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Alicja Hinz,1 Marta Szczęch,2 Krzysztof Szczepanowicz,2 Monika Bzowska1 1Department of Cell Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; 2Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, PolandCorrespondence: Monika BzowskaDepartment of Cell Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Biophysics and Biotechnology, 7 Gronostajowa Street, Kraków, 30-387, Poland, Tel/Fax +48 12 664 63 88, Email monika.bzowska@uj.edu.plKrzysztof SzczepanowiczJerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8 Street, Kraków, 30-239, Poland, Tel/Fax +48 12 639 51 21, Email krzysztof.szczepanowicz@ikifp.edu.plIntroduction: Biodistribution of nanocarriers with a structure consisting of core and shell is most often analyzed using methods based on labeling subsequent compartments of nanocarriers. This approach may have serious limitations due to the instability of such complex systems under in vivo conditions.Methods: The core-shell polyelectrolyte nanocarriers were intravenously administered to healthy BALB/c mice with breast cancer. Next, biodistribution profiles and elimination routes were determined post mortem based on fluorescence measurements performed for isolated blood, tissue homogenates, collected urine, and feces.Results: Despite the surface PEGylation with PLL-g-PEG, multilayer polyelectrolyte nanocarriers undergo rapid degradation after intravenous administration. This process releases the shell components but not free Rhodamine B. Elements of polyelectrolyte shells are removed by hepatobiliary and renal clearance.Conclusion: Multilayer polyelectrolyte nanocarriers are prone to rapid degradation after intravenous administration. Fluorophore localization determines the obtained results of biodistribution and elimination routes of core-shell nanomaterials. Therefore, precise and reliable analysis of in vivo stability and biodistribution of nanomaterials composed of several compartments requires nanomaterials labeled within each compartment.Keywords: in vivo studies, fluorescently labeled nanomaterials, stealth polymers, pharmacokinetics, routes of elimination, nanocarriers stability and degradation

Research for innovative drugs is crucial to contribute to parasitic infections control and eradication. Inspired by natural antiprotozoal triterpenes, a library of 12 hemisynthetic 3‐O‐arylalkyl esters was derived from ursolic and oleanolic acids through one‐step synthesis. Compounds were tested on Trypanosoma, Leishmania and the WI38 cell line alongside with a set of triterpenic acids. Results showed that the triterpenic C3 esterification keeps the antitrypanosomal activity (IC50≈1.6–5.5 μm) while reducing the cytotoxicity compared to parent acids. Unsaturation of the ester alkyl chain leads to an activity loss interestingly kept when a sterically hindered group replaces the double bond or shields the ester group. An ursane/oleanane C3 hydroxylation was the only important feature for antileishmanial activity. Two candidates, dihydrocinnamoyl and 2‐fluorophenylpropionyl ursolic acids, were tested on an acute mouse model of African trypanosomiasis with significant parasitemia reduction at day 5 post‐infection for the dihydrocinnamoyl derivative. Further evaluation on other alkyl/protective groups should be investigated both in vitro and in vivo., A library of 12 C3 triterpenic esters was readily synthesized and tested for antiparasitic activity and cytotoxicity evaluation. C3 esterification kept the activity while lowering the cytotoxicity. The most potent antitrypanosomal activity, coupled with great selectivity, was shown by 2‐fluoro phenylpropionate, phenylpropionate and α‐methyl phenylpropionate esters of ursolic acids. The phenylpropionate derivative showed significant in vivo parasitemia reduction at day 5 post‐infection.

The management of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders is challenging, due to the need of drugs to cross the blood‒brain barrier (BBB) and reach the brain. Among the various strategies that have been studied to circumvent this challenge, the use of the intranasal route to transport drugs from the nose directly to the brain has been showing promising results. In addition, the encapsulation of the drugs in lipid-based nanocarriers, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) or nanoemulsions (NEs), can improve nose-to-brain transport by increasing the bioavailability and site-specific delivery. This review provides the state-of-the-art of in vivo studies with lipid-based nanocarriers (SLNs, NLCs and NEs) for nose-to-brain delivery. Based on the literature available from the past two years, we present an insight into the different mechanisms that drugs can follow to reach the brain after intranasal administration. The results of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies are reported and a critical analysis of the differences between the anatomy of the nasal cavity of the different animal species used in in vivo studies is carried out. Although the exact mechanism of drug transport from the nose to the brain is not fully understood and its effectiveness in humans is unclear, it appears that the intranasal route together with the use of NLCs, SLNs or NEs is advantageous for targeting drugs to the brain. These systems have been shown to be more effective for nose-to-brain delivery than other routes or formulations with non-encapsulated drugs, so they are expected to be approved by regulatory authorities in the coming years.

The present study challenges the in vivo assessment of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) technology on the bioactive activity (antioxidant/antiaging and antimicrobial potential) of Spirulina powder, using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model. Surface microdischarge cold atmospheric pressure plasma (SMD-CAPP) treatment was 3.3 W discharge power for 7 min. C. elegans lifespan and egg laying were used as indicators of antioxidant/antiaging potential of Spirulina (1 mg/mL), when grown with Spirulina CP-treated [E_SCP] and untreated [E_S], compared with a control [E_0] (non-supplemented with Spirulina). According to our results, under both Spirulina supplemented media [E_SCP and E_S] and for the first 17 days, nematodes experienced an increase in lifespan but without significant differences (p > 0.05) between control and Spirulina CP-treated. Regarding the in vivo assay of the antimicrobial potential of Spirulina against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (infected worms), no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the three exposure scenarios (control [S_0]; Spirulina supplemented media [S_S]; CP-treated Spirulina supplemented media [S_SCP]). According to present results, CAPP-treatment do not influence negatively the lifespan of C. elegans but a reduction in the Spirulina antiaging potential was found. No in vivo modifications in antimicrobial activity seem to be linked to CAPP-processed Spirulina., This work was supported by funds provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER funds (AGL017-86840-C2-2-R and PID2020-116318RB-C31). The European Commission funded this research in the frame of the Marie Curie Skł odowska Action (H2020 MCSA-IF EU 748314)

Orientador: Eliana Maria Zanotti Magalhães Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resumo: A busca de novos tratamentos para a esquistossomose é relevante devido a constatação de linhagens do Schistosoma mansoni com perda de sensibilidade aos fármacos atuais. A interferência por RNA (RNAi) é uma técnica que pode ser usada no silenciamento de um gene especifico, através de um RNA dupla fita (dsRNA). Essa ferramenta se mostra eficaz em aplicações terapêuticas em vírus, príons e patógenos intracelulares. Estudos mostram que a técnica do RNAi é bastante eficiente no verme Caenorhabditis elegans. Até o momento poucos trabalhos analisaram a técnica de RNAi no combate a esquistossomose. Este trabalho teve como objetivo aplicar a técnica da interferência por RNA em S. mansoni e avaliar sua eficiência em testes in vitro e in vivo, tendo como alvo o gene fucosiltransferase, enzima envolvida no processo de fucosilação de lipídios e proteínas essenciais ao parasita e o gene glicosilfosfatidilinositol, que atua como ancora de superfície, na qual se ligam antígenos protéicos e glicoprotéicos. A supressão gênica foi estudada em testes in vitro e in vivo, com observações da atuação na biologia, morfologia e mortalidade dos vermes. Como resultados nos testes in vitro, obtiveram-se alterações tegumentares nos adultos, extravasamento do conteúdo interno de fêmeas e alterações na oviposição, apresentando os grupos tratados maior quantidade de ovos mortos e malformados quando comparados com os grupos controles. Nos experimentos in vivo verificou-se diminuição no numero de vermes recuperados, mortalidade de vermes em alguns grupos tratados, e alteração na oviposição, quando examinados pelas técnicas de Kato e oograma. Análise histológica do fígado mostrou diferenças no número, na área e na conformação dos granulomas dos grupos tratados quando comparados com os grupos controles. A mortalidade de ovos eliminados nas fezes de camundongos após dois dias de tratamento também se mostrou significativamente maior nos grupos tratados com moléculas para silenciamento. Esses resultados sugerem o potencial uso da técnica de RNAi no estudo da esquistossomose Abstract: The search for new schistosomiasis treatments is relevant due to the observation of resistant Schistosoma mansoni strains for current drugs. The interference by RNA (RNAi) is a technique which can be used for silencing a specific gene using a double strain RNA (dsRNA). This methodology presents efficacy in therapeutic use in virus, prions, and intracellular pathogens. Studies demonstrate that RNAi technique is very efficient in Caenorhabditis elegans worm. Up to the moment, a few studies have analyzed the RNAi technique against schistosomiasis. Thus, the aims of this study were apply the interference by RNA in S. mansoni and evaluate its efficiency in in vitro and in vivo tests, having the fucosyltransferase gene, an enzyme involved in parasite essential lipids and proteins fucosilation process, and the glicosylfosfatidilinositol gene, which acts as anchor-surface where proteic and glicoproteic antigens are bonded, as targets. The genic suppression was studied in in vitro and in vivo tests, with observation of its action in the biology, morphology, and mortality of the worms. The results for in vitro testswere integumentary alteration in adults, internal content extravasation in females, and oviposition alteration, with higher amount of dead eggs and not well formed eggs in the treated groups in comparison with the control groups. The in vivo tests presented a decrease in the number of recovered worms, worm mortality in some groups, and oviposition alteration when analyzed under the Kato and oogram techniques. Histological analysis of the liver presented differences in the number, area, and conformation of the granulomas of the treated groups in comparison with the control groups. The mortality of the eggs eliminated on the mice feces after two days of treatment were also significantly higher in the groups treated with the silencing molecules. These results suggest the potential use of the RNAi technique in the schistosomiasis treatment Doutorado Relações Antrópicas, Meio Ambiente e Parasitologia Doutora em Biologia Animal

Edible flowers consumption has increased in recent years due to their rich content of healthy phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to analyse the chemical profile of Cucurbita pepo L. flowers, and to explore their antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. Moreover, in order to assess in vivo effects, biochemical analysis, Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (d-ROMs) and Biological Antioxidant Potential (BAP) tests were performed on mice serum. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) analyses revealed the presence of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, rutin, and syringic acid as main constituents. 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) tests showed interesting results. The extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 of 144.77 μg/mL). In vivo results confirmed the hypoglycaemic effects, also affecting lipid metabolism but did not revealed benefits on ROS production. These results may add some information supporting the use of C. pepo flowers as functional foods and/or nutraceuticals.

Background: Euphorbia huachahana (Klotzch & Garcke) Boissier (Huachangana) (EhKGBh) has been used for over a century for medicinal purposes in the Peruvian population; however, its safety and possible toxic effects of use have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute hepatic and renal toxicity of EhKGBh in Holtzman rats. Methods: Analytical and experimental study. The population consisted of 52 rats of both sexes weighing between 300 and 350 g divided into four groups: G1 and G2 EhKGBh groups (26 rats each) and two control groups (10 rats each). The experimental group was administered EhKGBh at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg P.O. to demonstrate toxicity during the 14-day follow-up. A daily assessment of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and conjugated bilirubin (CBIL) was performed. Results: Evaluation of the liver tissue showed mild changes in inflammation, predominantly vascular, with small clots. Kidney tissue did not show inflammatory or necrotic changes. However, we showed differences in the weight of the rats between both groups (p < 0.004) and significant increases in TBIL (0.98–1.07 mg/dL), CBIL (0.43–0.45 mg/dL), AST (126.4–141.8 U/L), and ALP (254–298 U/L) but not ALT (39.7–41.1 U/L) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The single dose of EhKGBh extract at 2000 mg/kg has no toxicity, and there is no change in tissue toxicity during the 14-day follow-up.

Orientador: José Angelo Camilli Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia Resumo: Alguns estudos mostram que a introdução do óxido de nióbio (Nb2O5) na composição do Bioglass® poderia ser uma solução para melhorar sua resistência mecânica, mantendo sua biocompatibilidade e bioatividade, porém, apesar da melhora na resistência mecânica causada pela adição deste óxido ser bem documentada na literatura, suas propriedades bioativas ainda são pouco conhecidas. Neste contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar experimentalmente as propriedades bioativas do óxido de nióbio em ratos albinos (Rattus norvegius) da linhagem Wistar. Para isso, bastões vítreos compostos por diferentes concentrações do Nb2O5 foram implantados na tíbia de ratos. Além disso, cada vidro teste, na forma de pó, foi implantado no músculo de ratos para análise de suas propriedades pró-angiogênicas, usando o Bioglass 45S5 (Bioglass®) como controle. As eutanásias foram realizadas 14 e 28 dias pós-cirurgias. Lâminas histológicas de cortes transversais das tíbias foram coradas a H&E para mensuração da área de osso subperiostal existente na cortical adjacente ao implante e a quantidade de osso esponjoso formado ao redor do bastão vítreo nos grupos de 14 dias, bem como da espessura da lâmina óssea formada ao redor do bastão nos grupos de 28 dias. Foi ainda realizada marcação imuno-histoquímica e a razão entre a área total do implante em mm2 e o número total de vasos sanguíneos contados manualmente num aumento de 400x para verificação a capacidade do material de estimular a angiogênese. A avaliação histológica revelou a ausência total de inflamação tanto após 14 quanto após 28 dias de implante. Os resultados das comparações entre as áreas de osso subperiostal dos grupos após 14 e 28 dias (feitas através de um teste ANOVA com post hoc tukey) e da quantidade de osso esponjoso formado ao redor do implante nos grupos 14 dias (feitas através do teste Kruskal-Wallis com Mann-Whitney como post hoc) mostraram que o BGPN1.3 apresentou maior capacidade de induzir a formação óssea do que o grupo controle, já com relação ao número de vasos sanguíneos e espessura da lâmina óssea formada ao redor do implante todos os grupos apresentaram resultado semelhantes. Assim, se concluiu que o BGPN1.3 trata-se de um material inovador por ser biocompatível, apresentar propriedade osteoindutiva superior e capacidade pró-angiogênica semelhante ao Bioglass® Abstract: Some studies show that the introduction of niobium oxide (Nb2O5) into Bioglass® composition could be a solution to improve its mechanical strength while maintaining its biocompatibility and bioactivity, but in spite of improvement in resistance caused by addition of the oxide is well documented in the literature, their bioactive properties are still poorly known. In this context, the aim of this study was to experimentally evaluate the bioactive properties of niobium oxide in albino rats (Rattus norvegius). For this, glassy rods composed of different concentrations of Nb2O5 were implanted in the rats¿ tibia. In addition, each test glass in powder form was implanted into the muscle of mouse for analysis of their pro-angiogenic properties using 45S5 Bioglass (Bioglass®) as control. Euthanasia were performed 14 and 28 days post-surgery. Histological slides of cross sections of tibiae were H & E stained for measuring the area of existing subperiosteal bone in adjacent to the implant and the amount of cancellous bone formed around the vitreous rod after 14 days pos-surgery as well as the thickness of the formed bone sheet around the rod in groups of 28 days. It was also performed immunohistochemical staining to calculate the ratio between the total area in mm2 of the implant and the total number of blood vessels, counted manually using a magnification of 400x, to check the capacity of the material to stimulate angiogenesis. Histological evaluation revealed the complete absence of inflammation after both 14 and after 28 days of implantation. The results of the comparisons between the areas of subperiosteal bone of groups after 14 and 28 days (made by an ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test) and the amount of cancellous bone formation around the implant in the groups 14 days (done by Kruskal -Wallis with Mann-Whitney post hoc) revealed that BGPN1.3 showed greater ability to induce bone formation than the control group, when compared the number of blood vessels and thickness of the blade bone formed around the implant all groups showed similar results. Thus, we concluded that BGPN1.3 is an innovative material to be biocompatible and display better osteoinductive property than Bioglass® showing similar pro-angiogenic capacity Mestrado Anatomia Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Co-amorphous drug delivery systems (CAMS) are characterized by the combination of two or more (initially crystalline) low molecular weight components that form a homogeneous single-phase amorphous system. Over the past decades, CAMS have been widely investigated as a promising approach to address the challenge of low water solubility of many active pharmaceutical ingredients. Most of the studies on CAMS were performed on a case-by-case basis, and only a few systematic studies are available. A quantitative analysis of the literature on CAMS under certain aspects highlights not only which aspects have been of great interest, but also which future developments are necessary to expand this research field. This review provides a comprehensive updated overview on the current published work on CAMS using a quantitative approach, focusing on three critical quality attributes of CAMS, i.e., co-formability, physical stability, and dissolution performance. Specifically, co-formability, molar ratio of drug and co-former, preparation methods, physical stability, and in vitro and in vivo performance were covered. For each aspect, a quantitative assessment on the current status was performed, allowing both recent advances and remaining research gaps to be identified. Furthermore, novel research aspects such as the design of ternary CAMS are discussed.

Several human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are distinguished by the ability to generate epidemics or pandemics, with their corresponding diseases characterized by severe respiratory illness, such as that which occurs in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS‐CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS‐CoV), and, today, in SARS‐CoV‐2, an outbreak that has struck explosively and uncontrollably beginning in December 2019 and has claimed the lives of more than 1.9 M people worldwide as of January 2021. The development of vaccines has taken one year, which is why it is necessary to investigate whether some already‐existing alternatives that have been successfully developed in recent years can mitigate the pandemic's advance. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have proved effective in antiviral action. Thus, in this review, several in vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of AgNPs on viruses that cause respiratory diseases are analyzed and discussed to promote an understanding of the possible interaction of AgNPs with SARS‐CoV‐2. The study focuses on several in vivo toxicological studies of AgNPs and a dose extrapolation to humans to determine the chief avenue of exposure. It can be concluded that the use of AgNPs as a possible treatment for SARS‐CoV‐2 could be viable, based on comparing the virus' behavior to that of similar viruses in in vivo studies, and that the suggested route of administration in terms of least degree of adverse effects is inhalation. This article is categorized under:Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in BiologyTherapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Respiratory DiseaseToxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials, Bats are natural carriers of the new SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus, which can be transmitted to humans through certain intermediate hosts. AgNPs allow the internalization of the virus in the cells to be avoided by inhibiting the interaction between the spike (S) glycoprotein and its specific receptor. This study summarizes in vitro and in vivo studies in which AgNPs were used to counteract different viruses that cause respiratory diseases. In addition, the possible routes of AgNPs exposure and dose extrapolation to humans as a possible treatment for SARS‐CoV‐2 are analyzed.

Introduction. Several studies have shown that different biomaterials and hydrogels comprising various bile acids such as chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), as well as excipients such as poly-(styrene)-sulphonate (PSS) and poly-(allyl)-amine (PAA), exhibited positive biological effects on encapsulated viable pancreatic β-cells. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether incorporating CDCA with PSS and PAA will optimise the functions of encapsulated pancreatic islets post-transplantation in Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods. Mice were made T1D, divided into two equal groups, and transplanted with encapsulated islets in PSS-PAA (control) or with CDCA-PSS-PAA (treatment) microcapsules. The effects of transplanted microcapsules on blood glucose, inflammation and the bile acid profile were measured post-transplantation. Results and Conclusion. Compared with control, the treatment group showed better survival rate, improved glycaemic control, and lower inflammatory profile, illustrated by ↓ interleukin 1-β, interleukin-6, interleukin-12, and tumour-necrosis factor-α, and ↓ levels of the bile acid, as well as lithocholic acid in the plasma, liver, large intestine and faeces. The results suggest that CDCA incorporation with PSS-PAA microcapsules exerted beneficial effects on encapsulated islets and resulted in enhanced diabetes treatment, post-transplantation, at the local and systemic levels.

In the era of green economy, trehalase inhibitors represent a valuable chance to develop non-toxic pesticides, being hydrophilic compounds that do not persist in the environment. The lesson on this topic that we learned from the past can be of great help in the research on new specific green pesticides. This review aims to describe the efforts made in the last 50 years in the evaluation of natural compounds and their analogues as trehalase inhibitors, in view of their potential use as insecticides and fungicides. Specifically, we analyzed trehalase inhibitors based on sugars and sugar mimics, focusing on those showing good inhibition properties towards insect trehalases. Despite their attractiveness as a target, up to now there are no trehalase inhibitors that have been developed as commercial insecticides. Although natural complex pseudo di- and trisaccharides were firstly studied to this aim, iminosugars look to be more promising, showing an excellent specificity profile towards insect trehalases. The results reported here represent an overview and a discussion of the best candidates which may lead to the development of an effective insecticide in the future.

Grape extract-loaded fibre-enriched vesicles, nutriosomes, were prepared by combining antioxidant extracts obtained from grape pomaces and a prebiotic, soluble fibre (Nutriose®FM06). The nutriosomes were small in size (from ∼140 to 260 nm), homogeneous (polydispersity index, This research was carried out with the financial support of the European Union under the ENI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme, Reference number A_A.2.1_0035. This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project SAF2015-65878-R), Carlos III Institute of Health (project PIE14/00045), Generalitat Valenciana (project Prometeo/2018/A/133), Asociación Española contra el Cancer (project AECC 2017-1485), and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). ISGlobal and IBEC are members of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya. We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program (CEX2018-000806-S). This research is part of ISGlobal's Program on the Molecular Mechanisms of Malaria which is partially supported by the Fundación Ramón Areces.

BackgroundAir pollution is killing close to 5 million people a year, and harming billions more. Air pollution levels remain extremely high in many parts of the world, and air pollution-associated premature deaths have been reported for urbanized areas, particularly linked to the presence of airborne nano-sized and ultrafine particles.Main textTo date, most of the research studies did focus on the adverse effects of air pollution on the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Although the skin is in direct contact with air pollutants, their damaging effects on the skin are still under investigation. Epidemiological data suggested a correlation between exposure to air pollutants and aggravation of symptoms of chronic immunological skin diseases. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand the current knowledge on the effects of airborne particulate matter on human skin. It aims at providing a deeper understanding of the interactions between air pollutants and skin to further assess their potential risks for human health.ConclusionParticulate matter was shown to induce a skin barrier dysfunction and provoke the formation of reactive oxygen species through direct and indirect mechanisms, leading to oxidative stress and induced activation of the inflammatory cascade in human skin. Moreover, a positive correlation was reported between extrinsic aging and atopic eczema relative risk with increasing particulate matter exposure.

Grape extract-loaded fibre-enriched vesicles, nutriosomes, were prepared by combining antioxidant extracts obtained from grape pomaces and a prebiotic, soluble fibre (Nutriose (R) FM06). The nutriosomes were small in size (from similar to 140 to 260 nm), homogeneous (polydispersity index < 0.2) and highly negative (similar to -79 mV). The vesicles were highly stable during 12 months of storage at 25 degrees C. When diluted with warmed (37 degrees C) acidic medium (pH 1.2) of high ionic strength, the vesicles only displayed an increase of the mean diameter and a low release of the extract, which were dependent on Nutriose concentration. The formulations were highly bio-compatible and able to protect intestinal cells (Caco-2) from oxidative stress damage. In vivo results underlined that the composition of mouse microbiota was not affected by the vesicular formulations. Overall results support the potential application of grape nutriosomes as an alternative strategy for the protection of the intestinal tract.

Clinical guidance is often sought when prescribing drugs for patients with primary mitochondrial disease. Theoretical considerations concerning drug safety in patients with mitochondrial disease may lead to unnecessary withholding of a drug in a situation of clinical need. The aim of this study was to develop consensus on safe medication use in patients with a primary mitochondrial disease. A panel of 16 experts in mitochondrial medicine, pharmacology, and basic science from six different countries was established. A modified Delphi technique was used to allow the panellists to consider draft recommendations anonymously in two Delphi rounds with predetermined levels of agreement. This process was supported by a review of the available literature and a consensus conference that included the panellists and representatives of patient advocacy groups. A high level of consensus was reached regarding the safety of all 46 reviewed drugs, with the knowledge that the risk of adverse events is influenced both by individual patient risk factors and choice of drug or drug class. This paper details the consensus guidelines of an expert panel and provides an important update of previously established guidelines in safe medication use in patients with primary mitochondrial disease. Specific drugs, drug groups, and clinical or genetic conditions are described separately as they require special attention. It is important to emphasise that consensus-based information is useful to provide guidance, but that decisions related to drug prescribing should always be tailored to the specific needs and risks of each individual patient. We aim to present what is current knowledge and plan to update this regularly both to include new drugs and to review those currently included.

The regeneration of cardiac tissue is a multidisciplinary research field aiming to improve the health condition of the post-heart attack patient. Indeed, myocardial tissue has a poor ability to self-regenerate after severe damage. The scientific efforts focused on the research of a biomaterial able to adapt to heart tissue, thus guaranteeing the in situ release of active substances or growth promoters. Many types of hydrogels were proposed for this purpose, showing several limitations. The aim of this study was to suggest a new usage for glyceryl monooleate-based lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) as a biocompatible and inert material for a myocardial application. The main advantages of LLCs are mainly related to their easy in situ injection as lamellar phase and their instant in situ transition in the cubic phase. In vivo studies proved the biocompatibility and the inertia of LLCs after their application on the myocardial tissue of mice. In detail, the cardiac activity was monitored through 28 days, and no significant alterations were recorded in the heart anatomy and functionality. Moreover, gross anatomy showed the ability of LLCs to be bio-degraded in a suitable time frame. Overall, these results permitted us to suppose a potential use of LLCs as materials for cardiac drug delivery.

Introduction: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Treatment is limited to supportive care and no curative therapy exists. Experimental research to understand the complex pathophysiology and potential mediators of spinal cord regeneration is essential to develop innovative translational therapies. A multitude of experimental imaging methods to monitor spinal cord regeneration in vivo have developed over the last years. However, little literature exists to deal with advanced imaging methods specifically available in SCI research. Research Question: This systematic literature review examines the current standards in experimental imaging in SCI allowing for in vivo imaging of spinal cord regeneration on a neuronal, vascular, and cellular basis. Material and Methods: Articles were included meeting the following criteria: experimental research, original studies, rodent subjects, and intravital imaging. Reviewed in detail are microstructural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Micro-Computed Tomography, Laser Speckle Imaging, Very High Resolution Ultrasound, and in vivo microscopy techniques. Results: Following the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, 689 articles were identified for review, of which 492 were sorted out after screening and an additional 104 after detailed review. For qualitative synthesis 93 articles were included in this publication. Discussion and Conclusion: With this study we give an up-to-date overview about modern experimental imaging techniques with the potential to advance the knowledge on spinal cord regeneration following SCI. A thorough knowledge of the strengths and limitations of the reviewed techniques will help to optimally exploit our current experimental armamentarium in the field.

Galectins are members of the animal lectin family that bind to the β-galactoside-containing carbohydrate moieties of glycoconjugates. They seem to have an important role in the pathophysiology of several diseases, including arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic conditions with few or no available therapies. In this context, galectins could provide a novel opportunity, but the precise role and mechanism of their involvement in arthritis are still not fully understood. This descriptive systematic literature review summarizes in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies that analyzed and examined the role and mechanism of action of galectins in arthritis to highlight and clarify their possible translation implication. This review yielded promising evidence that individual galectins, in particular galectin-1, -3, and -9, could play positive or negative roles in the pathogenesis of arthritis, especially in RA and OA. It also emphasized the cell-dependent role of these galectins. This is particularly true for galectin-1, which was shown to have a protective anti-inflammatory role in RA, while it seemed to be associated with cartilage degeneration in OA. In summary, this review underlined that manipulation of certain galectins can suppress or aggravate disease symptoms in arthritis animal models, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of galectins for the treatment of RA and OA. Nevertheless, despite the fact that galectin therapy and therapies acting on galectin expression seem to be an interesting and important opportunity for research, we highlighted that further investigation is necessary to carefully evaluate their potential clinical implications in arthritis.

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania spp; it presents different clinical manifestations, of which cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form, and it is endemic in more than 70 countries worldwide. Only four drugs are registered for the treatment of the disease, all associated with high toxicity. Recently, the in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activity of a mixture of the benzoic acid 2-(2,3-dihydro-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ylidene) hydrazide (TC2) and the compounds present in the plant extract Sapindus saponaria L (SS) were reported. In the present study were prepared soft capsules of chitosan incorporating TC2 and SS in 1:1 (CQ) ratio showed low cytotoxicity in U937 macrophages but moderate cytotoxicity in Detroit 551 fibroblast and had high antileishmanial activity against intracellular L. braziliensis amastigotes. The kinetics of TC2 release from CQ was fitted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Finally, CQ was effective in treating experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis induced in the hamster model. In conclusion, the CQ are biocompatible and can help treat cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Quercetin is a major constituent of various dietary products, which is increasingly being investigated as a therapeutic option in the oncological field. It has attracted extensive interest due to its ability of interacting with different molecular targets and evoking a broad spectrum of chemopreventive and anticancer activities. In this review, we have tried to present and critically discuss its potential against an extensive range of cancers including lung, ovarian, prostate, breast, colorectal, bladder cancers. We also highlighted studies that combined quercetin with standard anticancer drugs and delivered it via novel techniques and included a detailed description of its proposed mechanism(s) of action, and pharmacokinetic and safety profile.

Resveratrol (RES) has a low bioavailability. This limitation was addressed in an earlier review and several recommendations were offered. A literature search was conducted in order to determine the extent of the research that was conducted in line with these recommendations, along with new developments in this field. Most of the identified studies were pre-clinical and confirmed the heightened activity of RES analogues compared to their parent compound. Although this has provided additional scientific kudos for these compounds and has strengthened their potential to be developed into phytopharmaceutical products, clinical trials designed to confirm this increased activity remain lacking and are warranted.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease and the most common form of dementia. There are no treatments to cure, prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. Natural products hold considerable interest for the development of preventive neuroprotectants to treat neurodegenerative disorders like AD, due to their low toxicity and general beneficial effects on human health with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant features. In this work we describe regioselective synthesis of 7-O-ester hybrids of the flavonoid taxifolin with the phenolic acids cinnamic and ferulic acid, namely 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin and 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin. The compounds show pronounced overadditive neuroprotective effects against oxytosis, ferroptosis and ATP depletion in the murine hippocampal neuron HT22 cell model. Furthermore, 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin and 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin reduced LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglia cells as assessed by effects on the levels of NO, IL6 and TNFα. In all in vitro assays the 7-O-esters of taxifolin and ferulic or cinnamic acid showed strong overadditive activity, significantly exceeding the effects of the individual components and the equimolar mixtures thereof, which were almost inactive in all of the assays at the tested concentrations. In vivo studies confirmed this overadditive effect. Treatment of an AD mouse model based on the injection of oligomerized Aβ25-35 peptide into the brain to cause neurotoxicity and subsequently memory deficits with 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin or 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin resulted in improved performance in an assay for short-term memory as compared to vehicle and mice treated with the respective equimolar mixtures. These results highlight the benefits of natural product hybrids as a novel compound class with potential use for drug discovery in neurodegenerative diseases due to their pharmacological profile that is distinct from the individual natural components., Graphical abstract Image 1

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is defined as a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes damage to limb joints and progressive injuries to secondary organs. Medical practitioners prescribe Methotrexate (MTX) as standard care medicine for treating RA. However, the long-term application of MTX has shown to have adverse health-related effects. Divya Amvatari Ras (DAR), an Indian Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, has been described in ancient texts to provide relief from RA inflammation associated distress. Therefore, in the present study, we explored the biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic efficacy of DAR using in vivo and in vitro disease models. Using carrageenan (CA)-stimulated Wistar rat paw edema model, we showed a reduction in inflammation-induced paw edema at human equivalent dose of DAR. Anti-rheumatic efficacy of DAR was studied using collagen-antibody cocktail (C-Ab) Induced Arthritis (CAIA) mouse model. The onset of RA in the CAIA mice was determined using parameters such as the increase in arthritis score, and induction of disease associated lesions in the ankle and knee joints, and increase in mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Treatment of CAIA animals with a human equivalent dose of DAR significantly reversed the RA-associated pathogenesis. These effects were comparable with the standard of care RA drug, MTX. DAR acted at multiple levels of inflammation associated with RA to reduce progressive pathogenesis. Animal serum biochemistry showed DAR was capable of ameliorating RA induced increase in liver enzyme Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6). In the lipopolysaccharide stimulated THP-1 cells, DAR was found to inhibit the release of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and upstream inflammatory gene regulatory protein, NFκB. The study endorsed the anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity of the Indian Traditional herbo-mineral medicine, DAR. These results also confirm that DAR was highly biocompatible and would show minimal health-related side effects than those associated with standard of care MTX. Taken together, we show that the DAR could be utilized as a promising alternative or complementary therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) possess a great potential as therapeutic agents due to their ability to self-regenerate by reversibly switching between two valences +3 and +4. This article reviews recent articles dealing with in vivo studies of CNPs towards Alzheimer's disease, obesity, liver inflammation, cancer, sepsis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, acute kidney injury, radiation-induced tissue damage, hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury, retinal diseases and constipation. In vivo anti-cancer studies revealed the effectiveness of CNPs to reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis in melanoma, ovarian, breast and retinoblastoma cancer cell-induced mice, with their conjugation with folic acid, doxorubicin, CPM, or CXC receptor-4 antagonist ligand eliciting higher efficiency. After conjugation with triphenylphosphonium or magnetite nanoparticles, CNPs were shown to combat Alzheimer's disease by reducing amyloid-β, glial fibrillary acidic protein, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in mice. By improving muscle function and longevity, the citrate/EDTA-stabilized CNPs could ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also, they could effectively reduce obesity in mice by scavenging ROS and reducing adipogenesis, triglyceride synthesis, GAPDH enzyme activity, leptin and insulin levels. In CCl4-induced rats, stress signaling pathways due to inflammatory cytokines, liver enzymes, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum messengers could be attenuated by CNPs. Commercial CNPs showed protective effects on rats with hepatic ischemia reperfusion and peritonitis-induced hepatic/cardiac injuries by decreasing oxidative stress and hepatic/cardiac inflammation. The same CNPs could improve kidney function by diminishing renal superoxide, hyperglycemia and tubular damage in peritonitis-induced acute kidney injury in rats. Radiation-induced lung and testicular tissue damage could be alleviated in mice, with the former showing improvement in pulmonary distress and bronchoconstriction and the latter exhibiting restoration in spermatogenesis rate and spermatid/spermatocyte number. Through enhancement of gastrointestinal motility, the CNPs could alleviate constipation in both young and old rats. They could also protect rat from light-induced retinal damage by slowing down neurodegenerative process and microglial activation., Graphical abstract The cerium oxide nanoparticles with their unique redox property are capable of exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic effects through alleviating oxidative stress associated with many pathological disorders.Image, graphical abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most important causes of cancerrelated morbidity and mortality in the world. Probiotics, as functional food, have the potential to act against breast cancer, as evidenced by cell-based and animal model experiments. Probiotic may be useful in prevention or treatment of breast cancer by modulating the gastrointestinal bacteria and the systemic immune system. However, large-scale clinical trials and intensive research are mandatory to confirm the in vitro and in vivo results and exploring the probiotics-related metabolic, immune, and molecular mechanisms in breast cancer. This current review summarizes the available data related to probiotics and their potential role in the treatment of breast cancer.

The authors emphasize how extremely important it is to highlight the role played by animal models in an attempt to determine possible phage interactions with the organism into which it was introduced as well as to determine the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy in vivo taking into account the individual conditions of a given organism and its physiology. Animal models in which phages are used make it possible, among other things, to evaluate the effective therapeutic dose and to choose the possible route of phage administration depending on the type of infection developed. These results cannot be applied in detail to the human body, but the knowledge gained from animal experiments is invaluable and very helpful. We would like to highlight how useful animal models may be for the possible effectiveness evaluation of phage therapy in the case of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria from the ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species) group of pathogens. In this review, we focus specifically on the data from the last few years.

Simple Summary Anticancer therapeutic approaches based solely on apoptosis induction are often unsuccessful due to the activation of resistance mechanisms. The identification and characterization of compounds capable of triggering non-apoptotic, also called non-canonical cell death pathways, could represent an important strategy that may integrate or offer alternative approaches to the current anticancer therapies. In this review, we critically discuss the promotion of ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis by natural compounds as a new anticancer strategy. Abstract Apoptosis has been considered the main mechanism induced by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs for a long time. This paradigm is currently evolving and changing, as increasing evidence pointed out that antitumor agents could trigger various non-canonical or non-apoptotic cell death types. A considerable number of antitumor drugs derive from natural sources, both in their naturally occurring form or as synthetic derivatives. Therefore, it is not surprising that several natural compounds have been explored for their ability to induce non-canonical cell death. The aim of this review is to highlight the potential antitumor effects of natural products as ferroptosis, necroptosis, or pyroptosis inducers. Natural products have proven to be promising non-canonical cell death inducers, capable of overcoming cancer cells resistance to apoptosis. However, as discussed in this review, they often lack a full characterization of their antitumor activity together with an in-depth investigation of their toxicological profile.

In the present study, a series of novel 2-(substituted benzylidene)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2 H -thiazolo[3,2 -a ]pyrimidin-3(7 H )-one derivatives ( 4a – i ) were designed and synthesized to meet the structural requirements essential for antiepileptic activity. Antiepileptic screening was performed by maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (s c PTZ) seizures tests and neurotoxicity was determined by the rotorod test. Among the synthesized compounds 4f , 4g and 4h were found active in both MES and sc PTZ models. In the view of results the most active compounds carry fluoro > chloro > bromo substituent’s at the para position in the phenyl ring. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by means of IR, 1 H NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis.

Current models of the cell interior emphasise its crowded, chemically complex and dynamically organised structure. Although the chemical composition of cells is known, the cooperative intermolecular interactions that govern cell ultrastructure are poorly understood. A major goal of biochemistry is to capture these myriad interactions in vivo. We consider the landmark discoveries that have shaped this objective, starting from the vitalist framework established by early natural philosophers. Through this historical revisionism, we extract important lessons for the bioinspired chemists of today. Scientific specialisation tends to insulate seminal ideas and hamper the unification of paradigms across biology. Therefore, we call for interdisciplinary collaboration in grappling with the complex cell interior. Recent successes in integrative structural biology and chemical biology demonstrate the power of hybrid approaches. The future roles of the (bio)chemist and model systems are also discussed as starting points for in vivo explorations.

Background: This review discusses the importance of inter-individual variations in Homoeopathy and role of immune modulation through cytokine induction behind these variations in symptoms. Objectives: To analyse the effects of homoeopathic drugs in modulation of cytokine synthesis to find the individualised immunological mechanisms of these drugs. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for studies which analysed effects of homoeopathic medicines on cytokine synthesis. Full texts of shortlisted studies after scrutiny of abstracts, were analysed for study design, homoeopathic medicines used, cytokines analysed and results. Results: The PubMed search yielded 21 studies. After analysis of abstracts of 21 studies, 10 were shortlisted, which included 7 in vivo and 2 in vitro studies. One study had both in vivo and in vitro interventions. Majority of in vivo studies used rat and exposure to immunological challenge before administration of homoeopathic medicine. The cytokines studied were interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor alpha, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12. The two in vitro studies evaluated effects of Saussurea lappa and Mercurius solubilis on lymphocytes and macrophage culture, respectively. Out of 10 studies analysed, 8 showed homoeopathic medicines can modulate cytokine synthesis either by increasing or decreasing the cytokine synthesis, in a statistically significant manner. Conclusion: The studies were heterogeneous regarding the antigenic challenge given to stimulate immune cells and only 50% of studies clearly mentioned random allocation of animals in groups. Though majority of studies showed that homoeopathic medicines can modulate cytokine synthesis, the mechanism of cytokine modulation remained unexplored.

Even if cancer represents a burden for human society, an exhaustive cure has not been discovered yet. Low therapeutic index and resistance to pharmacotherapy are two of the major limits of antitumour treatments. Natural products represent an excellent library of bioactive molecules. Thus, tapping into the natural world may prove useful in identifying new therapeutic options with favourable pharmaco-toxicological profiles. Juglans regia, or common walnut, is a very resilient tree that has inhabited our planet for thousands of years. Many studies correlate walnut consumption to beneficial effects towards several chronic diseases, such as cancer, mainly due to the bioactive molecules stored in different parts of the plant. Among others, polyphenols, quinones, proteins, and essential fatty acids contribute to its pharmacologic activity. The present review aims to offer a comprehensive perspective about the antitumour potential of the most promising compounds stored in this plant, such as juglanin, juglone, and the ellagitannin-metabolites urolithins or deriving from walnut dietary intake. All molecules and a chronic intake of the fruit provide tangible anticancer effects. However, the scarcity of studies on humans does not allow results to be conclusive.

It is now well accepted that exposure to adverse environmental conditions in utero can predispose a fetus to disease later in life. Using an avian model to study the programming of disease has a unique advantage as it allows isolation of the direct effects of adverse conditions on fetal physiology, without any confounding effects via the mother or placenta. However, experiments in avian models are limited by the lack of well-established surgical protocols for the adult bird, which we have established in this study. Surgery was performed on seven young adult Bovan Brown chickens (body weight 1617±214 g, mean±s.d.) in order to instrument them with femoral arterial and venous catheters and a femoral arterial flow probe. Isoflurane and lidocaine were both found to have depressive effects on chicken cardiovascular function. Optimised methods of anaesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, surgical approach, postoperative care, and experimentation are described. Chickens recovered rapidly from surgery without significant blood gas perturbation, and basal in vivo cardiovascular studies were performed following 5 days of recovery. These techniques allow detailed investigation of avian cardiometabolic function, permitting determination of the consequences in later life of direct environmental insults to fetal physiology, isolated from additional effects on maternal physiology and/or placental endocrinology.

The antitumor activity of vandetanib [a multiple signal transduction inhibitor including the RET tyrosine kinase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor (VEGFR), ERK and with antiangiogenic activity], in primary anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells, in the human cell line 8305C [undifferentiated thyroid cancer (TC)] and in an ATC‑cell line (AF), was investigated in the present study. Vandetanib (1 and 100 nM; 1, 10, 25 and 50 µM) was tested by WST‑1, apoptosis, migration and invasion assays: in primary ATC cells, in the 8305C continuous cell line, and in AF cells; and in 8305C cells in CD nu/nu mice. Vandetanib significantly reduced ATC cell proliferation (P

5 Páginas.-- 1 Figura, As many studies are exploring the association between ingestion of bioactive compounds and decreased risk of non-communicable diseases, the scientific community continues to show considerable interest in these compounds. In addition, as many non-nutrients with putative health benefits are reducing agents, hydrogen donors, singlet oxygen quenchers or metal chelators, measurement of antioxidant activity using in vitro assays has become very popular over recent decades. Measuring concentrations of total phenolics, flavonoids, and other compound (sub)classes using UV/Vis spectrophotometry offers a rapid chemical index, but chromatographic techniques are necessary to establish structure-activity. For bioactive purposes, in vivo models are required or, at the very least, methods that employ distinct mechanisms of action (i.e., single electron transfer, transition metal chelating ability, and hydrogen atom transfer). In this regard, better understanding and application of in vitro screening methods should help design of future research studies on ‘bioactive compounds’.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:54:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-09-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subtype of breast tumors that does not exhibit the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, neither the amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) gene. Despite all the advances in cancer treatments, the development of new anticancer drugs for TNBC tumors is still a challenge. There is an increasing interest in new agents to be used in cancer treatment. Ruthenium is a metal that has unique characteristics and important in vivo and in vitro results achieved for cancer treatment. Thus, in this work, with the aim to develop anticancer drugs, three new ruthenium complexes containing acylthiourea ligands have been synthesized and characterized: trans-[Ru (PPh3)(2)(N,N-dibutyl-N'-benzoylthioureato-k(2)O,S)(2,2'-bipyridine (bipy))]PF6 (1), trans-[Ru(PPh3)(2)(N,N-dimethyl-N'-thiophenylthioureato-k(2)O,S)(bipy)PF6 (2) and trans-[Ru(PPh3)(2)(N,N-dimethyl-N'-benzoylthioureatok(2)O,S)(bipy)]PF6 (3). Then, the cytotoxicity of these three new ruthenium complexes was investigated in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and in non-tumor MCF-10A cells. Complex (2) was the most selective complex and was chosen for further studies to verify its effects on cell morphology, adhesion, migration, invasion, induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in vitro, as well as its toxicity and capacity of causing DNA damage in vivo. Complex (2) inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, changed morphology and induced apoptosis, DNA damage and nuclear fragmentation of TNBC cells at lower concentrations compared to non-tumor MCF-10A cells, suggesting an effective action for this complex on tumor cells. Finally, complex (2) did not induce toxicity or caused DNA damage in vivo when low doses were administered to mice. Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Gerontol, Rod Washington Luis,Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Habana, Fac Quim, Zapata S-N Entre G & Carlitos Aguirre, Havana 10400, Cuba Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Filosofia & Ciencias, Dept Fonoaudiol, Av Hygino Muzzi Filho 737, BR-17525900 Marilia, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis Sao Carlos, CP 780, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Quim, Rod Washington Luis,Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Filosofia & Ciencias, Dept Fonoaudiol, Av Hygino Muzzi Filho 737, BR-17525900 Marilia, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/00798-2 FAPESP: 2015/24940-8 FAPESP: 2014/25121-8

The present investigation reports the various pharmacokinetic parameters of immediate release aceclofenac tablets incorporating its inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. The tablets were prepared using aceclofenac: hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in a 1:1 molar ratio by the direct compression method (TKN). The results were compared with those of the marketed brand (MKT) and pure drug (TAC). The P-values indicated that mean plasma concentrations were significantly different among all three formulations administered (P&lt, 0.05, P&lt, 0.01). TKN showed significantly higher plasma levels when compared to the pure drug (P&lt, 0.01). The Cmax and AUC(0-∞) of TKN were significantly higher (P&lt, 0.05) compared to the pure drug and marketed formulation. Furthermore, the first-order overall elimination rate constant (Kel) of TKN was also significantly higher (P&lt, 0.05) compared to the pure drug and its marketed formulation. These results suggested that tablets prepared by incorporating the AC-HPβCD inclusion complex (TKN) would provide a more rapid onset of pharmacological effects in comparison to the marketed formulation and pure drug.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impairments in cognitive functioning. Evidence from postmortem studies suggests that alterations in cortical γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurons contribute to the clinical features of schizophrenia. In vivo measurement of brain GABA levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers the possibility to provide more insight into the relationship between problems in GABAergic neurotransmission and clinical symptoms of schizophrenia patients. This study reviews and links alterations in the GABA system in postmortem studies, animal models, and human studies in schizophrenia. Converging evidence implicates alterations in both presynaptic and postsynaptic components of GABAergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia, and GABA may thus play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. MRS studies can provide direct insight into the GABAergic mechanisms underlying the development of schizophrenia as well as changes during its course.

To inhibit binding of the influenza A virus to the host cell glycocalyx, we generate multivalent peptide–polymer nanoparticles binding with nanomolar affinity to the virus via its spike protein hemagglutinin. The chosen dendritic polyglycerol scaffolds are highly biocompatible and well suited for a multivalent presentation. We could demonstrate in vitro that by increasing the size of the polymer scaffold and adjusting the peptide density, viral infection is drastically reduced. Such a peptide–polymer conjugate qualified also in an in vivo infection scenario. With this study we introduce the first non‐carbohydrate‐based, covalently linked, multivalent virus inhibitor in the nano‐ to picomolar range by ensuring low peptide‐ligand density on a larger dendritic scaffold.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale size vesicles secreted by cells and are important mediators of intercellular communication and genetic exchange. Exosomes, EVs generated in endosomal multivesicular bodies, have been the focus of numerous publications as they have emerged as clinically valuable markers of disease states. Exosomes have been mostly studied from conditioned culture media and body fluids, with the difficulty of isolating exosomes from tissues having delayed their study in vivo. The implementation of a method designed to isolate exosomes from tissues, however, has yielded the first insights into characteristics of exosomes in the brain. It has been observed that brain exosomes from murine models of neurodegenerative diseases and human postmortem brains tend to mirror the protein content of the cells of origin, and interestingly, they are enriched with toxic proteins. Whether this enrichment with neurotoxic proteins is beneficial by relieving neurons of accumulated toxic material or detrimental to the brain by propagating pathogenicity throughout the brain remains to be answered. Here is summarized the first group of studies describing exosomes isolated from brain, results that demonstrate that exosomes in vivo reflect complex multicellular pathogenic processes in neurodegenerative disorders and the brain's response to injury and damage.

The objective of the present work was to characterize the ability of liposomes and cyclodextrin (CyD) complexes to modulate the in vivo profile of fluticasone (FTZ). In vitro cell compatibility tests were performed, exposing A549 cells to FTZ in the free form and FTZ associated to liposomes and complexed with CyD. The in vivo fate of a selected FTZ liposomal formulation and of several FTZ CyD complexes was achieved following intranasal instillation or pulmonary administration in BALB/c mice, respectively. For pulmonary administration, an inhalation chamber was constructed to enable the simultaneously pulmonary administration to six mice. Thirty minutes and 3 h after administration, mice were sacrificed, their blood, lungs, livers, and spleens were removed, and FTZ level was determined by HPLC using an extraction procedure. The in vitro tests revealed no toxic effects of FTZ formulations, as cellular viability was always superior to 90% for FTZ concentrations ranging from 5 to 60 &micro, M 72 h after incubation. The in vivo biodistribution results showed that FTZ incorporated in liposomes resulted in 20 and 30 times higher accumulation in the lungs in comparison with free FTZ, at 0.5 and 3 h after i.n. administration, respectively. FTZ associated to Hydroxypropyl-&gamma, cyclodextrin (HP-CyD) was the complex that permitted the higher accumulation of FTZ in the lungs in comparison with the respective free form. The results also suggest that the inhalation chamber apparatus can effectively facilitate the evaluation of in vivo inhalation. The establishment of an animal model of asthma allows us to further study the therapeutic efficacy of the developed FTZ formulations.

A significant number of studies report growing resistance in nematodes thriving in both humans and livestock. This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficiency of Curcubita pepo (C. pepo) L. hot water extract (HWE), cold water extract (CWE) or ethanol extract (ETE) on two model nematodes: Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and Heligmosoides bakeri (H. bakeri). Methods: Raman, IR and LC-MS spectroscopy analyses were performed on the studied plant material to deliver qualitative and quantitative data on the composition of the obtained extracts: ETE, HWE and CWE. The in vitro activity evaluation showed an impact of C. pepo extracts on C. elegans and different developmental stages of H. bakeri. The following in vivo experiments on mice infected with H. bakeri confirmed inhibitory properties of the most active pumpkin extract selected by the in vitro study. All of the extracts were found to contain cucurbitine, aminoacids, fatty acids, and-for the first time-berberine and palmatine were identified. All C. pepo seed extracts exhibited a nematidicidal potential in vitro, affecting the survival of L1 and L2 H. bakeri larvae. The ETE was the strongest and demonstrated a positive effect on H. bakeri eggs hatching and marked inhibitory properties against worm motility, compared to a PBS control. No significant effects of pumpkin seed extracts on C. elegans integrity or motility were found. The EtOH extract in the in vivo studies showed anthelmintic properties against both H. bakeri fecal egg counts and adult worm burdens. The highest egg counts reduction was observed for the 8 g/kg dose (IC50 against H. bakeri = 2.43; 95% Cl = 2.01–2.94). A decrease in faecal egg counts (FEC) was accompanied by a significant reduction in worm burden of the treated mice compared to the control group. Conclusions: Pumpkin seed extracts may be used to control of Gastrointestinal (G.I.) nematode infections. This relatively inexpensive alternative to the currently available chemotherapeutic should be considered as a novel drug candidate in the nearest future.

Developing new tools that outperform current state of the art technologies for imaging, drug delivery or electrical sensing in neuronal tissues is one of the great challenges in neurosciences. Investigations into the potential use of carbon nanomaterials for such applications started about two decades ago. Since then, numerous in vitro studies have examined interactions between these nanomaterials and neurons, either by evaluating their compatibility, as vectors for drug delivery, or for their potential use in electric activity sensing and manipulation. The results obtained indicate that carbon nanomaterials may be suitable for medical therapies. However, a relatively small number of in vivo studies have been carried out to date. In order to facilitate the transformation of carbon nanomaterial into practical neurobiomedical applications, it is essential to identify and highlight in the existing literature the strengths and weakness that different carbon nanomaterials have displayed when probed in vivo. Unfortunately the current literature is sometimes sparse and confusing. To offer a clearer picture of the in vivo studies on carbon nanomaterials in the central nervous system, we provide a systematic and critical review. Hereby we identify properties and behavior of carbon nanomaterials in vivo inside the neural tissues, and we examine key achievements and potentially problematic toxicological issues.

Resumo: A drenagem linfática profunda desempenha um papel importante no pulmão, uma vez que remove materiais estranhos depositados sobre a superfície das vias respiratórias, tais como microrganismos patogénicos. Esta drenagem está igualmente associada às vias de disseminação tumoral. Liposomas com uma membrana especificamente desenhada foram usados para simular partículas estranhas a ser removidas pelos linfáticos pulmonares. Pretendem obter-se imagens dos linfáticos profundos em babuínos usando liposomas que encapsulam 99mTc-HMPAO sob a forma de aerossol. Observaram-se gânglios linfáticos axilares 30 min pós-inalação, que se tornaram mais evidentes 1 hora após, quando os gânglios abdominais e aórticos também se tornaram visíveis. Imagens tardias não acrescentaram informação relevante. Foram desenhadas ROI's (regiões de interesse), bem como as correspondentes curvas de actividade-tempo para obter informação acerca da biocinética. Em conclusão, pode dizer-se que a técnica proposta torna possível a visualização da rede linfática profunda do pulmão e os gânglios linfáticos. Esta metodologia poderá vir a ser importante na libertação pulmonar controlada de fármacos citotóxicos. Abstract: Deep lymphatic drainage plays an important role in the lung, as it removes foreign materials laying on the airways surface, such as pathogenic microorganisms. This drainage is also associated with lung tumour dissemination route. Liposomes with a specially tailored membrane were used as foreign particles to be removed by the lung lymphatics. We aim to obtain images of deep lung lymphatics in baboons using liposomes encapsulating 99mTc-HMPAO, as aerosols. Axillary lymph nodes were visualized 30 min post-inhalation, becoming more evident 1 hour after, when abdominal aortic and inguinal lymph nodes were also observed. Late images added no additional information. ROI's and their time-activity curves were drawn to obtain biokinetic information. In conclusion, we can say that the proposed technique enables visualization of the deep lymphatic lung network and lymph nodes. This methodology may be an important tool for targeted lung delivery of cytotoxic drugs. Palavras-chave: Liposomas, Drenagem linfática, Cintigrafia, Libertação pulmonar controlada, Estudos in vivo, Keywords: Liposomes, Lymphatic drainage, Scintigraphy, Pulmonary delivery, In vivo studies

A liquid collagen has been developed that fibrilizes upon injection. Rapid polymerizing collagen (RPC) is a type I porcine collagen that undergoes fibrillization upon interaction with ionic solutions, such as physiological solutions. The ability to inject liquid collagen would be beneficial for many soft tissue augmentation applications. In this study, RPC was synthesized and characterized as a possible dermal filler. Transmission electron microscopy, ion induced RPC fibrillogenesis tests, collagenase resistance assay, and injection force studies were performed to assess RPC's physicochemical properties. An in vivo study was performed which consisted of a 1‐, 3‐, and 6‐month study where RPC was injected into the ears of miniature swine. The results demonstrated that the liquid RPC requires low injection force (

This study investigates the application of melt extrusion for the development of an oral retard formulation with a precise drug release over time. Since adjusting the formulation appears to be of the utmost importance in achieving the desired drug release patterns, different formulations of laminar extrudates were prepared according to the principles of Experimental Design, using a design for mixtures to assess the influence of formulation composition on the in vitro drug release from the extrudates after 1 h and after 8 h. The effect of each component on the two response variables was also studied. Ternary mixtures of theophylline (model drug), monohydrate lactose and microcrystalline wax (as thermoplastic binder) were extruded in a lab scale vertical ram extruder in absence of solvents at a temperature below the melting point of the binder (so that the crystalline state of the drug could be maintained), through a rectangular die to obtain suitable laminar systems. Thanks to the desirability approach and a reliability study for ensuring the quality of the formulation, a very restricted optimal zone was defined within the experimental domain. Among the mixture components, the variation of microcrystalline wax content played the most significant role in overall influence on the in vitro drug release. The formulation theophylline:lactose:wax, 57:14:29 (by weight), selected based on the desirability zone, was subsequently used for in vivo studies. The plasma profile, obtained after oral administration of the laminar extruded system in hard gelatine capsules, revealed the typical trend of an oral retard formulation. The application of the mixture experimental design associated to a desirability function permitted to optimize the extruded system and to determine the composition space that ensures final product quality. 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pentacyclic triterpenes are naturally found in a great variety of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants and are therefore part of the human diet. The beneficial health effects of edible and medicinal plants have partly been associated with their triterpene content, but the in vivo efficacy in humans depends on many factors, including absorption and metabolism. This review presents an overview of in vitro and in vivo studies that were carried out to determine the bioavailability of pentacyclic triterpenes and highlights the efforts that have been performed to improve the dissolution properties and absorption of these compounds. As plant matrices play a critical role in triterpene bioaccessibility, this review covers literature data on the bioavailability of pentacyclic triterpenes ingested either from foods and medicinal plants or in their free form.

Background The major obstacles to the successful use of individual nutritional compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents are their efficacy and bioavailability. One approach to overcoming this problem is to use combinations of nutrients to induce synergistic effects. The objective of this research was to investigate the synergistic effects of two dietary components: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid present in cold-water fish, and curcumin (CCM), an herbal nutrient present in turmeric, in an in vivo model of DMBA-induced mammary tumorigenesis in mice. Methods We used the carcinogen DMBA to induce breast tumors in SENCAR mice on control, CCM, DHA, or DHA + CCM diets. Appearance and tumor progression were monitored daily. The tumors were harvested 15 days following their first appearance for morphological and immunohistological analysis. Western analysis was performed to determine expression of maspin and survivin in the tumor tissues. Characterization of tumor growth was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Otherwise all other results are reported as mean ± SD and analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc procedure. Results Analysis of gene microarray data indicates that combined treatment with DHA + CCM altered the profile of “PAM50” genes in the SK-BR-3 cell line from an ER-/Her-2+ to that resembling a “normal-like” phenotype. The in vivo studies demonstrated that DHA + CCM treatment reduced the incidence of breast tumors, delayed tumor initiation, and reduced progression of tumor growth. Dietary treatment had no effect on breast size development, but tumors from mice on a control diet (untreated) were less differentiated than tumors from mice fed CCM or DHA + CCM diets. The synergistic effects also led to increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein, maspin, but reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, survivin. Conclusions The SK-BR-3 cells and DMBA-induced tumors, both with an ER- and Her-2+ phenotype, were affected by the synergistic interaction of DHA and CCM. This suggests that the specific breast cancer phenotype is an important factor for predicting efficacy of these nutraceuticals. The combination of DHA and CCM is potentially a dietary supplemental treatment for some breast cancers, likely dependent upon the molecular phenotype of the cancer.

Hui Zhao, Hua Lu, Tao Gong, Zhirong ZhangKey Laboratory of Drug Targeting, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of ChinaBackground: Intravenous injection of lycobetaine was found to show significant cytotoxic activity against (inter alia) Lewis lung carcinoma, but its therapeutic use is largely limited due to an extremely short half-life in blood. This study aimed at developing a novel lipid nanocarrier-based formulation for lycobetaine delivery. The formulation is feasible for scale-up production, exhibiting good parenteral acceptability and improved circulation characteristics.Methods: To enhance its lipophilicity, oleic acid was selected to form ionic complexes with lycobetaine (LBT). The nanoemulsion loaded with LBT–oleic acid complex (LBT–OA–nanoemulsion) and PEGylated LBT–OA–nanoemulsion (NE) (LBT–OA–PEG–NE) were prepared by a simple high-pressure homogenization method.Results: A high-encapsulation efficiency of around 97.32% ± 2.09% was obtained for LBT–OA–PEG–NE under optimized conditions. Furthermore, the in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of LBT–OA–NE, LBT–OA–PEG–NE, and free LBT were studied in rats. Free LBT and LBT–OA–PEG–NE displayed AUC0–10h (area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 10 hours) of 112.99 mg/L*minute and 3452.09 mg/L*minute via intravenous administration (P < 0.005), respectively. Moreover, LBT–OA–PEG–NE showed significantly lower LBT concentration in the heart, liver, and kidney, while achieving higher concentration of LBT in the lung when compared to free LBT at the same time (P < 0.005). The LBT–OA–PEG–NE exhibited higher growth inhibitory effect and longer survival time than free LBT in both heterotopic and lung metastatic tumor models.Conclusion: These results demonstrated that LBT–OA–PEG–NE is an attractive parenteral formulation for cancer therapy.Keywords: lycobetaine, oleic acid, polyethylene glycol, nanoemulsion, in vivo studies, antitumor activity