Novel thymoquinone lipidic core nanocapsules with anisamide-polymethacrylate shell for colon cancer cells overexpressing sigma receptors

Ferulic acid nanoemulsion as a promising anti-ulcer tool: in vitro and in vivo assessment

OBJECTIVE

Ferulic acid (FA) is a promising nutraceutical molecule which exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but it suffers from poor solubility and bioavailability. In the presented study, FA nanoemulsions were prepared to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of FA in prevention of gastric ulcer.

METHODS

FA nanoemulsions were prepared, pharmaceutically characterized, and the selected nanoemusion was tested for its ulcer-ameliorative properties in rats after induction of gastric ulcer using ethanol, by examination of stomach tissues, assessment of serum IL-1β and TNF-α, assessment of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, glutathione, catalase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance in stomach homogenates, as well as histological and immunohistochemical evaluation.

RESULTS

Results revealed that the selected FA nanoemulsion showed a particle size of 90.43 nm, sustained release of FA for 8 h, and better in vitro anti-inflammatory properties than FA. Moreover, FA nanoemulsion exhibited significantly better anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in vivo, and the gastric tissue treated with FA nanoemulsion was comparable to the normal control upon histological and immunohistochemical evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that the prepared ferulic acid nanoemulsion is an ideal anti-ulcer system, which is worthy of further investigations.

Bridging Smart Nanosystems with Clinically Relevant Models and Advanced Imaging for Precision Drug Delivery

Intracellular delivery of nano-drug-carriers (NDC) to specific cells, diseased regions, or solid tumors has entered the era of precision medicine that requires systematic knowledge of nano-biological interactions from multidisciplinary perspectives. To this end, this review first provides an overview of membrane-disruption methods such as electroporation, sonoporation, photoporation, microfluidic delivery, and microinjection with the merits of high-throughput and enhanced efficiency for in vitro NDC delivery. The impact of NDC characteristics including particle size, shape, charge, hydrophobicity, and elasticity on cellular uptake are elaborated and several types of NDC systems aiming for hierarchical targeting and delivery in vivo are reviewed. Emerging in vitro or ex vivo human/animal-derived pathophysiological models are further explored and highly recommended for use in NDC studies since they might mimic in vivo delivery features and fill the translational gaps from animals to humans. The exploration of modern microscopy techniques for precise nanoparticle (NP) tracking at the cellular, organ, and organismal levels informs the tailored development of NDCs for in vivo application and clinical translation. Overall, the review integrates the latest insights into smart nanosystem engineering, physiological models, imaging-based validation tools, all directed towards enhancing the precise and efficient intracellular delivery of NDCs.

Potential anticancer effect of free and nanoformulated Deferasirox for breast cancer treatment: in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) stands as the second-leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Many chemotherapeutic treatments for BC come with significant adverse effects. Additionally, BC is recognized as one of the most resistant forms of malignancy to treatment. Consequently, there exists a critical need for innovative therapeutic agents that are both highly effective and exhibit reduced toxicity and side effects for patients. Deferasirox (DFX), an iron-chelating drug approved by the FDA for oral use, emerges as a promising contender in the fight against BC proliferation. DFX, primarily administered orally, is utilized to address chronic iron excess resulting from blood transfusions, and it is the inaugural treatment for chronic iron overload syndrome. However, DFX encounters limitations due to its poor water solubility.

AIM

This study aimed at incorporating DFX into lipid nanocapsules (DFX-LNCs) followed by investigating the anticancer effect of the DFX nanoform as compared to free DFX in-vitro and on an orthotopic BC mouse model in-vivo.

METHODS

The DFX-LNCs was prepared and imaged using TEM and also characterized in terms of particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI) using DLS. Moreover, drug release, cytotoxicity, and anticancer effect were assessed in-vitro, and in-vivo.

RESULTS

The results revealed that DFX-LNCs are more cytotoxic than free DFX with IC50 of 4.417 µg/ml and 16.114 µg/ml, respectively, while the plain LNCs didn't show any cytotoxic effect on the 4T1 cell line (IC50 = 122.797 µg/ml). Besides, the apoptotic effect of DFX-LNCs was more pronounced than that of free DFX, as evidenced by Annexin V/PI staining, increased BAX expression, and decreased expression of BcL-2. Moreover, DFX-LNCs showed a superior antitumor effect in-vivo with potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative effects.

CONCLUSION

The newly developed DFX nanoform demonstrated a high potential as a promising therapeutic agent for BC treatment.

Revolutionizing targeting precision: microfluidics-enabled smart microcapsules for tailored delivery and controlled release

As promising delivery systems, smart microcapsules have garnered significant attention owing to their targeted delivery loaded with diverse active materials. By precisely manipulating fluids on the micrometer scale, microfluidic has emerged as a powerful tool for tailoring delivery systems based on potential applications. The desirable characteristics of smart microcapsules are associated with encapsulation capacity, targeted delivery capability, and controlled release of encapsulants. In this review, we briefly describe the principles of droplet-based microfluidics for smart microcapsules. Subsequently, we summarize smart microcapsules as delivery systems for efficient encapsulation and focus on target delivery patterns, including passive targets, active targets, and microfluidics-assisted targets. Additionally, based on release mechanisms, we review controlled release modes adjusted by smart membranes and on/off gates. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and potential implications associated with smart microcapsules.

Surface-Modified Lyotropic Crystalline Nanoconstructs Bearing Doxorubicin and Buparvaquone Target Sigma Receptors through pH-Sensitive Charge Conversion to Improve Breast Cancer Therapy

In the current study, we aimed to develop lyotropic crystalline nanoconstructs (LCNs) based on poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLG) with a two-tier strategy. The first objective was to confer pH-responsive charge conversion properties to facilitate the delivery of both doxorubicin (DOX) and buparvaquone (BPQ) in combination (B + D@LCNs) to harness their synergistic effects. The second goal was to achieve targeted delivery to sigma receptors within the tumor tissues. To achieve this, we designed a pH-responsive charge conversion system using a polymer consisting of poly(ethylenimine), poly(l-lysine), and poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLG), which was then covalently coupled with methoxybenzamide (MBA) for potential sigma receptor targeting. The resulting B + D@LCNs were further modified by surface functionalization with PLG-MBA to confer both sigma receptor targeting and pH-responsive charge conversion properties. Our observations indicated that at physiological pH 7.4, P/B + D-MBA@LCNs exhibited a negative charge, while under acidic conditions (pH 5.5, characteristic of the tumor microenvironment), they acquired a positive charge. The particle size of P/B + D-MBA@LCNs was determined to be 168.23 ± 2.66 nm at pH 7.4 and 201.23 ± 1.46 nm at pH 5.5. The crystalline structure of the LCNs was confirmed through small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) diffraction patterns. Receptor-mediated endocytosis, facilitated by P/B + D-MBA@LCNs, was confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry. The P/B + D-MBA@LCNs formulation demonstrated a higher rate of G2/M phase arrest (55.20%) compared to free B + D (37.50%) and induced mitochondrial depolarization (59.39%) to a greater extent than P/B + D@LCNs (45.66%). Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed significantly improved area under the curve (AUC) values for both DOX and BPQ when administered as P/B + D-MBA@LCNs, along with enhanced tumor localization. Tumor regression studies exhibited a substantial reduction in tumor size, with P/B + D-MBA@LCNs leading to 3.2- and 1.27-fold reductions compared to B + D and nontargeted P/B + D@LCNs groups, respectively. In summary, this two-tier strategy demonstrates substantial promise for the delivery of a drug combination through the prototype formulation. It offers a potential chemotherapeutic option by minimizing toxic effects on healthy cells while maximizing therapeutic efficacy.

Small molecules as cancer targeting ligands: Shifting the paradigm

Conventional chemotherapeutics exploration is hampered due to their nonspecific distribution leading to unintended serious toxicity. Toxicity is so severe that deciding to go for chemotherapy becomes a question of concern for many terminally ill cancer patients. However, with evolving times nanotechnology assisted in reducing the haywire distribution and channelizing the movement of drug-enclosing drug delivery systems to cancer cells to a greater extent, yet toxicity issues still could not be obliterated. Thus, active targeting appeared as a refuge, where ligands actively or specifically deliver linked chemotherapeutics and carriers to cancer cells. For a very long time, large molecule weight/macromolecular ligands (peptides and big polymers) were considered the first choice for ligand-directed active cancer targeting, due to their specificity towards overexpressed native cancer receptors. However, complex characterization, instability, and the expensive nature demanded to reconnoitre better alternatives for macromolecule ligands. The concept of small molecules as ligands emerged from the idea that few chemical molecules including chemotherapeutics have a higher affinity for cancer receptors, which are overexpressed on cell membranes, and may have the ability to assist in drug cellular uptake through endocytosis. But now the question is, can they assist the conjugated macro cargos to enter the cell or not? This present review will provide a holistic overview of the small molecule ligands explored till now.

Core-Shell Type Lipidic and Polymeric Nanocapsules: the Transformative Multifaceted Delivery Systems

Amongst the several nano-drug delivery systems, lipid or polymer-based core-shell nanocapsules (NCs) have garnered much attention of researchers owing to its multidisciplinary properties and wide application. NCs are structured core-shell systems in which the core is an aqueous or oily phase protecting the encapsulated drug from environmental conditions, whereas the shell can be lipidic or polymeric. The core is stabilized by surfactant/lipids/polymers, which control the release of the drug. The presence of a plethora of biocompatible lipids and polymers with the provision of amicable surface modifications makes NCs an ideal choice for precise drug delivery. In the present article, multiple lipidic and polymeric NC (LNCs and PNCs) systems are described with an emphasis on fabrication methods and characterization techniques. Far-reaching applications as a carrier or delivery system are demonstrated for oral, parenteral, nasal, and transdermal routes of administration to enhance the bioavailability of hard-to-formulate drugs and to achieve sustained and targeted delivery. This review provide in depth understanding on core-shell NC's mechanism of absorption, surface modification, size tuning, and toxicity moderation which overshadows the drawbacks of conventional approaches. Additionally, the review shines a spotlight on the current challenges associated with core-shell NCs and applications in the foreseeable future.

Response of Skin-Derived and Metastatic Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines to Thymoquinone and Thymoquinone-Loaded Liposomes

Thymoquinone has been proved to be effective against neoplasms, including skin cancer. Its high lipophilicity, however, may limit its potential use as a drug. Melanoma remains the deadliest of all skin cancers worldwide, due to its high heterogeneity, depending on the stage of the disease. Our goal was to compare the anti-cancer activity of free thymoquinone and thymoquinone-loaded liposomes on two melanoma cell lines that originated from different stages of this cancer: skin-derived A375 and metastatic WM9. We evaluated the proapoptotic effects of free thymoquinone by flow cytometry and Western blot, and its mitotoxicity by means of JC-1 assay. Additionally, we compared the cytotoxicity of free thymoquinone and thymoquinone in liposomes by WST-1 assay. Our results revealed a higher antiproliferative effect of TQ in WM9 cells, whereas its higher proapoptotic activity was observed in the A375 cell line. Moreover, the thymoquinone-loaded liposome was proved to exert stronger cytotoxic effect on both cell lines studied than free thymoquinone. Differences in the response of melanoma cells derived from different stages of the disease to thymoquinone, as well as their different responses to free and carrier-delivered thymoquinone, are essential for the development of new anti-melanoma therapies. However, further research is required to fully understand them.

Towards more efficient inhalable chemotherapy: Fabrication of nanodiamonds-releasing microspheres

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are among the most promising chemotherapy vectors, however, they tend to aggregate upon storage, or when exposed to mild changes in pH or ionic strength. Therefore, fabrication of dried NDs with minimal change in particle size is highly desirable. In this study, we have developed a dried powder form of NDs with controlled particle size to be eligible for pulmonary delivery, after screening different drying protectants for their effect on NDs particle size and surface charge. Results showed that the nanospray-drying process in the presence of mannitol prevented the aggregation of NDs. Nanospray-dried NDs microparticles exhibited an optimal aerodynamic size for pulmonary delivery, and the in vitro aerosol deposition testing showed that NDs-embedded mannitol microspheres could deliver more than half of the emitted fraction to the lower stage of the Twin impinger device; indicating high pulmonary delivery potential. Upon loading NDs with doxorubicin (NDX) prior to spray dryng, they were able to deliver 2.6 times more drug to A549 lung cancer cell line compared to the free drug. Pharmacokinetics study in rats showed that inhaled NDX microparticles could efficiently limit the biodistribution of the drug to the lungs, and minimize the drug fraction reaching the systemic circulation. To conclude, nanospray-dried NDs microparticles present a promising vehicle for the pulmonary delivery of chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of lung cancer.

Medicinal plants' proposed nanocomposites for the management of endocrine disorders

Extensive attention has been focused on herbal medicine for the treatment of different endocrine disorders. In fact, compelling scientific evidence indicates that natural compounds might act as endocrine modulators by mimicking, stimulating, or inhibiting the actions of different hormones, such as thyroid, sex, steroidal, and glucose regulating hormones. These potentials might be effectively employed for therapeutic purposes related to the endocrine system as novel complementary choices. Nevertheless, despite the remarkable therapeutic effects, inadequate targeting efficiency and low aqueous solubility of the bioactive components are still essential challenges in their clinical accreditation. On the other hand, nanotechnology has pushed the wheels of combining inorganic nanoparticles with biological structures of medicinal bioactive compounds as one of the utmost exciting fields of research. Nanoparticle conjugations create an inclusive array of applications that provide greater compliance, higher bioavailability, and lower dosage. This can safeguard the global availability of these wealthy natural sources, regardless of their biological occurrence. This review inspects future challenges of medicinal plants in various endocrine disorders for safe and alternative treatments with examples of their nanoparticle formulations.

Intranasally administered melatonin core-shell polymeric nanocapsules: A promising treatment modality for cerebral ischemia

AIMS

The neurohormone melatonin (MEL) has been reported as a promising neuroprotective molecule, however it suffers pharmaceutical limitations such as poor solubility and low bioavailability, which hinder its pharmacological and clinical potential. In the current work, MEL was loaded in core-shell nanocarrier system; polymeric nanocapsules (PNCs), and assessed for its potential in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury rat model when administered intranasally.

KEY FINDINGS

Adopting a D-optimal factorial design, MEL-PNCs were successfully formulated using the nanoprecipitation technique. MEL-PNCs exhibited a particle size ranging from 143.5 to 444 nm, negative zeta potential values ranging from -24.2 to -38.7 mV, cumulative release % for MEL ranging from 36.79 to 41.31 % over 8 h period, with overall good storage properties. The selected MEL-PNCs formulation displayed 8-fold higher permeation than the drug solution across sheep nasal mucosa. MEL-PNCs administered intranasally decreased oxidative stress and hippocampal inflammation, and the histological examination revealed the significant restoration of hippocampal neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE

MEL-PNCs administered intranasally could be a promising treatment modality in brain ischemia.

Polymeric nanocarriers: A promising tool for early diagnosis and efficient treatment of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent type of cancer for incidence and second for mortality worldwide. Late diagnosis and inconvenient and expensive current diagnostic tools largely contribute to the progress of the disease. The use of chemotherapy in the management of CRC significantly reduces tumor growth, metastasis, and morbidity rates. However, poor solubility, low cellular uptake, nonspecific distribution, multiple drug resistance and unwanted adverse effects are still among the major drawbacks of chemotherapy that limit its clinical significance in the treatment of CRC. Owing to their remarkable advantages over conventional therapies, the use of nanotechnology-based delivery systems especially polymeric nanocarriers (PNCs) has revolutionized many fields including disease diagnosis and drug delivery.

AIM OF REVIEW

In this review, we shed the light on the current status of using PNCs in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC with a special focus on targeting strategies, surface modifications and safety concerns for different types of PNCs in colonic cancer delivery.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

The review explores the current progress on the use of PNCs in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC with a special focus on the role of PNCs in improvement of cellular uptake, drug targeting and co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Possible toxicity and biocompatibility issues related to the use of PNCs and imitations and future recommendation for the use of those smart carriers in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC are also discussed.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Based on Different Targeting Mechanisms in the Targeted Therapy of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a usual digestive tract malignancy and the third main cause of cancer death around the world, with a high occurrence rate and mortality rate. Conventional therapies for CRC have certain side effects and restrictions. However, the exciting thing is that with the rapid development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles have gradually become more valuable drug delivery systems than traditional therapies because of their capacity to control drug release and target CRC. This also promotes the application of nano-drug targeted delivery systems in the therapy of CRC. Moreover, to make nanoparticles have a better colon targeting effect, many approaches have been used, including nanoparticles targeting CRC and in response to environmental signals. In this review, we focus on various targeting mechanisms of CRC-targeted nanoparticles and their latest research progress in the last three years, hoping to give researchers some inspiration on the design of CRC-targeted nanoparticles.

Ferulic acid nanocapsules as a promising treatment modality for colorectal cancer: Preparation and in vitro/in vivo appraisal

AIMS

Ferulic acid is a polyphenolic compound with proven anticancer properties, but it suffers from low solubility and bioavailability. In the current work, polymeric and lipidic nanocapsules of ferulic acid were prepared, characterized, and tested on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT-116 and Caco2 cells), with mechanistic anticancer elucidation using flow cytometry. The selected NCs formulation was further tested in vivo on rats after inducing CRC using 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH), followed by biochemical analysis, molecular and histological examinations.

KEY FINDINGS

Results revealed that both polymeric and lipidic nanocapsules showed favorable properties, but the latter was smaller in size and presented higher cumulative percent released of FA. The lipidic nanocapsules displayed better anticancer activity than the drug on both cell lines; with apoptosis being the dominant cell death mode. The in vivo study revealed that ferulic acid lipid NCs exhibited significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. They also downregulated cyclin D1, IGF II, and VEGF, and autoregulated the apoptotic/anti-apoptotic gene BAX/Bcl-2; indicating their apoptotic and anti-angiogenic potential, which was further confirmed by histological examination.

SIGNIFICANCE

Findings prove that the proposed ferulic acid lipid nanocapsules are an ideal system for treatment of CRC, and can serve as a preventive measure against metastasis.

Potential anticancer properties and mechanisms of thymoquinone in osteosarcoma and bone metastasis

Despite great advances, therapeutic approaches of osteosarcoma, the most prevalent class of preliminary pediatric bone tumors, as well as bone-related malignancies, continue to demonstrate insufficient adequacy. In recent years, a growing trend toward applying natural bioactive compounds, particularly phytochemicals, as novel agents for cancer treatment has been observed. Bioactive phytochemicals exert their anticancer features through two main ways: they induce cytotoxic effects against cancerous cells without having any detrimental impact on normal cell macromolecules such as DNA and enzymes, while at the same time combating the oncogenic signaling axis activated in tumor cells. Thymoquinone (TQ), the most abundant bioactive compound of Nigella sativa, has received considerable attention in cancer treatment owing to its distinctive properties, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis and metastasis inhibition, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, along with inducing immune system responses and reducing side effects of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs. The present review is focused on the characteristics and mechanisms by which TQ exerts its cytotoxic effects on bone malignancies.

Toltrazuril-Loaded Polymeric Nanocapsules as a Promising Approach for the Preventive Control of Coccidiosis in Poultry

Coccidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria that affect the intestinal tract of poultry. However, strain resistance and drug residue in the carcass have drawn the attention of the productive sector. The nanotechnology can improve the biological effect of drugs, reducing of administered doses and toxic effects. Due to this, toltrazuril-load polymeric nanoparticles based on Eudragit® S100 (NCt) or poly-ε-caprolactone (LNCt) were developed to prevent coccidiosis in broilers. Nanoformulations were produced and showed homogeneous particle diameter distribution in the nanometer range (z-average and D (4.3) < 200 nm), negative zeta potential (<−8.93 mV), drug content ~100%, and encapsulation efficiency >90%. Cell viability assays using avian fibroblasts showed that LNCt presented no relevant toxicity up to 72 h. LNCt was then prophylactically administrated to chicken followed by challenge with Eimeria oocysts. The evaluation of the small intestine and cecum showed that the treatment with LNCt (3.5 mg/kg/day) in drinking water reduced the lesion scores and oocysts excretion, similar to the reference medicine containing toltrazuril (Baycox®, 7 mg/kg/day). The current study shows the potential protective use of nanoencapsulating anticoccidial drugs as a promising approach for the control of coccidiosis in poultry.

Characterization, Cytotoxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Effect Evaluation of Nanocapsules Containing Nicotine

(1) Background: Nanotechnology is an emerging field that can be applied in the biomedical area. In this study, Eudragit nanocapsules (NCs) containing nicotine were produced. Nicotine is the main alkaloid found in tobacco and has anti-inflammatory properties. NCs containing nicotine may be used as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of inflammation in the central nervous system. (2) Methods: Nanocapsules were prepared by the interfacial deposition of the pre-formed polymer method and characterized in terms of zeta potential, diameter, polydispersity index, pH, encapsulation efficiency (EE), stability and sustained release profile. In vitro tests with the PC12 cell line were performed, such as MTT, LIVE/DEAD and ELISA assays, to verify their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects. (3) Results: The nanocapsules presented satisfactory values of the characterization parameters; however, poor encapsulation was obtained for nicotine (8.17% ± 0.47). The in vitro tests showed that the treatment with nanocapsules reduced cell viability, which suggests that the Eudragit or the amount of polymer on top of the cells may be detrimental to them, as the cells were able to survive when treated with bulk nicotine. ELISA showed an increment in the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β, corroborating the hypothesis that NCs were toxic to the cells because of the increase in the levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrates that NCs of Eudragit present toxicity. It is therefore necessary to improve NC formulation to obtain better values for the encapsulation efficiency and reduce toxicity of these nanodevices.

Eudragit, a Nifty Polymer for Anticancer Preparations: A Patent Review

BACKGROUND

Polymers are the backbone of modern pharmaceutical formulations and drug delivery technologies. Polymers that may be natural, synthetic, or semisynthetic are used to control the release of drugs in a pre-programmed fashion. The drug delivery systems are mainly prepared to enhance the bioavailability, site-specific release, sustained release, controlled release, i.e., to modify the release of drug from dosage form may be a tablet, capsule, etc. Objective: The objective of the present study is to overview the recent patents concerning the application of eudragit in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. Eudragit polymers are polymethacrylates and may be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic polymers of methacrylic acid, dimethyl-aminoethyl methacrylates, and methacrylic acid esters in varying ratios. Eudragit is available in various grades with solubilities at different pH, thus helping the formulators design the preparation to have a well-defined release pattern.

METHOD

In this review, patent applications of eudragit in various drug delivery systems employed to cure mainly cancer are covered.

RESULTS

Eudragit has proved its potential as a polymer to control the release of drugs as coating polymer and formation of the matrix in various delivery systems. It can increase the bioavailability of the drug by site-specific drug delivery and can reduce the side effects/toxicity associated with anticancer drugs.

CONCLUSION

The potential of eudragit to carry the drug may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic intercessions in various tumors.

Nobiletin-loaded composite penetration enhancer vesicles restore the normal miRNA expression and the chief defence antioxidant levels in skin cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases, leading to massive losses and high death rates worldwide. Topical delivery of nutraceuticals is considered a suitable approach for efficient and safe treatment of skin cancer. Nobiletin; a flavone occurring in citrus fruits has been reported to inhibit proliferation of carcinogenesis since 1990s, is a promising candidate in this regard. Nobiletin was loaded in various vesicular systems to improve its cytotoxicity against skin cancer. Vesicles were prepared using the thin film hydration method, and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, TEM, ex-vivo skin deposition and physical stability. Nobiletin-loaded composite penetration enhancer vesicles (PEVs) and composite transfersomes exhibited particle size 126.70 ± 11.80 nm, 110.10 ± 0.90 nm, zeta potential + 6.10 ± 0.40 mV, + 9.80 ± 2.60 mV, entrapment efficiency 93.50% ± 3.60, 95.60% ± 1.50 and total skin deposition 95.30% ± 3.40, 100.00% ± 2.80, respectively. These formulations were selected for cytotoxicity study on epidermoid carcinoma cell line (A431). Nobiletin-loaded composite PEVs displayed the lowest IC50 value, thus was selected for the in vivo study, where it restored skin condition in DMBA induced skin carcinogenesis mice, as delineated by histological and immuno-histochemical analysis, biochemical assessment of skin oxidative stress biomarkers, in addition to miRNA21 and miRNA29A. The outcomes confirmed that nobiletin- loaded composite PEVs is an efficient delivery system combating skin cancer.

Conventional and hybrid nanoparticulate systems for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An updated review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered a serious malignancy which affects a large number of people worldwide. Despite the presence of some diagnostic techniques for HCC, the fact that its symptoms somehow overlap with other diseases causes it to be diagnosed at a late stage, hence negatively affecting the prognosis of the disease. The currently available treatment strategies have many shortcomings such as high cost, induction of serious side effects as well as multiple drug resistance, hence resulting in therapeutic failure. Accordingly, nanoformulations have been developed in order to overcome the clinical challenges, enhance the therapeutic efficacy, and elicit chemotherapy tailor-ability. Hybrid nanoparticulate carriers in particular, which are composed of two or more drug vehicles with different physicochemical characteristics combined together in one system, have been recently reported to advance nanotechnology-based therapies. Therefore, this review sheds the light on HCC, and the role of nanotechnology and hybrid nanoparticulate carriers as well as the latest developments in the use of conventional nanoparticles in combating this disease.

Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemistry, Health Benefits, Molecular Pharmacology, and Safety

Mounting evidence support the potential benefits of functional foods or nutraceuticals for human health and diseases. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), a highly valued nutraceutical herb with a wide array of health benefits, has attracted growing interest from health-conscious individuals, the scientific community, and pharmaceutical industries. The pleiotropic pharmacological effects of black cumin, and its main bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ), have been manifested by their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, and to promote immunity, cell survival, and energy metabolism, which underlie diverse health benefits, including protection against metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders, cancer, and so on. Furthermore, black cumin acts as an antidote, mitigating various toxicities and drug-induced side effects. Despite significant advances in pharmacological benefits, this miracle herb and its active components are still far from their clinical application. This review begins with highlighting the research trends in black cumin and revisiting phytochemical profiles. Subsequently, pharmacological attributes and health benefits of black cumin and TQ are critically reviewed. We overview molecular pharmacology to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of health benefits. Issues related to pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions, drug delivery, and safety are also addressed. Identifying knowledge gaps, our current effort will direct future research to advance potential applications of black cumin and TQ in health and diseases.

Recent Findings on Thymoquinone and Its Applications as a Nanocarrier for the Treatment of Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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.

Thymoquinone loaded calcium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol carrier inhibits the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster oral cancer via the down-regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways

Oral cancer is a multifactorial cancer that affects millions of peoples worldwide. The current exploration aimed to evaluate the mechanisms that thymoquinone nanoencapsulated carrier and its effects on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) stimulated hamster buccal pouch cancer in Syrian hamster model. Nanocarrier was characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR analysis. The incidence of tumor, and biochemicals makers was studied through standard methods. The mRNA expression level of inflammatory markers NF-κBp50, NF-κBp65, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR markers in the buccal tissues of control and experimental animals were investigated through RT-PCR analysis. In thymoquinone (TQ) loaded calcium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol carrier (TQ/Ca-alg-PVA) no squamous cell carcinogenesis developed and others moderate dysplasia revealed differentiated form of hyperplasia and keratosis. In biochemical analyses with DMBA + TQ/Ca-alg-PVA (20 mg/kg bw) orally administered hamsters showed restored the antioxidants, detoxification, xenobiotic metabolising enzymes in DMBA induced plasma and oral tissues of hamsters. Further, mRNA expression level of NF-κBp50/p65 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR were upregulated in the DMBA alone painted hamster. In contrast, these expressions were down regulated in orally TQ/Ca-alg-PVA treated experimental animals. This ability more eligible to deregulate the inflammatory and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway that proved it suppresses anti-invasion/metastasis activity during hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. From this study, we recommended that TQ/Ca-alg-PVA has documented as effective chemopreventive agents, in further many molecular machineries need to study.

Folate Receptor-Mediated siRNA Delivery: Recent Developments and Future Directions for RNAi Therapeutics

RNA interference (RNAi), a gene regulatory process mediated by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), has made remarkable progress as a potential therapeutic agent against various diseases. However, RNAi is associated with fundamental challenges such as poor systemic delivery and susceptibility to the nucleases. Targeting ligand-bound delivery vehicles has improved the accumulation of drug at the target site, which has resulted in high transfection efficiency and enhanced gene silencing. Recently, folate receptor (FR)-mediated targeted delivery of siRNAs has garnered attention due to their enhanced cellular uptake and high transfection efficiency toward tumor cells. Folic acid (FA), due to its small size, low immunogenicity, high in vivo stability, and high binding affinity toward FRs, has attracted much attention for targeted siRNA delivery. FRs are overexpressed in a large number of tumors, including ovarian, breast, kidney, and lung cancer cells. In this review, we discuss recent advances in FA-mediated siRNA delivery to treat cancers and inflammatory diseases. This review summarizes various FA-conjugated nanoparticle systems reported so far in the literature, including liposome, silica, metal, graphene, dendrimers, chitosan, organic copolymers, and RNA nanoparticles. This review will help in the design and development of potential delivery vehicles for siRNA drug targeting to tumor cells using an FR-mediated approach.

Biological and Pharmacological Characterization of Ascorbic Acid and Nicotinamide Chitosan Nanoparticles against Insulin-Resistance-Induced Cognitive Defects: A Comparative Study

High consumption of industrialized food with high fat content is generally associated with insulin resistance, which in turn causes memory impairment and cognitive decline. Nicotinamide and ascorbic acid are among the promising neuroprotective molecules; however, an appreciable therapeutic activity necessitates the administration of a large dose of either. Therefore, the study aimed to assess if loading them in chitosan nanoparticles in doses 5-10 times lower than the unencapsulated forms would achieve comparable therapeutic results. Animals were fed a high-fat-high-fructose (HFHF) diet for 75 days. The vitamins in their conventional form (100 mg/kg) and the nanoparticles under investigation (10 and 20 mg/kg) were given orally concomitantly with the diet in the last 15 days. The intake of HFHF diet for 75 days led to an insulin-resistant state, with memory impairment, which was verified behaviorally through the object recognition test. This was accompanied by significant reduction in brain insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), increased acetylcholine esterase activity, increase in the serotonin and dopamine turnover ratio, and increase in oxidative stress and 8-OHdG, indicating cellular DNA fragmentation. Cellular energy was also decreased, and immunohistochemical examination verified the high immunoreactivity in both the cortex and hippocampus of the brain. The administration of nanoparticulated nicotinamide or ascorbic acid with a 10 times lesser dose than the unencapsulated forms managed to reverse all aforementioned harmful effects, with an even lesser immunoreactivity score than the unencapsulated form. Therefore, it can be concluded that nicotinamide or ascorbic acid chitosan nanoparticles can be recommended as daily supplements for neuroprotection in patients suffering from insulin resistance after conduction of clinical investigations.

Nonmechanical parfocal and autofocus features based on wave propagation distribution in lensfree holographic microscopy

Performing long-term cell observations is a non-trivial task for conventional optical microscopy, since it is usually not compatible with environments of an incubator and its temperature and humidity requirements. Lensless holographic microscopy, being entirely based on semiconductor chips without lenses and without any moving parts, has proven to be a very interesting alternative to conventional microscopy. Here, we report on the integration of a computational parfocal feature, which operates based on wave propagation distribution analysis, to perform a fast autofocusing process. This unique non-mechanical focusing approach was implemented to keep the imaged object staying in-focus during continuous long-term and real-time recordings. A light-emitting diode (LED) combined with pinhole setup was used to realize a point light source, leading to a resolution down to 2.76 μm. Our approach delivers not only in-focus sharp images of dynamic cells, but also three-dimensional (3D) information on their (x, y, z)-positions. System reliability tests were conducted inside a sealed incubator to monitor cultures of three different biological living cells (i.e., MIN6, neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), and Prorocentrum minimum). Altogether, this autofocusing framework enables new opportunities for highly integrated microscopic imaging and dynamic tracking of moving objects in harsh environments with large sample areas.

Nanoparticle Surface Functionalization: How to Improve Biocompatibility and Cellular Internalization

The use of nanoparticles (NP) in diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases, including cancer, is of increasing interest. However, cytotoxic effects of NPs on cells and the uptake efficiency significantly limit their use in clinical practice. The physico-chemical properties of NPs including surface composition, superficial charge, size and shape are considered the key factors that affect the biocompatibility and uptake efficiency of these nanoplatforms. Thanks to the possibility of modifying physico-chemical properties of NPs, it is possible to improve their biocompatibility and uptake efficiency through the functionalization of the NP surface. In this review, we summarize some of the most recent studies in which NP surface modification enhances biocompatibility and uptake. Furthermore, the most used techniques used to assess biocompatibility and uptake are also reported.

Development of a Thymoquinone Polymeric Anticancer Nanomedicine through Optimization of Polymer Molecular Weight and Nanoparticle Architecture

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.