Design of rapamycin and resveratrol coloaded liposomal formulation for breast cancer therapy.

Aims: The development of rapamycin (RAP) and resveratrol (RSV) coloaded liposomes (RAP-RSV-LIP) for breast cancer therapy. Materials & methods: Liposomes were prepared using a high-pressure homogenization technique and evaluated according to their physicochemical characteristics, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity against tumoral and normal cells. Results & conclusion: The RAP-RSV-LIP showed negative surface charge, size around 100 nm, low polydispersity and high encapsulation efficiency for RAP and RSV (58.87 and 63.22%, respectively). RAP-RSV-LIP showed great stability over 60 days and a prolonged drug-release profile. In vitro studies indicated that RAP-RSV-LIP were internalized in an estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7, 34.2%) and improved cytotoxicity when compared with free drugs. Therefore RAP-RSV-LIP showed great antitumoral potential against breast cancer cells.

Bacterial cellulose membrane incorporated with silver nanoparticles for wound healing in animal model.

The bacterial cellulose membrane (CM) is a promising biomaterial due to its easy applicability and moist environment. Moreover, nanoscale silver compounds (AgNO3) are synthesized and incorporated into CMs to provide these biomaterials with antimicrobial activity for wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the cell viability of CM incorporated with nanoscale silver compounds, determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and its use on in vivo skin lesions. Wistar rats were divided according to treatment: untreated, CM (cellulose membrane), and AgCM (CM incorporated with silver nanoparticles). The euthanasia was performed on the 2nd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days to assess inflammation (myeloperoxidase-neutrophils, N-acetylglucosaminidase-macrophage, IL-1ß, IL-10), oxidative stress (NO-nitric oxide, DCF-H2O2), oxidative damage (carbonyl: membrane's damage; sulfhydryl: membrane's integrity), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase; glutathione), angiogenesis, tissue formation (collagen, TGF-ß1, smooth muscle α-actin, small decorin, and biglycan proteoglycans). The use of AgCM did not show toxicity, but antibacterial effect in vitro. Moreover, in vivo, AgCM provided balanced oxidative action, modulated the inflammatory profile due to the reduction of IL-1ß level and increase in IL-10 level, in addition to increased angiogenesis and collagen formation. The results suggest the use of silver nanoparticles (AgCM) enhanced the CM properties by providing antibacterial properties, modulation the inflammatory phase, and consequently promotes the healing of skin lesions, which can be used clinically to treat injuries.

Exploiting mesoporous silica, silver and gold nanoparticles for neurodegenerative diseases treatment.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are considered public health problem characterized by neural loss causing cognitive and behavioral impairments. It is currently possible to use drugs capable of controlling the symptoms caused by these diseases. However, treatment is not able to prevent neural loss. In addition, poor solubility, low bioavailability due to the inability for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are described as the main limitations of the treatment. Nanotechnology involves the development of nanoscale drug delivery systems and they have been employed to optimize therapeutics face to several diseases treatment. In light of this, this review describes the highlights on the fabrication of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems emphasizing mesoporous silica, gold and silver nanoparticles (MSNs, AuNPs and AgNPs, respectively) and their biological behavior for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases (ADs and PDs, respectively).

New insights towards mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a technological platform for chemotherapeutic drugs delivery.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) displays interesting properties for biomedical applications such as high chemical stability, large surface area and tunable pores diameters and volumes, allowing the incorporation of large amounts of drugs, protecting them from deactivation and degradation processes acting as an excellent nanoplatform for drug delivery. However, the functional MSNs do not present the ability to transport the therapeutics without any leakage until reach the targeted cells causing side effects. On the other hand, the hydroxyls groups available on MSNs surface allows the conjugation of specific molecules which can binds to the overexpressed Enhanced Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in many tumors, representing a potential strategy for the cancer treatment. Beyond that, the targeting molecules conjugate onto mesoporous surface increase its cell internalization and act as gatekeepers blocking the mesopores controlling the drug release. In this context, multifunctional MSNs emerge as stimuli-responsive controlled drug delivery systems (CDDS) to overcome drawbacks as low internalization, premature release before to reach the region of interest, several side effects and low effectiveness of the current treatments. This review presents an overview of MSNs fabrication methods and its properties that affects drug delivery as well as stimuli-responsive CDDS for cancer treatment.

Luminescent Mesoporous Silica Nanohybrid Based on Drug Derivative Terbium Complex.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles prepared by organic template-driven synthesis have been successfully explored as carriers of the drug-derivate green luminescent complex of terbium (III) with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen. The terbium (III) complex was synthesized by reacting ketoprofen sodium salt with terbium (III) chloride, which was further adsorbed onto the surface of mesoporous nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 47 ± 4 nm and pore size of 11 nm. The incorporation of the complex into mesoporous silica nanoparticles was tracked by the decrease in the surface area and pore size of the nanoparticles, and successfully demonstrated by substantial changes in the adsorption isotherms and thermal and vibrational spectroscopy results. The cytotoxicity assay and confocal microscopy have shown that the novel luminescent nanohybrid presents high cell viability and the characteristic terbium (III) emission can be assessed through two-photon excitation, which paves the way for bioimaging applications in nanomedicine.

Potential of amino-functionalized cellulose as an alternative sorbent intended to remove anionic dyes from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption has been explored to minimize the pollution caused by dyes. This work relates the preparation of diethylenetriamine-modified cellulose (DetaCel) by reacting phthalic anhydride-modified cellulose (PhCel) with diethylenetriamine (Deta). Materials were characterized by Elemental Analysis and results showed a degree of incorporation of 5.55 ±â€¯0.02 mmol of nitrogen per gram of modified material. The main bands observed for DetaCel by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscospy (FTIR) were attributed to CN deformation (1330 cm-1) and NH stretching of amide (3400 cm-1), while Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of 13C (13C{1H}CP-MAS NMR) showed a signal at 164.6 ppm characteristic of amide group. Crystallinity index (CrI) obtained by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was 74.99 (Cel), 58.64 (PhCel) and 46.12% (DetaCel). Adsorbent matrices were employed to remove methyl orange (MO) and eosin (EY) dyes in aqueous medium. Data obtained experimentally from kinetic study had a better fit to the pseudo-first order, thus the adsorption process occurs in monolayer, with MO adsorption capacity by Cel and DetaCel of 2.19 and 65.45 mg g-1, respectively. For EY adsorption by Cel and DetaCel was 1.30 and 56.69 mg g-1, respectively. These results suggest that DetaCel can be used as an alternative potential for removal dyes in aqueous solution.