betadex and Skin-Neoplasms

Harman, a natural β-carboline alkaloid, has recently gained considerable interest due to its anticancer properties. However, its physicochemical characteristics and poor oral bioavailability have been limiting factors for its pharmaceutical development. In this paper, we described the complexation of harman (HAR) with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) as a promising alternative to improve its solubility and consequently its cytotoxic effect in chemoresistant melanoma cells (A2058 cell line). Inclusion complexes (βCD-HAR) were prepared using a simple method and then characterized by FTIR, NMR and SEM techniques. Through in silico studies, the mechanism of complexation of HAR with βCD was elucidated in detail. Both HAR and βCD-HAR promoted cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell migration in melanoma cells. Interestingly, complexation of HAR with βCD enhanced its pro-apoptotic effect by increasing of caspase-3 activity (p < 0.05), probably due to an improvement in HAR solubility. In addition, HAR and βCD-HAR sensitized A2058 cells to vemurafenib, dacarbazine and 5FU treatments, potentializing their cytotoxic activity. These findings suggest that complexation of HAR with natural polymers such as βCD can be useful to improve its bioavailability and antimelanoma activity.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; beta-Cyclodextrins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Survival; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Harmine; Humans; Melanoma; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Mutation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Skin Neoplasms

We have developed herein an engineered polymer-based nanoplatform showing the convergence of two-photon fluorescence imaging and bimodal phototherapeutic activity in a single nanostructure. It was achieved through the appropriate choice of three different components: a β-cyclodextrin-based polymer acting as a suitable carrier, a zinc phthalocyanine emitting red fluorescence simultaneously as being a singlet oxygen ((1)O2) photosensitizer, and a tailored nitroaniline derivative, functioning as a nitric oxide (NO) photodonor. The self-assembly of these components results in photoactivable nanoparticles, approximately 35 nm in diameter, coencapsulating a multifunctional cargo, which can be delivered to carcinoma cells. The combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic and photochemical techniques shows that the two photoresponsive guests do not interfere with each other while being enclosed in their supramolecular container and can thus be operated in parallel under control of light stimuli. Specifically, two-photon fluorescence microscopy allows mapping of the nanoassembly, here applied to epidermal cancer cells. By detecting the red emission from the phthalocyanine fluorophore it was also possible to investigate the tissue distribution after topical delivery onto human skin ex vivo. Irradiation of the nanoassembly with visible light triggers the simultaneous delivery of cytotoxic (1)O2 and NO, resulting in an amplified cell photomortality due to a combinatory effect of the two cytotoxic agents. The potential of dual therapeutic photodynamic action and two-photon fluorescence imaging capability in a single nanostructure make this system an appealing candidate for further studies in biomedical research.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Cyclodextrins; Biocompatible Materials; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Drug Carriers; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Epichlorohydrin; Humans; Indoles; Isoindoles; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Molecular Structure; Nanoparticles; Nitric Oxide; Organometallic Compounds; Photons; Photosensitizing Agents; Polymers; Singlet Oxygen; Skin Neoplasms; Zinc Compounds

Curcumin (Cur) is a hydrophobic polyphenol with diverse pharmacological effects, especially for cancer treatment. However, its weak water solubility and stability was the major obstacle for the formulation research of Cur. The complexation of Cur and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was done by grinding. The increasing solubility of Cur was achieved due to complexation and the photochemical stability of Cur was improved. The inclusion of Cur could happen when two ends of Cur were embedded into the cavity of the HP-β-CD rings. The in situ hydrogels (ISGs) of Cur and its inclusion complexes were prepared using poloxamers 407 and 188 as the matrix. The extent of drug's in vitro release from the ISGs depended on the dissolution of drugs. Both of the ISGs had transdermal effect and cytotoxicity on B16-F10 cells. However, the effects of the ISGs containing Cur inclusion complexes were much higher than those of Cur ISGs because of the improved Cur solubility in the former. The cytotoxicity of Cur on melanoma cells was related to blocking of cellular proliferation in the G2/M stage followed by cellular apoptosis. The ISGs of Cur inclusion complexes are a promising formulation for melanoma treatment.

Topics: 2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin; Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; beta-Cyclodextrins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Curcumin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Carriers; Drug Stability; G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Gels; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Kinetics; Melanoma, Experimental; Mice; Poloxamer; Skin Neoplasms; Solubility; Technology, Pharmaceutical