Redox-responsive nanoparticles enhance radiation therapy by altering multifaceted radio-resistance mechanisms in human castration-resistant prostate cancer cells and xenografts.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation therapy (RT) is a major modality for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), especially castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). However, hypoxia, often seen in PCa tumors, leads to radiation-resistance. This work investigates the effect of a novel oxygen-generating polymer-lipid manganese dioxide nanoparticle (PLMDs) on improving RT outcomes in CRPC xenograft models by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) both before and after RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human PC3 and DU145 PCa cells were used to investigate clonogenic inhibition and DNA repair pathways in vitro. Tumor hypoxia and post-RT angiogenesis were evaluated in a PC3-bearing SCID mouse model. PC3 and DU145 xenografts were used to study the efficacy of PLMD in combination with single or fractionated RT. RESULTS: PLMD plus RT significantly inhibited clonogenic potential, increased DNA double-strand breaks, and reduced DNA damage repair in hypoxic PC3 and DU145 cells as compared to RT alone. PLMD significantly reduced hypoxia-positive areas, hypoxia induced factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression, and protein carbonyl levels (a measure of oxidative stress). Application of PLMD with RT decreased RT-induced angiogenic biomarkers by up to 3-fold. Treatment of the human CRPC xenografts with PLMD plus RT (single or fractionated doses) significantly prolonged median survival of the host compared to RT alone resulting in up to a 40% curative rate. CONCLUSION: PLMD treatment modulated TME and sensitized hypoxic human CRPC cells to RT thus enhancing the efficacy of RT. These results confirmed the potential of PLMD as an adjuvant to RT for the treatment of hypoxic CRPC.

Exploring the transformability of polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles and nanomaterial-biology interplay to facilitate tumor penetration, cellular uptake and intracellular targeting of anticancer drugs.

BACKGROUND: Successful delivery of anticancer drugs to intracellular targets requires different properties of the nanocarrier to overcome multiple transport barriers. However, few nanocarrier systems, to date, possess such properties, despite knowledge about the biological fate of inorganic and polymeric nanocarriers in relation to their fixed size, shape and surface properties. Herein, a polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticle (PLN) system is described with size and shape transformability and its mechanisms of cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking are studied. METHODS: Pharmaceutical lipids were screened for use in transformable PLN. Mechanisms of cellular uptake and the role of fatty acid-binding proteins in intracellular trafficking of PLN were investigated in breast cancer cells. Intra-tumoral penetration and retention of doxorubicin (DOX) were evaluated by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The lead PLNs showed time-dependent size reduction and shape change from spherical to spiky shape. This transformability of PLNs and lipid trafficking pathways facilitated intracellular transport of DOX-loaded PLN (DOX-PLN) into mitochondria and nuclei. DOX-PLN significantly increased DOX penetration and retention over free DOX or non-transformable liposomal DOX particles at 4 h post-intravenous administration. CONCLUSION: Transformability of PLN and lipid-biology interplay can be exploited to design new nanocarriers for effective drug delivery to tumor cells and intracellular targets.

Combining Tumor Microenvironment Modulating Nanoparticles with Doxorubicin to Enhance Chemotherapeutic Efficacy and Boost Antitumor Immunity.

BACKGROUND: Tumor microenvironment (TME) and associated multiple factors are found to contribute to the failures in cancer therapies, including chemo- and immunotherapy. Here we report a new multimodal strategy that uses a bioreactive multifunctional hybrid polymer-lipid encapsulated manganese dioxide nanoparticle (PLMD NP) system to remodel the TME, suppress drug resistance factors, reverse immunosuppressive conditions, and enhance chemotherapy efficacy. METHODS: The influence of PLMD NPs on enhancing cellular uptake in EMT6 mouse breast cancer cells and tumor penetration of doxorubicin (DOX) in EMT6 orthotopic breast tumor mouse model was evaluated using confocal microscopy (n = 3-4). Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the effect of PLMD NPs on downregulating hypoxia-induced drug resistance proteins and anticancer activity of DOX (n = 3-4). The efficacy of the combination therapy with PLMD NPS and DOX was assessed in murine EMT6 (n = 15-23) and 4T1 (n = 7) orthotopic breast tumor mouse models. Rechallenge and splenocyte transfer were performed to validate the stimulation of adaptive tumor immunity in the surviving mice. RESULTS: PLMD NPs enhanced intratumoral penetration and efficacy of DOX, and reduced intratumoral expression of P-glycoprotein, p53, and carbonic anhydrase IX by 74.5%, 38.0%, and 58.8% vs saline control, respectively. Combination treatment with PLMD NPs and DOX increased the number of tumor-infiltrated CD8+ T cells and resulted in up to 60.0% complete tumor regression. Of naïve mice (n = 7) that received splenocytes from the PLMD+DOX-treated surviving mice, 57.1% completely suppressed tumor growth whereas 100% of mice that received splenocytes from DOX-treated mice (n = 3) and the control group (n = 7) showed rapid tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: The clinically suitable PLMD NPs can effectively downregulate TME-associated drug resistance and immunosuppression. The combination therapy with PLMD NPs and DOX is a multimodal and translational treatment approach for enhancing chemotherapeutic efficacy and boosting antitumor immunity.

Hybrid Manganese Dioxide Nanoparticles Potentiate Radiation Therapy by Modulating Tumor Hypoxia.

Hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediates resistance to radiotherapy and contributes to poor prognosis in patients receiving radiotherapy. Here we report the design of clinically suitable formulations of hybrid manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles (MDNP) using biocompatible materials to reoxygenate the TME by reacting with endogenous H2O2 MDNP containing hydrophilic terpolymer-protein-MnO2 or hydrophobic polymer-lipid-MnO2 provided different oxygen generation rates in the TME relevant to different clinical settings. In highly hypoxic murine or human xenograft breast tumor models, we found that administering either MDNP formulation before radiotherapy modulated tumor hypoxia and increased radiotherapy efficacy, acting to reduce tumor growth, VEGF expression, and vascular density. MDNP treatment also increased apoptosis and DNA double strand breaks, increasing median host survival 3- to 5-fold. Notably, in the murine model, approximately 40% of tumor-bearing mice were tumor-free after a single treatment with MDNPs plus radiotherapy at a 2.5-fold lower dose than required to achieve the same curative treatment without MDNPs. Overall, our findings offer a preclinical proof of concept for the use of MDNP formulations as effective radiotherapy adjuvants. Cancer Res; 76(22); 6643-56. ©2016 AACR.

Investigation of Factors Affecting Aerodynamic Performance of Nebulized Nanoemulsion.

This work aimed to prepare a nanoemulsion preparation containing budesonide and assess its aerodynamic behavior in comparison with suspension of budesonide. In-vitro aerodynamic performance of the corresponding micellar solution (ie. nanoemulsion preparation without oil) was investigated too. Nanoemulsions of almond oil containing budesonide, as a hydrophobic model drug molecule, were prepared and optimized. Then, the effect of variation of surfactant/co-surfactant concentration on the aerodynamic properties of the nebulized aerosol was studied. The results indicated that the most physically stable formulation makes the smallest aerodynamic size. The concentration of co-surfactant was also shown to be critical in determination of aerodynamic size. Furthermore, the optimized sample, with 3% w/w almond oil, 20% w/w Tween 80+Span 80 and 2% w/w ethanol showed a smaller MMAD in comparison with the commercially available suspension and the micellar solution.

Manganese oxide and docetaxel co-loaded fluorescent polymer nanoparticles for dual modal imaging and chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) have found important applications in diagnosis, chemotherapy, and image-guided surgery of tumors. In this work, we have developed polymeric theranostic NPs (PTNPs) containing the anticancer drug docetaxel (DTX), a fluorescent dye, and magnetic manganese oxide (MnO) NPs for dual modal imaging and chemotherapy. PTNPs ~150 nm in diameter were synthesized by co-loading hydrophobic DTX and MnO NPs ~5 nm in diameter, into the matrix of a fluorescent dye-labeled amphiphilic polymer. The PTNPs enabled high loading efficiency and sustained in vitro release of DTX. Energy-dependent cellular uptake and extended cytoplasmic retention of the PTNPs in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy examination. DTX-loaded PTNPs exhibited higher cytotoxicity than free DTX with a 3 to 4.4-fold decrease in drug dose required for 50% cell growth inhibition. The hydrophilic backbone of the amphiphilic polymer improved the fluidity of PTNPs which enhanced the longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of loaded MnO NPs by 2.7-fold with r1=2.4mM(-1)s(-1). Whole body fluorescence imaging (FI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed significant accumulation and prolonged retention of PTNPs in orthotopic MDA-MB-231 breast tumors. These results suggest that the new amphiphilic polymer-based PTNP system, able to simultaneously deliver a poorly soluble anticancer drug, enhance MRI contrast, and stain tumor tissue by fluorescence, is a good candidate for cancer theranostic applications.

Chitosan nanoparticles for siRNA delivery: optimization of processing/formulation parameters.

Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using ultrasonication methodology at specific amplitudes and times of sonication. Subsequently, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was added to the solution at predetermined values of nitrogen to phosphorous ratio (N/P), and stirring time. Employing response surfaces generated from a statistical model, the effect of sonication time and amplitude, stirring time, and N/P ratio was studied on the particle size, polydispersity, and loading efficiency of prepared siRNA/chitosan nanoparticles. It was found that to obtain the smallest size, amplitude and time of sonication as well as stirring time should be kept at ∼45%, 165 seconds, and 50 minutes, respectively. Minimum polydispersity values were also obtained at similar values of sonication time/amplitude and stirring time in addition to N/P values of ∼28. Also, the maximum proportion of siRNA loading was observed at approximate values of 300 seconds, 80% and 280 for sonication time, amplitude, and N/P ratio, respectively. The optimum conditions (i.e., to prepare a sample with minimum values of particle size and polydispersity index and maximum values of loading efficiency) were determined as 60.6, 30.0 (seconds), 28.0, and 12.5 (minutes) for amplitude, time of sonication, N/P, and stirring time, respectively. In this scrutiny, the predicted values of optimum formulation were 456 nm size, 89.6% loading efficiency, and 0.4 polydispersity index.

Synergistic nanoparticulate drug combination overcomes multidrug resistance, increases efficacy, and reduces cardiotoxicity in a nonimmunocompromised breast tumor model.

Anthracyclines, commonly employed for cancer chemotherapy, suffer from dose-limiting cardiotoxicity and poor efficacy due to multidrug resistance (MDR). We previously demonstrated that simultaneous delivery of the synergistic drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and mitomycin C (MMC) by polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLN) circumvented MDR, increased efficacy, and reduced cardiotoxicity in immuncompromised mice superior to poly(ethylene glycol)-coated (PEGylated) lipososmal DOX (PLD). Herein it is shown that the DOX-MMC combination was also synergistic in MDR EMT6/AR1 murine breast cancer cells and that their nanoparticle formulations were able to overcome the MDR phenotype. In contrast PLD exhibited little or no effect on the MDR cells. For the first time, these differences in in vitro efficacy are shown to be strongly correlated with cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of DOX brought about by DOX formulations (e.g., free solution, PLN vs PLD). To take into consideration the role of an intact immune system and tumor stroma in the response of host and tumor to chemotherapy, use was made of nonimmunocomprised mouse models to study the dose tolerance, cardiotoxicity, and efficacy of DOX-MMC coloaded PLN (DMsPLN) compared to PLD. DMsPLN treatment at 50 mg/m(2) DOX and 17 mg/m(2) of MMC singly or once every 4 days for 4 cycles were well tolerated by the mice without elevated systemic toxicity blood markers or myocardial damage. In contrast, PLD was limited to a single treatment due to significant total weight loss. The DMsPLN treatment delayed tumor growth up to 312% and 28% in EMT6/WT and EMT6/AR1 models, respectively. This work supports the translational value of DMsPLN for the aggressive management of either naïve or anthracycline-resistant tumors.

Production, characterisation, and in vitro nebulisation performance of budesonide-loaded PLA nanoparticles.

The aim of this study is to prepare a nanosuspension of budesonide for respiratory delivery using nebuliser by optimising its particle size and characterising its in vitro deposition behaviour. PLA (poly lactic acid)-budesonide nanosuspension (BNS) was prepared using high-pressure emulsification/solvent evaporation method. To optimise particle size, different parameters such as PLA concentration, sonication time, and amplitude were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were performed to characterise the prepared PLA-budesonide nanoparticles. The in vitro aerodynamic characteristics of the PLA-BNS using a jet nebuliser were estimated and compared with that of commercially available suspension formulation of budesonide. Budesonide-loaded PLA nanoparticles with fine particle size (an average size of 224-360 nm), narrow size distribution, and spherical and smooth surface were prepared. The optimum condition for preparation of fine particle size for aerosolisation was found to be at PLA concentration of 1.2 mg/ml and amplitude of 70 for 75 s sonication time. The in vitro aerosolisation performance of PLA-BNS compared to that of commercial budesonide indicated that it has significantly (p < 0.05) smaller mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) value with an enhancement in fine particle fraction (FPF) value. Improving the in vitro deposition of budesonide, PLA-BNS could be considered as a promising alternative suspension formulation for deep lung delivery of the drug using nebuliser.

Processing/formulation parameters determining dispersity of chitosan particles: an ANNs study.

Although a great number of studies may be found in literature about the parameters affecting the size of chitosan nanoparticles, no systematic work so far has detailed the factors affecting the polydispersity of chitosan as an important factor determining the quality of many preparations. Herein, using artificial neural networks (ANNs), four independent variables, namely, pH and concentration of chitosan solution as well as time and amplitude of sonication of the solution were studied to determine their influence on the polydispersity of solution. We found that in an ultrasound prepared nanodispersion of chitosan, all the four input parameters have reverse but non-linear relation with the polydispersity of the nanoparticles.

Foot and Mouth Disease virus-loaded fungal chitosan nanoparticles for intranasal administration: impact of formulation on physicochemical and immunological characteristics.

Nasal vaccination is a promising, needle-free alternative route for parenteral vaccination. This study introduces a simple, scalable nasal vaccine delivery formulation for Foot and Mouth Disease virus (FMDv) using chitosan (CS) nanoparticles and assesses the potential of fungal CS for use as nanocarriers for mucosal vaccines. Fungal CS was extracted from fungal biomass and physiochemically characterized. FMDv-loaded CS nanoparticles, prepared using an ionic gelation technique, were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, morphology, loading efficiency and virus particle release. The immunogenicities of nasally applied FMDv-loaded fungal or commercial shrimp CS were compared with intraperitoneally administered fluid vaccine in guinea pigs. The nanoparticles had varied sizes (221.9-281.2 nm), positive electrical charge (+7 to +13 mV) and excellent antigen-loading capacity (93-97%). In vitro release studies revealed a biphasic virus particle release for all CS nanoparticles. Higher serum titers were developed with CS formulations than with free virus and were comparable with the titers for intraperitoneally administered fluid vaccine. Significantly higher IgA levels were found after the administration of nasal vaccine than after fluid vaccine or free virus. Overall, CS-FMDv nanoparticles stimulated humoral and mucosal immunity following intranasal administration. Fungal CS polymers were potent mucosal immunoadjuvants and showed promise as alternative sources of CS for mucosal vaccine formulations.

Preparation and optimization of acetaminophen nanosuspension through nanoprecipitation using microfluidic devices: an artificial neural networks study.

The purpose of this study was to find an artificial neural networks model for determining major factors impacting the stability of an acetaminophen nanosuspansion that was prepared using nanoprecipitation in microfluidic reactors. Four variables, namely concentration of surfactant, solvent and antisolvent flow rate and solvent temperature were used as input variables and time of sedimentation of nanoparticles was considered as output variable. The particle size of optimized formulation was measured by transmission electron microscope and dynamic light scattering. Comparing the 3D graphs from the model showed that antisolvent flow rate and temperature have direct relation with time of sedimentation, whereas solvent flow rate generally has reverse relation with the time of sedimentation. Concentration of surfactant was found to be the most important factor in determining the stability of nanosuspension.

Effects of processing parameters on particle size of ultrasound prepared chitosan nanoparticles: an Artificial Neural Networks Study.

The pharmacokinetic properties of chitosan nanoparticles have been shown to mainly depend on its particle size. The aim of this study was to concurrently evaluate and model the effective parameters, namely, chitosan concentration, buffer pH, amplitude and time of sonication, on the particle size of chitosan nanoparticles. Chitosan solutions were prepared and sonicated with different values for the above mentioned parameters. The data were then modeled using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The results illustrated that all four input parameters affect the size of prepared chitosan nanoparticles. While a reverse effect was observed between the size and the buffer pH as well as time and amplitude of sonication, the concentration was found to directly influence the particle size. The optimum condition to obtain the minimum size of nanoparticles in the range of 50-200 nm was found to be high values of pH and sonication time (i.e. approximately 4.9 and 500 s, respectively) and amplitude values of more than ~55.

Alternatives to conventional suspensions for pulmonary drug delivery by nebulisers: a review.

This review discusses the reports of alternative dosage forms to suspension formulations of hydrophobic drugs for nebulisers. Suspensions for nebulisers, although widely used over recent years, have several limitations which have led to pharmaceutical researchers looking for alternative, better performing preparations. Particular attention has been directed towards the use of nanoparticles as carriers of hydrophobic active ingredients. Several nanoformulations have been prepared and compared in vitro and/or in vivo with the corresponding microsuspension formulation. It is also clear that future studies in this field should address the parallel important aspects of safety and economical aspects of nanoparticualte formulations.

Production, physiochemical and antimicrobial properties of fungal chitosan from Rhizomucor miehei and Mucor racemosus.

Chitosan was isolated and purified from the mycelia of Rhizomucor miehei and Mucor racemosus. To characterize the extracted materials, their FTIR spectra were compared with that of shrimp chitosan. Final degree of deacetylation which determined by (1)H NMR was obtained as 98.6% for chitosan from R. miehei (named as C1) and 97.1% for chitosan from M. racemosus (named as C2), respectively. To investigate the antimicrobial properties of the isolated fungal chitosans, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were performed against twelve strains of bacteria and fungi. Data obtained generally showed that the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the purified fungal chitosans were more effective against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in comparison to the shrimp chitosan. Taken together, the results suggest that the use of the fungal chitosan could be of interest as a suitable alternative source to shrimp chitosan.