Thermosensitive chitosan-gelatin-based hydrogel containing curcumin-loaded nanoparticles and latanoprost as a dual-drug delivery system for glaucoma treatment.

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma is due to impairment of aqueous humor drainage via the uveoscleral or trabecular outflow pathway. Latanoprost reduces IOP by increasing the uveoscleral outflow. Despite its potency, long-term daily application of it may cause undesirable side effects and many require more than one medication for IOP control. Recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress in the trabecular meshwork (TM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of impaired trabecular outflow facility. Curcumin, a natural phenolic compound, possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation properties. In this study, we developed a thermosensitive hydrogel containing latanoprost and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles (CUR-NPs), and evaluated its possible therapeutic effects with cultured human TM cells under oxidative stress. The results demonstrated that 20 µM of CUR-NPs might be the optimal concentration to treat TM cells without causing cytotoxicity. Using the newly developed system, both latanoprost and CUR-NPs displayed a sustained-release profile. Treatment with this hydrogel containing CUR-NPs effectively decreased the oxidative stress-mediated damage in TM cells via decreasing inflammation-related gene expression, mitochondrial reactive oxygen stress (ROS) production and apoptosis level. The in vivo biocompatibility revealed no signs of inflammation or damage after topical application of developed hydrogel in rabbits. These results suggest that this dual-drug delivery system might enhance both trabecular and uveoscleral outflow and is promising to develop into a novel treatment for glaucoma.

Effects of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on the Homeostasis of CD4+ T Cells and Lung Injury in Mice With Polymicrobial Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a common cause of death in critically ill patients. An overwhelming inflammatory response and imbalance of helper T (Th) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are thought to be involved in the progression of sepsis. ω-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. This study investigated the effects of ω-3 PUFAs on the balance of Th subsets, Treg cells, and the inflammatory response in septic mice. METHODS: Mice were randomly assigned to soybean oil (SO) and fish oil (FO) groups. The 2 groups received an identical nutrient distribution except for the sources of the fat. The SO group was fed soybean oil, while part of the soybean oil was replaced by fish oil in the FO group. The FO group had an ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio of 2:1. After feeding the diets for 3 weeks, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and mice were sacrificed on days 0, 1, and 3. RESULTS: Compared with the SO group, the FO group had lower inflammatory mediator levels in the plasma and peritoneal lavage fluid after CLP. Also, the FO group had lower Th1, Th2, and Th17 percentages and a higher Th1/Th2 ratio in blood. In lung tissues, neutrophil infiltration was reduced, whereas peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ expression was upregulated. CONCLUSIONS: A fish oil diet with an ω-6/ω-3 PUFA ratio of 2:1 may elicit more balanced Th polarization, alleviate inflammatory responses, and attenuate lung injury in CLP-induced sepsis.