MATERIALS & METHODS: Niosomes were prepared using film hydration and ultrasonication methods. Transferrin was coupled to the surface of niosomes via chemical linker. Nanovesicles were characterized for size, zeta potential, morphology, stability and biological efficacy.
RESULTS: When evaluated in MDA-MB-231 cells, entrapment of T3 in niosomes caused 1.5-fold reduction in IC50 value compared with nonformulated T3. In vivo, the average tumor volume of mice treated with tumor-targeted niosomes was 12-fold lower than that of untreated group, accompanied by marked downregulation of three genes involved in metastasis.
CONCLUSION: Findings suggested that tumor-targeted niosomes served as promising delivery system for T3 in cancer therapy.
METHODS: We retrieved data and samples from 55 participants (19 female) enrolled in malaria VIS, and 171 patients (45 female) with malaria and 30 healthy controls (13 female) enrolled in clinical studies in Malaysia. Ferritin, hepcidin, erythropoietin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured by ELISA.
FINDINGS: In the VIS, participants' parasitaemia was correlated with baseline mean corpuscular volume (MCV), but not iron status (ferritin, hepcidin or sTfR). Ferritin, hepcidin and sTfR all increased during the VIS. Ferritin and hepcidin normalised by day 28, while sTfR remained elevated. In VIS participants, baseline ferritin was associated with post-treatment increases in liver transaminase levels. In Malaysian patients with malaria, hepcidin and ferritin were elevated on admission compared to healthy controls, while sTfR increased following admission. By day 28, hepcidin had normalised; however, ferritin and sTfR both remained elevated.
INTERPRETATION: Our findings demonstrate that parasitaemia is associated with an individual's MCV rather than iron status. The persistent elevation in sTfR 4 weeks post-infection in both malaria VIS and clinical malaria may reflect a causal link between malaria and iron deficiency.
FUNDING: National Health and Medical Research Council (Program Grant 1037304, Project Grants 1045156 and 1156809; Investigator Grants 2016792 to BEB, 2016396 to JCM, 2017436 to MJG); US National Institute of Health (R01-AI116472-03); Malaysian Ministry of Health (BP00500420).