Harnessing pyroptosis for lung cancer therapy: The impact of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Lung cancer is still a global health challenge in terms of high incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Recent scientific studies have determined that pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death, can be identified as a potential lung cancer therapeutic target. The NLRP3 inflammasome acts as a critical mediator in this process and, upon activation, activates multiprotein complex formation as well as caspase-1 activation.

Toward the Synthesis and Improved Biopotential of an -methylated Analog of a Proline-Rich Cyclic Tetrapeptide from Marine Bacteria.

An -methylated analog of a marine bacteria-derived natural proline-rich tetracyclopeptide was synthesized by coupling the deprotected dipeptide fragments Boc-l-prolyl-l--methylleucine-OH and l-prolyl-l--methylphenylalanine-OMe. A coupling reaction was accomplished utilizing ,'-Dicyclohexylcarbodidimde (DCC) and 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC·HCl) as coupling agents and Triethylamine (TEA) or -methylmorpholine (NMM) as the base in the presence of the racemization suppressing agent. This was followed by the cyclization of the linear tetrapeptide fragment under alkaline conditions.

Micronisation of simvastatin by the supercritical antisolvent technique: in vitro-in vivo evaluation.

Micronisation of simvastatin dissolved in acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol with supercritical carbon dioxide as antisolvent was successfully performed using a supercritical antisolvent technique. The effect of a few process parameters such as precipitation temperature, the pressure and solute concentration in the liquid solution has been studied to evaluate their influence on morphology and size of particles. The micronised simvastatin were evaluated for drug content, particle size analysis and in vitro dissolution profiles.

Preparation and characterization of microemulsion of cilostazol for enhancement of oral bioavailability.

Cilostazol is a promising drug for antiplatelet combination therapy that is very important for treatment for various cardiovascular disorders. However, oral delivery of this drug is greatly impeded by the poor solubility in aqueous solutions. The aim of this study was to develop microemulsion (ME) delivery system capable of improving the drug bioavailability.

Preparation and characterization of methylene blue nanoparticles for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.

Methylene blue (MB) has been shown to slow down the progression of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies; however distribution of MB into the brain is limited due its high hydrophilicity. In this study, we aimed to prepare novel hydrophobic glutathione coated PLGA nanoparticles to improve bioavailability of MB in the brain. Glutathione coated poly-(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-b-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and tested in two different cell culture models of AD expressing microtubule associated protein tau (tau).

Formulation and characterization of mucoadhesive microparticles of cinnarizine hydrochloride using supercritical fluid technique.

The mucoadhesive microparticles (CHCNZ) composed of chitosan (CH) and cinnarizine (CNZ) hydrochloride were successfully prepared, in a process of solution-enhanced dispersion, by supercritical CO₂ (SEDS) technique. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the morphological characteristics of mucoadhesive microparticles. The average particle size of microparticles was in the range from 1.