Curcumin Loaded Chitosan-Protamine Nanoparticles Revealed Antitumor Activity Via Suppression of NF-κB, Proinflammatory Cytokines and Bcl-2 Gene Expression in the Breast Cancer Cells.

Nano drug delivery has been recently used to enhance the stability and bioavailability of chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, Chitosan/protamine nanocarrier was synthesized and used to encapsulate curcumin (CUR). The physicochemical properties of the empty carrier (CHPNPs) and curcumin-containing carrier (CU-CHPNPs) were characterized by TEM imaging, Zetasizer, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The antitumor activity of the prepared nanoparticles was assessed by determination of cell count, cell viability, the level of NF-κB, IL-6, and TNF-α and Bcl-2 gene expression in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The results revealed that the obtained CU-CHPNPs had an average hydrodynamic size of 200 nm, zeta potential of +26.66 mv, and showed a drug encapsulation efficiency of 67%, and drug loading capacity of 40.20%. The cell-based assay showed a significant reduction in the cell viability, and NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels upon treatment with CU-CHPNPs as compared to free CUR. Finally, the (CU-CHPNPs) downregulated the expression of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic gene more effectively than CUR and the CHPNPs comparing with the ß Actin housekeeping gene. This study concluded that the nano-encapsulation of CUR significantly enhances its antitumor efficacy via inhibition of NF-κB, IL-6, and TNF-α and downregulation of Bcl-2.

Covid-19: Urgent Call to Action.

Novel Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19) is a new virus spread rapidly all over the world. It has specific respiratory or gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Its reported complications include respiratory distress, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and septic shock. Due to heavy cytokines released by the virus; corticosteroids (40-120 mg / day) were given to severe cases to reduce pneumonia. It's a difficult task to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and to invent proper vaccines and treatments. In this review, the existing understanding of fatal, pandemic human coronavirus SARS-Cov2 (COVID-19), with special reference to its diagnosis, origin, transmission, and different approaches to develop its therapeutics, will be discussed.