up creative formulations up to the clinical level.

Hydrogel Microtumor Arrays to Evaluate Nanotherapeutics

Nanoparticle drug formulations have many advantages for cancer therapy due to benefits in targeting selectivity, lack of systemic toxicity, and increased drug concentration in the tumor microenvironment after delivery. However, the promise of nanomedicine is limited by preclinical models that fail to accurately assess new drugs before entering human trials. In this work a new approach to testing nanomedicine using a microtumor array formed through hydrogel micropatterning is demonstrated. This technique allows partitioning of heterogeneous cell states within a geometric pattern-where boundary regions of curvature prime the stem cell-like fraction-allowing to simultaneously probe drug uptake and efficacy in different cancer cell fractions with high reproducibility. Using melanoma cells of different metastatic potential, a relationship between stem fraction and nanoparticle uptake is discovered. Deformation cytometry reveals that the stem cell-like population exhibits a more mechanically deformable cell membrane. Since the stem fraction in a tumor is implicated in drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis, the findings suggest that nanoparticle drug formulations are well suited for targeting this dangerous cell population in cancer therapy.

Keto-enol tautomerism of curcumin in the preparation of nanobiocomposites with fumed silica

The tautomerism of curcumin (Cur) in water-ethanol solutions in the presence of fumed silica was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. The results showed that the enol tautomer exists at an ethanol concentration in solution >50%, and with an increase in the water content, the tautomeric equilibrium shifts towards the formation of the keto tautomer. Quantum-chemical calculations (solvation model SM 5.42/6-31G (d), GAMESSPLUS) of various curcumin isomers confirmed that the existence of curcumin keto tautomer in aqueous solution is more thermodynamically favorable. The ratio of keto and enol forms also depends on the dielectric constant of water-ethanol solutions: at ε < 45, only the enol form of curcumin exists, while at ε > 45, the relative amount of the keto tautomer increases in proportion to the dielectric constant. Curcumin tautomers adsorb on fumed silica in different ways. At a low curcumin concentration in the initial solutions (<1.5 × 10^-4 M), only the enol tautomer forms a monolayer on the sorbent surface, apparently due to its planar structure. The keto tautomer, characterized by a bent structure, begins to adsorb only at a concentration of Cur > 1.5 × 10^-4 M, being a component of molecular aggregates with coplanar geometry.

Sugar-induced self-assembly of curcumin-based polydopamine nanocapsules with high loading capacity for dual drug delivery

Many drug delivery carriers reported in the literature require multistep assembly or often have very low drug loading capacities. Here, we present a simple sugar-based strategy that feeds the increased interest in high-loading nanomedicine. The driving force of the supramolecular nanocapsule formation is the interaction between curcumin (CCM) and the monosaccharide fructose. Drug and sugar are simply mixed in an aqueous solution in an open vessel, followed by coating the nanocapsules with polydopamine (PDA) to maintain structural integrity. We show that nanocapsules can still be obtained when other drugs are added, producing dual-drug nanoparticles with sizes of around 150-200 nm and drug loading contents of around 90% depending on the thickness of the PDA shell. This concept is widely applicable for a broad variety of drugs, as long as the drug has similar polarities to CCM. The key to success is the interaction of CCM and the second drug as shown in computational studies. The drug was able to be released from the nanocapsule at a release rate that could be fine-tuned by adjusting the thickness of the PDA layer.

Improvements in Drug-Delivery Properties by Co-Encapsulating Curcumin in SN-38-Loaded Anticancer Polymeric Nanoparticles

SN-38 is an immensely potent anticancer agent although its use necessitates encapsulation to overcome issues of poor solubility and stability. Since SN-38 is a notoriously challenging drug to encapsulate, new avenues to increase encapsulation efficiency in polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) are needed. In this paper, we show that nanoprecipitation with curcumin (CUR) increases SN-38 encapsulation efficiencies in coloaded SN-38/CUR-PNPs based on poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-b-PEG) by up to a factor of 10. In addition, we find a dramatic decrease in PNP polydispersities, from 0.34 to 0.07, as the initial CUR-to-polymer ratio increases from 0 to 10, with only a modest increase in PNP size (from 40 to 55 nm). Compared to coloaded PNP formation using nanoprecipitation in the bulk or in a gas-liquid, a two-phase microfluidic reactor shows similar trends with respect to CUR content, although improvements in SN-38 encapsulation efficiencies both with and without CUR are found using the microfluidic method. Additional precipitation studies without copolymer suggest that CUR increases the dispersion of SN-38 in the solvent medium of micelle formation, which may contribute to the observed encapsulation enhancement. Cytotoxicity studies of unencapsulated SN-38/CUR mixtures show that addition of CUR does not significantly affect SN-38 potency against either U87 (glioblastoma) or A204 (rhabdomyosarcoma) cell lines. However, we find significant differences in the potencies of SN-38/CUR-PNP formulations depending on initial CUR amounts, with an optimized formulation showing subnanomolar cytotoxicity against A204 cells, significantly more potent than either free SN-38 or PNPs containing only SN-38.

A Colorimetric Ag+ Probe for Food Real-Time Visual Monitoring

Monitoring food quality throughout the food supply chain is critical to ensuring global food safety and minimizing food losses. Here we find that simply by mixing an aqueous solution of sugar-stabilized Ag+ and amines in an open vessel leads to the generation of Ag NPs and an intelligent evaluation system based on a colorimetric Ag+ probe is developed for real-time visual monitoring of food freshness. The self-assembly reaction between methylamine (MA) generated during meat storage and the colorimetric Ag+ probe produces different color changes that indicate changes in the quality of the meat. The colorimetric Ag+ probe was integrated into food packaging systems for real-time monitoring of chilled broiler meat freshness. The proposed evaluation system provides a versatile approach for detecting biogenic amines and monitoring chilled broiler meat freshness and it has the advantages of high selectivity, real-time and on-site measurements, sensitivity, economy, and safety and holds great public health significance.

Growing single crystals of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks enabled by intermediate tracing study

Resolving single-crystal structures of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) is a great challenge, hindered in part by limited strategies for growing high-quality crystals. A better understanding of the growth mechanism facilitates development of methods to grow high-quality 2D COF single crystals. Here, we take a different perspective to explore the 2D COF growth process by tracing growth intermediates. We discover two different growth mechanisms, nucleation and self-healing, in which self-assembly and pre-arrangement of monomers and oligomers are important factors for obtaining highly crystalline 2D COFs. These findings enable us to grow micron-sized 2D single crystalline COF Py-1P. The crystal structure of Py-1P is successfully characterized by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3DED), which confirms that Py-1P does, in part, adopt the widely predicted AA stacking structure. In addition, we find the majority of Py-1P crystals (>90%) have a previously unknown structure, containing 6 stacking layers within one unit cell.

Resolving single-crystal structures of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) is a great challenge. Here, the authors identify two different growth mechanisms of COFs, enabling the growth and structure determination of micron-sized 2D single-crystalline COFs.

Determination of favipiravir in human plasma using homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction followed by HPLC/UV

Background: Favipiravir is an antiviral drug that was recently approved for the management of COVID-19 infection. Aim: This work aimed to develop a new method, using sugaring-out induced homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction followed by HPLC/UV for the determination of favipiravir in human plasma. Materials & methods: The optimum extraction conditions were attained using 500 μl of tetrahydrofuran as an extractant and 1400 mg of fructose as a phase-separating agent. Results: The developed method was validated according to the US FDA bioanalytical guidelines and was found linear in the range of 25-80,000 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. Conclusion: These results showed that the developed method was simple, easy, valid and adequately sensitive for determination of favipiravir in plasma for bioequivalence studies.

Miniatured Fluidics-Mediated Modular Self-Assembly of Anticancer Drug-Amino Acid Composite Microbowls for Combined Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy in Glioma

A particulate carrier with the ability to load a combination of therapeutic molecules acting via diverse modes to initiate cancer cell ablation would help heighten anticancer therapeutic outcomes and mitigate harmful side effects due to high doses of mono drug therapy. Moving a step closer, herein, we have developed doxorubicin-curcumin-amino acid-based composite microbowls (CMBs) following miniaturized fluid flow-based self-assembly. The CMBs were further exploited as dual chemo-photodynamic therapeutic agents in C6 glioma cells cultured in both two-dimensional (2D) monolayer and as three-dimensional (3D) spheroids. These CMBs showed synergistic and visible (blue)-light-sensitive cell-killing effects in both C6 cells and 3D spheroids. Furthermore, these bowl-shaped structures also demonstrated good stability and excellent in vitro cytocompatibility in C6 glioma cells. Our results indicated that CMBs with asymmetric cavities could potentially be used as a combinatorial drug carrier enabling simultaneous chemo- and phototherapy for effective cancer treatment. The use of blue light, from the visible part of the electromagnetic system, to generate the phototherapeutic effect further advocates for the ease and widespread applicability of the systems.

Pure Curcumin Spherulites from Impure Solutions via Nonclassical Crystallization

Crystallization experiments performed with highly supercooled solutions produced highly pure (>99 wt %) and highly crystalline mesocrystals of curcumin from impure solutions (∼22% of two structurally similar impurities) in one step. These mesocrystals exhibited a crystallographic hierarchy and were composed of perfectly or imperfectly aligned nanometer-thick crystallites. X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analysis confirmed that the spherulites are a new solid form of curcumin. A theoretical hypothesis based on particle aggregation, double nucleation, and repeated secondary nucleation is proposed to explain the spherulite formation mechanism. The experimental results provide, for the first time, evidence for an organic molecule to naturally form spherulites without the presence of any stabilizing agents. Control experiments performed with highly supercooled pure solutions produced spherulites, confirming that the formation of spherulites is attributed to the high degree of supercooling and not due to the presence of impurities. Likewise, control experiments performed with a lower degree of supercooling produced impure crystals of curcumin via classical molecular addition mechanisms. Collectively, these experimental observations provide, for the first time, evidence for particle-mediated crystallization as an alternate and efficient method to purify organic compounds.

Synthesis and ex vivo evaluation of PLGA chitosan surface modulated double walled transdermal Pluronic nanogel for the controlled delivery of Temozolomide

A surface modulated biodegradable transdermal strategy has been exploited for improving the biopharmaceutical properties of Temozolomide augmented in Poly Lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) chitosan double walled nanogel (PCNGL). The PCNGL was synthesized by dual approach methodology showing consistent nanosize particle range of 210 nm and PDI 0.325 ± 0.43 with cationic zeta potential values +29.34 ± 0.79 mV. The PCNGL showed qualitative endothermic & exothermic temperature dependent degradation peaks by thermogravimetry analysis. Blood hemolysis and coagulation assay showed 3.37 ± 0.19 as hemolytic ratio, validating biologically safe margin for transdermal delivery. The in vitro drug release showed 85% transdermal release at slightly acidic pH mimicking skin microenvironment. The ex vivo studies displayed noteworthy penetration potential validated by concentration depth assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy, exhibiting 80% Temozolomide uptake in porcine epidermal tissue. The current research demonstrated the biodegradable controlled delivery of chemotherapeutic Temozolomide leading to biologically safe transdermal therapy.

Curcumin Encapsulated in Crosslinked Cyclodextrin Nanoparticles Enables Immediate Inhibition of Cell Growth and Efficient Killing of Cancer Cells

The efficiency of anti-cancer drugs is commonly determined by endpoint assays after extended incubation times, often after days. Here we demonstrate that curcumin encapsulated in crosslinked cyclodextrin nanoparticles (CD-NP) acts extremely rapidly on cell metabolism resulting in an immediate and complete inhibition of cell growth and in efficient cancer-cell killing only few hours after incubation. This early onset of anti-cancer action was discovered by live-cell high-throughput fluorescence microscopy using an environmental stage. To date, only very few examples of covalently crosslinked nanoscale CD-based (CD-NP) drug carriers exist. Crosslinking cyclodextrins enables the adsorption of unusually high payloads of hydrophobic curcumin (762 µg CC/mg CD-NP) reflecting a molar ratio of 2.3:1 curcumin to cyclodextrin. We have investigated the effect of CD-NP encapsulated curcumin (CD-CC-NP) in comparison to free, DMSO-derived curcumin nanoparticles (CC-NP) on 4 different cell lines. Very short incubations times as low as 1 h were applied and cell responses after medium change were subsequently followed over two days. We show that cell proliferation is inhibited nearly immediately in all cell lines and that a cell- and concentration dependent cancer-cell killing occurs. Anti-cancer effects were similar with free and encapsulated curcumin, however, encapsulation in CD-NP drastically extends the long-term photostability and anti-cancer activity of curcumin. Curcumin-sensitivity is highest in HeLa cells reaching up to 90% cell death under these conditions. Sensitivity decreased from HeLa to T24 to MDA MB-231 cells. Strikingly, the immortalized non-cancerous cell line MCF-10A was robust against curcumin concentrations that were highly toxic to the other cell lines. Our results underline the potential of curcumin as gentle and yet effective natural anti-cancer agent when delivered solvent-free in stabilizing and biocompatible drug carriers such as CD-NP that enable efficient cellular delivery.

Micellar Drug Delivery Systems Based on Natural Biopolymers

The broad diversity of structures and the presence of numerous functional groups available for chemical modifications represent an enormous advantage for the development of safe, non-toxic, and cost-effective micellar drug delivery systems (DDS) based on natural biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and peptides. Different drug-loading methods are used for the preparation of these micellar systems, but it appeared that dialysis is generally recommended, as it avoids the formation of large micellar aggregates. Moreover, the preparation method has an important influence on micellar size, morphology, and drug loading efficiency. The small size allows the passive accumulation of these micellar systems via the permeability and retention effect. Natural biopolymer-based micellar DDS are high-value biomaterials characterized by good compatibility, biodegradability, long blood circulation time, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and high drug loading, and they are biodegraded to non-toxic products that are easily assimilated by the human body. Even if some recent studies reported better antitumoral effects for the micellar DDS based on polysaccharides than for commercial formulations, their clinical use is not yet generalized. This review is focused on the studies from the last decade concerning the preparation as well as the colloidal and biological characterization of micellar DDS based on natural biopolymers.

Curcumin-loaded polyvinyl butyral film with antibacterial activity

Antibacterial materials have found widespread interest in different fields nowadays. In this study, curcumin (Cur) was incorporated into the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) matrix by dissolving in ethanol for improving the functional properties of a pure PVB film. We found that Cur was uniformly dispersed in the PVB matrix, which showed good compatibility. Moreover, the incorporation of Cur could also improve thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and mechanical property. The UV-vis spectra of the PVB–Cur film demonstrated that the film could block ultraviolet radiation. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of the PVB–Cur film was measured by the colony-counting method against S. aureus and E. coli. The results showed that the PVB–Cur film exhibited good antibacterial activity. Therefore, the PVB–Cur film was considered as a promising material for food and medical packaging applications.

Curcumin Modifies Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Through Regulation of miR-200c/EPM5

Background

The serious side effect of current conventional treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) highlights the requirement of an alternative treatment strategy. Natural compounds, such as curcumin, have been gained much attention due to its low toxicity and anti-tumor effect.

Methods

qPCR and Western blot were used to measure the molecular changes induced by curcumin. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to study the effect on cell migration and invasion. RT¹ PCR array was performed to identify the miRNAs involved in curcumin-repressed EMT. Three algorithms and luciferase reporter assay were used to identify EPM5 as a target of miR-200c. The bioinformatical analysis of TCGA-COAD and other CRC cohorts were used to examine the association of EPM5 with EMT signatures and clinical relevance. The ectopic expression or siRNA-mediated knockdown of EPM5 was applied to study the role of EPM5 in CRC.

Results

Treatment with curcumin changed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression, repressed cell migration and invasion in CRC cells. Its anti-tumor capability required the upregulation of miR-200c. EPM5 was a direct target of miR-200c and enriched in the consensus molecular subtype (CMS) 4 of CRC. Ectopic expression of EPM5 alone was sufficient to induce EMT in CRC. Downregulation of EPM5 was necessary for curcumin-repressed EMT, migration, and invasion. Higher expression of EPM5 was associated with the advanced TNM stages and poor survival in CRC.

Conclusion

Our data provide the first evidence that the curcumin inhibits EMT in CRC by upregulation of miR-200c and downregulation of EPM5, and the use of curcumin might be able to prevent or delay CRC progression.

In Situ Formation of Polymeric Nanoassemblies Using an Efficient Reversible Click Reaction

Polymer-drug conjugates are promising as strategies for drug delivery, because of their high drug loading capacity and low premature release profile. However, the preparation of these conjugates is often tedious. In this paper, we report an efficient method for polymer-drug conjugates using an ultrafast and reversible click reaction in a post-polymerization functionalization strategy. The reaction is based on the rapid condensation of boronic acid functionalities with salicylhydroxamates. The polymer, bearing the latter functionality, has been designed such that the reaction with boronic acid bearing drugs induces an in situ self-assembly of the conjugates to form well-defined nanostructures. We show that this method is not only applicable for molecules with an intrinsic boronic acid group, but also for the other molecules that can be linked to aryl boronic acids through a self-immolative linker. The linker has been designed to cause traceless release of the attached drug molecules, the efficiency of which has been demonstrated through intracellular delivery.

Molecular level investigation of curcumin self-assembly induced by trigonelline and nanoparticle formation

Nanoparticle-facilitated drug delivery forms the core of medicine nowadays with the drug being delivered right at the target, reducing side effects and enhancing therapeutic value. Nanoparticles derived from natural compounds are further a point of focus being biocompatible and safe by and large. In this study, we have performed HF/6-31G calculations coupled with intermolecular interaction calculations and nanoscale molecular dynamics simulations to investigate self-assemblage in curcumin induced by trigonelline. Similar to recently reported self-assemblage in curcumin induced by sugar, trigonelline, a natural antidiabetic derived from fenugreek, can also induce auto-catalyzed self-assemblage in curcumin to form nanoparticles. It has been shown that these nanoparticles may be utilized for the delivery of drugs with severe side effects especially for diabetic patients with triple benefit of being antidiabetic, biocompatible and safe. As an example, carriage of antidiabetic drug pioglitazone and anticancer drug taxol have been depicted utilizing nanoparticles of curcumin and trigonelline. Twenty five taxol molecules could be comfortably carried in a 50 nm nanoparticle with an average overall root mean square deviation of 2.89 Å with reference to initial positions. For the first time, this study shows the possibility of developing antidiabetic nanoparticles with plethora of opportunities for diabetic patients. The study is expected to motivate experimental verification and has a long lasting impact in medicinal chemistry.

Preparation of Strong Antioxidative, Therapeutic Nanoparticles Based on Amino Acid-Induced Ultrafast Assembly of Tea Polyphenols

Nanoformulations offer the opportunity to overcome the shortcomings of drug molecules, such as low solubility, side effects, insufficient stability, etc., but in most of the current nanomedicines, nanocarriers as excipients do not directly participate in the therapy procedure. Accordingly, it is promising to develop the nanotherapeutics composed entirely of pharmaceutically active molecules. Tea polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), are a kind of natural antioxidants with various biological and health beneficial effects and are extensively investigated as nutrients and anticancer drugs. Here, the size-tunable and highly active polyphenol nanoparticles were conveniently synthesized in water and could be massively produced with a simple facility. Compared to the previous strategies, either molecular assembly via oxidative coupling or combination with other biomacromolecules, the present preparation was conducted by the amino acid-triggered Mannish condensation reactions, thus permitting the flexible molecular design of various polyphenol nanoparticles by selecting different amino acids. This straightforward and ultrafast method actually opens up a novel means to make use of naturally reproducible polyphenols. Moreover, inheriting the salient properties of EGCG, these nanoparticles show strong antioxidation capacity, 10-fold higher than the extensively investigated polydopamine nanoparticles, and they are biosafe but have therapeutic effects, according to the in vitro and in vivo assessments of anticancer activity, which is promising for various biomedical purposes.

Drug-Directed Morphology Changes in Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA) Influence the Biological Behavior of Nanoparticles

The effect of the hydrophobic block length on the morphologies of polymerization-induced self-assembled (PISA) nanoparticles is well understood. However, the influence of drug loading on the phase morphology of the nanoparticles during the PISA process, and the resulting biological function of PISA nanoparticles, has barely been investigated. In this work, we show that the addition of a drug, curcumin, during the PISA process shifts the phase diagram toward different morphologies. The PISA system was based on hydrophilic poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylphosphorylcholine) (PMPC), which was chain extended with hydrophobic methyl methacrylate (MMA) in various concentrations of curcumin. According to transmission electron microscopy, the presence of curcumin led to the transition of, for example, worms to polymersome and micelles to worms analysis. To understand the interaction between polymer particles and drug, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and fluorescence lifetime measurements were carried out. These measurements show that curcumin is predominantly located in the core in the case of micelles and worms while it is found in the shell of polymersomes. The change in morphology influences the cellular uptake by MCF-7 cells and the movement of the particles in multicellular cancer spheroids (3D model). With the increasing amount of drug, the cellular uptake of micelles and worms was enhanced with the increasing grafting density of MPC chains, which contrasts the decreasing cellular uptake in the higher drug-loaded polymersomes due to the lower shell hydration.

Ferulic acid grafted self-assembled fructo-oligosaccharide micro particle for targeted delivery to colon

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring malignancy and is ranked second among the leading cause of cancer death globally. The colorectal cancer is attributed to the life style and poor dietary habits. Ferulic acid is known to have anti-cancer activity, anti-oxidant activity and also known to be less toxic to normal cells under high doses. The purpose of this research is to develop an oral dietary intervention by grafting ferulic acid to fructo oligosaccharide and there by self-assembling them in to microparticles for targeted delivery to colon. The microparticle is characterized by using Solid state NMR and FTIR. Their morphological features were studied using SEM, XRD and particle size analyzer. The stability of the microparticle under simulated gastric and intestinal digestion were investigated. The physico-chemical characteristics of the microparticle was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and by differential scanning calorimetry. Finally the antioxidant activity and anti-cancer activity of the microparticles were investigated in-vitro.

Synthesis of new fluorescent pyrylium dyes and study of their interaction with N-protected amino acids

Six new fluorescent styrylpyrylium dyes have been synthesized and the collisional quenching taking place upon their interaction with Z-protected amino acids has been studied.