Artesunate induced morphological and mechanical changes of Jurkat cell studied by AFM

In this study, we have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the morphology and mechanical property changes of Jurkat cells exposed to different concentrations of Artesunate (ART) for 24 h at single cellular level. Cell viability and proliferation assays were performed by using the Cell Counting Kit‐8. The concentration of ART, which resulted in the inhibition rate >50% was selected. The AFM images revealed that the cell membrane changed and the ultrastructure also became complex. Mechanical properties of individual cell were tracked with AFM‐based force spectroscopy. The force curves revealed that when a cell was exposed to the ART, the mechanical properties changed obviously. Treated cells had a lower adhesion force of 416.8±37.9 pN, whereas control group had a higher adhesion force of 1064.2±97.0 pN. The Young's modulus decreased to nearly one‐third, from control group of 0.648±0.037 kPa to treated group of 0.254±0.035 kPa and the stiffness increased to nearly 1.5 times, from control group of 1.231±0.084 mN/m to treated group of 1.917±0.137 mN/m. These results suggest that ART can inhibit the proliferation of Jurkat and induce changes in the morphological structure and mechanical properties of Jurkat cells. The high resolution and high sensitivity of AFM can be used to detect morphological and mechanical properties of cells exposed to ART. The AFM may be developed to be a useful tool for detecting the cell death and evaluating the anti‐carcinogen efficacy against tumor cell. SCANNING 31: 83–89, 2009. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

青蒿琥酯增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化内毒素、大肠埃希菌的作用及可能机制

目的: 观察青蒿琥酯(artesunate, AS)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化清除脂多糖/内毒素(lipopolysaccharide/endotoxin, LPS)和吞噬大肠埃希菌的影响,并初步探讨其可能的作用机制。方法: MTT法检测不同浓度网格蛋白抑制剂(monodansylcadaverine, MDC)、内体酸化抑制剂氯喹(chloroquine, CQ)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活力的影响,以选择恰当的药物工作浓度;激光共聚焦法检测青蒿琥酯及MDC、CQ对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化FITC-LPS的影响;分别采用激光共聚焦和菌落集落形成计数实验观察青蒿琥酯对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化大肠埃希菌的影响;逆转录PCR检测青蒿琥酯对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞清道夫受体A(class A scavenger receptor,SR-A) mRNA表达的影响。结果: MDC和CQ浓度分别小于 25 μg/mL 和 20 μg/mL 时对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活力无影响;MDC、CQ可抑制小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化LPS,青蒿琥酯可增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对LPS的内化,而且青蒿琥酯可增加MDC和CQ处理的巨噬细胞内化LPS的功能。激光共聚焦和菌落集落形成计数实验均显示青蒿琥酯可增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对大肠埃希菌的内化能力。逆转录PCR结果显示青蒿琥酯可增强LPS处理或未处理的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞SR-A mRNA的表达。结论: 青蒿琥酯可增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞内化LPS、大肠埃希菌的能力,该作用可能与SR-A mRNA表达升高有关。     

Artesunate-loaded chitosan/lecithin nanoparticles: Preparation,characterization, and in vivo studies

Artesunate (AST), the most widely used artemisnin derivative, has poor aqueous solubility and suffers from low oral bioavailability (~40%). Under these conditions, nanoparticles with controlled and sustained released properties can be a suitable solution for improving its biopharmaceuticals properties. This work reports the preparation and characterization of auto-assembled chitosan/lecithin nanoparticles loaded with AST and AST complexed with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to boost its antimalarial activity. The nanoparticles prepared by direct injection of lecithin alcoholic solution into chitosan/water solution have shown the particle size distribution below 300?nm. Drug entrapment efficiency was found to be maximum (90%) for nanoparticles containing 100?mg of AST. Transmission electron microscopy images show spherical shape with contrasted corona (chitosan) surrounded by a lipidic core (lecithin + isopropyl myristate). Differential scanning calorimeter thermograms demonstrated the presence of drug in drug-loaded nanoparticles along with the disappearance of decomposition exotherm suggesting the increased physical stability of drug in prepared formulations. Negligible changes in the characteristic peaks of drug in Fourier-transform infrared spectra indicated the absence of any interaction among the various components entrapped in the nanoparticle formulation. In vitro drug release behavior was found to be influenced by pH value. Increased in vivo antimalarial activity in terms of less mean percent parasitemia was observed in infected Plasmodium berghei mice after the oral administration of all the prepared nanoparticle formulations.     

青蒿琥酯对人宫颈癌细胞放射增敏作用的影响研究

本工作主要涉及青蒿琥酯对体外培养人宫颈癌HeLa、Siha细胞株的放射增敏作用.实验选择人宫颈癌细胞HeLa、Siha作为实验细胞.利用四氮唑盐比色试验(MTT)确定细胞辐射损伤实验最佳药物浓度;常规染色体畸变法、胞质分裂阻滞微核法(CB法)分别研究青蒿琥酯对辐射诱发人宫颈癌细胞染色体畸变、微核的影响.确定了青蒿琥酯的...     

Developing combination of artesunate with paclitaxel loaded into poly-d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticle for systemic delivery to exhibit synergic chemotherapeutic response

Objectives: Paclitaxel (PTX) has been indicated for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors, whereas artesunate (ART) has been reported to have the potential for use in combination chemotherapy. In this study, the combination of ART and PTX was prepared in nanoparticle to induce the synergic effect and improve therapeutic efficiency in treatment of breast cancer.

Methods: Dual anticancer agents (PTX and ART) were loaded into Poly-D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) by solvent evaporation technique from oil-in-water emulsion, stabilized with Tween 80. Physicochemical properties of obtained nanoparticles (PTX-ART-NPs) were characterized including particle size (Z), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potentials (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE), and in-vitro drug release. Combination index (CI) was calculated to determine the synergic effect of the combination and select the best ratio of ART and PTX. The final NPs analyzed intracellular uptake, cytotoxicity assay, and apoptosis study.

Results: The final NP had a small size (around 120?nm) with a narrow size distribution (PDI <0.3). EE values for each drug were 87.8?±?1.1% and 99.5?±?0.1% for ART and PTX, respectively, and drugs were released from NPs in a controlled release pattern. All combinations of PTX and ART had CI values under 1, which confirmed the synergic effects. Meanwhile, NP preparation increased cytotoxicity on three breast cancer cell-lines comparable to free drugs.

Conclusions: Combination of ART- and PTX-loaded PLGA NP showed promising results for anticancer therapy, especially for breast cancer treatment.     

青蒿琥酯对人宫颈癌HeLa和Siha细胞辐照后DNA损伤水平的影响

为研究青蒿琥酯联合照射对人宫颈癌HeLa和Siha细胞DNA损伤的影响,取对数生长期细胞,通过MTT比色法测定不同浓度青蒿琥酯作用24h对HeLa和Siha细胞生长的抑制效应,将细胞分为单纯照射组和联合治疗组,每组分别给予0、2、4、6Gy四个剂量的60↑Coγ射线照射,应用单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE）法检测青蒿琥酯对HeLa和Siha细胞照射后DNA损伤的影响。MTT结果表明,青蒿琥酯对宫颈癌HeLa和Siha细胞的生长抑制呈剂量依赖性。单细胞凝胶电泳法检测发现：联合治疗组HeLa细胞经0、2、4和60↑Coγ射线辐照后彗星细胞的尾部DNA百分数及Olive尾矩明显大于单纯照射组,差别有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,而Siha细胞联合治疗组与单纯辐照组相比,无明显差异。实验结果表明,青蒿琥酯对p53突变型予宫颈癌HeLa细胞具有明显的放射增敏作用,而对p53野生型子宫颈癌Siha细胞没有明显的放射增敏作用。     

Surfactant free-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) coated artesunate loaded citrate-functionalized hydroxyapatite nanorods as a nanocapsule for improving artesunate delivery and antitumor efficiency

The development of targeted drug delivery systems with controlled drug release and enhanced drug bioavailability has attracted increasing attention as a candidate for clinical applications. We designed biocompatible citrate-functionalized hydroxyapatite nanorods (Cit-HAp NRs) loaded with artesunate (ART) for use in colon cancer therapies. These were then encapsulated into surfactant free PLGA nanoparticles (ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs). The synthesized Cit-HAp NRs, ART-loaded Cit-HAp NRs and ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs were characterized using a variety of comprehensive techniques. An ART loading efficiency of ～92% was observed upon using a 1:10 mass ratio (ART: Cit-HAp NRs). We revealed that the adsorption of ART on Cit-HAp NRs proceeds via a pseudo-second-order adsorption mechanism. The in vitro ART release from the nanocomposites (ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs) exhibits a pH dependent release and the rate of ART release from the ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs was slower than the release from Cit-HAp NRs. The effects of ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs were evaluated in human colon cancer (HCT 116 and Caco-2) cell lines. ART@Cit-HAp NRs/SF-PLGA NPs demonstrated higher anti-proliferation activity compared with free ART. The delivery of ART using Citrate-functionalized hydroxyapatite encapsulated, surfactant free PLGA nanoparticles as a carrier could improve their anti-cancer activities.     

The characterization,pharmacokinetic, and tissue distribution studies of TPGS-modified artesunate liposome in rats

Objective: The objective of this study (ARS-TPGS-Lipo) was to enhance the stability, encapsulation efficiency (EE), improve AUC, circulation time and liver targeting of ARS-TPGS-Lipo.

Methods: ARS-TPGS-Lipo was prepared by thin-film dispersion method and characterized by TEM. The EE, in vitro release and stability of ARS-TPGS-Lipo were detected by HPLC and UV. In addition to the safety evaluation, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies were also carried out after i.v. administration.

Results: The size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE of ARS-TPGS-Lipo were 126.7?±?9.9?nm, 0.182?±?0.016, ?10.1?±?1.43?mV, and 78.8?±?1.89%, respectively. ARS-TPGS-Lipo showed the slow-release effect in vitro release experiments. The AUC of ARS in the ARS-TPGS-Lipo group was 7.51 times higher than in the ARS group after i.v. administration and the circulation time was significantly prolonged. The tissue distribution results showed the components of artesunate and its metabolism DHA of the ARS-TPGS-Lipo group were much higher in liver than the ARS-Lipo group.

Conclusion: ARS-TPGS-Lipo was prepared successfully, which had the smaller vesicles size with a better PDI, better stability, higher EE, and slow-release. The results of safety evaluation indicated that ARS-TPGS-Lipo had no hematotoxicity and hepatorenal toxicity. The pharmacokinetic studies indicated ARS-TPGS-Lipo had higher AUC, longer circulation time and better liver targeting.     

青蒿琥酯对急性单核细胞白血病SHI-1细胞株血管内皮生长因子及其受体表达的影响

目的 研究青蒿琥酯对急性单核细胞白血病SHI-1细胞株血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体( VEGFR)的影响。方法酶联免疫吸附法检测非细胞毒性浓度(5、10、20 ng/ml)青蒿琥酯作用SHI-1细胞后培养上清液VEGF浓度,流式细胞术检测有或无青蒿琥酯作用时,SHI-1细胞表面VEGFR-1及VEGFR-2阳性表达率。结果培养24、48 h后,无青蒿琥酯作用的SHI-1细胞培养上清液VEGF质量浓度分别为( 980.3±2.2)、(982.4±2.3) pg/ml,VEGFR-1表达率分别为(5.40±3.11)％和(4.45±2.85)％,VEGFR-2表达率分别为(13.90.± 2.26)％和（13.95±1.96）％。5、10、20 ng/ml青蒿琥酯作用24h后,SHI-1细胞培养上清液VEGF质量浓度分别为(234.6±1.8)、(114.9±1.6)、(108.8±1.5) pg/ml,作用48 h后分别为(62.3±1.7)、(60.9±1.6)、(32.7±1.7) pg/ml,与培养相同时间无青蒿琥酯组相比,VEGF浓度明显下降（均P＜ 0.05）,且相同浓度青蒿琥酯作用24 h与48 h间差异亦有统计学意义(均P＜ 0.05)。5、10、20 ng/ml青蒿琥酯作用24 h,VEGFR-1阳性率分别为(4.30±2.21)％、(4.20±1.37)％和(3.90±1.86)％,作用48 h后分别为(3.80±2.87)％、(3.60±1.73)％和(3.00±1.82)％,相同作用时间不同浓度青蒿琥酯组间及相同浓度作用不同时间组间VEGFR-1阳性率差异均无统计学意义(均P＞ 0.05);作用24h后,SHI-1细胞VEGFR-2阳性率分别为(4.40±1.15)％、(3.10±0.68)％和(1.10±0.72)％,作用48 h后分别为(3.00±1.68)％、(2.20±0.93)％和(0.60±0.92)％,3个不同浓度青蒿琥酯作用相同时间后VEGFR-2表达率降低（均P＜ 0.05）,相同浓度作用24与48 h间差异均无统计学意义（均P＞ 0.05）。结论SHI-1细胞株高分泌VEGF,青蒿琥酯可下调VEGF分泌及VEGFR-2的表达,而对VEGFR-1表达的调节作用不显著。     

Artesunate Induces Apoptosis of Bladder Cancer Cells by miR-16 Regulation of COX-2 Expression

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary tract and remains one of the major causes of cancer death worldwide. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of Artesunate (ART), a traditional Chinese medicine, on inducing apoptosis of human bladder cancer cells. In vivo antitumor activity was investigated in bladder cancer in rat by subcutaneous injection of different concentration of ART. The effect of ART on growth inhibition and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells was evaluated using dimethylthiazoly-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and miR-16 expression levels were determined with real-time PCR. The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the supernatants of bladder cancer cells were measured with an ELISA kit. The miR-16 inhibitor or mimic were transfected into cells to up- or down-regulate miR-16 expression. ART efficiently inhibited orthotopic tumor growth in the bladder cancer rat, which is accompanied with an increase of miR-16 expression and a decrease of COX-2 expression. In vitro, ART could induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in bladder cancer cells, but presented a much lighter toxicity effect against normal human urothelial cells. ART significantly increased miR-16 expression and decreased the expression of COX-2 and the production of PGE2. More importantly, down-regulation of miR-16 expression could reverse the effect of ART on apoptosis and COX-2 expression in bladder cells. Moreover, exogenous PGE2 could inhibit apoptosis of bladder cancer cells treated with ART. In conclusion, ART can elicit an anti-tumor effect against bladder cancer by up-regulation of miR-16 expression, which resulted in the decrease of COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. Hence, ART might be an effective drug for the treatment of bladder cancer.