The anti-tumor efficacy of nanoparticulate form of ICD-85 versus free form

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have been intensively studied as a possible way to enhance anti-tumor efficacy while reducing side effects. ICD-85, derived from the venom of two separate species of venomous animals, has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity. In this report polymer based sodium alginate nanoparticles of ICD-85 was used to enhance its therapeutic effects and reduce its side effects. The inhibitory effect was evaluated by MTT assay. The necrotic effect was assessed using LDH assay. The induction of apoptosis was analyzed by caspase-8 colorimetric assay kit. Cytotoxicity assay in HeLa cells demonstrated enhanced efficacy of ICD-85 loaded NPs compared to the free ICD-85. The IC50 values obtained in HeLa cells after 48 h, for free ICD-85 and ICD-85 loaded NPs were 26±2.9μg ml-1 and 18±2.5μg ml-1, respectively. While it was observed that free ICD-85 exhibits mild cytotoxicity towards normal MRC-5 cells (IC50>60μg ml-1), ICD-85 loaded NPs was found to have higher efficacy in anti-proliferative activity on HeLa cells in vitro without any significant cytotoxic effect on normal MRC-5 cells. The apoptosis-induction mechanism by both form of ICD-85 on HeLa cells was found to be through activation of caspase-8 with approximately 2 fold greater of ICD-85 loaded NPs as compared to free ICD-85. Our work reveals that although ICD-85 in free form is relatively selective to inhibit the growth of cancer cells via apoptosis as compared to normal cells, but nanoparticulate form increases its selectivity towards cancer cells

Grazing management, slope aspect and canopy effects on the compression characteristic of soils of the Gonbad experimental watershed in Hamedan, Iran

Arid and semiarid environments are very sensitive to unsuitable land management practices like livestock overgrazing. Animal trampling and overgrazing can cause land degradation through soil compaction, and this can be controlled by slope aspect. Soil compaction changes soil structure, reduces soil water infiltration and root penetration and decreases vegetation cover and soil organic matter. Livestock overgrazing and the slope aspect can affect many soil properties, but their effects on the confined compression curve (CCC) of soils and other land degradation indices have not been investigated so far. We studied the effects of slope aspect, grazing intensity, and sampling position on the characteristics of the CCC in Gonbad experimental watershed, Hamedan, Iran. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected at the end of the grazing season in November. The soil CCC was measured, and the Gompertz model was fitted to the measured data. The smallest void ratios, compactability, and swelling indices occurred with a southern aspect due to the greater sand content and coarser texture. Free grazing increased the soil bulk density and decreased the void ratio to decrease all of the CCC characteristics and Gompertz model coefficients (except m). Soil on a northern aspect and with no grazing improved the compression and degradation indices, and would be the best management to prevent compression and consequent land degradation. Path analysis demonstrated that topography and grazing management changed the compression characteristics, which affected land degradation strongly, by affecting the cation exchange capacity, organic matter, and textural and structural properties. In consequence, compression of rangeland soils can be mitigated by selecting suitable grazing management systems by considering topography of the region

Theranostic approach in liver cancer: an emerging paradigm to optimize personalized medicine

Purpose: This review aims to focus an update of the state-of-the-art theranostics approach in liver cancer using 131I, 32P, 90Y, 166Ho, and 186/188Re microspheres as well as some receptors including fibroblast activation protein (FAP), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 4 (CXCR4), and somatostatin receptors (STR). Methods: A literature search was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Clinical Trials.gov database and “liver”, “theranostics”, “transarterial radioembolization (TARE)”, “prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)”, “fibroblast activation protein (FAP)”, “hepatocellular carcinoma”, “32P”, “90Y”, “166Ho”, “131I” and “somatostatin receptor (STR)” as keywords. Both, preclinical and clinical studies were included in this review. The search was restricted to the English language. Result: After exclusion of letters, editorials, comments and duplicates publications, remaining articles were included in this review. Conclusion: There is growing evidence for applicability of theranostic approach in these patients to enhance early identification, patient evaluation, targeted treatment, restaging, follow-up, and palliation of symptoms or slow down tumor progression. However, this field requires multidisciplinary expertise and collaboration. The increased access to tracers, training multidisciplinary teams, using novel trial designs, and establishing initiatives to share and re-analyze data from clinical imaging studies can encourage the use of molecular nuclear imaging in both clinical research and practical. It is also well recognized that dosimetric recommendations should be considered to compare promising new theranostic agents and clarify the better or similar performance of these methods in hepatocellular carcinoma.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging