TNF-α Blocker Effect of Naringenin-Loaded Sericin Microparticles that Are Potentially Useful in the Treatment of Psoriasis

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effect of combined use of the racemic flavanone Naringenin (NRG) and the protein sericin as TNF-α blockers. Sericin (SMs) and (R/S) NRG-loaded Sericin (SNRGMs) microparticles were prepared by spray-drying, characterized in terms of morphology and particle size distribution, and encapsulation efficiency was determined. Concerning morphology and particle size distribution of microparticles, results indicated that they were not affected by the presence of NRG. The encapsulation efficiency was almost quantitative (93%), thus proving that sericin can be advantageously loaded with (R/S) NRG. Biological evaluation of (R/S) NRG, SMs and SNRGMs was then performed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC). SNRGMs resulted cytotoxic at the higher dose used (200 μg/mL) and the effect was greater than (R/S) NRG alone. Moreover, even if sericin alone was not effective in suppressing LPS-induced serum TNF-α levels, SNRGMs loaded with 9.3% of (R/S) NRG were significantly more potent than (R/S) NRG alone. In summary, this study provides the proof of concept that sericin-based microspheres loaded with TNF-α-blockers could contribute to the down regulation of the cytokine and represents the starting point for the development of new topical formulations for the treatment of middle-stage psoriasis.

Intra-articular Retention and Anti-arthritic Effects in Collagen-Induced Arthritis Model Mice by Injectable Small Interfering RNA Containing Hydrogel

“…Furthermore, it was reported that sericin has anti-inflammation effects itself. 15,16) Therefore, these results show that, although intraarticular administration of siRelA as a solution was unable to improve the symptoms sufficiently, combining it with the SC hydrogel improved retention, siRelA uptake and suppression of the RelA mRNA expression in immune-related cells, and consequently, led to higher efficacy. We would like to consider further studies are needed in order to indicate more detail the mechanism of SC hydrogel or actually knockdown effect or retention of siRNA in further research.…”

Growth Factors Delivery System for Skin Regeneration: An Advanced Wound Dressing

“…By a degumming process, SS is separated from fibroin with a small contamination (10%) of pigments (flavonoids), sugar, wax, mineral salts and other impurities to which are attributed some antioxidative activities. Based on its properties, SS finds wide consideration in wound healing since encourages collagen formation; it acts as anticarcinogenic, reducing the oxidative stress in cancer cells [28,29], and as anticoagulant, interfering with the fibril gathering of fibrin [30], presents an immunomodulatory activity [12,13] and is a vehicle for drug delivery [31]. The viscosity of its gel allows its use in food and cosmetic [32,33], in contact lens production and in bandage [34].…”

“…In this direction, various typology of scaffolds [9][10][11] were proposed to construct medical dressings for treatment of skin ulcers with the goal to produce easy-to-use medical devices. More recently, in a wide range of biomaterials with the main property of sustaining cell proliferation for new tissue formation and maturation, the silk proteins (fibroin and sericin) were proposed for their good biocompatibility, optimal mechanical properties, and controlled biodegradability profile to obtain bioactive scaffolds for wound healing applications [12][13][14]. In particular, Silk Sericin (SS) presented some biological properties that could support the healing process: ROS-scavenging [12,15], immunomodulatory [13,16], moisturizing [17], anti-tyrosinase and anti-elastase activities [12].…”

An overview of developing TNF-α targeted therapy for the treatment of psoriasis

“…Narigenin is a recently isolated secondary metabolite that shows promising anti-TNF-a effects in preclinical studies [109][110][111]. In one study, this compound was found to have increased anti-TNF-a activity when loaded into sericin microparticles (derived from the silk protein sericin) for topical application when compared with naringenin alone [111]. Naringenin's anti-inflammatory properties appear to stem from a blockade of TNF-a.…”