Commercially available sorbent materials for solid-phase extraction are widely used in analytical laboratories. However, non-selective binding is a major obstacle for sample analysis. To overcome this problem, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were used as selective adsorbent materials prior to determining target analysts. In this study, the use of non-covalent molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for cotinine adsorption on a paper-based scaffold was studied. Fiberglass paper was used as a paper scaffold for cotinine-selective MIP adsorption with the use of 0.5% agarose gel. The effects of salt, pH, sample matrix, and solvent on the cotinine adsorption and extraction process were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption isotherm of synthesized MIPs increased to 125.41 µg/g, whereas the maximum adsorption isotherm of non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) was stable at 42.86 µg/g. The ability of the MIP paper scaffold to absorb cotinine in water medium was approximately 1.8–2.8-fold higher than that of the NIP scaffold. From Scatchard analysis, two dissociation constants of MIPs were calculated to be 2.56 and 27.03 µM. Nicotine, myosmine, and N-nitrosonornicotine were used for selectivity testing, and the calculated selectivity factor of cotinine to nicotine, myosmine, and N-nitrosonornicotine was 1.56, 2.69, and 2.05, respectively. Overall, the MIP paper scaffold is promising for simple onsite sampling of cotinine and can be used to assess tobacco smoke exposure.

The goal of this work is to develop a delivery system for histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) romidepsin (ROM) using Poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) as a carrier and evaluate its anti-leukemic effects. Romidepsin-loaded nanoparticles (ROM NPs) required for this purpose were fabricated using a single emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. Their physical characteristics and in vitro drug release profiles were studied, alongside biocompatibility and hemocompatibility assessments. Cell viability assays and Annexin V/Propidium Iodide (PI) staining were conducted to evaluate the anti-leukemic and apoptosis induction efficiency of ROM NPs in vitro. ROM NPs displayed a spherical shape with an average hydrodynamic size of about 149.7 ± 8.4 nm, a PDI of 0.11 ± 0.03, and a zeta potential of -25.27 ± 2.12 mV. The nanoparticles demonstrated a high encapsulation efficiency of ROM (∼93 %) and these nanoparticles effectively entered acute leukemia cells, including U937 and Jurkat. ROM NPs also exhibited a prolonged biphasic release pattern, specifically, the initial burst release phase occurred within the first 24 h, followed by a slower, sustained release. Additionally, they showed no hematological or biological toxicity, indicating their potential use for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs through the circulatory system. In tests on acute leukemia cell lines, ROM NPs showed significantly stronger anti-leukemic effects and induced apoptosis to a greater extent compared to free ROM. In summary, ROM NPs represent a promising therapy option for leukemia according to their enhanced anti-leukemic effects. Further modification of this strategy could be performed to enable target specificity, hence minimizing damage to normal cells.

Chinese kale is a vegetable belonging to the family Brassicaceae in which members of this family produce unique metabolites called glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. These substances have been found to exhibit many benefits to human health. This study aimed to investigate and compare the contents of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, and the anti-leukemic activity of fresh and steamed Chinese kale juice (CKJ). Cell viability and proliferation activity of U937 cells treated with CKJ were determined. Cell apoptosis and alterations of apoptosis-related protein expression were studied. Results showed that CKJ significantly decreased the viability of leukemic cells and inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After treatment with 5% v/v fresh and steamed CKJ for 24 h, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased to 53% and 36%, respectively. Increased amounts of cleaved caspase-3 in U937 cells treated with CKJ were observed, indicating that CKJ can trigger apoptotic cell death through a caspase-dependent pathway. Fresh CKJ was found to be more effective than steamed CKJ in suppressing cell survival and inducing cell apoptosis. The results suggest that Chinese kale possesses an anti-leukemic potential and could be further developed for cancer therapy and prevention. However, thermal cooking could reduce its beneficial function.

In this study, a multifunctional carrier-free nanoplatform composed of curcumin and indocyanine green self-assembled into uniform spherical nanoparticles, coated with polydopamine, and functionalized with anti-CD33 antibodies is used for targeted AML therapy. Indocyanine green drives stable co-assembly with curcumin, while the polydopamine layer improves photostability, enables pH-responsive release in acidic tumor-like environments, and provides versatile chemistry for antibody conjugation. CD33 targeting confers selective uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis into AML cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that Ab@pDCur–ICG NPs achieved significantly higher uptake and cytotoxicity in CD33-positive cells than in CD33-negative controls, with uptake reduced upon antibody blocking. Under near-infrared irradiation, the nanoparticles produced synergistic chemo–photothermal effects, yielding the highest apoptotic response in CD33-positive leukemia cells. Notably, the formulation displayed high structural uniformity compared to typical carrier-free assemblies, supporting enhanced stability and reproducibility. This targeted, multimodal nanoplatform integrates high drug loading, selective delivery, and synergistic therapy, representing a promising strategy to improve AML outcomes and potentially extend to other hematological malignancies.

Leukemia is a group of hematologic malignancies characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal white blood cells, posing significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment because of its complex etiology. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to leukemogenesis, with recent research highlighting the critical role of epigenetic modifications, particularly histone acetylation and deacetylation, in regulating gene expression and disease progression. Dysregulation of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is frequently observed in leukemia and is correlated with poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies. This observation has led to the development of epigenetic drugs for leukemia treatment. The emergence of HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) as targeted therapeutics offers promising avenues for more selective and effective leukemia treatments. The present review covers basic aspects of histone modification and its role in leukemogenesis and evaluates the potential of peptide‑based HDACis as novel drugs for leukemia therapy.