Camptothecin sodium

Camptothecin (CPT) is a cytotoxic quinoline alkaloid isolated from the bark and branches of the Chinese treeCamptotheca acuminata. CPT inhibits topoisomerase I. It possesses various antitumor activities and is mainly used in the treatment of colon, ovarian, liver, and bone cancers as well as leukemia. CPT inhibits the expressions of inflammatory genes and can prevent death from chronic inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CPT treatment in ulcerative colitis (UC) using DSS-induced UC mouse model; after that, we explored its potential mechanisms. Here, we found that CPT exerted protection on DSS-induced UC in rats. In addition, the administration prominently reduced the disease activity index as well as colon length of the model rats and remarkably reduced the inflammatory cytokines. Further, CPT significantly reduced several vital proinflammatory proteins in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In summary, our findings demonstrate that CPT is hopefully to act as a therapeutic agent for UC.

Camptothecin (CPT), a natural alkaloid, possesses potent anticancer activity. However, its application was terminated due to its low bioavailability and high toxicity. This work evaluated the potential of deoxycholic acid-CPT conjugate (G2) to improve the oral absorption of CPT. Deoxycholic acid significantly reduced cytotoxicity and inhibited the uptake of G2, in vitro. And G2 showed sodium-dependent uptake. In addition, in vivo study in rats indicated that the oral bioavailability of G2 was 2.06-fold higher than that of CPT. The present study suggested that using bile acid as the conjugated moiety is a hopeful strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of CPT.

In the realm of drug delivery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained tremendous attention as promising nanocarriers, owing to their distinct characteristics, such as high surface area, enhanced cellular uptake and the possibility to be easily conjugated with many therapeutics, including both small molecules and biologics, displaying superior efficacy, enhanced specificity and diminished side effects. While most CNT-based drug delivery system (DDS) had been engineered to combat cancers, there are also emerging reports that employ CNTs as either the main carrier or adjunct material for the delivery of various non-anticancer drugs. In this review, the delivery of small molecule drugs is expounded, with special attention paid to the current progress of in vitro and in vivo research involving CNT-based DDSs, before finally concluding with some consideration on inevitable complications that hamper successful disease intervention with CNTs.