Elena Trapasso

Turbiscan lab expert analysis of the stability of ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes containing a bilayer fluidizing agent.

The stability of vesicular drug carriers containing linoleic acid, as a model of bilayer fluidizing agent, was evaluated using a Turbiscan optical analyzer, an innovative analytical instrument able to determine the long-time stability of colloidal systems. Ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes were prepared using Phospholipon 100G as the lecithin component, while ethanol and sodium cholate were used for the specific preparation of ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes, respectively. The advantages of the Turbiscan optical analyzer are: (i) its ability to measure reversible (creaming and sedimentation) and irreversible (coalescence and segregation) destabilization phenomena directly in the sample without any dilution and (ii) to detect these phenomena much earlier and easier than other apparatuses. Turbiscan data showed that both colloidal vesicles demonstrate a good stability during the 3h of the experiment. No modification of Turbiscan backscattering profiles of colloidal suspensions occurred when different amounts of linoleic acid were used to prepare ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes. No coalescence, sedimentation, flocculation or clarification occurred. The results were very encouraging and confirmed the fact that the Turbiscan optical analyzer can be used to study the stability of colloidal formulations even in the presence of deformable agents.

Innovative bola-surfactant niosomes as topical delivery systems of 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of skin cancer.

An innovative niosomal system made up of alpha,omega-hexadecyl-bis-(1-aza-18-crown-6) (Bola), Span 80 and cholesterol (2:5:2 molar ratio) was proposed as a topical delivery system for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), largely used in the treatment of different forms of skin cancers. Bola-niosomes showed a mean size of approximately 400 nm, which were reduced to approximately 200 nm by a sonication procedure with a polydispersion index value of 0.1. Bola-niosomes showed a loading capacity of approximately 40% with respect to the amount of 5-FU added during the preparation. 5-FU-loaded bola-niosomes were tested on SKMEL-28 (human melanoma) and HaCaT (non-melanoma skin cancer with a specific mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene) to assess the cytotoxic activity with respect to the free drug. 5-FU-loaded bola-niosomes showed an improvement of the cytotoxic effect with respect to the free drug. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies were carried out to evaluate both the extent and the time-dependent bola-niosome-cell interaction. The percutaneous permeation of 5-FU-loaded niosomes was evaluated by using human stratum corneum and epidermis membranes. Bola-niosomes provided an increase of the drug penetration of 8- and 4-folds with respect to a drug aqueous solution and to a mixture of empty bola-niosomes with a drug aqueous solution.

Anticancer activity of liposomal bergamot essential oil (BEO) on human neuroblastoma cells.

Citrus extracts, particularly bergamot essential oil (BEO) and its fractions, have been found to exhibit anticancer efficacy. However, the poor water solubility, low stability and limited bioavailability have prevented the use of BEO in cancer therapy. To overcome such drawbacks, we formulated BEO liposomes that improved the water solubility of the phytocomponents and increased their anticancer activity in vitro against human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The results warrant further investigation of BEO liposomes for in vivo applications.

Anti-inflammatory activity of novel ammonium glycyrrhizinate/niosomes delivery system: human and murine models.

Today there is a very great deal of interest among members of the global natural products community in investigating new plant constituents. Recent studies demonstrate that liquorice extracts are useful in the treatment of dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, with an efficacy comparable to that of corticosteroids. In this work, niosomes made up of surfactants (Tween 85 and Span 20) and cholesterol at various concentrations were prepared to investigate the potential application of niosomes for the delivery of ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), useful for the treatment of various inflammatory based diseases. Vesicles were characterized evaluating dimensions, ζ potential, anisotropy, drug entrapment efficiency, stability, cytotoxicity evaluation and skin tolerability. Release profiles of ammonium glycyrrhizinate/niosomes were evaluated in vitro using cellulose membranes. The best formulation was used to evaluate the in vitro/in vivo efficacy of the ammonium glycyrrhizinate/niosomes in murine and human models of inflammation. The AG-loaded non-ionic surfactant vesicles showed no toxicity, good skin tolerability and were able to improve the drug anti-inflammatory activity in mice. Furthermore, an improvement of the anti-inflammatory activity of the niosome delivered drug was observed on chemically induced skin erythema in humans.

Colloidal carriers for the enhanced delivery through the skin.

Background: The skin is the largest organ of our body and acts as a protective barrier with sensory and immunological functions. Its peculiar structure influences the passage of bioactives and only its modulation can facilitate the drug dermal/transdermal diffusion. In the past few years research in this field has assured better use of this application area. Methods: One of the most promising approaches is the use of drug delivery devices; this review explains the state of the art of drug transport through the skin by means of vesicular (classic liposomes, Transfersomes, niosomes and ethosomes) and particulate systems. Results/conclusion: Colloidal drug delivery systems are important in the field of drug delivery systems as their different characteristics make them suitable for various purposes.

Paclitaxel-loaded ethosomes®: potential treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, a malignant transformation of actinic keratoses.

Topical application of anticancer drugs for the treatment of malignancies represents a new challenge in dermatology, potentially being an alternative therapeutic approach for the efficacious treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer, that is, actinic keratoses, and malignant lesions of the skin caused by ultraviolet radiation. Anti-proliferative and antimitotic drugs, including many of the taxanes, are currently under investigation for the treatment of cutaneous malignant transformation of actinic keratoses, particularly the squamous cell carcinoma. Paclitaxel-loaded ethosomes® are proposed as topical drug delivery systems for the treatment of this pathology due to their suitable physicochemical characteristics and enhanced skin penetration ability for deep dermal delivery. Our in vitro data show that the skin application of paclitaxel-loaded ethosomes® improved the permeation of paclitaxel in a stratum corneum-epidermis membrane model and increased its anti-proliferative activity in a squamous cell carcinoma model as compared to the free drug. The results obtained encouraged the use of the paclitaxel-loaded ethosomes® as the formulation for the potential treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, a malignant transformation of actinic keratoses.

Mechanisms Underlying the Anti-Tumoral Effects of Citrus bergamia Juice

Based on the growing deal of data concerning the biological activity of flavonoid-rich natural products, the aim of the present study was to explore in vitro the potential anti-tumoral activity of Citrus Bergamia (bergamot) juice (BJ), determining its molecular interaction with cancer cells. Here we show that BJ reduced growth rate of different cancer cell lines, with the maximal growth inhibition observed in neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) after 72 hs of exposure to 5% BJ. The SH-SY5Y antiproliferative effect elicited by BJ was not due to a cytotoxic action and it did not induce apoptosis. Instead, BJ stimulated the arrest in the G1 phase of cell cycle and determined a modification in cellular morphology, causing a marked increase of detached cells. The inhibition of adhesive capacity on different physiologic substrates and on endothelial cells monolayer were correlated with an impairment of actin filaments, a reduction in the expression of the active form of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) that in turn caused inhibition of cell migration. In parallel, BJ seemed to hinder the association between the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and FAK. Our data suggest a mechanisms through which BJ can inhibit important molecular pathways related to cancer-associated aggressive phenotype and offer new suggestions for further studies on the role of BJ in cancer treatment.

Improved in vitro and in vivo collagen biosynthesis by asiaticoside-loaded ultradeformable vesicles

The potentiality of ultradeformable vesicles as a possible topical delivery system for asiaticoside, a natural compound obtained from Centella asiatica was evaluated, because this compound exhibits collagen biosynthesis promoting activity. Ultradeformable vesicles were prepared by the extrusion technique; these vesicles were composed of Phospholipon 100 and different molar fractions of sodium cholate as the edge activator. The physicochemical properties of the ultradeformable vesicles were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry and light scattering techniques. The potential cyctotoxicity and biological activity of asiaticoside-loaded ultradeformable vesicles were evaluated on primary human dermal fibroblast cells by determining the extracellular lactic dehydrogenase activity, the cellular viability and the biosynthetic production of collagen. In vitro permeation experiments through human stratum corneum and epidermis membranes were also carried out. Ultradeformable vesicles having sodium cholate molar fraction of 0.2 proved to be the most suitable topical carriers for asiaticoside. A sodium cholate content of >0.2 was observed to be cytotoxic probably due to its co-existence with other lipid aggregates, an example being mixed micelles. Asiaticoside-loaded ultradeformable vesicles with a sodium cholate molar fraction of 0.2 elicited the greatest degree of collagen biosynthesis in human fibroblasts. Ultradeformable vesicles provided the greatest in vitro skin permeation of asiaticoside showing a 10-fold increase with respect to the free drug solution and favoured an increase in in vivo collagen biosynthesis. Ultradeformable vesicles are therefore suitable carriers for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic application of the natural agent asiaticoside.

Retinoids: new use by innovative drug-delivery systems

Background: Retinoids represent an old class of bioactives used in the treatment of different skin pathologies (such as acne and psoriasis) and in the treatment of many tumors. Unfortunately, they present several side effects, i.e., burning of skin and general malaise after systemic administration and they are very unstable after exposition to light. Methods: One of the most promising new approaches for reducing the side effects of retinoids while improving their pharmacological effect is the use of drug-delivery devices. This review explains the current status of retinoid drug transport, which has been developing over the last few years, explaining the modification of their biopharmaceutical properties in detail after encapsulation/inclusion in vesicular and polymeric systems. Results/conclusion: Different colloidal and micellar systems containing retinoid drugs have been realized furnishing important potential advancements in traditional therapy.

NF-κB mediates the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of bergamot juice in HepG2 cells

AIMS Among cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the commonest worldwide, and its incidence is increasing around the world. A lot of evidence underlines that natural substances usually consumed in the diet can have an important role in the prevention of cancer. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative activity of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) juice (BJ) in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. MAIN METHODS HepG2 cells were exposed to BJ and then cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and NF-κB nuclear translocation were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS Here we present results demonstrating that BJ reduced the growth rate of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, by a mechanism involving the activation of apoptotic machinery via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Moreover, BJ increased expression of P53 and P21 proteins that may be responsible for the HepG2 cell cycle arrest in G2 phase. In addition, BJ reduced NF-κB nuclear translocation. SIGNIFICANCE Our data demonstrate the ability of BJ in reducing the growth of HepG2 cells, revealing its mechanism of action and suggesting a promising role as anticancer drugs.