Development of Cationic Lipid LAH4-L1 siRNA Complexes for Focused Ultrasound Enhanced Tumor Uptake

RNAi has considerable potential as a cancer therapeutic approach, but effective and efficient delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA) to tumors remains a major hurdle. It remains a challenge to prepare a functional siRNA complex, target enough dose to the tumor, and stimulate its internalization into tumor cells and its release to the cytoplasm. Here, we show how these key barriers to siRNA delivery can be overcome with a complexcomprising siRNA, cationic lipids, and pH-responsive peptidesthat is suited to tumor uptake enhancement via focused ultrasound (FUS). The complex provides effective nucleic acid encapsulation, nuclease protection, and endosomal escape such that gene silencing in cells is substantially more effective than that obtained with either equivalent lipoplexes or commercial reagents. In mice bearing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenografts, both lipid and ternary, lipid:peptide:siRNA complexes, prepared with near-infrared fluorescently labeled siRNA, accumulate in tumors following FUS treatments. Therefore, combining a well-designed lipid:peptide:siRNA complex with FUS tumor treatments is a promising route to achieve robust in vivo gene delivery

Against antibacterial and antifungal activity of jojoba wax liquid (Simmondsia chinensis)

Introduction: Plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds. Simmondsia chinensis, also known as Jojoba, is the sole member the Simmondsiaceae's family and has been known traditionally for many medical uses. Objectives: Herein we evaluate the value of crude jojoba oil (J.O) as an antimicrobial agent in vitro. Methods: J.O was tested for potential antimicro bial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Asperigillus flavus. Results: Our results did not show any effect on fungi or yeast. However a significant antibacterial activity was observed against B. subtilis, S. aureus, P. vulgaris, P mirabilis. A high activity was observed for J.O at Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC level of 12.5 mg/ml. Interestingly, S. typhimurium, E. coli and Ps. aeruginosa were found to be highly resistant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that J.O may have a medicinal potentia as natural antibacterial agent.</p