The research of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) has been ongoing for more than three decades, and more research are still being carried out today. Being the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nanomedicine, LNPs not only provide various advantages, but also display some unique properties. The unique lipid bilayer structure of LNPs allows it to encapsulate both fat-soluble and water-soluble molecules, hence enabling a wide range of possibilities for the delivery of therapeutic agents with different physical and chemical properties. The ultra-small size of some LNPs confers them the ability to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), thus obtaining superiority in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The ability of tumor targeting is one of the basic requirements to be an excellent delivery system, where the LNPs have to reach the interior of the tumor. Factors that influence tumor extravasation and the permeability of LNPs are size, surface charge, lipid composition, and shape. The effect of size, surface charge, and lipid composition on the cellular uptake of LNPs is no longer recent news, while increasing numbers of researchers are interested in the effect of shape on the uptake of LNPs and its consequential effects. In our study, we prepared three lipid nanostars (LNSs) by mixing phosphatidylcholine (PC) with different backbone lengths (C14:C4 or C16:C6 or C18:C8) at a 3:1 ratio. Although several star-shaped nanocarriers have been reported, these are the first reported star-shaped LNPs. These LNSs were proven to be safe, similar in size with their spherical controls (~100 nm), and stable at 37°C. The release rate of these LNSs are inversely related to the length of the lipid backbone. Most importantly, these LNSs exhibited greatly enhanced cellular uptake and in vivo tumor extravasation compared with their spherical controls. Based on the different uptake and pharmacokinetic characteristics displayed by these LNSs, numerous route formulations could be taken into consideration, such as via injection or transdermal patch. Due to their excellent cellular uptake and in vivo tumor accumulation, these LNSs show exciting potential for application in cancer therapy.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe cerebrovascular disease with a high incidence, mortality and disability rate. Danhong injection (DHI) is beneficial for ischemic stroke, but is prohibited for ICH due to risk of bleeding. The present study aims to explore the potential therapeutic time window and molecular mechanism of DHI in a collagenase-induced ICH model in aged rats. DHI administration after ICH could significantly improve body weight and neurological deficits, and reduce the hematoma volume and brain water content when compared to the vehicle control. Furthermore, the protective effect of DHI administration on days 1-3 after ICH was superior to those on days 3-5 or 7-9 after ICH. DHI remarkably increased the Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx1) expression in astrocytes and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-β (IL-1β) after ICH. The immediate treatment of Prx1 inhibiter chelerythrine (Che) after ICH abolished the protective effect of DHI. Furthermore, the Che treatment reduced the expression of Prx1 in astrocytes, but increased the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β after ICH. DHI treatment could not reverse these changes. Therefore, the earlier DHI is administered, the better the neuroprotective effect. DHI exerts antioxidative and anti-inflammatory function by increasing Prx1 in astrocytes. These present results may change the established understanding of DHI, and reveal a novel treatment approach for ICH.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is currently the only botanical drug that can control the growth of cancer cells. Paclitaxel is widely used in the treatment of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and other cancers.