Liposomes Loaded with the Proteasome Inhibitor Z-Leucinyl-Leucinyl-Norleucinal are Effective in Inducing Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

Advancements in Liposomal Nanomedicines: Innovative Formulations, Therapeutic Applications, and Future Directions in Precision Medicine

Liposomal nanomedicines have emerged as a pivotal approach for the treatment of various diseases, notably cancer and infectious diseases. This manuscript provides an in-depth review of recent advancements in liposomal formulations, highlighting their composition, targeted delivery strategies, and mechanisms of action. We explore the evolution of liposomal products currently in clinical trials, emphasizing their potential in addressing diverse medical challenges. The integration of immunotherapeutic agents within liposomes marks a paradigm shift, enabling the design of 'immuno-modulatory hubs' capable of orchestrating precise immune responses while facilitating theranostic applications. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated research in liposomal-based vaccines and antiviral therapies, underscoring the need for improved delivery mechanisms to overcome challenges like rapid clearance and organ toxicity. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of "smart" liposomes, which can respond to specific disease microenvironments, enhancing treatment efficacy and precision. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in optimizing liposomal designs promises to revolutionize personalized medicine, paving the way for innovative strategies in disease detection and therapeutic interventions. This comprehensive review underscores the significance of ongoing research in liposomal technologies, with implications for future clinical applications and enhanced patient outcomes.

Complement tunes glutamate release and supports synaptic impairments in an animal model of multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To deepen our knowledge of the role of complement in synaptic impairment in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice, we investigated the distribution of C1q and C3 proteins and the role of complement as a promoter of glutamate release in purified nerve endings (synaptosomes) and astrocytic processes (gliosomes) isolated from the cortex of EAE mice at the acute stage of the disease (21 ± 1 day post-immunization).

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

EAE cortical synaptosomes and gliosomes were analysed for glutamate release efficiency (measured as release of preloaded [3 H]D-aspartate ([3 H]D-ASP)), C1q and C3 protein density, and for viability and ongoing apoptosis.

KEY RESULTS

In healthy mice, complement releases [3 H]D-ASP from gliosomes more efficiently than from synaptosomes. The releasing activity occurs in a dilution-dependent manner and involves the reversal of the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs). In EAE mice, the complement-induced releasing activity is significantly reduced in cortical synaptosomes but amplified in cortical gliosomes. These adaptations are paralleled by decreased density of the EAAT2 protein in synaptosomes and increased EAAT1 staining in gliosomes. Concomitantly, PSD95, GFAP, and CD11b, but not SNAP25, proteins are overexpressed in the cortex of the EAE mice. Similarly, C1q and C3 protein immunostaining is increased in EAE cortical synaptosomes and gliosomes, although signs of ongoing apoptosis or altered viability are not detectable.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results unveil a new noncanonical role of complement in the CNS of EAE mice relevant to disease progression and central synaptopathy that suggests new therapeutic targets for the management of MS.

An Updated Review on the Role of Nanoformulated Phytochemicals in Colorectal Cancer

The most common cancer-related cause of death worldwide is colorectal cancer. It is initiated with the formation of polyps, which further cause the development of colorectal cancer in multistep phases. Colorectal cancer mortality is high despite recent treatment breakthroughs and a greater understanding of its pathophysiology. Stress is one of the major causes of triggering different cellular signalling cascades inside the body and which might turn toward the development of cancer. Naturally occurring plant compounds or phytochemicals are being studied for medical purposes. Phytochemicals' benefits are being analyzed for inflammatory illnesses, liver failure, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and nephropathies. Cancer treatment with fewer side effects and better outcomes has been achieved by combining phytochemicals with chemotherapy. Resveratrol, curcumin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate have been studied for their chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive potentiality, but hydrophobicity, solubility, poor bioavailability, and target selectivity limit the clinical uses of these compounds. The therapeutic potential is maximized by utilizing nanocarriers such as liposomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles to increase phytochemical bioavailability and target specificity. This updated literature review discusses the clinical limitations, increased sensitivity, chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects, and the clinical limitations of the phytochemicals.

Antibody-Functionalized Nanoformulations for Targeted Therapy of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

The failure of chemotherapeutic treatment in colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most mortal cancer worldwide, is associated with several drug limitations, such as non-selective distribution, short half-life, and development of multiple resistances. One of the most promising strategies in CRC therapy is the development of delivery systems based on nanomaterials that can transport antitumor agents to the tumor site more efficiently, increasing accumulation within the tumor and thus the antitumor effect. In addition to taking advantage of the increased permeability and retention effect (EPR) of solid tumors, these nanoformulations can be conjugated with monoclonal antibodies that recognize molecular markers that are specifically over-expressed on CRC cells. Active targeting of nanoformulations reduces the adverse effects associated with the cytotoxic activity of drugs in healthy tissues, which will be of interest for improving the quality of life of cancer patients in the future. This review focuses on in vitro and in vivo studies of drug delivery nanoformulations functionalized with monoclonal antibodies for targeted therapy of CRC.

The Depolarization-Evoked, Ca2+-Dependent Release of Exosomes From Mouse Cortical Nerve Endings: New Insights Into Synaptic Transmission

Whether exosomes can be actively released from presynaptic nerve terminals is a matter of debate. To address the point, mouse cortical synaptosomes were incubated under basal and depolarizing (25 mM KCl-enriched medium) conditions, and extracellular vesicles were isolated from the synaptosomal supernatants to be characterized by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, Western blot, and flow cytometry analyses. The structural and biochemical analysis unveiled that supernatants contain vesicles that have the size and the shape of exosomes, which were immunopositive for the exosomal markers TSG101, flotillin-1, CD63, and CD9. The marker content increased upon the exposure of nerve terminals to the high-KCl stimulus, consistent with an active release of the exosomes from the depolarized synaptosomes. High KCl-induced depolarization elicits the Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of glutamate. Interestingly, the depolarization-evoked release of exosomes from cortical synaptosomes also occurred in a Ca2+-dependent fashion, since the TSG101, CD63, and CD9 contents in the exosomal fraction isolated from supernatants of depolarized synaptosomes were significantly reduced when omitting external Ca2+ ions. Differently, (±)-baclofen (10 µM), which significantly reduced the glutamate exocytosis, did not affect the amount of exosomal markers, suggesting that the GABAB-mediated mechanism does not control the exosome release. Our findings suggest that the exposure of synaptosomes to a depolarizing stimulus elicits a presynaptic release of exosomes that occurs in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. The insensitivity to the presynaptic GABAB receptors, however, leaves open the question on whether the release of exosomes could be a druggable target for new therapeutic intervention for the cure of synaptopathies.