Macrophage apoptosis using alendronate in targeted nanoarchaeosomes.

Nanoarchaeosomes are non-hydrolysable nanovesicles made of archaeolipids, naturally functionalised with ligand for scavenger receptor class 1. We hypothesized that nitrogenate bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN) loaded nanoarchaeosomes (nanoarchaeosomes(ALN)) may constitute more efficient macrophage targeted apoptotic inducers than ALN loaded nanoliposomes (nanoliposomes (ALN)). To that aim, ALN was loaded in cholesterol containing (nanoARC-chol(ALN)) or not (nanoARC(ALN)) nanoarchaeosomes.

Concentration-dependent effects of sodium cholate and deoxycholate bile salts on breast cancer cells proliferation and survival.

Bile acids (BAs) are bioactive molecules that have potential therapeutic interest and their derived salts are used in several pharmaceutical systems. BAs have been associated with tumorigenesis of several tissues including the mammary tissue. Therefore, it is crucial to characterize their effects on cancer cells.

Validation of commercial Mas receptor antibodies for utilization in Western Blotting, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry studies.

Mas receptor (MasR) is a G protein-coupled receptor proposed as a candidate for mediating the angiotensin (Ang)-converting enzyme 2-Ang (1-7) protective axis of renin-angiotensin system. Because the role of this receptor is not definitively clarified, determination of MasR tissue distribution and expression levels constitutes a critical knowledge to fully understanding its function. Commercially available antibodies have been widely employed for MasR protein localization and quantification, but they have not been adequately validated.

Mitogenic effects of phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles on MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Lecithins, mainly composed of the phospholipids phosphatidylcholines (PC), have many different uses in the pharmaceutical and clinical field. PC are involved in structural and biological functions as membrane trafficking processes and cellular signaling. Considering the increasing applications of lecithin-based nanosystems for the delivery of therapeutic agents, the aim of the present work was to determine the effects of phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles over breast cancer cellular proliferation and signaling.