Topically applicated curcumin/gelatin-blended nanofibrous mat inhibits pancreatic adenocarcinoma by increasing ROS production and endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis

Immunoregulatory effects of nanocurcumin in inflammatory milieu: Focus on COVID-19

The use of natural compounds, such as curcumin, to treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, inflammatory diseases, and various types of cancer is an active and dynamic area of research. Curcumin has a long history of use in the food industry, and there is currently a growing interest in its therapeutic applications. Numerous clinical trials have consistently shown that curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, is safe and well-tolerated even at high doses. There is no toxicity limit. However, the clinical efficacy of curcumin has been limited by its constraints. However, scientific evidence indicates that the use of adjuvants and carriers, such as nanoparticles, exosomes, micelles, and liposomes, can help overcome this limitation. The properties, functions, and human benefits of using nanocurcumin are well-supported by scientific research. Recent evidence suggests that nanocurcumin may be a beneficial therapeutic modality due to its potential to decrease gene expression and secretion of specific inflammatory biomarkers involved in the cytokinestorm seen in severe COVID-19, as well as increase lymphocyte counts. Nanocurcumin has demonstrated the ability to improve clinical manifestations and modulate immune response and inflammation in various autoinflammatory diseases. Additionally, its efficacy, affordability, and safety make it a promising replacement for residual cancer cells after tumor removal. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nanocurcumin as a new therapeutic in clinical trials, including appropriate dosage, frequency, and duration.

Curcumin induces ferroptosis and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells by regulating Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway

Curcumin, an antitumor agent, has been shown to inhibit cell growth and metastasis in osteosarcoma. However, there is no evidence of curcumin and its regulation of cell ferroptosis and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathways in osteosarcoma. This study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on osteosarcoma both in vitro and in vivo. To explore the effects and mechanisms of curcumin on osteosarcoma, cells (MNNG/HOS and MG-63) and xenograft mice models were established. Cell viability, cell apoptosis rate, cycle distribution, cell migration, cell invasion, reactive oxygen species, malonaldehyde and glutathione abilities, and protein levels were detected by cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, transwell assay, respectively. Nrf2 and GPX4 expressions were detected using an immunofluorescence assay. Nrf2/GPX4-related protein levels were detected using western blotting. The results showed that curcumin effectively decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis rate. Meanwhile, curcumin inhibited tumor volume in the xenograft model, and Nrf2/GPX4-related protein levels were also altered. Interestingly, the effects of curcumin were reversed by liproxstatin-1 (an effective inhibitor of ferroptosis) and bardoxolone-methyl (an effective activator of Nrf2). Our results indicate that curcumin has therapeutic effects on osteosarcoma cells and a xenograft model by regulating the expression of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Creation of Chitosan-Based Nanocapsule-in-Nanofiber Structures for Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Drug Co-Delivery and Their Dressing Applications in Diabetic Wounds

Nanofiber meshes (NFMs) loaded with therapeutic agents are very often employed to treat hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic wounds. However, most of the NFMs have limited capability to load multiple or hydrophilicity distinctive-therapeutic agents. The therapy strategy is therefore significantly hampered. To tackle the innate drawback associated with the drug loading versatility, a chitosan-based nanocapsule-in-nanofiber (NC-in-NF) structural NFM system is developed for simultaneous loading of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Oleic acid-modified chitosan is first converted into NCs by the developed mini-emulsion interfacial cross-linking procedure, followed by loading a hydrophobic anti-inflammatory agent Curcumin (Cur) into the NCs. Sequentially, the Cur-loaded NCs are successfully introduced into reductant-responsive maleoyl functional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol NFMs containing a hydrophilic antibiotic Tetracycline hydrochloride. Having a co-loading capability for hydrophilicity distinctive agents, biocompatibility, and a controlled release property, the resulting NFMs have demonstrated the efficacy on promoting wound healing either in normal or diabetic rats.

Curcumin Nanofibers: A Novel Approach to Enhance the Anticancer Potential and Bioavailability of Curcuminoids

Development of novel treatment methods for cancer is needed given the limitations of current treatment methods, including side effects and chemotherapeutic resistance, which may provide new hope to cancer patients. Cancer is the second leading cause of global mortality. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, has been used since ancient times for various therapeutic purposes. Several studies have identified its activity against cancer. Despite the established anticancer activity of curcumin, its low aqueous solubility and bioavailability are barriers to its effectiveness. In an attempt to solve this problem, many studies have formulated curcumin nanofiber preparations using a variety of methods. Electrospinning is a simple and affordable method for the production of nanofibers. Studies have shown increased curcumin bioavailability in nanofibers resulting from their high surface/volume ratio and porosity. We have undertaken a detailed review of studies on the anticancer effects of curcumin nanofibers. Curcumin acts by inhibiting various biological cancer pathways, including NF-κB, mTOR, complex I, cytokines, expression of p-p65, Ki67, and angiogenesis-associated genes. It also induces apoptosis through activation of caspase pathways and ROS production in cancer cells. Curcumin-loaded PLA50/PVP50/Cur15 nanofibers were investigated in breast cancer, one of the most studied cancers, and was shown to have significant effects on the widely used HeLa-cell line. Most of the studies undertaken have been performed in cell lines in vitro, while relatively few animal studies have been reported. More preclinical and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the anticancer activity of curcumin nanofibers. Amongst studies undertaken, a variety of curcumin nanofibers of various formulations have been shown to suppress a variety of cancer types. Overall, curcumin nanofibers have been found to be more efficient than free curcumin. Thus, curcumin nanofibers have been observed to improvise cancer treatment, offering great potential for effective cancer management. Further studies, both in vitro and in vivo, involving curcumin nanofibers have the potential to benefit cancer management.

Nanodrugs Manipulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Highly Effective Antitumor Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide due to high morbidity and mortality. Many attempts and efforts have been devoted to fighting cancer. Owing to the significant role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in cell function, inducing ER stress can be promising for cancer treatment. However, the sustained activation of cytoprotective unfolded protein response (UPR) presents a tremendous obstacle for drugs in inducing unsolved ER stress in tumor cells, especially small-molecule drugs with poor bioavailability. Therefore, many emerging nanodrugs inducing and amplifying ER stress have been developed for efficient cancer treatment. More importantly, the novel discovery of ER stress in immunogenic cell death (ICD) makes it possible to repurpose antitumor drugs for immunotherapy through nanodrug-based strategies amplifying ER stress. Therefore, this mini-review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest developments of the strategies underlying nanodrugs in the treatment of cancer via manipulating ER stress. Meanwhile, the prospects of ER stress–inducing nanodrugs for cancer treatment are systematically discussed, which provide a sound platform for novel therapeutic insights and inspiration for the design of nanodrugs in treating cancer.

Molecular Mechanism of Curcumin and Its Analogs as Multifunctional Compounds against Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a poor prognosis and high mortality. Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for PC; however, only a minority of patients have resectable tumors. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for PC. Curcumin is a natural chemical substance obtained from plants with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Research evidence suggests that curcumin can influence PC development through multiple molecular mechanisms. The synthesis of novel curcumin analogs and preparation of curcumin nano-formulations are effective strategies to overcome the low bioavailability of curcumin in the treatment of PC. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms of action of curcumin in preclinical and clinical studies on PC and research progress in enhancing its bioavailability.

Mechanisms Underlying Curcumin-Induced Neuroprotection in Cerebral Ischemia

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and restoring the blood flow to ischemic brain tissues is currently the main therapeutic strategy. However, reperfusion after brain ischemia leads to excessive reactive oxygen species production, inflammatory cell recruitment, the release of inflammatory mediators, cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and blood–brain barrier damage; these pathological mechanisms will further aggravate brain tissue injury, ultimately affecting the recovery of neurological functions. It has attracted the attention of researchers to develop drugs with multitarget intervention effects for individuals with cerebral ischemia. A large number of studies have established that curcumin plays a significant neuroprotective role in cerebral ischemia via various mechanisms, including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, protection of the blood–brain barrier, and restoration of mitochondrial function and structure, restoring cerebral circulation, reducing infarct volume, improving brain edema, promoting blood–brain barrier repair, and improving the neurological functions. Therefore, summarizing the results from the latest literature and identifying the potential mechanisms of action of curcumin in cerebral ischemia will serve as a basis and guidance for the clinical applications of curcumin in the future.

Alizarin, a nature compound, inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells by abrogating NF-κB activation

The current performance of nature compounds in antitumor field is gradually attracted more and more attention, we discovered a nature active ingredient alizarin possess potent natural reductive NF-κB activity to against pancreatic cancer. However, the preclinical pharmacology and therapeutic effect, and the underlying mechanisms of alizarin in inhibiting pancreatic cancer are still unclear. After high-throughput screening, this is the first report that alizarin can induce a potent inhibitory effect against pancreatic cancer cells. Alizarin induced cell cycle arrest and promoted cell apoptosis by inhibiting TNF-α-stimulated NF-κB activity and nuclear translocation, and inactivated its related TNF-α-TAK1-NF-κB signaling cascade followed by downregulation of NF-κB target genes involved in cell apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, XIAP) and in the cell cycle and growth (cyclin D, c-myc). Due to the abrogation of NF-κB activity, combination of alizarin and gemcitabine exerted a better inhibitory effect on pancreatic cancer. In summary, natural component alizarin, inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo through targeting of the NF-κB signaling cascade with minimal toxicity, which combine with gemcitabine, can significantly enhance the antitumor capability, playing a synergistic effect. Therefore, alizarin may play a role in reversing gemcitabine resistance caused by overactivated NF-κB in clinical application in the future.

“Nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid”: their various methods of formulations, clinical and therapeutic applications, present gap, and future directions

Background

Nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid have gained a lot of attention for potential therapeutic applications of curcumin and hyaluronic acid with or without other additional drugs. Overall studies of curcumin and hyaluronic acid show that nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid accelerate the efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of various disorders like arthritis, cancer, hepatic fibrosis, neural disorders, wound healing, and skin regeneration, it is largely due to the combined effect of hyaluronic acid and curcumin. However, due to limited clinical trials and experiments on humans and animals, there is a substantial gap in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid in the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders.

Main body of the abstract

In this current review, we have first described various reported synthetic nanomaterials of curcumin-hyaluronic acid, then in the next section, we have described various fields, disorders, and diseases where these are being applied and in the final section of this review, we discussed the research gap, and future research directions needed to propose the fabricated nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials.

Short conclusion

There are substantial gaps in research for the safety and efficacy of nanomaterials of curcumin with hyaluronic acid due to limited available data of clinical trials and experiments of nanocurcumin-hyaluronic acid biomaterials on humans and animals. So, it entirely requires serious and committed efforts through the well-organized system of practical and clinical trials which provide results, data, and detections that lead to the formulation of the best drug from curcumin with hyaluronic acid for the treatment of curcumin and hyaluronic acid targeted diseases and disorders.

Influence of Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata cold cream on UV-B damaged skin epidermal cells: a novel approach

Ultraviolet radiation-induced sunburns are characterized by pigmented, wrinkled, and dried skin, with rashes and red spots. Chemical sunscreen lotion shows beneficial effects, but it shows the adverse side effect while in continuous usage. Natural substances of plant origin are deemed a possible cause of UV radiation through sunscreen resources. On this basis, we formulated the cold cream from the Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata (CAVA) plant extract. The phytocompounds were studied by using GC-MS. The antioxidant potential of the plant extract was determined, and the CAVA showed cytotoxicity on A375 skin melanoma cells determined by MTT assay. The FT-IR spectra analysis confirmed the chemical nature of crude and crosslinking between cold creams. The cream was applied topically to rats pre-exposed to UV-B radiation (32,800 J/m2) four times/week (on alternate days). UV-B exposed without any treatment rats showed increased red spots or wrinkles (5 cm2). In contrast, the cold cream treatment application on irradiated skin has significantly reduced the size of rashes and red spots and the wound was contracted in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, histopathology of the experimental rat skin confirmed that CAVA cream treatment significantly reduced the epidermal thickening, damage in dermis and epidermis layers, and restructured the hair follicles. This study suggests that the cream formulated using CAVA can alleviate the damages caused by the UV-B-irradiation at a high level and safeguard the skin tissues.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02694-y.

Nanoscale microenvironment engineering for expanding human hair follicle stem cell and revealing their plasticity

Background

Periodically regenerated hair follicles provide an excellent research model for studying tissue regeneration and stem cell homeostasis. Periodic activation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) fuel cyclical bouts of hair regeneration. HFSCs represent an excellent paradigm for studying tissue regeneration and somatic stem cell homeostasis. However, these crucial studies are hampered by the lack of a culture system able to stably expand human HFSCs and regulate their fate.

Results

Here, we use layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly with gelatin/alginate to construct a nanoscale biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) for an HFSC population. The LbL coating provides ECM and mechanical support for individual cells, which helps to maintain the CD200⁺α6⁺ HFSC population to a certain extent. Addition of key signal molecules (FGF-7 and VEGF-A) simulates the minimum essential components of the stem cell microenvironment, thereby effectively and stably expanding HFSCs and maintaining the CD200⁺α6⁺ HFSC population. Subsequently, BMP2 loaded to the nanocoated layer, as a slow-release signal molecule, activates BMP signaling to regulate HFSCs’ fate in order to obtain a purified CD200⁺α6⁺ HFSC population.

Conclusion

This system can minimize the microenvironment of HFSCs; thus, stably amplifying HFSCs and revealing their plasticity. Our study thus provides a new tool for studies of hair follicle reconstruction and stem cell homeostasis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-00840-5.

Inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling via ROS regulation is involved in Rhein-induced apoptosis and enhancement of oxaliplatin sensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells

Several natural products have been demonstrated to both enhance the anti-tumor efficacy and alleviate the side effects of conventional chemotherapy drugs. Rhein, a main constituent of the Chinese herb rhubarb, has been shown to induce apoptosis in various cancer types. However, the exact pharmacological mechanisms controlling the influence of Rhein on chemotherapy drug effects in pancreatic cancer (PC) remain largely undefined. In this study, we found that Rhein inhibited the growth and proliferation of PC cells through G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Moreover, Rhein induced caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis of PC cells through inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combination treatment of Rhein and oxaliplatin synergistically enhanced apoptosis of PC cells through increased generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Pre-treatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated the combined treatment-induced apoptosis and restored the level of phosphorylated AKT, indicating that ROS is an upstream regulator of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The combination therapy also exhibited stronger anti-tumor effects compared with single drug treatments in vivo. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Rhein can induce apoptosis and enhance the oxaliplatin sensitivity of PC cells, suggesting that Rhein may be an effective strategy to overcome drug resistance in the chemotherapeutic treatment of PC.