Hu Liu

Memorial University of Newfoundland · School of Pharmacy

Synergistic anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1/L1 antibody (aPD-1/aPD-L1) and 1-methyl-D,L-tryptophan (1-MT) in melanoma has been well demonstrated, while efficient topical delivery systems are still largely unexplored. Here, a highly drug-concentrated hybrid core-shell microneedle (CSMN) system for co-delivery of checkpoint inhibitors was developed. B...

In article number 1900898 by Xin Pan, Chuanbin Wu, and co‐workers, a rapidly separating dissolving microneedles (RSDMNs) system is constructed to achieve controlled and precise drug delivery. The polymer‐sugar complex is used to constitute the separating part with high disintegration rate as well as sufficient mechanical performance. After administ...

The precise delivery of traditional dissolving microneedles (TDMNs) is often limited by the incomplete insertion due to the skin deformation, and the topical irritation is inevitable after long application, which ultimately results in compromised therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study is to develop a rapidly separating dissolving microneedles...

To minimize the gastric and esophageal injury effect, a system to deliver doxycycline hyclate (DOXY) to the duodenum area is needed. DOXY‐containing modified‐release oral pellets (DMOP) coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate HP‐55 (HPMCP HP‐55) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E15 (HPMC E15) appear to be a reasonable choice. This coat...

A hypertrophic scar (HS) is a cutaneous condition characterized by deposits of excessive amounts of collagen that produces a raised scar, causing physical, psychological, and cosmetic problems for the patient. The therapeutic efficacy of conventional transdermal drug delivery systems is often limited because the HS tissue is more compact than norma...

The aim of this study was to investigate intravitreal injection of silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) encapsulating bio-macromolecules, achieving enhanced drug bioavailability and extended retention in retina. SFNs were prepared with regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) using desolvation method with fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin...

Arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) has been shown to be essential for the recognition of integrins overexpressed in tumor cells, especially during tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and metasis. In this study, a novel tetrapeptide, RGD-valine (RGDV), was designed and attached to the N position of 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) at the valine end, a...

The objective of this study was to investigate the stability and aerosolization of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) containing thymopentin nanoparticles. Thymopentin nanoparticles, fabricated by a bottom-up process, were suspended in hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) 134a together with cineole and/or n-heptane to produce pMDI formulations. The stabi...

Arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) has been shown to possess a strong affinity for the integrins overexpressed in tumor cells, especially during tumor invasion, angiogenesis and metasis. Based on work from others, a novel tetrapeptide, arginine-glycine-aspartate-phenylanaline (RGDF), has been designed and studied as a homing device to direct liposoma...

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, is widely used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, its high lipophilicity is thought to be responsible for the slow dissolution and low bioavailability following oral administration. In order to obtain compounds with better solubi...

1-Beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C, Cytarabine) is one of the drugs used for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). However, the bioavailability of Ara-C is relatively low due to its low lipophilicity. In order to improve the lipophilicity and bioavailability of Ara-C, a series of N(4) derivatives of Ara-C, i.e., (fatty acid)-(amino acid)-Ara-...

The complexation of Cu(II) with previously synthesized thrombolytic peptides, Pro-Ala-Lys (6), Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (7), Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (8), Gly-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (9) and Gln-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (10), resulted in the formation of complexes, Cu(II)-(Pro-Ala-Lys) (6-Cu), Cu(II)-(Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys) (7-Cu), Cu(II)-(Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys) (8-Cu), Cu(II)-(Gly-Arg-...

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is believed to be one of the most common causes of multidrug resistance (MDR) in chemotherapy. Studies have shown that the biosynthesis of cholesterol and cholesterol esters interfere with the function of P-gp. Since low density lipoprotein (LDL) carries a large amount of cholesterol, we investigated the effect of cholesterol...

Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (ARPAK; also known as P6A) and 19 of its analogs were synthesized, and their thrombolytic activities were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The solution structures of 12 of the P6A analogs were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The thrombolytic activity and conformational structure relationship was ana...

Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys (ARPAK; also known as P6A) and 19 of its analogs were synthesized, and their thrombolytic activities were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The solution structures of 12 of the P6A analogs were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The thrombolytic activity and conformational structure relationship was ana...

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is believed to be one of the most common causes of multidrug resistance (MDR) in chemotherapy. Studies have shown that the biosynthesis of cholesterol and cholesterol esters interfere with the function of P-gp. Since low density lipoprotein (LDL) carries a large amount of cholesterol, we investigated the effect of cholesterol...

Some studies have suggested that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have an inhibitory effect on the growth of cancer cells and therefore have the potential to increase the efficacy of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Considering that omega-3 PUFAs are present abundantly in harp seal oil, we investigated the effect of seal oil on the cytotox...

Emulsions often contain vegetable oils such as soybean oil. In this study, a 10% (w/w) of marine mammal oil emulsion was prepared. The effect of a group of emulsifying agents on the stability of the 10% of seal oil emulsion was examined. The emulsifying agents studied were hydrogenated castor oil coated with various polyoxyethylene derivatives. It...

Fish oil, rich in omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), has been reported to attenuate nephrotoxicity induced by ciclosporin (cyclosporine A). Harp seal oil is a rich source of n-3 PUFAs. This study investigated the ability of dietary seal oil to reduce nephrotoxicity caused by ciclosporin. Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a stan...

[1-(1',3'-Dioxyl-4',4',5',5'-tetramethyldihydroimidazol-2-yl)-phenyl-4-yl]oxyacetic acid (4), a nitronyl nitroxide, and its peptide derivatives, N-[1-(1',3'-dioxyl-4',4',5',5'-tetramethyldihydroimidazol-2-yl)-phenyl-4-yl]oxyacetyl-ARPAK (9a), -GRPAK (9b), and -QRPAK (9c), were synthesized and characterized. Judging from the results of electron spin...

Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of heart disease and stroke; it is the underlying cause of about 50% of all deaths in Western countries. It is known that early detection of atherosclerotic lesions would significantly reduce the risk of mortality. The objective of this study was to develop a radioimaging method for early detection of atherosclero...

A cholesteryl ester analog, cholesteryl 1,3-diiopanoate glyceryl ether (C2I), was synthesized and investigated for its potential use for the detection of atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits. (125)I-labeled C2I was incorporated into acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL). The resultant complex, (125)I-C2I-AcLDL, was injected intravenously into 2...

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been found suitable as a targeting carrier for cytotoxic drugs. However, higher drug loading into LDL particles without disrupting their native integrity remains a major obstacle. The purpose of this study is to investigate the different physicochemical factors that may affect drug loading and to characterize LDL–d...