Lactoferrin-appended solid lipid nanoparticles of paclitaxel for effective management of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Lung cancer is a dreadful disease which claims to be more life threatening as compared to total sum up of colon, prostate and breast cancers. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop an effective delivery approach for its management. Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the well-known choice as antineoplasitic agent used for the treatment of different types of human cancers such as non-small-cell lung, head and neck cancers, leukemia, breast, ovarian and melanoma. Lactoferrin (Lf), a "multifunctional protein" is crucial for natural immunity which is secreted by exocrine glands. Lf receptors are expressed on the apical surface on bronchial epithelial cells. These over-expressed LF receptors can be utilized for the transportation of Lf-conjugated drug or nanocarrier devices. The present study was aimed to develop PTX-loaded Lf-coupled solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for the treatment of lung cancer. PTX-loaded SLNs were prepared, characterized and then coupled with Lf using carbodiimide chemistry. The formulations were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential, whereas Lf conjugation was confirmed by FT-IR and ¹H NMR and efficiency of prepared system was evaluated by in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo evaluations. The ex vivo cytotoxicity studies on human bronchial epithelial cell lines, BEAS-2B, revealed superior anticancer activity of Lf-coupled SLNs than plain SLNs and free PTX. In vivo biodistribution studies showed higher concentrations of PTX accumulated in lungs via Lf-coupled SLNs than plain SLNs and free PTX. These studies suggested that Lf-coupled PTX-loaded SLNs could be used as potential targeting carrier for delivering anticancer drug to the lungs with the minimal side effects.

Salivary sialic acid levels and dental health in children with congenital heart disease.

Congenital cardiac disease is one of the most common developmental anomalies in children. Higher caries prevalence and gingivitis compared to healthy children have been shown in children with congenital heart disease which has a significant implication in the medical care of these patients associated with bacteraemia and endocarditis. Sialic acids being terminal sugar components and marker of chronic inflammatory response are found to be present at higher levels in children with poor oral health status. So the present study aimed to evaluate the oral health status and salivary sialic acid levels among the children with congenital heart disease and normal healthy siblings. A total of 71 children with heart diseases aged 6-10 years attending various heart institutes were examined for oral hygiene status, gingival status and dental caries status by using modified WHO oral assessment form. A case-matched control group of 50 children were also examined. Salivary flow rate, pH and sialic acid levels were measured after saliva collection. The results were subjected to Unpaired t test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient Test. The salivary pH, salivary flow rate, dental caries status, oral hygiene and the gingival status were significantly compromised with a positive correlation with the sialic acid levels in saliva, leading to increased treatment needs in the study group. Therefore the amount of sialic acid in the saliva can be a useful index of the severity of oral disease.