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Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2 (ADO2) is a rare inherited bone disorder characterised by dense but brittle bones. It displays striking phenotypic variability, with the most severe symptoms, including blindness and bone marrow failure. Disease management largely relies on symptomatic treatment since there is no safe and effective treatment. Most ADO2 cases are caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the CLCN7 gene, which encodes an essential Cl−/H+ antiporter for proper bone resorption by osteoclasts. Thus, siRNA-mediated silencing of the mutant allele is a promising therapeutic approach, but targeting bone for first-in-human translation remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the utility of silicon-stabilised hybrid lipid nanoparticles (sshLNPs) as a next-generation nucleic acid nanocarrier capable of delivering allele-specific siRNA to bone. Using a Clcn7G213R knock-in mouse model recapitulating one of the most common human ADO2 mutations and based on the 129S genetic background (which produces the most severe disease phenotype amongst current models), we show substantial knockdown of the mutant allele in femur when siRNA targeting the pathogenic variant is delivered by sshLNPs. We observed lower areal bone mineral density in femur and reduced trabecular thickness in femur and tibia, when siRNA-loaded sshLNPs were administered subcutaneously (representing the most relevant administration route for clinical adoption and patient adherence). Importantly, sshLNPs have improved stability over conventional LNPs and enable 'post hoc loading' for point-of-care formulation. The treatment was well tolerated, suggesting that sshLNP-enabled gene therapy might allow successful clinical translation of essential new treatments for ADO2 and potentially other rare genetic bone diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change results in exceptional environmental conditions and drives the migration of pathogens to which local plants are not adapted. Biotic stress disrupts plants' metabolism, fitness, and performance, ultimately impacting their productivity. It is therefore necessary to develop strategies for improving plant resistance by promoting stress responsiveness and resilience in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The aim of this study was to investigate whether priming tobacco plants with a formulation containing silicon-stabilised hybrid lipid nanoparticles functionalised with quercetin (referred to as GS3 phyto-courier) can protect against biotic stress triggered by Agrobacterium tumefaciens leaf infiltration. Tobacco leaves were primed via infiltration or spraying with the GS3 phyto-courier, as well as with a buffer (B) and free quercetin (Q) solution serving as controls prior to the biotic stress. Leaves were then sampled four days after bacterial infiltration for gene expression analysis and microscopy. The investigated genes increased in expression after stress, both in leaves treated with the phyto-courier and control solutions. A trend towards lower values was observed in the presence of the GS3 phyto-courier for genes encoding chitinases and pathogenesis-related proteins. Agroinfiltrated leaves sprayed with GS3 confirmed the significant lower expression of the pathogenesis-related gene PR-1a and showed higher expression of peroxidase and serine threonine kinase. Microscopy revealed swelling of the chloroplasts in the parenchyma of stressed leaves treated with B; however, GS3 preserved the chloroplasts' mean area under stress. Furthermore, the UV spectrum of free Q solution and of quercetin freshly extracted from GS3 revealed a different spectral signature with higher values of maximum absorbance (Amax) of the flavonoid in the latter, suggesting that the silicon-stabilised hybrid lipid nanoparticles protect quercetin against oxidative degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for more effective methods to alleviate the negative effects of exogenous stresses in plants has inspired nanotechnologies. It is in this context that the use of formulations containing nanoporous silicon-stabilized hybrid lipid nanoparticles acting as delivery systems of the flavonoid quercetin was investigated here. These formulations, referred to as phyto-couriers, proved their efficacy in protecting the important crop model Solanum lycopersicum "Micro-Tom" against salinity. Two phyto-courier formulations, GS1 and GS3, functionalized with 25 mg of quercetin and differing in the presence of trehalose were applied to salt-stressed tomato by foliar spraying. The shape and ordered structure of the palisade cells was completely compromised under salinity; however, the phyto-couriers preserved their elongated shape under abiotic stress. From a molecular point of view, some stress-responsive genes tended to decrease in expression in stressed leaves treated with the phyto-couriers. Shotgun proteomics confirmed the nano-biostimulant nature of the formulations: several proteins involved in cytoprotection against oxidative stress were more abundant in control leaves treated with the phyto-couriers. Proteins involved in chromatin remodeling were also more abundant in control leaves treated with the trehalose-containing GS3 formulation, a finding indicating a priming effect. Overall, the formulations showed promising results to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in a crop model through the mitigation of stress symptoms. The results presented proof of the stress-relieving properties of the silicon-stabilized hybrid lipid nanoparticles and are a proof-of-concept for the use of the phyto-courier nanotechnology in horticultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administered by an oral route, Furosemide (FUR), a diuretic used in several edematous states and hypertension, presents bioavailability problems, reported as a consequence of an erratic gastrointestinal absorption due to various existing polymorphic forms and low and pH-dependent solubility. A mucoadhesive sublingual fast-dissolving FUR based film has been developed and evaluated in order to optimize the bioavailability of FUR by increasing solubility and guaranteeing a good dissolution reproducibility. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses confirmed that the film prepared using the solvent casting method entrapped FUR in the amorphous state. As a solid dispersion, FUR increases its solubility up to 28.36 mg/mL. Drug content, thickness, and weight uniformity of film were also evaluated. The measured Young's Modulus, yield strength, and relative elongation of break percentage (EB%) allowed for the classification of the drug-loaded film as an elastomer. Mucoadhesive strength tests showed that the force to detach film from mucosa grew exponentially with increasing contact time up to 7667 N/m². FUR was quickly discharged from the film following a trend well fitted with theWeibull kinetic model. When applied on sublingual mucosa, the new formulation produced a massive drug flux in the systemic compartment. Overall, the proposed sublingual film enhances drug solubility and absorption, allowing for the prediction of a rapid onset of action and reproducible bioavailability in its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Amino-N-[2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-phenyl-propionamide (DA-PHEN) has been previously synthesized to obtain a potential prodrug capable of release dopamine (DA) into CNS. However, DA-PHEN could actper seas a dopaminergic drug. In this study, the permeability transport (Pe), obtained by parallel artificial permeability assay (PAMPA), indicated a low passive transcellular transport (Pe = 0.32 ± 0.01 × 10−6 cm/s). Using the Caco-2 cell system, the Papp AP-BLin absorptive direction (3.36 ± 0.02 × 10−5 cm/s) was significantly higher than the Papp BL-APin secretive direction (1.75 ± 0.07 × 10−5 cm/s), suggesting a polarized transport. The efflux ratio (Papp AP-BL/Papp BL-AP = 0.52 ± 0.02) indicated a low affinity of DA-PHEN to efflux carriers. The forced swim test highlighted a reduction of immobility time in both pre-test and test sessions (p < 0.0001), with an exacerbation in the number of headshakes and divings in the pretest (p < 0.0001). Morris water maze strengthened the hypothesis that DA-PHEN induces adaptive responses to environmental challenges which are involved on cognitive functions (DA-PHEN versus CTR: escape latency;p < 0.001; distance swump < 0.001, time spent on target quadrantp < 0.001), without any change in locomotor activity for the administered dose. The molecular docking revealed the interaction of DA-PHEN with the identified D1 site mapping human brain receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context: Chemoprevention of potential malignant disorders or cancerous lesions that affect oral mucosae requires extended duration of treatment. Locoregional delivery of natural products could represent a promising strategy for this purpose. Objective: To investigate the aptitude of aloin to permeate through, or accumulate in, the buccal mucosa and to develop a new prolonged oro-mucosal drug delivery system. Materials and methods: Permeation/accumulation of aloin from Curacao Aloe (containing 50% barbaloin) was evaluatedex vivo, using porcine buccal mucosa as the most useful model to simulate human epithelium. Oro-mucosal matrix tablets were prepared by dispersing aloin (10% w/w) in Eudragit® RS 100 as, biocompatible, low permeable, pH-independent, and non-swelling polymer. The prepared tablets were evaluated for drug–polymer compatibility, weight variation, drug uniformity content, diameter, thickness, hardness, friability, swelling, mucoadhesive strength, and drug release. Results: Aloin has low tendency to cross buccal mucosa, permeation is marginal, and high drug amounts remain entrapped into the epithelium. Matrix tablets characteristics were in agreement with pharmacopoeial requirements. Drug release showed highly reproducible Higuchian profile. Delivery through matrix tablets promoted drug accumulation in the mucosal tissue. Discussion and conclusion: Following application of matrix tablets on porcine buccal mucosa, the amount of discharged drug recovered in the tissue should be sufficient to produce the desired effects, providing therapeutic drug levels directly at the site of action. Aloin-loaded tablets are valid candidates for prevention/treatment of potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer and could potentially lead to clinically relevant drug delivery system as coadjuvant of conventional chemotherapy/radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a form of abiotic stress that impacts growth and development in several economically relevant crops and is a top-ranking threat to agriculture, considering the average rise in the sea level caused by global warming. Tomato is moderately sensitive to salinity and shows adaptive mechanisms to this abiotic stressor. A case study on the dwarf tomato model Micro-Tom is here presented in which the response to salt stress (NaCl 200 mM) was investigated to shed light on the changes occurring at the expression level in genes involved in cell wall-related processes, phenylpropanoid pathway, stress response, volatiles' emission and secondary metabolites' production. In particular, the response was analyzed by sampling older/younger leaflets positioned at different stem heights (top and bottom of the stem) and locations along the rachis (terminal and lateral) with the goal of identifying the most responsive one(s). Tomato plants cv. Micro-Tom responded to increasing concentrations of NaCl (0-100-200-400 mM) by reducing the leaf biomass, stem diameter and height. Microscopy revealed stronger effects on leaves sampled at the bottom and the expression analysis identified clusters of genes expressed preferentially in older or younger leaflets. Stress-related genes displayed a stronger induction in lateral leaflets sampled at the bottom. In conclusion, in tomato cv. Micro-Tom subjected to salt stress, the bottom leaflets showed stronger stress signs and response, while top leaflets were less impacted by the abiotic stressor and had an increased expression of cell wall-related genes involved in expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]