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Using a novel curcumin-loaded niosome nanoparticle (CM-NP), the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of curcumin on human glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). CM-NP has a diameter of~60 nm and a zeta potential of~− 35 mV with a constant physicochemical stability. The cytotoxic effects of free curcumin (CM) and CM-NP were investigated on GSCs obtained during the removal of a brain tumor. Both CM and CM-NP caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and viability of GSCs. The IC50 values of CM and CM-NP on GSCs were 50 and 137 μg/ml after 24 h, respectively. CM-NP exerted significantly higher effects on GSC viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and the expression of Bax, a proapoptotic marker, compared with CM. In addition, the migration of GSCs was significantly impaired following the administration of CM-NP compared with CM. Furthermore, CM-NP significantly increased the values of reactive oxygen species and decreased the mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IL-6 of GSCs compared with CM. Our data also revealed that CM-NP could significantly reduce the invasiveness of GSCs compared with CM, possibly via MCP-1-mediated pathways. In addition, CM-NP exhibited a significantly greater inhibitory effect on colony formation of GSCs compared with CM. These data indicate that CM-NP exhibited stronger anti-tumor effects on GSCs than CM. Although further in vivo investigations are warranted, our results suggest that CM-NP could be an ideal carrier to deliver curcumin for potential therapeutic approaches into glioblastoma.

Cases of monkeypox (MPV) are sharply rising around the world. While most efforts are being focused on the management of the first symptoms of monkeypox, such as cutaneous lesions and flu-like symptoms, the effect of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) on multiple organs still remains unclear. Recently, several neurological manifestations, such as headache, myalgia, malaise, fatigue, altered consciousness, agitation, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, have been reported in patients with MPV. In addition, data from experimental studies have indicated that MPXV can gain access to the central nervous system (CNS) through the olfactory epithelium and infected circulatory monocytes/macrophages as two probable neuroinvasive mechanisms. Therefore, there are growing concerns about the long-term effect of MPXV on the CNS and subsequent neurological complications. This paper highlights the importance of the neuroinvasive potential of MPXV, coupled with neurological manifestations.

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