Tocilizumab-coated solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with cannabidiol as a novel drug delivery strategy for treating COVID-19: A review

Aleksandra Zielińska; Piotr Eder; Jacek Karczewski; Marlena Szalata; Szymon Hryhorowicz; Karolina Wielgus; Milena Szalata; Agnieszka Dobrowolska; Atanas G Atanasov; Ryszard Słomski; Eliana B Souto

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147991

Tocilizumab-coated solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with cannabidiol as a novel drug delivery strategy for treating COVID-19: A review

Front Immunol. 2023 Mar 22:14:1147991. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147991. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poznan, Poznan, Poland.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics, and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
³ Department of Environmental Medicine/Department of Gastroenterology, Human Nutrition and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
⁵ Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
⁶ Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants National Research Institute, Poznan, Poland.
⁷ Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Magdalenka, Poland.
⁸ Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
⁹ Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
¹⁰ UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, MEDTECH, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
¹¹ Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

Commonly used clinical strategies against coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), including the potential role of monoclonal antibodies for site-specific targeted drug delivery, are discussed here. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) tailored with tocilizumab (TCZ) and loading cannabidiol (CBD) are proposed for the treatment of COVID-19 by oral route. TCZ, as a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody and an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor agonist, can attenuate cytokine storm in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. CBD (an anti-inflammatory cannabinoid and TCZ agonist) alleviates anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. CBD, obtained from Cannabis sativa L., is known to modulate gene expression and inflammation and also shows anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been recognized to modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) expression in SARS-CoV-2 target tissues. It has already been proven that immunosuppressive drugs targeting the IL-6 receptor may ameliorate lethal inflammatory responses in COVID-19 patients. TCZ, as an immunosuppressive drug, is mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, although several attempts have been made to use it in the active hyperinflammatory phase of COVID-19, with promising outcomes. TCZ is currently administered intravenously. It this review, we discuss the potential advances on the use of SLN for oral administration of TCZ-tailored CBD-loaded SLN, as an innovative platform for managing SARS-CoV-2 and related infections.

Keywords: COVID-19; cannabidiol (CBD); cytokine storm; oral drug therapy; solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN); tocilizumab (TCZ).

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
COVID-19*
Cannabidiol* / therapeutic use
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Lipid Nanoparticles
tocilizumab
Cannabidiol
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Immunosuppressive Agents

Grants and funding

This research was also supported by the National Centre for Research and Development (grant number INNOMED/I/11/NCBR/2014) from the Innovative Economy Operational Programme funds within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund.