Borneol (Bo) and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) co-modified docetaxel (DTX) loaded MPEG-PLGA nanoparticles (DTX-Bo-RGD-NPs) were prepared to improve the therapeutic effect of DTX against glioma after intranasal administration. DTX-Bo-RGD-NPs were prepared by emulsification-solvent evaporation method, and their morphology, particle size, zeta potential, drug loading capacity (DLC), stability, and in vitro release properties were investigated. The fluorescence probe coumarin-6 loaded NPs were prepared for investigating the NPs' uptake property on C6 and 16HBE cell models to evaluate in vitro targeting ability. The DiR loaded NPs were prepared for observing the fluorescence intensity at the brain tumor site after intranasal administration through in vivo imaging system in a C6 rat orthotropic model, evaluating the targeting ability in vivo. The anti-tumor effects of DTX-Bo-RGD-NPs were also investigated in such C6 rat orthotropic model in vivo. Animal welfare and experimental procedures are in compliance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The results showed that DTX-Bo-RGD-NPs were spherical and uniformly distributed, with a particle size of about 140 nm and a zeta potential of -20 to -30 mV. The drug delivery system showed good stability and sustained release property in vitro, and favorable brain tumor targeting effect in vitro and in vivo. Such novel drug delivery system significantly improved the accumulation of DTX-Bo-RGD-NPs in tumor sites and displayed a higher brain tumor targeting efficiency, providing promising therapeutics of DTX for the treatment of glioma after intranasal administration.

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), an active ingredient with the inhibitory effect on brain glioma cells, is trapped with poor solubility and low tumor permeability. Therefore, it is urgent to design nano drug delivery systems characterized with deep penetration and accurate targeting. In the present study, tLyp-1 modified liposomes loaded with CPT (tLipo/CPT) was prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method. Peptide tLyp-1 which targeting tumor angiogenesis and neuropilin receptors (NRP) was modified on surface of CPT liposomes, with the aim of active targeting brain glioma cells and further release CPT precisely. The size and polymer dispersity index (PDI) of tLipo/CPT were (162.2 ± 14.6) nm and 0.24 ± 0.03. The optimal molar ratio of tLyp-1 modified on CPT liposomes was 0.5% determined by intracellular fluorescence parameters. The morphology displayed a smooth sphericity structure as determined by transmission electron microscope. Efficiency of CPT encapsulated in tLipo/CPT was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. The encapsulation efficiency of CPT was (70.06 ± 7.22) %. Liposomes modified with tLyp-1 peptide (tLipo) were internalized more than liposomes not modified with tLyp-1 (Lipo) by GL261 cells. Fluorescence intensity of tLipo in GL261 cells increased 40% than that of Lipo. Furthermore, we proved that the intake of tLipo/CPT in GL261 cells was mediated by NRP-1 receptor. MTT analysis indicated that tLipo/CPT significantly inhibit the proliferation of GL261 cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 5.70 μmol·L^-1. In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model experiment indicated that tLipo/CPT could penetration across BBB. Moreover, in vivo fluorescence biodistribution study indicated tail vein injection of DiR labeled tLipo after 0.5 h, DiR fluorescence could be observed in the brain of mice. Even after 24 h, DiR fluorescence still was observed in the brain. Our research certified that tLipo/CPT can penetrate the BBB and show effect of anti-glioma by inhibiting the proliferation of GL261 cells. The animal experiment was carried out in accordance with protocol evaluated and approved by the Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.

In order to solve the problems of erratic drug absorption and low bioavailability after oral administration for poorly-water soluble drugs due to low solubility, a series of novel pharmaceutical dosage forms as solid dispersion, liposome, microemulsion, vesicle, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes and drug nanocrystal have been developed in recent years. Among which drug nanocrystal attracts more attentions for its simpler preparation method, higher drug loading and easier manufacturing technology in the design of dosage forms suitable for different administration routes. In this paper, the nanocrystals of the poorly-water soluble drugs prepared based on bottom-up and top-down technologies were introduced. The characteristics and applications of the nanocrystal-based dosage forms as suspension, tablet and capsule were also introduced and carefully evaluated with the focus on their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and tissue targeted drug distribution after delivery by oral administration, intravenous injection and pulmonary inhalation. The advantages of drug nanocrystals in their therapeutics effects over the bulk drugs were discussed together with the inherent mechanism. Finally, the problems existing in basic research and scaled-up manufacture of drug nanocrystal as well as the possible ways of solution were listed out so as to make the nanocrystal-based preparations exert their maximum therapeutic effect after clinical application.

ZSP1601, a novel pan-phosphodiesterase inhibitor is in development for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict the pharmacokinetics of ZSP1601 in human. The PBPK model following intravenous and oral dose of ZSP1601 in rats and dogs was firstly built using preclinical in vitro and in vivo data. The PBPK model in human was then built based on models in animal. The in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) method and some allometric scaling methods were used to predict the clearance in human, respectively. The PBPK models using IVIVE and allometry of unbound CL plus the rule of exponents methods predicted the pharmacokinetics of ZSP1601 in healthy Chinese subjects successfully. The predicted parameters C_max and AUC following single oral dose administration were within 0.5-2 folds of the observed data. The model was optimized and the final model was used to predict the pharmacokinetics of ZSP1601 in North European Caucasian, Geriatrics, Obese and Morbidly Obese, respectively. Animal studies were approved by the Animal Management and Use Committee of Suzhou AppTec Inc., and the approved No. is SZ20140916.

Fifteen alkaloid compounds were isolated from the 70% aqueous alcohol extract of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore by silica gel, reversed phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. They were identified as tetrandraside A (1), (Z)-N-formyl-nornuciferin (2), (E)-N-formyl-nornuciferin (3), salutaridine (4), salutaridine N-oxide (5), (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-N-[2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-2 propenamide (6), dauriporphine (7), sinomenine (8), liriodenine (9), α-magnoflorine (10), (1S)-4'-β-glucosylcoclaurine (11), tetrandrine (12), fangchinoline (13), tetrandrine 2'-β-oxide (14), and tetrandrine 2'-α-oxide (15), respectively, by MS, NMR and single crystal diffraction. Among them, compound 1 is a new alkaloid glycoside. Compounds 2-11 were obtained from this plant for the first time. These compounds showed obvious cytotoxic activity against drug-resistant lung cancer cell line H1299, and compound 9 had the best activity, with an IC₅₀ of 5.38 μmol·L^-1.

A quantitative analysis method for ten principal components (phenylethanol, iridoids and triterpenes) of raw Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and its wine-steamed product was developed using liquid chromatography tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS) to study their pharmacokinetic behavior in vivo. The results of methodological investigation were in accord with the criteria of biological analysis. After a single administration to rats of the water extracts of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and its wine-steamed product, the plasma concentration of each component at different time points was measured and the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The AUC_{0-24 h} and C_max of the phenylethanol components (salidroside, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol) were the greatest, suggesting that these components are the main pharmacological substances of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus. In addition, the t_max values of the eight major components were even lower with administration of the wine-steamed product, suggesting that these components are rapidly absorbed. However, the t_max values of specnuezhenide and oleanolic acid were greater with administration of the wine-steamed product, indicating that these two components were more slowly absorbed. A secondary peak phenomenon of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol were observed in two sample groups, whereas the secondary peak phenomenon of salidroside occurred only with the wine-steamed product. This result suggests that the effect of wine-steamed product could persist for a long period. Meanwhile, the relative bioavailability of specnuezhenide and oleanolic acid was greater than 100% with administration of the wine-steamed product, consistent with the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of the wine-steamed product being more effective than the raw material. The results reveal the different pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailability of each component of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and its wine-steamed product, and also demonstrate the variation and correlation of various components in vivo and in vitro, providing an experimental basis for the selection of quality control indexes, mechanisms of processing and the metabolic rule in vivo of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus. These experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medicine Science.

The quality evaluation of compound Chinese medicines is an important but challenging issue in this research field, which has been paid much controversial due to the constrained association with clinical efficacy. Developing a methodology for quality evaluation of compound Chinese medicines related to clinical efficacy is an important measure in research on Chinese material medica quality to ensure clinical effectiveness and safety. Therefore, based on the research concept that "originating from clinic-testing in experiment-returning to clinic", and taking Xiaoke prescription as an example, the characteristic information of metabolome, proteome and microbiome are discussed from the clinical aspect, and the integrated markers associated with clinical efficacy constructed with artificial intelligence technology. Taking the integrated markers as the link and indication are connecting the clinical and basic, the main pharmacodynamic substances and key targets of Xiaoke prescription that are related to clinical efficacy are explained. Clinical samples are used for validation. Based on the main pharmacodynamic substances and key targets, methods and key technologies for chemical and biological evaluation of the quality of Xiaoke prescription are established, providing a methodology for quality evaluation of compound Chinese medicines, including clinical efficacy response indicators (related to clinic), main pharmacodynamic substances (chemical evaluation), and key targets (biological evaluation), to provide new ideas and methods for improving the quality evaluation of compound Chinese medicines.

Aconitum pendulum is a Tibetan medicine that is rich in bioactive compounds such as aconitine-type C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids. To investigate the key enzymes in the aconitine biosynthesis pathway, roots, leaves and flowers of Aconitum pendulum were subjected to a high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing analysis by Illumina HiSeq^TM2000. Trinity de novo assembly yielded 47 264 unigenes with an average length of 1 140 bp and N50 of 1 678 bp, of which 30 231 unigenes (63.96%) were annotated. In the KEGG database, 542 unigenes were implicated in 17 secondary metabolic pathways; the analysis showed that 44 genes encoded 20 key enzymes in the diterpene skeleton of aconitine biosynthesis and 12 BAHD acyltransferase genes were related to the acetylation modification, with differential expression among three organs. For example, ApTPS8 was the only committed enzyme in the upstream aconitine biosynthetic pathway. The high expression level of ApTPS8 in root indicated that it is the main tissue for the production of precursors of diterpene alkaloids. Consistent with the accumulation of aconitine, we propose that ApBAHD1/2/8 is involved in the biosynthesis of 2-hydroxyaconitine, dehydrated 14-benzoylaconitine, 8-O-methyl-14-benzoylaconine, benzoyldeoxyaconitine and benzoylaconitine, and ApBAHD10 is involved in the biosynthesis of acontine, lucidusculine, 14-O-acetylneoline and 14-O-acetylvirescenin. Comparative transcriptome analysis of A. pendulum and A. carmichaeli indicates significant gene loss in the family of diterpene synthases and acyltransferases in A. pendulum, which is in accordance with the significantly fewer type and quantity of aconitine compounds in this species. Therefore, A. pendulum has proved to be an ideal material for the study of the aconitine biosynthesis pathway. This work provides basic scientific data for further study of aconitine biosynthesis, the discussion of molecular mechanisms of toxicity, and the synthesis of genuine medicinal materials.

Metformin, as a first-line drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is widely used in clinic with definite efficacy and few adverse reactions. In recent years, other effects besides hypoglycemia have been found, such as a possible therapeutic effect on mental disorders (e.g., anxiety disorder, Alzheimer's disease), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. It also has regulatory effects on intestinal microbiota. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent investigations of metformin on mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and intestinal microbiota.

Poly (β-amino ester)s (PβAEs) contain tertiary amine backbones and biodegradable ester bonds, making them highly biocompatible and pH-responsive. Meanwhile, originated from combinatorial libraries, PβAEs are simple to synthesize, easy to obtain raw materials and can be easily adapted to meet the different performance needs of gene carriers by adjusting the monomer type, monomer ratio and reaction time. Therefore, PβAEs are promising material for non-viral gene carriers. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the properties and synthesis of PβAEs gene carriers and summarizes the progress of research on the gene delivery of each type of PβAEs.