Phosphatidylinositol synthesis, its selective salvage, and inter-regulation of anionic phospholipids in Toxoplasma gondii.

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) serves as an integral component of eukaryotic membranes; however, its biosynthesis in apicomplexan parasites remains poorly understood. Here we show that Toxoplasma gondii-a common intracellular pathogen of humans and animals-can import and co-utilize myo-inositol with the endogenous CDP-diacylglycerol to synthesize PtdIns. Equally, the parasite harbors a functional PtdIns synthase (PIS) containing a catalytically-vital CDP-diacylglycerol phosphotransferase motif in the Golgi apparatus.

Non-hydroxamate inhibitors of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR): A critical review and future perspective.

1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) catalyzes the second step of the non-mevalonate (or MEP) pathway that functions in several organisms and plants for the synthesis of isoprenoids. DXR is essential for the survival of multiple pathogenic bacteria/parasites, including those that cause tuberculosis and malaria in humans. DXR function is inhibited by fosmidomycin (1), a natural product, which forms a chelate with the active site divalent metal (Mg/Mn) through its hydroxamate metal-binding group (MBG).

Multi-component clobetasol-loaded monolithic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles ameliorate imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in Swiss albino mice.

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) exhibit several advantages over polymeric and non-polymeric systems in terms of improved drug loading, controlled release, stability, and cellular uptake. Herein we report a scalable and stable monolithic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) consisting of a combination of lipids (solid and liquid) and an amphiphilic copolymer, mPEG-PLA. Clobetasol propionate, a topical corticosteroid, was encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of these LPNs that showed spherical shaped particles with a z-average size of 94.

Delivery of Docetaxel to Brain Employing Piperine-Tagged PLGA-Aspartic Acid Polymeric Micelles: Improved Cytotoxic and Pharmacokinetic Profiles.

In this study, poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) was conjugated with aspartic acid and was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Docetaxel-loaded polymeric micelles were prepared, and piperine was tagged. The neuroblastoma cytotoxicity studies revealed a substantially higher cytotoxic potential of the developed system to that of plain docetaxel, which was further corroborated by cellular uptake employing confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Aspartic acid tagged carbon nanotubols as a tool to deliver docetaxel to breast cancer cells: Reduced hemotoxicity with improved cytotoxicity.

The present study aimed to explore the potential of hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTnols) conjugated with aspartic acid for the delivery of docetaxel (DTX) to breast cancer cells. The conjugate was well-characterized by FT-IR, NMR, XRD and FE-SEM. The nanoconjugate offered a hydrodynamic diameter of 86.

Cholesterol and Morpholine Grafted Cationic Amphiphilic Copolymers for miRNA-34a Delivery.

miR-34a is a master tumor suppressor playing a key role in the several signaling mechanisms involved in cancer. However, its delivery to the cancer cells is the bottleneck in its clinical translation. Herein we report cationic amphiphilic copolymers grafted with cholesterol (chol), N, N-dimethyldipropylenetriamine (cation chain) and 4-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine (morph) for miR-34a delivery.

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanocarriers for delivering cancer therapeutics.

Cancer remained a major cause of death providing diversified challenges in terms of treatment including non-specific toxicity, chemoresistance and relapse. Nanotechnology- based delivery systems grabbed tremendous attention for delivering cancer therapeutics as they provide benefits including controlled drug release, improved biological half-life, reduced toxicity and targeted delivery. Majority of the nanocarriers consists of either a polymer or a lipid component along with other excipients to stabilize the colloidal system.