Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 98 in total

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  1. Fulltext A review of small molecules and drug delivery applications using gold and iron nanoparticles
    Jahangirian H, Kalantari K, Izadiyan Z, Rafiee-Moghaddam R, Shameli K, Webster TJ
    Int J Nanomedicine, 2019;14:1633-1657.
    PMID: 30880970 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S184723
    Conventional cancer treatment techniques show several limitations including low or no specificity and consequently a low efficacy in discriminating between cancer cells and healthy cells. Recent nanotechnology developments have introduced smart and novel therapeutic nanomaterials that take advantage of various targeting approaches. The use of nanotechnology in medicine and, more specifically, drug delivery is set to spread even more rapidly than it has over the past two decades. Currently, many nanoparticles (NPs) are under investigation for drug delivery including those for cancer therapy. Targeted nanomaterials bind selectively to cancer cells and greatly affect them with only a minor effect on healthy cells. Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs), specifically, have been identified as significant candidates for new cancer therapeutic modalities because of their biocompatibility, easy functionalization and fabrication, optical tunable characteristics, and chemophysical stability. In the last decade, there has been significant research on Au-NPs and their biomedical applications. Functionalized Au-NPs represent highly attractive and promising candidates for drug delivery, owing to their unique dimensions, tunable surface functionalities, and controllable drug release. Further, iron oxide NPs due to their "superparamagnetic" properties have been studied and have demonstrated successful employment in numerous applications. In targeted drug delivery systems, drug-loaded iron oxide NPs can accumulate at the tumor site with the aid of an external magnetic field. This can lead to incremental effectiveness in drug release to the tumor site and vanquish cancer cells without harming healthy cells. In order for the application of iron oxide NPs in the human body to be realized, they should be biodegradable and biocompatible to minimize toxicity. This review illustrates recent advances in the field drug and small molecule delivery such as fluorouracil, folic acid, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and daunorubicin, specifically when using gold and iron oxide NPs as carriers of anticancer therapeutic agents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  2. PEGylation: a promising strategy to overcome challenges to cancer-targeted nanomedicines: a review of challenges to clinical transition and promising resolution
    Hussain Z, Khan S, Imran M, Sohail M, Shah SWA, de Matas M
    Drug Deliv Transl Res, 2019 06;9(3):721-734.
    PMID: 30895453 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-019-00631-4
    On account of heterogeneity, intrinsic ability of drug resistance, and the potential to invade to other parts of the body (malignancy), the development of a rational anticancer regimen is dynamically challenging. Chemotherapy is considered the gold standard for eradication of malignancy and mitigation of its reoccurrence; nevertheless, it has also been associated with detrimental effects to normal tissues owing to its nonselectivity and nominal penetration into the tumor tissues. In recent decades, nanotechnology-guided interventions have been well-acclaimed due to their ability to facilitate target-specific delivery of drugs, avoidance of nontarget distribution, alleviated systemic toxicity, and maximized drug internalization into cancer cells. Despite their numerous biomedical advantages, clinical translation of nanotechnology-mediated regimens is challenging due to their short plasma half-life and early clearance. PEGylation of nanomedicines has been adapted as an efficient strategy to extend plasma half-life and diminished early plasma clearance via alleviating the opsonization (uptake by monocytes and macrophages) of drug nanocarriers. PEGylation provides "stealth" properties to nanocarrier's surfaces which diminished their recognition or uptake by cellular immune system, leading to longer circulation time, reduced dosage and frequency, and superior site-selective delivery of drugs. Therefore, this review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the pharmaceutical advantages and therapeutic feasibility of PEGylation of nanocarriers in improving tumor-specific targetability, reversing drug resistance, and improving pharmacokinetic profile of drugs and anticancer efficacy. Challenges to PEGylated cancer nanomedicines, possible adaptations to resolve those challenges, and pivotal requirement for interdisciplinary research for development of rational anticancer regimen have also been pondered.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  3. Targeting luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone: A potential therapeutics to treat gynecological and other cancers
    Ghanghoria R, Kesharwani P, Tekade RK, Jain NK
    J Control Release, 2018 01 10;269:277-301.
    PMID: 27840168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.11.002
    Cancer is a prime healthcare problem that is significantly responsible for universal mortality. Despite distinguished advancements in medical field, chemotherapy is still the mainstay for the treatment of cancers. During chemotherapy, approximately 90% of the administered dose goes to normal tissues, with mere 2-5% precisely reaching the cancerous tissues. Subsequently, the resultant side effects and associated complications lead to dose reduction or even discontinuance of the therapy. Tumor directed therapy therefore, represents a fascinating approach to augment the therapeutic potential of anticancer bioactives as well as overcomes its side effects. The selective overexpression of LHRH receptors on human tumors compared to normal tissues makes them a suitable marker for diagnostics, molecular probes and targeted therapeutics. These understanding enabled the rational to conjugate LHRH with various cytotoxic drugs (doxorubicin, DOX; camptothecin etc.), cytotoxic genes [small interfering RNA (siRNA), micro RNA (miRNA)], as well as therapeutic nanocarriers (nanoparticles, liposomes or dendrimers) to facilitate their tumor specific delivery. LHRH conjugation enhances their delivery via LHRH receptor mediated endocytosis. Numerous cytotoxic analogs of LHRH were developed over the past two decades to target various types of cancers. The potency of LHRH compound were reported to be as high as 5,00-10,00 folds compared to parent molecules. The objective of this review article is to discuss reports on various LHRH analogs with special emphasis on their prospective application in the medical field. The article also focuses on the attributes that must be taken into account while designing a LHRH therapeutics with special account to the biochemistry and applications of these conjugates. The record on various cytotoxic analogs of LHRH are also discussed. It is anticipated that the knowledge of therapeutic and toxicological aspects of LHRH compounds will facilitate the development of a more systematic approach to the targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents using peptides.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  4. In vitro evaluation of the inhalable quercetin loaded nanoemulsion for pulmonary delivery
    Arbain NH, Salim N, Masoumi HRF, Wong TW, Basri M, Abdul Rahman MB
    Drug Deliv Transl Res, 2019 04;9(2):497-507.
    PMID: 29541999 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-018-0509-5
    Bioavailability of quercetin, a flavonoid potentially known to combat cancer, is challenging due to hydrophobic nature. Oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion system could be used as nanocarrier for quercertin to be delivered to lung via pulmonary delivery. The novelty of this nanoformulation was introduced by using palm oil ester/ricinoleic acid as oil phase which formed spherical shape nanoemulsion as measured by transmission electron microscopy and Zetasizer analyses. High energy emulsification method and D-optimal mixture design were used to optimize the composition towards the volume median diameter. The droplet size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of the optimized formulation were 131.4 nm, 0.257, and 51.1 mV, respectively. The formulation exhibited high drug entrapment efficiency and good stability against phase separation and storage at temperature 4 °C for 3 months. It was discovered that the system had an acceptable median mass aerodynamic diameter (3.09 ± 0.05 μm) and geometric standard deviation (1.77 ± 0.03) with high fine particle fraction (90.52 ± 0.10%), percent dispersed (83.12 ± 1.29%), and percent inhaled (81.26 ± 1.28%) for deposition in deep lung. The in vitro release study demonstrated that the sustained release pattern of quercetin from naneomulsion formulation up to 48 h of about 26.75% release and it was in adherence to Korsmeyer's Peppas mechanism. The cytotoxicity study demonstrated that the optimized nanoemulsion can potentially induce cyctotoxicity towards A549 lung cancer cells without affecting the normal cells. These results of the study suggest that nanoemulsion is a potential carrier system for pulmonary delivery of molecules with low water solubility like quercetin.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  5. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: prospective feasibility and efficacy study in Malaysian patients
    Elsherbieny E, Choo P, Alzoubi A
    Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther, 2008 4 1;1(2):124-9.
    PMID: 20063540
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  6. Fulltext Facile synthesis of elastin nanogels encapsulated decursin for castrated resistance prostate cancer therapy
    Rather GA, Selvakumar P, Srinivas KS, Natarajan K, Kaushik A, Rajan P, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Jul 02;14(1):15095.
    PMID: 38956125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65999-x
    Nanogels offer hope for precise drug delivery, while addressing drug delivery hurdles is vital for effective prostate cancer (PCa) management. We developed an injectable elastin nanogels (ENG) for efficient drug delivery system to overcome castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) by delivering Decursin, a small molecule inhibitor that blocks Wnt/βcatenin pathways for PCa. The ENG exhibited favourable characteristics such as biocompatibility, flexibility, and low toxicity. In this study, size, shape, surface charge, chemical composition, thermal stability, and other properties of ENG were used to confirm the successful synthesis and incorporation of Decursin (DEC) into elastin nanogels (ENG) for prostate cancer therapy. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained release of DEC from the ENG over 120 h, with a pH-dependent release pattern. DU145 cell line induces moderate cytotoxicity of DEC-ENG indicates that nanomedicine has an impact on cell viability and helps strike a balance between therapeutics efficacy and safety while the EPR effect enables targeted drug delivery to prostate tumor sites compared to free DEC. Morphological analysis further supported the effectiveness of DEC-ENG in inducing cell death. Overall, these findings highlight the promising role of ENG-encapsulated decursin as a targeted drug delivery system for CRPC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  7. Aptamer-Mediated Polymeric Vehicles for Enhanced Cell-Targeted Drug Delivery
    Tan KX, Danquah MK, Sidhu A, Yon LS, Ongkudon CM
    Curr Drug Targets, 2018 02 08;19(3):248-258.
    PMID: 27321771 DOI: 10.2174/1389450117666160617120926
    BACKGROUND: The search for smart delivery systems for enhanced pre-clinical and clinical pharmaceutical delivery and cell targeting continues to be a major biomedical research endeavor owing to differences in the physicochemical characteristics and physiological effects of drug molecules, and this affects the delivery mechanisms to elicit maximum therapeutic effects. Targeted drug delivery is a smart evolution essential to address major challenges associated with conventional drug delivery systems. These challenges mostly result in poor pharmacokinetics due to the inability of the active pharmaceutical ingredients to specifically act on malignant cells thus, causing poor therapeutic index and toxicity to surrounding normal cells. Aptamers are oligonucleotides with engineered affinities to bind specifically to their cognate targets. Aptamers have gained significant interests as effective targeting elements for enhanced therapeutic delivery as they can be generated to specifically bind to wide range of targets including proteins, peptides, ions, cells and tissues. Notwithstanding, effective delivery of aptamers as therapeutic vehicles is challenged by cell membrane electrostatic repulsion, endonuclease degradation, low pH cleavage, and binding conformation stability.

    OBJECTIVE: The application of molecularly engineered biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric particles with tunable features such as surface area and chemistry, particulate size distribution and toxicity creates opportunities to develop smart aptamer-mediated delivery systems for controlled drug release.

    RESULTS: This article discusses opportunities for particulate aptamer-drug formulations to advance current drug delivery modalities by navigating active ingredients through cellular and biomolecular traffic to target sites for sustained and controlled release at effective therapeutic dosages while minimizing systemic cytotoxic effects.

    CONCLUSION: A proposal for a novel drug-polymer-aptamer-polymer (DPAP) design of aptamer-drug formulation with stage-wise delivery mechanism is presented to illustrate the potential efficacy of aptamer- polymer cargos for enhanced cell targeting and drug delivery.

    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  8. Fulltext A pH-sensitive, biobased calcium carbonate aragonite nanocrystal as a novel anticancer delivery system
    Shafiu Kamba A, Ismail M, Tengku Ibrahim TA, Zakaria ZA
    Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:587451.
    PMID: 24324966 DOI: 10.1155/2013/587451
    The synthesised biobased calcium carbonate nanocrystals had demonstrated to be an effective carrier for delivery of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The use of these nanocrystals displayed high levels of selectivity and specificity in achieving effective cancer cell death without nonspecific toxicity. These results confirmed that DOX was intercalated into calcium carbonate nanocrystals at high loading and encapsulation efficiency (4.8 and 96%, resp.). The CaCO₃/DOX nanocrystals are relatively stable at neutral pH (7.4), resulting in slow release, but the nanocrystals progressively dissociated in acidic pH (4.8) regimes, triggering faster release of DOX. The CaCO₃/DOX nanocrystals exhibited high uptake by MDA MB231 breast cancer cells and a promising potential delivery of DOX to target cells. In vitro chemosensitivity using MTT, modified neutral red/trypan blue assay, and LDH on MDA MB231 breast cancer cells revealed that CaCO₃/DOX nanocrystals are more sensitive and gave a greater reduction in cell growth than free DOX. Our findings suggest that CaCO₃ nanocrystals hold tremendous promise in the areas of controlled drug delivery and targeted cancer therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  9. Intralesional vincristine use for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in a puma (Puma concolor)
    Sandoval BJ, Amat AC, Sabri J, Ramli MN
    J. Zoo Wildl. Med., 2013 Dec;44(4):1059-62.
    PMID: 24450069
    A 14-yr-old male puma (Puma concolor) was presented to the veterinary staff of the National Zoo in Malaysia for an auricular mass. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by histologic examination of a biopsy. Systemic administration of chemotherapy using vincristine (0.5 mg/m2 i.v. q. 7 days for six treatments) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg i.m. q. 72 hr x 7 days) caused side effects of vomiting, weight loss, and alopecia and did not improve the size or appearance of the tumor. Intralesional vincristine injections (0.2 mg q. 7 days for two treatments) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg i.m. q. 72 hr x 15 days) were administered, resulting in complete tumor regression after 14 days of treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  10. Strategies and validation for siRNA-based therapeutics for the reversal of multi-drug resistance in cancer
    Fatemian T, Othman I, Chowdhury EH
    Drug Discov Today, 2014 Jan;19(1):71-8.
    PMID: 23974068 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.08.007
    Resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs is the main reason for the failure of traditional cancer treatments. Various cellular components and different loops within the signaling pathways contribute to drug resistance which could be modulated with the aim to restore drug efficacy. Unveiling the molecular mechanisms for cancer drug resistance has now paved the way for the development of novel approaches to regulate the response rates to anticancer drugs at the genetic level. The recent progress on identification and validation of the vital genes directly or indirectly involved in development of cancer drug resistance with the aid of the specific knock down ability of RNA interference technology is discussed in this review.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  11. Fulltext Late intravascular embolization of a chemo port catheter
    Loch A, Singh RV, Abidin IZ, Han CK, Ahmad WA
    J Thorac Oncol, 2011 Jul;6(7):1292.
    PMID: 21847043 DOI: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e31821f9771
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  12. Fulltext Pectin matrix as oral drug delivery vehicle for colon cancer treatment
    Wong TW, Colombo G, Sonvico F
    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2011 Mar;12(1):201-14.
    PMID: 21194013 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-010-9564-z
    Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally with 639,000 deaths reported annually. Typical chemotherapy is provided by injection route to reduce tumor growth and metastasis. Recent research investigates the oral delivery profiles of chemotherapeutic agents. In comparison to injection, oral administration of drugs in the form of a colon-specific delivery system is expected to increase drug bioavailability at target site, reduce drug dose and systemic adverse effects. Pectin is suitable for use as colon-specific drug delivery vehicle as it is selectively digested by colonic microflora to release drug with minimal degradation in upper gastrointestinal tract. The present review examines the physicochemical attributes of formulation needed to retard drug release of pectin matrix prior to its arrival at colon, and evaluate the therapeutic value of pectin matrix in association with colon cancer. The review suggests that multi-particulate calcium pectinate matrix is an ideal carrier to orally deliver drugs for site-specific treatment of colon cancer as (1) crosslinking of pectin by calcium ions in a matrix negates drug release in upper gastrointestinal tract, (2) multi-particulate carrier has a slower transit and a higher contact time for drug action in colon than single-unit dosage form, and (3) both pectin and calcium have an indication to reduce the severity of colon cancer from the implication of diet and molecular biology studies. Pectin matrix demonstrates dual advantages as drug carrier and therapeutic for use in treatment of colon cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  13. HPLC determination of imatinib in plasma and tissues after multiple oral dose administration to mice
    Teoh M, Narayanan P, Moo KS, Radhakrisman S, Pillappan R, Bukhari NI, et al.
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2010 Jan;23(1):35-41.
    PMID: 20067864
    Imatinib inhibits Bcr-Abl, c-KIT and PDGFR kinases. It is approved for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and has further therapeutic potential. Male ICR mice were given imatinib PO (50 or 25 mg/kg, 5 doses every 2 h); euthanized 2 h after the last dose administration; plasma, liver, brain, spleen and kidney were collected and imatinib concentration measured by an optimized HPLC method for quantification in tissues. Methanol (1:1 v/v plasma) and pH 4, 40:30:30 (v/v/v) water-methanol-acetonitrile at 5 ml/g (brain) and 10 ml/g (spleen, kidney, liver) ratio was added to the samples, homogenized, sonicated, centrifuged (15,000 rpm, 5 min, 2 degrees C) and the supernatant injected into an Inertsil CN-3 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) using 64:35:1 (v/v/v) water-methanol-triethylamine (pH 4.8), flow rate 1 ml/min, 25 degrees C. Imatinib eluted at 7.5 min (268 nm). Linearity: 0.1-50 microg/ml; precision, accuracy, inter- and intra-day variability was within 15%. Recovery was above 95% (plasma), 80% (brain) and 90% (kidney, liver, spleen). Imatinib tissue concentrations were 6-8 folds higher than plasma except brain, where the ratio decreased from 0.24 to 0.08 suggesting limited brain penetration, likely due to blood brain barrier efflux transporters. The extensive distribution supports the expansion of therapeutic applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  14. Fulltext Use of bevacizumab as a single agent or in adjunct with traditional chemotherapy regimens in children with unresectable or progressive low-grade glioma
    Zhukova N, Rajagopal R, Lam A, Coleman L, Shipman P, Walwyn T, et al.
    Cancer Med, 2019 01;8(1):40-50.
    PMID: 30569607 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1799
    In pediatric low-grade gliomas not amenable to complete resection, various chemotherapy regimens are the mainstream of treatment. An excellent overall survival of these patients makes justification of the intensification of chemotherapy difficult and calls for the development of new strategies. Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been successfully used in combination with irinotecan in a number of adult and pediatric studies and reports. Fifteen patients at median age of 7 years old (range 3 months to 15 years) were treated with bevacizumab in combination with conventional low-toxicity chemotherapy. The majority had chiasmatic/hypothalamic and midline tumors, seven had confirmed BRAF pathway alterations including neurofibromatosis type 1 (2). Fourteen patients had more than one progression and three had radiotherapy. No deaths were documented, PFS at 11 and 15 months was 71.5% ± 13.9% and 44.7% ± 17.6% respectively. At the end of follow-up 40% of patients has radiologically stable disease, three patients progressed shortly after completion of bevacizumab and two showed mixed response with progression of cystic component. Rapid visual improvement was seen in 6/8 patients, resolution of endocrine symptoms in 2/4 and motor function improvement in 4/6. No relation between histology or BRAF status and treatment response was observed. Treatment-limiting toxicities included grade 4 proteinuria (2) and hypertension (2) managed with cessation (1) and pausing of therapy plus antihypertensives (1). In conclusion, bevacizumab is well tolerated and appears most effective for rapid tumor control to preserve vision and improve morbidity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  15. Fulltext Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM): an alternative predictive model in acute toxicological studies for anti-cancer drugs
    Kue CS, Tan KY, Lam ML, Lee HB
    Exp Anim, 2015;64(2):129-38.
    PMID: 25736707 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.14-0059
    The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a preclinical model widely used for vascular and anti-vascular effects of therapeutic agents in vivo. In this study, we examine the suitability of CAM as a predictive model for acute toxicology studies of drugs by comparing it to conventional mouse and rat models for 10 FDA-approved anticancer drugs (paclitaxel, carmustine, camptothecin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cisplatin, aloin, mitomycin C, actinomycin-D, melphalan). Suitable formulations for intravenous administration were determined before the average of median lethal dose (LD50) and median survival dose (SD(50)) in the CAM were measured and calculated for these drugs. The resultant ideal LD(50) values were correlated to those reported in the literature using Pearson's correlation test for both intravenous and intraperitoneal routes of injection in rodents. Our results showed moderate correlations (r(2)=0.42 - 0.68, P<0.005-0.05) between the ideal LD(50) values obtained using the CAM model with LD(50) values from mice and rats models for both intravenous and intraperitoneal administrations, suggesting that the chick embryo may be a suitable alternative model for acute drug toxicity screening before embarking on full toxicological investigations in rodents in development of anticancer drugs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  16. Mucoadhesive Chitosan-Pectinate Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Curcumin to the Colon
    Alkhader E, Billa N, Roberts CJ
    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2017 May;18(4):1009-1018.
    PMID: 27582072 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-016-0623-y
    In the present study, we report the properties of a mucoadhesive chitosan-pectinate nanoparticulate formulation able to retain its integrity in the milieu of the upper gastrointestinal tract and subsequently, mucoadhere and release curcumin in colon conditions. Using this system, we aimed to deliver curcumin to the colon for the possible management of colorectal cancer. The delivery system comprised of a chitosan-pectinate composite nanopolymeric with a z-average of 206.0 nm (±6.6 nm) and zeta potential of +32.8 mV (±0.5 mV) and encapsulation efficiency of 64%. The nanoparticles mucoadhesiveness was higher at alkaline pH compared to acidic pH. Furthermore, more than 80% release of curcumin was achieved in pectinase-enriched medium (pH 6.4) as opposed to negligible release in acidic and enzyme-restricted media at pH 6.8. SEM images of the nanoparticles after exposure to the various media indicate a retained matrix in acid media as opposed to a distorted/fragmented matrix in pectinase-enriched medium. The data strongly indicates that the system has the potential to be applied as a colon-targeted mucoadhesive curcumin delivery system for the possible treatment of colon cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
  17. The achievement of ligand-functionalized organic/polymeric nanoparticles for treating multidrug resistant cancer
    Lee WH, Loo CY, Leong CR, Young PM, Traini D, Rohanizadeh R
    Expert Opin Drug Deliv, 2017 08;14(8):937-957.
    PMID: 27759437 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2017.1247804
    INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of conventional cancer chemotherapy is hampered by the occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumor cells. Although many studies have reported the development of novel MDR chemotherapeutic agents, clinical success is lacking owing to the high associated toxicity. Nanoparticle-based delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs has emerged as alternative approach to treat MDR cancers via exploitation of leaky vasculature in the tumor microenvironment. Accordingly, functionalization of nanoparticles with target specific ligands can be employed to achieve significant improvements in the treatment of MDR cancer. Areas covered: This review focuses on the recent advances in the functionalization of nanocarriers with specific ligands, including antibodies, transferrin, folate, and peptides to overcome MDR cancer. The limitations of effective ligand-functionalized nanoparticles as well as therapeutic successes in ligand targeting are covered in the review. Expert opinion: Targeting MDR tumors with ligand-functionalized nanoparticles is a promising approach to improve the treatment of cancer. With this approach, higher drug concentrations at targeted sites would be achieved with lower dosage frequencies and reduced side effects in comparison to existing formulations of chemotherapeutic drugs. However, potential toxicities and immunological responses to ligands should be carefully reviewed for viable options in for future MDR cancer treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  18. Dendrimer nanoarchitectures for cancer diagnosis and anticancer drug delivery
    Sharma AK, Gothwal A, Kesharwani P, Alsaab H, Iyer AK, Gupta U
    Drug Discov Today, 2017 02;22(2):314-326.
    PMID: 27671487 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.09.013
    Dendrimers are novel nanoarchitectures with unique properties including a globular 3D shape, a monodispersed unimicellar nature and a nanometric size range. The availability of multiple peripheral functional groups and tunable surface engineering enable the facile modification of the dendrimer surface with different therapeutic drugs, diagnostic agents and targeting ligands. Drug encapsulation, and solubilizing and passive targeting also equally contribute to the therapeutic use of dendrimers. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the delivery of anticancer drugs using dendrimers, as well as other biomedical and diagnostic applications. Taken together, the immense potential and utility of dendrimers are envisaged to have a significant positive impact on the growing arena of drug delivery and targeting.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  19. Transferrin receptors-targeting nanocarriers for efficient targeted delivery and transcytosis of drugs into the brain tumors: a review of recent advancements and emerging trends
    Choudhury H, Pandey M, Chin PX, Phang YL, Cheah JY, Ooi SC, et al.
    Drug Deliv Transl Res, 2018 10;8(5):1545-1563.
    PMID: 29916012 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-018-0552-2
    Treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a predominant challenge in chemotherapy due to the existence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) which restricts delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to the brain together with the problem of drug penetration through hard parenchyma of the GBM. With the structural and mechanistic elucidation of the BBB under both physiological and pathological conditions, it is now viable to target central nervous system (CNS) disorders utilizing the presence of transferrin (Tf) receptors (TfRs). However, overexpression of these TfRs on the GBM cell surface can also help to avoid restrictions of GBM cells to deliver chemotherapeutic agents within the tumor. Therefore, targeting of TfR-mediated delivery could counteract drug delivery issues in GBM and create a delivery system that could cross the BBB effectively to utilize ligand-conjugated drug complexes through receptor-mediated transcytosis. Hence, approach towards successful delivery of antitumor agents to the gliomas has been making possible through targeting these overexpressed TfRs within the CNS and glioma cells. This review article presents a thorough analysis of current understanding on Tf-conjugated nanocarriers as efficient drug delivery system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
  20. Fulltext Synergistic inhibition of melanoma xenografts by Brequinar sodium and Doxorubicin
    Dorasamy MS, Ab A, Nellore K, Wong PF
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2019 Feb;110:29-36.
    PMID: 30458345 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.010
    Malignant melanoma continues to be a fatal disease for which novel and long-term curative breakthroughs are desired. One such innovative idea would be to assess combination therapeutic treatments - by way of combining two potentially effective and very different therapy. Previously, we have shown that DHODH inhibitors, A771726 and Brequinar sodium (BQR) induced cell growth impairment in melanoma cells. Similar results were seen with DHODH RNA interference (shRNA). In the present study, we showed that combination of BQR with doxorubicin resulted in synergistic and additive cell growth inhibition in these cells. In addition, in vivo studies with this combination of drugs demonstrated an almost 90% tumor regression in nude mice bearing melanoma tumors. Cell cycle regulatory proteins, cyclin B1 and its binding partner pcdc-2 and p21 were significantly downregulated and upregulated respectively following the combined treatment. Given that we have observed synergistic effects with BQR and doxorubicin, both in vitro and in vivo, these drugs potentially represent a new combination in the targeted therapy of melanoma.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
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