Combination of the Topical Photodynamic Therapy of Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine Liposomes with Fexinidazole Oral Self-Emulsifying System as a New Strategy for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Treatment.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease. The treatment is restricted to drugs, such as meglumine antimoniate and amphotericin B, that exhibit toxic effects, high cost, long-term treatment, and limited efficacy. The development of new alternative therapies, including the identification of effective drugs for the topical and oral treatment of CL, is of great interest. In this sense, a combination of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine liposomes (Lip-ClAlPc) and the oral administration of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system containing fexinidazole (SEDDS-FEX) emerges as a new strategy. The aim of the present study was to prepare, characterize, and evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy with Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX in the experimental treatment of Leishmania (Leishmania) major. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX were prepared, and the antileishmanial efficacy study was conducted with the following groups: 1. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL); 2. SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day); 3. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL)+SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day) combination; 4. FEX suspension (50 mg/kg/day); and 5. control (untreated). BALB/c mice received 10 sessions of topical Lip-ClAlPc on alternate days and 20 consecutive days of SEDDS-FEX or FEX oral suspension. Therapeutical efficacy was evaluated via the parasite burden (limiting-dilution assay), lesion size (mm), healing of the lesion, and histological analyses. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX presented physicochemical characteristics that are compatible with the administration routes used in the treatments. Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX led to a significant reduction in the parasitic burden in the lesion and spleen when compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and the complete healing of the lesion in 43% of animals. The Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX combination may be promising for the treatment of CL caused by L. major.

Photodynamic Therapy Directed to Melanoma Skin Cancer by Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Chlorophyll A.

Melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer intricately linked to genetic and environmental factors, is predicted to reach 100,000 new cases worldwide by 2040, underscoring the need for effective and safe treatment options. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of a photosensitizer called Chlorophyll A (Chl-A) incorporated into hydrogels (HGs) made of chitosan (CS) and poloxamer 407 (P407) for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) against the murine melanoma cell line B16-F10. The HG was evaluated through various tests, including rheological studies, SEM, and ATR-FTIR, along with cell viability assays. The CS- and P407-based HGs effectively released Chl-A and possessed the necessary properties for topical application. The photodynamic activity of the HG containing Chl-A was evaluated in vitro, demonstrating high therapeutic potential, with an IC50 of 25.99 µM-an appealing result when compared to studies in the literature reporting an IC50 of 173.8 µM for cisplatin, used as a positive control drug. The developed formulation of CS and P407-based HG, serving as a thermosensitive system for topical applications, successfully controlled the release of Chl-A. In vitro cell studies associated with PDT exhibited potential against the melanoma cell line.

Benefits of using polymeric nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment: a systematic review.

Breast cancer comprises approximately 20% of all malignant neoplasm cases globally. Due to the limitations associated with conventional therapeutic approaches, extensive investigations have been undertaken to develop novel treatments that exhibit enhanced specificity and minimized adverse effects. Consequently, the application of polymeric nanoformulations for targeted drug delivery has gained significant attention within the biomedical field. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the inherent advantages and efficacy of employing polymeric nanoformulations for drug delivery in breast cancer treatment, as compared to traditional therapies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across prominent databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, utilizing specific search strings. This meticulous approach yielded a total of 12 relevant articles for in-depth analysis and discussion. The findings from the selected studies underscore the effectiveness of employing polymeric nanoparticles as a drug delivery strategy, showcasing noteworthy improvements in cellular uptake and sustained intracellular retention of encapsulated therapeutic agents. Additionally, these nanoformulations exhibited superior efficacy, safety, and drug delivery capabilities. The utilization of polymeric nanoparticles in drug delivery has demonstrated a substantial enhancement in treatment efficacy, with the ability to achieve higher concentrations of active ingredients within tumor tissues, augment cellular uptake and drug concentrations, and sustain intracellular retention. Consequently, this innovative approach prolongs drug release in lower quantities, ultimately contributing to improved treatment outcomes.

Ex vivo purging of cancer cells from ovarian tissue using photodynamic therapy: a novel strategy to restore fertility in leukemia patients.

STUDY QUESTION: Is it possible to purge leukemia cells from ovarian tissue (OT) fragments before transplantation? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach has been shown to efficiently destroy leukemia cells from tumor-infiltration mimicking models (TIMs), indicating the feasibility of this technique to purge OT samples. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Autotransplantation of cryopreserved OT is the most suitable option to preserve fertility for prepubertal girls and women who require immediate cancer treatment. Up until now, more than 200 live births have already been reported after OT cryopreservation and transplantation. Leukemia is the 12th most common cancer in Europe among prepubertal girls and women of reproductive age and in 2020, the estimated number of new leukemia cases was higher than 33 000 in girls between 0 and 19 years old. Unfortunately, once their health has been restored, autotransplantation of cryopreserved OT for leukemia patients is not advised due to the high risk of transferring malignant cells back to the patient leading to leukemia recurrence. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: To safely transplant the OT from leukemia patients and restore their fertility, our goal was to develop a PDT strategy to eliminate leukemia ex vivo. To this end, we designed OR141-loaded niosomes (ORN) to create the most effective formulation for ex vivo purging of acute myelogenous leukemia cells from OT fragments (n = 4). Moreover, to ensure that such treatments are not harmful to follicle survival and development so they can be deemed a potential fertility restoration alternative, the effect of the ORN-based PDT purging procedure on follicles was assessed after xenografting the photodynamic-treated OT in SCID mice (n = 5). The work was carried out between September 2020 and April 2022 at the Catholic University of Louvain. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: After establishing the best ORN formulation, our PDT approach was used to eradicate HL60 cells from ex vivo TIMs prepared by microinjection of a cancer cell suspension into OT fragments. The purging efficiency was analyzed by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of ORN-based PDT on follicle density, survival and development, and tissue quality in terms of fibrotic areas and vascularization after 7-day xenotransplantation to immunodeficient mice. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The ex vivo purging of TIMs demonstrated that our PDT strategy could selectively eradicate the malignant cells from tissue fragments without affecting OT normal cells, as evidenced by PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Regarding the effect of our PDT approach on follicle population and OT quality, our results after xenotransplantation revealed no significant difference between the follicle density of control (non-treated, grafted OT) and PDT-treated groups (2.38 ± 0.63 and 3.21 ± 1.94 morphologically normal follicles/mm2, respectively). In addition, our findings showed that the control and PDT-treated OT could be equally vascularized (7.65 ± 1.45% and 9.89 ± 2.21%, respectively). Similarly, the proportions of fibrotic area did not differ between the control (15.96 ± 5.94%) and PDT-treated groups (13.32 ± 3.05%). LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study did not use OT fragments from leukemia patients, but TIMs created after injection of HL60 cells into OT from healthy patients. Therefore, while the results are promising, whether our PDT approach will be equally successful in eliminating malignant cells from leukemia patients remains to be assessed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our results showed that the purging procedure causes no significant impairment effect on follicle development and tissue quality, suggesting that our novel PDT procedure could be a promising strategy to destroy leukemia cells in fragments of OT, allowing safe transplantation in cancer survivors. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This study was supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique de Belgique (FNRS-PDR Convention grant number T.0004.20 awarded to C.A.A.); Fondation Louvain (awarded to C.A.A.; a Ph.D. scholarship awarded to S.M., as part of a legacy from Mr Frans Heyes, and a Ph.D. scholarship awarded to A.D. as part of a legacy from Mrs. Ilse Schirmer); and Foundation Against Cancer (grant number 2018-042 awarded to A.C.). The authors declare no competing interests.

Fabrication of Functional bioMOF-100 Prototype as Drug Delivery System for Breast Cancer Therapy.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women, representing the fifth leading cause of cancer death overall. Therefore, the growing search for the development of new treatments for breast cancer has been developed lately as well as drug delivery systems such as biocompatible metal-organic Frameworks (bio-MOFs). These may be promising and attractive for drug incorporation and release. The present study aims to develop a drug carrier system RCA (bioMOF-100 submitted to the activation process) containing incorporated curcumin (CCM), whose material surface is coated with folic acid molecules (FA) to promote the targeting of drug carrier systems to the tumor region. They were synthesized and characterized using several characterization techniques. The materials were submitted to drug encapsulation tests, whose encapsulation efficiency was 32.80% for CCM@RCA-1D. Using the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy technique, it was possible to verify the appearance of signals referring to folic acid, suggesting success in the functionalization of these matrices. In vitro tests such as cell viability and type of cell death were evaluated in both series of compounds (CCM@RCA-1D, CCM@RCA-1D/FA) in breast tumor lines. The results revealed low toxicity of the materials and cell death by late apoptosis. Thus, these results indicate that the matrices studied can be promising carriers in the treatment of breast cancer.

Photodynamic therapy using OR141-loaded nanovesicles for eradication of leukemic cells from ovarian tissue.

In 2020, the estimated number of new leukemia cases was higher than 30,000 in girls between 0 and 19 years old. Due to cancer treatment, some of these patients may lose both endocrine and reproductive functions. Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is not advised after cancer remission because it has a high risk of reintroducing malignant cells in the patient, potentially leading to leukemia recurrence. To safely transplant the ovarian tissue from these patients and restore their fertility, our goal was to develop a photodynamic therapy (PDT) strategy to eliminate leukemia ex vivo. To this end, we designed, optimized, and characterized OR141-loaded niosomes (ORN) to develop the most effective formulation for ex vivo purging ovarian fragments from chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. After establishing the best ORN formulation, the PDT efficiency of optimized ORN was determined for human ovarian stromal cells and acute myeloid leukemia cell line (HL60). Blank niosomes treatment on ovarian stromal cells causes no significant toxicity, showing that the composition of the nanoparticle is not toxic. On the other hand, the in vitro studies showed that while ovarian stromal cells were still viable (82.04 ± 2.79%) after the treatment by 0.5 µM ORN, the same treatment yielded 95.43 ± 3.89% toxicity and cell death in the cancer cells. In conclusion, our results showed that our novel PDT procedure could be a promising strategy to destroy leukemia cells in ovarian tissue fragments allowing safe transplantation in cancer survivors.

Recent advances in point of care testing for COVID-19 detection.

The World Health Organizations declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic was a milestone for the scientific community. The high transmission rate and the huge number of deaths, along with the lack of knowledge about the virus and the evolution of the disease, stimulated a relentless search for diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines. The main challenges were the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and the development of specific, rapid, and sensitive tests that could reach all people. RT-PCR remains the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19. However, new methods, such as other molecular techniques and immunoassays emerged. Also, the need for accessible tests with quick results boosted the development of point of care tests (POCT) that are fast, and automated, with high precision and accuracy. This assay reduces the dependence on laboratory conditions and mass testing of the population, dispersing the pressure regarding screening and detection. This review summarizes the advances in the diagnostic field since the pandemic started, emphasizing various laboratory techniques for detecting COVID-19. We reviewed the main existing diagnostic methods, as well as POCT under development, starting with RT-PCR detection, but also exploring other nucleic acid techniques, such as digital PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based assay (RT-LAMP), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), and next-generation sequencing (NGS), and immunoassay tests, and nanoparticle-based biosensors, developed as portable instruments for the rapid standard diagnosis of COVID-19.

Nanoemulsion applications in photodynamic therapy.

Nanoemulsion, or nanoscaled-size emulsions, is a thermodynamically stable system formed by blending two immiscible liquids, blended with an emulsifying agent to produce a single phase. Nanoemulsion science has advanced rapidly in recent years, and it has opened up new opportunities in a variety of fields, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food, and cosmetics. Nanoemulsion has been recognized as a potential drug delivery technology for various drugs, such as photosensitizing agents (PS). In photodynamic therapy (PDT), PSs produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species under specific light irradiation, which oxidize the surrounding tissues. Over the past decades, the idea of PS-loaded nanoemulsions has received researchers' attention due to their ability to overcome several limitations of common PSs, such as limited permeability, non-specific phototoxicity, hydrophobicity, low bioavailability, and self-aggregation tendency. This review aims to provide fundamental knowledge of nanoemulsion formulations and the principles of PDT. It also discusses nanoemulsion-based PDT strategies and examines nanoemulsion advantages for PDT, highlighting future possibilities for nanoemulsion use.

Engineering Gold Shelled Nanomagnets for Pre-Setting the Operating Temperature for Magnetic Hyperthermia.

This study investigated the fabrication of spherical gold shelled maghemite nanoparticles for use in magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) assays. A maghemite core (14 ± 3 nm) was used to fabricate two samples with different gold thicknesses, which presented gold (g)/maghemite (m) content ratios of 0.0376 and 0.0752. The samples were tested in MHT assays (temperature versus time) with varying frequencies (100-650 kHz) and field amplitudes (9-25 mT). The asymptotic temperatures (T∞) of the aqueous suspensions (40 mg Fe/mL) were found to be in the range of 59-77 °C (naked maghemite), 44-58 °C (g/m=0.0376) and 33-51 °C (g/m=0.0752). The MHT data revealed that T∞ could be successful controlled using the gold thickness and cover the range for cell apoptosis, thereby providing a new strategy for the safe use of MHT in practice. The highest SAR (specific absorption rate) value was achieved (75 kW/kg) using the thinner gold shell layer (334 kHz, 17 mT) and was roughly twenty times bigger than the best SAR value that has been reported for similar structures. Moreover, the time that was required to achieve T∞ could be modeled by changing the thermal conductivity of the shell layer and/or the shape/size of the structure. The MHT assays were pioneeringly modeled using a derived equation that was analytically identical to the Box-Lucas method (which was reported as phenomenological).

Secure transplantation by tissue purging using photodynamic therapy to eradicate malignant cells.

The field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating various malignant neoplasms has been given researchers' attention due to its ability to be a selective and minimally invasive cancer therapy strategy. The possibility of tumor cell infection and hence high recurrence rates in cancer patients tends to restrict autologous transplantation. So, the photodynamic tissue purging process, which consists of selective photoinactivation of the malignant cells in the graft, is defined as a compromising strategy to purify contaminated tissues before transplantation. In this strategy, the direct malignant cells' death results from the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through the activation of a photosensitizer (PS) by light exposure in the presence of oxygen. Since new PS generations can effectively penetrate the tissue, PDT could be an ideal ex vivo tissue purging protocol that eradicates cancer cells derived from various malignancies. The challenge is that the applied pharmacologic ex vivo tissue purging should efficiently induce tumor cells with minor influence on normal tissue cells. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status of the most effective PDT strategies and PS development concerning their potential application in ex vivo purging before hematopoietic stem cell or ovarian tissue transplantation.

Evidence for Monocyte Reprogramming in a Long-Term Postsepsis Study.

This study sought to identify monocyte alterations from septic patients after hospital discharge by evaluating gene expression of inflammatory mediators and monocyte polarization markers. It was hypothesized that sepsis reprograms the inflammatory state of monocytes, causing effects that persist after hospital discharge and influencing patient outcomes. DESIGN: The gene expression patterns of inflammatory receptors, M1 and M2 macrophage polarization markers, NLRP3 inflammasome components, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in monocytes were assessed. PATIENTS: Thirty-four patients from the University of São Paulo Hospital, during the acute sepsis phase (phase A), immediately after ICU discharge (phase B), and 3 months (phase C), 6 months (phase D), 1 year (phase E), and 3 years (phase F) after discharge, were included. Patients that died during phases A and B were grouped separately, and the remaining patients were collectively termed the survivor group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The gene expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 (inflammatory receptors), NLRP3, NFκB1, adaptor molecule apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, caspase 1, caspase 11, and caspase 12 (NLRP3 inflammasome components), interleukin-1α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-18, and high-mobility group box 1 protein (proinflammatory cytokines), interleukin-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11, and interleukin-12p35 (M1 inflammatory polarization markers), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 14, C-C motif chemokine ligand 22, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), SR-B1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (M2 anti-inflammatory polarization and tissue repair markers) was upregulated in monocytes from phase A until phase E compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis reprograms the inflammatory state of monocytes, probably contributing to postsepsis syndrome development and mortality.

Fish Oil Nanoemulsion Supplementation Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis BALB/c Mice.

Diets rich in omega-3 or -6 fatty acids will produce different profiles for cell membranes phospholipid constitutions. Omegas 3 and 6 are part of the diet and can modulate the inflammatory profile. We evaluated the effects of the oral absorption of fish oil, when associated with a lipid nanoemulsion in an experimental pulmonary inflammatory model. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease associated with excessive extracellular matrix deposition. We determined to investigate the morphophysiological mechanisms in mice that were pretreated after induction with bleomycin (BLM). The pretreatment was for 21 days with saline solution, sunflower oil (SO), fish oil (FO), and fish oil nanoemulsion (NEW3). The animals received a daily dose of 50 mg/Kg of docosahexaenoic acid DHA and 10 mg/Kg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (100 mg/Kg), represented by a daily dose of 40 µL of NEW3. The blank group was treated with the same amount daily (40 µL) during the 21 days of pretreatment. The animals were treated with SO and FO, 100 mg/Kg (containing 58 mg/Kg of polyunsaturated fats/higher% linoleic acid) and 100 mg/Kg (50 mg/Kg of DHA and 10 mg/Kg EPA), respectively. A single dose of 5 mg/mL (50 µL) bleomycin sulfate, by the intratracheal surgical method in BALB/cAnNTac (BALB/c). NEW3 significantly reduced fibrotic progression, which can be evidenced by the protection from loss of body mass, increase in respiratory incursions per minute, decreased spacing of alveolar septa, decreased severity of fibrosis, and changes in the respiratory system. NEW3 attenuated the inflammatory changes developed in the experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis, while group SO showed a significant increase in inflammatory changes. This concluded that the presented results demonstrated that is possible to positively modulate the immune and inflamamtory response to an external agressor, by changing the nutitional intake of specific fatty acids, such as omega-3 placed in fish oil. Moreover, these benefits can be improved by the nanoencapsulation of fish oil in lipid nanoemulsions.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus via dynamic light scattering using antibody-gold nanoparticle bioconjugates against viral spike protein.

Mass testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 has been hampered in many countries owing to the high cost of genetic material detection. This study reports on a low-cost immunoassay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 within 30 min using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The immunosensor comprises 50-nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, whose bioconjugation was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS). The specific binding of the bioconjugates to the spike protein led to an increase in bioconjugate size, with a limit of detection (LOD) 5.29 × 103 TCID50/mL (Tissue Culture Infectious Dose). The immunosensor was also proven to be selective upon interaction with influenza viruses once no increase in size was observed after DLS measurement. The strategy proposed here aimed to use antibodies conjugated to AuNPs as a generic platform that can be extended to other detection principles, enabling technologies for low-cost mass testing for COVID-19.

Induction of Immunogenic Cell Death by Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Aluminum-Phthalocyanine in Nanoemulsion.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been clinically employed to treat mainly superficial cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma. This approach can eliminate tumors by direct cytotoxicity, tumor ischemia, or by triggering an immune response against tumor cells. Among the immune-related mechanisms of PDT, the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) in target cells is to be cited. ICD is an apoptosis modality distinguished by the emission of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP). Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the immunogenicity of CT26 and 4T1 treated with PDT mediated by aluminum-phthalocyanine in nanoemulsion (PDT-AlPc-NE). Different PDT-AlPc-NE protocols with varying doses of energy and AlPc concentrations were tested. The death mechanism and the emission of DAMPs-CRT, HSP70, HSP90, HMGB1, and IL-1ß-were analyzed in cells treated in vitro with PDT. Then, the immunogenicity of these cells was assessed in an in vivo vaccination-challenge model with BALB/c mice. CT26 and 4T1 cells treated in vitro with PDT mediated by AlPc IC50 and a light dose of 25 J/cm2 exhibited the hallmarks of ICD, i.e., these cells died by apoptosis and exposed DAMPs. Mice injected with these IC50 PDT-treated cells showed, in comparison to the control, increased resistance to the development of tumors in a subsequent challenge with viable cells. Mice injected with 4T1 and CT26 cells treated with higher or lower concentrations of photosensitizer and light doses exhibited a significantly lower resistance to tumor development than those injected with IC50 PDT-treated cells. The results presented in this study suggest that both the photosensitizer concentration and light dose affect the immunogenicity of the PDT-treated cells. This event can affect the therapy outcomes in vivo.

Combination of selol nanocapsules and magnetic hyperthermia hinders breast tumor growth in aged mice after a short-time treatment.

Short time treatment with reduced dosages of selol-loaded PLGA nanocapsules (NcSel) combined with magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) is evaluated in aged Erhlich tumor-bearing mice. Clinical, hematological, biochemical, genotoxic and histopathological parameters are assessed during 7 d treatment with NcSel and MHT, separately or combined. The time evolution of the tumor volume is successfully modeled using the logistic mathematical model. The combined therapy comprising NcSel and MHT is able to hinder primary tumor growth and a case of complete tumor remission is recorded. Moreover, no metastasis was diagnosed and the adverse effects are negligible. NcSel plus MHT may represent an effective and safe alternative to cancer control in aged patients. Future clinical trials are encouraged.

Solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with curcumin: development and in vitro toxicity against CT26 cells.

Aim: To develop a new curcumin carrier consisting of murumuru butter nanoparticles (SLN-Cs). Methods: A phase-inversion temperature method was used to produce SLN-Cs. The interaction of SLN-Cs with murine colon adenocarcinoma (CT26) cells in vitro was analyzed by confocal microscopy. Results: Stable SLN-Cs with a high curcumin-loading capacity were obtained. The SLN-Cs were more toxic to CT26 than free curcumin. Fluorescence microscopy images showed the SLN-Cs to be taken up by CT26 cells in vitro. Conclusion: These results indicate that SLN-Cs are suitable carriers of curcumin in aqueous media.

Tumor vascular heterogeneity and the impact of subtumoral nanoemulsion biodistribution.

Aim: Investigate the heterogeneous tumor tissue organization and examine how this condition can interfere with the passive delivery of a lipid nanoemulsion in two breast cancer preclinical models (4T1 and Ehrlich). Materials & methods: The authors used in vivo image techniques to follow the nanoemulsion biodistribution and microtomography, as well as traditional histopathology and electron microscopy to evaluate the tumor structural characteristics. Results & conclusion: Lipid nanoemulsion was delivered to the tumor, vascular organization depends upon the subtumoral localization and this heterogeneous organization promotes a nanoemulsion biodistribution to the highly vascular peripherical region. Also, the results are presented with a comprehensive mathematical model, describing the differential biodistribution in two different breast cancer models, the 4T1 and Ehrlich models.

AlPc/ZnPc-based oncological photodynamic therapy for a selective eradication of leukemic cells from ovarian tissue.

Due to the risk of reintroducing malignant cells, autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue is not allowed in leukemia patients. In order to restore fertility in these patients, ex vivo purging of ovarian fragments could be proposed as a strategy to eradicate malignant cells before grafting. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a clinical-approved modality, is a minimally invasive and selective therapeutic for eliminating malignant cells. The present work aims therefore to evaluate the phototoxicity of two photosensitizers (aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc)) on leukemia cells. To this end, two lines of malignant cells (K562 and HL-60) and isolated ovarian stromal cells (control) were treated by PDT using a diode laser with various energy densities. Cell viability after the treatment, the amount of generated reactive oxygen species, dark toxicity of the photosensitizers, and single-cell morphology were studied. Our results demonstrated that using irradiation with the energy density of 10 J/cm2, 1 µM AlPc could significantly reduce the viability of K562 (4.73 ± 0.14%) and HL-60 (2.74 ± 0.31%). Similarly, the viability of these cells was reduced (K562 cells: 3.84 ± 0.81%; HL-60 cells: 6.82 ± 3.21%) with 1 µM ZnPc and an energy density of 50 J/cm2. On the other hand, these PDT protocols had no significant effect on stromal cells. These findings indicate that our approach can be a promising strategy for the safe restoration of fertility in leukemia patients. However, further studies are necessary to assess its efficiency in ovarian fragments containing malignant cells to determine their eradication rate and the effect of our treatment on the survival of stromal cells and preantral follicles.

New Prospects in Neutering Male Animals Using Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia.

Controlling populations of free-roaming dogs and cats poses a huge challenge worldwide. Non-surgical neutering strategies for male animals have been long pursued, but the implementation of the procedures developed has remained limited to date. As submitting the testes to high temperatures impairs spermatogenesis, the present study investigated localized application of magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) to the testicles as a potential non-surgical sterilization method for animals. An intratesticular injection of a magnetic fluid composed of manganese-ferrite nanoparticles functionalized with citrate was administered followed by testicle exposure to an alternate magnetic field to generate localized heat. Testicular MNH was highly effective, causing progressive seminiferous tubule degeneration followed by substitution of the parenchyma with stromal tissue and gonadal atrophy, suggesting an irreversible process with few side effects to general animal health.