Pharmaceutics
·
2025
·Vol. 17
·期 10
·1257
·
IF 5.5
Jialing Li,Ning Han,Mingyue Ruan,Hongmei Wei,Yunan Dong,Haitong Zhang,Zishuo Guo,Shouying Du,Pengyue Li
Background/Objectives:Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits pronounced biological heterogeneity, aggressive behavior, and a high risk of recurrence and metastasis. The conventional treatments for TNBC have notable limitations: surgical resection may leave residual tumor cells; chemotherapy (CT) frequently induces systemic toxicity and drug resistance; and radiotherapy damages surrounding organs and compromises the patients’ immune function.Methods: Herein, we designed a carrier-free nanodrug delivery system composed of self-assembled Curcumin nanoparticles (NPs) coated with a tannic acid (TA)/Fe(III) network (denoted as CUR@TA-Fe(III) NPs). We systematically evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity and photothermal–ferroptosis synergistic therapeutic efficacy of CUR@TA-Fe(III) NPs in 4T1 breast cancer cells, as well as the in vivo antitumor activity using 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse models.Results:CUR@TA-Fe(III) NPs had high drug loading efficiency (LE) of 27.99%, good dispersion stability, and photothermal properties. Curcumin could inhibit the growth of 4T1 cancer cells, while TA-Fe(III) efficiently converted light energy into heat upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light, leading to direct thermal ablation of 4T1 cells. Additionally, TA-Fe(III) could supply Fe(II) via TA, increase intracellular Fe(II) content, and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the Fenton reaction, in turn inducing lipid peroxidation (LPO), a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and glutathione depletion, eventually triggering ferroptosis.Conclusions:This treatment strategy, which integrates CT, PTT, and ferroptosis, is expected to overcome the limitations of traditional single-treatment methods and provide a more effective method for the treatment of TNBC.
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Food Bioscience
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Yaxu Meng,Han Jiang,Hangyan Ji,Xiaojing Li,McClements David Julian,Shangyuan Sang,Zhengyu Jin,Jinpeng Wang,Chao Qiu
In this study, whey protein isolate (WPI) fibrils prepared by acid heat treatment for different times (5, 10, 15, or 20 h) were used for the co-encapsulation and co-delivery of curcumin (Cur) and piperine (Pip). Co-encapsulation of both nutraceuticals in the fibrils significantly improved their water dispersibility, chemical stability, and antioxidant activity. For instance, the water dispersibility of Cur and Pip in native WPI solutions was around 47.0% and 47.5%, respectively. In contrast, the water dispersibility of the same two nutraceuticals in WPI fibrils (15 h treatment) was 94.3% and 66.6%, respectively. The nutraceutical-loaded WPI fibrils did not undergo significant flocculation or precipitation after 14 d storage at 25 °C. After encapsulation, the DPPH free radical scavenging ability of the Cur-Pip combination experienced a surge, rising from approximately 35.4% to 72.0%. The Stern-Volmer quenching constants (Ksv) of Cur-WPI (3.03 × 10 4 M −1 ) and Pip-WPI (7.08 × 10 4 M −1 ) were much smaller than those of Cur-WPI fibrils (3.88 × 10 4 –4.69 × 10 4 M −1 ) and Pip-WPI fibrils (8.26 × 10 4 –9.41 × 10 4 M −1 ), indicating that the nutraceuticals bind stronger to the protein fibrils than to the native protein molecules. In summary, WPI fibrils have the capability to encapsulate, protect, and deliver hydrophobic nutraceuticals, suggesting their suitability for application in functional foods and beverages.
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FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2025
·
IF 9.8
Hang Liu,Chen Yang,Xiaolin Wu,Shengfeng Peng,Lei Zhou,David Julian McClements,Wei Liu
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles have considerable potential as natural pharmaceutical and nutraceutical delivery systems. However, the impact of plant maturity on the physicochemical and structural properties of isolated extracellular vesicles is currently unknown. In this work, extracellular vesicles isolated from oranges at different maturity stages were first characterized and compared. Afterwards, polyphenol-load orange juices were successfully prepared by incorporating polyphenols (mainly curcumin) into extracellular vesicles originated from orange juices. Encapsulation in vesicles was found to increase the solubility, stability, bioaccessibility, and antioxidant activity of curcumin, but the effects depended on the maturity of oranges. Specifically, the vesicles from unripe and ripe orange juices were more effective for curcumin delivery than those from overripe orange juice. Conclusively, this study has provided important new information about the optimum maturity for isolating fruit-derived extracellular vesicles. Moreover, the extracellular vesicle-based delivery systems developed in this study may facilitate the design of more effective functional foods and beverages.
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Frontiers in Pharmacology
·
2024
·
IF 4.4
Ma Yucong,Ye Suping,Sun Kunpeng,Gu Yue
Curcumin (CUR) possesses the capability to inhibit various inflammatory factors, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and alleviate asthma attacks; however, its hydrophobicity and instability significantly impede its clinical application. In this study, we synthesized CUR-loaded nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) and evaluated their impact on the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration of mouse airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), while investigating their underlying mechanisms. To achieve this objective, ASMCs were isolated from BALB/c mice and subjected to TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings demonstrate that CUR-NPs effectively regulate the release of CUR within cells with superior intracellular uptake compared to free CUR. The CCK-8 assay results indicate that the blank carrier does not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on cells, thus rendering the impact of the carrier itself negligible. The TGF-β1 group exhibited a significant increase in cell proliferation, whereas treatment with CUR-NPs significantly suppressed TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation. The findings from both the cell scratch assay and transwell assay demonstrated that TGF-β1 substantially enhanced cell migration, while CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated TGF-β1-induced cell migration. The Western blot analysis demonstrated a substantial increase in the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-STAT3, and CTGF in ASMCs following treatment with TGF-β1 when compared to the control group. Nevertheless, this effect was effectively counteracted upon administration of CUR-NPs. Furthermore, an asthma mouse model was successfully established and CUR-NPs were administered through tail vein injection. The serum levels of TGF-β1 and the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-STAT3, and CTGF proteins in the lung tissue of mice in the model group exhibited significant increases compared to those in the control group. However, CUR-NPs treatment effectively attenuated this change. Our research findings suggest that CUR-NPs possess inhibitory effects on ASMC proliferation, migration, and inflammatory infiltration by suppressing activation of the TGF-β1/p-STAT3/CTGF signaling pathway, thereby facilitating inhibition of airway remodeling.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Weichen Wang,Yu Dai,Cuilin Cheng,Rongchun Wang,Jiapei Ma,Qiuju Jing
In this study, zein-gum Arabic (GA)-flaxseed gum (FG) nanoparticles (ZGF) were prepared using the anti-solvent and electrostatic deposition methods to overcome the hydrophobicity and instability of curcumin (CUR). Additionally, the optimal mass ratio of GA to FG (4:1) and CUR to zein (1:40) was determined. Additionally, the initial concentration of the polysaccharide (0.04 %) was determined and the ZGF nanoparticles encapsulated with CUR (CUR-ZGF) were optimized. The formed CUR-ZGF nanoparticles were spherical, with a particle size of 188 nm and an embedding rate of 96.8 %. Furthermore, the CUR-ZGF nanoparticles showed excellent pH, thermal, storage, and salt stability. The encapsulate CUR exhibited antioxidant capacity and controlled release rate in the gastrointestinal digestive system in vitro. Animal experiments showed CUR-ZGF nanoparticles significantly enhanced exercise capacity and anti-fatigue effects. High-dose CUR-ZGF nanoparticles doubled exhaustion running time versus the model group, improving exercise endurance. Fatigue-related biochemical parameters (serum urea nitrogen, serum lactate, and creatine kinase) were significantly reduced, indicating rapid fatigue elimination. Meanwhile, significantly increased lactate dehydrogenase and fasting glucose levels suggested efficient energy replenishment to mitigate fatigue damage. These results indicate CUR-ZGF nanoparticles may be a promising natural anti-fatigue healthcare product in the future.
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FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2024
·
IF 8.5
Shumin Wang,Shengnan Wang,Lanxin Zhang,Peng Wang,He Liu
This study aims to create composite carriers by combining cyclodextrin metal organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) with soybean hull polysaccharide (SHP) polymers for enhanced performance. A cubic structured composite carrier was successfully synthesized, exhibiting potential for delivering functional factors. Interaction between cyclodextrin (CD) and SHP was predominantly driven by hydrogen bonding forces, as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy. Characterization methods such as Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and FTIR confirmed successful encapsulation of Curcumin (Cur) within γ-CD-MOF@SHP. At 35 °C, with a Cur to carrier mass ratio of 1:3, loading efficiency improved after 24 h of immersion. SHP demonstrated a protective effect on Cur, reducing release in the stomach while maximizing release in the intestine, thus enhancing Cur utilization. Additionally, γ-CD-MOF composites were shown to stabilize functional factors and regulate their release. Overall, the combination of MOFs and polymers holds promise for functional factor delivery.
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JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
·
2025
·Vol. 105
·期 7
·3593-3605
·
IF 3.5
Zhi-feng Tan,Guan-hua Zhao,Da-yong Zhou,Zhen-wen Shao,Liang Song
Background Traditional methods for fabricating protein-polyphenol conjugates have not preserved the structural and functional integrity essential for the food industry effectively. This research introduces an advanced encapsulation methodology designed to overcome these limitations, with the potential to enhance the stability of edible oil matrices significantly, leading to improved preservation techniques and extended shelf life. Results Glycated pea protein isolate-curcumin conjugates ( g PPI-CUR) were developed, demonstrating a marked improvement in the oxidative stability of walnut oil (WO), a proxy for edible oil matrices. Characterized by a Z-average diameter of 158.37 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 80.94%, these conjugates demonstrated exceptional performance in reducing lipid oxidation and aldehyde formation. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the formation of robust bonds with curcumin, thereby amplifying antioxidant activity. The uniform distribution of g PPI-CUR throughout the walnut oil matrix, as validated by confocal microscopy, ensured sustained bioactivity and mitigated the risk of localized oxidation. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy corroborated the superior antioxidant properties of the conjugates, which translated into a substantial 19-day increase in the shelf-life of the oil. Conclusion The g PPI-CUR conjugates enhanced the oxidative stability of walnut oil significantly, as demonstrated by the increased shelf life and reduced lipid oxidation. This study introduced an effective encapsulation method that improved the stability and extended the shelf life of edible oils, aligning with consumer demands for high-nutrition food products. The results indicate that the g PPI-CUR conjugates could serve as a promising antioxidant strategy for food preservation, offering a practical approach to enhance food quality and safety. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Biomolecules
·
2025
·Vol. 15
·期 8
·1070
·
IF 4.8
Man Wang,Hongying Liu,Wei Zhao,Huafen Wang,Yuwei Zhuang,Jie Yang,Zhaohui Liu,Jing Zhu,Sichong Chen,Jinghui Cheng
In the context of critical challenges in curcumin-modified polyurethane synthesis—including limited curcumin bioavailability and suboptimal biodegradability/biocompatibility—a novel polyurethane material (Cur-PU) with good mechanical, shape memory, pH-responsive, and biocompatibility was synthesized via a one-pot, two-step synthetic protocol in which HO-PCL-OH served as the soft segment and curcumin was employed as the chain extender. The experimental results demonstrate that with the increase in Cur units, the crystallinity of the Cur-PU material decreases from 32.6% to 5.3% and that the intensities of the diffraction peaks at 2θ = 21.36°, 21.97°, and 23.72° in the XRD pattern gradually diminish. Concomitantly, tensile strength decreased from 35.5 MPa to 19.3 MPa, and Shore A hardness declined from 88 HA to 65 HA. These observations indicate that the sterically hindered benzene ring structure of Cur imposes restrictions on HO-PCL-OH crystallization, leading to lower crystallinity and retarded crystallization kinetics in Cur-PU. As a consequence, the material’s tensile strength and hardness are diminished. Except for the Cur-PU-3 sample, all other variants exhibited exceptional shape-memory functionality, with Rfand Rrexceeding 95%, as determined by three-point bending method. Analogous to pure curcumin solutions, Cur-PU solutions demonstrated pH-responsive chromatic transitions: upon addition of hydroxide ion (OH−) solutions at increasing concentrations, the solutions shifted from yellow-green to dark green and finally to orange-yellow, enabling sensitive pH detection across alkaline gradients. Hydrolytic degradation studies conducted over 15 weeks in air, UPW, and pH 6.0/8.0 phosphate buffer solutions revealed mass loss <2% for Cur-PU films. Surface morphological analysis showed progressive etching with the formation of micro-to-nano-scale pores, indicative of a surface-erosion degradation mechanism consistent with pure PCL. Biocompatibility assessments via L929 mouse fibroblast co-culture experiments demonstrated ≥90% cell viability after 72 h, while relative red blood cell hemolysis rates remained below 5%. Collectively, these findings establish Cur-PU as a biocompatible material with tunable mechanical properties, and pH responsiveness, underscoring its translational potential for biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds.
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BIOMATERIALS
·
2025
·
IF 12.9
Fang Zhang,Bingbing Zhao,Keqiang Lu,Xueping Zeng,Zikun Wang,Wei Chen,Yunyun Zhou,Juanjuan Peng,Lingzhi Zhao
Oxidative stress and fibrosis are core drivers of post-myocardial infarction dysfunction. Conventional therapies predominantly address either acute oxidative damage or chronic fibrosis, lacking strategies that concurrently target the two interconnected processes. Here, a microenvironment-responsive nanomedicine delivering nitric oxide (NO) and curcumin specifically to the infarcted heart is presented (named C@Si-NM). Constructed from glutathione-sensitive cyclic nitrate-trimethylene carbonate-polyethylene glycol block copolymer micelles crosslinked with silica, the system releases both NO and the encapsulated curcumin upon encountering elevated glutathione levels at the infarction site. In cardiomyocytes, NO suppresses the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, inhibiting the release of reactive oxygen species, while curcumin directly acts as an antioxidant. In fibroblasts, NO inhibits the TGF-β/Smad pathway and curcumin downregulates the production of TGF-β, jointly suppressing fibrosis. The combined nanomedicine C@Si-NM significantly improved cardiac function in a rat model of MI after four weeks of treatment, resulting in an ejection fraction of 74 %. This value approached the normal range of 81 % and was superior to the outcomes observed with NO monotherapy at 62 % or curcumin monotherapy at 63 %. This strategy effectively mitigates both oxidative damage and fibrosis, bridging the gap between acute and chronic therapeutic interventions of myocardial infarction.
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CELL PROLIFERATION
·
2018
·Vol. 51
·期 6
·e12486
·
IF 4.936
Yuedi Yang,Zhongbing Huang,Ximing Pu,Guangfu Yin,Lei Wang,Fabao Gao
Objective Five-year survival rate at early lung tumour was about 70%; however, its early diagnosis rate was still at a low level, so the enhancement of diagnosis level for early lung tumour is the key factor to increase the survival rate. Diagnosis and therapy of early lung tumour are still challenged. Methods The magnetic nanochains (NCs) with biocompatibility and transverse relaxivity (r 2 = 231 Fe mmol l −1 s −1 ) were fabricated through a co-precipitation method in the assistance of dextran, and then, linked with chlorotoxin (CTX) and curcumin (Cur) via the PEGylation and carbodiimide technique (named as CTX-NCs-Cur). Results The results of cell test indicated that CTX-conjugated NCs could obviously target non–small-cell lung cancer cells and limit their growth. The in vivo results of magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging indicated that the CTX-NCs-Cur significantly targeted the tumour site and enhanced images contrast of the small-size tumour. Moreover, the results of everyday tail-vein injection confirmed that CTX-NCs-Cur could significantly limit the growth of early tumour, due to blocking Cl ion channels from CTX-NCs-Cur-MMP-2 composite and intracellular ROS increase from Cur treatment. Conclusions We provided a mechanism about the effect of CTX-NCs-Cur on the targeting and limiting early tumour, and these results indicated the application foreground of CTX-NCs-Cur in tumour diagnosis and therapy.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
·
纳米医学
·
肿瘤学
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EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
·
2021
·
IF 4.384
Ziqing Wang,Wenwen Mu,Pengxiao Li,Guoyun Liu,Jie Yang
Curcumin was reported as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, curcumin's poor bioavailability limited its clinical utility. Here, thirty ortho -substituted mono-carbonyl curcumin derivatives, containing acetone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone or 4-piperidione ( N H, N -methyl or N -acrylyl) moieties replacing β-diketone moiety of curcumin, were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity. Two active ortho -trifluoromethoxy-substituted 4-piperidione-containing derivatives 22 and 24 owned good cell uptake ability, and displayed excellent anti-inflammatory activity in both lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 macrophages and a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model of colitis . They inhibited the production of nitric oxide , reactive oxygen species , malonic dialdehyde and cyclooxygenase-2; and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and myeloperoxidase ; the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases; and the nucleus translocation of p65. What's more, 22 or 24 oral administered reduced the severity of clinical symptoms of ulcerative colitis (body weight and disease activity index), and reduced obviously DSS-induced colonic pathological damage (the colon length and histopathology analysis). These results suggested that ortho -trifluoromethoxy-substituted 4-piperidione-containing mono-carbonyl curcumin derivatives 22 and 24 were potential anti-inflammatory agents; and offered the important information for design and discovery of more potent anti-inflammatory drug candidates.
研究领域:
药理学
·
炎症研究
·
药物化学
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ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
·
2019
·
IF 5.256
Qi-Xuan Sun,Xing Wei,Shang-Qing Zhang,Ming-Li Chen,Ting Yang,Jian-Hua Wang
It is of great importance to elucidate the fate of drugs, e.g., their cellular uptake, transport and metabolism/excretion at single cell level. In the present work, cellular uptake and excretion of curcumin in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were investigated by measuring 59 Co in a curcumin cobalt complex ([Co(tpa)(cur)](ClO 4 ) 2 ) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The uptake and distribution pattern of the metal drug complex in single cells were thoroughly studied, demonstrating extremely large discrepancy of uptake behavior among individual cells. The complex concentration-dependent uptake and excretion behavior is observed for both HepG2 and MCF-7 cells. The uptake of ([Co(tpa)(cur)](ClO 4 ) 2 ) by HepG2 cells is firstly increased with the concentration of the complex followed by level-off at certain level. On the other hand, however, the uptake by MCF-7 cells increases exponentially with the complex concentration within a same concentration range. The present study provides important information on the transport process of the metal drug complex at single cell level, it may be promising for further applications in the elucidation of metal drug effectiveness in vivo.
研究领域:
药物代谢
·
细胞生物学
·
分析化学
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