scholarly journals Dermal Penetration Analysis of Curcumin in an ex vivo Porcine Ear Model Using Epifluorescence Microscopy and Digital Image Processing

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Olga Pelikh ◽  
Shashank R. Pinnapireddy ◽  
Cornelia M. Keck
Keyword(s):  
Digital Image ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Skin Penetration ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Epifluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Standard Formulation ◽  
Dermal Penetration

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Curcumin is a promising drug candidate, but its use for dermal application is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility. Thus, formulations that increase the solubility of curcumin are needed to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of curcumin. Various previous studies address this issue, but a comparison of the efficacy between these formulations remains difficult. The reason for this is a missing standard formulation as benchmark control and an easy-to-use skin penetration model that allows for a fast discrimination between different formulations. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> Thus, the aims of this study were the development of a curcumin standard formulation and a screening tool that allows for a fast discrimination between the dermal penetration efficacies of curcumin from different formulations. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Ethanolic curcumin solutions were selected as simple and easy to produce standard formulations, and the ex vivo porcine ear model, coupled with epifluorescence microscopy and subsequent digital image analysis, was utilized to determine the dermal penetration efficacy of curcumin from the different formulations. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Results show that the utilized skin penetration model is a suitable and versatile tool that enables not only a fast determination of the dermal penetration efficacy of curcumin from different formulations but also a detailed and mechanistic information on the fate of chemical compounds after dermal penetration. Ethanolic solutions containing 0.25% curcumin were found to be the most suitable standard formulation. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Results of the study provide a new, effective screening tool for the development of dermal formulations for improved dermal delivery of curcumin.

scholarly journals A novel orally active HDAC6 inhibitor T-518 shows a therapeutic potential for Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathy in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Onishi ◽  
Ryouta Maeda ◽  
Michiko Terada ◽  
Sho Sato ◽  
Takahiro Fujii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Histone Deacetylase 6 ◽  
Cellular Assays ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Acetylation State ◽  
Hdac6 Inhibitor ◽  
Orally Active

AbstractAccumulation of tau protein is a key pathology of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Those diseases are collectively termed tauopathies. Tau pathology is associated with axonal degeneration because tau binds to microtubules (MTs), a component of axon and regulates their stability. The acetylation state of MTs contributes to stability and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a major regulator of MT acetylation status, suggesting that pharmacological HDAC6 inhibition could improve axonal function and may slow the progression of tauopathy. Here we characterize N-[(1R,2R)-2-{3-[5-(difluoromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-5-oxo-5H,6H,7H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6-yl}cyclohexyl]-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanamide (T-518), a novel, potent, highly selective HDAC6 inhibitor with clinically favorable pharmacodynamics. T-518 shows potent inhibitory activity against HDAC6 and superior selectivity over other HDACs compared with the known HDAC6 inhibitors in the enzyme and cellular assays. T-518 showed brain penetration in an oral dose and blocked HDAC6-dependent tubulin deacetylation at Lys40 in mouse hippocampus. A 2-week treatment restored impaired axonal transport and novel object recognition in the P301S tau Tg mouse, tauopathy model, while a 3-month treatment also decreased RIPA-insoluble tau accumulation. Pharmaceutical inhibition of HDAC6 is a potential therapeutic strategy for tauopathy, and T-518 is a particularly promising drug candidate.

scholarly journals Coptisine Attenuates Diabetes—Associated Endothelial Dysfunction through Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Oxidative Stress

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4210
Author(s):  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Chunxiu Zhou ◽  
Xutao Zhang ◽  
Chi Teng Vong ◽  
Yitao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Diabetic Mice ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Coptisine is the major bioactive protoberberine alkaloid found in Rhizoma Coptidis. Coptisine reduces inflammatory responses and improves glucose tolerance; nevertheless, whether coptisine has vasoprotective effect in diabetes is not fully characterized. Conduit arteries including aortas and carotid arteries were obtained from male C57BL/6J mice for ex vivo treatment with risk factors (high glucose or tunicamycin) and coptisine. Some arterial rings were obtained from diabetic mice, which were induced by high-fat diet (45% kcal% fat) feeding for 6 weeks combined with a low-dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (120 mg/kg). Functional studies showed that coptisine protected endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas against risk factors and from diabetic mice. Coptisine increased phosphorylations of AMPK and eNOS and downregulated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers as determined by Western blotting. Coptisine elevates NO bioavailability and decreases reactive oxygen species level. The results indicate that coptisine improves vascular function in diabetes through suppression of ER stress and oxidative stress, implying the therapeutic potential of coptisine to treat diabetic vasculopathy.

scholarly journals Molecular Targeting of VEGF with a Suramin Fragment–DOCA Conjugate by Mimicking the Action of Low Molecular Weight Heparins

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Jooho Park ◽  
Tae-Bong Kang ◽  
Ji-Hong Lim ◽  
Hyung-Sik Won
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Pharmaceutical Research ◽  
Molecular Targeting ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Heparin Binding ◽  
Vegf Inhibitor ◽  
Acid Conjugate ◽  
Pathogenic Action ◽  
Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Molecular targeting of growth factors has shown great therapeutic potential in pharmaceutical research due to their roles in pathological conditions. In the present study, we developed a novel suramin fragment and deoxycholic acid conjugate (SFD) that exhibited the potential to bind to the heparin-binding site (HBD) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and to inhibit its pathogenic action for the first time. Notably, SFD was optimally designed for binding to the HBD of VEGF using the naphthalenetrisulfonate group, allowing to observe its excellent binding efficacy in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) study, showing remarkable binding affinity (KD = 3.8 nM) as a small molecule inhibitor. In the tubular formation assay, it was observed that SFD could bind to HBD and exhibit antiangiogenic efficacy by inhibiting VEGF, such as heparins. The cellular treatment of SFD resulted in VEGF-inhibitory effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Therefore, we propose that SFD can be employed as a novel drug candidate to inhibit the pathophysiological action of VEGF in diseases. Consequently, SFD, which has a molecular structure optimized for binding to HBD, is put forward as a new chemical VEGF inhibitor.

scholarly journals Rapamycin Alternatively Modifies Mitochondrial Dynamics in Dendritic Cells to Reduce Kidney Ischemic Reperfusion Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5386
Author(s):  
Maria Namwanje ◽  
Bijay Bisunke ◽  
Thomas V. Rousselle ◽  
Gene G. Lamanilao ◽  
Venkatadri S. Sunder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Graft Loss ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Regulatory Phenotype

Dendritic cells (DCs) are unique immune cells that can link innate and adaptive immune responses and Immunometabolism greatly impacts their phenotype. Rapamycin is a macrolide compound that has immunosuppressant functions and is used to prevent graft loss in kidney transplantation. The current study evaluated the therapeutic potential of ex-vivo rapamycin treated DCs to protect kidneys in a mouse model of acute kidney injury (AKI). For the rapamycin single (S) treatment (Rapa-S-DC), Veh-DCs were treated with rapamycin (10 ng/mL) for 1 h before LPS. In contrast, rapamycin multiple (M) treatment (Rapa-M-DC) were exposed to 3 treatments over 7 days. Only multiple ex-vivo rapamycin treatments of DCs induced a persistent reprogramming of mitochondrial metabolism. These DCs had 18-fold more mitochondria, had almost 4-fold higher oxygen consumption rates, and produced more ATP compared to Veh-DCs (Veh treated control DCs). Pathway analysis showed IL10 signaling as a major contributing pathway to the altered immunophenotype after Rapamycin treatment compared to vehicle with significantly lower cytokines Tnfa, Il1b, and Il6, while regulators of mitochondrial content Pgc1a, Tfam, and Ho1 remained elevated. Critically, adoptive transfer of rapamycin-treated DCs to WT recipients 24 h before bilateral kidney ischemia significantly protected the kidneys from injury with a significant 3-fold improvement in kidney function. Last, the infusion of DCs containing higher mitochondria numbers (treated ex-vivo with healthy isolated mitochondria (10 µg/mL) one day before) also partially protected the kidneys from IRI. These studies demonstrate that pre-emptive infusion of ex-vivo reprogrammed DCs that have higher mitochondria content has therapeutic capacity to induce an anti-inflammatory regulatory phenotype to protect kidneys from injury.

scholarly journals Development of Novel Indole-Based Bifunctional Aldose Reductase Inhibitors/Antioxidants as Promising Drugs for the Treatment of Diabetic Complications

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2867
Author(s):  
Lucia Kovacikova ◽  
Marta Soltesova Prnova ◽  
Magdalena Majekova ◽  
Andrej Bohac ◽  
Cimen Karasu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aldose Reductase ◽  
Diabetic Complications ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Aldose Reductase Inhibitors ◽  
Reductase Inhibitors ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach

Aldose reductase (AR, ALR2), the first enzyme of the polyol pathway, is implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) thus present a promising therapeutic approach to treat a wide array of diabetic complications. Moreover, a therapeutic potential of ARIs in the treatment of chronic inflammation-related pathologies and several genetic metabolic disorders has been recently indicated. Substituted indoles are an interesting group of compounds with a plethora of biological activities. This article reviews a series of indole-based bifunctional aldose reductase inhibitors/antioxidants (ARIs/AOs) developed during recent years. Experimental results obtained in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of diabetic complications are presented. Structure–activity relationships with respect to carboxymethyl pharmacophore regioisomerization and core scaffold modification are discussed along with the criteria of ‘drug-likeness”. Novel promising structures of putative multifunctional ARIs/AOs are designed.

scholarly journals Ex Vivo Activity of Immunotherapeutic Approaches Targeting CD38 Against Daratumumab-Resistant Multiple Myeloma Patient Samples

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1848-1848
Author(s):  
Maria Karvouni ◽  
Heyue Zhou ◽  
Arnika Kathleen Wagner ◽  
Qiangzhong Ma ◽  
Alamdar H. Baloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Multiple Myeloma Patient ◽  
Myeloma Cells ◽  
Car T ◽  
Equity Ownership

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that remains incurable. The identification of CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed on MM cells, led to the development of target-specific therapeutics such as the FDA approved monoclonal antibody (mAb) Daratumumab (DARA). Although a valuable treatment option for refractory/relapsed (R/R) MM patients, DARA has a limited response rate of below 50%, which highlights the clinical need for novel therapeutics. Aims: Aiming to further exploit the therapeutic potential of CD38 in the MM setting, immunotherapies based on the novel anti-CD38 mAb CD38A2 were tested. Methods: For the first approach, the CD38A2 mAb -that binds to a unique, distinct from DARA's, CD38 epitope- was conjugated with either the alkylating agent Duomycin (ADC-136) or the microtubulin binder Duostatin (ADC-129). The ADCs were compared to DARA, in cultures of primary MM cells from patients refractory to DARA treatment. In a second approach, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) consisting of the CD38A2 scFv and the intracellular domains of CD28 and CD3ζ was used to transduce primary T and NK cells from R/R MM patients. The functionality of the CAR-T and CAR-NK cells was assessed in cytotoxicity assays against autologous myeloma cells. Results: ADC-136 demonstrated the most potent cytotoxicity against the MM cells with an IC50 of 6pM at day 6 following a single dose treatment. ADC-129 showed cell killing with an IC50 of 30pM, while DARA did not exhibit appreciable cytotoxicity. Regarding the cell therapy approach, patients' T and NK cells were effectively transduced, showing a CD38A2-CAR expression ranging between 11-68%. In functional assays, CAR-T and CAR-NK cells were assayed against autologous myeloma cells, where they exhibited an increase in target cell cytotoxicity, compared to the untransduced cells. Summary/Conclusion: Altogether, our preliminary findings demonstrate that CD38 targeting using CD38A2-based immunotherapies could be a viable therapeutic approach in R/R MM patients previously exposed to DARA. Currently, an anti-CD38 CAR-T therapy based on CD38A2 is being evaluated in Phase 1 studies in R/R MM patients by Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. Disclosures Zhou: Sorrento Therapeutics Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ma:Sorrento Therapeutics Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhu:Sorrento Therapeutics Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zhang:Sorrento Therapeutics Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kaufmann:Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties.

scholarly journals The nanocomposite fullerol reduces oxidative stress, pulmonary injury, and mortality in a rat model of acute lung injury

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosária Aires ◽  
Ildernandes Vieira-Alves ◽  
Leda Maria Coimbra-Campos ◽  
Marina Ladeira ◽  
Teresa Socarras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Acute Lung Injury ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Pulmonary Damage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical disorder that has high mortality rates, and pharmacological therapies are so far ineffective. The pathophysiology of ALI involves pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Fullerol is a carbon nanocomposite that possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of fullerol and its mechanisms in a model of paraquat-induced ALI. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Rats were divided into ALI (paraquat alone), fullerol (paraquat plus fullerol), and control groups. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The myeloperoxidase assay, ELISA, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to determine neutrophils infiltration, cytokines production, and histopathological parameters in lung samples, respectively. The antioxidant effect of fullerol was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. KEY RESULTS Fullerol (0.01 to 0.3 mg/kg) markedly reduced the severe lung injury and high mortality rates observed in ALI rats. Moreover, fullerol (0.03 mg/kg) inhibited the reactive oxygen species formation and lipid peroxidation seen in lungs from ALI rats, and exhibited a potent concentration-dependent (10 to 10 mg/ml) in vitro antioxidant activity. Importantly, fullerol (0.03 mg/kg) inhibited neutrophils accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage and lungs, and the increase in pulmonary levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CINC-1 in ALI rats. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Fullerol treatment was effective in reducing pulmonary damage and ALI-induced mortality, highlighting its therapeutic potential in an ALI condition. Searching for new pharmacological therapies to treat ALI may be desirable especially in view of the new coronavirus disease 2019 that currently plagues the world.

scholarly journals Contribution to the Improvement of an Oral Formulation of Niclosamide, an Antihelmintic Drug Candidate for Repurposing in SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo José Barbosa ◽  
Mariana Ribeiro Gubitoso ◽  
Nádia Araci Bou-Chacra ◽  
Stephen R. Byrn ◽  
Flavio M. S. Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solid Dispersions ◽  
Amorphous Solid ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Oral Formulation ◽  
Oral Dosage ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Formulation Development ◽  
Polymer Dispersions ◽  
Kinetic Solubility ◽  
Oral Dosage Forms

<p>Niclosamide (NCL) is an effective anthelmintic agent that has been shown to possess broad-spectrum antiviral activity, including against<b> </b>SARS-CoV-2. Due to its poor solubility in aqueous medium, however, the commercially available NCL formulations can act only locally in gastrointestinal worms and are not suitable to achieve plasmatic levels to treat systemic diseases. Consequently, the repurposing of this drug represents a challenge for formulation development with serious risks to the biological availability and can compromise preclinical and clinical outcomes. Herein, we report possible formulation, through the research and development, of stable amorphous solid dispersions to improve its solubility. The results of exploratory screening of NCL-polymer dispersions (performed through X-ray powder diffraction and kinetic solubility studies) indicate that soluplus-niclosamide dispersions can increase its aqueous solubility and, consequently, have the potential to enhance NCL bioavailability. <a>This outcome can be used for the development of oral dosage forms for clinical trials in SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. </a></p>

scholarly journals The Advantages and Challenges of Anticancer Dendritic Cell Vaccines and NK Cells in Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1363
Author(s):  
Elena V. Abakushina ◽  
Liubov I. Popova ◽  
Andrey A. Zamyatnin ◽  
Jens Werner ◽  
Nikolay V. Mikhailovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Adoptive Cell Therapy ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Cell Immunotherapy

In the last decade, an impressive advance was achieved in adoptive cell therapy (ACT), which has improved therapeutic potential and significant value in promising cancer treatment for patients. The ACT is based on the cell transfer of dendritic cells (DCs) and/or immune effector cells. DCs are often used as vaccine carriers or antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to prime naive T cells ex vivo or in vivo. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells are used as major tool effector cells for ACT. Despite the fact that NK cell immunotherapy is highly effective and promising against many cancer types, there are still some limitations, including insignificant infiltration, adverse conditions of the microenvironment, the immunosuppressive cellular populations, and the low cytotoxic activity in solid tumors. To overcome these difficulties, novel methods of NK cell isolation, expansion, and stimulation of cytotoxic activity should be designed. In this review, we discuss the basic characteristics of DC vaccines and NK cells as potential adoptive cell preparations in cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Therapeutic potential of curcumin in medicinal chemistry

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Košťálová ◽  
Lýdia Bezáková ◽  
Lucia Račkovác ◽  
Silvia Mošovská ◽  
Ernest Šturdík
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Chemical Reactivity ◽  
Curcuma Longa ◽  
Nucleophilic Attack ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Systemic Bioavailability ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Multiple Cell ◽  
Cell Signaling Pathways

Abstract Extensive research over the past half century has shown that curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a polyphenolic compound of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), can modulate multiple cell signaling pathways. Extensive clinical trials have addressed the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of this nutraceutical against numerous diseases in human. Curcumin, known for thousand years as a subject of Ayurvedic medicine, has undergone in recent times remarkable transformation into a drug candidate with prospective multipotent therapeutic application. Characterized by high chemical reactivity, resulting from an extended conjugated double bond system prone to nucleophilic attack, curcumin has been shown to interact with a plethora of molecular targets, in numerous experimental observations. In clinical trials, has been used either alone or in combination with other agent. However, its clinical advance has been limited by its short biological half-life, fast metabolism and poor systemic bioavailability after oral administration. To mitigate the above limitations, recently various formulation of curcumin, including nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, phytosomes delivery system has been examined. The present review has been devoted towards better understanding of the phytonutraceutic properties of curcumin and turmeric based on their disease specific indications and enhancing their prophylactic and therapeutic nutraceutical qualities. The article deals with the biological activity, mode of action, toxicity and forthcoming application of these leads.

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