The Formulation of the N-Acetylglucosamine as Nanoparticles Increases Its Anti-Inflammatory Activities: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Nanomedicine can represent a new strategy to treat several types of diseases such as those with inflammatory aetiology. Through this strategy, it is possible to obtain nanoparticles with controlled shape, size, and eventually surface charge. Moreover, the use of molecules in nanoform may allow more effective delivery into the diseased cells and tissues, reducing toxicity and side effects of the used compounds. The aim of the present manuscript was the evaluation of the effects of N-acetylglucosamine in nanoform (GlcNAc NP) in an in vitro model of osteoarthritis (OA). Human primary chondrocytes were treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α to simulate a low-grade inflammation and then treated with both GlcNAc and GlcNAc NP, in order to find the lowest concentrations able to counteract the inflammatory state of the cells and ensure a chondroprotective action. The findings showed that GlcNAc NP was able to decrease the pro-inflammatory mediators, IL-6 and IL-8, which are among the main effectors of inflammation; moreover, the nanoparticles downregulated the production of metalloprotease enzymes. GlcNAc NP was effective at a very low concentration compared to GlcNAc in its native form. Furthermore, GlcNAc NP stimulated an increase in collagen type II synthesis. In conclusion, the GlcNAc in nanoform showed better performance than GlcNAc, at concentrations lower than those reached in the joints after oral administration to patients of 1.5 g/die of glucosamine.

Repositioned Natural Compounds and Nanoformulations: A Promising Combination to Counteract Cell Damage and Inflammation in Respiratory Viral Infections

“…Apart from marketed drugs, many natural molecules have also been studied to treat or manage symptoms of respiratory viral infections. In recent years, studies describing the positive effects of natural products, mainly extracted from plants, in the treatment and healing of various pathologies have been numerous [ 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], and also in the field of virology, several phytochemicals and phytocomplexes have been screened to test their effectiveness [ 73 , 74 , 75 ]. Moreover, compounds of natural origin are very well-placed in the drug repositioning strategy, as they are characterized by unique properties due to their various phytochemical composition to which many pharmacological activities are attributed.…”