Charcoal Nanoparticles as a Delivery System for Doxorubicin and Sorafenib in Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Advanced HCC displays strong resistance to chemotherapy, and traditional chemotherapy drugs do not achieve satisfactory therapeutic efficacy. The delivery of therapeutic compounds to the target site is a major challenge in the treatment of many diseases. Objective: This study aims to evaluate activated charcoal nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for anticancer agents (Sorafenib and Doxorubicin) in Hepatocellular Cancer Stem Cells. Method: The percent efficiency of entrapment (% EE) of the doxorubicin and sorafenib entrapped onto the activated charcoal was obtained by determining the free doxorubicin and sorafenib concentration in the supernatant-prepared solutions. Then the characterizations of nanoparticles were formed by determination of the particle size distribution, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI). The anticancer activity of activated Charcoal, Doxorubicin-ACNP, sorafenib-ACNP, free doxorubicin, and free sorafenib solutions was measured based on cell viability percentage in HepG2 cell lines (ATCC-CCL 75). In vitro RBC’s toxicity of Doxorubicin/sorafenib loaded charcoal was estimated by hemolysis percentage. Results: The synthesized Doxorubicin-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP were evaluated and their physiochemical properties were also examined. Essentially, the percent Efficiency of Entrapment (EE %) was found to be 87.5% and 82.66% for Doxorubicin-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP, respectively. The loading capacity was 34.78% and 24.31% for Doxorubicin-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP. Using the Dynamic Light scattering [DLS] for the determination of the hydrodynamic size and surface zeta potential, a narrow sample size distribution was obtained of (18, 68, and 190 nm for charcoal, 105, 255, and 712 nm for doxorubicin, and 91, 295, and 955 nm for sorafenib), respectively. A surface charge of −13.2, −15.6 and −17 was obtained for charcoal, doxorubicin/charcoal, and sorafenib/charcoal nanoparticles. The cytotoxic activity of Doxorubicin-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP was evaluated in-vitro against HepG2 cell lines and it was observed that Drug loaded ACNP improved anticancer activity when compared to Doxorubicin or Sorafenib alone. Moreover, testing the toxicity potential of DOX-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP showed a significant reduction in the hemolysis of red blood cells when compared to Doxorubicin and Sorafenib alone. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is notable to state that this study is regarded as the first to investigate the use of Activated charcoal for the loading of Doxorubicin and Sorafenib for further use in the arena of hepatocellular carcinoma. Doxorubicin-ACNP and Sorafenib-ACNP showed noteworthy anticancer activity along with a reduced potential of RBCs hemolysis rendering it as an efficacious carrier with a low toxicity potential.

急症护理执业护士研究进展

从高级重症实践护士的概念和起源、资格认证、临床价值、角色职能以及国内重症专科APN的培养现状等方面进行综述,以期为我国高级实践护理的规范化管理提供参考,提高护理质量,减少人才流失。

基于SSRIs药物治疗的针、灸抗抑郁效应研究

目的:验证选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂(SSRIs)类药物治疗基础上针、灸抗抑郁效应。方法:80例抑郁症患者随机分为针灸药物组(25例)、针刺药物组(25例)、药物组(30例)。3组均给予SSRIs类药物,在此基础上,针灸药物组予督脉导气针刺法,穴取百会、风府、大椎等,并温灸大椎、百会;针刺药物组仅予督脉导气针刺法。采用汉密尔顿抑郁(HAMD)量表于治疗前后评定总分和各因子评分,并评定疗效。结果:与药物组相比,针刺药物组与针灸药物组HAMD量表阻滞、睡眠、焦虑/躯体化因子评分和总分明显改善(P<0.05,P<0.01);与针刺药物组相比,针灸药物组进一步改善了HAMD量表中的睡眠因子、认知因子评分和总分(P<0.05,P<0.01)。3组愈显率分别为100.0%(25/25)、84.0%(21/25)、56.7%(17/30),针灸药物组优于针刺药物组(P<0.05),且两组均优于药物组(均P<0.01)。结论:SSRIs类药物治疗基础上针、灸存在一定的抗抑郁效应,且针灸并用疗效优于单纯针刺。