Co-sonication of curcumin and acidic sophorolipid in aqueous solution is shown to lead to a dramatic enhancement of curcumin bioavailability through size reduction and encapsulation. The interaction between the two is studied and discussed based on optical absorption, photoluminescence, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, FE-SEM, TEM, Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The cytotoxicity effects of curcumin on breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, are shown to be significantly enhanced by the formation of its complex with sophorolipid. The relative cytotoxicity of curcumin with its SL(A) complex is more due to the presence of the glucose moiety. The results further suggest that sophorolipid based formulations, which solubilize and nanoencapsulate curcumin after lipid digestion, show great potential for curcumin cell entry.

Cinnamaldehyde, the bioactive component of the spice cinnamon, and its derivatives have been shown to possess anti-cancer activity against various cancer cell lines. However, its hydrophobic nature invites attention for efficient drug delivery systems that would enhance the bioavailability of cinnamaldehyde without affecting its bioactivity. Here, we report the synthesis of stable aqueous suspension of cinnamaldehyde tagged Fe3O4 nanoparticles capped with glycine and pluronic polymer (CPGF NPs) for their potential application in drug delivery and hyperthermia in breast cancer. The monodispersed superparamagnetic NPs had an average particulate size of ∼20 nm. TGA data revealed the drug payload of ∼18%. Compared to the free cinnamaldehyde, CPGF NPs reduced the viability of breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and MDAMB231, at lower doses of cinnamaldehyde suggesting its increased bioavailability and in turn its therapeutic efficacy in the cells. Interestingly, the NPs were non-toxic to the non-cancerous HEK293 and MCF10A cell lines compared to the free cinnamaldehyde. The novelty of CPGF nanoparticulate system was that it could induce cytotoxicity in both ER/PR positive/Her2 negative (MCF7) and ER/PR negative/Her2 negative (MDAMB231) breast cancer cells, the latter being insensitive to most of the chemotherapeutic drugs. The NPs decreased the growth of the breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and altered their migration through reduction in MMP-2 expression. CPGF NPs also decreased the expression of VEGF, an important oncomarker of tumor angiogenesis. They induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells through loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase-3. Interestingly, upon exposure to the radiofrequency waves, the NPs heated up to 41.6°C within 1 min, suggesting their promise as a magnetic hyperthermia agent. All these findings indicate that CPGF NPs prove to be potential nano-chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer.

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The current study reports the anticancer activity of homeopathic preparations of TC against breast cancer and reveals their nanoparticulate nature. These preliminary results warrant further mechanistic studies at both in vitro and in vivo levels to evaluate the potential of TC as nanomedicine in breast cancer.

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Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women all over the world. Despite advanced treatment modalities, the systemic toxicity remains a major side effect resulting into patient morbidity and mortality. Recently, natural products are being targeted for drug discovery because of their major role in cancer prevention and treatment. Plants have been the main source of natural compounds that are being used in medicine. However, most of the herbal bioactives are hydrophobic in nature resulting into their limited bioavailability and in turn their therapeutic efficacy. To overcome this problem, different nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, nanocapsules, liposomes, quantum dots, phytosomes, dendrimers and nanoemulsions have been conjugated with anticancer herbal bioactives. Such nanochemotherapeutic agents exhibit increased bioavaibility, enhanced pharmacological activity and stability with reduced systemic toxicity. While majority of the reviews focus upon herbal loaded nanoformulations for various biological applications, this report is an attempt to particularly highlight the potential of nanotechnology in the delivery of herbal bioactives for breast cancer management.

Correction for ‘From micron to nano-curcumin by sophorolipid co-processing: highly enhanced bioavailability, fluorescence, and anti-cancer efficacy’ by Pradeep Kumar Singh et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 60334–60341.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, India has substantially contributed to drug development and clinical research. Task Force on Repurposing of Drugs (TFORD) for COVID19 has tried to look at the overall position of India in terms of interventional clinical trials and highlight learnings which can prepare us to fight future pandemics in a better way. Trials registered on CTRI from March 2020 to December 2020 were considered for this purpose. From a total 409 trials registered, 108 focused on modern drugs. From 108 trials studied, 92 were randomized trials, 34 trials were sponsored by Indian Pharmaceutical industry, 23 were self-sponsored and 20 were sponsored by Research institutes and hospitals. Only 83 trials studied the repurposed drugs. An unfortunate revelation was that out of 108 trials, 79 showed as not yet recruiting. This highlights the urgent need for Government, Research institutions and Indian Pharmaceutical industries to break down silos and work together towards this common cause.