Fabrication of curcumin-loaded magnetic PEGylated-PLGA nanocarriers tagged with GRGDS peptide for improving anticancer activity.

Carrier-mediated drug delivery systems are highly promising as a treatment option for the targeted delivery of potent cytotoxic drugs with increased efficacy and safety. Considering that poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers each provide certain advantages for biological purposes, PEGylated-PLGA nanoparticles have emerged as a leading candidate among other alternatives. Furthermore, these nanoparticles can be modified with the specific short peptide sequences such as glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid­serine (GRGDS), which selectively binds to integrins overexpressed in most cancer cells, allowing for targeted delivery. Here, we reported the details in fabrication and characterization of magnetic PEGylated-PLGA nanoparticles functionalized with GRGDS peptide. In addition, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and the natural pharmaceutical compound curcumin (Cur) were loaded into these polymeric nanoparticles to assess their anticancer activity potential. Overall, this study provides comprehensive methodologies, including all synthesis procedures, challenges, and useful suggestions for peptide-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles that may be used for cellular targeting and therapeutic applications.•Step by step fabrication protocol for the Cur loaded magnetic PEGylated-PLGA nanoparticles was presented.•Validation of the fabrication and the GRGDS conjugation to the nanoparticles were shown via detailed characterization studies.•The cytotoxic effect of the Cur-loaded and GRGDS-tagged magnetic nanoparticles was tested on T98G glioblastoma cell line as a preliminary in vitro study.

Polyisocyanides as a substrate to trigger vaginal fibroblast functioning in an in vitro model for prolapse repair.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent of the bladder, uterus, and/or rectum into the vagina. POP is associated with altered vaginal fibroblast functionality and connective tissue composition in the vaginal wall. The results of surgical intervention are poor, which may be related to the lack of true restoration of the connective tissue. An innovative treatment addresses tissue repair after surgery by the introduction of a bioactive supplement that enhances the healing process through collagen and elastin deposition. As a novel strategy, we first studied the effects in an in vitro model. Here, we investigate how the presence of cell binding GRGDS (RGD) peptides on the highly biomimetic polyisocyanide (PIC) gel facilitates and promotes the function of primary vaginal fibroblasts isolated from a POP patient. Fibroblast function was analyzed in terms of morphology, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and remodeling. RGD modification of the gel facilitated cell spread and proliferation. Quantitative outcomes of the ECM content indicated increased production of collagen and elastin by fibroblasts on gels with the highest RGD density. The in vitro results suggest that PIC-RGD hydrogel application may translate into improved connective tissue healing in the pelvic floor, which is essential for its use as a regeneration promoting additive in surgery.

Protective effect and mechanism of active peptide GRGDS on PC12 cells damage by oxygen-glucose deprivation / 药学实践杂志

Objective To study the protective effect of active peptide GRGDS on rat nerve cells (PC12 cells) in oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) injury model and explore its mechanism of action. Methods PC12 cells were divided into control group, ODG group, and active peptide GRGDS treatment group. The injury model was established by simulating in vitro cerebral ischemia by oxygen and sugar deprivation. MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis after oxygen-glucose deprivation. ELISA method was used to detect the changes of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β in PC12 cell supernatant after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis pathway-related proteins. Results The results of MTT and flow cytometry showed that the active peptide GRGDS significantly reduced the apoptosis of PC12 cells after oxygen glucose deprivation (P<0.05). ELISA test results showed that the active peptide GRGDS significantly reduced the content of TNF-α and IL-1β in the supernatant of PC12 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation. (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the active peptide GRGDS significantly reduced the expression levels of p-JNK, Bax, and cleaved caspase 3 in PC12 cells mediated by oxygen-glucose deprivation injury (P <0.01). Conclusion The active peptide GRGDS has protective effect on PC12 cells damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation. The mechanism may be related to anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Recent advances in process engineering and upcoming applications of metal-organic frameworks.

Progress in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has advanced from fundamental chemistry to engineering processes and applications, resulting in new industrial opportunities. The unique features of MOFs, such as their permanent porosity, high surface area, and structural flexibility, continue to draw industrial interest outside the traditional MOF field, both to solve existing challenges and to create new businesses. In this context, diverse research has been directed toward commercializing MOFs, but such studies have been performed according to a variety of individual goals. Therefore, there have been limited opportunities to share the challenges, goals, and findings with most of the MOF field. In this review, we examine the issues and demands for MOF commercialization and investigate recent advances in MOF process engineering and applications. Specifically, we discuss the criteria for MOF commercialization from the views of stability, producibility, regulations, and production cost. This review covers progress in the mass production and formation of MOFs along with future applications that are not currently well known but have high potential for new areas of MOF commercialization.