The Formation of Morphologically Stable Lipid Nanocarriers for Glioma Therapy

Molecular insights into the aspartate protease Plasmepsin II activity inhibition by fluoroquinolones: A pathway to antimalarial drug development

Plasmepsin II (PlmII) belongs to the aspartate proteases and is involved in hemoglobin degradation in Plasmodium falciparum. Due to its critical role in the survival of the Plasmodium, PlmII is considered as a potent drug target for antimalarial therapy. We have done recombinant protein production of pro-plasmepsin II (Pro-plmII). Pro-PlmII was further activated to mature form (mPlmII) and its activity was confirmed by enzyme kinetics studies. The fluorescence spectroscopic and isothermal titration calorimetric studies show that fluoroquinolone-based antibiotic drugs norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin bind with mPlmII. Molecular docking results show that only norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin are able to bind at the active site of mPlmII via hydrogen binding and hydrophobic interactions. Enzyme kinetics analysis reveals that norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin effectively inhibit mPlmII activity, while sparfloxacin does not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the enzyme's catalytic function. The two methyl groups on the 3rd and 5th carbon atoms of the piperazine ring make sparfloxacin unable to go inside mPlmII and bind at its active site. Overall, the results here suggested that fluoroquinolone-based antibiotic drugs norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, can be repurposed as antimalarial inhibitors targeting aspartic proteases. These findings contribute to pave the way for potential therapeutic interventions targeted at malaria.

Current Non-Metal Nanoparticle-Based Therapeutic Approaches for Glioblastoma Treatment

The increase in the variety of nano-based tools offers new possibilities to approach the therapy of poorly treatable tumors, which includes glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; a primary brain tumor). The available nanocomplexes exhibit great potential as vehicles for the targeted delivery of anti-GBM compounds, including chemotherapeutics, nucleic acids, and inhibitors. The main advantages of nanoparticles (NPs) include improved drug stability, increased penetration of the blood-brain barrier, and better precision of tumor targeting. Importantly, alongside their drug-delivery ability, NPs may also present theranostic properties, including applications for targeted imaging or photothermal therapy of malignant brain cells. The available NPs can be classified into two categories according to their core, which can be metal or non-metal based. Among non-metal NPs, the most studied in regard to GBM treatment are exosomes, liposomes, cubosomes, polymeric NPs, micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, carbon nanotubes, and silica- and selenium-based NPs. They are characterized by satisfactory stability and biocompatibility, limited toxicity, and high accumulation in the targeted tumor tissue. Moreover, they can be easily functionalized for the improved delivery of their cargo to GBM cells. Therefore, the non-metal NPs discussed here, offer a promising approach to improving the treatment outcomes of aggressive GBM tumors.

Progress in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases Based on Nanosized Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in clinical practice to treat diseases related to central nervous system (CNS) damage. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a significant impediment to the effective delivery of TCM, thus substantially diminishing its efficacy. Advances in nanotechnology and its applications in TCM (also known as nano-TCM) can deliver active ingredients or components of TCM across the BBB to the targeted brain region. This review provides an overview of the physiological and pathological mechanisms of the BBB and systematically classifies the common TCM used to treat CNS diseases and types of nanocarriers that effectively deliver TCM to the brain. Additionally, drug delivery strategies for nano-TCMs that utilize in vivo physiological properties or in vitro devices to bypass or cross the BBB are discussed. This review further focuses on the application of nano-TCMs in the treatment of various CNS diseases. Finally, this article anticipates a design strategy for nano-TCMs with higher delivery efficiency and probes their application potential in treating a wider range of CNS diseases.

Mitochondria-Targeted Delivery Strategy of Dual-Loaded Liposomes for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

Liposomes modified with tetradecyltriphenylphosphonium bromide with dual loading of α-tocopherol and donepezil hydrochloride were successfully designed for intranasal administration. Physicochemical characteristics of cationic liposomes such as the hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, and polydispersity index were within the range from 105 to 115 nm, from +10 to +23 mV, and from 0.1 to 0.2, respectively. In vitro release curves of donepezil hydrochloride were analyzed using the Korsmeyer-Peppas, Higuchi, First-Order, and Zero-Order kinetic models. Nanocontainers modified with cationic surfactant statistically better penetrate into the mitochondria of rat motoneurons. Imaging of rat brain slices revealed the penetration of nanocarriers into the brain. Experiments on transgenic mice with an Alzheimer's disease model (APP/PS1) demonstrated that the intranasal administration of liposomes within 21 days resulted in enhanced learning abilities and a reduction in the formation rate of Aβ plaques in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus of the brain.