Search

Naseer F, Ahmad T, Kousar K, et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2023;18:185–205. We, the Editor and Publisher of the journal International Journal of Nanomedicine are retracting the published article. Following publication of the article, concerns were raised about the duplication of images from Figures 8, 10 and 13 with images from other unrelated articles. Specifically, The image for Figure 8A, blank NF temperatures, has been duplicated with the image for Figure 13C, SEM of lyophilized NF after 3 months storage. The image for Figure 8C, HA-coated OMV loaded TC, has been duplicated with the image for Figure 16C, lyophilized NFs after 3 months, from Kousar K, Naseer F, Abduh MS, Anjum S and Ahmad T. CD44 targeted delivery of oncolytic Newcastle disease virus encapsulated in thiolated chitosan for sustained release in cervical cancer: a targeted immunotherapy approach. Front. Immunol. 2023;14:1175535. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1175535. The image for Figure 8D, HA-coated OMV loaded TCs, has been duplicated with the image for Figure 6B, CsA-loaded ThC-HA NF, from Abduh MS. Anticancer Analysis of CD44 Targeted Cyclosporine Loaded Thiolated Chitosan Nanoformulations for Sustained Release in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Nanomedicine. 2023;18:5713-5732. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S424932. The image for Figure 9D, HA-coated OMV-loaded TCs, has been duplicated with the image for Figure 10B, HA-ThCs-Cis NFs, from Kousar K, Naseer F, Abduh MS, et al. Green synthesis of hyaluronic acid coated, thiolated chitosan nanoparticles for CD44 targeted delivery and sustained release of Cisplatin in cervical carcinoma. Front. Pharmacol. 2023;13:1073004. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1073004. The entire Figure 10 has been duplicated with Figure 6 from Naseer F, Kousar K, Abduh MS, et al. Evaluation of the anticancer potential of CD44 targeted vincristine nanoformulation in prostate cancer xenograft model: a multi-dynamic approach for advanced pharmacokinetic evaluation. Cancer Nano. 2023;14:65. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-023-00218-2. The images for Figure 10, Pure MV 12h, 90µg/ml and OMV-loaded TCs 24h, 50µg/ml have been duplicated. The image for Figure 10, OMV-loaded TCs 24h, 90µg/ml has been duplicated with the image for Figure 10, MCF-10A, Pure CsA, 90µg/ml from Abduh MS, 2023. The image for Figure 10, Pure MV 12h, 50µg/ml has been duplicated with the image for Figure 10, MCF-10A, CsA-NF, 60µg/ml from Abduh MS, 2023. The images for Figure 13C, lyophilized NF after 3 months storage, has been duplicated with the image for Figure 7A, SEM image of spherical HA-ThCs-Cis loaded nanoparticles, from Kousar K, et al (2023). The corresponding author responded to our queries but was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for how the images came to be duplicated and the editor no longer has confidence in the reported findings. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, the Publisher and Editor requested to retract the article and the corresponding author does not agree with this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Payal Deepak,1 Praveen Kumar,2,3 Prashant Pandey,1 Dilip Kumar Arya,1 Shweta Jaiswal,1 Anand Kumar,1 Archana Bharti Sonkar,1 Daoud Ali,4 Saud Alarifi,4 Mohankumar Ramar,5 P S Rajinikanth1 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 2Department of Pharmacy, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India; 3S.D College of Pharmacy and Vocational Studies, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India; 4Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 02903, USACorrespondence: P S Rajinikanth, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226025, India, Email psrajinikanth222@gmail.comBackground: Antitumor research aims to efficiently target hepatocarcinoma cells (HCC) for drug delivery. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are promising for active tumour targeting. Cell-penetrating peptides are feasible ligands for targeted cancer treatment.Methods: In this study, we optimized gefitinib-loaded NLCs (GF-NLC) for HCC treatment. The NLCs contained cholesterol, oleic acid, Pluronic F-68, and Phospholipon 90G. The NLC surface was functionalized to enhance targeting with the cRGDfK-pentapeptide, which binds to the αvβ 3 integrin receptor overexpressed on hepatocarcinoma cells.Results: GF-NLC formulation was thoroughly characterized for various parameters using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis. In-vitro and in-vivo studies on the HepG2 cell line showed cRGDfK@GF-NLC’s superiority over GF-NLC and free gefitinib. cRGDfK@GF-NLC exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity, growth inhibition, and cellular internalization. Biodistribution studies demonstrated enhanced tumour site accumulation without organ toxicity. The findings highlight cRGDfK@GF-NLC as a highly efficient carrier for targeted drug delivery, surpassing non-functionalized NLCs. These functionalized NLCs offer promising prospects for improving hepatocarcinoma therapy outcomes by specifically targeting HCC cells.Conclusion: Based on these findings, cRGDfK@GF-NLC holds immense potential as a highly efficient carrier for targeted drug delivery of anticancer agents, surpassing the capabilities of non-functionalized NLCs. This research opens up new avenues for effective treatment strategies in hepatocarcinoma. Keywords: nanostructured lipid carrier, αvβ 3 integrin receptor, cRGDfK-pentapeptide, hepatocellular carcinoma, tumour targeting

Faiza Naseer,1,2 Tahir Ahmad,1 Kousain Kousar,1 Salik Kakar,3 Rabia Gul,2 Sadia Anjum,4 Usman Shareef2 1Industrial Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan; 2Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer e Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 3Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan; 4Department of Biology, University of Hail, Hail, Saudia ArabiaCorrespondence: Faiza Naseer; Tahir Ahmad, Email faiza.naseer@ymail.com; tahir@asab.nust.edu.pkBackground: Oncolytic viruses are reported as dynamite against cancer treatment nowadays.Methodology: In the present work, a live attenuated oral measles vaccine (OMV) strain was used to formulate a polymeric surface-functionalized ligand-based nanoformulation (NF). OMV (half dose: not less than 500 TCID units; 0.25 mL) was encapsulated in thiolated chitosan and outermost coating with hyaluronic acid by ionic gelation method characterizing parameters was performed.Results and Discussion: CD44 high expression was confirmed in prostatic adenocarcinoma (PRAD) by GEPIA which extracted data of normal and cancer tissue from GTEx and TCGA. Bioinformatics tools confirmed the viral hemagglutinin capsid protein interaction with human Caspase-I, NLRP3, and TNF-α and viral fusion protein interaction with COX-II and Caspase-I after successful delivery of MV encapsulated in NFs due to high affinity of hyaluronic acid with CD44 on the surface of prostate cancer cells. Particle size = 275.6 mm, PDI = 0.372, and ± 11.5 zeta potential were shown by zeta analysis, while the thiolated group in NFs was confirmed by FTIR and Raman analysis. SEM and XRD showed a spherical smooth surface and crystalline nature, respectively, while TEM confirmed virus encapsulation within nanoparticles, which makes it very useful in targeted virus delivery systems. The virus was released from NFs in a sustained but continuous release pattern till 48 h. The encapsulated virus titer was calculated as 2.34× 107 TCID50/mL units, which showed syncytia formation on post-day infection 7. Multiplicities of infection 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 of HA-coated OMV-loaded NFs as compared to MV vaccine on PC3 was inoculated with IC50 of 5.1 and 3.52, respectively, and growth inhibition was seen after 72 h via MTT assay which showed apoptotic cancer cell death.Conclusion: Active targeted, efficacious, and sustained delivery of formulated oncolytic MV is a potent moiety in cancer treatment at lower doses with safe potential for normal prostate cells.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: green synthesis, controlled release, immunotherapeutic agent, in vitro studies, oncolytic activity, oncolytic measles virus, prostate cancer, targeted virus/drug delivery system, thiolated chitosan, tumour targeting, vaccine-based nanoformulation

Dongyu Duan,1,* Aiping Wang,1,* Ling Ni,2 Liping Zhang,1 Xiuju Yan,1 Ying Jiang,1 Hongjie Mu,1 Zimei Wu,1 Kaoxiang Sun,1 Youxin Li1,2 1School of Pharmacy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Long Acting and Targeting Drug Delivery System, Shandong Luye Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Yantai, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Introduction: Nanoparticles (NPs) modified with bio-ligands represent a promising strategy for active targeted drug delivery to tumour. However, many targeted ligands, such as trastuzumab (TMAB), have high molecular weight, limiting their application for targeting. In this study, we prepared Fab’ (antigen-binding fragments cut from TMAB)-modified NPs (Fab'-NPs) with curcumin (Cur) as a model drug for more effective targeting of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ErbB2/Neu), which is overexpressed on breast cancer cells. Material and methods: The release kinetics was conducted by dialysis bags. The ability to kill HER2-overexpressing BT-474 cells of Fab'-Cur-NPs compared with TMAB-Cur-NPs was conducted by cytotoxicity experiments. Qualitative and quantitative cell uptake studies using coumarin-6 (fluorescent probe)-loaded NPs were performed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution experiments in vivo were assessed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).Results: The release kinetics showed that both Fab'-Cur-NPs and TMAB-Cur-NPs provided continuous, slow release of curcumin for 72 h, with no significant difference. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments showed that Fab'-Cur-NPs manifested prominent ability to kill HER2-overexpressing BT-474 cells compared with TMAB-Cur-NPs. Qualitative and quantitative cell uptake studies indicated that the accumulation of Fab'-NPs was greater than that of TMAB-NPs in BT-474 (HER2+) cells; However, there was no significant difference in MDA-MB-231 (HER2-) cells. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution experiments in vivo demonstrated that the half-life (t1/2) and area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) of Fab'-Cur-NPs increased 5.30-fold and 1.76-fold relative to those of TMAB-Cur-NPs, respectively. Furthermore, the tumor accumulation of Fab'-Cur-NPs was higher than that of TMAB-Cur-NPs. Conclusion: Fab' fragment has greater capacity than the intact antibody to achieve tumor targeting through NP-based delivery. Keywords: trastuzumab-modified curcumin nanoparticles, Fab'-modified curcumin nanoparticles, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tumour targeting, breast cancer