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Drago S, Utzeri MA, Mauro N, Cavallaro G. Polyamidoamine-Carbon Nanodot Conjugates with Bioreducible Building Blocks: Smart Theranostic Platforms for Targeted siRNA Delivery. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1191-1204. [PMID: 38178792 PMCID: PMC10865362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
This study focuses on designing hybrid theranostic nanosystems, utilizing gadolinium-doped carbon nanodots decorated with bioreducible amphoteric polyamidoamines (PAAs). The objective is to synergize the exceptional theranostic properties of gadolinium-doped carbon nanodots (CDs) with the siRNA complexation capabilities of PAAs. Linear copolymeric polyamidoamines, based on N,N'-bis(acryloyl)cystamine, arginine, and agmatine, were synthesized, resulting in three distinct amphoteric copolymers. Notably, sulfur bridges within the PAA repeating units confer pronounced susceptibility to glutathione-mediated degradation─a key attribute in the tumor microenvironment. This pathway enables controlled and stimuli-responsive siRNA release, theoretically providing precise spatiotemporal control over therapeutic interventions. The selected PAA, conjugated with CDs using the redox-sensitive spacer cystamine, formed the CDs-Cys-PAA conjugate with superior siRNA complexing capacity. Stable against polyanion exchange, the CDs-Cys-PAA/siRNA complex released siRNA in the presence of GSH. In vitro studies assessed cytocompatibility, internalization, and gene silencing efficacy on HeLa, MCF-7, and 16HBE cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore
Emanuele Drago
- Laboratory of Biocompatible
Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
and Technologies (STEBICEF), University
of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mara Andrea Utzeri
- Laboratory of Biocompatible
Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
and Technologies (STEBICEF), University
of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Nicolò Mauro
- Laboratory of Biocompatible
Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
and Technologies (STEBICEF), University
of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gennara Cavallaro
- Laboratory of Biocompatible
Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
and Technologies (STEBICEF), University
of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Restivo I, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Garcia-Llatas G, Cilla A. A Mixture of Dietary Plant Sterols at Nutritional Relevant Serum Concentration Inhibits Extrinsic Pathway of Eryptosis Induced by Cigarette Smoke Extract. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021264. [PMID: 36674779 PMCID: PMC9861561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell death program of red blood cells (RBCs), called eryptosis, is characterized by activation of caspases and scrambling of membrane phospholipids with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). Excessive eryptosis confers a procoagulant phenotype and is implicated in impairment of microcirculation and increased prothrombotic risk. It has recently been reported that cigarette smokers have high levels of circulating eryptotic erythrocytes, and a possible contribution of eryptosis to the vaso-occlusive complications associated to cigarette smoke has been postulated. In this study, we demonstrate how a mixture of plant sterols (MPtS) consisting of β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, at serum concentration reached after ingestion of a drink enriched with plant sterols, inhibits eryptosis induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Isolated RBCs were exposed for 4 h to CSE (10-20% v/v). When RBCs were co-treated with CSE in the presence of 22 µM MPtS, a significant reduction of the measured hallmarks of apoptotic death like assembly of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), PS outsourced, ceramide production, cleaved forms of caspase 8/caspase 3, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK, was evident. The new beneficial properties of plant sterols on CSE-induced eryptosis presented in this work open new perspectives to prevent the negative physio-pathological events caused by the eryptotic red blood cells circulating in smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-091-2386-2434
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Guadalupe Garcia-Llatas
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Antonio Cilla
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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Nuzzo D, Scordino M, Scurria A, Giardina C, Giordano F, Meneguzzo F, Mudò G, Pagliaro M, Picone P, Attanzio A, Raimondo S, Ciriminna R, Di Liberto V. Protective, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity of Grapefruit IntegroPectin on SH-SY5Y Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9368. [PMID: 34502276 PMCID: PMC8430642 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tested in vitro on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, grapefruit IntegroPectin is a powerful protective, antioxidant and antiproliferative agent. The strong antioxidant properties of this new citrus pectin, and its ability to preserve mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology, severely impaired in neurodegenerative disorders, make it an attractive therapeutic and preventive agent for the treatment of oxidative stress-associated brain disorders. Similarly, the ability of this pectic polymer rich in RG-I regions, as well as in naringin, linalool, linalool oxide and limonene adsorbed at the outer surface, to inhibit cell proliferation or even kill, at high doses, neoplastic cells may have opened up new therapeutic strategies in cancer research. In order to take full advantage of its vast therapeutic and preventive potential, detailed studies of the molecular mechanism involved in the antiproliferative and neuroprotective of this IntegroPectin are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Nuzzo
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (D.N.); (P.P.)
| | - Miriana Scordino
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (M.S.); (C.G.); (G.M.)
| | - Antonino Scurria
- Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (F.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Costanza Giardina
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (M.S.); (C.G.); (G.M.)
| | - Francesco Giordano
- Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (F.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Francesco Meneguzzo
- Istituto per la Bioeconomia, CNR, via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Giuseppa Mudò
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (M.S.); (C.G.); (G.M.)
| | - Mario Pagliaro
- Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (F.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Pasquale Picone
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (D.N.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Stefania Raimondo
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Via Divisi 83, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Rosaria Ciriminna
- Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, CNR, via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (F.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Valentina Di Liberto
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (M.S.); (C.G.); (G.M.)
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Sun Q, He M, Zhang M, Zeng S, Chen L, Zhao H, Yang H, Liu M, Ren S, Xu H. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:685002. [PMID: 34276374 PMCID: PMC8281679 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.685002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Haibo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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