Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Berberine Delivery System in Cancer Treatment: Pulling Strings to Keep Berberine in Power

Abstract

Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by complex molecular landscape and altered cell pathways that results in an abnormal cell growth. Natural compounds are target-specific and pose a limited cytotoxicity; therefore, can aid in the development of new therapeutic interventions for the treatment of this versatile disease. Berberine is a member of the protoberberine alkaloids family, mainly present in the root, stem, and bark of various trees, and has a reputed anticancer activity. Nonetheless, the limited bioavailability and low absorption rate are the two major hindrances following berberine administration as only 0.5% of ingested berberine absorbed in small intestine while this percentage is further decreased to 0.35%, when enter in systemic circulation. Nano-based formulation is believed to be an ideal candidate to increase absorption percentage as at nano scale level, compounds can absorb rapidly in gut. Nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches have been implemented to overcome such problems, ultimately promoting a higher efficacy in the treatment of a plethora of diseases. This review present and critically discusses the anti-proliferative role of berberine and the nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies used for the nano-scale delivery of berberine. Finally, the current approaches and promising perspectives of latest delivery of this alkaloid are also critically analyzed and discussed.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Entrapping Natural Bioactive Compounds for Cancer: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

“…Applying the ionic gelation process, berberine-loaded NPs were synthesized for anticancer potential ( 197 ). The rotary evaporated film ultrasonication process was used to create glycyrrhizic acid-loaded NPs ( 198 ).…”

Antibacterial activity of a berberine nanoformulation

“…It is the quaternary salt of the isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from many plants, such as Berberis aristata , Berberis aquifolium , Berberis vulgaris , Coptis chinensis , Coptis japonica , and Hydrastis Canadensis [ 2 ]. Many studies have shown the pharmacological actions of BBR including antimicrobial [ 3 – 4 ], antiviral [ 5 – 6 ], anti-inflammatory [ 7 ] and antiparasitic effects [ 8 ], and effects against hyperlipidemia [ 9 ], hypoglycemia [ 10 ] and cancer [ 11 ]. BBR has the ability to inhibit or kill many pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli [ 12 ], Helicobacter pylori [ 13 ], and Staphylococcus aureus , including methicillin-resistant strains and coagulase-negative strains [ 4 , 14 ].…”

“…BBR belongs to the class-III drugs in the biopharmaceutical classification system, indicating that BBR is a lipophilic compound that has poor absorption and low bioavailability [ 24 ]. To improve the effectiveness of BBR, many approaches have been proposed, including synergistic effects with other drugs [ 3 ], particle size reduction [ 25 ], and encapsulation in nanoscale delivery systems [ 11 ]. Nanoscale BBR crystals can be formed using top-down technologies (ball mills, high-pressure homogenizers, microfluidic technology, and spray drying) or bottom-up technologies (evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) and antisolvent precipitation (ASP)).…”

Drug Bioavailability, Stability and Anticancer Effect of Berberine-loaded Magnetic Nanoparticles on MDA-MB-231 Cells in Breast Cancer

“…Berberine (BBR) belongs to isoquinoline alkaloids, extracted from various parts like root, rhizome, stem and bark of herbs such as Berberis aristata and Berberis vulgaris. [13][14][15] Active berberine components have shown diversified pharmacological uses, including antilipidemic, anti-depressant and antiinflammatory effects, treatment of diabetics, and control of cardiovascular diseases, anticancer and antimicrobial properties. In the present work, the fabrication of mesoporous magnetic particles was performed using a modified co-precipitation method.…”