Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Anand-Krishna Singh, Dhananjay Yadav, Neha Sharma, Jun-O Jin
Summary: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by high blood sugar levels, and therapeutic approaches include improving insulin sensitivity and using DPP-IV inhibitors. These inhibitors improve hyperglycemia by stabilizing gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hiroshi Nomoto, Sho Furusawa, Akinobu Nakamura, Jun Takeuchi, So Nagai, Hiroki Yokoyama, Ichiro Sakuma, Shinji Taneda, Yoshio Kurihara, Shin Aoki, Aika Miya, Hiraku Kameda, Kyu Yong Cho, Tatsuya Atsumi, Hideaki Miyoshi
Summary: This multicentre trial aims to compare the effects of switching from a DPP-4 inhibitor to oral semaglutide on glycaemic control in patients with T2D. The study will assess the impact of oral semaglutide on HbA1c, body weight, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and explore the relationship between improvement in metabolic parameters and patient background characteristics, side effects, and other laboratory parameters.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zongyang Li, Yuan Zhang, Xiangbao Meng, Min Li, Weiwei Cao, Junshan Yang, Xudong Xu, Wenlan Liu, Weiping Li, Qian Cai, Sicen Wang, Guoxu Ma, Zhiheng Liu, Guodong Huang
Summary: The DPP-4 inhibitor Gramcyclin A enhances GLP-1 signaling and shows protective effects against Alzheimer's disease by reversing cognitive decline, reducing abnormal deposits in the brain, suppressing neuroinflammation, and increasing glucose uptake in the brain.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Xiaocui Qin, Xia Zhang, Pinyu Li, Min Wang, Li Yan, Zeqing Bao, Qili Liu
Summary: The association between different oral diabetes medications and the risk of Parkinson's disease remains unclear. While the use of sulfonylureas, DPP4 inhibitors, metformin, and glitazones show no significant link to PD risk, metformin and glitazones may still increase the risk. Limited data suggests a protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists on the risk of PD.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mona Mashayekhi, Jessica R. Wilson, Scott Jafarian-Kerman, Hui Nian, Chang Yu, Megan M. Shuey, James M. Luther, Nancy J. Brown
Summary: Genetic variation in the gene encoding the GLP-1 receptor may affect the metabolic response to DPP-4 inhibitors. The rs6923761 variant was associated with decreased postprandial glucose excursion in individuals with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The study suggests a potential role of GLP1R rs6923761 genotype in modulating GLP-1 signaling in response to treatment.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shiau Chin Chong, Norlela Sukor, Sarah Anne Robert, Kim Fong Ng, Nor Azmi Kamaruddin
Summary: This study assessed the impact of endogenous GLP-1 levels on the treatment response to DPP-IV inhibitors in individuals with prediabetes and T2D. The results showed that linagliptin significantly reduced HbA1c and glucose levels in individuals with high GLP-1 levels. This suggests that endogenous GLP-1 levels play an important role in determining the efficacy of DPP-IV inhibitors.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ponnurengam Malliappan Sivakumar, B. Premkumar, Veluchamy Prabhawathi, Pranav Kumar Prabhakar
Summary: GLP-1RAs have shown significant benefits in improving cardiovascular complications, kidney protection, and neuroprotection in type 2 diabetes mellitus, reducing the risk of therapy.
MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Samuel Igweokpala, Naheemot Olaoluwa Sule, Antonios Douros, Oriana H. Y. Yu, Kristian B. Filion
Summary: The use of incretin-based drugs is not associated with the risk of diabetic retinopathy among individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to the synthesis of available evidence from observational studies.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Mark M. Smits, Kristina S. Fluitman, Hilde Herrema, Mark Davids, Mark H. H. Kramer, Albert K. Groen, Clara Belzer, Willem M. de Vos, Djuna L. Cahen, Max Nieuwdorp, Daniel H. van Raalte
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors on the intestinal microbiota in adults with type 2 diabetes. Results showed that these agents did not affect the diversity of the intestinal microbiota, nor were changes in microbial composition related to clinical parameters.
DIABETES & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Cristina Bouzas, Rosario Pastor, Silvia Garcia, Margalida Monserrat-Mesquida, Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez., Jordi Salas-Salvado, Dolores Corella, Albert Goday, J. Alfredo Martinez, Angel M. Alonso-Gomez, Olga Fernandez-Barcelo, Jesus Vioque, Dora Romaguera, Jose Lopez-Miranda, Ramon Estruch, Francisco J. Tinahones, Jose Lapetra, Lluis Serra-Majema, Blanca Riquelme-Gallegop, Vicente Martin-Sanchez, Xavier Pinto, Miguel Delgado-Rodriguez, Pilar Matia, Josep Vidal, Jersy-Jair Cardenas-Salas, Lidia Daimiel, Emilio Ros, Estefania Toledo, Josep M. Manzanares, Inmaculada Gonzalez-Monge, Miguel-Angel Munoz, Diego Martinez-Urbistondo, Lucas Tojal-Sierra, Carlos Munoz-Bravoaf, Salvador Miralles-Gisbert, Marian Martin, Antonio Garcia-Rios, Sara Castro-Barquero, Jose Carlos Fernandez-Garcia, Jose Manuel Santos-Lozano, F. Javier Basterra-Gortari, Liliana Gutierrez-Carrasquilla, Patricia Guillem-Saiz, Alba Satorres, Itziar Abete, Carolina Sorto-Sanchez, Javier Diez-Espino, Nancy Babio, Montse Fito, Josep A. Tur
Summary: In a one-year study involving 6881 patients with MetS, it was found that those treated with GLP-1RA and DPP-4I had better glycemic profiles, but improvements in weight and waist circumference were modest.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Qian Zhang, Xinhua Xiao, Jia Zheng, Ming Li, Miao Yu, Fan Ping, Tong Wang, Xiaojing Wang
Summary: The study found that vildagliptin effectively improved endothelial function in diabetic rats, and through miRNA regulation, it protected the cardiovascular system by activating anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis mechanisms, as well as endothelial moderation.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Baljit Kaur, Sombir Jaglan, Sudesh Rani, Yatin Batra, Palwinder Singh, Palwinder Vivesh
Summary: This study reports the design, synthesis, and biological studies of new anti-diabetic agents targeting DPP-4. The results show that 14 compounds display better inhibition activity against DPP-4 than the known drug Sitagliptin.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Pilszyk, Magdalena Niebrzydowska, Zuzanna Pilszyk, Magdalena Wierzchowska-Opoka, Zaneta Kimber-Trojnar
Summary: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disease affecting an increasing number of pregnant women worldwide. Controlling blood glucose levels is crucial to prevent complications. Current studies are investigating the use of other drug categories and have shown some success. These drugs may be used independently or as supplements to existing medications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yuki Shimizu, Hiroshi Hara, Tohru Hira
Summary: Although glucose is the most well-known nutrient to stimulate GLP-1 secretion, dietary peptides also play a significant role in stimulating GLP-1 secretion and inhibiting DPP-4 activity. Whey protein administration resulted in less degradation of GLP-1 compared to other nutrients, indicating a potential protective effect of dietary peptides on GLP-1.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jiemin Wang, Liang Zhang, Yi Qu, Yuexia Yang, Ting Cao, Yuping Cao, Anam Iqbal, Wenwu Qin, Yun Liu
Summary: A fluorescent probe named DCDHFNH2-dpp4 has been designed for detecting diabetes, showing promising results in mice models, especially with high specificity for diabetic mice. This probe also exhibits significant fluorescence signals in the liver and serum of diabetic mice.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Er-Xiong Ding, Peng Liu, Hoon Hahn Yoon, Faisal Ahmed, Mingde Du, Abde Mayeen Shafi, Naveed Mehmood, Esko I. Kauppinen, Zhipei Sun, Harri Lipsanen
Summary: Fabricating electronic and optoelectronic devices using a facile electrode fabrication process with SWCNT films leads to improved device performance. Dry-transferred SWCNT films as transparent electrodes in Schottky diodes for photodetector applications increase light absorption in photoactive MoS2 channels. The enhanced photodetection is attributed to FN tunneling and internal photoemission of charge carriers excited from indium tin oxide across the MoS2 layer.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tiago Carvalho, Raquel Bartolo, Sonia N. Pedro, Bruno F. A. Valente, Ricardo J. B. Pinto, Carla Vilela, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Helder A. Santos, Carmen S. R. Freire
Summary: Biopolymeric injectable hydrogels have been developed for myocardial regeneration applications, but they usually lack desired functionalities. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs) as nanotemplates and incorporated into gelatin-hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. The resulting nanocomposite hydrogels showed improved properties such as rheological properties, mechanical resilience, antioxidant activity, and electrical conductivity. The presence of AuNPs also allowed the hydrogels to be monitorable through computer tomography. This work demonstrates the excellent potential of LNFs and AuNPs@LNFs for formulating functional injectable biopolymeric nanocomposite hydrogels for myocardial regeneration applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Giuseppina Molinaro, Flavia Fontana, Ruben Pareja Tello, Shiqi Wang, Sandra Lopez Cerda, Giulia Torrieri, Alexandra Correia, Eero Waris, Jouni T. Hirvonen, Goncalo Barreto, Helder A. Santos
Summary: This study developed acetalated-dextran nanoparticles (AcDEX NPs) loaded with curcumin and coated with tannic acid (TA) for the treatment of tendinitis. The nanoparticles showed good stability and interaction with human tenocytes and macrophages due to the TA coating. The curcumin-loaded particles exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, while the TA-coated particles showed anti-fibrotic effects. Overall, the nanosystem has promising properties for future application in tendinitis.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuan Xiong, Ze Lin, Pengzhen Bu, Tao Yu, Yori Endo, Wu Zhou, Yun Sun, Faqi Cao, Guandong Dai, Yiqiang Hu, Li Lu, Lang Chen, Peng Cheng, Kangkang Zha, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Qian Feng, Bobin Mi, Guohui Liu
Summary: Diabetic wound therapy is a significant challenge in medicine. A whole-course-repair system using a hydrogel has been introduced to achieve concurrent neurogenesis and angiogenesis for accelerated wound healing. The hydrogel can be injected into wounds to provide a physical barrier and release magnesium ions and engineered small extracellular vesicles for synergistic effects. This system recruits mesenchymal stem cells and stimulates neurogenic differentiation, while also promoting angiogenesis at the wound site. It offers a novel platform for combined diabetic wound therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zheng Chen, Jiulong Zhao, Hang Wu, Haibin Wang, Xuhua Lu, Mohammad -Ali Shahbazi, Shige Wang
Summary: This study prepared a novel CMCS/ODex/gamma-PGA hydrogel for the treatment of diffuse and incompressible wound bleeding. The hydrogel showed good hemostatic effect and maintained adhesion in wet environments. This study provides a new method for designing wet-surface adhesives for efficient hemostasis.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Feng Zhang, Lili Zhang, Hua Jiang, Xin Li, Fengning Liu, Zhong-Hai Ji, Peng-Xiang Hou, Shuyu Guo, Hui-Ming Cheng, Esko I. Kauppinen, Chang Liu, Feng Ding
Summary: Structurally uniform single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a narrow diameter distribution (1.35 +/- 0.25 nm) were successfully synthesized using a CoRu catalyst. By optimizing the catalyst composition and growth conditions, high-efficiency and structure-controlled growth of SWCNTs were achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Voitto Kankanen, Micaela Fernandes, Zehua Liu, Jani Seitsonen, Sami-Pekka Hirvonen, Janne Ruokolainen, Joao F. Pinto, Jouni Hirvonen, Vimalkumar Balasubramanian, Helder A. Santos
Summary: This study reports the development of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-(e-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) nanoparticles using a microfluidic technique for intravenous drug delivery. The optimized formulation achieved spherical morphology, small particle size (dH < 80 nm), uniform size distribution (PDI < 0.2), high drug loading degree (16%), and encapsulation efficiency of 54%. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited stability and sustained release of sorafenib in vitro over several days. Overall, this research demonstrates the use of microfluidic approach in optimizing drug delivery systems.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Claudia Martins, Marco Araujo, Alessio Malfanti, Catarina Pacheco, Stuart J. J. Smith, Bernard Ucakar, Ruman Rahman, Jonathan W. W. Aylott, Veronique Preat, Bruno Sarmento
Summary: Report the development of hypothesis-driven stimuli-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. These NPs have multifunctional features that overcome the insufficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) trafficking and lack of GBM targeting, two major challenges in anti-GBM treatments. In preclinical studies, the stimuli-responsive NPs effectively targeted GBM cells, enhanced cell uptake, increased cytotoxicity, improved BBB permeability, and demonstrated antitumor efficacy in GBM models.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sofia Torres Quintas, Ana Canha-Borges, Maria Jose Oliveira, Bruno Sarmento, Flavia Castro
Summary: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, with a significant number of cases and fatalities reported globally in 2020. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks certain receptors, accounts for approximately 20% of all breast cancers and has a more aggressive clinical course, particularly in younger women. Current standard therapy for advanced TNBC is chemotherapy, but its effectiveness is limited and relapse rates are high. However, recent advances in cancer nanomedicine have provided innovative therapeutic options to overcome the drawbacks of conventional therapies. This review summarizes the recent developments in nanomedicine for TNBC treatment, including novel nanoparticle, exosome, and hybrid-based formulations, and discusses their limitations and challenges for future clinical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingshuang Wang, Lian Duan, Ga Liu, Jianfeng Sun, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Subhas C. C. Kundu, Rui L. L. Reis, Bo Xiao, Xiao Yang
Summary: Polyacrylic acid (PAA) and its derivatives are commonly used as matrices in wound dressings, but their weak wet adhesion limits their clinical application. In this study, a PAA-based coacervate hydrogel with strong wet adhesion capability is created by mixing PAA copolymers with isoprenyl oxy poly(ethylene glycol) ether and tannic acid. The coacervate exhibits solid adhesion to both dry and wet substrates, with an adhesive strength to skin of 23.4 kPa and 70% adhesion underwater. It also possesses desirable self-healing and extensible properties, making it suitable for joints that undergo frequent movement. The coacervate demonstrates antibacterial activity, facilitates fibroblast migration, modulates macrophage polarization, shortens hemostatic time, and promotes collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and epithelialization, suggesting its promising potential as a wound dressing in medical translation.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ramon Andres Pineda-Alvarez, Carolina Flores-Avila, Luis Medina-Torres, Jesus Gracia-Mora, Jose Juan Escobar-Chavez, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi, Maria Josefa Bernad-Bernad
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of Laponite in lecithin/gelatin composites and maltodextrin/sodium ascorbate mixtures. Nanoparticles were prepared using the gelatin desolvation method and turned into films via the solvent-casting method. The optimal composites were developed with 8.8 mg of Laponite, reducing particle size and avoiding agglomeration. Drug release in LGL MAS was fitted to first-order and Korsmeyer-Peppas models.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Jiachen Li, Shiqi Wang, Flavia Fontana, Christos Tapeinos, Mohammad -Ali Shahbazi, Huijie Han, Helder A. Santos
Summary: Remarkable progress has been made in phototherapy in recent decades, thanks to its non-invasiveness and immediate therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, the development of nanoparticle-based phototherapy systems has emerged as a hot topic in nanomedicine research, especially in cancer. This review briefly introduces the history and mechanisms of phototherapy, summarizes the recent development in nanoparticle-based phototherapy, highlights the innovative design of nanoparticles, and discusses the potential of these systems in clinical anticancer therapy.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sandra Lopez Cerda, Flavia Fontana, Shiqi Wang, Alexandra Correia, Giuseppina Molinaro, Ruben Pareja Tello, Jouni Hirvonen, Christian Celia, Goncalo Barreto, Helder A. Santos
Summary: Macrophages play a critical role in various diseases, and single-drug loaded nanoparticles have been developed to target them. However, macrophage dysfunction can lead to multiple conditions, such as inflammation and fibrosis. This study developed hybrid lipid-polymer nanoparticles (LPNs) loaded with both budesonide and enhanced green fluorescence protein siRNA (eGFP-siRNA) to modulate macrophage dysfunction. The LPNs showed efficient loading, controlled release, non-toxicity, and high transfection efficiency, making them a suitable nanoplatform for the dual drug delivery to macrophages.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Claudia Martins, Catarina Pacheco, Paulo Faria, Bruno Sarmento
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ruben Pareja Tello, Shiqi Wang, Flavia Fontana, Alexandra Correia, Giuseppina Molinaro, Sandra Lopez Cerda, Sami Hietala, Jouni Hirvonen, Goncalo Barreto, Helder A. Santos
Summary: Microfluidic on-chip production of iEDDA-crosslinked polymeric hydrogel microspheres is developed via water-in-oil emulsification (W/O) glass microfluidics. The microspheres are composed of two polyethylene glycol precursors modified with either tetrazine or norbornene. Using a single co-flow glass microfluidic platform, homogenous MPs of sizes 200-600 μm are developed and crosslinked within 2 minutes. The iEDDA-crosslinked hydrogels exhibit maintained rheological properties, low swelling degree, and slow degradation under physiological conditions, making them potential drug vehicles and cell encapsulation systems in the biomedical field.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)