Biology subjects

Petrikaite, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Petrikaite, V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Synthesis and Characterisation of a Macrophage-derived Hybrid Nanoparticles for Doxorubicin Delivery to Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its aggressive nature, complex microenvironment and the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. In this study, hybrid nanoparticles were developed by combining synthetic liposomes with macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) to harness the strengths of both platforms. Two distinct liposomal formulations, DPPC:Chol:DSPE-mPEG2000 (F1) and DPPC:DPPS:Chol:DSPE-mPEG2000 (F2), were used as the basis for the synthesis. EVs derived from J774 macrophages were integrated with F1 and F2 to create hybrid nanoparticles (H-F1 and H-F2). Doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated using a pH gradient and a remote loading procedure. The mean particle size of H-F1-DOX and H-F2-DOX was 158.2 {+/-} 1 nm and 162.8 {+/-} 9 nm, respectively. The polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.130 {+/-} 0.012 and 0.084 {+/-} 0.033, while the zeta potential values were -14.9 {+/-} 0.7 mV and -26.7 {+/-} 3.1 mV, respectively. H-F2-DOX exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (EE%), reaching 76.5{+/-}3.4%. The encapsulated hybrids remained stable up to one week, at +5{degrees}C. The release of DOX from H-F2-DOX in DMEM supplemented with 10% serum showed pH sensitivity, with total DOX release of 64.9 {+/-} 5.3% at pH 7.4 and 90.7 {+/-} 6.5% at pH 5.5. The cell viability assay demonstrated that all formulations exhibited strong cytotoxic effects against GBM cells under normoxic conditions, with H-F2-DOX showing the most potent effect under hypoxia-mimetic conditions.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Cell line-dependent effects of spheroid formation method on drug response in melanoma models

In this study, we evaluated the impact of different in vitro 3D culture modelling methods on the activity of doxorubicin (DOX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human melanoma spheroids. Human melanoma A375 and IGR39 spheroids were generated using the hanging drop and non-adhesive surface methods. Spheroid growth dynamics were assessed by measuring changes in spheroid diameter. To compare the effects of anticancer drugs in spheroids of different sizes, spheroids of approximately 200 and 400 {micro}m were formed. Drug activity was evaluated based on spheroid growth and cell viability using the MTT assay. A375 spheroids formed using the non-adhesive surface method were more sensitive to DOX than spheroids formed using the hanging drop method. In smaller A375 spheroids, 10 {micro}M 5-FU reduced cell viability more effectively in spheroids formed using the hanging drop method. In contrast, IGR39 spheroids formed by the hanging drop method were more resistant than those formed on a non-adhesive surface. However, in IGR39 spheroids, the effects of DOX and 5-FU on growth and viability did not significantly differ between formation methods. In conclusion, A375 spheroid growth was not significantly influenced by the formation method, whereas IGR39 spheroid growth depended on the method used. A375 spheroids formed on non-adhesive surfaces were more sensitive to DOX, whereas 5-FU activity depended on drug concentration and spheroid size. In IGR39 spheroids, the effects of DOX and 5-FU on growth and viability were largely independent of the spheroid formation method. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the researchers should carefully select the spheroid formation method for their studies, as this may influence the results of the tested compounds effect on their size and viability.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The unique contributions of Rab11 and Rab35 to the completion of cell division

Rab11 and Rab35 were shown to be responsible for wide-scale intracellular membrane trafficking during the last phases of the cell cycle. Even though data suggests that Rab11 and Rab35 are abscission-related, each gives a different phenotype to dividing cells. Moreover, nobody has ever looked at both and systematically compared the two during the regulation of cancer cell division. Hence, the molecular interplay and compensatory mechanisms between Rab11 and Rab35 remain to be established. Our data shows that depletion of Rab11 or Rab35 inhibits cytokinetic abscission and is associated with aberrant levels of F-actin at the intercellular bridge. In contrast, overexpression of functionally similar Rab protein cannot rescue downregulation-associated cytokinetic defects in cancer cells. We also demonstrate that even though Rab11 and Rab35 function in the same molecular pathway, the input that each individual Rab11 and Rab35 carries out during a distinct mitotic M-phase stage differs. Thus, this research study is dedicated to getting a more in-depth understanding of molecular machinery behind Rab11- and Rab35-mediated cell progression from late anaphase to cytokinesis.

cell biology↗