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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Polyphenols delivery by polymeric materials: challenges in cancer treatment
    (Abingdon : Taylor & Francis Group, 2017-2-3) Vittorio, Orazio; Curcio, Manuela; Cojoc, Monica; Goya, Gerardo F.; Hampel, Silke; Iemma, Francesca; Dubrovska, Anna; Cirillo, Giuseppe
    Nanotechnology can offer different solutions for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of polyphenols, a class of natural products widely explored for a potential applicability for the treatment of different diseases including cancer. While possessing interesting anticancer properties, polyphenols suffer from low stability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics, and thus suitable carriers are required when planning a therapeutic protocol. In the present review, an overview of the different strategies based on polymeric materials is presented, with the aim to highlight the strengths and the weaknesses of each approach and offer a platform of ideas for researchers working in the field.
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    Magnetic Graphene Oxide Nanocarrier for Targeted Delivery of Cisplatin : A Perspective for Glioblastoma Treatment
    (Basel : MDPI, 2019) Makharza, Sami A.; Cirillo, Giuseppe; Vittorio, Orazio; Valli, Emanuele; Voli, Florida; Farfalla, Annafranca; Curcio, Manuela; Iemma, Francesca; Nicoletta, Fiore Pasquale; El-Gendy, Ahmed A.; Goya, Gerardo F.; Hampel, Silke
    Selective vectorization of Cisplatin (CisPt) to Glioblastoma U87 cells was exploited by the fabrication of a hybrid nanocarrier composed of magnetic γ-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles and nanographene oxide (NGO). The magnetic component, obtained by annealing magnetite Fe3 O4 and characterized by XRD measurements, was combined with NGO sheets prepared via a modified Hummer’s method. The morphological and thermogravimetric analysis proved the effective binding of γ-Fe2 O3 nanoparticles onto NGO layers. The magnetization measured under magnetic fields up to 7 Tesla at room temperature revealed superparamagnetic-like behavior with a maximum value of MS = 15 emu/g and coercivity HC ≈ 0 Oe within experimental error. The nanohybrid was found to possess high affinity towards CisPt, and a rather slow fractional release profile of 80% after 250 h. Negligible toxicity was observed for empty nanoparticles, while the retainment of CisPt anticancer activity upon loading into the carrier was observed, together with the possibility to spatially control the drug delivery at a target site. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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    Systematic evaluation of oligodeoxynucleotide binding and hybridization to modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes
    (London : Biomed Central, 2017) Kaufmann, Anika; Hampel, Silke; Rieger, Christiane; Kunhardt, David; Schendel, Darja; Füssel, Susanne; Schwenzer, Bernd; Erdmann, Kati
    Background: In addition to conventional chemotherapeutics, nucleic acid-based therapeutics like antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN) represent a novel approach for the treatment of bladder cancer (BCa). An efficient delivery of AS-ODN to the urothelium and then into cancer cells might be achieved by the local application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). In the present study, pristine MWCNT and MWCNT functionalized with hydrophilic moieties were synthesized and then investigated regarding their physicochemical characteristics, dispersibility, biocompatibility, cellular uptake and mucoadhesive properties. Finally, their binding capacity for AS-ODN via hybridization to carrier strand oligodeoxynucleotides (CS-ODN), which were either non-covalently adsorbed or covalently bound to the different MWCNT types, was evaluated. Results: Pristine MWCNT were successfully functionalized with hydrophilic moieties (MWCNT-OH, -COOH, -NH2, -SH), which led to an improved dispersibility and an enhanced dispersion stability. A viability assay revealed that MWCNT-OH, MWCNT-NH2 and MWCNT-SH were most biocompatible. All MWCNT were internalized by BCa cells, whereupon the highest uptake was observed for MWCNT-OH with 40% of the cells showing an engulfment. Furthermore, all types of MWCNT could adhere to the urothelium of explanted mouse bladders, but the amount of the covered urothelial area was with 2-7% rather low. As indicated by fluorescence measurements, it was possible to attach CS-ODN by adsorption and covalent binding to functionalized MWCNT. Adsorption of CS-ODN to pristine MWCNT, MWCNT-COOH and MWCNT-NH2 as well as covalent coupling to MWCNT-NH2 and MWCNT-SH resulted in the best binding capacity and stability. Subsequently, therapeutic AS-ODN could be hybridized to and reversibly released from the CS-ODN coupled via both strategies to the functionalized MWCNT. The release of AS-ODN at experimental conditions (80 °C, buffer) was most effective from CS-ODN adsorbed to MWCNT-OH and MWCNT-NH2 as well as from CS-ODN covalently attached to MWCNT-COOH, MWCNT-NH2 and MWCNT-SH. Furthermore, we could exemplarily demonstrate that AS-ODN could be released following hybridization to CS-ODN adsorbed to MWCNT-OH at physiological settings (37 °C, urine). Conclusions: In conclusion, functionalized MWCNT might be used as nanotransporters in antisense therapy for the local treatment of BCa.
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    Release of Bioactive Molecules from Graphene Oxide-Alginate Hybrid Hydrogels: Effect of Crosslinking Method
    (Basel : MDPI, 2023) Madeo, Lorenzo Francesco; Curcio, Manuela; Iemma, Francesca; Nicoletta, Fiore Pasquale; Hampel, Silke; Cirillo, Giuseppe
    To investigate the influence of crosslinking methods on the releasing performance of hybrid hydrogels, we synthesized two systems consisting of Graphene oxide (GO) as a functional element and alginate as polymer counterpart by means of ionic gelation (physical method, 𝐻𝑃𝐴−𝐺𝑂) and radical polymerization (chemical method, 𝐻𝐶𝐴−𝐺𝑂). Formulations were optimized to maximize the GO content (2.0 and 1.15% for 𝐻𝑃𝐴−𝐺𝑂 and 𝐻𝐶𝐴−𝐺𝑂, respectively) and Curcumin (CUR) was loaded as a model drug at 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5% (by weight). The physico-chemical characterization confirmed the homogeneous incorporation of GO within the polymer network and the enhanced thermal stability of hybrid vs. blank hydrogels. The determination of swelling profiles showed a higher swelling degree for 𝐻𝐶𝐴−𝐺𝑂 and a marked pH responsivity due to the COOH functionalities. Moreover, the application of external voltages modified the water affinity of 𝐻𝐶𝐴−𝐺𝑂, while they accelerated the degradation of 𝐻𝑃𝐴−𝐺𝑂 due to the disruption of the crosslinking points and the partial dissolution of alginate. The evaluation of release profiles, extensively analysed by the application of semi-empirical mathematical models, showed a sustained release from hybrid hydrogels, and the possibility to modulate the releasing amount and rate by electro-stimulation of 𝐻𝐶𝐴−𝐺𝑂.
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    Carbon nanotubes hybrid hydrogels in drug delivery: A perspective review
    (London : Hindawi, 2014) Cirillo, Giuseppe; Hampel, Silke; Spizzirri, Umile Gianfranco; Parisi, Ortensia Ilaria; Picci, Nevio; Iemma, Francesca
    The use of biologics, polymers, silicon materials, carbon materials, and metals has been proposed for the preparation of innovative drug delivery devices. One of the most promising materials in this field are the carbon-nanotubes composites and hybrid materials coupling the advantages of polymers (biocompatibility and biodegradability) with those of carbon nanotubes (cellular uptake, stability, electromagnatic, and magnetic behavior). The applicability of polymer-carbon nanotubes composites in drug delivery, with particular attention to the controlled release by composites hydrogel, is being extensively investigated in the present review.
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    Surface defects reduce Carbon Nanotube toxicity in vitro
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier Science, 2019) Requardt, Hendrik; Braun, Armin; Steinberg, Pablo; Hampel, Silke; Hansen, Tanja
    The cytotoxicity of two different types of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)in A549 lung epithelial cells and HepG2 hepatocytes was investigated. One MWCNT still contained iron that was used as a catalyst during production, while the other one had all iron removed in a post-production heat treatment resulting in significantly fewer surface defects. The WST-8 assay was applied to test cell viability. To check the integrity of the cell membrane, we performed the lactate dehydrogenases assay (LDH)and measured the cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, to examine cell proliferation, we conducted a cell cycle analysis. The results showed a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability for both MWCNTs in both cell types. Moreover, a dose- and time-dependent increase in LDH leakage was detected, thereby indicating a decreased membrane integrity. The production of ROS was significantly increased in the case of the heat-treated MWCNTs. The heat-treated MWCNTs showed significantly stronger adverse effects when compared to the non-treated MWCNTs. Additionally, the heat-treated MWCNTs induced a dose-dependent cell cycle arrest in A549 cells. Both MWCNTs induced a significant cytotoxicity, whereby the heat treatment, leading to a decrease in surface defects, further increased the indicated adverse effects. © 2019 The Authors