Methods for the preparation and manufacture of polymeric nanoparticles

Poly (lactic acid)-based biomaterials for orthopaedic regenerative engineering

Regenerative engineering converges tissue engineering, advanced materials science, stem cell science, and developmental biology to regenerate complex tissues such as whole limbs. Regenerative engineering scaffolds provide mechanical support and nanoscale control over architecture, topography, and biochemical cues to influence cellular outcome. In this regard, poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based biomaterials may be considered as a gold standard for many orthopaedic regenerative engineering applications because of their versatility in fabrication, biodegradability, and compatibility with biomolecules and cells. Here we discuss recent developments in PLA-based biomaterials with respect to processability and current applications in the clinical and research settings for bone, ligament, meniscus, and cartilage regeneration.

High-Throughput Fabrication of Nanocomplexes Using 3D-Printed Micromixers

3D printing allows a rapid and inexpensive manufacturing of custom made and prototype devices. Micromixers are used for rapid and controlled production of nanoparticles intended for therapeutic delivery. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of micromixers using computational design and 3D printing, which enable a continuous and industrial scale production of nanocomplexes formed by electrostatic complexation, using the polymers poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate). Several parameters including polymer concentration, flow rate, and flow ratio were systematically varied and their effect on the properties of nanocomplexes was studied and compared with nanocomplexes prepared by bulk mixing. Particles fabricated using this cost effective device were equally small and homogenous but more consistent and controllable in size compared with those prepared manually via bulk mixing. Moreover, each micromixer could process more than 2 liters per hour with unaffected performance and the setup could easily be scaled-up by aligning several micromixers in parallel. This demonstrates that 3D printing can be used to prepare disposable high-throughput micromixers for production of therapeutic nanoparticles.

Fabrication of basil seed gum nanoparticles as a novel oral delivery system of glutathione

Plant derived polymers like mucilage have evoked great attention in the field of functional food ingredient delivery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of basil seed gum nanoparticles (BSG NPs) as an oral delivery system for glutathione (GSH). BSG NPs (1-0.25mgml^-1) were fabricated by ion gelling technique and calcium was used as a cross-linking agent (0.7-0.3mgml^-1). The results showed that BSG NPs (298-595nm) have spherical shape and the relative viscosity revealed that the possibility of agglomeration of BSG NPs is low. The interaction between BSG and GSH was confirmed by FTIR and DSC studies. Entrapment and loading efficiency of BSG-GSH nanoparticles were in the range of 6.5-43% and 7-13%, respectively. GSH release in gastrointestinal environment showed release speed in pH 1.2 was lower in compared with pH 6.8. As a result, smaller amounts of GSH will be destroyed in the stomach during digestion time.

Fluorescent polymeric nanovehicles for neural stem cell modulation

Nanomaterials are emerging as strong candidates for applications in drug delivery and offer an alternative platform to modulate the differentiation and activity of neural stem cells. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of two different classes of polymeric nanoparticles: N-isopropylacrylamide-based thermoresponsive nanogels RM1 and P(TEGA)-b-P(_d,lLA)₂ nano-micelles RM2. We covalently linked the nanoparticles with fluorescent tags and demonstrate their ability to be internalized and tracked in neural stem cells from the postnatal subventricular zone, without affecting their proliferation, multipotency and differentiation characteristics up to 150 μg ml^-1. The difference in chemical structure of RM1 and RM2 does not appear to impact toxicity however it influences the loading capacity. Nanogels RM1 loaded with retinoic acid improve solubility of the drug which is released at 37 °C, resulting in an increase in the number of neurons, comparable to what can be obtained with a solution of the free drug solubilised with a small percentage of DMSO.

Microporous Polymer Particles via Phase Inversion in Microfluidics: Impact of Nonsolvent Quality

We investigate the impact of ternary phase behavior on the microstructure of porous polymer particles produced by solvent extraction of polymer solution droplets by a nonsolvent. Microfluidic devices fabricated by frontal photopolymerization are employed to produce monodisperse polymer (P)/solvent (S) droplets suspended in a carrier (C) phase before inducing solvent extraction by precipitation in a nonsolvent (NS) bath. Model systems of sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (P), water (S), hexadecane (C), and either methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or ethyl acetate (EA) as NS are selected. Extraction across the liquid-liquid interface results in a decrease in the droplet radius and also an ingress of nonsolvent, leading to droplet phase demixing and coarsening. As the concentration of the polymer-rich phase increases, droplet shrinkage and solvent exchange slow down and eventually cease, resulting in microporous polymer particles (of radius ≃50-200 μm) with a smooth surface. The internal structure of these capsules, with pore sizes of ≃1-100 μm, is found to be controlled by polymer solution thermodynamics and the extraction pathway. The ternary phase diagrams are measured by turbidimetry, and the kinetics of phase separation is estimated by stopped-flow small-angle neutron scattering. The higher solubility of water in MEK results in faster particle-formation kinetics than in EA. Surprisingly, however, the lower polymer miscibility with EA/water results in a deeper quench inside the phase boundary and small phase sizes, thus yielding particles with small pores (of narrow distribution). The effects of droplet size, polymer content, and nonsolvent quality provide comprehensive insight into porous particle and capsule formation by phase inversion, with a range of practical applications.

PLGA nanoparticles from nano-emulsion templating as imaging agents: Versatile technology to obtain nanoparticles loaded with fluorescent dyes

The interest in polymeric nanoparticles as imaging systems for biomedical applications has increased notably in the last decades. In this work, PLGA nanoparticles, prepared from nano-emulsion templating, have been used to prepare novel fluorescent imaging agents. Two model fluorescent dyes were chosen and dissolved in the oil phase of the nano-emulsions together with PLGA. Nano-emulsions were prepared by the phase inversion composition (PIC) low-energy method. Fluorescent dye-loaded nanoparticles were obtained by solvent evaporation of nano-emulsion templates. PLGA nanoparticles loaded with the fluorescent dyes showed hydrodynamic radii lower than 40nm; markedly lower than those reported in previous studies. The small nanoparticle size was attributed to the nano-emulsification strategy used. PLGA nanoparticles showed negative surface charge and enough stability to be used for biomedical imaging purposes. Encapsulation efficiencies were higher than 99%, which was also attributed to the nano-emulsification approach as well as to the low solubility of the dyes in the aqueous component. Release kinetics of both fluorescent dyes from the nanoparticle dispersions was pH-independent and sustained. These results indicate that the dyes could remain encapsulated enough time to reach any organ and that the decrease of the pH produced during cell internalization by the endocytic route would not affect their release. Therefore, it can be assumed that these nanoparticles are appropriate as systemic imaging agents. In addition, in vitro toxicity tests showed that nanoparticles are non-cytotoxic. Consequently, it can be concluded that the preparation of PLGA nanoparticles from nano-emulsion templating represents a very versatile technology that enables obtaining biocompatible, biodegradable and safe imaging agents suitable for biomedical purposes.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of polymeric enteric nanoparticles as dermal carriers with pH-dependent targeting potential

pH-sensitive nanoparticles which release in a controlled fashion on the skin or dissolve in the hair follicle could significantly improve treatment effectiveness and make transfollicular drug delivery a success. Dexamethasone-loaded Eudragit® L 100 nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation from an organic drug-polymer solution. Their toxicity potential was assessed using isolated human fibroblasts. pH-dependent swelling and erosion kinetics of the nanoparticles were investigated by dynamic light scattering and viscosity measurements and its effect on drug release was assessed in vitro with Franz diffusion cells. Stable, 100-550nm-sized dexamethasone-loaded Eudragit® L 100 nanoparticles with drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency as high as 8.3% and 85%, respectively, were obtained by using polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer and ethanol as organic solvent. The nanoparticles showed little or no toxicity on isolated normal human fibroblasts. Dexamethasone existed in the nanoparticles as solid solution or in amorphous form. The nanoparticles underwent extensive swelling and slow drug release in media with a low buffer capacity (as low as 10mM) and a higher pH or at a pH close to the dissolution pH of the polymer (pH6) and a higher buffer capacity. In 40mM buffer and above pH6.8, the nanoparticles eroded fast or dissolved completely and thus released the drug rapidly. pH-sensitive nanoparticles which potentially release in a controlled manner on the stratum corneum but dissolve in the hair follicle could be prepared.

The Role of Cell-Penetrating Peptide and Transferrin on Enhanced Delivery of Drug to Brain

The challenge of effectively delivering therapeutic agents to brain has led to an entire field of active research devoted to overcome the blood brain barrier (BBB) and efficiently deliver drugs to brain. This review focusses on exploring the facets of a novel platform designed for the delivery of drugs to brain. The platform was constructed based on the hypothesis that a combination of receptor-targeting agent, like transferrin protein, and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) will enhance the delivery of associated therapeutic cargo across the BBB. The combination of these two agents in a delivery vehicle has shown significantly improved (p < 0.05) translocation of small molecules and genes into brain as compared to the vehicle with only receptor-targeting agents. The comprehensive details of the uptake mechanisms and properties of various CPPs are illustrated here. The application of this technology, in conjunction with nanotechnology, can potentially open new horizons for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.

Multivariate analysis for the optimization of polysaccharide-based nanoparticles prepared by self-assembly

Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles are promising carriers for drug delivery applications. The particle size influences the biodistribution of the nanoparticles; hence size distributions and polydispersity index (PDI) are critical characteristics. However, the preparation of stable particles with a low PDI is a challenging task and is usually based on empirical trials. In this study, we report the use of multivariate evaluation to optimize the formulation factors for the preparation of alginate-zinc nanoparticles by ionotropic gelation. The PDI was selected as the response variable. Particle size, size distributions, zeta potential and pH of the samples were also recorded. Two full factorial (mixed-level) designs were analyzed by partial least squares regression (PLS). In the first design, the influence of the polysaccharide and the crosslinker concentrations were studied. The results revealed that size distributions with a low PDI were obtained by using a low polysaccharide concentrations (0.03-0.05%) and a zinc concentration of 0.03% (w/w). However, a high polysaccharide concentration can be advantageous for drug delivery systems. Therefore, in the second design, a high alginate concentration was used (0.09%) and a reduction in the PDI was obtained by simultaneously increasing the ionic strength of the solvent and the zinc concentration. The multivariate analysis also revealed the interaction between the factors in terms of their effects on the PDI; hence, compared to traditional univariate analyses, the multivariate analysis allowed us to obtain a more complete understanding of the effects of the factors scrutinized. In addition, the results are considered useful in order to avoid extensive empirical tests for future formulation studies.

Preparing Allicin Nanocapsules and Determining the Factors Controlling Their Particle Size through Artificial Intelligence

Allicin nanocapsules were prepared via ionotropic pre-gelation. The wall materials were alginate-chitosan biopolymers. Nanocapsules were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). We tried to simulate the effects of three different variables on particle size through artificial intelligence approaches. Feedforward neural networks (FFNN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were employed to model the size of allicin nanocapsules, and the latter was found to be relatively more successful in this regard. Finally, genetic algorithms were employed to determine the optimal values for the variables at which the smallest particles were formed.

Aerosol Delivery of siRNA to the Lungs. Part 2: Nanocarrier-based Delivery Systems

In this article, applications of engineered nanoparticles containing siRNA for inhalation delivery are reviewed and discussed. Diseases with identified protein malfunctions may be mitigated through the use of well-designed siRNA therapeutics. The inhalation route of administration provides local delivery of siRNA therapeutics to the lungs for various pulmonary diseases. A siRNA delivery system can be used to overcome the barriers of pulmonary delivery, such as anatomical barriers, mucociliary clearance, cough clearance, and alveolar macrophage clearance. Apart from naked siRNA aerosol delivery, previously studied siRNA carrier systems include those of lipidic, polymeric, peptide, or inorganic origin. These delivery systems can achieve pulmonary delivery through the generation of an aerosol via an inhaler or nebulizer. The preparation methodologies for these siRNA nanocarrier systems will be discussed herein. The use of inhalable nanocarrier siRNA delivery systems have barriers to their effective delivery, but overcoming these constraints while formulating a safe and effective delivery system will offer unique advances to the field of inhaled medicine.

Nanoparticles and DNA - a powerful and growing functional combination in bionanotechnology

Functionally integrating DNA and other nucleic acids with nanoparticles in all their different physicochemical forms has produced a rich variety of composite nanomaterials which, in many cases, display unique or augmented properties due to the synergistic activity of both components. These capabilities, in turn, are attracting greater attention from various research communities in search of new nanoscale tools for diverse applications that include (bio)sensing, labeling, targeted imaging, cellular delivery, diagnostics, therapeutics, theranostics, bioelectronics, and biocomputing to name just a few amongst many others. Here, we review this vibrant and growing research area from the perspective of the materials themselves and their unique capabilities. Inorganic nanocrystals such as quantum dots or those made from gold or other (noble) metals along with metal oxides and carbon allotropes are desired as participants in these hybrid materials since they can provide distinctive optical, physical, magnetic, and electrochemical properties. Beyond this, synthetic polymer-based and proteinaceous or viral nanoparticulate materials are also useful in the same role since they can provide a predefined and biocompatible cargo-carrying and targeting capability. The DNA component typically provides sequence-based addressability for probes along with, more recently, unique architectural properties that directly originate from the burgeoning structural DNA field. Additionally, DNA aptamers can also provide specific recognition capabilities against many diverse non-nucleic acid targets across a range of size scales from ions to full protein and cells. In addition to appending DNA to inorganic or polymeric nanoparticles, purely DNA-based nanoparticles have recently surfaced as an excellent assembly platform and have started finding application in areas like sensing, imaging and immunotherapy. We focus on selected and representative nanoparticle-DNA materials and highlight their myriad applications using examples from the literature. Overall, it is clear that this unique functional combination of nanomaterials has far more to offer than what we have seen to date and as new capabilities for each of these materials are developed, so, too, will new applications emerge.

Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles made with "mucoadhesive" poly(vinyl alcohol)

Nanoparticles that readily penetrate mucosal layers are desirable for a variety of biomedical applications. Nevertheless, most nanoparticles tend to be immobilized in mucus via steric and/or adhesive interactions. Contrary to the established opinion that poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is mucoadhesive, we discovered that coating otherwise mucoadhesive nanoparticles with certain partially hydrolyzed PVAs can aid particle mobility in mucus. We describe two approaches to producing such mucus-penetrating particles (non-covalent modification of pre-formed nanoparticles and emulsification in the presence of PVA) and provide mobility data in human cervicovaginal mucus ex vivo as measured by multiple particle tracking and bulk permeation. When coated with PVAs that are ≥95% hydrolyzed, nanoparticles as small as ~210nm were immobilized in mucus similarly to well-established mucoadhesive controls (P>0.05). However, nanoparticles coated with PVAs that are <95% hydrolyzed penetrated mucus with velocities significantly exceeding those for the mucoadhesive controls (P<0.001) and were mobile in the bulk permeation assay.

A mesoporous nanocontainer gated by a stimuli-responsive peptide for selective triggering of intracellular drug release

Mesoporous silica nanocontainers (MSNs) with biologically responsive gatekeepers have great potential for effective delivery of cargo molecules to the desired sites. For that purpose, peptides could be effective candidates as gatekeepers because of their bioresponsiveness and targeting capability. Taking advantage of the zinc finger domain peptide (CXXC), we designed a biocompatible all-peptide gatekeeper (WCGKC) with on-off gatekeeping capability through stimulus-responsive conformational conversion and the steric bulkiness of the tryptophan unit. The turn structure induced by an intramolecular disulfide bond of the peptide gatekeeper (WCGKC-SS) completely inhibited the release of the entrapped doxorubicin (DOX). However, upon reduction of the disulfide bond by glutathione (GSH), the peptide conformation was converted to a random structure, which opened the orifice of the mesopore leading to the release of DOX. The amine moiety of the lysine of the peptide gatekeeper was PEGylated to enhance dispersion stability and biocompatibility of the nanocontainer. Furthermore, the MSNs with the peptide gatekeeper (PEG-WCGKC-SS-Si) selectively released the entrapped DOX in A549 human lung cancer cells in a controlled manner triggered by intracellular GSH, but not in CCD normal lung cells containing a low intracellular GSH level. In A549 cells, DOX-loaded PEG-WCGKC-SS-Si exhibited about 10-times higher cytotoxicity induced by apoptosis than that in CCD cells.

Fluorescent Polymer Nanoparticles Based on Dyes: Seeking Brighter Tools for Bioimaging

Speed, resolution and sensitivity of today's fluorescence bioimaging can be drastically improved by fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) that are many-fold brighter than organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. While the field is currently dominated by inorganic NPs, notably quantum dots (QDs), fluorescent polymer NPs encapsulating large quantities of dyes (dye-loaded NPs) have emerged recently as an attractive alternative. These new nanomaterials, inspired from the fields of polymeric drug delivery vehicles and advanced fluorophores, can combine superior brightness with biodegradability and low toxicity. Here, we describe the strategies for synthesis of dye-loaded polymer NPs by emulsion polymerization and assembly of pre-formed polymers. Superior brightness requires strong dye loading without aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Only recently several strategies of dye design were proposed to overcome ACQ in polymer NPs: aggregation induced emission (AIE), dye modification with bulky side groups and use of bulky hydrophobic counterions. The resulting NPs now surpass the brightness of QDs by ≈10-fold for a comparable size, and have started reaching the level of the brightest conjugated polymer NPs. Other properties, notably photostability, color, blinking, as well as particle size and surface chemistry are also systematically analyzed. Finally, major and emerging applications of dye-loaded NPs for in vitro and in vivo imaging are reviewed.

Smart nanogels at the air/water interface: structural studies by neutron reflectivity

The development of effective transdermal drug delivery systems based on nanosized polymers requires a better understanding of the behaviour of such nanomaterials at interfaces. N-Isopropylacrylamide-based nanogels synthesized with different percentages of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker, ranging from 10 to 30%, were characterized at physiological temperature at the air/water interface, using neutron reflectivity (NR), with isotopic contrast variation, and surface tension measurements; this allowed us to resolve the adsorbed amount and the volume fraction of nanogels at the interface. A large conformational change for the nanogels results in strong deformations at the interface. As the percentage of cross-linker incorporated in the nanogels becomes higher, more rigid matrices are obtained, although less deformed, and the amount of adsorbed nanogels is increased. The data provide the first experimental evidence of structural changes of nanogels as a function of the degree of cross-linking at the air/water interface.

Enhancement of anti-inflammatory activity of bromelain by its encapsulation in katira gum nanoparticles

Bromelain-loaded katira gum nanoparticles were synthesized using 3 level optimization process and desirability approach. Nanoparticles of the optimized batch were characterized using particle size analysis, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Investigation of their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity by employing carrageenan induced rat-paw oedema method showed that encapsulation of bromelain in katira gum nanoparticles substantially enhanced its anti-inflammatory potential. This may be attributed to enhanced absorption owing to reduced particle size or to protection of bromelain from acid proteases.

Seaweed Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles: Preparation and Applications for Drug Delivery

In recent years, there have been major advances and increasing amounts of research on the utilization of natural polymeric materials as drug delivery vehicles due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Seaweed polysaccharides are abundant resources and have been extensively studied for several biological, biomedical, and functional food applications. The exploration of seaweed polysaccharides for drug delivery applications is still in its infancy. Alginate, carrageenan, fucoidan, ulvan, and laminarin are polysaccharides commonly isolated from seaweed. These natural polymers can be converted into nanoparticles (NPs) by different types of methods, such as ionic gelation, emulsion, and polyelectrolyte complexing. Ionic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexing are commonly employed by adding cationic molecules to these anionic polymers to produce NPs of a desired shape, size, and charge. In the present review, we have discussed the preparation of seaweed polysaccharide-based NPs using different types of methods as well as their usage as carriers for the delivery of various therapeutic molecules (e.g., proteins, peptides, anti-cancer drugs, and antibiotics). Seaweed polysaccharide-based NPs exhibit suitable particle size, high drug encapsulation, and sustained drug release with high biocompatibility, thereby demonstrating their high potential for safe and efficient drug delivery.

Quantitative Characterization of Mechanical Property of Annealed Monolayer Colloidal Crystal

Quantitative characterization of the mechanical properties of a polystyrene (PS) monolayer colloidal crystal (MCC) annealed with solvent vapor has been performed for the first time by means of atomic force microscopy nanoindentation. The results showed that both the compressive and bending elastic modulus of PS MCC increased with the prolongation of annealing time from initial to 13 min. When the annealing time reached 15 min or even more, the PS MCC almost deformed to a planar film, and the elastic modulus of the PS MCC presented a drastic increase. These results provide a basis for tailoring the mechanical properties of a polymer colloidal monolayer via solvent vapor annealing. Such self-supported and high-mechanical-strength colloidal monolayers can be transferred to other surfaces for potential and promising applications in the bottom-up fabrication of highly ordered nanostructured materials such as nano dot arrays, photonic crystals, and many others.

Novel electrosprayed nanospherules for enhanced aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate

Purpose

The purpose of the present research was to develop a novel electrosprayed nanospherule providing the most optimized aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability for poorly water-soluble fenofibrate.

Methods

Numerous fenofibrate-loaded electrosprayed nanospherules were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Labrafil^® M 2125 as carriers using the electrospray technique, and the effect of the carriers on drug solubility and solvation was assessed. The solid state characterization of an optimized formulation was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Oral bioavailability in rats was also evaluated for the formulation of an optimized nanospherule in comparison with free drug and a conventional fenofibrate-loaded solid dispersion.

Results

All of the electrosprayed nanospherule formulations had remarkably enhanced aqueous solubility and dissolution compared with free drug. Moreover, Labrafil M 2125, a surfactant, had a positive influence on the solubility and dissolution of the drug in the electrosprayed nanospherule. Increases were observed as the PVP/drug ratio increased to 4:1, but higher ratios gave no significant increases. In particular, an electrosprayed nanospherule composed of fenofibrate, PVP, and Labrafil M 2125 at the weight ratio of 1:4:0.5 resulted in a particle size of <200 nm with the drug present in the amorphous state. It demonstrated the highest solubility (32.51±2.41 μg/mL), an excellent dissolution (~85% in 10 minutes), and an oral bioavailability ~2.5-fold better than that of the free drug. It showed similar oral bioavailability compared to the conventional solid dispersion.

Conclusion

Electrosprayed nanospherules, which provide improved solubility and bioavailability, are promising drug delivery tools for oral administration of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate.

Self-assembled Micelle Loading Cabazitaxel for therapy of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, chemotherapy has improved overall survival but remains limited at <12 months median overall survival. Cabazitaxel is hopeful to do the same in advanced lung cancer as well as in metastatic prostate cancer. However, its clinical application was restricted due to its high hydrophobicity and severe side effects. To overcome these problems, we developed self-assembled micelle loading cabazitaxel (CBZ-PM) for therapy of lung cancer. The CBZ-PM has high drug loading (10.52%) and encapsulation efficiency (99.30%) with particle size of 28.77 ± 0.52 nm and polydisperse index of 0.114 ± 0.012. The transmission electron microscope image presented its spherical and homogeneous appearance. In vitro release profile showed CBZ-PM has a sustained-release behavior. Furthermore, the result of cell proliferation assays proved that CBZ-PM could induce the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells death through G2/M arrest more effectively than free CBZ. In vivo anti-tumor activity of CBZ-PM was further studied in mice model of LLC. The tumor inhibitory rate of CBZ-PM was more than 50% and the survival time of LLC bearing mice was efficiently prolonged following administration of CBZ-PM. In addition, the immunohistochemical study showed that more apoptosis cells were detected in the tumor tissue of CBZ-PM group than that of the positive control group. All these indicated that CBZ-PM served as a potential anti-lung cancer agent.

Formation of pH-responsive drug-delivery systems by electrospinning of vesicle-templated nanocapsule solutions

A novel nanofibrous membrane, which contains chitosan/sodium alginate nanocapsules constructed by vesicle systems, has been fabricated via an electrospinning process as a drug-delivery system.

Biodegradable polymeric nanostructures in therapeutic applications: opportunities and challenges

Biodegradable polymeric nanostructures (BPNs) have shown great promise in different therapeutic applications such as diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, cosmetics, organ implants, and tissue engineering.

Preparation of chitosan nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation and their ability as a drug nanocarrier

This study was aimed to understand the physical processes underlying nanoprecipitation of chitosan, their influence on the characteristics of nanoparticles and to assess their capacity as drug nanocarrier.

Synthesis and structure of ruthenium-fullerides

We report a simple and original procedure for preparing Ru–C₆₀ polymeric chains, which spontaneously self-assemble as polymeric spherical particles, and can be surface decorated with Ru nanoparticles.

Electrolytes as a tuning parameter to control nano-emulsion and nanoparticle size

Schematic representation of the effect of the electrolytes addition in the aqueous phase of the NE on NE droplet size.

Dendronized PLGA nanoparticles with anionic carbosilane dendrons as antiviral agents against HIV infection

PLGA nanoparticles functionalized with carbosilane anionic dendrons have been prepared. The biocompatibility and HIV activity have been explored in PBMC and HEC-1A cells. The results indicate that these systems are powerful anti-HIV agents.

Nanotechnology Approaches for the Delivery of Exogenous siRNA for HIV Therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) is triggered by oligonucleotides that are about 21-23 nucleotides long and are capable of inducing the destruction of complementary mRNA. The RNAi technique has been successfully utilized to target HIV replication; however, the main limitation to the successful utilization of this technique in vivo is the inability of naked siRNA to cross the cell membrane by diffusion due to its strong anionic charge and large molecular weight. This review describes current nonviral nanotechnological approaches to deliver anti-HIV siRNAs for the treatment of HIV infection.