ABSTRACT
Cryptotanshinone (CPT), an active ingredient with the inhibitory effect on brain glioma cells, is trapped with poor solubility and low tumor permeability. Therefore, it is urgent to design nano drug delivery systems characterized with deep penetration and accurate targeting. In the present study, tLyp-1 modified liposomes loaded with CPT (tLipo/CPT) was prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method. Peptide tLyp-1 which targeting tumor angiogenesis and neuropilin receptors (NRP) was modified on surface of CPT liposomes, with the aim of active targeting brain glioma cells and further release CPT precisely. The size and polymer dispersity index (PDI) of tLipo/CPT were (162.2 ± 14.6) nm and 0.24 ± 0.03. The optimal molar ratio of tLyp-1 modified on CPT liposomes was 0.5% determined by intracellular fluorescence parameters. The morphology displayed a smooth sphericity structure as determined by transmission electron microscope. Efficiency of CPT encapsulated in tLipo/CPT was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. The encapsulation efficiency of CPT was (70.06 ± 7.22) %. Liposomes modified with tLyp-1 peptide (tLipo) were internalized more than liposomes not modified with tLyp-1 (Lipo) by GL261 cells. Fluorescence intensity of tLipo in GL261 cells increased 40% than that of Lipo. Furthermore, we proved that the intake of tLipo/CPT in GL261 cells was mediated by NRP-1 receptor. MTT analysis indicated that tLipo/CPT significantly inhibit the proliferation of GL261 cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 5.70 μmol·L-1. In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model experiment indicated that tLipo/CPT could penetration across BBB. Moreover, in vivo fluorescence biodistribution study indicated tail vein injection of DiR labeled tLipo after 0.5 h, DiR fluorescence could be observed in the brain of mice. Even after 24 h, DiR fluorescence still was observed in the brain. Our research certified that tLipo/CPT can penetrate the BBB and show effect of anti-glioma by inhibiting the proliferation of GL261 cells. The animal experiment was carried out in accordance with protocol evaluated and approved by the Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.
ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), with a history of thousands of years, are widely used clinically with effective treatment. However, the drug delivery systems (DDSs) for TCMs remains major challenges due to the characteristics of multi-components including alkaloids, flavones, anthraquinones, glycosides, proteins, volatile oils and other types. Therefore, the novel preparations and technology of modern pharmaceutics is introduced to improve TCM therapeutic effects due to instability and low bioavailability of active ingredients. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the radix and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen in Chinese), is a well known Chinese herbal medicine for protecting the cardiovascular system, with active ingredients mainly including lipophilic tanshinones and hydrophilic salvianolic acids. In this review, this drug is taken as an example to present challenges and strategies in progress of DDSs for TCMs. This review would also summary the characteristics of active ingredients in it including physicochemical properties and pharmacological effects. The purpose of this review is to provide inspirations and ideas for the DDSs designed from TCMs by summarizing the advances on DDSs for both single- and multi-component from Danshen.
ABSTRACT
Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is one of the commonly used Chinese materia medica in clinic. It has the effects of tonifying spleen and replenishing qi, clearing heat and removing toxin, dispelling phlegm, relieving cough, relieving pain, and reconciling various drugs. Its main active ingredients are saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides. Among them, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid not only have inhibitory effects on liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and other cancers, but also can be combined with chemotherapeutic drugs to increase drug efficacy as well. At the same time, they can be developed as drug carrier for drug delivery to solve the problems of low water solubility, low bioavailability, high toxicity and side effects of drugs. It was found that their solubilization may be closely related to their amphiphilic structure, which is expected to further explore the role of their carrier characteristics in drug transmembrane transport. Based on the anti-tumor mechanisms of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the applications of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in drug delivery systems were systematically summarized in this paper, which could provide reference for the further study of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid as excipients of drug delivery systems.