Photodynamic Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Using Chlorin e6-Loaded Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)- Based Nanoparticles

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1939-1950
Author(s):  
Beibei Lin ◽  
Xuegu Xu ◽  
Xiaobi Zhang ◽  
Yinfei Yu ◽  
Xiaoling Wang

We prepared poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) encapsulated with chlorin e6 (Ce6) in an effort to increase the stability and efficiency of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). We determined that Ce6-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA-Ce6 NPs) had drug-loading efficiency of 5%. The efficiency of encapsulation was 82%, the zeta potential was- 25 mV, and the average diameter was 130 nm. The encapsulation of Ce6 in PLGA nanoparticles showed excellent stability. The nanoparticles exhibited sustained Ce6 release profiles with 50% released at the end of 3 days, whereas free Ce6 showed rapid release within 1 day. Ce6 release patterns were controlled by encapsulation into PLGA. The uptake of PLGA-Ce6 NPs was significantly enhanced by endocytosis in the first 8 hours in the HCT-116 cell line. An intracellular reactive oxygen species assay revealed the enhanced uptake of the nanoparticles. An in vitro anti-tumor activity assay showed that the PLGA-Ce6 NPs exhibited enhanced phototoxicity toward HCT-116 cells and a slightly lower IC50 value in HCT-116 cells than Ce6 solution alone. Exposure of HCT-116 cell spheroids to PLGA-Ce6 NPs penetrated more profoundly and had better phototoxicity than pure drugs. These findings suggest that PLGA-Ce6 NPs might serve as PDT for colorectal cancer.

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Zhang ◽  
Xiaofang Xiao ◽  
Daqiang Song ◽  
Siwei Chen ◽  
Zhuo Zhang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong-Zhang He ◽  
Jing Jiang ◽  
Xinglin Hu ◽  
Ming Lei ◽  
Jia Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background UCA1 is frequently upregulated in a variety of cancers, including CRC, and it can play an oncogenic role by various mechanisms. However, how UCA1 is regulated in cancer is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine whether RNA methylation at N6-methyladenosine (m6A) can impact UCA1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods qRT-PCR was performed to detect the level of UCA1 and IGF2BP2 in CRC samples. CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to knockout (KO) UCA1, METTL3 and WTAP in DLD-1 and HCT-116 cells, while rescue experiments were carried out to re-express METTL3 and WTAP in KO cells. Immunoprecipitation using m6A antibody was performed to determine the m6A modification of UCA1. In vivo pulldown assays using S1m tagging combined with site-direct mutagenesis was carried out to confirm the recognition of m6A-modified UCA1 by IGF2BP2. Cell viability was measured by MTT and colony formation assays. The expression of UCA1 and IGF2BP2 in TCGA CRC database was obtained from GEPIA (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn). Results Our results revealed that IGF2BP2 serves as a reader for m6A modified UCA1 and that adenosine at 1038 of UCA1 is critical to the recognition by IGF2BP2. Importantly, we showed that m6A writers, METTL3 and WTAP positively regulate UCA1 expression. Mechanically, IGF2BP2 increases the stability of m6A-modified UCA1. Clinically, IGF2BP2 is upregulated in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues. Conclusion These results suggest that m6A modification is an important factor contributing to upregulation of UCA1 in CRC tissues.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 2082-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismaeel  Bin-Jaliah

Background/Aims: Cancer cells in vivo develop resistance to many anti-tumor drugs. One known factor to influence such drug resistance is hypoxia, which is an important component of the tumor microenvironment. Standard cancer lines mostly do not exhibit a cellular hypoxic microenvironment and there is a paucity of information on the efficacy of lead molecules in both cellular- and environment-induced hypoxic conditions. Therefore, in the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy of the arylidene derivative MLT-401, a lead molecule showing activity against colorectal cancer model using the HCT 116 cell line and CCD-80-C control cells in normoxic and natural (marginal) hypoxic conditions, which is usually observed in high-altitude regions. Methods: The efficacy of MLT-401 on HCT 116 and CCD-80-C cells were tested in both normoxia and marginal hypoxia conditions. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation, Annexin V binding assay for apoptotic cell quantification and PI staining for cell cycle were done by flow cytometry. Induction of pro-apoptotic marker BAX and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 were assessed by western blot. Bcl-2/BAX ratio was calculated based on protein expression by western blotting and bands were quantified by Image J software. Results: Analysis of cell proliferation showed an average 10-fold reduction in the inhibition of HCT 116 cells in hypoxic conditions with approximately 500 nM MLT-401, while there was no significant change noted in marginal hypoxic conditions. A proportionate increase in the number of apoptotic cells and large M4 fraction of 10.5% and 26.7% of HCT116 against 6.3% of control cells in cell cycle assessment with MLT-401 concentrations ranging from 250 to 500 nM respectively clearly demonstrated anti-cancer activity. A Bcl-2/BAX ratio of < 1 showed that the induction of apoptosis was the gross mechanism underlying the inhibition of HCT 116 cells by MLT-401. Conclusion: Collectively, these results show MLT-401 as an effective anti-colorectal cancer lead molecule irrespective of normoxia or natural hypoxia.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 2306
Author(s):  
Xin Qi ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Xiao-min Zhang ◽  
Xiu-fen Dai ◽  
Jian Cui ◽  
...  

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that contributes to cancer progression through multiple processes of cancer development, which makes it an attractive target for cancer therapy. The IL-6/STAT3 pathway is associated with an advanced stage in colorectal cancer patients. In this study, we identified trichothecin (TCN) as a novel STAT3 inhibitor. TCN was found to bind to the SH2 domain of STAT3 and inhibit STAT3 activation and dimerization, thereby blocking STAT3 nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity. TCN did not affect phosphorylation levels of STAT1. TCN significantly inhibited cell growth, arrested cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in HCT 116 cells. In addition, the capacities of colony formation, migration, and invasion of HCT 116 cells were impaired upon exposure to TCN with or without IL-6 stimulation. In addition, TCN treatment abolished the tube formation of HUVEC cells in vitro. Taken together, these results highlight that TCN inhibits various cancer-related features in colorectal cancer development in vitro by targeting STAT3, indicating that TCN is a promising STAT3 inhibitor that deserves further exploration in the future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 300-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Li Huang ◽  
Fang Wei ◽  
Ke Zhao ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Dong Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractIsoliquiritigenin (ISL), a member of the flavonoids, is known to possess antitumor activity in different types of cancer including human breast cancer, hepatoma cancer, prostate cancer and others, bothin vitroandin vivo. In the present study, we reported the effect of ISL on cell growth in human colorectal cancer cells HCT-116. As examined by CCK8 assays, ISL inhibited the proliferation of HCT-116 cells. Additionally, the antimigratory activity of ISL in HCT-116 cells was confirmed by trans-well chamber migration assays and invasion assays. Moreover, the results of fluorescence-activated cell sorting and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that ISL induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. Further detection using SDS-PAGE assay revealed that ISL decreased the levels of phospho-AKT (p-AKT), phospho-mTOR (p-mTOR), Cyclin D1 and phospho-p70S6 Kinase (p-P70S6K). Collectively, these findings indicated that isoliquiritigenin induced growth-inhibition and apoptosis through downregulating of PI3K/AKT in human colorectal cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 512-522
Author(s):  
Xian Li ◽  
Long Xia ◽  
Xiaohui Ouyang ◽  
Qimuge Suyila ◽  
Liya Su ◽  
...  

<P>Background: Despite new agent development and short-term benefits in patients with Colorectal Cancer (CRC), metastatic CRC cure rates have not improved due to high rates of oxaliplatin resistance and toxicity. There is an urgent need for effective tools to prevent and treat CRC and reduce morbidity and mortality of CRC patients. Exploring the effects of bioactive peptides on the antitumor to CRC was of vital importance to the clinical application. </P><P> Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic impact of Anticancer Bioactive Peptides (ACBP) on anticancer effect of oxaliplatin (LOHP) in human colorectal cancer xenografts models in nude mice. </P><P> Methods: HCT-116 cells were cultured in vitro via CCK-8 assays and the absorbance was measured at 450 nm. Apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed by Flow Cytometry (FCM) in vitro. HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice of treatment with PBS (GG), ACBP, LOHP, ACBP+LOHP (A+L) in vivo. The quality of life was assessed by dietary amount of nude mice, the weight of nude mice, inhibition rates, tumor weight and tumor volume. Immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR method was conducted to determine the levels of apoptosisregulating proteins/genes in transplanted tumors. </P><P> Results: ACBP induced substantial reductions in viable cell numbers and apoptosis of HCT116 cells in combined with LOHP in vitro. Compared with the control GG group, ACBP combined low dose oxaliplatin (U) group demonstrated significantly different tumor volume, the rate of apoptosis, the expression levels of Cyt-C, caspase-3,8,9 proteins and corresponding RNAs (P<0.05). The expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in the cytoplasm around the nucleus was significantly enhanced by ACBP. Short term intermittent use of ACBP alone indicted a certain inhibitory effect on tumor growth, and improve the quality of life of tumor bearing nude mice. </P><P> Conclusion: ACBP significantly increased the anti-cancer responses of low dose oxaliplatin (L-LOHP), thus, significantly improving the quality of life of tumor-bearing nude mice.</P>


BioMetals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Menconi ◽  
Tiziano Marzo ◽  
Lara Massai ◽  
Alessandro Pratesi ◽  
Mirko Severi ◽  
...  

AbstractChloro(triethylphosphine)gold(I), (Et3PAuCl hereafter), is an Auranofin (AF)-related compound showing very similar biological and pharmacological properties. Like AF, Et3PAuCl exhibits potent antiproliferative properties in vitro toward a variety of cancer cell lines and is a promising anticancer drug candidate. We wondered whether Et3PAuCl encapsulation might lead to an improved pharmacological profile also considering the likely reduction of unwanted side-reactions that are responsible for adverse effects and for drug inactivation. Et3PAuCl was encapsulated in biocompatible PLGA–PEG nanoparticles (NPs) and the new formulation evaluated in colorectal HCT-116 cancer cells in comparison to the free gold complex. Notably, encapsulated Et3PAuCl (nano-Et3PAuCl hereafter) mostly retains the cellular properties of the free gold complex and elicits even greater cytotoxic effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, mediated by apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, a remarkable inhibition of two crucial signaling pathways, i.e. ERK and AKT, by nano-Et3PAuCl, was clearly documented. The implications of these findings are discussed.


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