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  1. Article ; Online: Newly Synthesized CoFe 2−x Dy x O 4 (x = 0; 0.1; 0.2; 0.4) Nanoparticles Reveal Promising Anticancer Activity against Melanoma (A375) and Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Cells

    Slaviţa Rotunjanu / Roxana Racoviceanu / Alexandra Mioc / Andreea Milan / Roxana Negrea-Ghiulai / Marius Mioc / Narcisa Laura Marangoci / Codruţa Şoica

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 24, Iss 21, p

    2023  Volume 15733

    Abstract: The current study focuses on the synthesis via combustion of dysprosium-doped cobalt ferrites that were subsequently physicochemically analyzed in terms of morphological and magnetic properties. Three types of doped nanoparticles were prepared containing ...

    Abstract The current study focuses on the synthesis via combustion of dysprosium-doped cobalt ferrites that were subsequently physicochemically analyzed in terms of morphological and magnetic properties. Three types of doped nanoparticles were prepared containing different Dy substitutions and coated with HPGCD for higher dispersion properties and biocompatibility, and were later submitted to biological tests in order to reveal their potential anticancer utility. Experimental data obtained through FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM confirmed the inclusion of Dy 3+ ions in the nanoparticles’ structure. The size of the newly formed nanoparticles ranged between 20 and 50 nm revealing an inverse proportional relationship with the Dy content. Magnetic studies conducted by VSM indicated a decrease in remanent and saturation mass magnetization, respectively, in Dy-doped nanoparticles in a direct proportionality with the Dy content; the decrease was further amplified by cyclodextrin complexation. Biological assessment in the presence/absence of red light revealed a significant cytotoxic activity in melanoma (A375) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells, while healthy keratinocytes (HaCaT) remained generally unaffected, thus revealing adequate selectivity. The investigation of the underlying cytotoxic molecular mechanism revealed an apoptotic process as indicated by nuclear fragmentation and shrinkage, as well as by Western blot analysis of caspase 9, p53 and cyclin D1 proteins. The anticancer activity for all doped Co ferrites varied was in a direct correlation to their Dy content but without being affected by the red light irradiation.
    Keywords cobalt ferrites ; dysprosium-doped magnetic nanoparticles ; cytotoxicity ; cell viability ; anticancer ; Western blot ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Subject code 620
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: The Role of Cyclodextrins in the Design and Development of Triterpene-Based Therapeutic Agents

    Alexandra Prodea / Alexandra Mioc / Christian Banciu / Cristina Trandafirescu / Andreea Milan / Roxana Racoviceanu / Roxana Ghiulai / Marius Mioc / Codruta Soica

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 23, Iss 736, p

    2022  Volume 736

    Abstract: Triterpenic compounds stand as a widely investigated class of natural compounds due to their remarkable therapeutic potential. However, their use is currently being hampered by their low solubility and, subsequently, bioavailability. In order to overcome ...

    Abstract Triterpenic compounds stand as a widely investigated class of natural compounds due to their remarkable therapeutic potential. However, their use is currently being hampered by their low solubility and, subsequently, bioavailability. In order to overcome this drawback and increase the therapeutic use of triterpenes, cyclodextrins have been introduced as water solubility enhancers; cyclodextrins are starch derivatives that possess hydrophobic internal cavities that can incorporate lipophilic molecules and exterior surfaces that can be subjected to various derivatizations in order to improve their biological behavior. This review aims to summarize the most recent achievements in terms of triterpene:cyclodextrin inclusion complexes and bioconjugates, emphasizing their practical applications including the development of new isolation and bioproduction protocols, the elucidation of their underlying mechanism of action, the optimization of triterpenes’ therapeutic effects and the development of new topical formulations.
    Keywords cyclodextrins ; triterpenes ; inclusion complexes ; phytocompounds ; cytotoxicity ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Subject code 540
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: The Optimized Delivery of Triterpenes by Liposomal Nanoformulations

    Andreea Milan / Alexandra Mioc / Alexandra Prodea / Marius Mioc / Roxana Buzatu / Roxana Ghiulai / Roxana Racoviceanu / Florina Caruntu / Codruţa Şoica

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 23, Iss 1140, p

    Overcoming the Challenges

    2022  Volume 1140

    Abstract: The last decade has witnessed a sustained increase in the research development of modern-day chemo-therapeutics, especially for those used for high mortality rate pathologies. However, the therapeutic landscape is continuously changing as a result of the ...

    Abstract The last decade has witnessed a sustained increase in the research development of modern-day chemo-therapeutics, especially for those used for high mortality rate pathologies. However, the therapeutic landscape is continuously changing as a result of the currently existing toxic side effects induced by a substantial range of drug classes. One growing research direction driven to mitigate such inconveniences has converged towards the study of natural molecules for their promising therapeutic potential. Triterpenes are one such class of compounds, intensively investigated for their therapeutic versatility. Although the pharmacological effects reported for several representatives of this class has come as a well-deserved encouragement, the pharmacokinetic profile of these molecules has turned out to be an unwelcomed disappointment. Nevertheless, the light at the end of the tunnel arrived with the development of nanotechnology, more specifically, the use of liposomes as drug delivery systems. Liposomes are easily synthesizable phospholipid-based vesicles, with highly tunable surfaces, that have the ability to transport both hydrophilic and lipophilic structures ensuring superior drug bioavailability at the action site as well as an increased selectivity. This study aims to report the results related to the development of different types of liposomes, used as targeted vectors for the delivery of various triterpenes of high pharmacological interest.
    Keywords liposomes ; triterpenes ; targeted delivery ; nanocarriers ; nano-therapy ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Fe 3 O 4 -PAA–(HP-γ-CDs) Biocompatible Ferrimagnetic Nanoparticles for Increasing the Efficacy in Superparamagnetic Hyperthermia

    Costica Caizer / Isabela Simona Caizer / Roxana Racoviceanu / Claudia Geanina Watz / Marius Mioc / Cristina Adriana Dehelean / Tiberiu Bratu / Codruța Soica

    Nanomaterials, Vol 12, Iss 15, p

    2022  Volume 2577

    Abstract: In this paper, we present the obtaining of Fe 3 O 4 -PAA–(HP-γ-CDs) ferrimagnetic nanobioconjugates (PAA: polyacrylic acid, HP-γ-CDs: hydroxypropyl gamma-cyclodextrins) in a hybrid core-shell biostructure (core: inorganic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, and ... ...

    Abstract In this paper, we present the obtaining of Fe 3 O 4 -PAA–(HP-γ-CDs) ferrimagnetic nanobioconjugates (PAA: polyacrylic acid, HP-γ-CDs: hydroxypropyl gamma-cyclodextrins) in a hybrid core-shell biostructure (core: inorganic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, and shell: organic PAA–(HP-γ-CDs)) and their use in superparamagnetic hyperthermia without cellular toxicity and with increased efficacy for future alternative cancer therapy. In order to design the optimal experimental conditions for obtaining nanobioconjugates and then superparamagnetic hyperthermia (SPMHT), we used molecular docking simulation and computational assessment of the maximum specific loss power (SLP) that led to nanoparticles’ heating. The nanoparticles and nanobioconjugates obtained were studied and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and magnetic measurements (MMs). The cell viability of the nanoparticles and nanobioconjugates was assessed by means of the MTT assay using human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) as an in vitro model. Superparamagnetic hyperthermia with nanoparticles and nanobioconjugates was obtained experimentally in a magnetic field of 15.92 kA/m and frequency of 312.2 kHz for the magnetic nanoparticle core with a (average) diameter of 15.8 nm, which resulted in the maximum hyperthermic effect that led to a temperature of ~42.5 °C necessary in the therapy of tumors in a short time so as not to affect healthy tissues. The biological screening of Fe 3 O 4 -PAA nanoparticles and PAA–(HP-γ-CDs) nanobioconjugates showed no cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells for a time interval of 24 h, both under standard (37 °C) and hyperthermia conditions (42.5 °C). Thus, Fe 3 O 4 -PA–(HP-γ-CDs) ferrimagnetic nanobioconjugates can be used successfully in superparamagnetic hyperthermia without toxicity and with increased efficiency due to the small layer thickness of the PAA–(HP-γ-CDs) shell, which is suitable in this alternative ...
    Keywords Fe 3 O 4 -PAA nanoparticles ; HP-γ-cyclodextrins ; nanobioconjugates ; superparamagnetic hyperthermia ; human HaCaT cells ; cell viability ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Subject code 620
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-07-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus —A Promising Tool for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

    Oana Budu / Christian Dragos Banciu / Codruta Soica / Daniel Florin Lighezan / Andreea Milan / Alexandra Prodea / Alexandra Mioc / Marius Mioc / Gabriel Mardale / Laurentiu Sima

    Processes, Vol 11, Iss 781, p

    2023  Volume 781

    Abstract: Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus spp. are already known for their beneficial effect on human health and new research supports their role in colon cancer prevention and treatment. The current study reports the effect of different concentrations of ... ...

    Abstract Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus spp. are already known for their beneficial effect on human health and new research supports their role in colon cancer prevention and treatment. The current study reports the effect of different concentrations of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LGG, 10 6 –10 9 CFU/mL), alone or in association with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 10 μM), tested against normal HaCaT cells, HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma and HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The underlying cytotoxic effect was further investigated. LGG treatment of HT-29 and HCT-116 cells caused a variety of apoptotic-related nuclear morphological changes, as revealed by DAPI staining. ELISA studies showed that LGG treatment increased caspase-3 activity and pro-apoptotic BAX protein levels while decreasing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels and the proto-oncogene Cyclin D1. A more detailed examination of the mitochondrial function revealed that high concentrations of LGG can impair mitochondrial function in HT-29 and HCT-116 cancer cells. All of these findings suggest that LGG has a pro-apoptotic, mitochondrial-targeted, cytotoxic effect on both colon cancer cell lines studied.
    Keywords probiotics ; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ; colon cancer ; 5-fluorouracil ; mitochondria ; Chemical technology ; TP1-1185 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  6. Article ; Online: The Antimelanoma Biological Assessment of Triterpenic Acid Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

    Marius Mioc / Alexandra Mioc / Roxana Racoviceanu / Roxana Ghiulai / Alexandra Prodea / Andreea Milan / Lucian Barbu Tudoran / Camelia Oprean / Viviana Ivan / Codruța Șoica

    Molecules, Vol 28, Iss 1, p

    2023  Volume 421

    Abstract: One of several promising strategies for increasing the bioavailability and therapeutic potential of high-lipophilic biologically active compounds is gold nanoparticle formulation. The current study describes the synthesis and biological antimelanoma ... ...

    Abstract One of several promising strategies for increasing the bioavailability and therapeutic potential of high-lipophilic biologically active compounds is gold nanoparticle formulation. The current study describes the synthesis and biological antimelanoma evaluation of three triterpen-functionalized gold nanoparticles, obtained using our previously reported antimelanoma benzotriazole-triterpenic acid esters. Functionalized gold nanoparticle (GNP) formation was validated through UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopy. The conjugate’s cytotoxic effects were investigated using HaCaT healthy keratinocytes and A375 human melanoma cells. On A375 cells, all three conjugates demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxic activity, but no significant cytotoxic effects were observed on normal HaCaT keratinocytes. GNP-conjugates were found to be more cytotoxic than their parent compounds. After treatment with all three GNP-conjugates, 4,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining revealed morphological changes consistent with apoptosis in A375 melanoma cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that the triterpene-GNP conjugate treated A375 melanoma cells had a fold change increase in Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) expression and a fold change decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression. In A735 melanoma cells, high-resolution respirometry studies revealed that all three GNP-conjugates act as selective inhibitors of mitochondrial function. Furthermore, by examining the effect on each mitochondrial respiratory rate, the results indicate that all three conjugates are capable of increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an apoptosis trigger in cancer cells.
    Keywords betulinic acid ; ursolic acid ; oleanolic acid ; benzotriazole esters ; gold nanoparticles ; melanoma ; Organic chemistry ; QD241-441
    Subject code 540
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  7. Article ; Online: Plant-Derived Anticancer Compounds as New Perspectives in Drug Discovery and Alternative Therapy

    Cristina Adriana Dehelean / Iasmina Marcovici / Codruta Soica / Marius Mioc / Dorina Coricovac / Stela Iurciuc / Octavian Marius Cretu / Iulia Pinzaru

    Molecules, Vol 26, Iss 4, p

    2021  Volume 1109

    Abstract: Despite the recent advances in the field of chemically synthetized pharmaceutical agents, nature remains the main supplier of bioactive molecules. The research of natural products is a valuable approach for the discovery and development of novel ... ...

    Abstract Despite the recent advances in the field of chemically synthetized pharmaceutical agents, nature remains the main supplier of bioactive molecules. The research of natural products is a valuable approach for the discovery and development of novel biologically active compounds possessing unique structures and mechanisms of action. Although their use belongs to the traditional treatment regimes, plant-derived compounds still cover a large portion of the current-day pharmaceutical agents. Their medical importance is well recognized in the field of oncology, especially as an alternative to the limitations of conventional chemotherapy (severe side effects and inefficacy due to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance). This review offers a comprehensive perspective of the first blockbuster chemotherapeutic agents of natural origin’s (e.g. taxol, vincristine, doxorubicin) mechanism of action using 3D representation. In addition is portrayed the step-by-step evolution from preclinical to clinical evaluation of the most recently studied natural compounds with potent antitumor activity (e.g. resveratrol, curcumin, betulinic acid, etc.) in terms of anticancer mechanisms of action and the possible indications as chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents and sensitizers. Finally, this review describes several efficient platforms for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of natural compounds in cancer treatment
    Keywords bioactive compounds ; doxorubicin ; paclitaxel ; vincristine ; resveratrol ; curcumin ; rutin ; betulinic acid ; antitumoral effect ; chemoprevention ; Organic chemistry ; QD241-441
    Subject code 540
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-02-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  8. Article ; Online: The Anti-Melanoma Effect of Betulinic Acid Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

    Roxana Ghiulai / Alexandra Mioc / Roxana Racoviceanu / Marius Mioc / Andreea Milan / Alexandra Prodea / Alexandra Semenescu / Cristina Dehelean / Lucian Barbu Tudoran / Ștefana Avram / Cristina Trandafirescu / Codruța Șoica

    Pharmaceuticals, Vol 15, Iss 1362, p

    A Mechanistic In Vitro Approach

    2022  Volume 1362

    Abstract: Implementing metallic nanoparticles as research instruments for the transport of therapeutically active compounds remains a fundamentally vital work direction that can still potentially generate novelties in the field of drug formulation development. ... ...

    Abstract Implementing metallic nanoparticles as research instruments for the transport of therapeutically active compounds remains a fundamentally vital work direction that can still potentially generate novelties in the field of drug formulation development. Gold nanoparticles (GNP) are easily tunable carriers for active phytocompounds like pentacyclic triterpenes. These formulations can boost the bioavailability of a lipophilic structure and, in some instances, can also enhance its therapeutic efficacy. In our work, we proposed a biological in vitro assessment of betulinic acid (BA)-functionalized GNP. BA-GNP were obtained by grafting BA onto previously synthesized citrate-capped GNP through the use of cysteamine as a linker. The nanoformulation was tested in HaCaT human keratinocytes and RPMI-7951 human melanoma cells, revealing selective cytotoxic properties and stronger antiproliferative effects compared to free BA. Further examinations revealed a pro-apoptotic effect, as evidenced by morphological changes in melanoma cells and supported by western blot data showing the downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression coupled with the upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax. GNP also significantly inhibited mitochondrial respiration, confirming its mitochondrial-targeted activity.
    Keywords betulinic acid ; gold nanoparticles ; melanoma ; apoptosis ; mitochondria ; protein expression ; Medicine ; R ; Pharmacy and materia medica ; RS1-441
    Subject code 500
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  9. Article ; Online: Structural Investigation of Betulinic Acid Plasma Metabolites by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

    Roxana Ghiulai / Marius Mioc / Roxana Racoviceanu / Alexandra Prodea / Andreea Milan / Dorina Coricovac / Cristina Dehelean / Ștefana Avram / Alina D. Zamfir / Cristian V. A. Munteanu / Viviana Ivan / Codruța Şoica

    Molecules, Vol 27, Iss 7359, p

    2022  Volume 7359

    Abstract: Betulinic acid (BA) has been extensively studied in recent years mainly for its antiproliferative and antitumor effect in various types of cancers. Limited data are available regarding the pharmacokinetic profile of BA, particularly its metabolic ... ...

    Abstract Betulinic acid (BA) has been extensively studied in recent years mainly for its antiproliferative and antitumor effect in various types of cancers. Limited data are available regarding the pharmacokinetic profile of BA, particularly its metabolic transformation in vivo. In this study, we present the screening and structural investigations by ESI Orbitrap MS in the negative ion mode and CID MS/MS of phase I and phase II metabolites detected in mouse plasma after the intraperitoneal administration of a nanoemulsion containing BA in SKH 1 female mice. Obtained results indicate that the main phase I metabolic reactions that BA undergoes are monohydroxylation, dihydroxylation, oxidation and hydrogenation, while phase II reactions involved sulfation, glucuronidation and methylation. The fragmentation pathway for BA and its plasma metabolites were elucidated by sequencing of the precursor ions by CID MS MS experiments.
    Keywords betulinic acid ; phase I metabolites ; phase II metabolites ; ESI CID MS/MS ; Organic chemistry ; QD241-441
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  10. Article ; Online: Novel Triterpenic Acid—Benzotriazole Esters Act as Pro-Apoptotic Antimelanoma Agents

    Marius Mioc / Alexandra Mioc / Alexandra Prodea / Andreea Milan / Mihaela Balan-Porcarasu / Roxana Racoviceanu / Roxana Ghiulai / Gheorghe Iovanescu / Ioana Macasoi / George Draghici / Cristina Dehelean / Codruta Soica

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 23, Iss 9992, p

    2022  Volume 9992

    Abstract: Pentacyclic triterpenes, such as betulinic, ursolic, and oleanolic acids are efficient and selective anticancer agents whose underlying mechanisms of action have been widely investigated. The introduction of N-bearing heterocycles (e.g., triazoles) into ... ...

    Abstract Pentacyclic triterpenes, such as betulinic, ursolic, and oleanolic acids are efficient and selective anticancer agents whose underlying mechanisms of action have been widely investigated. The introduction of N-bearing heterocycles (e.g., triazoles) into the structures of natural compounds (particularly pentacyclic triterpenes) has yielded semisynthetic derivatives with increased antiproliferative potential as opposed to unmodified starting compounds. In this work, we report the synthesis and biological assessment of benzotriazole esters of betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA), and ursolic acid (UA) (compounds 1 – 3 ). The esters were obtained in moderate yields (28–42%). All three compounds showed dose-dependent reductions in cell viability against A375 melanoma cells and no cytotoxic effects against healthy human keratinocytes. The morphology analysis of treated cells showed characteristic apoptotic changes consisting of nuclear shrinkage, condensation, fragmentation, and cellular membrane disruption. rtPCR analysis reinforced the proapoptotic evidence, showing a reduction in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic Bax. High-resolution respirometry studies showed that all three compounds were able to significantly inhibit mitochondrial function. Molecular docking showed that compounds 1 – 3 showed an increase in binding affinity against Bcl-2 as opposed to BA, OA, and UA and similar binding patterns compared to known Bcl-2 inhibitors.
    Keywords triterpenic acids ; 1-hydroxybenzotriazole esters ; melanoma ; cytotoxicity ; rtPCR ; apoptosis ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Subject code 540
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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