• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.217-231
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• 2022

This study investigates the geometrical impact on the nanomedicine drug delivery via nanodevices. A nanomotor made of the nanotube carrying the drug as the motor blade is considered in the blood flow. Physical activities change the blood flow, and sports training enhances the blood flow and plays a significant role in the stability of drug delivery devices. This paper studies the impact of geometrical parameters on the nanomotors carrying the nanomedicine. The effect of physical exercise on the dynamic response regarding the stability of drug delivery devices is discussed in detail.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.364-369
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• 2005

HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) was chemically modified, using maleic anhydrides, to obtain pH-sensitive HPMCAM (Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate maleate) polymers for use as novel duodenum-specific coating agents. The pharmaceutical properties of HPMCAM, such as film forming, acid values, pH-sensitive values, water vapor permeability, tensile strength and Tg, were investigated, and found to show good film forming properties. The pH­sensitive values were 3.0 to 3.7. In vitro results demonstrate that HPMCAM could completely suppress drug release within 2h in a simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and rapidly release the drug in a simulated pathological duodenal fluid (pH 3.4). These results indicate that HPMCAM might be a useful material for a duodenum-specific drug delivery system.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.373-378
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• 2017

Ocotillol-type saponins are one kind of tetracyclic triterpenoids, sharing a tetrahydrofuran ring. Natural ocotillol-type saponins have been discovered in Panax quinquefolius L., Panax japonicus, Hana mina, and Vietnamese ginseng. In recent years, the semisynthesis of 20(S/R)-ocotillol-type saponins has been reported. The biological activities of ocotillol-type saponins include neuroprotective effect, antimyocardial ischemia, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Owing to their chemical structure, pharmacological actions, and the stereoselective activity on antimyocardial ischemia, ocotillol-type saponins are subjected to extensive consideration. In this review, we sum up the discovery, semisynthesis, biological activities, and metabolism of ocotillol-type saponins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng (PG), is used widely as a herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases. Panax ginseng has pharmacological effects on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of PG and its possible neuroprotective mechanisms in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced AD in a rat model. Methods: Advanced glycation end products were injected bilaterally into the CA3 region of the rats' brains. The Morris water maze test and step-down type passive avoidance test were performed to evaluate their memory and cognitive abilities. The oxidation indexes in the hippocampus were detected. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to visualize the receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGEs) and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-${\kappa}B$). Results: Behavioral results showed that PG (1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 0.25 g/kg) significantly shortened the escape latency, remarkably increased the number of crossing times, significantly decreased the number of errors, and prolonged the latency in rats with AGE-induced AD. Panax ginseng also significantly reduced the malondialdehyde level, increased the glutathione content, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the hippocampus. Panax ginseng significantly decreased the expression of RAGE and NF-${\kappa}B$. The blockade of anti-RAGE antibody could significantly reduce AGE-induced impairments and regulate these expressions. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that PG significantly inhibits AGE-induced memory impairment and attenuates Alzheimer-like pathophysiological changes. These neuroprotective effects of PG may be associated with the RAGE/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Our results provided the experimental basis for applying PG in preventing and treating AD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2020

Ginseng has been used as a popular herbal medicine in East Asia for at least two millennia. However, 20(R)-ginseng saponins, one class of important rare ginsenosides, are rare in natural products. 20(R)-ginseng saponins are generally prepared by chemical epimerization and microbial transformation from 20(S)-isomers. The C20 configuration of 20(R)-ginseng saponins are usually determined by ¹³C NMR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. 20(R)-ginseng saponins have antitumor, antioxidative, antifatigue, neuroprotective, and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory effects, among others. Owing to the chemical structure and pharmacological and stereoselective properties, 20(R)-ginseng saponins have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. In this study, the discovery, identification, chemical epimerization, microbial transformation, pharmacological activities, and metabolism of 20(R)-ginseng saponins are summarized.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1164-1170
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• 2006

A triptolide-lysozyme (TP-LZM) conjugate was synthesized to achieve renal specific delivery and to reduce the side effects of triptolide. Triptolide was coupled to lysozyme through succinic via an ester bond with an average coupling degree of 1 mol triptolide per 1 mol lysozyme. The lysozyme can specifically accumulate in the proximal tubular cells of the kidney, making it a potential carrier for targeting drugs to the kidney. The structure of triptolide succinate (TPS) was confirmed by IR, $^{1}H-NMR$, MS and UV. The concentrations of triptolide in various samples were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this study, the physicochemical and stability profiles of TP-LZM under various conditions were investgated the stability and releasing profiles of triptolide-lysozyme (TP-LZM) under various conditions. In vitro release trails showed triptolide-lysozyme was relatively stable in plasma (less than 30% of free triptolide released) and could release triptolide quickly in lysosome (more than 80% of free triptolide released) at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. In addition, the biological activities of the conjugate on normal rat kidney proximal tubular cells (NRK52E) were also tested. The conjugate can effectively reduce NO production in the medium of NRK52E induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but with much lower toxicity. These studies suggest the possibility to promote curative effect and reduce its extra-renal toxicity of triptolide by TP-LZM conjugate.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) functions through pairing with specific mRNA sequences and results in the mRNA's degradation. It is a potential therapeutic approach for many diseases caused by altered gene expression. The delivery of siRNA is still a major problem due to its rapid degradation in the circulation. Various strategies have been proposed to help with the cellular uptake of siRNA and short or small hairpin RNA (shRNA). Here, we reviewed recently published data regarding local applications of siRNA. Compared with systemic delivery methods, local delivery of siRNA/shRNA has many advantages, such as targeting the specific tissues or organs, mimicking a gene knockout effect, or developing certain diseases models. The eye, brain, and tumor tissues are 'hot' target tissues/organs for local siRNA delivery. The siRNA can be delivered locally, in naked form, with chemical modifications, or in formulations with viral or non-viral vectors, such as liposomes and nanoparticles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of RNAi local administration and potential future applications in clinical treatment.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.33-46
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• 2016

In era of lowbirth, aging population, low growth and social polarization, the effective welfare delivery systems are taking on added significance than past years. Public housing welfare resources, such as public rental housing, housing voucher, affordable housing loan, are more diversified and expanded. These programs could work effectively by the comprehensive interlink and community based delivery system. From the standpoint of recipients, how effectively the substantial benefits of welfare resources being delivered to each individual is more important than how much welfare resources being produced totally. This study aimed to explore the reform of public housing welfare delivery system. For this purpose, diagnosed the current states and key issues related to public delivery system, and analyzed what kinds of housing welfare services should be strengthened, and finally suggested the collaboration among the public sectors (local government, LH, HUG, HF etc.) and the partnership with non-profit organizations. Main research implications are as follows. The main housing welfare services which could be categorized as the housing welfare center's role are advice & information offering, several public resources interlink and accessibility improvement, community based network construction, etc. And the most important key for successful delivery system reorganization is the collaborative operation of the public sectors and local government, non-profit organizations.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.spc
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

Specific diseases like cancer and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) occur at various organs including lymphatics and spread through lymphatic system. Thus, if therapeutic agents for such diseases are more distributed or targeted to lymphatic system, we can obtain several advantages like reduction of systemic side effect and increase of efficacy. For these reasons, much interest has been focused on the nature of lymphatics and a lot of studies for lymphatic delivery of drugs have been carried out. Because lymphatics consist of single layer endothelium and have high permeability compared with blood capillaries, especially, the studies using nano-sized carriers have been performed. Polymeric nano-particle, liposome, and lipid-based vehicle have been adopted for lymphatic delivery as carriers. According to the administration route and the kind of carrier, the extent of lymphatic delivery efficiency of nano-sized carriers has been changed and influenced by several factors such as size, charge, hydrophobicity and surface feature of carrier. In this review, we summarized the key factors which affect lymphatic uptake and the major features of carriers for achieving the lymphatic delivery. Lymphatic delivery of drug using nano-sized carriers has many fold improved ability of lymphatic delivery compared with that of conventional dosage forms, but it has not shown whole lymph selectivity yet. Even though nano-sized carriers still have the potential and worth to study as lymphatic drug delivery technology as before, full understanding of delivery mechanism and influencing factors, and setting of pharmacokinetic model are required for more ideal lymphatic delivery of drug.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7363-7369
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• 2014

The present study aimed to prepare and evaluate polymeric micelles conjugated with folic acid through ${\alpha}$- or ${\gamma}$-carboxyl groups for antitumor efficacy. The isomeric block copolymers, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-folate-polyethyleneglycol-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE), were produced by solid phase peptide synthesis. Three types of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded polymeric micelles (MPEG-DSPE-DOX and ${\alpha}$- / ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPEDOX micelles) were prepared via the film formation method. Compared with MPEG-DSPE-DOX micelles, the ${\alpha}$- / ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles presented a higher cellular uptake behavior in the live cell study. Cell viability percentages were 81.8%, 57.3%, 56.6% at 2 hours for MPEG-DSPE-DOX, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles, respectively (p<0.05). Using the KB xenograft tumor model, both ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-folate-conjugated micelles were found to have better antitumor effects with lower toxicity in comparison with MPEG-DSPE-DOX micelles. No difference in in vivo antitumor efficacy was found between ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-Fol-PEG-DSPE-DOX micelles. The folate-conjugated micelles might be a potentially useful strategy for tumor targeting of therapeutic agents, whether grafting with folic acid through ${\alpha}$- or ${\gamma}$-carboxyl groups.