RAGE receptor targeted bioconjuguate lipid nanoparticles of diallyl disulfide for improved apoptotic activity in triple negative breast cancer: in vitro studies.

In the present study, we have demonstrated receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) as a target for delivery of drugs specifically to triple negative breast cancer cells. We have prepared solid lipid nanoparticle formulation of cytotoxic agent di-allyl-disulfide (DADS) to overcome its bioavailability issues. Then, we have surface modified DADS-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (DADS-SLN) with RAGE antibody to achieve site-specific delivery of DADS to TNBC cells. We found a significant cellular internalization of RAGE surface modified DADS-SLN (DADS-RAGE-SLN) when compared to DADS-SLN. The cytotoxic effect of DADS was also significantly improved with DADS-RAGE-SLN by downregulating anti-apoptotic proteins and upregulating pro-apoptotic proteins as observed by western blot analysis. RAGE-targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents can be, therefore, a promising approach for improving antitumour activity and reducing off-target effects.

Oxaliplatin immunohybrid nanoparticles in vitro synergistic suppression evaluation in treatment of colorectal cancer.

In the present study, we have investigated the enhanced synergistic and apoptotic activity of immunohybrid nanoparticles encapsulating oxaliplatin and covalently conjugated with TRAIL (Apo-2L/CD-253). Time-dependent cytotoxicity activity of nanoparticles was determined by MTT assay in HT-29 cells. Nuclear morphological changes and assessment of apoptotic ratio was analyzed by DAPI (4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining and annexin-propidium iodide (PI) assay. Cell-cycle analysis of oxaliplatin in HT-29 cell was analyzed by flow cytometry at 72 h. Furthermore, molecular mechanisms related to oxaliplatin-induced anticancer activity was explored by western blot analysis. Our study revealed appreciable time-dependent cytotoxicity, apoptotic, and synergistic activity of oxaliplatin immunohybrid nanoparticles.

Improved anti-tumor activity of oxaliplatin by encapsulating in anti-DR5 targeted gold nanoparticles.

Oxaliplatin is one of the chemotherapeutic agents in the first line therapy for treatment of colorectal cancer. But, limitations of chemotherapy affects the clinical applicability of oxaliplatin depriving its activity at targeted site attributed to the lack of site specificity. This limitation paves the way for undesirable toxic effects to healthy cells resulting in sub-standard drug amount at the tumors obliging for increased dose. The present study emphasizes on formulating gold nanoparticles encapsulating oxaliplatin and later conjugating with anti-DR5 antibody for improved anti-cancer activity in a synergistic and site-specific manner. Oxaliplatin immuno-nanoparticles (Co-Ox-AuNPs) had shown sustained release and confirmed by fluorescence and flow cytometry studies. MTT assay exhibited 3-fold decrease in cell viability of nanoparticles comparable to oxaliplatin. Triple fluorescence method employed in HCT 116 and MCF-7 cells justified its site specificity. Annexin-propidium iodide (PI) and Acridine orange-ethidium bromide assays further supported the apoptotic activity. Moreover, caspase-dependent molecular mechanism behind oxaliplatin induced anti-cancer activity was explored by western blot analysis. Reduction in tumor size and volume in xenograft tumor models justified its in vitro activity. Oxaliplatin side effects were analyzed in mice and were confirmed for their clinical efficacy highlighting our formulation as an alternative to chemotherapy.

5-Fluorouracil enteric-coated nanoparticles for improved apoptotic activity and therapeutic index in treating colorectal cancer.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one among the anti-cancer agents in FOLFORINOX treatment along with oxaliplatin and irinotecan for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Despite its potential activity on the tumor cells, it lacks site specificity partly attributed by its biodistribution to healthy cells resulting in toxic effects to healthy cells. Therefore, we have formulated 5-fluorouracil enteric-coated nanoparticles (5-FUEC) to localize the drug in the colon area that enables its prolonged presence in target area in a sustained manner. The current work emphasizes on enhanced anti-cancer activity of 5-FUEC sequencing its apoptotic activity on HCT 116 colorectal cancer cell lines in vitro. MTT assay exhibited 5.5-fold decrease in IC50 value of nanoparticles comparable to 5-FU. Nuclear fragmentation with irregular edges in nucleus of cells justified its improved activity. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis confirms the majority of cells gated in early apoptotic (39.75%) and late apoptotic phase (36.25%). Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining (AO/EB) exhibited cells with red fluorescence (indicating apoptosis) comparable to the control and 5-FU. γ-Scintigraphic studies determined the applicability and feasibility of the enteric coating with mean gastric emptying time, mean intestinal transit time and mean colon arrival time of 1.89 ± 0.03, 2.15 ± 0.05 and 4.03 ± 0.27 h, respectively. Moreover, nanoparticulate approach was found significant in reducing tumor size and volume in xenograft tumor models in vivo along with sustained release. These superior anti-cancer activities exhibited by 5-FUEC indicated that it could be a potential alternative to chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Lipid-based nanocarriers for breast cancer treatment - comprehensive review.

Breast cancer is the second leading cancer-related disease as the most common non-cutaneous malignancy among women. Curative options for breast cancer are limited, therapeutically substantial and associated with toxicities. Emerging nanotechnologies exhibited the possibility to treat or target breast cancer. Among the nanoparticles, various lipid nanoparticles namely, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles have been developed over the years for the breast cancer therapy and evidences are documented. Concepts are confined in lab scale, which needs to be transferred to large scale to develop active targeting nanomedicine for the clinical utility. So, the present review highlights the recently published studies in the development of lipid-based nanocarriers for breast cancer treatment.

Oxaliplatin immuno hybrid nanoparticles for active targeting: an approach for enhanced apoptotic activity and drug delivery to colorectal tumors.

Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) proved to be a promising new target for colorectal cancer treatment. Elevated expression of TRAIL protein in tumor cells distinguishes it from healthy cells, thereby delivering the drug at the specific site. Here, we formulated oxaliplatin immunohybrid nanoparticles (OIHNPs) to deliver oxaliplatin and anti-TRAIL for colorectal cancer treatment in xenograft tumor models. The polymeric chitosan layer binds to the lipid film with the mixture of phospholipids by an ultra sound method followed by conjugating with thiolated antibody using DSPE-PEG-mal3400, resulting in the formation of OIHNPs. The polymer layer helps in more encapsulation of the drug (71 ± 0.09%) with appreciable particle size (95 ± 0.01 nm), and lipid layer prevents degradation of the drug in serum by preventing nanoparticle aggregation. OIHNPs have shown a 4-fold decrease in the IC50 value compared to oxaliplatin in HT-29 cells by the MTT assay. These immuno-nanoparticles represent the successful uptake and internalization of oxaliplatin in HT-29 cells rather than in MCF-7 cells determined by triple fluorescence method. Apoptotic activity in vitro of OIHNPs was determined by the change in the mitochondria membrane potential that further elevates its anti-tumor property. Furthermore, the conjugated nanoparticles can effectively deliver the drug to the tumor sites, which can be attributed to its ability in reducing tumor mass and tumor volume in xenograft tumor models in vivo along with sustaining its release in vitro. These findings indicated that the oxaliplatin immuno-hybrid nanoparticles would be a promising nano-sized active targeted formulation for colorectal-tumor targeted therapy.

Formulation and optimization of oxaliplatin immuno-nanoparticles using Box-Behnken design and cytotoxicity assessment for synergistic and receptor-mediated targeting in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Conventional chemotherapy majorly lacks clinical application attributed to its inspecificity, adverse effects and inability to penetrate into tumor cells. Hence, the aim of the study was to prepare oxaliplatin solid lipid nanoparticles (OP-SLN) by microemulsion method optimizing it by Box-Behnken design and then covalently conjugated to TRAIL (CD-253) monoclonal antibody (TR-OP-SLN) for targeting colorectal cancer cells. The optimized OP-SLN3 has shown an appreciable particle size (121 ± 1.22 nm), entrapment efficiency (78 ± 0.09%) and drug loading (32 ± 1.01%). Fluorescence study and the Bradford assay further confirmed the binding of the protein. A 1.5-fold increase in cytotoxicity of immuno-nanoparticles (4.9 µM) was observed.

Formulation and characterization of 5-Fluorouracil enteric coated nanoparticles for sustained and localized release in treating colorectal cancer.

5-Fluorouracil is used in the treatment of colorectal cancer along with oxaliplatin as first line treatment, but it is having lack of site specificity and poor therapeutic effect. Also toxic effects to healthy cells and unavailability of major proportion of drug at the colon region remain as limitations. Toxic effects prevention and drug localization at colon area was achieved by preparing enteric-coated chitosan polymeric nanoparticles as it can be delivered directly to large bowel. Enteric coating helps in preventing the drug degradation at gastric pH. So the main objective was to prepare chitosan polymeric nanoparticles by solvent evaporation emulsification method by using different ratios of polymer (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4). Optimized polymer ratio was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), entrapment efficiency and particle size and further subjected to enteric coating. In vitro drug release studies were done using dialysis bag technique using simulated fluids at various pH (1.2, 4.5, 7.5, 7.0) to mimic the GIT tract. 5-FU nanoparticles with drug: polymer ratio of 1:2 and 1:3 has shown better particle size (149 ± 1.28 nm and 138 ± 1.01 nm respectively), entrapment efficiency (48.12 ± 0.08% and 69.18 ± 1.89 respectively). 5-FU E1 has shown better drug release after 4 h and has shown 82% drug release till 24 h in a sustained manner comparable to the non-enteric coated tablets, which released more than 50% of the drug before entering the colon region. So we can conclude that nanoparticles prepared by this method using the same polymer with the optimized ratio can represent as potential drug delivery approach for effective delivery of the active pharmaceutical ingredient to the colorectal tumors.

5-Aminosalicylic acid attenuates allergen-induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress in asthma.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines regulate the magnitude of allergic reactions during asthma. Tumor necrosis factor--alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) play a crucial role in aggravating the inflammatory conditions during allergic asthma. In addition, oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of asthma by altering the physiological condition resulting in the development of status asthmaticus. Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids are being widely used for treating allergic asthma. In the present study 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), a salicylic acid derivative, was evaluated, in vivo for its potential to suppress TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-13 using ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma in Balb/C mice. Oral administration of 65, 130 and 195 mg/kg 5-ASA significantly reduced the OVA induced total and differential leucocyte count, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-13, nitrite, nitrate, MDA, MPO and TPL levels in the lung lavage samples. Collectively, these findings suggest that 5-ASA is a potent immunomodulator and suppresses key Th2 cytokines production and oxidative stress in OVA-induced asthma.