Nanomedicine Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 2, Spring 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) caused an outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and right after that SARS-COV-2 spreads around the world infecting millions of people worldwide. This virus belongs to wide range virus family and cause moderate to severe signs in patients, the Sars-COV-2, can spread faster than others between humans and leads to severe outbreak. Recently researchers succeed to develop various vaccines including inactivated or attenuated viral vaccines as well as subunit vaccines to prevent SARS-COV-2 infection. Nanotechnology is advantageous for the design of vaccines since nano scale materials could benefit the delivery of antigens, and could be used as adjuvants to potentiate the response to the vaccines. Indeed, among various vaccines entered clinical trials, there are mRNA-based vaccine designed based on lipid nanoparticles. Herein, we summarized SARS-COV-2 structure, pathogenesis, therapeutic approaches and some COVID-19 vaccine candidates and highlighted the role of nanotechnology in developing vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 virus.

In this work, MRP-1 (Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1) gene expression levels and anticancer activity of siRNA and Etoposide loaded Poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was studied on MCF-7/Sensitive and MCF-7/1000Etoposide resistance cells. For this purpose, PHB covered iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (PHB-MNPs) were prepared by coprecipitation. We used magnetic nanoparticles because they include highly targeted to tumors in vivo cancer therapy. Etoposide, anti-cancer drug, was loaded onto the PHB-MNPs. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis of siRNA and Etoposide-loaded PHB-MNPs was applied on cancer cells. The expression levels of MRP1 related to drug resistance were shown using qRT-PCR. In the present study, we also investigated whether nanoparticle system could be a potential anticancer drug target with molecular docking analyses. The IC50 values of Etoposide on MCF-7/sensitive and MCF-7/1000Eto resistance cells were identified as 50,6 μM and 135,7 μM, respectively. IC50 values of siRNA and Etoposide loaded PHB coated magnetic nanoparticles were determined as 10,18 μM and 39,21 μM on MCF-7 and MCF-7/1000 Eto cells, respectively. According to the gene expression results, MRP1 expression was 4 fold upregulated in MCF-7/1000Eto cells. However, it was about 3 fold downregulated due to the application of siRNA-Etoposide loaded magnetic nanoparticles. According to the docking results, nanoparticle system may be a drug active substance with obtained results. The results of this study demonstrated that siRNA and Etoposide loaded PHB covered iron oxide based magnetic nanoparticles can be a potential targeted therapeutic agent to overcome drug resistance.

The role of lipoproteins (LDL) as active molecules with preferential tumor interaction, but limited drug delivery capacity, has been previously reported. On the other hand, in a previous report, we demonstrated the high capacity of monosialogangliosides (GM1) micelles as drug transporters.

In this work, GM1 was loaded with high doses of oncologic drugs such Paclitaxel or Doxorubicin and binded to LDL lipoproteins to form GM1-drug-LDLwater soluble complex. Evidence suggests that both, hydrophobic and electrostatic forces, participate in the interaction, regulated by conditions such as pH, temperature and ionic strength.

Results of DLS and TEM show that GM1-LDL complexes are considerably larger than the sum of their individual compounds, with a high charge of electronegative surface (-55.9 mV). In addition, the cytotoxic effect on cell cultures is greater when drugs are contained in GM1-LDL complexes than when loaded in GM1 micelles.

The results suggest the participation of active energy-dependent mechanism in the uptake of GM1-LDL drug, probably linked to the LDL receptor by the tumor cells. However, we could not confirm that the transport through LDL receptors is the only one that participates in the cellular uptake of the micelles.

Early detection of cancer can significantly increase the likelihood of successful treatment, and imaging assay can have a significant impact on cancer diagnosis. Although gadolinium compounds are used as a contrast agent in MRI, this substance has side effects and disadvantages. Nanotechnology has so far had a significan impact on medical imaging methods, especially MRI, nanoparticles are contrast enhancers that Each with its characteristics have increased the quality of images and reduced toxicity. In this study, a novel nano-conjugate based PLGA-tryptophan was synthesized and loaded with Gd3+ for using it as a potential MR imaging contrast agent to overcome the previous disadvantage. In vitro cell toxicity, cellular uptake and MR imaging parameters of the prepared nanoconjugate were investigated , The results showed no in vivo toxicity plus flowcytometry assays, good cellular uptake and large longitudinal (r1). Convenient features of the nano-probe indicate that it is a promising agent to use as a MR imaging agent.

It has been shown that Nanogold particles have anti-inflammatory effects in different Rheumatologic, neurologic and gastrointestinal disease. They inhibit the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and also infiltration of inflammatory cells. Sublingual immunotherapy is a well-known effective, safe and clinically effective method way of immune response regulation which results in long-lasting symptoms reduction. This research was designed to find the immunological effects of sublingual immunotherapy using Nanogold in mice model of asthma.

Twenty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups including one group of non-sensitized mice and three groups of asthmatic mice which were treated sublingually with PBS, Nanogold and Beclomethasone. IL-4 and IFN-γ levels were measured in serum and spleen cells supernatant using ELISA. BAL fluid inflammatory cells differential counting and lungs histological analysis were also done.

The results revealed that there was significant increase in level of IFN-γ and decrease in level of IL-4 in serum and spleen cells supernatant of Nanogold treated group (p <0.05). These findings indicates the shift of Th2/Th1 balance towards Th1 cells which is protective against asthma. In addition, histological and BAL fluid analysis demonstrated the reduction of cells and eosinophilic infiltration.

Based on our results, sublingual immunotherapy by Nanogold has significant anti-inflammatory roll in asthmatic mice. Thus, Nanogold is a potentially valuable agent for controlling the underlying inflammation in asthma. However, further investigations is recommended to find more details about its effects.

Sumatriptan is a routine medication in the treatment of migraine and cluster headache that is generally given by oral or parental routes. However, a substantial proportion of patients suffer severe side effects. Nasal administration is significantly effective in case of oral administration of drug gives an undesirable side effect. So, the purpose of the present study was to develop intranasal delivery systems of Sumatriptan succinate using nanoliposomes as container of a water-soluble drug and chitosan as a mucoadhesive polymer.

Liposomal formulations containing Sumatriptan as well as chitosan-coated liposomal formulations with different phospholipids and different concentrations were prepared. The formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, stability and Cytotoxicity on BEAS-2B cells.

The prepared liposomal formulations coated with chitosan containing Sumatriptan had a size range of 165±9.4to 258±6.4 nm, and the surface charge of the obtained formulations was measured between 32±6 and 40±5 mV. Also, the encapsulation efficiency of the formulations was also observed between 14.2±2.7% and 19±3.4%. Based on the obtained results of physicochemical studies, liposomes F2 was also tested for stability and toxicity and showed that the F2 liposomes retained its physicochemical properties for up to 3 months. Finally, the toxicity test of the mentioned formulation showed relatively low toxicity on BEAS-2B cells.

In the presents study, stable liposomal formulations coated with chitosan containing Sumatriptan were prepared and studied. Based on the obtained, these formulations can be used in preclinical and animal studies for the nasal administration of Sumatriptan.

This study has investigated the effects of acute and chronic administration of MgO nanoparticles (NP), on the memory, serum magnesium ions level, total antioxidant capacity and histopathological changes of the rat hippocampus in the Alzheimer-like model induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Adult male Wistar rats divided into: control, sham (STZ+ saline) and MgO NP 1 and 5 mg/kg groups. To induce Alzheimer’s disease, all rats except control group, received STZ (3 mg/kg/ 5 µl of saline) into the lateral ventricles during anesthesia. One week after surgery, passive avoidance learning was started by shuttle box device and saline or MgO NP acutely and chronically was administered after training. Memory tests were done at 90 minutes and 24 hours after training and one week after chronic administration. Immediately after the memory test, serum magnesium levels and total antioxidant capacity were measured, also the brain hippocampus tissue was removed for histopathological evaluation. STZ significantly impairs memory up to a week after the training. Acute and chronic administration of MgO NP significantly improved short and long-term memory in the Alzheimer’s rats. Serum magnesium level decreased in the Alzheimer’s rats and MgO NP increased it in a dose-dependent manner. MgO NP 1 mg/kg significantly increased serum total antioxidant capacity. MgO NP improved STZ-induced cell lesions in different parts of the hippocampus. It seems that MgO NP have the potential to improve brain lesions that have led to loss of memory and can be considered as an important component candidate for Alzheimer’s disease.

This study aims to enhance 17 a-methyltestosterone loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (MT-HSA NPs) bioavailability through a desolvation technique. Dopamine (DA) molecules were conjugated on the surface of MT-HSA NPs and have the potential to act as tiny proper ligands in a unique treatment system to cope with cancer in which drug will be transmitted to the cancer area. Herein, we used HSA as an adaptable carrier of anticancer agents for methyltestosterone transport to the tumor site via DA D1-D5 receptors. In the present study, sonication of MT-HSA solution was carried out before the desolvation procedure to increase the drug loading and entrapment efficiency. Various parameters were optimized to characterize NPs including morphology, size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug release profile, and entrapment efficiency. Under the optimum conditions of HSA and drug (1:41), at pH 9, results demonstrate sizes of 69 nm and 82 nm for MT-HSA and MT-HSA-DA NPs respectively. For MT-HSA NPs, the polydispersity index was found to be 0.3 and the average drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 14% and 91% respectively. Anticancer activity and the release of drug was investigated through MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Results show that targeted NPs are more effective than non-targeted NPs. According to these studies, the therapeutic effects against various diseases such as cancers increase through cellular targeting property of a biocompatible drug delivery system. This is the first report for methyltestosterone delivery to breast cancer cells based on HSA NPs.