Apoptosis-inducing peptide loaded in PLGA nanoparticles induces anti-tumor effects in vivo

Polymeric nanomaterial strategies to encapsulate and deliver biological drugs: points to consider between methods

Biological drugs (BDs) play an increasingly irreplaceable role in treating various diseases such as cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The market share of BDs is increasingly promising. However, the effectiveness of BDs is currently limited due to challenges in efficient administration and delivery, and issues with stability and degradation. Thus, the field is using nanotechnology to overcome these limitations. Specifically, polymeric nanomaterials are common BD carriers due to their biocompatibility and ease of synthesis. Different strategies are available for BD transportation, but the use of core-shell encapsulation is preferable for BDs. This review discusses recent articles on manufacturing methods for encapsulating BDs in polymeric materials, including emulsification, nanoprecipitation, self-encapsulation and coaxial electrospraying. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are analysed and discussed. We also explore the impact of critical synthesis parameters on BD activity, such as sonication in emulsifications. Lastly, we provide a vision of future challenges and perspectives for scale-up production and clinical translation.

Evaluation of paclitaxel-loaded polymeric nanoparticles in 3D tumor model: impact of tumor stroma on penetration and efficacy

Since tumor stroma poses as a barrier to achieve efficacy of nanomedicines, it is essential to evaluate nano-chemotherapeutics in stroma-mimicking 3D models that reliably predict their behavior regarding these hurdles limiting efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles (PTX-PMCs) and polymeric nanoparticles (PTX-PNPs) in a tumor stroma-mimicking 3D in vitro model. PTX-PMCs (77 nm) based on a amphiphilic block copolymer of mPEG-b-p(HPMAm-Bz) and PTX-PNPs (159 nm) based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) were prepared, which had an encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 81 ± 15% and 45 ± 8%, respectively. 3D homospheroids of mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells and heterospheroids of NIH3T3 fibroblasts and 4T1 (5:1 ratio) were prepared and characterized with high content two-photon microscopy and immunostaining. Data showed an induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (α-SMA) in both homo- and heterospheroids, while ECM (collagen) deposition only in heterospheroids. Two-photon imaging revealed that both fluorescently labeled PMCs and PNPs penetrated into the core of homospheroids and only PMCs penetrated into heterospheroids. Furthermore, PTX-PMCs, PTX-PNPs, and free PTX induced cytotoxicity in tumor cells and fibroblasts grown as monolayer, but these effects were substantially reduced in 3D models, in particular in heterospheroids. Gene expression analysis showed that heterospheroids had a significant increase of drug resistance markers (Bcl2, Abgc2) compared to 2D or 3D monocultures. Altogether, this study shows that the efficacy of nanotherapeutics is challenged by stroma-induced poor penetration and development of resistant phenotype. Therefore, this tumor stroma-mimicking 3D model can provide an excellent platform to study penetration and effects of nanotherapeutics before in vivo studies.

TAT for Enzyme/Protein Delivery to Restore or Destroy Cell Activity in Human Diseases

Much effort has been dedicated in the recent decades to find novel protein/enzyme-based therapies for human diseases, the major challenge of such therapies being the intracellular delivery and reaching sub-cellular organelles. One promising approach is the use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) for delivering enzymes/proteins into cells. In this review, we describe the potential therapeutic usages of CPPs (mainly trans-activator of transcription protein, TAT) in enabling the uptake of biologically active proteins/enzymes needed in cases of protein/enzyme deficiency, concentrating on mitochondrial diseases and on the import of enzymes or peptides in order to destroy pathogenic cells, focusing on cancer cells.

Quality by design prospects of pharmaceuticals application of double emulsion method for PLGA loaded nanoparticles

Abstract

QbD approach empowers the pharma researchers to minimize the number of experimental trials and time. It helps identify the significant, influential factors such as critical material attributes, critical formulation variables, and critical process parameters, which may significantly impact the quality of the products. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, has gained an immense potential and wide range of applications as a carrier for manufacturing of polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery systems as per US-FDA and European Medicine Agency for drug delivery. The double emulsion method for preparing PLGA nanoparticles to encapsulate hydrophilic drugs has attracted interest in manufacturing processes. The double emulsion is a two-step process consisting of two different emulsification, making the process more complicated. The stability of nanoparticles obtained by a double emulsion method remains questionable due to the many formulations and process attributes. Currently, PLGA based nanoparticles prepared by a double emulsion technique are an alternative pharmaceutical manufacturing operation for getting the quality product by employing the Quality by Design approach. This present review has discussed the QbD elements to elucidate the effect of material attributes, formulation, and process variables on the critical quality attributes of the drug product, such as particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, etc. The components of a double emulsion, characteristics of drugs, polymers, and stabilizers used have been discussed in detail in this review.

Graphic abstract

Antitumor Effect of Hyperoside Loaded in Charge Reversed and Mitochondria-Targeted Liposomes

Introduction

Hyperoside (HYP), a flavonol glycoside compound, has been shown to significantly inhibit the proliferation of malignant tumors. Mitochondria serve as both “energy factories” and “suicide weapon stores” of cells. Targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs to the mitochondria of tumor cells and tumor vascular cells is a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Objective

We report a novel dual-functional liposome system possessing both extracellular charge reversal and mitochondrial targeting properties to enhance drug accumulation in mitochondria and trigger apoptosis of cancer cells.

Methods

L-lysine was used as a linker to connect 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (DMA) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) to yield a new compound, DSPE-Lys-DMA (DLD). Then, DLD was mixed with other commercially available lipids to form charge reversed and mitochondria-targeted liposomes (DLD-Lip). The size, morphology, zeta potential, serum stability, and protein adsorption of the HYP loaded DLD-Lip (HYP/DLD-Lip) were measured. The release profile, cellular uptake, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and anticancer activity of HYP/DLD-Lip were investigated.

Results

The results showed that the mean diameter of the liposomes was less than 200 nm. The zeta potential of the liposomes was negative at pH 7.4. However, the zeta potential was positive at weak acidic pH values with the cleavage of the DMA amide. The charge reversion of HYP/DLD-Lip facilitated the cellular internalization and mitochondrial accumulation for enhanced antitumor effect. The strongest tumor growth inhibition (TGI 88.79%) without systemic toxicity was observed in DLD/HYP-Lips-treated CBRH-7919 tumor xenograft BALB/C mice.

Conclusion

The charge reversed and mitochondria-targeted liposomes represented a promising anticancer drug delivery system for enhanced anticancer therapeutic efficacy.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology for the Treatment of Melanoma

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, with few possibilities for therapeutic approaches, due to its multi-drug resistance and, consequently, low survival rate for patients. Conventional therapies for treatment melanoma include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, which have various side effects. For this reason, in recent years, pharmaceutical and biomedical research has focused on new sito-specific alternative therapeutic strategies. In this regard, nanotechnology offers numerous benefits which could improve the life expectancy of melanoma patients with very low adverse effects. This review aims to examine the latest advances in nanotechnology as an innovative strategy for treating melanoma. In particular, the use of different types of nanoparticles, such as vesicles, polymers, metal-based, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, solid lipid, microneedles, and their combination with immunotherapies and vaccines will be discussed.