Piceatannol (PIC) is known to have anticancer activity, which has been attributed to its ability to block the proliferation of cancer cells via suppression of the NF-kB signaling pathway. However, its effect on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is not well known in cancer. In this study, PIC was loaded into bovine serum albumin (BSA) by desolvation method as PIC–BSA nanoparticles (NPs). These PIC–BSA nanoparticles were assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity, migration, invasion, and colony formation studies and levels of p65 and HIF-1α. Our results indicate that PIC–BSA NPs were more effective in downregulating the expression of nuclear p65 and HIF-1α in colon cancer cells as compared to free PIC. We also observed a significant reduction in inflammation induced by chemical colitis in mice by PIC–BSA NPs. Furthermore, a significant reduction in tumor size and number of colon tumors was also observed in the murine model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer, when treated with PIC–BSA NPs as compared to free PIC. The overall results indicate that PIC, when formulated as PIC–BSA NPs, enhances its therapeutic potential. Our work could prompt further research in using natural anticancer agents as nanoparticels with possible human clinical trails. This could lead to the development of a new line of safe and effective therapeutics for cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of disintegration mechanism of various types of disintegrants on the absorption ratio (AR), wetting time (WT), and disintegration time (DT) of orodispersible tablets (ODTs). ODTs were prepared by direct compression using mannitol as filler and disintegrants selected from a range of swellable, osmotic, and porous disintegrants. Tablets formed were characterized for their water AR, WT, and DT. The porosity and mechanical strength of the tablets were also measured. Results show that the DT of formulated ODTs was directly related to the WT and was a function of the disintegration mechanism of the disintegrant used. The lowest WT and DT were observed for tablets formulated using the osmotic disintegrant sodium citrate and these tablets also showed the lowest AR and porosity. The wetting and disintegration of tablets containing the highly swellable disintegrant, sodium starch glycollate, was slowest despite their high water AR and high tablet porosity. Rapid wetting and disintegration of ODTs were therefore not necessarily related to the porosity of the tablets. Key words: Absorption ratio, disintegration time, orodispersible tablets, porosity, wetting time.

The purpose of this review is to highlight recent scientific developments and provide an overview of virus self-assembly and viral particle dynamics. Viruses are organized supramolecular structures... Lay abstract The purpose of this review is to highlight recent scientific developments and provide an overview of virus self-assembly and viral particle dynamics. Viruses are organized supramolecul...

Objectives: The potential of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) surface modified with octa-arginine (R8) for central nervous system (CNS) delivery was investigated. Methods: PLGA NPs containing coumarin-6 or loperamide were surface modified using R8 and characterised for size, zeta potential, drug loading and release. We examined the cellular uptake of NPs in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells and CNS delivery of loperamide in a mouse model following intranasal (i.n.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration. Key findings: NPs were 300–350 nm in diameter and of negative zeta potential which neutralised on R8 conjugation. Cellular uptake of R8-PLGA NPs was rapid compared with PLGA NPs and correlated with a high antinociceptive effect in mice by both the i.n. and i.v. routes. Little antinociceptive effect for PLGA NPs was observed reflecting their slow uptake in the in-vitro cell model. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of R8-PLGA NPs as carriers of therapeutic agents to the CNS.