Interrupting the blood-testis barrier with a flutamide-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier: A novel nonsurgical contraceptive approach for male animals.

Flutamide is an antagonist of testosterone, an essential hormone in male reproduction. However, the use of flutamide as a contraceptive agent for nonsurgical castration in veterinary practice remains challenging due to its poor bioavailability. Here, the flutamide-loaded nanostructure lipid carrier (FLT-NLC) was synthesized, and its biological effects were demonstrated by an in vitro blood-testis barrier model.

Masculinization of Red Tilapia ( spp.) Using 17α-Methyltestosterone-Loaded Alkyl Polyglucosides Integrated into Nanostructured Lipid Carriers.

The aim of the present study was to optimize a masculinization platform for the production of all-male red tilapia fry by oral administration of 30 and 60 ppm of MT and alkyl polyglucoside nanostructured lipid carriers (APG-NLC) loaded with MT, respectively, for 14 and 21 days. The characterization, encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of MT in lipid-based nanoparticles were assessed in vitro. The results showed that the MT-loaded nanoparticles were spherical, ranging from 80 to 125 nm in size, and had a negative charge with a narrow particle distribution.

Resveratrol Loaded Liposomes Disrupt Cancer Associated Fibroblast Communications within the Tumor Microenvironment to Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Aggressiveness.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer-associated fibroblast, CAF-rich tumor. CAF promotes cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance via secretes soluble factors, and extracellular matrices which leads to dense stroma, a major barrier for drug delivery. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenolic compound, has several pharmacologic functions including anti-inflammation and anticancer effects.

Inhibiting Metastasis and Improving Chemosensitivity via Chitosan-Coated Selenium Nanoparticles for Brain Cancer Therapy.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were synthesized to overcome the limitations of selenium, such as its narrow safe range and low water solubility. SeNPs reduce the toxicity and improve the bioavailability of selenium. Chitosan-coated SeNPs (Cs-SeNPs) were developed to further stabilize SeNPs and to test their effects against glioma cells.

Assessment of therapeutic effect of CD20-targeted immunoliposome in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a form of extranodal non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma limited to the CNS. The treatment of PCNSL is ineffective partly due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restriction of delivery of many drugs including anti-CD20 (Rituximab; RTX) which is a standard treatment for systemic B-cell lymphomas. In this study, liposome with tween-80 surface modification was fabricated and conjugated with RTX for enhancing BBB penetration to target lymphoma cells in the CNS.

Natural infection of parvovirus in wild fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) reveals extant viral localization in kidneys.

Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 (CPPV-1), a viral species containing feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) variants, are widely spread among domestic and wild carnivores causing systemic fatal diseases. Wild fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), a globally vulnerable species, have been found dead. Postmortem examination of the carcasses revealed lesions in intestine, spleen and kidney.

Active targeting liposome-PLGA composite for cisplatin delivery against cervical cancer.

Cisplatin (Cis) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug for cancer treatment. However, toxicities and drug resistance limit the use of cisplatin. This study was aimed to improve cisplatin delivery using a targeting strategy to reduce the toxicity.

Hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanorods enhancing BMP-2 peptide delivery for chondrogenesis.

Bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) knuckle epitope peptide has been recently discovered and known to activate chondrogenesis. However, the applications of this soluble peptide remain very limited due to rapid diffusion resulting in poor cellular uptake into target cells. We herein designed nanoparticles made from hyaluronic acid functionalized gold nanorods (GNRs) to conjugate with thiolated BMP-2 knuckle epitope peptide via a two-step reaction.

Dry Formulations Enhanced Mucoadhesive Properties and Reduced Cold Chain Handing of Influenza Vaccines.

To alleviate concerns in health security, emergency flu vaccine stockpiles are required for ensuring rapid availability of vaccines when needed. Cold chain preservation, at high cost and risk, is necessary to maintain vaccine efficacy. This study aimed to develop a dry, easily storable formula for influenza vaccine preparation.

Thermoresponsive Bacteriophage Nanocarrier as a Gene Delivery Vector Targeted to the Gastrointestinal Tract.

The use of the gastrointestinal tract as a site for the local delivery of DNA is an exciting prospect. In order to obtain an effective vector capable of delivering a gene of interest to target cells to achieve sufficient and sustained transgene expression, with minimal toxicity, we developed a new generation of filamentous bacteriophage. This particular bacteriophage was genetically engineered to display an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif (an integrin-binding peptide) on the major coat protein pVIII and carry a mammalian DNA cassette.

Formulation, physical, in vitro and ex vivo evaluation of nanomedicine-based chemosterilant for non-surgical castration of male animals.

The overpopulation of free-roaming companion animals has become the global crisis. The development and application of a suitable, effective, non-surgical approach for animal sterilization would have an enormous advantage over the current surgical method. The main purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel nanomedicine-based chemosterilant for non-surgical castration of male companion animals.

Nanocarrier-mediated delivery of α-mangostin for non-surgical castration of male animals.

The overpopulation of abandoned and stray companion animals has become a global crisis. The main purpose of this study was to develop a novel nanomedicine-based antifertility compound for non-surgical castration of male animals. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L) pericarp extract has been shown to exhibit anti-fertility property.

Chitosan-based DNA delivery vector targeted to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the application of modified chitosan as a potential vector for gene delivery to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR)-expressing cells. Such design of gene carrier could be useful in particular for gene therapy for cancers related to the reproductive system, gene disorders of sexual development, and contraception and fertility control. In this study, a decapeptide GnRH was successfully conjugated to chitosan (CS) as confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H NMR) and Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).

Physical and biological characterization of sericin-loaded copolymer liposomes stabilized by polyvinyl alcohol.

Sericin protein (SP) is widely used as a nutrient biomaterial for biomedical and cosmeceutical applications although it shows low stability to heat and light. To overcome these problems and add value to wastewater from the silk industry, sericin protein was recovered as sericin-loaded copolymer-liposomes (SP-PVA-LP), prepared through thin film hydration. The size and morphology of the liposomes were investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM).

Phospholipid-chitosan hybrid nanoliposomes promoting cell entry for drug delivery against cervical cancer.

This study emphasizes the development of a novel surface modified liposome as an anticancer drug nanocarrier. Quaternized N,O-oleoyl chitosan (QCS) was synthesized and incorporated into liposome vesicles, generating QCS-liposomes (Lip-QCS). The Lip-QCS liposomes were spherical in shape (average size diameter 171.

Hydroxyapatite-hybridized chitosan/chitin whisker bionanocomposite fibers for bone tissue engineering applications.

Biomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds derived from natural biopolymers for bone tissue engineering applications require good mechanical and biological performances including biomineralization. The present work proposes the utility of chitin whisker (CTWK) to enhance mechanical properties of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (CS/PVA) nanofibers and to offer osteoblast cell growth with hydroxyapatite (HA) mineralization. By using diacid as a solvent, electrospun CS/PVA nanofibrous membranes containing CTWK can be easily obtained.

Multicarboxylic acids as environment-friendly solvents and in situ crosslinkers for chitosan/PVA nanofibers with tunable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.

Monocarboxylic acids are common solvents for chitosan to fabricate nanofibers however the unpleasant odor and the additional step of fiber stabilization using crosslinkers, which might cause toxicity, are always the points to be aware of. The present work demonstrates the potential use of multicarboxylic acids as environment-friendly solvents and in situ crosslinking agents for chitosan electrospinning. The use of these solvents leads to the tunable physicochemical properties, cellular compatibility, and cost effective production.

Synthesis of Carbohydrate Capped Silicon Nanoparticles and their Reduced Cytotoxicity, In Vivo Toxicity, and Cellular Uptake.

The development of smart targeted nanoparticles (NPs) that can identify and deliver drugs at a sustained rate directly to cancer cells may provide better efficacy and lower toxicity for treating primary and advanced metastatic tumors. Obtaining knowledge of the diseases at the molecular level can facilitate the identification of biological targets. In particular, carbohydrate-mediated molecular recognitions using nano-vehicles are likely to increasingly affect cancer treatment methods, opening a new area in biomedical applications.

Surface modification of PLGA nanoparticles by carbopol to enhance mucoadhesion and cell internalization.

Mucoadhesive poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles having a modified shell-matrix derived from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Carbopol (CP), a biodegradable polymer coating, to improve the adhesion and cell transfection properties were developed. The optimum formulations utilized a CP concentration in the range of 0.05-0.

Influence of curcumin-loaded cationic liposome on anticancer activity for cervical cancer therapy.

The delivery of curcumin has been explored in the form of liposomal nanoparticles to treat various cancer cells. Since curcumin is water insoluble and an effective delivery route is through encapsulation in liposomes, which were modified with three components of DDAB, cholesterol and non-ionic surfactant. The purpose of this study was to establish a critical role of DDAB in liposomes containing curcumin at cellular response against two types of cell lines (HeLa and SiHa).

The PEI-introduced CS shell/PMMA core nanoparticle for silencing the expression of E6/E7 oncogenes in human cervical cells.

In this study, we examined the potential of cationic nanoparticle - polyethyleneimine-introduced chitosan shell/poly (methyl methacrylate) core nanoparticles (CS-PEI) for siRNA delivery. Initially, DNA delivery was performed to validate the capability of CS-PEI for gene delivery in the human cervical cancer cell line, SiHa. siRNA delivery were subsequently carried out to evaluate the silencing effect on targeted E6 and E7 oncogenes.

Acceleration of gene transfection efficiency in neuroblastoma cells through polyethyleneimine/poly(methyl methacrylate) core-shell magnetic nanoparticles.

Background: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the potential of magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core/polyethyleneimine (PEI) shell (mag-PEI) nanoparticles, which possess high saturation magnetization for gene delivery. By using mag-PEI nanoparticles as a gene carrier, this study focused on evaluation of transfection efficiency under magnetic induction. The potential role of this newly synthesized nanosphere for therapeutic delivery of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH-2) gene was also investigated in cultured neuronal LAN-5 cells.

Chitosan and its quaternized derivative as effective long dsRNA carriers targeting shrimp virus in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 cells.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising strategy to combat shrimp viral pathogens at lab-scale experiments. Development of effective orally delivered agents for double-stranded (ds)RNA is necessary for RNAi application at farm level. Since continuous shrimp cell lines have not been established, we are developing a dsRNA-delivery system in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells for studying in vitro RNAi-mediated gene silencing of shrimp virus.