Comprehensive evaluation of gene expression in negative and positive trigger-based targeting niosomes in HEK-293 cell line

An efficient gene delivery system has some critical factors that enhance the efficiency of nanocarrier. These factors are low production cost, high bioavailability, high encapsulation efficiency, controllable release, and targeting ability. Niosome (the nonionic surfactant vesicles) was considered as a promising gene delivery system. Niosome can increase stability and uptake of active agents. We used all mentioned factors in one optimized formulation entitled plasmidloaded magnetic niosomes (PMN). To increase the bioavailability of niosomes, we used ergosterol (a natural lipid) instead of cholesterol in structure of niosome. Also, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in different concentrations was used to improve encapsulation of plasmid and compared to niosomes that did not have CTAB (negative niosome). Afterward, magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4@SiO2) was synthesized and loaded into niosome to obtain targeting ability. Prepared formulations were evaluated regarding size, zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles and plasmid (Pm-cherry-N1), release rate, and transfection efficiency. Results demonstrated that optimum formulation (Nio/CTAB3/Fe/P) has a nanometric size (118 ± 2.31 nm, positive zeta potential (+25 ± 0.67 mV), high loading of plasmid (72), and good gene expression (35). Interestingly, after applying a magnetic field below the cell plate, we obtained ac increased gene expression from 35 to 42. These results showed that this new formulation would have a promising future and also can be used for delivering the other drugs and active agents. © 2020, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. All rights reserved

Bimetallic nickel-ferrite nanorod particles: greener synthesis using rosemary and its biomedical efficiency

Nickel-ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanorods particles (NRP) was biosynthesised for the first time by the Rosemary Extract. The NRP was fully characterised, including the type, nanostructure and physicochemical properties of using XRD, HRTEM, FeSEM, XPS, FTIR and VSM. TEM confirmed rod-shaped nano-sized particles with average sizes ranging from 10 nm to 28 nm. The EDAX Analysis showed the presence of iron, nickel, oxygen, and carbon. XRD analysis confirmed the synthesis of NiFe2O4 crystals. XPS curves showed photoelectron for iron, oxygen and nickel. EDS showed the atomic, weight percentages ratios of Ni(12): Fe(24) and: O(48) are close to the theoretical value (Ni: Fe:O = 1:2:4), of bimetallic magnetic NiFe2O4 NRP. NiFe2O4 NRP had cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 cells survival which suggests that NiFe2O4 NRP can be used as a new class of anticancer agent in design novel cancer therapy research. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

A new formulation of hydrophobin-coated niosome as a drug carrier to cancer cells

Hydrophobin-1 (HFB-1) found on the surface of fungal spores, plays a role in the lack of antigen recognition by the host immune system. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential application of HFB-1 for the delivery of doxorubicin (Dox) into different cell lines. Coating the surface of niosomes (Nio) with HFB-1 leads to the hypothesis that this protein can confer protection against in vivo immune-system recognition and prevent the immune response. Thus, HFB-1 could become a promising alternative to polyethylene glycol (PEG). Here, HFB-1�coated niosome loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) based on Span 40, Tween 40 and cholesterol was prepared and compared with the PEG-coated niosome. Physicochemical characteristics of the prepared formulations in terms of size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), morphology, entrapment efficiency (EE), and release rate were evaluated at different pH levels (2, 5.2, and 7.4). In the end, the in vitro cytotoxicity assay was performed on four different cancer cell lines namely A549, MDA-MB-231, C6 and PC12 in addition to one control cell line (3 T3) to ensure the formulation's selectivity against cancer cells. Results showed that the niosomes coated with HFB-1 presented better size distribution, higher EE, more sustained release profile, enhanced biocompatibility and improved anticancer effects as compared to the PEG-coated niosomes. Interestingly, the viability percentage of the control cell line was higher than different cancer cells when treated with the formulations, which indicates the higher selectivity of the formulation against cancer cells. In conclusion, loading the niosomes with Dox and coating them with HFB-1 enhanced their efficacy and selectivity toward cancer cells, presenting a promising drug delivery system for sustained drug release in cancer treatment. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Niosomal virosome derived by vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein as a new gene carrier

Virosomes as membranous vesicles with viral fusion protein in their membrane are versatile vehicles for cargo delivery. The vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) is a common fusogenic protein used in virosome preparation. This glycoprotein has been used in liposomal systems so far, but in this study, we have tried to use the niosomal form instead of liposome for. Niosomes are vesicular systems composed of non-ionic surfactants. Niosomes were constructed by the thin-film hydration method. VSV-G gene in pMD2.G plasmid was expressed in the HEK293T cell line and then was reconstituted in the niosome bilayer. The formation of niosomal virosomes was confirmed with different methods such as SDS-PAGE gel, western blotting, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficiency of niosomal virosome was investigated with the pmCherry reporter gene. SDS-PAGE and western blotting proved the expression and successful insertion of protein into the bilayer. The TEM images showed the spike projection of VSV-G on the surface of niosomes. The transfection results showed high efficiency of niosomal virosomes as a novel carrier. This report has verified that niosome could be used as an efficient bilayer instead of liposome to construct virosomes. © 2020 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II Universit