Advances in molecular biology have significantly increased the understanding of the biology of different diseases. However, these discoveries have not yet been fully translated into improved treatments for patients with diseases such as cancers. One of the factors limiting the translation of knowledge from preclinical studies to the clinic has been the limitations of in vivo diseases models. In this brief review, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of rodent models that have been developed to simulate human pathologies, focusing in models that employ xenografts and genetic modification. Within the framework of genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, we will review some of the current genetic strategies for modeling diseases in the mouse and the preclinical studies that have already been undertaken. We will also discuss how recent improvements in imaging technologies may increase the information derived from using these GEMs during early assessments of potential therapeutic pathways. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that one of the values of using a mouse model is the very rapid turnover rate of the animal, going through the process of birth to death in a very short timeframe relative to that of larger mammalian species.

Use of rodents as models of human diseases.

Selective and targeted delivery of drugs to tumors is a major challenge for an effective cancer therapy and also to overcome the side-effects associated with current treatments. Overexpression of various receptors on tumor cells is a characteristic structural and biochemical aspect of tumors and distinguishes them from physiologically normal cells. This abnormal feature is therefore suitable for selectively directing anticancer molecules to tumors by using ligands that can preferentially recognize such receptors. Several subtypes of integrin receptors that are crucial for cell adhesion, cell signaling, cell viability, and motility have been shown to have an upregulated expression on cancer cells. Thus, ligands that recognize specific integrin subtypes represent excellent candidates to be conjugated to drugs or drug carrier systems and be targeted to tumors. In this regard, integrins recognizing the RGD cell adhesive sequence have been extensively targeted for tumor-specific drug delivery. Here we review key recent examples on the presentation of RGD-based integrin ligands by means of distinct drug-delivery systems, and discuss the prospects of such therapies to specifically target tumor cells.

/pdf/tumor-targeting-via-integrin-ligands-43h7xfoi2y.pdf

Tumor Targeting via Integrin Ligands

In recent years, there have been a plethora of nanoengineering approaches for the development of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticulate carrier systems. However, overlooking the multifaceted issues in the preparation and characterization of PLGA-based nanoparticles, many reports have been focused on their in vivo behaviors. It is imperative to fully assess technological aspects of a nanoencapsulation method of choice and to carefully evaluate the nanoparticle quality. The selection of a nanoencapsulation technique should consider drug property, nanoparticle quality, scale-up feasibility, manufacturing costs, personnel safety, environmental impact, waste disposal, and the like. Made in this review are the fundamentals of classical emulsion-templated nanoencapsulation methods used to prepare PLGA nanoparticles. More specifically, this review provides insight into emulsion solvent evaporation/extraction, salting-out, nanoprecipitation, membrane emulsification, microfluidic technology, and flow focusing. Innovative nanoencapsulation techniques are being developed to address many challenges existing in the production of PLGA-based nanoparticles. In addition, there are various out-of-the-box approaches for the development of novel PLGA hybrid systems that could deliver multiple drugs. Latest trends in these areas are also dealt with in this review. Relevant information might be helpful to those who prepare and develop PLGA-based nanoparticles that meet their specific demands.

/pdf/recent-trends-in-preparation-of-poly-lactide-co-glycolide-3rhxty966x.pdf

Recent trends in preparation of poly(lactide- co -glycolide) nanoparticles by mixing polymeric organic solution with antisolvent

Virtually all transcription factors partner with coactivators that recruit chromatin remodeling factors and interact with the basal transcription machinery. Coactivators have been implicated in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, including the p160 steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family composed of SRC-1 (NCOA1), SRC-2 (TIF2/GRIP1/NCOA2), and SRC-3 (AIB1/ACTR/NCOA3). Given their broad involvement in many cancers, they represent candidate molecular targets for new chemotherapeutics. Here, we report on the results of a high-throughput screening effort that identified the cardiac glycoside bufalin as a potent small-molecule inhibitor for SRC-3 and SRC-1. Bufalin strongly promoted SRC-3 protein degradation and was able to block cancer cell growth at nanomolar concentrations. When incorporated into a nanoparticle delivery system, bufalin was able to reduce tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer. Our work identifies bufalin as a potentially broad-spectrum small-molecule inhibitor for cancer.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/74/5/1506.full.pdf

Bufalin is a potent small molecule inhibitor of the steroid receptor coactivators SRC-3 and SRC-1

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are natural compounds widely used in the treatment of several cardiac conditions and more recently have been recognized as potential antitumor compounds. They are known to be ligands for Na/K-ATPase, which is a promising drug target in cancer. More recently, in addition to their antitumor effects, it has been suggested that CGs activate tumor-specific immune responses. This review summarizes the anticancer aspects of CGs as new strategies for immunotherapy and drug repositioning (new horizons for old players), and the possible new targets for CGs in cancer cells.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/11/1932/pdf

Anticancer and Immunogenic Properties of Cardiac Glycosides

Background:
Recent studies have shown that bufalin has a good antitumor effect but has high toxicity, poor water solubility, a short half-life, a narrow therapeutic window, and a toxic dose that is close to the therapeutic dose, which all limit its clinical application. This study aimed to determine the targeting efficacy of nanoparticles (NPs) made of methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG), polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), poly-L-lysine (PLL), and cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) loaded with bufalin, ie, bufalin-loaded mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD nanoparticles (BNPs), in SW620 colon cancer-bearing mice.

/pdf/bufalin-loaded-mpeg-plga-pll-crgd-nanoparticles-preparation-4d1dpgcz6x.pdf

Bufalin-loaded mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD nanoparticles: preparation, cellular uptake, tissue distribution, and anticancer activity

The invention belongs to the technical field of nano administration, and discloses bufalin-loaded valine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-glutamic acid cyclic peptide (VRGDG, cRGD)-modified polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether-polylactic acid glycolic acid-polylysine (bufalin-mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD) nanoparticles, a preparation method of the nanoparticles, and application of the nanoparticles to the preparation of an anti-tumor medicine. The preparation method of the nanoparticles is simple and convenient and suitable for large-scale production.

Bufalin-loaded cyclic peptide-modified polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid hydroxyl glycolic acid-polylysine nanoparticles

The invention discloses a recombinant plasmid containing a VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) gene 3'UTR (Untranslated Region) and a reporter gene, wherein the reporter gene is a firefly luciferase gene. A preparation method of the recombinant plasmid comprises the steps of: 1, amplifying and extracting a carrier plasmid; 2, cloning, digesting and purifying a 3'UTR sequence of the VEGFR gene; 3, connecting the 3'UTR sequence of the VEGFR gene with the carrier plasmid; and 4, screening a recombinant. The recombinant containing the VEGFR gene and the 3'UTR reporter gene, provided by the invention, has excellent application prospect on the aspects of screening angiogenesis related microRNA of, researching an action mechanism of angiogenesis and the microRNA, and researching the mechanism of tumor cell angiogenesis.

Recombinant plasmid containing VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) gene 3'UTR (Untranslated Region) and reporter gene

The invention discloses a method for screening angiogenesis related microRNA (Ribose Nucleic Acid) by using a dual-luciferase reporter gene The method comprises the following steps of: 1, culturing and planking a target cell; 2, preparing a mixture of the microRNA/DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid)/liposome, carrying out cotransfection on the target cell in the step 1; 3, carrying out luciferase activity detection, to be specific, respectively carrying out cotransfection on the target cell subjected to the cotransfection in the step 2 by using a recombinant plasmid containing a VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) gene 3'UTR (Untranslated Region) and a reporter gene and a renilla luciferase carrier, then culturing the obtained cell, and then collecting, carrying out lysis on the collected cell, placing 15-20mu l of cell lysis solution in a centrifugal pipe, adding a working solution, and measuring and reading by using a light emitting solution The reporter gene is a firefly luciferase gene The method provided by the invention can be used for screening angiogenesis related microRNA, researching an action mechanism of the angiogenesis and the microRNA, and researching the mechanism of tumor cell angiogenesis

Method for screening angiogenesis related microRNA by using dual-luciferase reporter gene

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

Liu Xuan

Author Tools

Chat about Author

Papers

Bufalin-loaded mPEG-PLGA-PLL-cRGD nanoparticles: preparation, cellular uptake, tissue distribution, and anticancer activity

Bufalin-loaded cyclic peptide-modified polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid hydroxyl glycolic acid-polylysine nanoparticles

Recombinant plasmid containing VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) gene 3'UTR (Untranslated Region) and reporter gene

Method for screening angiogenesis related microRNA by using dual-luciferase reporter gene