Antitumor activities of D-glucosamine and its derivatives

The growth inhibitory effects of D-glucosamine hydrochloride （GlcNH2-HCl）, D-glucosamine （GlcNH2） and N-acetyl glucosamine （NAG） on human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro were investigated. The results showed that GlcNH2.HCl and GlcNH2 resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in hepatoma cell growth as measured by MTT （3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide） assay. This effect was accompanied by a marked increase in the proportion of S cells as analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells treated with GlcNH2-HCl resulted in the induction of apoptosis as assayed qualitatively by agarose gel electrophoresis. NAG could not inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells. GlcNH2-HCl exhibited antitumor activity against Sarcoma 180 in Kunming mice at dosage of 125-500 mg/kg, dose of 250 mg/kg being the best. GlcNH2-HCl at dose of 250 mg/kg could enhance significantly the thymus index, and spleen index and could promote T lymphocyte proliferation induced by ConA. The antitumor effect of GlcNH2-HCl is probably host-mediated and cytocidal.

Multi-methodological Approach to Evaluate Performances of Mucoadhesive Oral Gel Based on Nanoparticles

Oral mucositis due to chemotherapy and irradiation continues to be an important clinical problem. The effectiveness of hyaluronic acid-based compounds in accelerated healing and helping manage pain in patients with oral mucositis was demonstrated. It was investigated a protective and regenerative effect of hyaluronic acid based gel formulation enriched with NAG （N-acetyl glucosamine） loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against degenerative process of the oral mucosa. Gel formulations were obtained by adding sHA （sodium hyaluronate） into SLN aqueous suspension. Gel performances were evaluated by multi-methodological approach： mucoadhesive and barrier properties evaluation, cell viability. It was shown that gel formulation based sHA, enriched with NAG loaded SLNs, when added as suspension, demonstrated to have a good mucoadhesion profile comparable in terms of tensile work and fracture strength to Carbomer 934 2%. The presence of NAG encapsulated and not in gel formulation enhances also the biocompatibility of the system, demonstrating also to have a proliferative effect. Finally, any barrier property was altered. Finally, results demonstrated that sHA based gel formulation enriched SLNs, demonstrated good mucoadeshion property, comparable to carbopol gel, positive control. The proposed gel formulation enriched with SLNs setting up in this work could be used as innovation strategy to treat oral mucositis.