Browsing by Subject "Silk fibroin"
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- PublicationOpen AccessAccelerated Simple Preparation of Curcumin-Loaded Silk Fibroin/Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications(MDPI, 2023-01-18) Chaala, M.; Seeba, F. Z.; Fuster, M. G.; Moulefera, I.; Montalbán, M. G.; Carissimi, G.; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Ingeniería Química; Facultad de QuímicaThe development of new biomaterials from natural fibres in the field of biomedicine have attracted great interest in recent years. One of the most studied fibres has been silk fibroin produced by the Bombyx mori worm, due to its excellent mechanical properties and its biodegradability and bioavailability. Among the different biomaterials that can be prepared from silk fibroin, hydrogels have attracted considerable attention due to their potential use in different fields, such as scaffolding, cell therapy and biomedical application. Hydrogels are essentially a three-dimensional network of flexible polymer chains that absorb considerable amounts of water and can be loaded with drugs and/or cells inside to be used in a wide variety of applications. Here we present a simple sonication process for the preparation of curcumin-hyaluronic acid-silk fibroin hydrogels. Different grades of hydrogels were prepared by controlling the relative amounts of their components. The hydrogels were physically and morphologically characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and their biological activity was tested in terms of cell viability in a fibroblast cell line.
- PublicationOpen AccessAntitumor Activity of Rosmarinic Acid-Loaded Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles on HeLa and MCF-7 Cells(MDPI, 2021-09-18) Fuster, M. G.; Carissimi, G.; Montalbán, M. G.; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Ingeniería Química; Facultad de QuímicaRosmarinic acid (RA), one of the most important polyphenol-based antioxidants, has drawn increasing attention because of its remarkable bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial activities. The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize RA-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles (RA-SFNs) in terms of their physical–chemical features and composition, and to investigate their antitumor activity against human cervical carcinoma and breast cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7). Compared with the free form, RA bioavailability was enhanced when the drug was adsorbed onto the surface of the silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs). The resulting particle diameter was 255 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.187, and the Z-potential was 17 mV. The drug loading content of the RA-SFNs was 9.4 wt.%. Evaluation of the in vitro drug release of RA from RA-SFNs pointed to a rapid release in physiological conditions (50% of the total drug content was released in 0.5 h). Unloaded SFNs exhibited good biocompatibility, with no significant cytotoxicity observed during the first 48 h against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells. In contrast, cell death increased in a concentration-dependent manner after treatment with RA-SFNs, reaching an IC50 value of 1.568 and 1.377 mg/mL on HeLa and MCF-7, respectively. For both cell lines, the IC50 of free RA was higher. The cellular uptake of the nanoparticles studied was increased when RA was loaded on them. The cell cycle and apoptosis studies revealed that RA-SFNs inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis on HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines. It is concluded, therefore, that the RA delivery platform based on SFNs improves the antitumor potential of RA in the case of the above cancers.
- PublicationOpen AccessAntitumor activity of rosmarinic acid-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles on HeLa and MCF-7 cells(MDPI, 2021-09-18) Fuster, Marta G.; Carissimi, Gúzmán; García Montalbán, Mercedes; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Ingeniería QuímicaRosmarinic acid (RA), one of the most important polyphenol-based antioxidants, has drawn increasing attention because of its remarkable bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial activities. The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize RA-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles (RA-SFNs) in terms of their physical–chemical features and composition, and to investigate their antitumor activity against human cervical carcinoma and breast cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7). Compared with the free form, RA bioavailability was enhanced when the drug was adsorbed onto the surface of the silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs). The resulting particle diameter was 255 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.187, and the Z-potential was −17 mV. The drug loading content of the RA-SFNs was 9.4 wt.%. Evaluation of the in vitro drug release of RA from RA-SFNs pointed to a rapid release in physiological conditions (50% of the total drug content was released in 0.5 h). Unloaded SFNs exhibited good biocompatibility, with no significant cytotoxicity observed during the first 48 h against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells. In contrast, cell death increased in a concentration-dependent manner after treatment with RA-SFNs, reaching an IC50 value of 1.568 and 1.377 mg/mL on HeLa and MCF-7, respectively. For both cell lines, the IC50 of free RA was higher. The cellular uptake of the nanoparticles studied was increased when RA was loaded on them. The cell cycle and apoptosis studies revealed that RA-SFNs inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis on HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines. It is concluded, therefore, that the RA delivery platform based on SFNs improves the antitumor potential of RA in the case of the above cancers.
PublicationOpen AccessEffect of silk fibroin microparticles on cellular immunity and liver of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) with and without experimental skin injuries(Elsevier, ) Albaladejo-Riad, Nora; Espinosa-Ruiz, Cristóbal; Esteban Abad, María de los Ángeles; Biología Celular e HistologíaSilk fibroin microparticles (SF) were administered in the diet of gilthead seabream with or without experimental skin wounds to study the effects on cellular immunity and liver. A commercial diet was enriched with different SF contents: 0, 50 and 100 mg kg-1 (control, SF50 and SF100 diet, respectively). The animals were fed for 30 days and half of them were sampled. Similar experimental wounds were then performed to the rest of fish and they continued to be fed the same diet. At 7 days post-wounding, samples were taken from the wounded fish. Cellular immunity was studied on head kidney leucocytes (phagocytosis, respiratory and peroxidase content) and liver status (histological study and gene expression) were studied. Our results showed that experimental wounds affect both cellular immunity (by decreasing leucocyte respiratory burst and peroxidase activity) and altered liver histology (by inducing vascularization and congestion of blood vessels). In addition, it affects the expression of genes indicative of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. More specifically, it was the highest dose of silk fibroin (SF100) that significantly increased the phagocytic capacity of leucocytes as well as vascularization in the liver. In addition, increased expression of antioxidant genes (cat and gsr) and decreased expression of genes related to reticulum endoplasmic stress (grp94 and grp170) and apoptosis (nos and jnk) were detected in these fish fed with SF100 and wounded. In conclusion, fed fish with SF100 had many beneficial effects as cellular immunostimulant and hepatoprotection in wounded fish. Its use could be of great interest for stress management in farmed fish conditions.- PublicationOpen AccessFolic Acid-Modified Ibrutinib-Loaded Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles for Cancer Cell Therapy with Over-Expressed Folate Receptor(MDPI, 2023-04-07) Fuster, M. G.; Montalbán, M. G.; Moulefera, I.; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Kaplan, D. L.; Ingeniería Química; Facultad de QuímicaThe anticancer drug ibrutinib (IB), also known as PCI-32765, is a compound that irreversibly inhibits Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and was initially developed as a treatment option for B-cell lineage neoplasms. Its action is not limited to B-cells, as it is expressed in all hematopoietic lineages and plays a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment. However, clinical trials with the drug have resulted in conflicting outcomes against solid tumors. In this study, folic acid-conjugated silk nanoparticles were used for the targeted delivery of IB to the cancer cell lines HeLa, BT-474, and SKBR3 by exploiting the overexpression of folate receptors on their surfaces. The results were compared with those of control healthy cells (EA.hy926). Cellular uptake studies confirmed total internalization of the nanoparticles functionalized by this procedure in the cancer cells after 24 h, compared to nanoparticles not functionalized with folic acid, suggesting that cellular uptake was mediated by folate receptors overexpressed in the cancer cells. The results indicate that the developed nanocarrier can be used for drug targeting applications by enhancing IB uptake in cancer cells with folate receptor overexpression.
- PublicationOpen AccessImproving anticancer therapy with naringenin-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles(MDPI, 2020-04-10) Fuster, Marta G.; Carissimi, Guzmán; García Montalbán, Mercedes; Víllora Cano, Gloria; Ingeniería QuímicaNaringenin (NAR), a flavonoid present in a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anticancer activity. Nevertheless, its application in cancer therapy is limited due to its low bioavailability at the tumour site because of its poor solubility in water and slow dissolution rate. To improve the therapeutic efficacy of NAR, emergent research is looking into using nanocarriers. Silk fibroin (SF), from the Bombyx mori silkworm, is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with excellent mechanical properties and an amphiphilic chemistry that make it a promising candidate as a controlled release drug system. The aim of this work is to synthesize naringenin-loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles (NAR-SFNs) by dissolving the SF in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, using high-power ultrasounds and rapid desolvation in methanol followed by the adsorption of NAR. The NAR-SFNs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The drug loading content and encapsulation efficiency were calculated. The drug release profile best fitted a first order equation. The cytotoxicity effects of free NAR, bare silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) and NAR-SFNs were assessed on HeLa and EA.hy926 cells via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results demonstrated the higher in vitro anticancer potential of synthesized NAR-SFNs than that of free NAR in HeLa cancer cells.
- PublicationOpen AccessOptimizing the preparation of silk fibroin nanoparticles and their loading with polyphenols: towards a more efficient anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages(MDPI, 2023-01-12) Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Núñez-Sánchez, María Ángeles; Asensio Ruiz, María Alejandra; Martínez-Sánchez, María Antonia; Oliva-Bolarín, Alba; Martínez Martínez, Teresa; Pérez Cuadrado, José Julián; Ramos-Molina, Bruno; Lozano-Pérez, Antonio Abel; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultad de BiologíaSilk fibroin nanoparticles (SFN) have become a promising tool in drug delivery systems due to their physicochemical characteristics. SFN have shown their outstanding properties as an active vehicle for polyphenols, enhancing their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages; therefore, it becomes necessary to have an easy, reproducible and scalable production method. In order to improve the production of nanoparticles, we performed direct precipitation of non-dialyzed silk fibroin solutions and evaluated the reproducibility of the method using dynamic light scattering. We also studied the loading efficiency of three different natural polyphenols using propylene glycol as a solvent. The loaded nanoparticles were fully characterized and used to treat human macrophage cells to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of these nanoparticles. The measured hydrodynamic characteristics of the SFN and the overall yield of the process showed that the new preparation method is highly reproducible and repeatable. Thus, we not only present a new scalable method to prepare silk nanoparticles but also how to improve the loading of natural polyphenolic compounds to the SFN, as well as the important anti-inflammatory effects of these loaded nanoparticles in a cell model of human macrophage cells.