Dexamethasone-Loaded Radially Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Sustained Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Rheumatoid Arthritis

3-MA attenuates collagen-induced arthritis in vivo via anti-inflammatory effect and autophagy inhibition

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which afflicts about nearly 1% of global population. RA results in synovitis and cartilage/bone damage, even disability which aggravates the health burden. Many drugs are used to relieve RA, such as glucocorticoids (GCs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the clinical treatment. However, present clinical drugs have various disadvantages such as poor bioavailability and short biological half-life and drug resistance, or adverse effects. A recent study showed autophagy modulation may be a novel strategy in the treatment of RA. 3-Methylademine (3-MA), is the most widely used autophagy inhibitor, which blocks autophagy at the initiation and maturation stages. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of 3-MA in collagen-induced-arthritis (CIA) mice and further elucidate how 3-MA attenuated inflammation, and cartilage/bone damage in arthritis.

METHODS

An in-vivo mouse collagen-induced arthritis model was applied to compare differences in ankle destruction among control mice and CIA mice treated with or without 3-MA. Bone and cartilage destruction degree was evaluated by histology and micro-computed tomography (µCT). Further in-vivo assays utilized mouse serum samples to investigate inflammatory levels, oxidative levels, and bone resorption cytokines. At last, an immunofluorescence assay was applied to detect the autophagy level among the three groups.

RESULTS

The in-vivo mouse collagen-induced arthritis model showed that CIA mice revealed apparent hind paw and ankle swelling which was aggravated gradually along with time, while 3-MA treatment attenuated swelling gradually. µCT and histological results showed typical lesions in CIA group while 3-MA treatment alleviated arthritis-related destruction. Serum assay showed that 3-MA significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines levels, suppressed oxidative levels and bone resorption cytokines. Immunofluorescence assay revealed 3-MA significantly inhibited the abnormal autophagy level in CIA mouse ankle.

CONCLUSIONS

3-MA protects bone destruction in CIA-induced mice arthritis by anti-inflammatory effect and autophagy inhibition.

Integrating 3D-printed hydrogels and polymeric nanofibers in a double-layered transdermal patch for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory illness that affects the synovial joints, have a much worse quality of life. Mostly, oral or injectable formulations are used to treat RA, underscoring the critical need for an innovative medication delivery method to enhance therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance. The present study integrated 3D bioprinting and electrospinning technologies to create a unique double-layered transdermal patch (TDDP) for the treatment of RA. The first layer was prepared by 3D-printing a newly developed hydrogel (HG) containing hyaluronic acid (HA) that maintains the joint components and dexamethasone (DEX), an anti-inflammatory agent. A second layer of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers (NFs) loaded with naringin (NAR), an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory natural plant extract, was fabricated and integrated with the former layer. The morphology of the NFs was investigated using SEM, and their diameter ranged from 156.28 to 220.66 nm. The physicochemical properties of the suggested TDDP were investigated using FTIR and DSC. The DEX-loaded 3D-printed HG was able to release about 98% of the loaded DEX over a period of 10 days. In vivo experiments definitively confirmed the efficacy of the newly developed TDDPs, showcasing a substantial reduction in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) through sandwich ELISA measurements in Rattus norvegicus plasma samples. Besides, the stained photomicrographs of the ankle joints of the animals confirmed the alleviation of the RA symptoms via reducing cell infiltration with a preserved joint tissue structure.

Dynamic Release from Acetalated Dextran Nanoparticles for Precision Therapy of Inflammation

Polymer-based nanoparticles (NPs) that react to altered physiological characteristics have the potential to enhance the delivery of therapeutics to a specific area. These materials can utilize biochemical triggers, such as low pH, which is prone to happen locally in an inflammatory microenvironment due to increased cellular activity. This reduced pH is neutralized when inflammation subsides. For precise delivery of therapeutics to match this dynamic reaction, drug delivery systems (DDS) need to not only release the drug (ON) but also stop the release (OFF) autonomously. In this study, we use a systematic approach to optimize the composition of acetalated dextran (AcDex) NPs to start (ON) and stop (OFF) releasing model cargo, depending on local pH changes. By mixing ratios of AcDex polymers (mixed NPs), we achieved a highly sensitive material that was able to rapidly release cargo when going from pH 7.4 to pH 6.0. At the same time, the mix also offered a stable composition that enabled a rapid ON/OFF/ON/OFF switching within this narrow pH range in only 90 min. These mixed NPs were also sensitive to biological pH changes, with increased release in the presence of inflammatory cells compared to healthy cells. Such precise and controllable characteristics of a DDS position mixed NPs as a potential treatment platform to inhibit disease flare-ups, reducing both systemic and local side effects to offer a superior treatment option for inflammation compared to conventional systems.

Silica nanoparticles in medicine: overcoming pathologies through advanced drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies

Over the last decades, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been studied for their applications in biomedicine as an alternative used for conventional diagnostics and treatments. Since their properties can be modified and adjusted for the desired use, they have many different potential applications in medicine: they can be used in diagnosis because of their ability to be loaded with dyes and their increased selectivity and sensitivity, which can improve the quality of the diagnostic process. SiNPs can be functionalized by targeting ligands or molecules to detect certain cellular processes or biomarkers with better precision. Targeted delivery is another fundamental use of SiNPs. They could be used as drug delivery systems (DDS) since their structure allows the loading of therapeutic agents or other compounds, and studies have demonstrated their biocompatibility. When SiNPs are used as DDS, the drug's toxicity and the off-target effects are reduced significantly, and they can be used to treat conditions like cancer and neurological diseases and even aid in regenerative processes, such as wound healing or bone repair. However, safety concerns must be considered before SiNPs can be used extensively in clinical practice because NPs can cause toxicity in certain conditions and accumulate at undesired locations. Therefore, an overview of the potential applications that SiNPs could have in medicine, as well as their safety concerns, will be covered in this review paper.

Theranostics: a multifaceted approach utilizing nano-biomaterials

Biomaterials play a vital role in targeting therapeutics. Over the years, several biomaterials have gained wide attention in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Scientists are trying to make more personalized treatments for different diseases, as well as discovering novel single agents that can be used for prognosis, medication administration, and keeping track of how a treatment works. Theranostics based on nano-biomaterials have higher sensitivity and specificity for disease management than conventional techniques. This review provides a concise overview of various biomaterials, including carbon-based materials like fullerenes, graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and carbon nanofibers, and their involvement in theranostics of different diseases. In addition, the involvement of imaging techniques for theranostics applications was overviewed. Theranostics is an emerging strategy that has great potential for enhancing the accuracy and efficacy of medicinal interventions. Despite the presence of obstacles such as disease heterogeneity, toxicity, reproducibility, uniformity, upscaling production, and regulatory hurdles, the field of medical research and development has great promise due to its ability to provide patients with personalised care, facilitate early identification, and enable focused treatment.

Strontium-doped mesoporous bioglass nanoparticles for enhanced wound healing with rapid vascularization

Tissue engineered skin and its substitutes have a promising future in wound healing. However, enabling fast formation of blood vessels during the wound healing process is still a huge challenge to the currently available wound substitutes. In this work, active mesoporous bioglass nanoparticles with a high specific surface area and doped with strontium (Sr) were fabricated for rapid microvascularization and wound healing. The as-prepared bioglass nanoparticles with Sr ions significantly promoted the proliferation of fibroblasts and microvascularization of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Silk fibroin sponges encapsulating the nanoparticles accelerated wound healing by promoting the formation of blood vessels and epithelium in vivo. This work provides a strategy for the design and development of active biomaterials for enhancing wound healing by rapid vascularization and epithelial reconstruction.

Experimental study of dexamethasone-loaded hollow hydroxyapatite microspheres applied to direct pulp capping of rat molars

Background

Dexamethasone (DEX) exerts anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects. Hydroxyapatite is commonly used in bone repair due to its osteoconductivity, osseointegration, and osteogenesis induction. Hollow hydroxyapatite (HHAM) is often used as a drug carrier.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the histological responses of exposed dental pulp when dexamethasone-loaded nanohydroxyapatite microspheres (DHHAM) were used as a direct capping agent.

Methods

Cavities were created in the left maxillary first molar of Wistar rats and filled with Dycal, HHAM, and DHHAM. No drug was administered to the control group. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the procedure. The molars were extracted for fixation, demineralization, dehydration, embedding, and sectioning. H&E staining was performed to detect the formation of reparative dentin. H&E and CD45 immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect pulp inflammation. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess the expressions of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β.

Results

The results of H&E and CD45 immunohistochemical staining showed that the degree of inflammation in the DHHAM group was less than that in the Control and HHAM groups at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after capping of the rat molar teeth (p<0.01). The H&E staining showed that the percentage of reparative dentin formed in the DHHAM group was higher than that in the Control, HHAM (p<0.001), and Dycal groups (p<0.01) at 1 and 2 weeks, and was significantly higher than that in the Control group (p<0.001) and the HHAM group (p<0.01) at 4 weeks. The immunohistochemical staining showed a lower range and intensity of expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and high expression levels of DMP-1 in the DHHAM group at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after pulp capping relative to the Control group.

Conclusions

DHHAM significantly inhibited the progression of inflammation and promoted reparative dentin formation.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a Potential Nanoplatform: Therapeutic Applications and Considerations

With advances in nanotechnology, nanoparticles have come to be regarded as carriers of therapeutic agents and have been widely studied to overcome various diseases in the biomedical field. Among these particles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been investigated as potential nanocarriers to deliver drug molecules to various target sites in the body. This review introduces the physicochemical properties of MSNs and synthesis procedures of MSN-based nanoplatforms. Moreover, we focus on updating biomedical applications of MSNs as a carrier of therapeutic or diagnostic cargo and review clinical trials using silica-nanoparticle-based systems. Herein, on the one hand, we pay attention to the pharmaceutical advantages of MSNs, including nanometer particle size, high surface area, and porous structures, thus enabling efficient delivery of high drug-loading content. On the other hand, we look through biosafety and toxicity issues associated with MSN-based platforms. Based on many reports so far, MSNs have been widely applied to construct tissue engineering platforms as well as treat various diseases, including cancer, by surface functionalization or incorporation of stimuli-responsive components. However, even with the advantageous aspects that MSNs possess, there are still considerations, such as optimizing physicochemical properties or dosage regimens, regarding use of MSNs in clinics. Progress in synthesis procedures and scale-up production as well as a thorough investigation into the biosafety of MSNs would enable design of innovative and safe MSN-based platforms in biomedical fields.

Mesoporous Silica-Based Nanoplatforms Are Theranostic Agents for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disorders

Complete recovery from infection, sepsis, injury, or trauma requires a vigorous response called inflammation. Inflammatory responses are essential in balancing tissue homeostasis to protect the tissue or resolve harmful stimuli and initiate the healing process. Identifying pathologically important inflammatory stimuli is important for a better understanding of the immune pathways, mechanisms of inflammatory diseases and organ dysfunctions, and inflammatory biomarkers and for developing therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Nanoparticles are an efficient medical tool for diagnosing, preventing, and treating various diseases due to their interactions with biological molecules. Nanoparticles are unique in diagnosis and therapy in that they do not affect the surroundings or show toxicity. Modern medicine has undergone further development with nanoscale materials providing advanced experimentation, clinical use, and applications. Nanoparticle use in imaging, drug delivery, and treatment is growing rapidly owing to their spectacular accuracy, bioavailability, and cellular permeability. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) play a significant role in nano therapy with several advantages such as easy synthesis, loading, controllability, bioavailability over various surfaces, functionalization, and biocompatibility. MSNs can be used as theranostics in immune-modulatory nano systems to diagnose and treat inflammatory diseases. The application of MSNs in the preparation of drug-delivery systems has been steadily increasing in recent decades. Several preclinical studies suggest that an MSN-mediated drug-delivery system could aid in treating inflammatory diseases. This review explains the role of nanoparticles in medicine, synthesis, and functional properties of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their therapeutic role against various inflammatory diseases.

Novel Antitumor Agents Based on Fluorescent Benzofurazan Derivatives and Mesoporous Silica

Two novel fluorescent mesoporous silica-based hybrid materials were obtained through the covalent grafting of [4-hydrazinyl-7-nitrobenz-[2,1,3-d]-oxadiazole (NBDH) and N¹-(7-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]-oxadiazol-4-yl) benzene-1,2-diamine (NBD-PD), respectively, inside the channels of mesoporous silica SBA-15. The presence of fluorescent organic compounds (nitrobenzofurazan derivatives) was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal analysis (TG), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The nitrogen physisorption analysis showed that the nitrobenzofurazan derivatives were distributed uniformly on the internal surface of SBA-15, the immobilization process having a negligible effect on the structure of the support. Their antioxidant activity was studied by measuring the ability to reduce free radicals DPPH (free radical scavenging activity), in order to formulate potential applications of the materials obtained. Cytotoxicity of the newly synthesized materials, SBA-NBDH and SBA-NBD-PD, was evaluated on human B16 melanoma cells. The morphology of these cells, internalization and localization of the investigated materials in melanoma and fibroblast cells were examined through fluorescence imaging. The viability of B16 (3D) spheroids after treatment with SBA-NBDH and SBA-NBD-PD was evaluated using MTS assay. The results showed that both materials induced a selective antiproliferative effect, reducing to various degrees the viability of melanoma cells. The observed effect was enhanced with increasing concentration. SBA-NBD-PD exhibited a higher antitumor effect compared to SBA-NBDH starting with a concentration of 125 µg/mL. In both cases, a significantly more pronounced antiproliferative effect on tumor cells compared to normal cells was observed. The viability of B16 spheroids dropped by 40% after treatment with SBA-NBDH and SBA-NBD-PD at 500 µg/mL concentration, indicating a clear cytotoxic effect of the tested compounds. These results suggest that both newly synthesized biomaterials could be promising antitumor agents for applications in cancer therapy.

Growth optimization of single-phase novel colloidal perovskite Cs3Bi2I9 nanocrystals and Cs3Bi2I9@SiO2 core-shell nanocomposites for bio-medical application

Lead-free halide perovskites have gained attention in recent years as viable materials with more distinctive characteristics than conventional semiconductor materials. Lead-free Cs₃Bi₂I₉ colloidal perovskite nanocrystal is chosen to eliminate its single-phase synthesis difficulty and implement the material in bioimaging applications. Nanostructured Cs₃Bi₂I₉ perovskite composites were coated with a thin coating of SiO₂ by an in situ tetraethyl orthosilicate/(3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane injection growth method to enhance their stability in aqueous medium and biocompatibility. Single-phase novel Cs₃Bi₂I₉ colloidal perovskite nanocrystal synthesis was successfully developed and optimized by adopting different synthetic conditions with varied experimental parameters. Characterization studies, including X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy, confirm the hexagonal structure of Cs₃Bi₂I₉ crystals and their cubic morphology. A broad emission peak in the red region was captured for pure and composite perovskite under different excitation wavelengths and was observed using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Bioimaging of Cs₃Bi₂I₉@SiO₂ composites incorporated with L929 cells was conducted using an inverted fluorescence microscope under blue and green excitation. The results obtained from bioimaging studies indicated that the Cs₃Bi₂I₉@SiO₂ nanocomposites entered the cell field and exhibited an emission under excitation. The non-toxic behavior of the synthesized Cs₃Bi₂I₉@SiO₂ composites was demonstrated using MTT cytotoxicity assay in L929 fibroblast mouse cells, showing better cell compatibility.

Recent advances in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Nanotechnology has increasingly emerged as a promising tool for exploring new approaches, from treating complex conditions to early detection of the onset of multiple disease states. Tailored designer nanoparticles can now more comprehensively interact with their cellular targets and various pathogens due to a similar size range and tunable surface properties. The basic goal of drug delivery is to employ pharmaceuticals only where they are needed, with as few adverse effects and off-target consequences as possible. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory illness that leads to progressive loss of bone and cartilage, resulting in acute impairment, decreased life expectancy, and increased death rates. Recent advancements in treatment have significantly slowed the progression of the disease and improved the lives of many RA sufferers. Some patients, on the other hand, attain or maintain illness remission without needing to continue immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, a large percentage of patients do not respond to current treatments or acquire tolerance to them. As a result, novel medication options for RA therapy are still needed. Nanocarriers, unlike standard medications, are fabricated to transport drugs directly to the location of joint inflammation, evading systemic and negative effects. As a result, researchers are reconsidering medicines that were previously thought to be too hazardous for systemic delivery. This article gives an overview of contemporary nanotechnology-based tactics for treating rheumatoid arthritis, as well as how the nanotherapeutic regimen could be enhanced in the future.