Redox-Sensitive Ultrashort Peptide Hydrogel with Tunable Mechanical Properties for Anti-Tumor Drug Delivery

In this study, we report a new ultrashort peptide (LOC), which forms a redox-sensitive hydrogel after cross-linking with the mild oxidant H2 O2 and used it for tumor-targeted delivery of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). LOC gelled within a few minutes in low-concentration H2 O2 solution. The concentration of H2 O2 significantly altered the gelation time and mechanical properties of the hydrogel. The in vitro micromorphology, secondary structure and rheology characterization of cross-linked hydrogels confirmed the sensitivity and injectability to reducing agent. The cross-linked hydrogel had a strong drug loading capacity, and the drug was released in a GSH concentration-dependent manner, following the Fick diffusion model. In addition, the cross-linked hydrogel showed no cytotoxicity to normal fibroblasts, and no damage to the subcutaneous tissue of mice was observed. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments showed that the DOX-hydrogel system exhibited good anti-cancer efficacy. In vivo studies using 4T1 tumor-bearing mice showed that the DOX-hydrogel system had a significant inhibitory effect on tumors. Therefore, the newly designed redox-sensitive hydrogel can effectively enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DOX and reduce toxicity, making it an attractive biological material.

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Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Injectable Betamethasone-Loaded Tyramine-Modified Gellan Gum/Silk Fibroin Hydrogels

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom10101456 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1456

Author(s):

Isabel Matos Oliveira ◽

Cristiana Gonçalves ◽

Myeong Eun Shin ◽

Sumi Lee ◽

Rui Luis Reis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Mechanical Properties ◽

Silk Fibroin ◽

Therapeutic Efficacy ◽

Composite Structures ◽

Gelation Time ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Gellan Gum ◽

Traditional Use

Rheumatoid arthritis is a rheumatic disease for which a healing treatment does not presently exist. Silk fibroin has been extensively studied for use in drug delivery systems due to its uniqueness, versatility and strong clinical track record in medicine. However, in general, natural polymeric materials are not mechanically stable enough, and have high rates of biodegradation. Thus, synthetic materials such as gellan gum can be used to produce composite structures with biological signals to promote tissue-specific interactions while providing the desired mechanical properties. In this work, we aimed to produce hydrogels of tyramine-modified gellan gum with silk fibroin (Ty–GG/SF) via horseradish peroxidase (HRP), with encapsulated betamethasone, to improve the biocompatibility and mechanical properties, and further increase therapeutic efficacy to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Ty–GG/SF hydrogels presented a β-sheet secondary structure, with gelation time around 2–5 min, good resistance to enzymatic degradation, a suitable injectability profile, viscoelastic capacity with a significant solid component and a betamethasone-controlled release profile over time. In vitro studies showed that Ty–GG/SF hydrogels did not produce a deleterious effect on cellular metabolic activity, morphology or proliferation. Furthermore, Ty–GG/SF hydrogels with encapsulated betamethasone revealed greater therapeutic efficacy than the drug applied alone. Therefore, this strategy can provide an improvement in therapeutic efficacy when compared to the traditional use of drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

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Modulatory Effects of Osthole on Lipopolysaccharides-Induced Inflammation in Caco-2 Cell Monolayer and Co-Cultures with THP-1 and THP-1-Derived Macrophages

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13010123 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 123

Author(s):

Natalia K. Kordulewska ◽

Justyna Topa ◽

Małgorzata Tańska ◽

Anna Cieślińska ◽

Ewa Fiedorowicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Inflammatory Reaction ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Cell Monolayer ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Tnf Α

Lipopolysaccharydes (LPS) are responsible for the intestinal inflammatory reaction, as they may disrupt tight junctions and induce cytokines (CKs) secretion. Osthole has a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, thus its anti-inflammatory potential in the LPS-treated Caco-2 cell line as well as in Caco-2/THP-1 and Caco-2/macrophages co-cultures was investigated. In brief, Caco-2 cells and co-cultures were incubated with LPS to induce an inflammatory reaction, after which osthole (150–450 ng/mL) was applied to reduce this effect. After 24 h, the level of secreted CKs and changes in gene expression were examined. LPS significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, -6, -8, and TNF-α, while osthole reduced this effect in a concentration-dependent manner, with the most significant decrease when a 450 ng/mL dose was applied (p < 0.0001). A similar trend was observed in changes in gene expression, with the significant osthole efficiency at a concentration of 450 ng/μL for IL1R1 and COX-2 (p < 0.01) and 300 ng/μL for NF-κB (p < 0.001). Osthole increased Caco-2 monolayer permeability, thus if it would ever be considered as a potential drug for minimizing intestinal inflammatory symptoms, its safety should be confirmed in extended in vitro and in vivo studies.

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Effect of Synchronous Versus Sequential Regimens on the Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Regorafenib with Irradiation

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13030386 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 386

Author(s):

Tung-Hu Tsai ◽

Yu-Jen Chen ◽

Li-Ying Wang ◽

Chen-Hsi Hsieh

Keyword(s):

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Control Group ◽

High Dose ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Hep G2 ◽

Time Curve ◽

Dose Dependent

This study was performed to evaluate the interaction between conventional or high-dose radiotherapy (RT) and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of regorafenib in concurrent or sequential regimens for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Concurrent and sequential in vitro and in vivo studies of irradiation and regorafenib were designed. The interactions of RT and regorafenib in vitro were examined in the human hepatoma Huh-7, HA22T and Hep G2 cell lines. The RT–PK phenomenon and biodistribution of regorafenib under RT were confirmed in a free-moving rat model. Regorafenib inhibited the viability of Huh-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis in Huh-7 cells was enhanced by RT followed by regorafenib treatment. In the concurrent regimen, RT decreased the area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC)regorafenib by 74% (p = 0.001) in the RT2 Gy × 3 fraction (f’x) group and by 69% (p = 0.001) in the RT9 Gy × 3 f’x group. The AUCregorafenib was increased by 182.8% (p = 0.011) in the sequential RT2Gy × 1 f’x group and by 213.2% (p = 0.016) in the sequential RT9Gy × 1 f’x group. Both concurrent regimens, RT2Gy × 3 f’x and RT9Gy × 3 f’x, clearly decreased the biodistribution of regorafenib in the heart, liver, lung, spleen and kidneys, compared to the control (regorafenib × 3 d) group. The concurrent regimens, both RT2Gy × 3 f’x and RT9Gy × 3 f’x, significantly decreased the biodistribution of regorafenib, compared with the control group. The PK of regorafenib can be modulated both by off-target irradiation and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

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Targeted Dual Intervention-Oriented Drug-Encapsulated (DIODE) Nanoformulations for Improved Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers12051189 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1189

Author(s):

Vijay Sagar Madamsetty ◽

Krishnendu Pal ◽

Shamit Kumar Dutta ◽

Enfeng Wang ◽

Debabrata Mukhopadhyay

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Side Effects ◽

Anticancer Agents ◽

Targeted Delivery ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽

Combination Therapies ◽

Term Survival ◽

Therapeutic Benefits

Despite recent advancements, effective treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has remained elusive. The overall survival rate in PDAC patients has been dismally low due to resistance to standard therapies. In fact, the failure of monotherapies to provide long-term survival benefits in patients led to ascension of several combination therapies for PDAC treatment. However, these combination therapies provided modest survival improvements while increasing treatment-related adverse side effects. Hence, recent developments in drug delivery methods hold the potential for enhancing therapeutic benefits by offering cocktail drug loading and minimizing chemotherapy-associated side effects. Nanoformulations-aided deliveries of anticancer agents have been a success in recent years. Yet, improving the tumor-targeted delivery of drugs to PDAC remains a major hurdle. In the present paper, we developed several new tumor-targeted dual intervention-oriented drug-encapsulated (DIODE) liposomes. We successfully formulated liposomes loaded with gemcitabine (G), paclitaxel (P), erlotinib (E), XL-184 (c-Met inhibitor, X), and their combinations (GP, GE, and GX) and evaluated their in vitro and in vivo efficacies. Our novel DIODE liposomal formulations improved median survival in comparison with gemcitabine-loaded liposomes or vehicle. Our findings are suggestive of the importance of the targeted delivery for combination therapies in improving pancreatic cancer treatment.

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Boosting the Brain Delivery of Atazanavir through Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Based Approach for Mitigating NeuroAIDS

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12111059 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1059

Author(s):

Saif Ahmad Khan ◽

Saleha Rehman ◽

Bushra Nabi ◽

Ashif Iqubal ◽

Nida Nehal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Targeted Delivery ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Entrapment Efficiency ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Pharmacokinetic Studies ◽

Nanostructured Lipid Carrier ◽

Brain Delivery ◽

The Brain

Atazanavir (ATZ) presents poor brain availability when administered orally, which poses a major hurdle in its use as an effective therapy for the management of NeuroAIDS. The utilization of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) in conjunction with the premeditated use of excipients can be a potential approach for overcoming the limited ATZ brain delivery. Methods: ATZ-loaded NLC was formulated using the quality by design-enabled approach and further optimized by employing the Box–Behnken design. The optimized nanoformulation was then characterized for several in vitro and in vivo assessments. Results: The optimized NLC showed small particle size of 227.6 ± 5.4 nm, high entrapment efficiency (71.09% ± 5.84%) and high drug loading capacity (8.12% ± 2.7%). The release pattern was observed to be biphasic exhibiting fast release (60%) during the initial 2 h, then trailed by the sustained release. ATZ-NLC demonstrated a 2.36-fold increase in the cumulative drug permeated across the rat intestine as compared to suspension. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed 2.75-folds greater Cmax in the brain and 4-fold improvement in brain bioavailability signifying the superiority of NLC formulation over drug suspension. Conclusion: Thus, NLC could be a promising avenue for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs and delivering it to their target site. The results suggested that increase in bioavailability and brain-targeted delivery by NLC, in all plausibility, help in improving the therapeutic prospects of atazanavir.

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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of PU/PLDL Sponges Intended for Grafting Injured Spinal Cord

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12112693 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 2693

Author(s):

Anna Lis-Bartos ◽

Dariusz Szarek ◽

Małgorzata Krok-Borkowicz ◽

Krzysztof Marycz ◽

Włodzimierz Jarmundowicz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Young Modulus ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Polymer Composition ◽

In Vitro Toxicity ◽

Injured Spinal Cord ◽

Degradation Rates

Highly porous, elastic, and degradable polyurethane and polyurethane/polylactide (PU/PLDL) sponges, in various shapes and sizes, with open interconnected pores, and porosity up to 90% have been manufactured. They have been intended for gap filling in the injured spinal cord. The porosity of the sponges depended on the content of polylactide, i.e., it decreased with the increase of polylactide content. The rise of polylactide content caused an increase of Young modulus and rigidity as well as a more complex morphology of the polyurethane/polylactide blends. The mechanical properties, in vitro toxicity, and degradation in artificial cerebrospinal fluid were tested. Sponges underwent continuous degradation with varying degradation rates depending on the polymer composition. In vitro cell studies with fibroblast cultures proved the biocompatibility of the polymers. Based on the obtained results, the designed PU/PLDL sponges appeared to be promising candidates for bridging gaps within injured spinal cord in further in vitro and in vivo studies.

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FORMULATION OF NANOPARTICLES OF TELMISARTAN INCORPORATED IN CARBOXYMETHYLCHITOSAN FOR THE BETTER DRUG DELIVERY AND ENHANCED BIOAVAILABILITY

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i9.19162 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 236

Author(s):

Upasana Yadav ◽

Angshuman Ray Chowdhuri ◽

Sumanta Kumar Sahu ◽

Nuzhat Husain ◽

Qamar Rehman

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Drug Delivery ◽

Targeted Delivery ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Bioavailability Enhancement ◽

Water Soluble Drug ◽

Efficient Option

Objective: In this study, we have made an attempt to the developed formulation of nanoparticles (NPs) of telmisartan (TLM) incorporated in carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) for the better drug delivery and enhanced bioavailability.Materials and Methods: The NPs size and morphology were investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The crystal structures and surface functional groups were analyzed using X-ray diffraction pattern, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively.Results: To increase the solubility of TLM by targeted delivery of the drug through polymeric NPs is an alternative efficient, option for increasing the solubility. TLM nanosuspension powders were successfully formulated for dissolution and bioavailability enhancement of the drug. We focused on evaluating the influence of particle size and crystalline state on the in vitro and in vivo performance of TLM.Conclusion: In summary, we have developed a new approach toward the delivery of poorly water-soluble drug TLM by CMCS NPs. The particles having a good drug loading content and drug encapsulation efficiency. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized NPs is also very less.

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Cross-linking Electrospun Polydioxanone-Soluble Elastin Blends: Material Characterization

Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics ◽

10.1177/155892500800300101 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 155892500800300 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michael J. McClure ◽

Scott A. Sell ◽

Catherine P. Barnes ◽

Whitney C. Bowen ◽

Gary L. Bowlin

Keyword(s):

Femoral Artery ◽

Material Properties ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Uniaxial Tensile ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Materials Testing ◽

Uniaxial Tensile Testing ◽

The Cross

The purpose of this study was to establish whether material properties of elastin co-electrospun with polydioxanone (PDO) would change over time in both the uncross-linked state and the cross-linked state. First, uncross-linked scaffolds were placed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for three separate time periods: 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours, and subsequently tested using uniaxial materials testing. Several cross-linking reagents were then investigated to verify their ability to crosslink elastin: 1–ethyl-3–(dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), and genipin. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed on scaffolds cross-linked with EDC and genipin, yielding results that warranted further investigation for PDO-elastin blends. Material properties of the cross-linked scaffolds were then found within range of both pig femoral artery and human femoral artery. These results demonstrate PDO-elastin blends could potentially be favorable as vascular grafts, thus warranting future in vitro and in vivo studies.

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Isopsoralen Enhanced Osteogenesis by Targeting AhR/ERα

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23102600 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 2600 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Luna Ge ◽

Yazhou Cui ◽

Kai Cheng ◽

Jinxiang Han

Keyword(s):

Osteoblast Differentiation ◽

Estrogen Receptor Alpha ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Hormone Deficiency ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Osteogenic Potential ◽

Type I ◽

Dependent Manner

Isopsoralen (IPRN), one of the main effective ingredients in Psoralea corylifolia Linn, has a variety of biological effects, including antiosteoporotic effects. In vivo studies show that IPRN can increase bone strength and trabecular bone microstructure in a sex hormone deficiency-induced osteoporosis model. However, the mechanism underlying this osteogenic potential has not been investigated in detail. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of IPRN-induced osteogenesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. Isopsoralen promoted osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, increased calcium nodule levels and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and upregulated osteoblast markers, including ALP, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1). Furthermore, IPRN limited the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by directly binding to AhR. The AhR target gene cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1A1) was also inhibited in vitro and in vivo. This effect was inhibited by the AhR agonists indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC). Moreover, IPRN also increased estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression in an AhR-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that IPRN acts as an AhR antagonist and promotes osteoblast differentiation via the AhR/ERα axis.

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IWR-1 Inhibits Collagen-Induced Platelet Activation and Protects against Thrombogenesis

Hämostaseologie ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1676822 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (04) ◽

pp. 392-397

Author(s):

Wei Wang ◽

Songqing Lai ◽

ZiJin Xiao ◽

Haiyue Yan ◽

Yongxi Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Platelet Activation ◽

Antiplatelet Agent ◽

Wnt Signalling ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Platelet Activity ◽

Occlusion Time ◽

Negative Effect

AbstractPlatelets play a crucial role in haemostasis and several pathophysiological processes. Collagen is a main initiator for platelet activation and aggregation. Given that Wnt signalling negatively regulates platelet function, and IWR-1 (a small molecule inhibitor for Wnt signalling) has the potential of inhibiting collagen synthesis, it is essential to investigate whether IWR-1 regulates collagen-induced platelet activation and protects against thrombogenesis. In the present study we found that IWR-1 pretreatment effectively suppressed collagen-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, IWR-1 also resulted in a decrease of P-selectin and phosphatidylserine surface exposure using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. In vitro studies further revealed that IWR-1 had a negative effect on integrin a2β1 activation and platelet spreading. More importantly, the results from in vivo studies showed that IWR-1 exhibited a robust bleeding diathesis in the tail-bleeding assay and a prolonged occlusion time in the FeCl3-induced carotid injury model. Taken together, current results demonstrate that IWR-1 could effectively block collagen-induced platelet activity in vitro and in vivo, and suggest its candidacy as a new antiplatelet agent.

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