Correction: Self-assembled 4-(1,2-diphenylbut-1-en-1-yl)aniline based nanoparticles: podophyllotoxin and aloin as building blocks.

Correction for 'Self-assembled 4-(1,2-diphenylbut-1-en-1-yl)aniline based nanoparticles: podophyllotoxin and aloin as building blocks' by Gaia Fumagalli, et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c6ob02591a.

Self-assembled 4-(1,2-diphenylbut-1-en-1-yl)aniline based nanoparticles: podophyllotoxin and aloin as building blocks.

The ability of 4-(1,2-diphenylbut-1-en-1-yl)aniline as a self-assembly inducer is reported. The conjugation of this moiety with aloin or podophyllotoxin resulted in spherical nanoparticles that were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and NanoSight technology. A preliminary biological evaluation on two cancer cell lines is reported.

Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of suicide genes in cancer therapy.

Conventional chemotherapeutics have been employed in cancer treatment for decades due to their efficacy in killing the malignant cells, but the other side of the coin showed off-target effects, onset of drug resistance and recurrences. To overcome these limitations, different approaches have been investigated and suicide gene therapy has emerged as a promising alternative. This approach consists in the introduction of genetic materials into cancerous cells or the surrounding tissue to cause cell death or retard the growth of the tumor mass. Despite promising results obtained both in vitro and in vivo, this innovative approach has been limited, for long time, to the treatment of localized tumors, due to the suboptimal efficiency in introducing suicide genes into cancer cells. Nanoparticles represent a valuable non-viral delivery system to protect drugs in the bloodstream, to improve biodistribution, and to limit side effects by achieving target selectivity through surface ligands. In this scenario, the real potential of suicide genes can be translated into clinically viable treatments for patients. In the present review, we summarize the recent advances of inorganic nanoparticles as non-viral vectors in terms of therapeutic efficacy, targeting capacity and safety issues. We describe the main suicide genes currently used in therapy, with particular emphasis on toxin-encoding genes of bacterial and plant origin. In addition, we discuss the relevance of molecular targeting and tumor-restricted expression to improve treatment specificity to cancer tissue. Finally, we analyze the main clinical applications, limitations and future perspectives of suicide gene therapy.

Heteronanoparticles by Self-Assembly of Ecdysteroid and Doxorubicin Conjugates To Overcome Cancer Resistance.

Heteronanoparticles (H-NPs) consisting of conjugates characterized by a squalene tail linked to doxorubicin and ecdysteroid derivatives are presented. Biological evaluation on A2780ADR cell line confirms not only the maintenance of the activity of the parental drug but also the ability to overcome cancer resistance. The in vitro cell uptake was demonstrated, and the involvement of an endosomal-mediated pathway was suggested.

Negatively charged silver nanoparticles with potent antibacterial activity and reduced toxicity for pharmaceutical preparations.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of new solutions with antibacterial activity as efficient and safe alternatives to common preservatives (such as parabens) and to combat emerging infections and drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is highly expected in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Colloidal silver nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting interest as novel effective antimicrobial agents for the prevention of several infectious diseases. METHODS: Water-soluble, negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by reduction with citric and tannic acid and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, differential centrifuge sedimentation, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. AgNPs were tested with model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to two different kinds of commercially available AgNPs. RESULTS: In this work, AgNPs with higher antibacterial activity compared to the commercially available colloidal silver solutions were prepared and investigated. Bacteria were plated and the antibacterial activity was tested at the same concentration of silver ions in all samples. The AgNPs did not show any significant reduction in the antibacterial activity for an acceptable time period. In addition, AgNPs were transferred to organic phase and retained their antibacterial efficacy in both aqueous and nonaqueous media and exhibited no toxicity in eukaryotic cells. CONCLUSION: We developed AgNPs with a 20 nm diameter and negative zeta potential with powerful antibacterial activity and low toxicity compared to currently available colloidal silver, suitable for cosmetic preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations administrable to humans and/or animals as needed.

Nano-targeting of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 identifies bowel inflammation foci in murine model.

AIM: We investigate MAdCAM-1 as a reliable target to detect active bowel inflammation for selective noninvasive nanodiagnostics. MATERIALS & METHODS: We coupled anti-MAdCAM-1 antibodies to manganese oxide nanoparticles, and analyzed nanoconjugate biodistribution and safety in murine model of inflammatory bowel disease by imaging and histology. RESULTS: Nanoparticles were stable and nontoxic. Upon administration in colitic mice, anti-MAdCAM-1 functionalized nanoparticles preferentially localized in the inflamed bowel, whereas untargeted nanoparticles were more rapidly washed out. Nanoparticles did not induce lesions in nontarget organs. CONCLUSION: Anti-MAdCAM-1 functionalized nanoparticles detected active bowel inflammation foci, accurately following MAdCAM-1 expression pattern. These nanoconjugates could be a promising noninvasive imaging system for an early and accurate follow-up in patients affected by acute colitis.

Innovative approach to safely induce controlled lipolysis by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles-mediated hyperthermic treatment.

During last years, evidence has been provided on the involvement of overweight and obesity in the pathogenesis and aggravation of several life-threatening diseases. Here, we demonstrate that, under appropriate administration conditions, polyhedral iron oxide nanoparticles are efficiently and safely taken up by 3T3 cell line-derived adipocytes (3T3 adipocytes) in vitro. Since these nanoparticles proved to effectively produce heat when subjected to alternating magnetic field, 3T3 adipocytes were submitted to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles-mediated hyperthermia treatment (SMHT), with the aim of modulating their lipid content. Notably, the treatment resulted in a significant delipidation persisting for at least 24h, and in the absence of cell death, damage or dedifferentiation. Interestingly, transcript expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), a key gene involved in canonical lipolysis, was not modulated upon SMHT, suggesting the involvement of a novel/alternative mechanism in the effective lipolysis observed. By applying the same experimental conditions successfully used for 3T3 adipocytes, SMHT was able to induce delipidation also in primary cultures of human adipose-derived adult stem cells. The success of this pioneering approach in vitro opens promising perspectives for the application of SMHT in vivo as an innovative safe and physiologically mild strategy against obesity, potentially useful in association with balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.