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Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen that is resistant to many commonly-used antibiotics. One strategy for treatment is the use of aromatic compounds (carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde) against A. baumannii. The aim of this study was to determine the interactions between bacteria and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) over time based on the fluorescence of 3,3'-Dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine Perchlorate-LNCs (DiO-LNCs) and the properties of trypan blue to analyse the physicochemical mechanisms occurring at the level of the biological membrane. The results demonstrated the capacity of carvacrol-loaded LNCs to interact with and penetrate the bacterial membrane in comparison with cinnamaldehyde-loaded LNCs and unloaded LNCs. Modifications of carvacrol after substitution of hydroxyl functional groups by fatty acids demonstrated the crucial role of hydroxyl functions in antibacterial activity. Finally, after contact with the efflux pump inhibitor, carbonylcyanide-3-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP), the results indicated the total synergistic antibacterial effect with Car-LNCs, showing that CCCP is associated with the action mechanism of carvacrol, especially at the level of the efflux pump mechanism., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Few effective therapeutic interventions are available to limit brain damage and functional deficits after ischaemic stroke. Within this context, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy carries minimal risks while remaining efficacious through the secretion of trophic, protective, neurogenic and angiogenic factors. The limited survival rate of MSCs restricts their beneficial effects. The usefulness of a three-dimensional support, such as a pharmacologically active microcarrier (PAM), on the survival of MSCs during hypoxia has been shown in vitro, especially when the PAMs were loaded with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In the present study, the effect of MSCs attached to laminin-PAMs (LM-PAMs), releasing VEGF or not, was evaluated in vivo in a model of transient stroke. The parameters assessed were infarct volume, functional recovery and endogenous cellular reactions. LM-PAMs induced the expression of neuronal markers by MSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the prolonged release of VEGF increased angiogenesis around the site of implantation of the LM-PAMs and facilitated the migration of immature neurons towards the ischaemic tissue. Nonetheless, MSCs/LM-PAMs-VEGF failed to improve sensorimotor functions. The use of LM-PAMs to convey MSCs and to deliver growth factors could be an effective strategy to repair the brain damage caused by a stroke., (Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

RNA interference currently offers new opportunities for gene therapy by the specific extinction of targeted gene(s) in cancer diseases. However, the main challenge for nucleic acid delivery still remains its efficacy through intravenous administration. Over the last decade, many delivery systems have been developed and optimized to encapsulate siRNA and to specifically promote their delivery into tumor cells and improve their pharmacokinetics for anti-cancer purposes. This review aims to sum up the potential targets in numerous pathways and the properties of recently optimized siRNA synthetic nanomedicines with their preclinical applications and efficacy. Future perspectives in cancer treatment are discussed including promising concomitant treatment with chemotherapies or other siRNA. The outcomes in human clinical trials are also presented., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)