The purpose of this work was to investigate the factors involved in the formation of a new type
of nanoparticle made of hydrophilic polysaccharides, chitosan (CS), and glucomannan (GM) and to study their
potential for the association and delivery of proteins. Two different types of glucomannan were used (non-phosphorylated Konjac GM (KGM) and phosphorylated GM), and two different approaches were adopted for the
preparation of the nanoparticles. These procedures involved the interaction of CS and GM in the presence or
absence of sodium tripolyphosphate, which acted as an ionic cross-linking agent for CS. Using both approaches,
it was possible to obtain nanoparticles with a size in the range from 200 to 700 nm and a variable zeta potential
(from −2 to +39 mV), depending on the formulation conditions. Despite the mild forces involved in their formation,
by adjusting the process variables, it was also possible to obtain nanoparticles that remain stable upon dilution
with phosphate buffer saline. The nanoparticles exhibited a great capacity for the association of the model peptide
insulin and the immunomodulatory protein P1, reaching association efficiency values as high as 89%. Moreover,
the release of the peptide/protein could be modulated by varying the composition of the system. Consequently,
the results presented here suggest that chitosan−glucomannan nanoparticles are promising carriers for the oral
administration of peptides and proteins.
The aim of the present work was to develop a new nanoparticle carrier, adapted for the oral administration of proteins and their delivery to the immune system. Chitosan and phosphorylated glucomannan were chosen as major constituents of the nanoparticles. Chitosan nanoparticles were formed by ionic gelation and then coated with glucomannan. Two different protocols were adopted for the formation of the glucomannan coating: protocol I, in which chitosan nanoparticles were isolated before their coating; protocol II, in which chitosan nanoparticles were not isolated, but coated with glucomannan in the presence of free chitosan. The results showed that, under the selected formulation conditions, the sizes of the nanoparticles ranged between 170 and 300 nm and their zeta potential values were inverted from positive to negative by the glucomannan coating. The nanoparticles prepared by the two protocols could be freeze-dried, in the presence or absence of cryoprotective agents, preserving their original characteristics. The results of the stability study evidenced the positive role of the glucomannan coating in preventing the aggregation of the nanoparticles in buffered media. Finally, the association of the inmunomodulatory protein complex P1 to the chitosan-glucomannan nanoparticles was investigated. The results showed that the association was not dependent on the chitosan: sodium tripoliphosphate ratio, but it was significantly affected by the presence of sodium phosphate in the protein structure.
Here we report the development of polymeric nanoparticles, made of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) chemically modified with mannosamine (MN), intended to specifically interact with the intestinal mucosa and facilitate the intestinal transport of proteins. PLGA-MN nanoparticles displayed nanometric size and a negative zeta potential, which was lower than that of the PLGA nanoparticles. This correlate well with the preferential location of the MN group on the nanoparticles surface obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS). The presence of MN groups in the polymer chain led to a different surface morphology noted by SEM, an increase of the encapsulation of model proteins, and to help stabilizing the nanoparticles in simulated intestinal fluids. Furthermore, the MN modification significantly enhanced the nanoparticle's interaction with the epithelial cells in human intestinal follicle-associated epithelium cell culture model. Overall, the MN modification significantly modifies the properties of PLGA nanoparticles making them more suitable as nanocarriers for oral protein delivery.
Membrane lipid therapy is a novel approach to rationally design or discover therapeutic molecules that target membrane lipids. This strategy has been used to design synthetic fatty acid analogs that are currently under study in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. In this context, and with the aim of controlling tumor cell growth, we have designed and synthesized a hydroxylated analog of triolein, hydroxytriolein (HTO). Both triolein and HTO regulate the biophysical properties of model membranes, and they inhibit the growth of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines in vitro. The molecular mechanism underlying the antiproliferative effect of HTO involves regulation of the lipid membrane structure, protein kinase C-a and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation, the production of reactive oxygen species, and autophagy. In vivo studies on a mouse model of NSCLC showed that HTO, but not triolein, impairs tumor growth, which could be associated with the relative resistance of HTO to enzymatic degradation. The data presented explain in part why olive oil (whose main component is the triacylglycerol triolein) is preventive but not therapeutic, and they demonstrate a potent effect of HTO against cancer. HTO shows a good safety profile, it can be administered orally, and it does not induce nontumor cell (fibroblast) death in vitro or side effects in mice, reflecting its specificity for cancer cells. For these reasons, HTO is a good candidate as a drug to combat cancer that acts by regulating lipid structure and function in the cancer cell membrane.
In this study, we compared the structural and physicochemical properties of different concentrations of alginate and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels and their biocompatibility and bioactivity after long-term culture with MC3T3-E1 cells. Both hydrogels were biocompatible and supported long-term viability and cell proliferation. Alginate induced higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity levels than HA. Calcium content was increased in concentration dependent manner in cells cultured with alginate compared to control. Culture with HA hydrogels reduced alkaline phosphatase (Alp), bone sialoprotein (Bsp) and osteocalcin (Oc), while alginate increased Oc mRNA levels. Unmodified alginate hydrogels supported osteoblast differentiation better than HA hydrogels, suggesting that alginates are more suitable for biomaterial applications in bone tissue engineering.
The complex dual mechanism of action of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2OHOA), a potent anti-tumor compound used in membrane lipid therapy (MLT), has yet to be fully elucidated. It has been demonstrated that 2OHOA increases the sphingomyelin (SM) cell content via SM synthase (SGMS) activation. Its presence in membranes provokes changes in the membrane lipid structure that induce the translocation of PKC to the membrane and the subsequent overexpression of CDK inhibitor proteins (e.g., p21(Cip1)). In addition, 2OHOA also induces the translocation of Ras to the cytoplasm, provoking the silencing of MAPK and its related pathways. These two differential modes of action are triggered by the interactions of 2OHOA with either lipids or proteins. To investigate the molecular basis of the different interactions of 2OHOA with membrane lipids and proteins, we synthesized the R and S enantiomers of this compound. A molecular dynamics study indicated that both enantiomers interact similarly with lipid bilayers, which was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. By contrast, only the S enantiomer was able to activate SMS in human glioma U118 cells. Moreover, the anti-tumor efficacy of the S enantiomer was greater than that of the R enantiomer, as the former can act through both MLT mechanisms. The present study provides additional information on this novel therapeutic approach and on the magnitude of the therapeutic effects of type-1 and type-2 MLT approaches. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Structure and Function: Relevance in the Cell's Physiology, Pathology and Therapy.
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