Quercetin and Its Nano-Formulations for Brain Tumor Therapy—Current Developments and Future Perspectives for Paediatric Studies

Abstract

The development of efficient treatments for tumors affecting the central nervous system (CNS) remains an open challenge. Particularly, gliomas are the most malignant and lethal form of brain tumors in adults, causing death in patients just over 6 months after diagnosis without treatment. The current treatment protocol consists of surgery, followed using synthetic drugs and radiation. However, the efficacy of these protocols is associated with side effects, poor prognosis and with a median survival of fewer than two years. Recently, many studies were focused on applying plant-derived products to manage various diseases, including brain cancers. Quercetin is a bioactive compound derived from various fruits and vegetables (asparagus, apples, berries, cherries, onions and red leaf lettuce). Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies highlighted that quercetin through multitargeted molecular mechanisms (apoptosis, necrosis, anti-proliferative activity and suppression of tumor invasion and migration) effectively reduces the progression of tumor cells. This review aims to summarize current developments and recent advances of quercetin’s anticancer potential in brain tumors. Since all reported studies demonstrating the anti-cancer potential of quercetin were conducted using adult models, it is suggested to expand further research in the field of paediatrics. This could offer new perspectives on brain cancer treatment for paediatric patients.

Organoid Intelligence: Bridging Artificial Intelligence for Biological Computing and Neurological Insights

“…In contrast, brain organoids offer a more accurate and physiologically relevant model of the human brain, making them an attractive platform for drug testing [22]. Researchers are now able to test the effects of potential drugs on these organoids by recreating the disease conditions and providing insights into the drug's efficacy and potential side-effects [23]. Brain organoids can also be used for personalized medicine.…”

“…In the context of brain organoids, AI can be used to analyze large-scale data sets, identify patterns, and make predictions that would be impossible for humans to do manually. This can include everything from predicting the development of specific cell types to identifying the effects of different drugs or genetic modifications [23]. The first step in training brain organoids using AI is the creation of the organoids themselves.…”

Analysis of Gene Expression Networks in Primary Central Nervous System Tumors for Drug Repurposing Prospects

“…Quercetin is a polyphenol with antioxidant properties, its anticancer mechanism focuses on apoptosis through PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/β-catenin, and RAS/MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways, Upregulation of P53 protein through ROS generation and ER stress was also illustrated in the literature. Tumor invasion, proliferation, and migration are suppressed by MMP-9, PLD-1, ecto-5'-NT/CD73 inhibition, decrease in FN1, and cell arrest by G2 immune checkpoint [125] In rodent models, vorinostat has prevented brain metastases by 62% [126]. Vorinostat was also reported in peripheral mononuclear cells and tumor tissue acting as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors as an antitumor agent [127].…”

Exploring the Microfluidic Production of Biomimetic Hybrid Nanoparticles and Their Pharmaceutical Applications

“…In response to the concerns regarding conventional drug delivery systems, research teams are progressively focusing on the development and application of nanoparticles (NPs) as drug carriers, including liposomes, polymer NPs, solid lipid NPs, hybrid NPs, and biomimetic NPs [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In comparison with free medicinal molecules, NP-based delivery methods have numerous significant benefits [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], such as improved drug solubility, stability, large drug payloads, precise delivery, and the ability to be administered via various routes, most notably through parenteral administration [ 18 , 19 ].…”