title: Curcumin/Gd loaded apoferritin: a novel "theranostic" agent to prevent hepatocellular damage in toxic induced acute hepatitis.
abstract: Apoferritin has been exploited to deliver simultaneously therapeutic and imaging agents (loaded into its internal cavity) to hepatocytes as this protein is efficiently taken up from blood by hepatocyte scavenger receptor class A type 5 via the ferritin transporting route. To this purpose the protein has been loaded with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent GdHPDO3A and curcumin, a polyphenolic substance endowed with multiple pharmacological actions, namely: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic. Curcumin and GdHPDO3A loaded apoferritin has been used with the aim to attenuate the thioacetamide-induced hepatitis together with the evaluation by MRI of drug delivery efficiency. Mice pretreated by intraperitoneal administration showed significantly attenuated hepatic injury as assessed by measuring alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in plasma and by histology assessment. The encapsulation of curcumin inside the apoferritin cavity significantly increases its stability and bioavailability while maintaining its therapeutic anti-inflammatory properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cutrin
authors.forename: Simonetta Geninatti
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Crich
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burghelea
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dastrù
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aime
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001052:Apoferritins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D003287:Contrast Media; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; D013853:Thioacetamide; D001052:Apoferritins; D005682:Gadolinium; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003474:Curcumin