Stimulation of cells with electrical cues is an imperative approach to interact with biological systems and has been exploited in clinical practices over a wide range of pathological ailments. This bioelectric interface has been extensively explored with the help of piezoelectric materials, leading to remarkable advancement in the past two decades. Among other members of this fraternity, colloidal perovskite barium titanate (BaTiO3) has gained substantial interest due to its noteworthy properties which includes high dielectric constant and excellent ferroelectric properties along with acceptable biocompatibility. Significant progression is witnessed for BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BaTiO3 NPs) as potent candidates for biomedical applications and in wearable bioelectronics, making them a promising personal healthcare platform. The current review highlights the nanostructured piezoelectric bio interface of BaTiO3 NPs in applications comprising drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, bioelectronics, and wearable devices. Particular attention has been dedicated toward the fabrication routes of BaTiO3 NPs along with different approaches for its surface modifications. This review offers a comprehensive discussion on the utility of BaTiO3 NPs as active devices rather than passive structural unit behaving as carriers for biomolecules. The employment of BaTiO3 NPs presents new scenarios and opportunity in the vast field of nanomedicines for biomedical applications.
Epigenetically regulated therapeutic intervention of cancer is
an emerging era of research in the development of a promising therapy.
Epigenetic changes are intrinsically reversible and providing the
driving force to drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The regulation
of polycomb group (PcG) proteins, BMI1 and EZH2, and the associated
CRC progression hold promises for a novel treatment regime. The present
study enlightens targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) with potential
photosensitizer hypericin nanocomposite in the development of epigenetic-based
CRC therapy. We have synthesized hypericin-loaded transferrin nanoformulations
(HTfNPs) overcoming the compromised hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability
of the placebo drug. Targeted PDT with hypericin nanocomposite-induced
BMI1 degradation assisted CRC retardation. In the present study, transferrin
nanoparticles were reported to control the premature release of hypericin
and improve its availability with better targeting at the disease
site. Targeted intracellular internalization to colon cancer cells
having a differential expression of transferrin receptors, in vivo biodistribution, stability, and pharmacokinetics
provide promising applications in the nanodelivery system. Indeed, in vitro anticancer efficiency, cell cycle arrest at the
G0/G1 phase, and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation
confirm the anticancer effect of nanoformulation. In the exploration
of mechanism, nanotherapeutic intervention by activation of PP2A,
Caspase3 and inhibition of BMI1, EZH2, 3Pk, NFκB was evident.
An exciting outcome of this study uncovered the camouflaged role of
PP2A in the regulation of BMI1. PP2A mediates the ubiquitination/degradation
of BMI1, which is revealed by changes in the physical interaction
of PP2A and BMI1. Our study confirms the anticancer effect of HTfNP-assisted
PDT by inducing PP2A-mediated BMI1 ubiquitination/degradation demonstrating
an epigenetic-driven nanotherapeutic approach in CRC treatment.
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