• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.8 s.88
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• pp.1039-1045
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• 2007

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequently occurring brain cancer. Although the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in GBM has been established, there is little evidence to explain the link between CSCs and chemoresistance. In this study, we investigated that only a few cells of A172 and established GBM2 survived after 1,3-bis(2chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BiCNU) exposures and these sur-vived cells resist the subsequent BiCNU treatment. In addition, these BiCNU-resistant small pop-ulations derived from GBM cells increased the phosphorylations of Erk and Akt and highly expressed CD133 stem cell surface marker. Furthermore, we observed that the BiCNU-resistant cancer cells de-rived from GBM have grown tumors when transplanted into severe combined immuno-deficient (SCID) mouse brain. These results demonstrate that BiCNU-resistant subpopulation cells derived from GBM have cancer stem-like cell properties. Therefore, it may provide provide further evidence that CSCs in GBM have chemotherapeutic drug resistance.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.128-138
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• 2002

1,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, Carmustine)-loaded poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, lactide/glycolide mole ratio 75 : 25) microparticles were prepared and fabricated into wafers in an attempt to study the possibility for the treatment of malignant glioma by direct inserting the wafers to the tumor or the cavity remained after surgical resection of the tumor. SEM observation of the microparticles prepared by spray drying method revealed that the microparticles were spherical, i. e. microspheres. Significant reduction of the crystallinity of BCNU encapsulated in PLGA was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses of the BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles. Release pattern of BCNU was dependent on several preparation parameters, such as the molecular weight and concentration of PLGA, and initial BCNU loading amount, etc. In vitro release of BCNU was prolonged over 8 weeks with close to zero-order release pattern after initial burst effect. Observations of morphological change of wafers and pH change of release media during release test period confirmed that hydration and degradation of PLGA would be facilitated with an increase of BCNU-loading amount.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.670-679
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• 2002

1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is one of the effective chemotherapeutic agents which has been used clinically for treating malignant glioma. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, molecular weight: 20000 g/mole. mole ratio of lactide to glycolide 75 : 15) is a well known biodegradable polymer used as a drug carrier for drug delivery system. In this study, we investigated the BCNU release behaviour of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers containing poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) or polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and the effect of hydrophilic polymers incoporated in the wafers. BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles with or without hydrophilic polymers were prepared by a spray drying method and fabricated into wafers by direct compression. Encapsulation efficiency of BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles containing PVP and PEO was 85 ∼ 97% and crystallinity of BCNU encapsulated in PLGA decreased significantly initial release amount and release rate of BCNU increased with the increasing PVP or PEO amount. Morphological change and mass loss of wafers during the release test were confirmed that hydration and degradation of PLGA would be facilitated with an increase of hydrophilic polymers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2003

We fabricated the 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine)-loaded PLGA wafers containing poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) or tedium chloride (NaCl) in order to control the release profile of drug in special shape (3 in diameter, 1 mm in thickness) by direct compression method. In vitro release profiles of BCNU could be controlled by additives contained in the wafers. Initial release amount, release rate and duration of BCNU could be controlled with presence of PVP or NaCl. In vitro antitumor activity accessed using 9L gliosarcoma cell line has been evaluated by assaying the viability of cells treated with BCNU released from the wafers containing additives resulting in continuous growth inhibition of 9L gliosarcoma tumor cells. Specially, the continuous growth inhibition of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers containing additives was more effective than that of non-additive BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers. The cytotoxic effect of the drug from the wafers containing NaCl as compared to wafers containing PVP was more enhanced.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 1991

Local extravasation during intravenous administration of adriamycin (doxorubicin HCl) can cause severe skin ulceration and necrosis. To investigate the mechanism of adriamycin-induced skin toxicity, effects of adriamycin on reactive oxygen radical metabolism using cultured skin cells of fetal rat. Adriamycin produced significant release of lactic dehydrogenase from cultured skin cell preparations dose- and time-dependently. The production of superoxide anion in sonicated suspensions of cultured skin cells was significantly increased by adriamycin under the presence of NADPH and NADH. The drug also stimulated malondialdehyde (MDA) production, an index of lipid peroxidation, in NADPH- and NADH-supported cell preparations. The increased production of MDA was significantly inhibited by oxygen radical scavengers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, thiourea) and antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene, ${\alpha}-tocopherol$). Treatment of cultured skin cells with 1, 3,-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), an inhibitor of glutathione reductase, enhanced the lipid peroxidation induced by adriamycin. The present study suggests that lipid peroxidation which is resulted from the stimulated production of reactive oxygen radical causes cellular damage in adriamycin-treated skin cells of rat.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.352-356
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• 2003

The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of gamma irradiation for sterilization on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with different molecular weight and the effect of gamma irradiation on the release behavior of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) from PLGA wafer with various irradiation doses. The effect of gamma irradiation on PLGA was evaluated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The weight average molecular weight (M$_{w}$) and glass transition temperature (T$_{g}$) of PLGA decreased after gamma irradiation. The extent of M$_{w}$ reduction was dependent on irradiation dose and PLGA molecular weight. Using EPR spectroscopy, we successfully detected gamma irradiation induced free radicals in PLGA. The gamma irradiation increased the release rate of BCNU from PLGA wafer at applied irradiation doses except 2.5 Mrad of irradiation dose in this study.study.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.691-700
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• 2002

Interstitial therapy using biodegradable polymeric device loaded with anticancer agent can deliver the drug to the tumor site at high concentration, resulting in an increase of therapeutic efficacy. 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is most commonly used as chemotherapeutic agent for brain tumors. The design of implantable device is regarded as an important factor lot the efficient delivery of antitumor agent to targeting site. In order to control the release profile of drug, the release pattern of BCNU with the changes of various dimension and additives was investigated. The PLGA wafers containing 3.85, 10, 20 and 30% of BCNU were prepared in various shape (diameter of 3, 5 and 10 mm, thickness of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm) by direct compression method. In vitro drug release profile of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers could be controlled by changing the dimension of wafers such as initial drug content, weight, diameter, thickness, volume and surface area of wafers, as well as PLGA molecular weight and additives. Drug release from BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers was facilitated with an increase of BCNU-loading amount or presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) or sodium chloride (NaCl). The effects of various geometric factors and additives on the BCNU release pattern were confirmed by the investigation of mass loss and morphology of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.366-374
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• 2005

Objective : Nitric oxide[NO] is implicated in a wide range of biological processes in tumors and is produced in glioma. To investigate the role of NO and its interaction with the tumoricidal effects of anticancer drugs, we study the antitumor activities of NO donors, with or without anticancer drugs, in human glioma cell lines. Methods : U87MG and U373MG cells were treated with the NO donors sodium nitroprusside[SNP] and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine[SNAP], alone or in combination with the anticancer drugs 1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea[BCNU] and cisplatin. Cell viability, cell proliferation, DNA fragmentation, nitrite level, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined. Results : NO was markedly increased after treatment with SNP or SNAP; however, the addition of the anticancer drugs did not significantly affect NO production NO donors or anticancer drugs reduced glioma cell viability and, in combination, acted synergistically to further decrease cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis were enhanced by combined treatment. Bax expression was increased by combined treatment, whereas Bcl-2 expression was reduced. The antitumor cytotoxicity of NO donors and anticancer drugs differed according to cell type. Conclusion : BCNU or cisplatin can inhibit cell viability and proliferation of glioma cells and can induce apoptosis. These effects are further enhanced by the addition of a NO donor which modulates the antitumor cytotoxicity of chemotherapy depending on cell type. Further biological, chemical, and toxicological studies of NO are required to clarify its mechanism of action in glioma.