Article
Engineering, Mechanical
J. I. Aviles-Castrillo, D. Quintanar-Guerrero, K. M. Aguilar-Perez, D. I. Medina
Summary: Shea butter solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with excellent stability were synthesized in this study, and their penetration capacity and impact in topical formulations were validated through various analyses. The SLNs showed a lower coefficient of friction compared to bulk lipids, indicating potential applications in cosmetics such as anti-aging agents.
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kristijan Skok, Tanja Zidaric, Kristjan Orthaber, Matevz Pristovnik, Nina Kostevsek, Kristina Zuzek Rozman, Saso Sturm, Lidija Gradisnik, Uros Maver, Tina Maver
Summary: Despite medical advances, skin-associated disorders continue to pose a unique challenge to physicians worldwide. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, with over one million new cases reported annually. Surgical excision is currently the primary treatment, but alternatives such as topical treatment solutions are being explored. This study aimed to develop multilayer nanofilms for theranostic skin cancer treatment.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sahim Aziz Hazari, Harsimran Kaur, Ritu Karwasra, Mohammed A. S. Abourehab, Asim Ali Khan, Prashant Kesharwani
Summary: Psoriasis is a recurrent, inflammatory skin disease, affecting 2-5% of the global population. Traditional treatments have limitations and can cause harmful side effects. Novel drug delivery systems, such as lipid-based nanoparticles, are being developed to provide safer and more effective treatment options.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sangseo Kim, Candace M. Day, Yunmei Song, Amy Holmes, Sanjay Garg
Summary: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a common malignancy globally, and topical treatment is a key management strategy. However, conventional topical treatments often face challenges such as poor drug penetration and patient adherence. To overcome these limitations, researchers have started using advanced topical patches for the treatment of NMSC. This review provides an overview of NMSC and the current landscape of topical treatments, focusing on the emerging technology of topical patches, and discusses their potential to improve existing therapies.
Article
Biophysics
Marco Fornasier, Rosa Pireddu, Alessandra Del Giudice, Chiara Sinico, Tommy Nylander, Karin Schillen, Luciano Galantini, Sergio Murgia
Summary: The study explores the encapsulation of natural compounds into nanocarriers to achieve dermal or transdermal release, with the addition of bile salts to enhance skin lipid fluidity. The formulation loaded with bile salts showed superior permeation of natural antioxidants in different skin layers.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nazeer Hasan, Mohammad Imran, Masood Nadeem, Dhara Jain, Kashif Haider, M. Moshahid Alam Rizvi, Afsana Sheikh, Prashant Kesharwani, Gaurav Kumar Jain, Farhan Jalees Ahmad
Summary: In this study, a novel combinatorial chemotherapy using nanostructured lipid carrier gel (FU-CBD-NLCs gel) loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cannabidiol (CBD) was developed. The optimized NLCs had an average particle size of 206 nm and a zeta potential of -34 mV. In vitro and ex vivo drug permeation studies demonstrated the effective delivery of both drugs to the skin layers via lipid structured nanocarriers. The prepared FU-CBD-NLCs showed promising effect in vitro cell studies and superior deposition of drugs at the epidermal and dermal layers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rupesh Jain, Milan Paul, Sri Ganga Padaga, Sunil Kumar Dubey, Swati Biswas, Gautam Singhvi
Summary: The study introduces lipidic nanoparticles loaded with curcumin and chlorin e6 that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon activation by near-infrared light, which show promise for treating aggressive cutaneous melanomas. The optimized nanoparticle formulation exhibited a small particle size and high entrapment efficiency. Co-delivery of curcumin and chlorin e6 enhanced cellular uptake, inhibited cancer growth, and induced apoptosis compared to free drug. The nanoparticles also achieved better skin permeation and retention, demonstrating their potential synergy.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luciana de Souza Guedes, Renata Miliani Martinez, Nadia A. Bou-Chacra, Maria Valeria Robles Velasco, Catarina Rosado, Andre Rolim Baby
Summary: This review discusses the encapsulation of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 in lipid nanoparticles to enhance their bioavailability and skin absorption, as well as highlighting their cytotoxic and photoprotective effects on the skin.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tingxizi Liang, Di Wen, Guojun Chen, Amanda Chan, Zhaowei Chen, Hongjun Li, Zejun Wang, Xiao Han, Liping Jiang, Jun-Jie Zhu, Zhen Gu
Summary: The lipid droplets in adipocytes have been demonstrated to be a controllable and biocompatible vehicle for delivering anticancer drugs, enhancing the therapeutic effect of cancer photodynamic therapy through various pathways. Loading a lipid-conjugated photosensitizer into the lipid droplets reduces its IC50 value by 6.0-fold. In vivo results show that engineered lipid droplets effectively inhibit tumor growth with minimal side effects.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nausicaa Clemente, Ivana Miletto, Enrica Gianotti, Maurizio Sabbatini, Marco Invernizzi, Leonardo Marchese, Umberto Dianzani, Filippo Reno
Summary: The combination of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) conjugated with verteporfin (Ver-MSNs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for melanoma treatment showed significant anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis effects in a mouse model.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mark Zamansky, Doron Yariv, Valeria Feinshtein, Shimon Ben-Shabat, Amnon C. Sintov
Summary: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising natural agent for treating psoriasis. This study evaluated the anti-psoriatic effect of CBD-loaded lipid-stabilized nanoparticles (LSNs) and found that CBD significantly reduced the severity of psoriasis. LSNs were shown to be a promising platform for delivering CBD to the skin.
Article
Oncology
Darlan Barbosa da Silva, Carolina Loureiro da Silva, Nathalia Nossi Davanzo, Rodrigo da Silva Souza, Rodrigo Jose Correa, Antonio Claudio Tedesco, Maria Bernadete Riemma Pierre
Summary: The study evaluated the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for topical PDT of melanoma and found that nanoparticles did not affect the photophysical properties of PpIX, but could enhance phototoxicity under certain conditions. This suggests that nanoparticles may serve as a potential delivery system for melanoma skin cancer.
PHOTODIAGNOSIS AND PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuhang Wang, Keman Cheng, Kun Chen, Chen Xu, Peiwen Ma, Guohui Dang, Yuqi Yang, Qi Lei, Huiyao Huang, Yue Yu, Yuan Fang, Qiyu Tang, Ning Jiang, Huilei Miao, Funan Liu, Xiao Zhao, Ning Li
Summary: Nanotechnology offers new solutions for overcoming the limitations of anti-cancer drugs and biological barriers. Considerable technological and clinical success has been achieved in cancer nanomedicine, but there are challenges in translating it into clinical practice. This review introduces the progress and challenges of nanomedicines in clinical trials for cancer therapy, including lipid-based, polymeric, and albumin-based nanoparticles, and highlights promising biomolecule-based nanomedicines for future clinical applications.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyeonghee Shim, Hyein Jo, Dooil Jeoung
Summary: In recent decades, RNA-based drugs have shown promise in treating various diseases. The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) allows for the production of a wide range of functional proteins/peptides, making it an attractive approach for vaccines or therapeutics. Delivery systems, such as exosomes and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), have been explored as effective methods for delivering RNA-based drugs. Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are highly expressed in cancer tissues and have the potential to serve as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of using CTAs encoded by mRNA-LNPs in cancer patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
B. H. Jaswanth Gowda, Mohammed Gulzar Ahmed, Saad Ali Alshehri, Shadma Wahab, Lalitkumar K. Vora, Raghu Raj Singh Thakur, Prashant Kesharwani
Summary: Lyotropic liquid crystals, specifically cubosomes, are highly promising drug carriers due to their self-assembled, non-lamellar, and mesophase nanostructured properties. Cubosomes exhibit bicontinuous structures formed through the self-organization of amphiphilic lipids and stabilization using steric polymers. They have shown superior entrapment efficiency and stability for hydrophobic drugs compared to liposomes. Additionally, cubosomes have been extensively explored for their safe and effective delivery of therapeutic and contrast agents in cancer treatment and imaging.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Dermatology
Karolline Krambeck, Delfim Santos, Jose M. Sousa Lobo, Maria Helena Amaral
Summary: The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is affected by environmental factors, intrinsic factors, and lifestyle, leading to skin ageing. UV light plays a significant role in skin ageing and requires the use of depigmenting agents. Polyphenols, such as resveratrol and piceatannol found in grapes and other fruits, have great relevance in preventing skin ageing.
AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carla Fernandes, Ricardo Ribeiro, Madalena Pinto, Anake Kijjoa
Summary: Cyclopeptides derived from marine sources are important due to their structural diversity and biological activities. The determination of their absolute configurations is challenging, but can be achieved through acidic hydrolysis and liquid chromatography (LC) analysis. Recent works have identified 91 previously unreported marine-derived cyclopeptides, with many displaying anticancer or antimicrobial activities. LC analysis using Marfey's method was the most frequently employed technique for absolute stereochemical assignment.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Camila Marques, Paulo C. C. Costa, Sergia Velho, Maria Helena Amaral
Summary: Nanotechnology has shown promise in delivering anticancer drugs using lipid-based nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have been functionalized with antibodies to improve selectivity for target cells and increase therapeutic efficacy. Despite successful preclinical results, the translation of this technology into clinical use has been limited. This review provides an update on the current state-of-the-art in antibody-functionalized lipid-based nanoparticle delivery for anticancer drugs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Bessa, Joana B. Loureiro, Matilde Barros, Vera M. S. Isca, Vilma A. Sardao, Paulo J. Oliveira, Raquel L. Bernardino, Carina Herman-de-Sousa, Maria Adelina Costa, Paulo Correia-de-Sa, Marco G. Alves, Patricia Rijo, Lucilia Saraiva
Summary: This study identified a compound called Roy-Bz, which activates PKC delta and inhibits both mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in colon cancer cells. These findings suggest a potential dual role of PKC delta in tumor cell metabolism and highlight the therapeutic potential of Roy-Bz in targeting glucose metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose X. Soares, Ines Afonso, Adaleta Omerbasic, Daniela R. P. Loureiro, Madalena M. M. Pinto, Carlos M. M. Afonso
Summary: The emergence of multiresistant bacteria and shortage of antibacterials drives the search for novel agents. Marine natural products, specifically polyketides, have shown promising antibacterial activity. This study identified a dataset of 246 marine polyketides and characterized their chemical space and molecular similarity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno Horta, Joana Freitas-Silva, Jani Silva, Francisca Dias, Ana Luisa Teixeira, Rui Medeiros, Honorina Cidade, Madalena Pinto, Fatima Cerqueira
Summary: Chalcones have been extensively studied as anticancer agents. Among them, chalcone 16 showed the highest inhibitory effect on tumor cell viability and was selected for further investigation. The results suggest that chalcone 16 may influence macrophage polarization to inhibit cancer.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariana C. Almeida, Nikoletta Szemeredi, Fernando Duraes, Solida Long, Diana I. S. P. Resende, Paulo Martins da Costa, Madalena Pinto, Gabriella Spengler, Emilia Sousa
Summary: Drug resistance is becoming a major global health threat, with overexpression of efflux pumps and formation of biofilms being common mechanisms. Therefore, it is crucial to develop antimicrobial agents that can counteract resistance. Pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones have recently been discovered to have relevant antimicrobial properties.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Joana Moreira, Patricia M. A. Silva, Matilde Barros, Lucilia Saraiva, Madalena Pinto, Hassan Bousbaa, Honorina Cidade
Summary: This article reports the design and synthesis of a new chalcone-trimethoxycinnamide hybrid (7) based on two promising antiproliferative compounds (CM-M345 and BP-M345). A new series of 7-analogues was also designed and synthesized to expand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) knowledge. The antitumor activity of these compounds was evaluated against melanoma, breast adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, and non-tumor cells. Compound 7 showed potent antiproliferative activity on colorectal tumor cells, and its mechanism of action was found to be p53-independent and involved inducing mitotic arrest and cell death.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ieva Dapkevicius, Vania Romualdo, Ana Camila Marques, Carla M. Lopes, Maria Helena Amaral
Summary: The skin microbiome is a crucial barrier that protects against pathogens and regulates immune responses. Disruption of this barrier can lead to various dermatoses, including acne vulgaris. Acne is a common condition that often affects individuals from puberty into adulthood, causing significant impact on self-esteem and quality of life. Probiotics have emerged as an alternative treatment and prevention option for dermatological disorders like acne, offering advantages over antibiotics. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms, conventional treatment recommendations, and innovative topical products based on probiotics for acne-prone skin, as well as the potential advantages and challenges associated with their implementation and manufacturing.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raquel Rodrigues, Joana C. Lobo, Diana M. Ferreira, Ewa Senderowicz, M. Antonia Nunes, M. Helena Amaral, Rita C. Alves, M. Beatriz P. P. Oliveira
Summary: There is a growing interest in cosmetic applications of agro-industrial byproducts, as they have been found to contain bioactive compounds beneficial for skincare. This study focused on characterizing and utilizing a semi-solid paste derived from olive pomace extraction. The analysis showed that this paste has high moisture and significant protein, fat, and ash contents. It was found that the paste could be incorporated into facial masks with antioxidant properties, and rheological analysis confirmed its suitability for skincare use. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the impact of this byproduct on the appearance and performance of facial mask formulations.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sonia N. Pedro, Ana T. P. C. Gomes, Carla Vilela, Carla Vitorino, Rosa Fernandes, Adelaide Almeida, Maria Helena Amaral, Mara G. Freire, Armando J. D. Silvestre, Carmen S. R. Freire
Summary: A new type of microemulsion based on deep eutectic solvent (DES) has been developed to improve the efficacy of antibiotics in ocular infections. By using betaine-based DES aqueous solutions, the water solubility of the antibiotic chloramphenicol can be increased up to 140-fold. These DES solutions are applied as water phases in stable water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) microemulsions, achieving sustained-release and higher permeation through the cornea. Compared to commercialized eye drops, these microemulsions show higher antimicrobial activity and faster action against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juliana Calheiros, Vincenzo Corbo, Lucilia Saraiva
Summary: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is associated with (epi)genetic and microenvironmental alterations, which negatively affect treatment outcomes. Targeting BRCA1/2 and TP53 deficiencies has been explored as promising therapeutic options. Mutations in p53 and dysfunctions in DNA repair-related genes, such as BRCA1/2, play a role in the aggressiveness and therapy resistance of PC. Therefore, personalized therapy targeting defective BRCAs and p53 pathways is crucial for overcoming PC resistance.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-REVIEWS ON CANCER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Joana Moreira, Joana B. Loureiro, Danilo Correia, Andreia Palmeira, Madalena M. Pinto, Lucilia Saraiva, Honorina Cidade
Summary: Chalcone CM-M345 and diarylpentanoid BP-C4 analogues were designed and synthesized. Compounds 16, 17, 19, 20, and 22-24 showed pronounced in vitro growth inhibitory activity in HCT116 cells. Compound 36 was identified with increased selectivity for HCT116 cells expressing wild-type p53, while compound 16 showed more pronounced antiproliferative activity and selectivity for HCT116 cells with p53. Compound 17 was shown to induce apoptosis and had low toxicity to non-tumor cells.
Review
Polymer Science
Ana Camila Marques, Paulo Cardoso Costa, Sergia Velho, Maria Helena Amaral
Summary: The widespread push to invest in local cancer therapies is motivated by the need to overcome the limitations of systemic treatment options. Local treatments using injectable biodegradable hydrogels offer advantages over other delivery systems, as they do not require surgical procedures and promote drug retention at the tumor site. This review specifically focuses on the use of injectable thermoresponsive hydrogels based on poloxamers and their physicochemical and biological characterization, as well as their applications in local cancer therapies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xueliang Xiu, Shichao Ma, Zhiyong Li, Zhipeng Li, Xuemei Li, Yangtao Ruan, Dezhao Li, Jianwei Wang, Fengsen Ma
Summary: Liposomes are promising delivery vehicles for drugs and vaccines. The use of microfluidic chips for liposome preparation is an effective method. However, traditional liposome preparation technologies hinder their industrial production and clinical application. This study presents a novel three-dimensional integrated microfluidic device for continuous liposome preparation and purification, which shows potential for industrial production of nano-pharmaceutical applications.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2024)