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In the recent decade, nanoparticles (NPs) have had enormous implications in cancer biomedicine, including research, diagnosis, and therapy. However, their broad application still faces obstacles due to some practical limitations and requires further development. Recently, there has been more interest in the coated class of nanoparticles to address those challenges. Chitosan‐coated NPs are simple to produce, biodegradable, biocompatible, exhibit antibacterial activity, and have less cytotoxicity. This study provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the application of chitosan‐coated NPs as a promising class of NPs in cancer biomedicine. Additionally, we discussed chitosan‐coated lipid, metal, and polymer‐based nanoparticles in biomedical applications. Furthermore, different coating methods and production/characterization procedures were reviewed. Moreover, the biological and physicochemical advantages of chitosan‐coated NPs, including facilitated controlled release, greater physicochemical stability, improved cell/tissue interaction, and enhanced bioavailability of medications, were highlighted. Finally, the prospects of chitosan‐coated NPs in cancer biomedicine were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

pH-responsive niosomal formulation for co-delivery of DXR and PTX were synthesized. Co-delivery of niosomal formulation of DXR and PTX decreased cancerous phenotypes in AGS cells. [Display omitted] • Novel formulation for co-delivery of DXR and PTX resulted in pH-responsive sustained release for 72 h. • Dual delivery of (DXR and PTX)-loaded niosomes, decreased cancerous phenotype in Gastric Cancer cells. • Novel optimized niosmal formulation for dual delivery of DXR and PTX inhibited tumor formation capacity in GC cells. • Dual drug-loaded niosomes significantly induced apoptosis in GC cells compared to the soluble drugs. • Dual drug-loaded niosomes were stable for two months and showed more cytotoxicity compared to the free drugs in other formulations. Gastric cancer (GC) is known as a deadly malignancy all over the world, yet none of the current therapeutic regimens have achieved efficacy. this current study has aimed to optimize and reduce treatment doses and overcome multidrug resistance in GC by developing optimum niosomal formulation for the delivery of doxorubicin (DXR), paclitaxel (PTX), and their co-delivery. The particles' size, polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficacy (EE%) were optimized using statistical techniques, i.e., Box-Behnken and Central Composite Design. In contrast to soluble drug formulations, the release rate of medicines from nanoparticles were higher in physiological and acidic pH. Niosomes were more stable at 4 °C, compared to 25 °C. The MTT assay revealed that the IC 50 of drug-loaded niosomes was the lowest among all developed formulations. The apoptosis-related genes (CASPASE-3 , CASPASE-8 , and CASPASE-9) and tumor suppressor genes (BAX , BCL2) were evaluated in cancer cells before and after treatment. In comparison to control cells and cells treated with soluble forms of DXR and PTX, while the expression of BCL2 decreased, the expression of BAX , CASPASE-3 , CASPASE-8 , and CASPASE-9 was enhanced in cells treated with drug-loaded niosomes. Drug-loaded niosomes inhibited colony formation capacity and increased apoptosis in human AGS gastric cancer cells. Our results indicate that co-delivery of DXR and PTX-loaded niosomes may be an effective and innovative therapeutic approach to gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the world’s most common chronic liver disease. However, due to the lack of reliable in vitro NAFLD models, drug development studies have faced many limitations, and there is no food and drug administration-approved medicine for NAFLD treatment. A functional biomimetic in vitro human liver model requires an optimized natural microenvironment using appropriate cellular composition, to provide constructive cell-cell interactions, and niche-specific bio-molecules to supply crucial cues as cell-matrix interplay. Such a suitable liver model could employ appropriate and desired biochemical, mechanical, and physical properties similar to native tissue. Moreover, bioengineered three-dimensional tissues, specially microtissues and organoids, and more recently using infusion-based cultivation systems such as microfluidics can mimic natural tissue conditions and facilitate the exchange of nutrients and soluble factors to improve physiological function in the in vitro generated constructs. This review highlights the key players involved in NAFLD initiation and progression and discussed the available cells and matrices for in vitro NAFLD modeling. The strategies for optimizing the liver microenvironment to generate a powerful and biomimetic in vitro NAFLD model were described as well. Finally, the current challenges and future perospective for promotion in this subject were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe high recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and poor prognosis after medical treatment reflects the necessity to improve the current chemotherapy protocols, particularly drug delivery methods. Development of targeted and efficient drug delivery systems (DDSs), in all active, passive and stimuli-responsive forms for selective delivery of therapeutic drugs to the tumour site has been extended to improve efficacy and reduce the severe side effects. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer promising breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer cells. In this review, the specific design of DDSs based on the different nano-particles and their surface engineering is discussed. In addition, the innovative clinical studies in which nano-based DDS was used in the treatment of HCC were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of pharmaceutically active 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives has been achieved using a nano powder of natural clinoptilolite (CP) zeolite. A wide range of these worthy structures having diverse substituents on the 4H-chromene ring were efficiently synthesized via the reaction of an aromatic aldehyde and variety of enolizable C–H activated acidic compounds. Nano sized natural clinoptilolite zeolite was prepared mechanically by planetary ball milling and was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscopy images (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity of nano CP was evaluated in aqueous media and the results show its applicability as a novel, green, reusable and promising catalyst in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have unique potentials, including migration and immunomodulation. Identification of the factors that enhance these activities can improve clinical applications of MSCs. This study aimed to investigate total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and migration potential of mouse MSCs exposed to thymoquinone (TQ) in vitro , and to examine the effect of TQ-treated MSCs on the expression of mouse immune cell markers. The results of total antioxidant capacity and wound healing assays showed that TQ increased the rate of MSCs TAC and migration in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The maximum TAC and migration were detected at 600 and 250 ng/ml of TQ, respectively. Functionally, the real-time PCR data analysis indicated that TQ induced c-Met and Cxcr4 expression and therefore, there may be a correlation between upregulation of these genes and increased MSCs migration. TQ also enhanced the up and down regulating impact of MSCs on Rorγt and Plzf expression and the expression of Tcf4 in mouse immune cells, respectively. Overall, this study declares that TQ increases the TAC of MSCs. It also proposes that TQ may, through activation of c-MET and CXCR4 signalling pathways, promote MSCs migration. TQ may also augment MSCs immunogenicity through its influence on the expression of genes involved in commitment of mouse immune system cells in vivo. • TQ increases total antioxidant capacity of MSCs. • TQ may promote MSCs migration by activating c-MET and CXCR4 signalling pathways. • TQ-treated MSCs induce Pax5 , Plzf , and Rorγt gene expression in mouse immune cells. • TQ-treated MSCs reduce TCF4 and Stat6 gene expression in mouse immune cells. • TQ induces MSC immunogenicity by influencing Plzf , Rorγt , and Tcf4 gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In experimental, understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of curcumin and the interaction between curcumin and targets is intricate. • Integration of experimental and computational methods assists and enriches our interpretation of the experimental results. • Challenges in curcumin therapy, including its side effects, low bioavailability, and rapid metabolism, are carefully elaborated. • Computational methods can shed light onto the biological mechanism of curcumin and also predict the curcumin's action against available diseases and decrease drug failure. • In-depth perspectives regarding the future utilization of curcumin in human health are provided. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the main constituent extracted from turmeric. This polyphenol is a non-toxic, potent compound with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Due to the wide range of health benefits and pharmaceutical properties, curcumin has recently gained considerable attention in both in vitro and in vivo investigations. However, pharmaceutical applications of curcumin are limited due to its hydrophobicity which leads to low bioavailability. Here, we have highlighted recent advances in curcumin-incorporated biomaterials as an effective strategy to enhance curcumin bioavailability in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, infectious disease treatment, and biosensing, suggesting that curcumin as a bioactive molecule is a promising natural compound for developing novel platforms to solve healthcare challenges. Understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of curcumin and the interaction between curcumin and targets experimentally are complex, costly, time-consuming, and challenging. In this review, we elaborate on how current research integrates experimental and computational methods to assist and enrich our interpretation of the experimental results, thus providing a more comprehensive and detailed functional and molecular understanding toward better human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment resistance is one of the major barriers for therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many studies have indicated that chemotherapy and radiotherapy induce autophagy machinery (cell protective autophagy) in HCC cells. In addition, many experiments report a remarkable crosstalk between treatment resistance and autophagy pathways. Thus, autophagy could be one of the key factors enabling tumor cells to hinder induced cell death after medical interventions. Therefore, extensive research on the molecular pathways involved in resistance induction and autophagy have been conducted to achieve the desired therapeutic response. The key molecular pathways related to the therapy resistance are TGF-β, MAPK, NRF2, NF-κB, and non-coding RNAs. In addition, EMT, drug transports, apoptosis evasion, DNA repair, cancer stem cells, and hypoxia could have considerable impact on the hepatoma cell's response to therapies. These mechanisms protect tumor cells against various treatments and many studies have shown that each of them is connected to the molecular pathways of autophagy induction in HCC. Hence, autophagy inhibition may be an effective strategy to improve therapeutic outcome in HCC patients. In this review, we further highlight how autophagy leads to poor response during treatment through a complex molecular network and how it enhances resistance in primary liver cancer. We propose that combinational regimens of approved HCC therapeutic protocols plus autophagy inhibitors may overcome drug resistance in HCC therapy. [Display omitted] • Therapeutic resistance restricts advanced modalities in hepatocellular carcinoma. • Autophagy, a degradative mechanism, increases in cancer cells upon various therapies. • Autophagy is interconnected to numerous resistance and progression related pathways. • Autophagy can orchestrate treatment resistance in cancer cells via various pathways. • Targeting autophagy can be a promising therapeutic modality in HCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Surgery and chemotherapy are the most common therapeutic strategies proposed for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, some of the disadvantages associated with the current methods like unwanted side effects and poor drug response lead the scientist to seek for novel modalities and delivery approaches to enhance the efficacy of treatments. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of disulfiram (DSF)-loaded Niosomes on cancerous phenotypes of the OSCC cells. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, an optimum formulation of DSF-loaded Niosomes was developed for the treatment of OSCC cells to reduce drug doses and improve the poor stability of DSF in the OSCC environment. The design expert software was utilized to optimize the particles in terms of size, polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficacy (EE). Results: Acidic pH increased the release rate of DSF from these formulations. The size, PDI, and EE of Niosomes were more stable at 4°C compared to 25°C. The results indicated that DSF-loaded Niosomes could induce apoptosis (P=0.019) in the OSCC cells compared to the control group. Moreover, it could reduce colony formation ability (P=0.0046) and also migration capacity of OSCC cells (P=0.0015). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the application of proper dose of DSF-loaded Niosomes (12.5 µg/ml) increases apoptosis, decreases colony formation capacity and declines the migration ability of OSCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-milled clinoptilolite is successfully applied as catalyst in the three-component synthesis of various 2-amino-4H-chromene derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]