Phenformin

Combined host-guest complex with coffee-ring effect for constructing ultrasensitive SERS substrate for phenformin hydrochloride detection in healthcare products.[Pubmed:30284605]

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2018 Nov;410(29):7599-7609.

Phenformin hydrochloride (PHE), once used as a traditional anti-diabetic drug, has now been banned due to significant side effects. However, the phenomenon of the illegal addition of PHE to hypoglycemic healthcare products is still rampant. Thus, the detection of illegally added PHE is urgently needed. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a promising candidate for this purpose, but the weak affinity between PHE and bare metal (Au or Ag) limits direct SERS detection of PHE. In this paper, we prepared Ag nanoparticles coated with beta-cyclodextrin (AgNP@beta-CD), which display the coffee-ring effect, that can be used for PHE sensing. beta-CD-functionalized nanoparticles could capture the analyte and fix the molecular orientation in the hydrophobic cavity. The coffee-ring effect could improve the SERS effect through a higher concentration of the analyte, higher density of nanoparticles, and more hot spots. The SERS performance of the AgNP@beta-CD substrate was characterized by using o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as a probe molecule. The excitation wavelength and pH value were optimized. A linear response for PHE detection is in the 7.0 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) concentration range, and the limit of detection is as low as 8.0 x 10(-9) mol L(-1). This AgNP@beta-CD coffee-ring effect substrate was applied to the detection of PHE in healthcare products, with recoveries between 95.3 and 105.0% and relative standard deviations of less than 5.16%. It is anticipated that the AgNP@beta-CD substrate will also have great potential for the monitoring of other aromatic drugs in healthcare products.

Phenformin and metformin inhibit growth and migration of LN229 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo.[Pubmed:30275708]

Onco Targets Ther. 2018 Sep 20;11:6039-6048.

Background: Malignant glioma is refractory to conventional treatment, highlighting a need to develop novel efficacious therapies. Biguanides, a class of oral antidiabetic drug, have been thought to inhibit proliferation and metastasis in a variety of cancers. Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the affections of biguanides, Phenformin (Phen) and metformin (Met), on growth and migration of glioma cells LN229 in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Glioma cells LN229 were treated with Phen or Met, then cell proliferation and death were evaluated by MTT assay and PI stain, and cell cycle were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis, meantime wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were performed to detect cell migration ability. In addition, LN229 were injected in thigh of nude mice, and the mice were treated with Phen or Met to detect the effect of Phen and Met in vivo. Results: Phen and Met could significantly inhibit cell growth through inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting cell death and disturbing cell cycle, and these drugs also could inhibit cell colony formation in glioma cells LN229 in vitro. Meanwhile, both Phen and Met could significantly inhibit cell migration of LN229 in vitro, through effecting the expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin. In addition, both Phen and Met inhibited the growth and migration of LN229 in a tumor xenograft model. Furthermore, Phen and Met were associated with the increased level of ROS of cell mitochondrial, and ROS inhibitor NAC could significantly rescue the cell death induced by Phen and Met. Conclusion: Phen and Met displayed powerful antitumor effects of LN229, and our findings powerfully suggest the possibility of Phen and Met being used as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of glioma patients.

Type 2 Diabetes in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Are Biguanides and Statins Part of the Solution?[Pubmed:30265346]

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jan 1;104(1):57-73.

Context: Biguanides and statins exert beneficial effects on various cancer types. Their precise effects and underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the relationship between metabolic syndrome and histological, epidemiological, and prognosis variables in two cohorts of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): those with lung carcinoids (LCs; n = 81) and those with gastroenteropancreatic NET (GEP-NET; n = 100). Biguanide and statin antitumor effects were investigated by evaluating proliferation, migration, secretion, gene expression, and involved molecular pathways in BON1/QGP1 cell cultures. Results: Pleura invasion was higher (LCs group; P < 0.05) and tumor diameter tended to be increased (GEP-NET group) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) than in those without. Somatostatin and ghrelin systems mRNA levels differed in tumor tissue of patients with T2DM taking metformin or not. Biguanides decreased proliferation rate in BON1/QGP1 cells; the effects of statins on proliferation rate depended on the statin and cell types, and time. Specifically, only simvastatin and atorvastatin decreased proliferation in BON1 cells, whereas all statins decreased proliferation rate in QGP1 cells. Metformin and simvastatin decreased migration capacity in BON1 cells; biguanides decreased serotonin secretion in BON1 cells. Phenformin increased apoptosis in BON1/QGP1 cells; simvastatin increased apoptosis in QGP1 cells. These antitumor effects likely involved altered expression of key genes related to cancer aggressiveness. Conclusion: A clear inhibitory effect of biguanides and statins was seen on NET-cell aggressiveness. Our results invite additional exploration of the potential therapeutic role of these drugs in treatment of patients with NETs.