Luteolin-loaded Phytosomes Sensitize Human Breast Carcinoma MDA-MB 231 Cells to Doxorubicin by Suppressing Nrf2 Mediated Signalling

Sabzichi, Mehdi,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Ramezani, Fatemeh,Sharifi, Simin,Tabasinezhad, Maryam,Pirouzpanah, Mohammadbagher,Ghanbari, Parisa,Samadi, Nasser Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been recognized as a transcription factor that controls mechanisms of cellular defense response by regulation of three classes of genes, including endogenous antioxidants, phase II detoxifying enzymes and transporters. Previous studies have revealed roles of Nrf2 in resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and high level expression of Nrf2 has been found in many types of cancer. At physiological concentrations, luteolin as a flavonoid compound can inhibit Nrf2 and sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. We reported luteolin loaded in phytosomes as an advanced nanoparticle carrier sensitized MDA-MB 231 cells to doxorubicin. In this study, we prepared nano phytosomes of luteolin to enhance the bioavailability of luteolin and improve passive targeting in breast cancer cells. Our results showed that cotreatment of cells with nano particles containing luteolin and doxorubicin resulted in the highest percentage cell death in MDA-MB 231cells (p<0.05). Furthermore, luteolin-loaded nanoparticles reduced Nrf2 gene expression at the mRNA level in cells to a greater extent than luteolin alone (p<0.05). Similarly, expression of downstream genes for Nrf2 including Ho1 and MDR1 were reduced significantly (p<0.05). Inhibition of Nrf-2 expression caused a marked increase in cancer cell death (p<0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that phytosome technology can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy by overcoming resistance and enhancing permeability of cancer cells to chemical agents and may thus be considered as a potential delivery system to improve therapeutic protocols for cancer patients.

BSA/Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complex: A Platform for Enhancing the Loading and Cancer Cell-Uptake of Resveratrol

Marjan Ghorbani,Hamed Hamishehkar,Mahnaz Tabibiazar 한국고분자학회 2018 Macromolecular Research Vol.26 No.9

The ultimate goal of cancer therapy is to kill as many cancerous cells while minimizing damage to the normal cells nearby. However, conventional chemotherapy suffers from drug resistance and lack of selectivity and consequently increased side effects which all can be overcome by application of nanocarriers. Resveratrol (Res) is supposed to act as a chemo-preventive agent by various mechanisms but its low chemical stability and restricted bioavailability limit its therapeutic application. To afford of these limitations, Res-loaded bovine serum albumin (Res-BSA) nanocarrier was developed. Then, to elevate the cytotoxic performance of Res-BSA, chitosan (CS) was used to provide adequate positive charge on the surface of nanoparticles and consequently cause enhanced cell-uptake. The particle size of Res-BSA/CS (235 ±11 nm) showed narrow distributed nano-ranged size (PdI: 0.095) and the amount of complexed Res with NPs was found to be approximately 65% in BSA/CS complex. The successful cell uptake of Res-BSA/CS was investigated via fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry and the results showed that Res-BSA/CS induced 1.5 times more cell internalization than Res-BSA. Consequently, cell cytotoxicity studies pointed out ~1.5 and 3 times higher cell cytotoxicity after 24 h and 48 h for Res-BSA/CS than Res in MTT assay. Thus, it can be concluded that the developed Res-loaded BSA/CS nanocarrier paves a way for efficient cancer therapy and may be considered as an attractive and promising approach to enhance the therapeutic performance of Res against cancer.

Problem-solving approach for salbutamol analysis by HPLC during pharmaceutical assay

Gholizadeh-Hashjin, Aiesheh,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Monajjemzadeh, Farnaz The Korean Society of Analytical Sciences 2022 분석과학 Vol.35 No.5

When cationic basic compounds are chromatographed using hydro-organic mobile phase, the presence of anionic free silanols in the silica-based stationary phases results in broad and asymmetrical peaks. The addition of an ionic reagent to the mobile phase prevents analytes from accessing free silanols, improving peak shape. In this study, the chromatographic behavior of salbutamol sulfate as a basic compound was investigated under various conditions, including the use of different columns, mobile phases, and ion-pair reagents such as triethanolamine (TEA) and sodium heptane sulfonate (SHS). The retention and peak shape of chromatograms were both evaluated. The results show that pre-conditioning the column with TEA and including it in the mobile phase can prevent cationic analytes from accessing anionic silanols, resulting in improved peak shape. Furthermore, buffering the mobile phase is an important factor in keeping the pH constant throughout the process. The chosen method was validated in part. This study could be helpful for researchers and analyst to solve such problems with cationic basic components.

New formulated "DOX-MTX-loaded Nanoparticles" Down-regulate HER2 Gene Expression and Improve the Clinical Outcome in OSCCs Model in Rat: the Effect of IV and Oral Modalities

Abbasi, Mehran Mesgari,Monfaredan, Amir,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Jahanban-Esfahlan, Rana Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.21

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains as one of the most difficult malignancies to control because of its high propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node dissemination. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of our novel pH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) in affecting HER2 expression profile in OSCC model in rat. Results: DOX-MTX- nanoparticle complexes caused significant decrease in mRNA level of HER2 compared to untreated cancers (p<0.05) and this finding was more pronounced with the IV mode (p<0.000). Surprisingly, HER2 mRNA was not affected in DOX treated as compared to the control group (p>0.05). On the other hand, in the DOX-MTX NP treated group, fewer tumors characterized with advanced stage and decreased HER2 paralleled improved clinical outcome (P<0.05). Moreover, the effectiveness of the oral route in the group treated with nanodrug accounted for the enhanced bioavailability of nanoparticulated DOX-MTX compared to free DOX. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in mRNA level of HER2 (p>0.05). Conclusions: Influence of HER2 gene expression is a new feature and mechanism of action observed only in dual action DOX-MTX-NPs treated groups. Down-regulation of HER2 mRNA as a promising marker and prognosticator of OSCC adds to the cytotoxic benefits of DOX in its new formulation. Both oral and IV application of this nanodrug could be used, with no preferences in term of their safety or toxicity. As HER2 is expressed abundantly by a wide spectrum of tumors, i DOX-MTX NPs may be useful for a wide-spectrum of lesions. However, molecular mechanisms underlying HER2 down regulation induced by DOX-MTX NPs remain to be addressed.

Novel DOX-MTX Nanoparticles Improve Oral SCC Clinical Outcome by Down Regulation of Lymph Dissemination Factor VEGF-C Expression in vivo: Oral and IV Modalities

Abbasi, Mehran Mesgari,Monfaredan, Amir,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Seidi, Khaled,Jahanban-Esfahlan, Rana Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains as one of the most difficult malignancies to control because of its high propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node dissemination. The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of novel pH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) in terms of their potential to change the VEGF-C expression profile in a rat OSCC model. Materials and Methods: 120 male rats were divided into 8 groups of 15 animals administrated with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide to induce OSCCs. Newly formulated doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) and free doxorubicin were IV and orally administered. Results: Results indicated that both oral and IV forms of DOX-MTX-nanoparticle complexes caused significant decrease in the mRNA level of VEGF-C compared to untreated cancerous rats (p<0.05). Surprisingly, the VEGF-C mRNA was not affected by free DOX in both IV and oral modalities (p>0.05). Furthermore, in DOX-MTX NP treated group, less tumors characterized with advanced stage and VEGF-C mRNA level paralleled with improved clinical outcome (p<0.05). In addition, compared to untreated healthy rats, the VEGF-C expression was not affected in healthy groups that were treated with IV and oral dosages of nanodrug (p>0.05). Conclusions: VEGF-C is one of the main prognosticators for lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Down-regulation of this lymph-angiogenesis promoting factor is a new feature acquired in group treated with dual action DOX-MTX-NPs. Beside the synergic apoptotic properties of concomitant use of DOX and MTX on OSCC, DOX-MTX NPs possessed anti-angiogenesis properties which was related to the improved clinical outcome in treated rats. Taking together, we conclude that our multifunctional doxorubicin-methotrexate complex exerts specific potent apoptotic and anti-angiogenesis properties that could ameliorate the clinical outcome presumably via down-regulating dissemination factor-VEGF-C expression in a rat OSCC model.

Oral and IV Dosages of Doxorubicin-Methotrexate loaded-Nanoparticles Inhibit Progression of Oral Cancer by Down-Regulation of Matrix Methaloproteinase 2 Expression in Vivo

Abbasi, Mehran Mesgari,Jahanban-Esfahlan, Rana,Monfaredan, Amir,Seidi, Khaled,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Khiavi, Monir Moradzadeh Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Oral cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers in the world. Combination chemotherapy coupled with nanoparticle drug delivery holds substantial promise in cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two dosages of our novel pH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NPs) with attention to the MMP-2 mRNA profile in a 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide induced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) model in the rat. Our results showed that both IV and oral dosages of DOX-MTX NP caused significant decrease in mRNA levels of MMP-2 compared to the untreated group (p<0.003). Surprisingly, MMP-2 mRNA was not affected in DOX treated compared to cancer group (p>0.05). Our results indicated that IV dosage of MTX-DOX is more effective than free DOX (12 fold) in inhibiting the activity of MMP-2 in OSCCs (P<0.001). Furthermore, MMP-2 mRNA expression in the DOX-MTX treated group showed a significant relation with histopathological changes (P=0.011). Compared to the untreated cancer group, we observed no pathological changes and neither a significant alteration in MMP-2 amount in either of healthy controls that were treated with oral and IV dosages of DOX-MTX NPs whilst cancer group showed a high level of MMP-2 expression compared to healthy controls (p<0.001).Taking together our results indicate that DOX-MTX NPs is a safe chemotherapeutic nanodrug that its oral and IV forms possess potent anti-cancer properties on aggressive tumors like OSCC, possibly by affecting the expression of genes that drive tumor invasion and metastasis.

Folate-Targeted Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) Enhance (Letrozol) Efficacy in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Sabzichi, Mehdi,Mohammadian, Jamal,Khosroushahi, Ahmad Yari,Bazzaz, Roya,Hamishehkar, Hamed Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.12

Objective: Targeted-drug-delivery based lipid nanoparticles has emerged as a new and effective approach in cancer chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the ability of folate-modified nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to enhance letrozol (LTZ) efficacy in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Methods: New formulations were evaluated regarding to particle size and scanning electron microscope (SEM) features. Anti-proliferative effects of LTZ loaded nanoparticles were examined by MTT assay. To understand molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and cell cycle progression, flow cytometric assays were applied. Results: Optimum size of nanoparticles was obtained in mean average of $98{\pm}7nm$ with a poly dispersity index (PDI) of 0.165. The IC50 value was achieved for LTZ was $2.2{\pm}0.2{\mu}M$. Folate-NLC-LTZ increased the percentage of apoptotic cells from 24.6% to 42.2% compared LTZ alone (p<0.05). Furthermore, LTZ loaded folate targeted NLCs caused marked accumulation of cells in the subG1 phase. Conclusion: Taken together, our results concluded that folate targeted LTZ can be considered as potential delivery system which may overcome limitations of clinical application of LTZ and improve drug efficacy in tumor tissue.

DOX-MTX-NPs Augment p53 mRNA Expression in OSCC Model in Rat: Effects of IV and Oral Routes

Abbasi, Mehran Mesgari,Khiavi, Monir Moradzadeh,Monfaredan, Amir,Hamishehkar, Hamed,Seidi, Khaled,Jahanban-Esfahlan, Rana Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.19

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Cancer development and progression require inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and activation of proto-oncogenes. The well recognized mechanism of action demonstrated for chemotherapeutic agents is induction of apoptosis via reactivation of p53. In this context, we evaluate the efficacy of IV and oral routes of our novel PH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) in affecting p53 profile in an OSCC rat model. Methods: In this study, 120 male rats were divided into 8 groups of 15 animals each. The new formulated DOX-MTX NP and free doxorubicin were IV and orally given to rats with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide induced OSCC. Results: Results showed that both DOX and DOX-MTX-NP caused significant increase in mRNA levels of P53 compared to the untreated group (p<0.000). With both DOX and DOX-MTX NP, the IV mode was more effective than the oral (gavage) route (p<0.000). Surprisingly, in oral mode, p53 mRNA was not affected in DOX treated groups (p>0.05), Nonetheless, both IV and oral administration of MTX-DOX NP showed superior activity (~3 fold) over free DOX in reactivation of p53 in OSCC (p<0.000). The effectiveness of oral route in group treated with nanodrug accounts for the enhanced bioavailability of nanoparticulated DOX-MTX compared to free DOX. Moreover, in treated groups, tumor stage was markedly related to the amount of p53 mRNA (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both oral and IV application of our novel nanodrug possesses superior activity over free DOX-in up-regulation of p53 in a OSCC model and this increase in p53 level associated with less aggressive tumors in our study. Although, impressive results obtained with IV form of nanodrug (-21 fold increase in p53 mRNA level) but both forms of nanodrug are effective in OSCC, with less toxicity normal cells.