Targeted distribution of bacterial magnetosomes isolated from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 in healthy Sprague-Dawley rats.

Bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) have drawn great interest as novel magnetic targeted carriers and have been widely used as carriers for enzymes, nucleic acids and antibodies experimentally. However, BMs have rarely been employed as drug carriers in vivo mainly due to the unclear biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics of BMs. In this study, we provided a unique effective method for purification and sterilization of BMs.

Preparation and anti-tumor efficiency evaluation of doxorubicin-loaded bacterial magnetosomes: magnetic nanoparticles as drug carriers isolated from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense.

Bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) are commonly used as vehicles for certain enzymes, nucleic acids and antibodies, although they have never been considered drug carriers. To evaluate the clinical potential of BMs extracted from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense in cancer therapy, doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded onto the purified BMs at a ratio of 0.87 +/- 0.

Protective effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol on beta amyloid25-35 induced oxidative damage in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

Although experimental evidence has shown that the neuroprotective effect from estrogen may benefit postmenopausal women, but the clinical use of estrogen was limited by the risk of increasing the cases of mammary and endometrial cancer. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a novel phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL), on the cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Following a 24-h exposure of the cells to amyloid beta-peptide fragment 25-35 (A beta 25-35), a significant reduction in cell survival and activities of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as increased of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of doxorubicin loaded with bacterial magnetosomes (DBMs) on H22 cells: the magnetic bio-nanoparticles as drug carriers.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of cancer although effective therapeutic strategy especially targeted therapy is lacking. We recently employed bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) as the magnetic-targeted drug carrier and found an antitumor effect of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded BMs (DBMs) in EMT-6 and HL60 cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-neoplastic effects of DBMs on hepatic cancer.

Treatment with phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol might protect neurons of hippocampus in ovariectomized rats.

Although neuroprotective effects of estrogen on postmenopausal women have been recognized, an associated increased incidence of uterine and breast tumors has jeopardized the clinical use of estrogen. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a novel phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL), on ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Adult Wistar rats were ovariectomized or sham-operated and treatment with equivalent doses of 17beta-estradiol or alpha-ZAL for 5 wk.

[Cardiovascular effects of phytoestrogens].

Phytoestrogens are bioactive substances existing in natural plants. They have similar molecular structure to those of estrogens. In this article we introduced their classification and sources, and elucidated their effects on heart from aspects involving cardiac function and myocardial electrophysiology.

[Effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol on normal human breast].

Objective: To study the effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL) on normal human breast.

Methods: Ten specimens of normal human breast tissues were subcutaneously implanted into 30 athymic nude mice aged 9-10 weeks, one for 3 mice. These mice were then randomly divided into three groups: control group (without hormone treatment, n = 10), 1 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10), and 5 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10).