PTSA-induced synthesis, in silico and nano study of novel ethylquinolin-thiazolo-triazole in cervical cancer

Aim: p-Toluenesulfonic acid-(PTSA) and grinding-induced novel synthesis of ethylquinolin-thiazolo-triazole derivatives was performed using green chemistry. Materials & methods: Development of a nanoconjugate drug-delivery system of ethylquinolin-thiazolo-triazole was carried out with D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) and the formulation was further characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and in vitro drug release assay. The effect of 3a nanoparticles was assessed against a cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the effect on apoptosis was determined. Results & discussion: The 3a nanoparticles triggered the apoptotic mode of cell death after increasing the intracellular reactive oxygen level by enhancing cellular uptake of micelles. Furthermore, in silico studies revealed higher absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and toxicity properties and bioavailability of the enzyme tyrosine protein kinase. Conclusion: The 3a nanoparticles enhanced the therapeutic potential and have higher potential for targeted drug delivery against cervical cancer.

Bioadhesive micelles of d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate 1000: Synergism of chitosan and transferrin in targeted drug delivery

The aim of this work was to prepare targeted bioadhesive d-α- tocopheryl glycol succinate 1000 (TPGS) micelles containing docetaxel (DTX) for brain targeted cancer therapy. Considering the unique bioadhesive feature of chitosan, herein, we have developed a synergistic transferrin receptor targeted bioadhesive micelles using TPGS conjugated chitosan (TPGS-chitosan), which target the overexpressed transferrin receptors of glioma cells for brain cancer therapy. The micelles were prepared by the solvent casting method and characterized for their particle size, polydispersity, zeta-potential, surface morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, and in-vitro release. The IC₅₀ values demonstrated transferrin receptor targeted TPGS-chitosan micelles could be 248 folds more effective than Docel™ after 24h treatment with the C6 glioma cells. Further, time dependent bioadhesive cellular uptake study indicated that a synergistic effect was achieved with the chitosan and transferrin in targeted TPGS-chitosan micelles through the biodhesive property of chitosan as well as transferrin receptor mediated endocytosis. The in-vivo pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that relative bioavailability of non-targeted and targeted micelles were 2.89 and 4.08 times more effective than Docel™ after 48h of treatments, respectively.

Transition from passive to active targeting of oral insulin nanomedicines: enhancement in bioavailability and glycemic control in diabetes

Oral insulin nanomedicines are effective tools for therapy and management of both Type I and Type II diabetes. This review summarizes the various nanocarriers developed so far in the literature for oral delivery of insulin. It includes lipid-based (i.e., solid lipid nanoparticles and liposomes) and polymeric-based insulin nanomedicines (i.e., chitosan nanoparticles, alginate nanoparticles, dextran nanoparticles and nanoparticles of synthetic polymers) for sustained, controlled and targeted oral delivery of insulin. Mainly, goblet cell-targeting, vitamin B12 receptor-targeting, folate receptor-targeting and transferrin receptor-targeting aspects were focused. Currently, passive and active targeting approaches of oral insulin nanomedicines have improved the oral absorption of insulin and its bioavailability (up to 14%) that produced effective glycaemic control in in vivo models. These results indicate a promising future of oral insulin nanomedicines for the treatment of diabetes.