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Author: search.filters.author.Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño

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    Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Biological Activities of Macleania rupestris or Ericaceae: Insights into Nutraceutical Potential
    (MDPI AG, 2025-10-31)
    Arianna Mayorga-Ramos
    ;
    Rebeca Gonzalez-Pastor
    ;
    Juan A. Puente-Pineda
    ;
    Carlos Barba-Ostria
    ;
    Eduardo Tejera
    The Ericaceae family encompasses several berries with recognized health-promoting properties; however, Macleania rupestris, a neotropical species endemic to the Andean region, remains poorly characterized. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to identify the chemical composition of M. rupestris ethanolic extracts and evaluate their biological activities, including antitumoral, hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, and leishmanicidal effects. Methods: The M. rupestris ethanolic extracts were obtained from lyophilized fruits and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS for phytochemical profiling. Bioactivities were assessed in vitro using tumor and non-tumor cell lines (MTT assay), erythrocyte hemolysis assays, RAW 264.7 macrophage inflammation models, and Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. Results: The chemical analysis revealed anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-arabinoside), flavonols (quercetin and myricetin derivatives), and coumaroyl iridoids. The extract showed modest antiproliferative activity (IC50 10.4–22.5 mg/mL) across tumor cell lines with low therapeutic indices, indicating limited selectivity. In contrast, hemolytic activity was negligible (<5% at all tested concentrations), suggesting high biocompatibility. Anti-inflammatory assays indicated a dose-dependent reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production, while no significant leishmanicidal activity was detected. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the previously listed M. rupestris bioactivities. While its antitumoral effects appear limited, its strong hemocompatibility and presence of antioxidant metabolites highlight its potential for biomedical and nutraceutical applications where biocompatibility is critical. Further studies are needed to optimize bioactivity and explore potential synergistic effects.
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    Towards Personalized Medicine: Microdevice-Assisted Evaluation of Cancer Stem Cell Dynamics and Treatment Response
    (MDPI AG, 2025-06-10)
    Eduardo Imanol Agüero
    ;
    Silvia María Gómez López
    ;
    Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño
    ;
    Matías Tellado
    ;
    Maximiliano Sebastián Pérez
    Background/Objectives: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a minor yet critical subpopulation within tumors, endowed with self-renewal and differentiation capacities, and are implicated in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence. Reliable in vitro functional assays to characterize CSCs are pivotal for the development of personalized oncology strategies. This study sought to establish and validate a microfluidic device (MD) platform for the enrichment, functional assessment, and therapeutic evaluation of CSC populations derived from experimental models and primary tumor samples. Methods: Murine (LM38LP) and human (BPR6) breast cancer cell lines were cultured within MDs to promote sphere formation. CSC enrichment was confirmed through the expression analysis of pluripotency-associated genes (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and CD44) by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunofluorescence. Sphere number, size, and gene expression profiles were quantitatively assessed before (control) and after chemotherapeutic exposure. To validate the MD platform against conventional scale, parallel experiments were performed in 12 well plates. To extend translational relevance, three primary canine tumor samples (solid thyroid carcinoma, simple tubular carcinoma, and reactive lymph node) were mechanically disaggregated and processed within MDs for CSC characterization. Results: The MD platform enabled the consistent enrichment of CSC populations, showing significant modulation of sphere growth parameters and stemness marker expression following chemotherapeutic treatment. Beyond its comparability with conventional culture, the MD also supported immunofluorescence staining and allowed real-time monitoring of individual cell growth. Sphere formation efficiency (SFE) and CSC marker expression were similarly demonstrated in primary veterinary tumor cultures, highlighting the device’s cross-species applicability. Conclusions: Microfluidic-based sphere assays represent a robust, reproducible, and scalable platform for the functional interrogation of CSC dynamics and therapeutic responses. This methodology holds great promise for advancing CSC-targeted therapies and supporting personalized oncology in both human and veterinary settings.