Heating tumors with tumor cell-derived nanoparticles to enhance chemoimmunotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) and to improve immunotherapy efficacy. Materials & methods: In this study, hybrid vesicles containing DOX (HV-DOX) were prepared by thin-film hydration with extrusion, and the formulated nanoparticles were characterized physically. Furthermore, in vitro experiments and animal models were used to investigate the efficacy and new mechanisms of chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Results: DOX improved tumor immunogenicity by alkalinizing lysosomes, inhibiting tumor cell autophagy and inducing ICD. HVs could activate dendritic cell maturation, synergistically enhancing chemotherapeutic immunity. Conclusion: The mechanism of DOX-induced ICD was explored, and antitumor immunity was synergistically activated by HV-DOX to improve chemotherapeutic drug loading and provide relevant antigenic information.

Preparation of Neogambogic Acid Nanoliposomes and its Pharmacokinetics in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: To prepare neogambogic acid nanoliposomes (GNA-NLC) and study its pharmacokinetics (PK) in rats. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China, from January 2016 to October 2017. METHODOLOGY: GNA-NLC was prepared by emulsion evaporation-low temperature solidification. The entrapment efficiency, average particle size, and zeta potential were investigated. Male Wistar rats were injected with 1 mg/mL gambogic acid and GNA-NLC into the caudal vein respectively, and the plasma concentration was determined by UPLC- MS/MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two agents were compared. RESULTS: GNA-NLC prepared in this study were mostly spherical spheroids with an average particle size of 146.35 ±1.72 nm, polydispersity coefficient of 0.26 ±0.02, zeta potential of -28.24 ±0.13 MV, entrapment efficiency of 84.63%, and drug loading capacity of 4.23%. DSC showed that neogambogic acid nanoparticles had formed and neogambogic acid was amorphous in the matrix. The pharmacokinetics results in rats showed that GNA-NLC plasma concentration was significantly higher than that of common preparation of gambogic acid, with a half-life period of 10.14 ±0.03 hours, 4.57 times that of gambogic acid. AUC0 ~ 24h of gambogic acid in GNA-NLC lipidosome was 58.36 ±0.23 μg/h/mL, 4.83 times that of gambogic acid. CONCLUSION: GNA-NLC can be prepared successfully by emulsion evaporation-low temperature solidification. The method is simple and easy to control. The GNA-NLC has a long cycle, and high blood concentration, sustained release compared with the raw material gambogic acid.

TLR4 signaling: a potential therapeutic target in ischemic coronary artery disease.

Atherosclerosis has been widely considered as a chronic inflammation process, which triggers a wide range of cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD). Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a primary receptor of the innate immune system, plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Here we summarize recent progress on understanding the activation and function of TLR4 signaling in the initiation and development of CAD, with the focus on the role of TLR4 as a link between CAD and other inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, we list a variety of drugs which exert anti-atherosclerosis effects via targeting TLR4 signaling. Finally, we discuss the promise of TLR4 signaling as a therapeutic target for CAD.