Chitosan surface modified PLGA nanoparticles loaded with brigatinib for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

In the current study, surface-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) of brigatinib (BRB) were prepared by studying the variables PLGA (polymer), PVA (stabilizer) and chitosan (coater) against experimentally obtained responses. The optimized NPs (F2) were evaluated in vitro for differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and drug entrapment (EE), in vitro release, hematocompatibility and in vitro anticancer studies. The optimized NPs’ (F2) composition, PLGA (75 mg), PVA (0.55% w/v), chitosan (0.75% w/v) and 30 mg of BRB was found to be optimum with particle size (406.3 ± 5.1 nm), PDI (0.277), ζ potential (30.4 ± 3.3 mV) and %EE (82.32%). The in vitro release profile showed a sustained release pattern of the F2 nanoparticles of BRB. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed a significant anticancer activity for F2 NPs against A549 cell lines in comparison to free BRB. The result obtained in this work indicated the immense potential of nanoparticles to effectively deliver the BRB to the cancer site for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

The tobacco cembranoid (1S,2E,4S,7E,11E)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol as a novel angiogenesis inhibitory lead for the control of breast malignancies

(1S,2E,4S,6R,7E,11E)-2,7,11-cembratriene-4,6-diol (1) and its 4-epi-analog (2) are diterpene precursors of the key flavor components in most Nicotiana (tobacco) species that purposely degraded during commercial tobacco fermentation. Angiogenesis, recruitment of new blood vessels, is important for tumor growth, survival and metastasis that can be targeted to control cancer. This study shows evidences and potential of the cembranoid 1 as a potent angiogenesis modulator through targeting VEGFR2. In silico study suggested favorable docking scores and binding affinity of 1 at the ATP binding pocket of VEGFR2. The binding mode of 1 was parallel to the standard FDA-approved antiangiogenic drug sunitinib (4). In vitro, cembranoid 1 significantly reduced the activated VEGFR2 levels in multiple breast cancer cell lines. Intraperitoneal 40mg/kg, 3X/week treatment of 1 significantly reduced the MDA-MB-231 cells breast tumor size in mice. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis of the treated mice tumors showed significant downregulation of the vasculogenesis marker CD31 and suppressed activated VEGFR2-paxillin-FAK pathway. Matrigel study in Swiss albino mice showed similar trend. The tobacco cembranoid 1 is a potential antiangiogenic lead useful for future use to control breast malignancies.

(1S,2E,4S,7E,11E)-2,7,11-Cembratriene-4,6-diol semisynthetic analogs as novel c-Met inhibitors for the control of c-Met-dependent breast malignancies

(1S,2E,4S,6R,7E,11E)-2,7,11-Cembratriene-4,6-diol (1) and its 4-epi-analog (2) are the cembranoid precursors to several key flavor ingredients in most Nicotiana (tobacco) species. Nearly 40-60% of 1 and 2 are purposely degraded during the commercial tobacco fermentation. However, 1 and 2 display promising bioactivities, including anticancer. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women and ranked second female disease killer. The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met correlates with aggressiveness of certain breast cancer phenotypes and thus considered a valid therapeutic target. This study reports the discovery and optimization of the tobacco-based cembranoid 1 as a novel c-Met inhibitory scaffold using combined structure- and ligand-based approaches. 1 displayed antiproliferative, anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects against the c-Met overexpressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at moderate μM concentrations. The Z'-LYTE kinase platform and Western blot analysis identified c-Met as a potential macromolecular target. Rationally designed carbamate analogs were proposed to probe additional targeted c-Met interactions and improve the cellular potency. The 6-phenyl carbamate 3 showed enhanced c-Met inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationships of different substituents on the 3's phenyl moiety were studied. The most active analog 20 showed potent in vitro anticancer activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at low μM concentrations, with minimal toxicity on the non-tumorigenic MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells. Cembranoid 20 potently inhibited the c-Met catalytic activity in Z'-LYTE kinase assay and various cellular c-Met-driven signaling pathways. Furthermore, 20 displayed a robust antitumor activity in a breast cancer xenograft athymic mouse model and thus promoted to the lead rank. Cembranoids are novel c-Met inhibitors appropriate for future use to control c-Met dependent malignancies.