Channelopathies: Application of Natural Products Using Nanotechnology
Ca2+ channels have fundamental role in numerous physiological functions, by regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, in all organs and tissues including the heart, muscle and brain. There are different types of Ca2+channels, which mediate specific cellu
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Channelopathies: Application of Natural Products Using Nanotechnology
Abstract
Ca2+ channels have fundamental role in numerous physiological functions, by regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, in all organs and tissues including the heart, muscle and brain. There are different types of Ca2+channels, which mediate specific cellular functions in these tissues depending on their sensitivity to Ca2+ gradient. They have critical role in many pathological conditions such as hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, pain, muscle dysfunctions, etc. Thus, targeting Ca2+channels gives great relief from many disorders. There are many naturally available Ca2+ blockers/agonists, which have been demonstrated for their effectiveness in experimental system, and some of them have been under clinical trial for various pathological conditions. However, their clinical effectiveness is mainly hindered by poor pharmacokinetics and low bioavailability at target sites. Nanotechnology-based delivery systems offer a promising solution for the above-mentioned problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several nanomedicines to use them as a first line of therapeutics, and many of them are under consideration. The nanosystem-based therapeutic strategies could help to improve the efficiency of drugs in treating channelopathies, and it strengthens the efforts of the translation of natural products to utilize them in clinical application. Keywords
Calcium channels • Nanocarriers • Nanomedicine • Natural products • Phytomedicine
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 S. Rajagopal, M. Ponnusamy, Calcium Signaling: From Physiology to Diseases, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-5160-9_6
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Introduction
Calcium is an integral part of many physiological functions including muscle contraction, regulation of heartbeat, neurotransmission, cell division, immune functions and saliva production. It contributes to the production and activities of hormones involved in digestion and energy and fat metabolism. The Ca2+-dependent system is vital for the transportation of nutrients and other substances across cell membranes (Abrams 2007; Houston and Harper 2008; Peacock 2010). Thus, a tight regulation of Ca2+ level in both intracellular and extracellular milieus is important for proper functioning of organ and tissues. The calcium channels’ structure and its functions are closely associated. Any variation in channel structure due to genetic defect or pathological insults results in malfunctioning of those channels, and it is linked to the development and progression of many disorders. The disease associated with dysfunction of such channel system is termed as channelopathy, and the study of diseases associated with channel defect is called as channelomic studies. The channelomic study provides potential therapeutic agents by examining their binding affinities with calcium channels and helps to screen their effectiveness at channelopathies (Camerino et al. 2
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