Significance of native PLGA nanoparticles in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is believed to be triggered by increased levels/aggregation of ß-amyloid (Aß) peptides. At present, there is no effective disease-modifying treatment for AD. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of FDA-approved native poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles on Aß aggregation and in cellular/animal models of AD. Our results showed that native PLGA can not only suppress the spontaneous aggregation but can also trigger disassembly of preformed Aß aggregates. Spectroscopic studies, molecular dynamics simulations and biochemical analyses revealed that PLGA, by interacting with the hydrophobic domain of Aß1-42, prevents a conformational shift towards the ß-sheet structure, thus precluding the formation and/or triggering disassembly of Aß aggregates. PLGA-treated Aß samples can enhance neuronal viability by reducing phosphorylation of tau protein and its associated signaling mechanisms. Administration of PLGA can interact with Aß aggregates and attenuate memory deficits as well as Aß levels/deposits in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD. PLGA can also protect iPSC-derived neurons from AD patients against Aß toxicity by decreasing tau phosphorylation. These findings provide unambiguous evidence that native PLGA, by targeting different facets of the Aß axis, can have beneficial effects in mouse neurons/animal models as well as on iPSC-derived AD neurons - thus signifying its unique therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD pathology.

Native PLGA nanoparticles regulate APP metabolism and protect neurons against ß-amyloid toxicity: Potential significance in Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) nanoparticles have been used extensively in delivering drugs to target tissues due to their excellent biocompatibility. Evidence suggests that PLGA-conjugated drugs/agents can attenuate pathology in cellular/animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is initiated by increased level/aggregation of amyloid ß (Aß) peptide generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP). The beneficial effects were attributed to conjugated-drugs rather than to PLGA nanoparticles. Interestingly, we recently reported that PLGA without any drug/agent (native PLGA) can suppress Aß aggregation/toxicity. However, very little is known about the internalization, subcellular localization or effects of PLGA in neurons. In this study, using primary mouse cortical neurons, we first showed that native PLGA is internalized by an energy-mediated clathrin-dependent/-independent pathway and is localized in endosomal-lysosomal-autophagic vesicles. By attenuating internalization, PLGA can protect neurons against Aß-mediated toxicity. Additionally, PLGA treatment altered expression profiles of certain AD-associated genes and decreased the levels of APP, its cleaved products α-/ß-CTFs and Aß peptides in mouse as well as iPSC-derived neurons from control and AD patients. Collectively, these results suggest that native PLGA not only protects neurons against Aß-induced toxicity but also influences the expression of AD-related genes/proteins - highlighting PLGA's implication in normal and AD-related pathology.

Unconjugated PLGA nanoparticles attenuate temperature-dependent ß-amyloid aggregation and protect neurons against toxicity: implications for Alzheimer's disease pathology.

Conversion of ß-amyloid (Aß) peptides from soluble random-coil to aggregated protein enriched with ß-sheet-rich intermediates has been suggested to play a role in the degeneration of neurons and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Aggregation of Aß peptide can be prompted by a variety of environmental factors including temperature which can influence disease pathogenesis. Recently, we reported that FDA-approved unconjugated poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles can have beneficial effects in cellular and animal models of AD by targeting different facets of the Aß axis. In this study, using biochemical, structural and spectroscopic analyses, we evaluated the effects of native PLGA on temperature-dependent Aß aggregation and its ability to protect cultured neurons from degeneration. Our results show that the rate of spontaneous Aß1-42 aggregation increases with a rise in temperature from 27 to 40 °C and PLGA with 50:50 resomer potently inhibits Aß aggregation at all temperatures, but the effect is more profound at 27 °C than at 40 °C. It appears that native PLGA, by interacting with the hydrophobic domain of Aß1-42, prevents a conformational shift towards ß-sheet structure, thus precluding the formation of Aß aggregates. Additionally, PLGA triggers disassembly of matured Aß1-42 fibers at a faster rate at 40 °C than at 27 °C. PLGA-treated Aß samples can significantly enhance viability of cortical cultured neurons compared to neurons treated with Aß alone by attenuating phosphorylation of tau protein. Injection of native PLGA is found to influence the breakdown/clearance of Aß peptide in the brain. Collectively, these results suggest that PLGA nanoparticles can inhibit Aß aggregation and trigger disassembly of Aß aggregates at temperatures outside the physiological range and can protect neurons against Aß-mediated toxicity thus validating its unique therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD pathology.

Mimosine functionalized gold nanoparticles (Mimo-AuNPs) suppress ß-amyloid aggregation and neuronal toxicity.

Evidence suggests that increased level/aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aß) peptides initiate neurodegeneration and subsequent development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). At present, there is no effective treatment for AD. In this study, we reported the effects of gold nanoparticles surface-functionalized with a plant-based amino acid mimosine (Mimo-AuNPs), which is found to cross the blood-brain barrier, on the Aß fibrillization process and toxicity. Thioflavin T kinetic assays, fluorescence imaging and electron microscopy data showed that Mimo-AuNPs were able to suppress the spontaneous and seed-induced Aß1-42 aggregation. Spectroscopic studies, molecular docking and biochemical analyses further revealed that Mimo-AuNPs stabilize Aß1-42 to remain in its monomeric state by interacting with the hydrophobic domain of Aß1-42 (i.e., Lys16 to Ala21) there by preventing a conformational shift towards the ß-sheet structure. Additionally, Mimo-AuNPs were found to trigger the disassembly of matured Aß1-42 fibers and increased neuronal viability by reducing phosphorylation of tau protein and the production of oxyradicals. Collectively, these results reveal that the surface-functionalization of gold nanoparticles with mimosine can attenuate Aß fibrillization and neuronal toxicity. Thus, we propose Mimo-AuNPs may be used as a potential treatment strategy towards AD-related pathologies.

Lipid-based nanodelivery approaches for dopamine-replacement therapies in Parkinson's disease: From preclinical to translational studies.

The incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, has increased exponentially as the global population continues to age. Although the etiological factors contributing to PD remain uncertain, its average incidence rate is reported to be 1% of the global population older than 60 years. PD is primarily characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons and/or associated neuronal networks and the subsequent depletion of dopamine (DA) levels in the brain. Thus, DA or levodopa (l-dopa), a precursor of DA, represent cardinal targets for both idiopathic and symptomatic PD therapeutics. While several therapeutic strategies have been investigated over the past decade for their abilities to curb the progression of PD, an effective cure for PD is currently unavailable. Even DA replacement therapy, an effective PD therapeutic strategy that provides an exogenous supply of DA or l-dopa, has been hindered by severe challenges, such as a poor capacity to bypass the blood-brain barrier and inadequate bioavailability. Nevertheless, with recent advances in nanotechnology, several drug delivery systems have been developed to bypass the barriers associated with central nervous system therapeutics. In here, we sought to describe the adapted lipid-based nanodrug delivery systems used in the field of PD therapeutics and their recent advances, with a particular focus placed on DA replacement therapies. This work initially explores the background of PD; offers descriptions of the most recent molecular targets; currently available clinical medications/limitations; an overview of several lipid-based PD nanotherapeutics, functionalized nanoparticles, and technical aspects in brain delivery; and, finally, presents future perspectives to enhance the use of nanotherapeutics in PD treatment.

The Ameliorative Effects of the Ethyl Acetate Extract of Salicornia europaea L. and Its Bioactive Candidate, Irilin B, on LPS-Induced Microglial Inflammation and MPTP-Intoxicated PD-Like Mouse Model.

Hyperactivation of microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the central nervous system, exacerbates various neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkinson's disease is generally characterized by a severe loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, with substantial neuroinflammation and motor deficits. This was experimentally replicated in animal models, using neurotoxins, i.e., LPS (lipopolysaccharides) and MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine). Salicornia europaea L. (SE) has been used as a dietary supplement in Korea and Europe for several years, due to its nutritional and therapeutic value. In this study, we intend to investigate the antineuroinflammatory and anti-PD-like effects of the bioactive fraction/candidate of the SE extract. Initially, we screened various fractions of SE extract using an in vitro antioxidant assay. The optimal fraction was investigated for its in vitro antineuroinflammatory potential in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells and in vivo anti-PD-like potential in MPTP-intoxicated mice. Subsequently, to identify the potential candidate responsible for the elite therapeutic potential of the optimal fraction, we conducted antioxidant activity-guided isolation and purification; the bioactive candidate was structurally characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and chromatographic techniques and further investigated for its in vitro antioxidative and antineuroinflammatory potential. The results of our study indicate that SE-EA and its bioactive candidate, Irilin B, effectively alleviate the deleterious effect of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and promote antioxidative effects. Thus, they exhibit potential as therapeutic candidates against neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress-mediated PD-like neurodegenerative complications.

Cognitive-enhancing and ameliorative effects of acanthoside B in a scopolamine-induced amnesic mouse model through regulation of oxidative/inflammatory/cholinergic systems and activation of the TrkB/CREB/BDNF pathway.

Recently, our research team reported the anti-amnesic potential of desalted-hydroethanolic extracts of Salicornia europaea L. (SE-EE). In this study, we performed bioactivity-guided isolation and identification of Acanthoside B (Aca.B), from SE-EE, as the potential bioactive candidate and examined anti-amnesic activity with its potential mechanism of action using an in vivo model. S7-L3-3 purified from SE-EE showed enhanced in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. The isolated S7-L3-3 was identified and characterized as Aca.B using varied spectral analyses, i.e., Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), and Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In the in vitro studies, Aca.B exhibited negligible toxicity and showed a dose-dependent nitric oxide inhibitory potential in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. In the in vivo studies, the oral administration of Aca.B to mice showed enhanced bioavailability and dose-dependent repression of the behavioral/cognitive impairment by regulating the cholinergic function, restoring the antioxidant status, attenuating the inflammatory cytokines/mediators and actively enriching neurotropic proteins in the hippocampal regions of the scopolamine-administered mice.

Emerging signals modulating potential of ginseng and its active compounds focusing on neurodegenerative diseases.

Common features of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) include progressive dysfunctions and neuronal injuries leading to deterioration in normal brain functions. At present, ginseng is one of the most frequently used natural products. Its use has a long history as a cure for various diseases because its extracts and active compounds exhibit several pharmacological properties against several disorders. However, the pathophysiology of NDDs is not fully clear, but researchers have found that various ion channels and specific signaling pathways might have contributed to the disease pathogenesis. Apart from the different pharmacological potentials, ginseng and its active compounds modulate various ion channels and specific molecular signaling pathways related to the nervous system. Here, we discuss the signal modulating potential of ginseng and its active compounds mainly focusing on those relevant to NDDs.

Antineuroinflammatory Activities and Neurotoxicological Assessment of Curcumin Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles on LPS-Stimulated BV-2 Microglia Cell Models.

Curcumin, which is a potential antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective compound, exhibits poor bioavailability in brain cells due to its difficulty in crossing the blood⁻brain barrier and its rapid metabolism during circulation, which decreases its efficacy in treating chronic neuroinflammatory diseases in the central nervous system. The bioavailability and potential of curcumin can be improved by using a nanodelivery system, which includes solid lipid nanoparticles. Curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLCN) were efficiently developed to have a particle size of about 86 nm and do not exhibit any toxicity in the endothelial brain cells. Furthermore, the curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLCN) were studied to assess their efficacy in BV-2 microglial cells against LPS-induced neuroinflammation. The SLCN showed a higher inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production compared to conventional curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the mRNA and proinflammatory cytokine levels were also reduced in a dose-dependent manner when compared to those with free curcumin. Thus, SLCN could be a potential delivery system for curcumin to treat microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.

Microfluidization trends in the development of nanodelivery systems and applications in chronic disease treatments.

Plant bioactive compounds are known for their extensive health benefits and therefore have been used for generations in traditional and modern medicine to improve the health of humans. Processing and storage instabilities of the plant bioactive compounds, however, limit their bioavailability and bioaccessibility and thus lead researchers in search of novel encapsulation systems with enhanced stability, bioavailability, and bioaccessibility of encapsulated plant bioactive compounds. Recently many varieties of encapsulation methods have been used; among them, microfluidization has emerged as a novel method used for the development of delivery systems including solid lipid nanocarriers, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and so on with enhanced stability and bioavailability of encapsulated plant bioactive compounds. Therefore, the nanodelivery systems developed using microfluidization techniques have received much attention from the medical industry for their ability to facilitate controlled delivery with enhanced health benefits in the treatment of various chronic diseases. Many researchers have focused on plant bioactive compound-based delivery systems using microfluidization to enhance the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of encapsulated bioactive compounds in the treatment of various chronic diseases. This review focuses on various nanodelivery systems developed using microfluidization techniques and applications in various chronic disease treatments.

Neurotoxic Agent-Induced Injury in Neurodegenerative Disease Model: Focus on Involvement of Glutamate Receptors.

Glutamate receptors play a crucial role in the central nervous system and are implicated in different brain disorders. They play a significant role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although many studies on NDDs have been conducted, their exact pathophysiological characteristics are still not fully understood. In in vivo and in vitro models of neurotoxic-induced NDDs, neurotoxic agents are used to induce several neuronal injuries for the purpose of correlating them with the pathological characteristics of NDDs. Moreover, therapeutic drugs might be discovered based on the studies employing these models. In NDD models, different neurotoxic agents, namely, kainic acid, domoic acid, glutamate, ß-N-Methylamino-L-alanine, amyloid beta, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, rotenone, 3-Nitropropionic acid and methamphetamine can potently impair both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, leading to the progression of toxicity. Many other neurotoxic agents mainly affect the functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors. We discuss particular neurotoxic agents that can act upon glutamate receptors so as to effectively mimic NDDs. The correlation of neurotoxic agent-induced disease characteristics with glutamate receptors would aid the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs for NDDs.

Aqueous Extract of Dendropanax morbiferus Leaves Effectively Alleviated Neuroinflammation and Behavioral Impediments in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Mouse Model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a commonly reported age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Microglial-mediated neuroinflammation is one of the cardinal hallmarks of various neurodegenerative disorders, including PD progression. Inadequate therapeutic strategies and substantial adverse effects of well-established drug candidates demand new therapeutic leads to treat PD. Dendropanax morbifera (DM) is an endemic plant species of South Korea, and it has been used extensively as traditional medicine to treat numerous clinical complications. In this study, we conducted an initial profiling of the few major phytoconstituents of aqueous DM leaf extracts (DML) and quantified the same using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). We subsequently evaluated the antineuroinflammatory activity and ameliorative potential of DML in both in vitro and in vivo experimental PD models. The prophylactic treatment of DML effectually improved the behavioral deficits, curbed the microglial-mediated neuroinflammation, and protected dopaminergic (DA) neuronal loss by restoring tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in brain tissue of the MPTP-induced PD mouse model. We conducted chromatographic profiling and identified chlorogenic acid (CA) as a major constituent (19.5 mg/g of BuOH fraction), which has been well documented as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This was found to be in harmony with our in vitro results, where DML suppressed the level of inflammatory mediators and allied the signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. The results of our study indicate that DML and its bioactive constituents can be developed as potential therapeutic candidates against progressive PD complications.

Ameliorative potential of desalted Salicornia europaea L. extract in multifaceted Alzheimer's-like scopolamine-induced amnesic mice model.

The Salicornia europaea L. (SE) plant is a halophyte that has been widely consumed as a seasoned vegetable, and it has been recently reported to counteract chronic diseases related to oxidative and inflammatory stress. In this study, we performed an initial phytochemical analysis with in vitro biochemical tests and chromatographic profiling of desalted and enzyme-digested SE ethanol extract (SE-EE). Subsequently, we evaluated the anti-neuroinflammatory and ameliorative potential of SE-EE in LPS-inflicted BV-2 microglial cells and scopolamine-induced amnesic C57/BL6N mice, respectively. SE-EE possess considerable polyphenols and flavonoids that are supposedly responsible to improve its bio-efficacy. SE-EE dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in BV-2 cells, significantly repressed behavioural/cognitive impairment, dose-dependently regulated the cholinergic function, suppressed oxidative stress markers, regulated inflammatory cytokines/associated proteins expression and effectively ameliorated p-CREB/BDNF levels, neurogenesis (DCX stain), neuron proliferation (Ki67 stain) in scopolamine-administered mice. Thus, SE-EE extract shows promising multifactorial disease modifying activities and can be further developed as an effective functional food, drug candidate, or supplemental therapy to treat neuroinflammatory mediated disorders.

Neuropharmacological Potential and Delivery Prospects of Thymoquinone for Neurological Disorders.

Thymoquinone (TQ) is an active ingredient isolated from Nigella sativa and has various pharmacological activities, such as protection against oxidative stress, inflammation, and infections. In addition, it might be a potential neuropharmacological agent because it exhibits versatile potential for attenuating neurological impairments. It features greater beneficial effects in toxin-induced neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. In various models of neurological disorders, it demonstrates emergent functions, including safeguarding various neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological diseases, such as stroke, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. TQ also has potential effects in trauma mediating and chemical-, radiation-, and drug-induced central nervous system injuries. Considering the pharmacokinetic limitations, research has concentrated on different TQ novel formulations and delivery systems. Here, we visualize the neuropharmacological potential, challenges, and delivery prospects of TQ, specifically focusing on neurological disorders along with its chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity.

Recent developments in solid lipid nanoparticle and surface-modified solid lipid nanoparticle delivery systems for oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds in various chronic diseases.

Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) delivery systems have a wide applicability in the delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds to treat various chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. The multiple benefits of SLN delivery include improved stability, smaller particle size, leaching prevention and enhanced lymphatic uptake of the bioactive compounds through oral delivery. However, the burst release makes the SLN delivery systems inadequate for the oral delivery of various phyto-bioactive compounds that can treat such chronic diseases. Recently, the surface-modified SLN (SMSLN) was observed to overcome this limitation for oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds, and there is growing evidence of an enhanced uptake of curcumin delivered orally via SMSLNs in the brain. This review focuses on different SLN and SMSLN systems that are useful for oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds to treat various chronic diseases.

Therapeutic strategies and nano-drug delivery applications in management of ageing Alzheimer's disease.

In recent years, the incidental rate of neurodegenerative disorders has increased proportionately with the aging population. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most commonly reported neurodegenerative disorders, and it is estimated to increase by roughly 30% among the aged population. In spite of screening numerous drug candidates against various molecular targets of AD, only a few candidates - such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are currently utilized as an effective clinical therapy. However, targeted drug delivery of these drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) exhibits several limitations including meager solubility, low bioavailability, and reduced efficiency due to the impediments of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Current advances in nanotechnology present opportunities to overcome such limitations in delivering active drug candidates. Nanodrug delivery systems are promising in targeting several therapeutic moieties by easing the penetration of drug molecules across the CNS and improving their bioavailability. Recently, a wide range of nano-carriers, such as polymers, emulsions, lipo-carriers, solid lipid carriers, carbon nanotubes, metal based carriers etc., have been adapted to develop successful therapeutics with sustained release and improved efficacy. Here, we discuss few recently updated nano-drug delivery applications that have been adapted in the field of AD therapeutics, and future prospects on potential molecular targets for nano-drug delivery systems.

Comparative Studies on Behavioral, Cognitive and Biomolecular Profiling of ICR, C57BL/6 and Its Sub-Strains Suitable for Scopolamine-Induced Amnesic Models.

Cognitive impairment and behavioral disparities are the distinctive baseline features to investigate in most animal models of neurodegenerative disease. However, neuronal complications are multifactorial and demand a suitable animal model to investigate their underlying basal mechanisms. By contrast, the numerous existing neurodegenerative studies have utilized various animal strains, leading to factual disparity. Choosing an optimal mouse strain for preliminary assessment of neuronal complications is therefore imperative. In this study, we systematically compared the behavioral, cognitive, cholinergic, and inflammatory impairments of outbred ICR and inbred C57BL/6 mice strains subject to scopolamine-induced amnesia. We then extended this study to the sub-strains C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J, where in addition to the above-mentioned parameters, their endogenous antioxidant levels and cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein expression were also evaluated. Compared with the ICR strain, the scopolamine-inflicted C57BL/6 strains exhibited a substantial reduction of spontaneous alternation and an approximately two-fold increase in inflammatory protein expression, compared to the control group. Among the sub-strains, scopolamine-treated C57BL/6N strains exhibited declined step-through latency, elevated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and inflammatory protein expression, associated with reduced endogenous antioxidant levels and p-CREB/BDNF expression, compared to the control and tacrine-treated groups. This indicates that the C57BL/6N strains exhibit significantly enhanced scopolamine-induced neuronal impairment compared to the other evaluated strains.

Graphene oxide as a nanocarrier for controlled release and targeted delivery of an anticancer active agent, chlorogenic acid.

We have synthesized graphene oxide using improved Hummer's method in order to explore the potential use of the resulting graphene oxide as a nanocarrier for an active anticancer agent, chlorogenic acid (CA). The synthesized graphene oxide and chlorogenic acid-graphene oxide nanocomposite (CAGO) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry analysis, Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. The successful conjugation of chlorogenic acid onto graphene oxide through hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR analysis and X-ray diffraction patterns. The loading of CA in the nanohybrid was estimated to be around 13.1% by UV-vis spectroscopy. The release profiles showed favourable, sustained and pH-dependent release of CA from CAGO nanocomposite and conformed well to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Furthermore, the designed anticancer nanohybrid was thermally more stable than its counterpart. The in vitro cytotoxicity results revealed insignificant toxicity effect towards normal cell line, with a viability of >80% even at higher concentration of 50µg/mL. Contrarily, CAGO nanocomposite revealed enhanced toxic effect towards evaluated cancer cell lines (HepG2 human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line, and HeLa human cervical cancer cell line) compared to its free form.

In vitro drug release characteristic and cytotoxic activity of silibinin-loaded single walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with biocompatible polymers.

In this paper, we demonstrate the preparation of silibinin-loaded carbon nanotubes (SWSB) with surface coating agents via non-covalent approach as an effective drug delivery system. The resulting surface-coated SWSB nanocomposites are extensively characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The FTIR and Raman studies show that an additional layer is formed by these coating agents in the prepared nanocomposites during the coating treatment and these results are confirmed by FESEM. Drug loading and release profiles of the coated SWSB nanocomposites in phosphate buffered saline solution at pH 7.4 is evaluated by UV-Vis spectrometry. The in vitro results indicate that the surface-modified nanocomposites, with SB loading of 45 wt%, altered the initial burst and thus, resulted in a more prolonged and sustained release of SB. In addition, these nanocomposites exhibit a pseudo-second-order release kinetic which was driven by the ion exchange between the ionized SWSB and the anions in the release medium. The cytotoxicity effect of the resulting nanocomposites on normal mouse fibroblast cells is evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. It is observed that the surfactant and polymer coating improved the biocompatibility of the SWSB nanocomposites significantly, which deem further exploitation for their application as potential anticancer drug delivery system.