Progressing nanotechnology to improve targeted cancer treatment: overcoming hurdles in its clinical implementation.

The use of nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer. Developments in protein engineering and materials science have led to the emergence of new nanoscale targeting techniques, which offer renewed hope for cancer patients. While several nanocarriers for medicinal purposes have been approved for human trials, only a few have been authorized for clinical use in targeting cancer cells. In this review, we analyze some of the authorized formulations and discuss the challenges of translating findings from the lab to the clinic. This study highlights the various nanocarriers and compounds that can be used for selective tumor targeting and the inherent difficulties in cancer therapy. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for improving cancer detection and treatment in the future, but further research is needed to overcome the current limitations in clinical translation.

The role of bee venom on immunological and hematological parameters in albino rats.

Bee venom (BV) showed therapeutical effects to treat various diseases as it contains at least 18 pharmacologically active components including various enzymes, peptides, and amines. This study aimed to evaluate the action of BV on some hematological parameters, humoral and cellular immunity, and the determination of antioxidant levels in male albino rats. The study included 40 male albino rats (190-210 g), divided into four groups. Three groups were injected subcutaneously with three different doses of BV (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, respectively). The control group was injected with saline solution. Blood samples were obtained to measure total leucocytes count (TLC), differential leukocytes count, hematological parameters (hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBCs), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and Platelets. Sera were used to assess immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE), some cytokines e.g., tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), tumor growth factor beta (TGF-ß), interleukins 6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10), and some antioxidant levels malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Data showed that BV therapy increased antibody production levels (IgM, IgG, and IgA) while decreasing IgE levels. Hematological markers (Hb and lymphocytes) were increased. BV increased total TGF- ß and IL-10 but decreased total TNF- α and IL-6. On the antioxidant scale, an increase in SOD, CAT, and GSH levels was observed, accompanied by a decrease in MDA levels. However, the BV treatment led to a significant reduction in the number of eosinophils, monocytes, and neutrophils (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggested that BV may be utilized to increase the effectiveness of various immunological and hematological parameters.

Immunomodulatory effect of curcumin on hepatic cirrhosis in experimental rats.

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease. The present work aimed to evaluate the regulatory immune effect of curcumin in hepatic cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injections in experimental rats' model. Chronic liver fibrosis was induced in experiment animals by recurrent injections of CCl4 for more than 5 weeks. They were divided into five groups: first group was injected with normal saline, second group with CCl4, third, fourth, and fifth groups were injected with CCl4 (intraperitoneal injection) at dose 3 ml/kg, two times weekly for 6 weeks supplemented with the administration of curcumin with concentrations 250, 200, and 150 mg/kg. Immune response was analyzed to different treatments. Interleukin 10 (IL-10), pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, TGF-1ß, and liver histopathological examinations were conducted. The results showed that estimations of IL-10 concentrations were significantly increased in curcumin groups compared with CCl4 group, whereas TNF-α and TGF-1ß levels were significantly decreased comparing with CCl4 group. The histopathological examinations for liver tissues showed that curcumin treated groups have almost retained the normal structure of liver tissues. In conclusion, curcumin inhibited hepatic fibrosis and liver fibrogenesis with regulation of the immune system mechanism against invader chemical toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Curcumin is well documented for its medicinal properties, commonly used as a spice. Our work has thus demonstrated its effectiveness as an immunomodulatory agent. Practically, clinical studies have suggested that curcumin displays a diverse and powerful array of pharmacological effects in nearly all of the human body's major organ systems. These are: antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiaging, antioxidant, antibacterial infection, hepatoprotective, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular effects.

Ameliorative effects of melatonin against solid Ehrlich carcinoma progression in female mice.

The current work estimated the antitumour efficacy of melatonin (MLT) on the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells inoculated intramuscularly into the hind limbs of female BALB/c mice and to compare its effects with those of adriamycin (ADR). After solid tumours developed, the animals were divided into the three following groups: the tumour-bearing control, MLT-treated (20 mg/kg body weight) and ADR-treated (10 mg/kg body weight) groups. The results showed a significant reduction in the tumour masses of the treated animals in comparison with those of the control group. There were a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde level and a significant elevation of the glutathione concentration and the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the MLT and ADR groups. The current study indicated the increased expression levels of P53, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the decreased expression levels of the rRNA and Bcl2. The MLT and ADR treatments resulted in histological changes, such as a marked degenerative area, the necrosis of neoplastic cells, the appearance of different forms of apoptotic cells and giant cells with condensed chromatin, and a deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm. The MLT and ADR treatments also significantly decreased the Ki-67 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels in the tumour masses. In conclusion, similar to ADR-treated tumour-bearing mice, MLT suppressed the growth and proliferation of tumour by inducing apoptosis and by inhibiting tumour vascularization. The current data recommend MLT as a safe natural chemotherapeutic adjuvant to overcome cancer progression after a clinical trial validates these results.