Recent applications of PLGA based nanostructures in drug delivery

Nanomaterials-mediated lysosomal regulation: a robust protein-clearance approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive accumulation of abnormal proteins, including amyloid plaques and intracellular tau tangles, primarily within the brain. Lysosomes, crucial intracellular organelles responsible for protein degradation, play a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Some studies have suggested a link between the dysregulation of the lysosomal system and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Restoring the normal physiological function of lysosomes hold the potential to reduce the pathological burden and improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, the efficacy of drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease is limited, with major challenges in drug delivery efficiency and targeting. Recently, nanomaterials have gained widespread use in Alzheimer's disease drug research owing to their favorable physical and chemical properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in using nanomaterials (polymeric nanomaterials, nanoemulsions, and carbon-based nanomaterials) to enhance lysosomal function in treating Alzheimer's disease. This review also explores new concepts and potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease through the integration of nanomaterials and modulation of lysosomal function. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the potential of nanomaterials in modulating lysosomal function to improve the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. The application of nanotechnology to the development of Alzheimer's disease drugs brings new ideas and approaches for future treatment of this disease.

Protective efficacy of Eimeria maxima EmLPL and EmTregIM-1 against homologous challenge in chickens

Chicken coccidiosis has inflicted significant economic losses upon the poultry industry. The primary strategies for preventing and controlling chicken coccidiosis include anticoccidial drugs and vaccination. However, these approaches face limitations, such as drug residues and resistance associated with anticoccidial drugs, and safety concerns related to live vaccines. Consequently, the urgent development of innovative vaccines, such as subunit vaccines, is imperative. In previous study, we screened 2 candidate antigens: Eimeria maxima lysophospholipase (EmLPL) and E. maxima regulatory T cell inducing molecule 1 (EmTregIM-1). To investigate the immune protective effect of the 2 candidate antigens against Eimeria maxima (E. maxima) infection, we constructed recombinant plasmids, namely pET-28a-EmLPL and pET-28a-EmTregIM-1, proceeded to induce the expression of recombinant proteins of EmLPL (rEmLPL) and EmTregIM-1 (rEmTregIM-1). The immunogenic properties of these proteins were confirmed through western blot analysis. Targeting EmLPL and EmTregIM-1, we developed subunit vaccines and encapsulated them in PLGA nanoparticles, resulting in nano-vaccines: PLGA-rEmLPL and PLGA-rEmTregIM-1. The efficacy of these vaccines was assessed through animal protection experiments. The results demonstrated that rEmLPL and rEmTregIM-1 were successfully recognized by anti-E. maxima chicken sera and His-conjugated mouse monoclonal antibodies. Immunization with both subunit and nano-vaccines containing EmLPL and EmTregIM-1 markedly mitigated weight loss and reduced oocyst shedding in chickens infected with E. maxima. Furthermore, the anticoccidial indexes (ACI) for both rEmLPL and PLGA-rEmLPL exceeded 160, whereas those for rEmTregIM-1 and PLGA-rEmTregIM-1 were above 120 but did not reach 160, indicating superior protective efficacy of the rEmLPL and PLGA-rEmLPL formulations. By contrast, the protection afforded by rEmTregIM-1 and PLGA-rEmTregIM-1 was comparatively lower. Thus, EmLPL is identified as a promising candidate antigen for vaccine development against E. maxima infection.

Platelet membrane encapsulated curcumin nanomaterial-mediated specific thrombolysis and anti-thrombotic treatment among pregnant women

The current treatment for venous thrombosis during pregnancy is ineffective, primarily, due to the unique physiology of pregnant women. Most clinical medications have fetal side effects when they circulate in the body. We first synthesized nanomaterials (Cur-PFP@PC) using poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) as the base material, with curcumin (Cur) and perfluoropentane (PFP) as core components. Subsequently, we encapsulated Cur-PFP@PC into the platelet membrane to synthesize P-Cur-PFP@PC. Under ultrasound guidance, in combination with low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), PFP underwent a phase change, resulting in thrombolysis. The generated microbubbles enhanced the signal impact of ultrasound, and P-Cur-PFP@PC showed better performance than Cur-PFP@PC. P-Cur-PFP@PC can target thrombosis treatment, achieve visually and precisely controlled drug release, and repair damaged blood vessels, thus avoiding the adverse effects associated with traditional long-term drug administration.

Effect of Polymer and Cell Membrane Coatings on Theranostic Applications of Nanoparticles: A Review

The recent decade has witnessed a remarkable surge in the field of nanoparticles, from their synthesis, characterization, and functionalization to diverse applications. At the nanoscale, these particles exhibit distinct physicochemical properties compared to their bulk counterparts, enabling a multitude of applications spanning energy, catalysis, environmental remediation, biomedicine, and beyond. This review focuses on specific nanoparticle categories, including magnetic, gold, silver, and quantum dots (QDs), as well as hybrid variants, specifically tailored for biomedical applications. A comprehensive review and comparison of prevalent chemical, physical, and biological synthesis methods are presented. To enhance biocompatibility and colloidal stability, and facilitate surface modification and cargo/agent loading, nanoparticle surfaces are coated with different synthetic polymers and very recently, cell membrane coatings. The utilization of polymer- or cell membrane-coated nanoparticles opens a wide variety of biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia, photothermia, sample enrichment, bioassays, drug delivery, etc. With this review, the goal is to provide a comprehensive toolbox of insights into polymer or cell membrane-coated nanoparticles and their biomedical applications, while also addressing the challenges involved in translating such nanoparticles from laboratory benchtops to in vitro and in vivo applications. Furthermore, perspectives on future trends and developments in this rapidly evolving domain are provided.

Revolutionizing agriculture with nanotechnology: Innovative approaches in fungal disease management and plant health monitoring

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative force in modern agriculture, offering innovative solutions to address challenges related to fungal plant diseases and overall agricultural productivity. Specifically, the antifungal activities of metal, metal oxide, bio-nanoparticles, and polymer nanoparticles were examined, highlighting their unique mechanisms of action against fungal pathogens. Nanoparticles can be used as carriers for fungicides, offering advantages in controlled release, targeted delivery, and reduced environmental toxicity. Nano-pesticides and nano-fertilizers can enhance nutrient uptake, plant health, and disease resistance were explored. The development of nanosensors, especially those utilizing quantum dots and plasmonic nanoparticles, promises early and accurate detection of fungal pathogens, a crucial step in timely disease management. However, concerns about their potential toxic effects on non-target organisms, environmental impacts, and regulatory hurdles underscore the importance of rigorous research and impact assessments. The review concludes by emphasizing the significant prospects of nanotechnology in reshaping the future of agriculture but advocates for a balanced approach that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

Recent advances in hepatocellular carcinoma-targeted nanoparticles

In the field of medicine, we often brave the unknown like interstellar explorers, especially when confronting the formidable opponent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The global burden of HCC remains significant, with suboptimal treatment outcomes necessitating the urgent development of novel drugs and treatments. While various treatments for liver cancer, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy, have emerged in recent years, improving their transport and therapeutic efficiency, controlling their targeting and release, and mitigating their adverse effects remains challenging. However, just as we grope through the darkness, a glimmer of light emerges-nanotechnology. Recently, nanotechnology has attracted attention because it can increase the local drug concentration in tumors, reduce systemic toxicity, and has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of precision therapy for HCC. However, there are also some challenges hindering the clinical translation of drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs). Just as interstellar explorers must overcome interstellar dust, we too must overcome various obstacles. In future researches, the design and development of nanodelivery systems for novel drugs treating HCC should be the first attention. Moreover, researchers should focus on the active targeting design of various NPs. The combination of the interventional therapies and drug-loaded NPs will greatly advance the process of precision HCC therapy.

Advances in Nano-Functional Materials in Targeted Thrombolytic Drug Delivery

Thrombotic disease has been listed as the third most fatal vascular disease in the world. After decades of development, clinical thrombolytic drugs still cannot avoid the occurrence of adverse reactions such as bleeding. A number of studies have shown that the application of various nano-functional materials in thrombus-targeted drug delivery, combined with external stimuli, such as magnetic, near-infrared light, ultrasound, etc., enrich the drugs in the thrombus site and use the properties of nano-functional materials for collaborative thrombolysis, which can effectively reduce adverse reactions such as bleeding and improve thrombolysis efficiency. In this paper, the research progress of organic nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and biomimetic nanomaterials for drug delivery is briefly reviewed.

Expanding the Potential of Neoantigen Vaccines: Harnessing Bacille Calmette-Guérin Cell-Wall-Based Nanoscale Adjuvants for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy

Personalized antitumor immunotherapy utilizing neoantigen vaccines holds great promise. However, the limited immunogenicity of existing recognized neoantigens and the inadequate stimulation of antitumor immune responses by conventional adjuvants pose significant challenges. To address these limitations, we developed a nanovaccine that combines a BCG bacterial cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) based nanoscale adjuvant (BCNA) with peptide neoantigens (M27 and M30). This integrated approach provides an efficient translational strategy for cancer immunotherapy. The BCNA nanovaccine, formulated with PLGA as an emulsifier, exhibits excellent biocompatibility and superior antigen presentation compared with conventional BCG-CWS adjuvants. Subcutaneous immunization with the BCNA-based nanovaccine effectively targets lymph nodes, eliciting robust innate and tumor-specific immune responses. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that BCNAs significantly enhance neoantigen immunogenicity while minimizing acute systemic toxicity. Furthermore, when combined with a mouse PD-L1 antibody, our strategy achieves complete tumor elimination in 60% of cases and prevents 25% of tumor growth in a melanoma mouse model. In conclusion, our BCNA-based nanovaccine represents a promising avenue for advancing personalized therapeutic neoantigen vaccines and holds significant implications for enhancing personalized immunotherapy and improving patient outcomes in the field of cancer treatment.

Development and Evaluation of a Water-Free In Situ Depot Gel Formulation for Long-Acting and Stable Delivery of Peptide Drug ACTY116

In situ depot gel is a type of polymeric long-acting injectable (pLAI) drug delivery system; compared to microsphere technology, its preparation process is simpler and more conducive to industrialization. To ensure the chemical stability of peptide ACTY116, we avoided the use of harsh conditions such as high temperatures, high shear mixing, or homogenization; maintaining a water-free and oxygen-free environment was also critical to prevent hydrolysis and oxidation. Molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations were employed to assess the stability mechanism between ACTY116 and the pLAI system. The initial structure of ACTY116 with an alpha helix conformation was constructed using SYBYL-X, and the copolymer PLGA was generated by AMBER 16; results showed that PLGA-based in situ depot gel improved conformational stability of ACTY116 through hydrogen bonds formed between peptide ACTY116 and the components of the pLAI formulation, while PLGA (Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)) also created steric hindrance and shielding effects to prevent conformational changes. As a result, the chemical and conformational stability and in vivo long-acting characteristics of ACTY116 ensure its enhanced efficacy. In summary, we successfully achieved our objective of developing a highly stable peptide-loaded long-acting injectable (LAI) in situ depot gel formulation that is stable for at least 3 months under harsh conditions (40 °C, above body temperature), elucidating the underlying stabilisation mechanism, and the high stability of the ACTY116 pLAI formulation creates favourable conditions for its in vivo pharmacological activity lasting for weeks or even months.

Self-Assembled PLGA-Pluronic F127 Microsphere for Sustained Drug Release for Osteoarthritis

For many years, sustained-release drug delivery systems (SRDDS) have emerged as a featured topic in the pharmaceutical field. Particularly for chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, there is a lot of demand for SRDDS because of the long treatment period and repetitive medication administration. Thus, we developed an injectable PLGA-F127 microsphere (MS) that is capable of the in situ conversion to an implant. The microprecipitation method for PLGA-F127 MS was established, and the physicochemical stability of the products was confirmed. The microspheres were assembled into a single mass in 37 °C aqueous conditions and showed a remarkably delayed drug release profile. First, the release started with no significant initial burst and lagged for 60 days. After that, in the next 40 days, the remaining 75% of the drugs were constantly released until day 105. We expect that our PLGA-F127 MS could be employed to extend the release period of 2 months of medication to 4 months. This could be a valuable solution for developing novel SRDDS for local injections.

Recent progress on polySarcosine as an alternative to PEGylation: Synthesis and biomedical applications

Biotherapeutic PEGylation to prolong action of medications has gained popularity over the last decades. Various hydrophilic natural polymers have been developed to tackle the drawbacks of PEGylation, such as its accelerated blood clearance and non-biodegradability. Polypeptoides, such as polysarcosine (pSar), have been explored as hydrophilic substitutes for PEG. pSar has PEG-like physicochemical characteristics such as water solubility and no reported cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. This review discusses pSar derivatives, synthesis, characterization approaches, biomedical applications, in addition to the challenges and future perspectives of pSar based biomaterials as an alternative to PEG.

The Effect of Different Factors on Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticle Properties and Drug Release Behaviors When Co-Loaded with Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) are versatile drug nanocarriers with a wide spectrum of applications owing to their extensive advantages, including biodegradability, non-toxic side effects, and low immunogenicity. Among the numerous nanoparticle preparation methods available for PLGA NPs (the hydrophobic polymer), one of the most extensively utilized preparations is the sonicated-emulsified solvent evaporation method, owing to its simplicity, speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, several factors can influence the outcomes, such as the types of concentration of the surfactants and organic solvents, as well as the volume of the aqueous phase. The objective of this article is to explore the influence of these factors on the properties of PLGA NPs and their drug release behavior following encapsulation. Herein, PLGA NPs were fabricated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a surfactant to investigate the impact of influencing factors, including different water-soluble organic solvents such as propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl acetate (PA), and dichloromethane (DCM). Notably, the size of PLGA NPs was smaller in the EA group compared to that in the DCM group. Moreover, PLGA NPs showed excellent stability, ascribed to the presence of the BSA surfactant. Furthermore, PLGA NPs were co-loaded with varying concentrations of hydrophilic drugs (doxorubicin hydrochloride) and hydrophobic drugs (celecoxib), and exhibited pH-sensitive drug release behavior in PBS with pH 7.4 and pH 5.5.

Biologically Self-Assembled Tumor Cell-Derived Cancer Nanovaccines as an All-in-One Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumor cell-derived cancer nanovaccines introduce tumor cell-derived components as functional units that endow the nanovaccine systems with some advantages, especially providing all potential tumor antigens. However, cumbersome assembly steps, potential risks of exogenous adjuvants, as well as insufficient lymph node (LN) targeting and dendritic cell (DC) internalization limit the efficacy and clinical translation of existing tumor cell-derived cancer nanovaccines. Herein, we introduced an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer α-mangostin (αM) into tumor cells through poly(d, l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles and harvested biologically self-assembled tumor cell-derived cancer nanovaccines (αM-Exos) based on the biological process of tumor cell exocytosing nanoparticles through tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs). Besides presenting multiple potential antigens, αM-Exos inherited abundant 70 kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70s) upregulated by ER stress, which can not only act as endogenous adjuvants but also improve LN targeting and DC internalization. Following subcutaneous injection, αM-Exos efficiently migrated to LNs and was expeditiously endocytosed by DCs, delivering tumor antigens and adjuvants to DCs synchronously, which then powerfully triggered antitumor immune responses and established long-term immune memory. Our study exhibited an all-in-one biologically self-assembled tumor cell-derived cancer nanovaccine platform, and the fully featured cancer nanovaccines assembled efficiently through this platform are promising for desirable cancer immunotherapy.

The Development of a Stable Peptide-Loaded Long-Acting Injection Formulation through a Comprehensive Understanding of Peptide Degradation Mechanisms: A QbD-Based Approach

Quality by design (QbD) serves as a systematic approach to pharmaceutical development, beginning with predefined objectives and emphasizing an understanding of the product based on sound science and risk management. The purpose of this study is to utilize the QbD concept to develop a stable peptide-loaded long-acting injection formulation. An in-depth comprehension of peptide degradation mechanisms was achieved through forced degradation investigations, elucidating (acid) hydrolysis and oxidation as the primary degradation pathways for the peptide ACTY116. The quality built into the product was focused on risk assessment, for which the critical material attributes (CMAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs) associated with the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of each formulation were identified, leading to the development of the corresponding control strategies. CQAs for three LAI (long-acting injectable) formulations were enhanced by taking the right control strategies. The LAI formulation exhibiting the highest stability for ACTY116 was chosen for subsequent pharmacokinetic investigations in rats. The objective of addressing peptide chemical instability and in vivo long-acting release was achieved. For other molecules with susceptible functionalities like amide bonds, amino groups, and hydroxyl groups, the utilization of PLGA-based in situ gel as an LAI formulation for stabilizing molecules provides valuable insights.

An Overview of Polymeric Nanoplatforms to Deliver Veterinary Antimicrobials

There is an urgent need to find new solutions for the global dilemma of increasing antibiotic resistance in humans and animals. Modifying the performance of existing antibiotics using the nanocarrier drug delivery system (DDS) is a good option considering economic costs, labor costs, and time investment compared to the development of new antibiotics. Numerous studies on nanomedicine carriers that can be used for humans are available in the literature, but relatively few studies have been reported specifically for veterinary pharmaceutical products. Polymer-based nano-DDS are becoming a research hotspot in the pharmaceutical industry owing to their advantages, such as stability and modifiability. This review presents current research progress on polymer-based nanodelivery systems for veterinary antimicrobial drugs, focusing on the role of polymeric materials in enhancing drug performance. The use of polymer-based nanoformulations improves treatment compliance in livestock and companion animals, thereby reducing the workload of managers. Although promising advances have been made, many obstacles remain to be addressed before nanoformulations can be used in a clinical setting. Some crucial issues currently facing this field, including toxicity, quality control, and mass production, are discussed in this review. With the continuous optimization of nanotechnology, polymer-based DDS has shown its potential in reducing antibiotic resistance to veterinary medicines.

Nanoparticles targeting the intestinal Fc receptor enhance intestinal cellular trafficking of semaglutide

Semaglutide is the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog commercially available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this work, semaglutide was incorporated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) to improve its delivery across the intestinal barrier. The nanocarriers were surface-decorated with either a peptide or an affibody that target the human neonatal Fc receptor (hFcRn), located on the luminal cell surface of the enterocytes. Both ligands were successfully conjugated with the PLGA-PEG via maleimide-thiol chemistry and thereafter, the functionalized polymers were used to produce semaglutide-loaded NPs. Monodisperse NPs with an average size of 170 nm, neutral surface charge and 3% of semaglutide loading were obtained. Both FcRn-targeted NPs exhibited improved interaction and association with Caco-2 cells (cells that endogenously express the hFcRn), compared to non-targeted NPs. Additionally, the uptake of FcRn-targeted NPs was also observed to occur in human intestinal organoids (HIOs) expressing hFcRn through microinjection into the lumen of HIOs, resulting in potential increase of semaglutide permeability for both ligand-functionalized nanocarriers. Herein, our study demonstrates valuable data and insights that the FcRn-targeted NPs has the capacity to promote intestinal absorption of therapeutic peptides.

Coatings for Cardiovascular Stents-An Up-to-Date Review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increasingly burden health systems and patients worldwide, necessitating the improved awareness of current treatment possibilities and the development of more efficient therapeutic strategies. When plaque deposits narrow the arteries, the standard of care implies the insertion of a stent at the lesion site. The most promising development in cardiovascular stents has been the release of medications from these stents. However, the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) is still challenged by in-stent restenosis occurrence. DESs' long-term clinical success depends on several parameters, including the degradability of the polymers, drug release profiles, stent platforms, coating polymers, and the metals and their alloys that are employed as metal frames in the stents. Thus, it is critical to investigate new approaches to optimize the most suitable DESs to solve problems with the inflammatory response, delayed endothelialization, and sub-acute stent thrombosis. As certain advancements have been reported in the literature, this review aims to present the latest updates in the coatings field for cardiovascular stents. Specifically, there are described various organic (e.g., synthetic and natural polymer-based coatings, stents coated directly with drugs, and coatings containing endothelial cells) and inorganic (e.g., metallic and nonmetallic materials) stent coating options, aiming to create an updated framework that would serve as an inception point for future research.

Characterization of Dye-Loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Combining Hydrodynamic and Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

Analytical methods for the assessment of drug-delivery systems (DDSs) are commonly suitable for characterizing individual DDS properties, but do not allow determination of several properties simultaneously. A comprehensive online two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) system was developed that is aimed to be capable of characterizing both nanoparticle size and encapsulated cargo over the particle size distribution of a DDS by using one integrated method. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with encapsulated hydrophobic dyes were used as model DDSs. Hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) was used in the first dimension to separate the intact NPs and to determine the particle size distribution. Fractions from the first dimension were taken comprehensively and disassembled online by the addition of an organic solvent, thereby releasing the encapsulated cargo. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) was used as a second dimension to separate the released dyes. Conditions were optimized to ensure the complete disassembly of the NPs and the dissolution of the dyes during the solvent modulation step. Subsequently, stationary-phase-assisted modulation (SPAM) was applied for trapping and preconcentration of the analytes, thereby minimizing the risk of analyte precipitation or breakthrough. The developed HDC × RPLC method allows for the characterization of encapsulated cargo as a function of intact nanoparticle size and shows potential for the analysis of API stability.

Fabrication and characterization of metformin-loaded PLGA/Collagen nanofibers for modulation of macrophage polarization for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

In tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine, the accessibility of engineered scaffolds that modulate inflammatory states is extremely necessary. The aim of the current work was to assess the efficacy of metformin (MET) incorporated in PLGA/Collagen nanofibers (Met-PLGA/Col NFs) to modulate RAW264.7 macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory status (M1) to anti-inflammatory status (M2). Given this, MET-PLGA/Col NFs were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Structural characterization such as morphology, chemical and mechanical properties, and drug discharge pattern were assessed. MTT assay test exposed that MET-PLGA/Col NFs remarkably had increased cell survival in comparison with pure PLGA/Collagen NFs and control (p < 0.05) 72 h after incubation. Based on the qPCR assay, a reduction in the expression of iNOS-2 and SOCS3 was found in the cells seeded on MET-PLGA/Col NFs, demonstrating the substantial modulation of the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype. Moreover, it was determined a main decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediator's expression but the growth factors amount related to anti-inflammatory M2 were meaningfully upregulated. Finally, MET-PLGA/Col NFs possibly will ensure a beneficial potential for effective variation of the macrophage response from an inflammatory phase (M1) to a pro-regenerative (M2) phase.

Recent Advances of Multifunctional PLGA Nanocarriers in the Management of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Even though chemotherapy stands as a standard option in the therapy of TNBC, problems associated with it such as anemia, bone marrow suppression, immune suppression, toxic effects on healthy cells, and multi-drug resistance (MDR) can compromise their effects. Nanoparticles gained paramount importance in overcoming the limitations of conventional chemotherapy. Among the various options, nanotechnology has appeared as a promising path in preclinical and clinical studies for early diagnosis of primary tumors and metastases and destroying tumor cells. PLGA has been extensively studied amongst various materials used for the preparation of nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery and adjuvant therapy because of their capability of higher encapsulation, easy surface functionalization, increased stability, protection of drugs from degradation versatility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Furthermore, this review also provides an overview of PLGA-based nanoparticles including hybrid nanoparticles such as the inorganic PLGA nanoparticles, lipid-coated PLGA nanoparticles, cell membrane-coated PLGA nanoparticles, hydrogels, exosomes, and nanofibers. The effects of all these systems in various in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC were explained thus pointing PLGA-based NPs as a strategy for the management of TNBC.

Nanocarriers for gene delivery to the cardiovascular system

Cardiovascular diseases have posed a great threat to human health. Fortunately, gene therapy holds great promise in the fight against cardiovascular disease (CVD). In gene therapy, it is necessary to select the appropriate carriers to deliver the genes to the target cells of the target organs. There are usually two types of carriers, viral carriers and non-viral carriers. However, problems such as high immunogenicity, inflammatory response, and limited loading capacity have arisen with the use of viral carriers. Therefore, scholars turned their attention to non-viral carriers. Among them, nanocarriers are highly valued because of their easy modification, targeting, and low toxicity. Despite the many successes of gene therapy in the treatment of human diseases, it is worth noting that there are still many problems to be solved in the field of gene therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we give a brief introduction to the common nanocarriers and several common cardiovascular diseases (arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, myocardial hypertrophy). On this basis, the application of gene delivery nanocarriers in the treatment of these diseases is introduced in detail.

EGFR-targeting peptide conjugated polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles for delivery of salinomycin to osteosarcoma

CONTEXT

Salinomycin (SAL) is a chemotherapeutic drug with anti-osteosarcoma efficacy, but its hydrophobic properties have hindered its application. Nanoparticles have been widely used as drug carriers to improve the solubility of hydrophobic drugs. The dodecapeptide GE11 has been shown to have great binding affinity to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is highly overexpressed in osteosarcoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We designed novel SAL-loaded GE11-conjugated polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (GE11-NPs-SAL) to target osteosarcoma. The characterization and antitumor activity of GE11-NPs-SAL were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

The results showed that GE11-NPs-SAL had a size of ~100 nm with a high encapsulation efficacy of ~80%. Compared with the non-targeted nanoparticles, GE11-NPs-SAL showed increased internalization in osteosarcoma cells and improved therapeutic efficacy in osteosarcoma both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

GE11-NPs-SAL is a promising treatment for osteosarcoma.

Immunomodulatory nano-preparations for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease (AD) caused by the aberrant attack of the immune system on its own joint tissues. Genetic and environmental factors are the main reasons of immune system impairment and high incidence of RA. Although there are medications on the market that lessen disease activity, there is no known cure for RA, and patients are at risk in varying degrees of systemic immunosuppression. By transporting (encapsulating or surface binding) RA-related self-antigens, nucleic acids, immunomodulators, or cytokines, tolerogenic nanoparticles-also known as immunomodulatory nano-preparations-have the potential to gently regulate local immune responses and ultimately induce antigen-specific immune tolerance. We review the recent advances in immunomodulatory nano-preparations for delivering self-antigen or self-antigen plus immunomodulator, simulating apoptotic cell avatars in vivo, acting as artificial antigen-presenting cells, and based on scaffolds and gels, to provide a reference for developing new immunotherapies for RA.

3D collagen porous scaffold carrying PLGA-PTX/SDF-1α recruits and promotes neural stem cell differentiation for spinal cord injury repair

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), one of the major factors of disability, can cause irreversible motor and sensory impairment. There are no effective therapeutic drugs and technologies available in domestic or foreign countries currently. Neural stem cells (NSCs), with the potential for multidirectional differentiation, are a potential treatment for SCI. However, it has been demonstrated that NSCs primarily differentiated into astrocytes rather than neurons due to the inflammatory microenvironment, and the current challenge remains to direct the differentiation of NSCs into neurons in the lesion site. It was reported that the microtubule-stabilizing agent paclitaxel (PTX) was able to promote the differentiation of NSCs into neurons rather than astrocytes after SCI. SDF-1α can recruit NSCs and thus guide the migration of stem cells. In this study, we developed a functional collagen scaffold by loading SDF-1α and nanoparticle-encapsulated PLGA-PTX into a 3D collagen porous scaffold, allowing for slow release of PTX. When the functional scaffolds were implanted into the injury site, it provided a neural regeneration conduit channel for the migration of NSCs and neuronal differentiation. Neural regeneration promoted the recovery of motor function and reduced glial scar formation after SCI. In conclusion, a 3D collagen porous scaffold combined with PLGA-PTX and SDF-1α is a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI repair.

Advances in Peptide-Decorated Targeted Drug Delivery: Exploring Therapeutic Potential and Nanocarrier Strategies

Peptides are ideal biologicals for targeted drug delivery and have also been increasingly employed as theranostic tools in treating various diseases, including cancer, with minimal or no side effects. Owing to their receptor-specificity, peptide-mediated drug delivery aids in targeted drug delivery with better pharmacological biodistribution. Nanostructured self-assembled peptides and peptide-drug conjugates demonstrate enhanced stability and performance and captivating biological effects in comparison with conventional peptides. Moreover, they serve as valuable tools for establishing interfaces between drug carriers and biological systems, enabling the traversal of multiple biological barriers encountered by peptide-drug conjugates on their journeys to their intended targets. Peptide-based drugs play a pivotal role in the field of medicine and hold great promise for addressing a wide range of complex diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Nanotechnology has revolutionized the fields of medicine, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and engineering sciences over the past two decades. With the help of nanotechnology, better delivery of peptides to the target site could be achieved by exploiting the small size, increased surface area, and passive targeting ability of the nanocarrier. Furthermore, nanocarriers also ensure safe delivery of the peptide moieties to the target site, protecting them from degradation. Nanobased peptide delivery systems would be of significant importance in the near future for the successful targeted and efficient delivery of peptides. This review focuses on peptide-drug conjugates and nanoparticle-mediated self-assembled peptide delivery systems in cancer therapeutics.

In Vitro/In Vivo Preparation and Evaluation of cRGDyK Peptide-Modified Polydopamine-Bridged Paclitaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles

Cancer remains a disease with one of the highest mortality rates worldwide. The poor water solubility and tissue selectivity of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents contribute to their poor efficacy and serious adverse effects. This study proposes an alternative to the traditional physicochemically combined modifications used to develop targeted drug delivery systems, involving a simpler surface modification strategy. cRGDyK peptide (RGD)-modified PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with paclitaxel were constructed by coating the NP surfaces with polydopamine (PD). The average particle size of the produced NPs was 137.6 ± 2.9 nm, with an encapsulation rate of over 80%. In vitro release tests showed that the NPs had pH-responsive drug release properties. Cellular uptake experiments showed that the uptake of modified NPs by tumor cells was significantly better than that of unmodified NPs. A tumor cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the modified NPs had a lower IC50 and greater cytotoxicity than those of unmodified NPs and commercially available paclitaxel formulations. An in vitro cytotoxicity study indicated good biosafety. A tumor model in female BALB/c rats was established using murine-derived breast cancer 4T1 cells. RGD-modified NPs had the highest tumor-weight suppression rate, which was higher than that of the commercially available formulation. PTX-PD-RGD-NPs can overcome the limitations of antitumor drugs, reduce drug toxicity, and increase efficacy, showing promising potential in cancer therapy.

Anti-Adhesive Resorbable Indomethacin/Bupivacaine-Eluting Nanofibers for Tendon Rupture Repair: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The treatment and surgical repair of torn Achilles tendons seldom return the wounded tendon to its original elasticity and stiffness. This study explored the in vitro and in vivo simultaneous release of indomethacin and bupivacaine from electrospun polylactide-polyglycolide composite membranes for their capacity to repair torn Achilles tendons. These membranes were fabricated by mixing polylactide-polyglycolide/indomethacin, polylactide-polyglycolide/collagen, and polylactide-polyglycolide/bupivacaine with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol into sandwich-structured composites. Subsequently, the in vitro pharmaceutic release rates over 30 days were determined, and the in vivo release behavior and effectiveness of the loaded drugs were assessed using an animal surgical model. High concentrations of indomethacin and bupivacaine were released for over four weeks. The released pharmaceutics resulted in complete recovery of rat tendons, and the nanofibrous composite membranes exhibited exceptional mechanical strength. Additionally, the anti-adhesion capacity of the developed membrane was confirmed. Using the electrospinning technique developed in this study, we plan on manufacturing degradable composite membranes for tendon healing, which can deliver sustained pharmaceutical release and provide a collagenous habitat.

miRNA-Based Technologies in Cancer Therapy

The discovery of therapeutic miRNAs is one of the most exciting challenges for pharmaceutical companies. Since the first miRNA was discovered in 1993, our knowledge of miRNA biology has grown considerably. Many studies have demonstrated that miRNA expression is dysregulated in many diseases, making them appealing tools for novel therapeutic approaches. This review aims to discuss miRNA biogenesis and function, as well as highlight strategies for delivering miRNA agents, presenting viral, non-viral, and exosomic delivery as therapeutic approaches for different cancer types. We also consider the therapeutic role of microRNA-mediated drug repurposing in cancer therapy.

Influence of drug molecular weight on self-assembly and intestinal permeation of polymer-based nanocarriers

For oral delivery, the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers are decisive factors for permeation through the intestinal epithelium. These properties are determined by the composition of the nanocarriers as well as by the process parameters during their self-assembly. For macromolecular drugs, there is still little understanding of the drug-polymer interactions during nanocarrier self-assembly and the effects on carrier properties. In this study, the effect of drug molecular weight on nanocarrier self-assembly, physicochemical properties of nanocarriers as well as their permeation across the intestinal epithelium was investigated. Our results show that the drug molecular weight impacts the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers. Further, the physicochemical properties of the nanocarriers, governed by the molecular weight of the drug, determine their permeation properties across the intestinal epithelium. Comparative in vitro and ex vivo studies revealed that intestinal absorption is dependent on both, the properties of the tissue as well as properties of the carrier system. In conclusion, the molecular weight of drug payload is a key factor determining the physiochemical properties of polymeric nanocarriers and is closely linked to their oral absorption. Using different preclinical models to evaluate intestinal permeation of nanocarriers allows for novel insights into key formulation properties governing oral bioavailability.

Nerve regeneration using decellularized tissues: challenges and opportunities

In tissue engineering, the decellularization of organs and tissues as a biological scaffold plays a critical role in the repair of neurodegenerative diseases. Various protocols for cell removal can distinguish the effects of treatment ability, tissue structure, and extracellular matrix (ECM) ability. Despite considerable progress in nerve regeneration and functional recovery, the slow regeneration and recovery potential of the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge. The success of neural tissue engineering is primarily influenced by composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The primary objective of restorative techniques is to guide existing axons properly toward the distal end of the damaged nerve and the target organs. However, due to the limitations of nerve autografts, researchers are seeking alternative methods with high therapeutic efficiency and without the limitations of autograft transplantation. Decellularization scaffolds, due to their lack of immunogenicity and the preservation of essential factors in the ECM and high angiogenic ability, provide a suitable three-dimensional (3D) substrate for the adhesion and growth of axons being repaired toward the target organs. This study focuses on mentioning the types of scaffolds used in nerve regeneration, and the methods of tissue decellularization, and specifically explores the use of decellularized nerve tissues (DNT) for nerve transplantation.

Nanotechnology-empowered strategies in treatment of skin cancer

In current scenario skin cancer is a serious condition that has a significant impact on world health. Skin cancer is divided into two categories: melanoma skin cancer (MSC) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Because of its significant psychosocial effects and need for significant investment in new technology and therapies, skin cancer is an illness of global health relevance. From the patient's perspective chemotherapy considered to be the most acceptable form of treatment. However, significant negatives of chemotherapy such as severe toxicities and drug resistance pose serious challenges to the treatment. The field of nanomedicine holds significant promise for enhancing the specificity of targeting neoplastic cells through the facilitation of targeted drug delivery to tumour cells. The integration of multiple therapeutic modalities to selectively address cancer-promoting or cell-maintaining pathways constitutes a fundamental aspect of cancer treatment. The use of mono-therapy remains prevalent in the treatment of various types of cancer, it is widely acknowledged in the academic community that this conventional approach is generally considered to be less efficacious compared to the combination treatment strategy. The employment of combination therapy in cancer treatment has become increasingly widespread due to its ability to produce synergistic anticancer effects, mitigate toxicity associated with drugs, and inhibit multi-drug resistance by means of diverse mechanisms. Nanotechnology based combination therapy represents a promising avenue for the development of efficacious therapies for skin cancer within the context of this endeavour. The objective of this article is to provide a description of distinct challenges for efficient delivery of drugs via skin. This article also provides a summary of the various nanotechnology based combinatorial therapy available for skin cancer with their recent advances. This review also focuses on current status of clinical trials of such therapies.

Nanoparticles targeting Sialyl-Tn for efficient tyrosine kinase inhibitor delivery in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and, therefore, it is urgent to develop new and more efficient therapeutic approaches. Foretinib (FRT) is an oral multikinase inhibitor targeting MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) and RON (recepteur d'origine nantais) receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that has been used in clinical trials for several solid tumors. Targeted uptake of therapeutic polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) represents a powerful approach in cancer cell drug delivery. Previously, a nanodelivery system composed of polymeric NPs functionalized with B72.3 antibody, which targets the tumor-associated antigen Sialyl-Tn (STn), has been developed. Herein, these NPs were loaded with FRT to evaluate its capacity in delivering the drug to multicellular tumors spheroids (MCTS) and mouse models. The data indicated that B72.3 functionalized FRT-loaded PLGA-PEG-COOH NPs (NFB72.3) specifically target gastric MCTS expressing the STn glycan (MKN45 SimpleCell (SC) cells), leading to a decrease in phospho-RTKs activation and reduced cell viability. In vivo evaluation using MKN45 SC xenograft mice revealed that NFB72.3 were able to decrease tumor growth, reduce cell proliferation and tumor necrosis. NFB72.3-treated tumors also showed inactivation of phospho-MET and phospho-RON. This study demonstrates the value of using NPs targeting STn for FRT delivery, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic application in GC. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the advances in gastric cancer therapeutics, it remains one of the diseases with the highest incidence and mortality in the world. Combining targeted therapies with a controlled drug release is an attractive strategy to reduce drug cytotoxic effects and improve specific drug delivery efficiency to the cancer cells. Thus, we developed nanoparticles loaded with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and targeting a specific tumor glycan exclusive of cancer cells. In in vivo gastric cancer xenograft mice models, these nanoparticles efficiently reduced tumor growth, cell proliferation and tumor necrosis area and inactivated phosphorylation of targeting receptors. This approach represents an innovative therapeutic strategy with high impact in gastric cancer.

Strategies to Enhance the Solubility and Bioavailability of Tocotrienols Using Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System

Tocotrienols have higher medicinal value, with multiple sources of evidence showing their biological properties as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and osteoprotective compounds. However, tocotrienol bioavailability presents an ongoing challenge in its translation into viable products. This is because tocotrienol oil is known to be a poorly water-soluble compound, making it difficult to be absorbed into the body and resulting in less effectiveness. With the potential and benefits of tocotrienol, new strategies to increase the bioavailability and efficacy of poorly absorbed tocotrienol are required when administered orally. One of the proposed formulation techniques was self-emulsification, which has proven its capacity to improve oral drug delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs by advancing the solubility and bioavailability of these active compounds. This review discusses the updated evidence on the bioavailability of tocotrienols formulated with self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) from in vivo and human studies. In short, SEDDSs formulation enhances the solubility and passive permeability of tocotrienol, thus improving its oral bioavailability and biological actions. This increases its medicinal and commercial value. Furthermore, the self-emulsifying formulation presents a useful dosage form that is absorbed in vivo independent of dietary fats with consistent and enhanced levels of tocotrienol isomers. Therefore, a lipid-based formulation technique can provide an additional detailed understanding of the oral bioavailability of tocotrienols.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) delivery approaches in regenerative medicine

The utilization of growth factors in the process of tissue regeneration has garnered significant interest and has been the subject of extensive research. However, despite the fervent efforts invested in recent clinical trials, a considerable number of these studies have produced outcomes that are deemed unsatisfactory. It is noteworthy that the trials that have yielded the most satisfactory outcomes have exhibited a shared characteristic, namely, the existence of a mechanism for the regulated administration of growth factors. Despite the extensive exploration of drug delivery vehicles and their efficacy in delivering certain growth factors, the development of a reliable predictive approach for the delivery of delicate growth factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) remains elusive. VEGF plays a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis; however, the administration of VEGF demands a meticulous approach as it necessitates precise localization and transportation to a specific target tissue. This process requires prolonged and sustained exposure to a low concentration of VEGF. Inaccurate administration of drugs, either through off-target effects or inadequate delivery, may heighten the risk of adverse reactions and potentially result in tumorigenesis. At present, there is a scarcity of technologies available for the accurate encapsulation of VEGF and its subsequent sustained and controlled release. The objective of this review is to present and assess diverse categories of VEGF administration mechanisms. This paper examines various systems, including polymeric, liposomal, hydrogel, inorganic, polyplexes, and microfluidic, and evaluates the appropriate dosage of VEGF for multiple applications.

A Degradable Sustained-Release Drug Delivery System for Bleb-Forming Glaucoma Surgery

Fibrosis of the filtering bleb is one of the main causes of failure after bleb-forming glaucoma surgery. Intraoperative application of mitomycin C (MMC) is the current gold standard to reduce the fibrotic response. However, MMC is cytotoxic and one-time application is often insufficient. A sustained-release drug delivery system (DDS), loaded with MMC, may be less cytotoxic and equally or more effective. Two degradable (polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)) MMC-loaded DDSs are developed. Release kinetics are first assessed in vitro followed by rabbit implants in conjunction with the PRESERFLO MicroShunt. As a control, the MicroShunt is implanted with adjunctive use of a MMC solution. Rabbits are euthanized at postoperative day (POD) 28 and 90. The PLGA and PCL DDSs release (on average) 99% and 75% of MMC, respectively. All groups show functioning blebs until POD 90. Rabbits implanted with a DDS show more inflammation with avascular thin-walled blebs when compared to the control. However, collagen is more loosely arranged. The PLGA DDS shows less inflammation, less foreign body response (FBR), and more complete degradation at POD 90 when compared to the PCL DDS. Further optimization with regard to dosage is required to reduce side effects to the conjunctiva.

Novel Approaches to the Establishment of Local Microenvironment from Resorbable Biomaterials in the Brain In Vitro Models

The development of brain in vitro models requires the application of novel biocompatible materials and biopolymers as scaffolds for controllable and effective cell growth and functioning. The "ideal" brain in vitro model should demonstrate the principal features of brain plasticity like synaptic transmission and remodeling, neurogenesis and angiogenesis, and changes in the metabolism associated with the establishment of new intercellular connections. Therefore, the extracellular scaffolds that are helpful in the establishment and maintenance of local microenvironments supporting brain plasticity mechanisms are of critical importance. In this review, we will focus on some carbohydrate metabolites-lactate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, malate-that greatly contribute to the regulation of cell-to-cell communications and metabolic plasticity of brain cells and on some resorbable biopolymers that may reproduce the local microenvironment enriched in particular cell metabolites.

The Recent Applications of PLGA-Based Nanostructures for Ischemic Stroke

With the accelerated development of nanotechnology in recent years, nanomaterials have become increasingly prevalent in the medical field. The poly (lactic acid-glycolic acid) copolymer (PLGA) is one of the most commonly used biodegradable polymers. It is biocompatible and can be fabricated into various nanostructures, depending on requirements. Ischemic stroke is a common, disabling, and fatal illness that burdens society. There is a need for further improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. PLGA-based nanostructures can facilitate therapeutic compounds' passage through the physicochemical barrier. They further provide both sustained and controlled release of therapeutic compounds when loaded with drugs for the treatment of ischemic stroke. The clinical significance and potential of PLGA-based nanostructures can also be seen in their applications in cell transplantation and imaging diagnostics of ischemic stroke. This paper summarizes the synthesis and properties of PLGA and reviews in detail the recent applications of PLGA-based nanostructures for drug delivery, disease therapy, cell transplantation, and the imaging diagnosis of ischemic stroke.

Recent Research Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Local Anesthetics

From a clinical perspective, local anesthetics have rather widespread application in regional blockade for surgery, postoperative analgesia, acute/chronic pain control, and even cancer treatments. However, a number of disadvantages are associated with traditional local anesthetic agents as well as routine drug delivery administration ways, such as neurotoxicity, short half-time, and non-sustained release, thereby limiting their application in clinical practice. Successful characterization of drug delivery systems (DDSs) for individual local anesthetic agents can support to achieve more efficient drug release and prolonged duration of action with reduced systemic toxicity. Different types of DDSs involving various carriers have been examined, including micromaterials, nanomaterials, and cyclodextrin. Among them, nanotechnology-based delivery approaches have significantly developed in the last decade due to the low systemic toxicity and the greater efficacy of non-conventional local anesthetics. Multiple nanosized materials, including polymeric, lipid (solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions), metallic, inorganic non-metallic, and hybrid nanoparticles, offer a safe, localized, and long-acting solution for pain management and tumor therapy. This review provides a brief synopsis of different nano-based DDSs for local anesthetics with variable sizes and structural morphology, such as nanocapsules and nanospheres. Recent original research utilizing nanotechnology-based delivery systems is particularly discussed, and the progress and strengths of these DDSs are highlighted. A specific focus of this review is the comparison of various nano-based DDSs for local anesthetics, which can offer additional indications for their further improvement. All in all, nano-based DDSs with unique advantages provide a novel direction for the development of safer and more effective local anesthetic formulations.

Evaluation of exosomes encapsulated recombinant Interleukin-29 for its in vitro anticancer studies

Exosomes have recently been considered ideal biotherapeutic nanocarriers that broaden the frontiers of current drug delivery systems to overcome the shortcomings associated with cytokine-based immunotherapy. Using this approach, the current study aimed to assess anti-proliferative activity of purified IL-29 and exosomes encapsulated IL-29. The IL-29+pET-28a construct was transformed into Rosetta 2(DE3) cells which was used for the large-scale production of IL-29. Exosomes isolated from H1HeLa, and SF-767 cells using Total Exosome Isolation reagent were loaded with IL-29 via sonication. Isolation of exosomes was validated using their core protein signature by western blotting and specific miRNA profiles by RT-PCR. The drug loading efficiency of exosomes derived from H1HeLa cells was higher than that of SF-767-derived exosomes. The drug release kinetics of IL-29 encapsulated exosomes exhibited stable release of the recombinant drug. Around 50% of all cancer cell lines survived when IL-29 was administered at a concentration of 20 µg/mL. A survival rate of less than 10% was observed when cells were treated with 20 µg/mL IL-29 loaded exosomes. It was concluded that IL-29 loaded exosomes had a more significant cytotoxic effect against cancer cells, which might be attributed to sustained drug release, improved half-life, superior targeting efficacy, capacity to harness endogenous intracellular trafficking pathways, and heightened biocompatibility of exosomes.

Development of tetracycline-modified nanoparticles for bone-targeted delivery of anti-tubercular drug

Background: Since the poor response to existing anti-tuberculosis drugs and low drug concentration in local bone tissues, the traditional drug therapy does not result in satisfactory treatment of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Thus, we report a rifapentine release system with imparted bone targeting potential using tetracycline (TC) -modified nanoparticles (NPs). Methods: TC was conjugated to PLGA-PEG copolymer via a DCC/NHS technique. Rifapentine-loaded NPs were prepared by premix membrane emulsification technique. The resulting NPs were characterized in terms of physicochemical characterization, hemolytic study, cytotoxicity, bone mineral binding ability, in vitro drug release, stability test and antitubercular activity. The pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies were also performed in mice. Results: Rifapentine loaded TC-PLGA-PEG NPs were proved to be 48.8 nm in size with encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of 83.3% ± 5.5% and 8.1% ± 0.4%, respectively. The release of rifapentine from NPs could be maintained for more than 60 h. Most (68.0%) TC-PLGA-PEG NPs could bind to HAp powder in vitro. The cellular studies revealed that NPs were safe for intravenous administration. In vivo evaluations also revealed that the drug concentration of bone tissue in TC-PLGA-PEG group was significantly higher than that in other groups at all time (p < 0.05). Both NPs could improve pharmacokinetic parameters without evident organ toxicity. The minimal inhibitory concentration of NPs was 0.094 μg/mL, whereas this of free rifapentine was 0.25 μg/mL. Conclusion: Rifapentine loaded TC-PLGA-PEG NPs could increase the amount of rifapentine in bone tissue, prolong drug release in systemic circulation, enhance anti-tuberculosis activity, and thereby reducing dose and frequency of drug therapy for osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals unique signatures of paclitaxel-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles treatment of head and neck cancer cells

The use of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers for chemotherapeutic drugs is regarded as an actively targeted nano-therapy for the specific delivery of anti-cancer drugs to target cells. However, the exact mechanism by which PLGA NPs boost anticancer cytotoxicity at the molecular level remains largely unclear. This study employed different molecular approaches to define the response of carcinoma FaDu cells to different types of treatment, specifically: paclitaxel (PTX) alone, drug free PLGA NPs, and PTX-loaded PTX-PLGA NPs. Functional cell assays revealed that PTX-PLGA NPs treated cells had a higher level of apoptosis than PTX alone, whereas the complementary, UHPLC-MS/MS (TIMS-TOF) based multi-omics analyses revealed that PTX-PLGA NPs treatment resulted in increased abundance of proteins associated with tubulin, as well as metabolites such as 5-thymidylic acid, PC(18:1(9Z)/18:1(9Z0), vitamin D, and sphinganine among others. The multi-omics analyses revealed new insights about the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of novel anticancer NP therapies. In particular, PTX-loaded NPs appeared to exacerbate specific changes induced by both PLGA-NPs and PTX as a free drug. Hence, the PTX-PLGA NPs' molecular mode of action, seen in greater detail, depends on this synergy that ultimately accelerates the apoptotic process, resulting in cancer cell death.

Advances and Prospects in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant and incurable disease, characterized by its aggressive nature and high fatality rate. The most common type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which has poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Current treatments for pancreatic cancer mainly encompass surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination regimens. However, despite efforts to improve prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains very low. Therefore, it's urgent to explore novel therapeutic approaches. With the rapid development of therapeutic strategies in recent years, new ideas have been provided for treating pancreatic cancer. This review expositions the advancements in nano drug delivery system, molecular targeted drugs, and photo-thermal treatment combined with nanotechnology for pancreatic cancer. It comprehensively analyzes the prospects of combined drug delivery strategies for treating pancreatic cancer, aiming at a deeper understanding of the existing drugs and therapeutic approaches, promoting the development of new therapeutic drugs, and attempting to enhance the therapeutic effect for patients with this disease.

Biomedical applications of PLGA nanoparticles in nanomedicine: advances in drug delivery systems and cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

During the last decades, the ever-increasing proportion of patients with cancer has been led to serious concerns worldwide. Therefore, the development and use of novel pharmaceuticals, like nanoparticles (NPs)-based drug delivery systems (DDSs), can be potentially effective in cancer therapy.

AREA COVERED

Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) NPs, as a kind of bioavailable, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers, have approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for some biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. PLGA is comprised of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) and their ratio could be controlled during various syntheses and preparation approaches. LA/GA ratio determines the stability and degradation time of PLGA; lower content of GA results in fast degradation. There are several approaches for preparing PLGA NPs that can affect their various aspects, such as size, solubility, stability, drug loading, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, and so on.

EXPERT OPINION

These NPs have indicated the controlled and sustained drug release in the cancer site and can use in passive and active (via surface modification) DDSs. This review aims to provide an overview of PLGA NPs, their preparation approach and physicochemical aspects, drug release mechanism and the cellular fate, DDSs for efficient cancer therapy, and status in the pharmaceutical industry and nanomedicine.

Oral Delivery of Anti-Parasitic Agent-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles: Enhanced Liver Targeting and Improved Therapeutic Effect on Hepatic Alveolar Echinococcosis

Background

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a lethal parasitic disease caused by infection with the metacestode of the dog/fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, which primarily affects the liver. Although continued efforts have been made to find new drugs against this orphan and neglected disease, the current treatment options remain limited, with drug delivery considered a likely barrier for successful treatment.

Methods

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained much attention in the field of drug delivery due to their potential to improve delivery efficiency and targetability. In this study, biocompatible PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating a novel carbazole aminoalcohol anti-AE agent (H1402) were prepared to promote the delivery of the parent drug to liver tissue for treating hepatic AE.

Results

H1402-loaded nanoparticles (H1402-NPs) had a uniform spherical shape and a mean particle size of 55 nm. Compound H1402 was efficiently encapsulated into PLGA NPs with a maximal encapsulation efficiency of 82.1% and drug loading content of 8.2%. An in vitro uptake assay demonstrated that H1402-NPs rapidly penetrated the in vitro cultured pre-cyst wall and extensively accumulated in the pre-cysts of E. multilocularis within only 1 h. The biodistribution profile of H1402-NPs determined through ex vivo fluorescence imaging revealed significantly enhanced liver distribution compared to unencapsulated H1402, which translated to improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity (especially hepatotoxicity and cytotoxicity) in a hepatic AE murine model. Following a 30-day oral regimen (100 mg/kg/day), H1402-NPs significantly reduced the parasitic burden in both the parasite mass (liver and metacestode total weight, 8.8%) and average metacestode size (89.9%) compared to unmedicated infected mice (both p-values < 0.05); the treatment outcome was more effective than those of albendazole- and free H1402-treated individuals.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the advantages of encapsulating H1402 into PLGA nanoparticles and highlight the potential of H1402-NPs as a promising liver-targeting therapeutic strategy for hepatic AE.

Super-Tough and Biodegradable Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) Transparent Thin Films Toughened by Star-Shaped PCL-b-PDLA Plasticizers

To obtain fully degradable and super-tough poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) blends, biodegradable star-shaped PCL-b-PDLA plasticizers were synthesized using natural originated xylitol as initiator. These plasticizers were blended with PLGA to prepare transparent thin films. Effects of added star-shaped PCL-b-PDLA plasticizers on mechanical, morphological, and thermodynamic properties of PLGA/star-shaped PCL-b-PDLA blends were investigated. The stereocomplexation strong cross-linked network between PLLA segment and PDLA segment effectively enhanced interfacial adhesion between star-shaped PCL-b-PDLA plasticizers and PLGA matrix. With only 0.5 wt% addition of star-shaped PCL-b-PDLA (Mn = 5000 g/mol), elongation at break of the PLGA blend reached approximately 248%, without any considerable sacrifice over excellent mechanical strength and modulus of PLGA.

Iron(ii) carboxylates and simple carboxamides: an inexpensive and modular catalyst system for the synthesis of PLLA and PLLA-PCL block copolymers

The combination of inexpensive Fe(ii) acetate with low molecular weight aliphatic carboxamides in situ generates an effective catalyst system for the ring opening polymerisation of lactones. PLLAs were produced in melt conditions with molar masses of up to 15 kg mol-1, narrow dispersity (Đ = 1.03), and without racemisation. The catalytic system was investigated in detail with regard to Fe(ii) source, and steric and electronic effects of the amide's substituents. Furthermore, the synthesis of PLLA-PCL block copolymers of very low randomness was achieved. This commercially available, inexpensive, modular, and user-friendly catalyst mixture may be suitable for polymers with biomedical applications.

Cytotoxicity of PLGA-zinc oxide nanocomposite on human gingival fibroblasts

Background

Polylactic-co-glycolic acid and zinc oxide (PLGA-ZnO) nanocomposite has been investigated for its antibacterial properties, which could be beneficial for adding to wound dressings after periodontal surgery. However, its cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) remains unclear and should be evaluated.

Methods

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. These metallic nanoparticles were incorporated into the PLGA matrix by the solvent/non-solvent process. The nanomaterial was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. HGF cells were acquired from the National Cell Bank and categorized into four groups: ZnO, PLGA, ZnO-PLGA, and control. The cells were exposed to different ZnO (1, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µg/mL) and PLGA (0.2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 µg/mL) concentrations for 24 and 48 hours. The cytotoxicity was tested using the MTT assay. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

ZnO nanoparticles exhibited significant toxicity at≥40 µg/mL concentrations after 24 hours. Cell viability decreased significantly at all the tested concentrations after 48 hours of exposure. PLGA-ZnO cell viability in 24 hours was similar to the control group for all the concentrations up to 80 µg/mL.

Conclusion

ZnO nanoparticles could be toxic against HGF in high concentrations and with prolonged exposure. Therefore, incorporating ZnO nanoparticles into a biocompatible polymer such as PLGA could be a beneficial strategy for reducing their toxicity.

Collagen for neural tissue engineering: Materials, strategies, and challenges

Neural tissue engineering (NTE) has made remarkable strides in recent years and holds great promise for treating several devastating neurological disorders. Selecting optimal scaffolding material is crucial for NET design strategies that enable neural and non-neural cell differentiation and axonal growth. Collagen is extensively employed in NTE applications due to the inherent resistance of the nervous system against regeneration, functionalized with neurotrophic factors, antagonists of neural growth inhibitors, and other neural growth-promoting agents. Recent advancements in integrating collagen with manufacturing strategies, such as scaffolding, electrospinning, and 3D bioprinting, provide localized trophic support, guide cell alignment, and protect neural cells from immune activity. This review categorises and analyses collagen-based processing techniques investigated for neural-specific applications, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in repair, regeneration, and recovery. We also evaluate the potential prospects and challenges of using collagen-based biomaterials in NTE. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive and systematic framework for the rational evaluation and applications of collagen in NTE.

A DUSP6 inhibitor suppresses inflammatory cardiac remodeling and improves heart function after myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) results in loss of cardiomyocytes and abnormal cardiac remodeling with severe inflammation and fibrosis. However, how cardiac repair can be achieved by timely resolution of inflammation and cardiac fibrosis remains incompletely understood. Our previous findings have shown that dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) is a regeneration repressor from zebrafish to rats. In this study, we found that intravenous administration of the DUSP6 inhibitor (E)-2-benzylidene-3-(cyclohexylamino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one (BCI) improved heart function and reduced cardiac fibrosis in MI rats. Mechanistic analysis revealed that BCI attenuated macrophage inflammation through NF-κB and p38 signaling, independent of DUSP6 inhibition, leading to the downregulation of various cytokines and chemokines. In addition, BCI suppressed differentiation-related signaling pathways and decreased bone-marrow cell differentiation into macrophages through inhibiting DUSP6. Furthermore, intramyocardial injection of poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-loaded BCI after MI had a notable effect on cardiac repair. In summary, BCI improves heart function and reduces abnormal cardiac remodeling by inhibiting macrophage formation and inflammation post-MI, thus providing a promising pro-drug candidate for the treatment of MI and related heart diseases. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

5-Fluorouracil-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles: Formulation, Physicochemical Characterisation, and In VitroAnti-Cancer Activity

The major goal of this investigation was to prepare a drug delivery of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) from 5-fluorouracil (FU) that could be delivered intravenously and improve the therapeutic index of the FU. In order to achieve this, interfacial deposition method was used to prepare FU entrapped poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (FU-PLGA-NPs). The influence of various experimental settings on the effectiveness of FU integration into the NPs was assessed. Our findings show that the technique used to prepare the organic phase and the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase had the greatest impact on the effectiveness of FU integration into NPs. The results show that the preparation process produced spherical, homogenous, negatively charged particles with a nanometric size of 200 nm that are acceptable for intravenous delivery. A quick initial release over 24 h and then slow and steady release of FU from the formed NPs, exhibiting a biphasic pattern. Through the human small cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H69), the in vitro anti-cancer potential of the FU-PLGA-NPs was evaluated. It was then associated to the in vitro anti-cancer potential of the marketed formulation Fluracil®. Investigations were also conducted into Cremophor-EL (Cre-EL) potential activity on live cells. The viability of NCI-H69 cells was drastically reduced when they were exposed to 50 µg·mL-1 Fluracil®. Our findings show that the integration of FU in NPs significantly increases the drug cytotoxic effect in comparison to Fluracil®, with this potential effect being particularly important for extended incubation durations.