Advancing Therapeutic Strategies with Polymeric Drug Conjugates for Nucleic Acid Delivery and Treatment.

The effective clinical translation of messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) for therapeutic purposes hinges on the development of efficient delivery systems. Key challenges include their susceptibility to degradation, limited cellular uptake, and inefficient intracellular release. Polymeric drug conjugates (PDCs) offer a promising solution, combining the benefits of polymeric carriers and therapeutic agents for targeted delivery and treatment.

Self-Assembly of Rhein and Matrine Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wound Healing.

Carrier-free self-assembly has gradually shifted the focus of research on natural products, which effectively improve the bioavailability and the drug-loading rate. However, in spite of the existing studies, the development of self-assembled natural phytochemicals that possess pharmacological effects still has scope for further exploration and enhancement. Herein, a nano-delivery system was fabricated through the direct self-assembly of Rhein and Matrine and was identified as a self-assembled Rhein-Matrine nanoparticles (RM NPs).

Kallistatin protects against bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting angiogenesis and inflammation.

Aberrant angiogenesis and vascular remodeling are the main features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Kallistatin is an anti-angiogenic peptide with known effects on endothelial cells. This study aimed to demonstrate that kallistatin has beneficial effects on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a rat model by inhibiting angiogenesis.

Achyranthes bidentate saponins protect rat articular chondrocytes against interleukin-1β-induced inflammation and apoptosis in vitro.

Achyranthes bidentate Blume (Niuxi) is often employed for treatment of arthritis in Traditional Chinese Medicine and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies proved the oleanane-type saponins to be the main bioactive principles. In the present study, protective effects of A.

Uric acid transporters hiding in the intestine.

Context: Hyperuricaemia is known as an abnormally increased uric acid level in the blood. Although it was observed many years ago, since uric acid excretion via the intestine pathway accounted for approximately one-third of total elimination of uric acid, the molecular mechanism of 'extra-renal excretion' was poorly understood until the finding of uric acid transporters.

Objective: The objective of this study was to gather all information related to uric acid transporters in the intestine and present this information as a comprehensive and systematic review article.

Access to Indole Derivatives from Diaryliodonium Salts and 2-Alkynylanilines.

An efficient, environmentally friendly, and operationally simple procedure to 1,2-disubstituted indoles from 2-alkynylanilines and diaryliodonium salts has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly under metal-free conditions. The products obtained could be transferred into 3,3'-diindolylmethane with DMSO catalyzed by palladium.

[The effect of Connexin43 downregulation on biological functions of HUVEC].

Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells.

Ginsenoside Ro suppresses interleukin-1β-induced apoptosis and inflammation in rat chondrocytes by inhibiting NF-κB.

This study investigated effects of Ginsenoside Ro (Ro) on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced apoptosis and inflammation in rat chondrocytes. The rat chondrocytes were co-treated with IL-1β (10 ng·kg(-1)) and Ro (50, 100 and 200 μmol·L(-1)) for 48 h. Chondrocytes viability was detected by the MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining assay.

Neuroprotection by saponins.

Saponins, an important group of bioactive plant natural products, are glycosides of triterpenoid or steroidal aglycones. Their diverse biological activities are ascribed to their different structures. Saponins have long been recognized as key ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

Copper-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical arylurea derivatives via tandem reaction of diaryliodonium salts with N-arylcyanamide.

An efficient "one-pot" approach to multiple substituted ureas from N-arylcyanamide and diaryliodonium salts has been presented. The two-step procedure involved the weak base-promoted chemoselective arylation of secondary amines with diaryliodonium and Cu-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of N-arylcyanamide with second diaryliodonium. The diverse unsymmetrical arylureas were obtained in up to 91% yield for 29 examples.

β-Ecdysterone suppresses interleukin-1β-induced apoptosis and inflammation in rat chondrocytes via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by a loss of articular cartilage accompanied with inflammation of synovium. β-Ecdysterone (Ecd), a major component of several Chinese herbal medicines, e.g.

Paeoniflorin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced permeability of endothelial cells: involvements of F-actin expression and phosphorylations of PI3K/Akt and PKC.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of paeoniflorin, the main active ingredient of the medicinal plant Paeonia lactiflora Pall., on the permeability of endothelial cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the underlying mechanisms. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated by LPS.

[Research progresses of plant polysaccharides on cell adhesion].

Cell adhesion mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) constitutes essential life phenomenon. In inflammation, immunity, infection, thrombosis, tumor metastasis and wound healing, cell adhesion comes into being the basic physiological and pathological process. Intervening with cell adhesion has been the important therapeutic and prophylactic strategies for diseases.

Saponin-rich fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots protects rabbit chondrocytes against nitric oxide-induced apoptosis via preventing mitochondria impairment and caspase-3 activation.

Our previous study reported that the saponin-rich fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots (SFC) could effectively alleviate experimental osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate in rats through protecting articular cartilage and inhibiting local inflammation. The present study was performed to investigate the preventive effects of SFC on articular chondrocyte, and explore the underlying mechanisms. Primary rabbit chondrocytes were cultured and exposed to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor.

Prevention of FGF-2-induced angiogenesis by scopoletin, a coumarin compound isolated from Erycibe obtusifolia Benth, and its mechanism of action.

Previous work in our laboratory has shown that scopoletin, one of the main bioactive constituents of Erycibe obtusifolia Benth stems, exerts anti-arthritic activity in vivo partly by preventing synovial angiogenesis. The present study was performed to further investigate the anti-angiogenic potential of scopoletin, focusing on the mechanisms of action in vitro. In the aortic ring sprouting assay, scopoletin (10, 30 and 100 μM) significantly inhibited the growth of endothelial sprouts in a concentration-dependent manner.

Qi-Shao-Shuang-Gan, a combination of Astragalus membranaceus saponins with Paeonia lactiflora glycosides, ameliorates polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in mice.

The present study was performed to investigate the anti-septic effects of Qi-Shao-Shuang-Gan (QSSG), a combination of Astragalus membranaceus saponins (SAM) and Paeonia lactiflora glycosides (GPL), in septic mice induced by cecal ligation and puncture. QSSG was shown to elevate the survival rate of mice, decrease infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into livers and lungs, lower serum levels of myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, and lactate dehydrogenase, and decrease mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin-1β in livers. It also restored the impaired expressions of protein C (PC) mRNA in mouse livers and expressions of thrombomodulin and endothelial PC receptor mRNA in endothelial cells.

A simple adhesion assay for studying interactions between platelets and endothelial cells in vitro.

Cell adhesion plays a key role during various physiological and pathological processes. Many studies have been performed to understand the interaction of platelets with endothelial cells (ECs) during the past decades. Modulation of their interaction has been shown to be therapeutically useful in thrombotic diseases.

Polysaccharide of radix pseudostellariae improves chronic fatigue syndrome induced by poly I:C in mice.

Radix Pseudostellariae is used as a tonic drug in traditional Chinese medicine with immunomodulating and anti-fatigue activities, and the polysaccharide is considered as the main active component. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the polysaccharide isolated from Radix Pseudostellariae (PRP) on mouse chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) induced by intraperitoneal injection of polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C), a double-stranded synthetic RNA. It has shown that the fatigue symptom of mice lasted at least 1 week as evaluated by forced swimming time.

Heparin: an intervenor in cell communication.

It was nearly 100 years since heparin was discovered, but the role of this widely used anticoagulant is still remarkably thought provoking now. During pathological processes such as atherosclerosis, inflammation, cancer and infection, phenomena of cell adhesion are ubiquitous and complicated. Heparin exerts anti-adhesion activity appearing as a common mechanism of its potential polypharmacology in those diseases.

Therapeutic effect of the saponin fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots on osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate through protecting articular cartilage.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the saponin fraction from Clematis chinensis Osbeck roots (SFC) on an osteoarthritis model in rats and to explore its underlying mechanisms. Osteoarthritis was induced by intraarticular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into knee joints of rats, and SFC and diclofenac were orally administered once a day for 28 consecutive days. Joint swelling, macroscopic observation, histological assessment and proteoglycan (PG) degradation were examined.

Saponin fraction from Astragalus membranaceus roots protects mice against polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture by inhibiting inflammation and upregulating protein C pathway.

Sepsis remains the leading cause of death in intensive care units. Uncontrolled systemic inflammation and an impaired protein C pathway are two important contributors to sepsis pathophysiology. Based on the beneficial effects of the saponin fraction from Astragalus membranaceus roots (SAM) against inflammation, liver dysfunction, and endothelium injury, we investigated the potential protective roles and underlying mechanisms of SAM on polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice.

[Research on effect of total saponins of yinfenglun on uterine].

Objective: To research the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun on uterine.

Method: Models of uterine inflammation were established to observe the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun. Uterine contractive effects were studied on rats in vitro and on rabbit in vivo.

[Research on hemostatic effect of total saponins of yinfenglun].

Objective: To research the hemostatic effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun.

Method: Bleeding time and volume were deteminded in mice after tails being cut. Clotting times were researched on mice, rats and dogs.

[Study on antiplatelet effect of radix astragali total saponin combined with Radix paeoniae rubra glucosides].

Objective: To research effects of Radix Astragali total saponin combined with Radix Paeoniae Rubra glucosides (double glucosides of Qi-Shao, DGQS) on antiplatelet.

Methods: Antiplatelet effect of DGQS at three dosages (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) were studied. And levels of granule membrane protein 140 (GMP-140), TXA2 and PGI2 in rat plasma were determined.