Long-circulating polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate nanoparticles for tumor targeted docetaxel delivery: Formulation, optimization and in vitro characterization

Surface-functionalised polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment: processes and advances

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that of all the non-communicable diseases, cancer is considered the second cause of death worldwide. This has driven the big pharma companies to prioritise anticancer products in their pipeline. In addition, research has focused on exploration of new anticancer molecules and design of suitable dosage forms to achieve effective drug delivery to the tumour site. Nanotechnology is a valuable tool to build nano delivery systems with controlled and targeted drug release properties. Nanoparticles can be fabricated by robust, scalable and economic techniques using various polymers. Moreover, specific functional groups can be introduced to the surface of nanoparticles enabling targeting to a specific tissue; besides, they exhibit versatile drug release patterns according to the rate of polymer degradation. This review outlines the processes and advances in surface functionalisation of nanoparticles employed for treatment of breast cancer. The therapeutic molecules, the polymers used to fabricate nanoparticles, the techniques used to prepare the nanoparticles have been reviewed with a focus on the processes employed to functionalise these nanoparticles with suitable ligands to target different types of breast cancer.

Natural products in the management of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases represent one of the utmost imperative well-being health issues and apprehensions due to their escalating incidence of mortality. Natural derivatives are more efficacious in various preclinical models of neurodegenerative illnesses. These natural compounds include phytoconstituents in herbs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and marine and freshwater flora, with remarkable efficacy in mitigating neurodegeneration and enhancing cognitive abilities in preclinical models. According to the latest research, the therapeutic activity of natural substances can be increased by adding phytoconstituents in nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, nanogels, and nanostructured lipid carriers. They can enhance the stability and specificity of the bioactive compounds to a more considerable extent. Nanotechnology can also provide targeting, enhancing their specificity to the respective site of action. In light of these findings, this article discusses the biological and therapeutic potential of natural products and their bioactive derivatives to exert neuroprotective effects and some clinical studies assessing their translational potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders.

Optimizing Process Parameters for Controlled Drug Delivery: A Quality by Design (QbD) Approach in Naltrexone Microspheres

The formulation of microspheres involves a complex manufacturing process with multiple steps. Identifying the appropriate process parameters to achieve the desired quality attributes poses a significant challenge. This study aims to optimize the critical process parameters (CPPs) involved in the preparation of naltrexone microspheres using a Quality by Design (QbD) methodology. Additionally, the research aims to assess the drug release profiles of these microspheres under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical quality attributes (CQAs) were identified, and a Box-Behnken design was utilized to delineate the design space, ensuring alignment with the desired Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP). The investigated CPPs comprised polymer concentration, aqueous phase ratio to organic phase ratio, and quench volume. The microspheres were fabricated using the oil-in-water emulsion solvent extraction technique. Analysis revealed that increased polymer concentration was correlated with decreased particle size, reduced quench volume resulted in decreased burst release, and a heightened aqueous phase ratio to organic phase ratio improved drug entrapment. Upon analyzing the results, an optimal formulation was determined. In conclusion, the study conducted in vivo drug release testing on both the commercially available innovator product and the optimized test product utilizing an animal model. The integration of in vitro dissolution data with in vivo assessments presents a holistic understanding of drug release dynamics. The QbD approach-based optimization of CPPs furnishes informed guidance for the development of generic pharmaceutical formulations.

d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate surface scaffold polysarcosine based polymeric nanoparticles of enzalutamide for the treatment of colorectal cancer: In vitro, in vivo characterizations

In this study, Enzalutamide (ENZ) loaded Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with polysarcosine and d-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) were prepared using a three-step modified nanoprecipitation method combined with self-assembly. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was implemented with Design-Expert® software to evaluate the impact of three independent variables on particle size, zeta potential, and percent entrapment efficiency through a numeric optimization approach. The results were corroborated with ANOVA analysis, regression equations, and response surface plots. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope images revealed nanosized, spherical polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with a size distribution ranging from 178.9 ± 2.3 to 212.8 ± 0.7 nm, a zeta potential of 12.6 ± 0.8 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 71.2 ± 0.7 %. The latter increased with higher polymer concentration. Increased polymer concentration and homogenization speed also enhanced drug entrapment efficiency. In vitro drug release was 85 ± 22.5 %, following the Higuchi model (R2 = 0.98) and Fickian diffusion (n < 0.5). In vitro cytotoxicity assessments, including Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Estimation, Apoptosis analysis, cell cycle analysis, Reactive oxygen species estimation, Wound healing assay, DNA fragmentation assay, and IC50 evaluation with Sulforhodamine B assay, indicated low toxicity and high efficacy of polymeric nanoparticles compared to the drug alone. In vivo studies demonstrated biocompatibility and target specificity. The findings suggest that TPGS surface-scaffolded polysarcosine-based polymer nanoparticles of ENZ could be a promising and safe delivery system with sustained release for colorectal cancer treatment, yielding improved therapeutic outcomes.

Effect of variables on exemestane-loaded albumin nanoparticles: statistical optimization and anti-cancer activity in MCF-7 cell lines

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of variables on exemestane-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (EXE-BSA NPs) to improve anti-breast cancer activity. EXE-BSA NPs were optimized using 32 factorial design, wherein the concentration of BSA (X1) and sonication time (X2) were independent variables and particle size (Y1) and %w/w entrapment efficiency (Y2) were dependent variables. The statistical optimization revealed a significant effect of BSA concentration on both variables, whereas sonication time affected only particle size. The optimized EXE-BSA NPs were spherical with 124.1 ± 2.62 nm particle size, 83.95 ± 1.06% w/w drug entrapment, and exhibited a biphasic release of 100% (w/w) drug over 72 h. The optimized formulation induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cell lines with an IC50 value of 21.46 µg/mL by MTT assay, almost half the free drug (54.87 µg/mL). Thus, statistically optimized EXE-BSA NPs were effective in MCF-7 cell lines and can be explored to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Recent Biotechnological Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the Biomedical Sector-A Review

Petroleum-derived plastics are materials of great importance for the contemporary lifestyle, and are widely used commercially because they are low cost, resistant, malleable, and weightless, in addition to their hydrophobic character. However, some factors that confer the qualities of these materials also cause problems, mainly environmental, associated with their use. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated these impacts due to the high demand for personal protective equipment and the packaging sector. In this scenario, bioplastics are environmentally positive alternatives to these plastics due to their applicability in several areas ranging from packaging, to biomedicine, to agriculture. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable biopolymers usually produced by microorganisms as an energy reserve. Their structural variability provides a wide range of applications, making them a viable option to replace polluting materials. PHAs can be applied in various biotechnology sectors, such as producing drug carriers and scaffolds for tissue engineering. This review aimed to survey works published in the last five years on the study and biotechnological application of PHAs in the biomedical sector, exploring the versatility and advantages of their use and helping to understand how to enhance their application.

DOPE/CHEMS-Based EGFR-Targeted Immunoliposomes for Docetaxel Delivery: Formulation Development, Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation on Prostate Cancer Cells

Docetaxel (DTX) is a non-selective antineoplastic agent with low solubility and a series of side effects. The technology of pH-sensitive and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) immunoliposomes aims to increase the selective delivery of the drug in the acidic tumor environment to cells with EFGR overexpression. Thus, the study aimed to develop pH-sensitive liposomes based on DOPE (dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) and CHEMS (cholesteryl hemisuccinate), using a Box–Behnken factorial design. Furthermore, we aimed to conjugate the monoclonal antibody cetuximab onto liposomal surface, as well as to thoroughly characterize the nanosystems and evaluate them on prostate cancer cells. The liposomes prepared by hydration of the lipid film and optimized by the Box–Behnken factorial design showed a particle size of 107.2 ± 2.9 nm, a PDI of 0.213 ± 0.005, zeta potential of −21.9 ± 1.8 mV and an encapsulation efficiency of 88.65 ± 20.3%. Together, FTIR, DSC and DRX characterization demonstrated that the drug was properly encapsulated, with reduced drug crystallinity. Drug release was higher in acidic pH. The liposome conjugation with the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab preserved the physicochemical characteristics and was successful. The liposome containing DTX reached an IC50 at a concentration of 65.74 nM in the PC3 cell line and 28.28 nM in the DU145 cell line. Immunoliposome, in turn, for PC3 cells reached an IC50 of 152.1 nM, and for the DU145 cell line, 12.60 nM, a considerable enhancement of cytotoxicity for the EGFR-positive cell line. Finally, the immunoliposome internalization was faster and greater than that of liposome in the DU145 cell line, with a higher EGFR overexpression. Thus, based on these results, it was possible to obtain a formulation with adequate characteristics of nanometric size, a high encapsulation of DTX and liposomes and particularly immunoliposomes containing DTX, which caused, as expected, a reduction in the viability of prostate cells, with high cellular internalization in EGFR overexpressing cells.

Natural Products-based Drugs: Potential Drug Targets Against Neurological Degeneration

Phytochemicals or natural products have been studied extensively for their potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc. The neuronal structure loss and progressive dysfunction are the main characteristics of these diseases. In spite of impressive and thorough knowledge of neurodegenerative molecular pathways, little advancement has been found in the treatment of the same. Moreover, it was proved that natural products can be used efficiently in the treatment of NDs while certain issues regarding the patient's safety and clinical data are still existing. As ND is a bunch of diseases and it will start the myriad of pathological processes, active targeting of the molecular pathway behind ND will be the most efficient strategy to treat all ND-related diseases. The targeting pathway must prevent cell death and should restore the damaged neurons. In the treatment of ND and related diseases, natural products are playing the role of neuroprotective agents. This review will target the therapeutic potential of various phytochemicals which shows neuroprotective action.

Hydrophobically Modified Abelmoschus esculentus Polysaccharide Based Nanoparticles and Applications: A Review

Nanomaterials are indeed a nanoscale technology that deals with the creation, evaluation, fabrication, and utilization of systems at the nanometre scale by manipulating their size and shape. We consider natural polysaccharides such as promising polysaccharides, which are biodegradable, nontoxic, abundant, and inexpensive bio-polymeric precursors for preparing the materials of choice in various industries. The aim is to review different methods to produce hydrophobically modified Abelmoschus esculentus nanoparticles and study the evaluation processes of these nanoparticles as given in the literature. It proved the benefits of derivatives of gum by introducing different chemical groups. The chemical functionalization of gum mainly includes the esterification, etherification, and crosslinking reactions of the hydroxyl groups and contains a special fibre which takes sugar levels in the blood under control, providing a sugar quantity suitable for the bowels. Okra contains mucilage that helps remove poisonous chemicals and bad cholesterol, often overloads the liver. Recovering from psychological conditions, like depression, general weakness, and joint healthiness can be done with Okra. Someone additionally applied it for pulmonary inflammation, bowel irritation, and sore throat. Purgative properties okra possesses are beneficial for bowel purification. It is used to counteract the acids. Fibre okra contains a valuable nutrient for intestinal microorganisms and ensures proper intestine functionality. It also protects the mucosa of the digestive tract by covering them with an extra layer because of its alkaline nature. Nanotechnology has emerged as a critical component of pharmaceutics, with many applications in drug carriers of interest aimed at improving drug clinical outcomes such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, wound care management, atopic dermatitis, cosmeceutical, etc. Beneficial outcomes of this review are discussed briefly.

Functional drug carriers formed by RGD-modified β-CD-HPG for the delivery of docetaxel for targeted inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

In this study, a drug delivery system was prepared by grafting the targeting molecule arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) onto hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG)-modified β-cyclodextrin (β-CD-HPG) for the targeted inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. The obtained β-CD-HPG-RGD with a relatively small size and low surface charge delivered docetaxel (Doc) effectively and displayed a targeting effect to human NPC HNE-1 cells, as confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry. The in vitro drug release analysis exhibited the controlled drug release kinetics of the β-CD-HPG-RGD/Doc nanomedicine. β-CD-HPG-RGD/Doc effectively inhibited the proliferation of HNE-1 cells and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, its biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo was assessed. The results indicate that the β-CD-HPG-RGD/Doc nanomedicine has potential application in NPC targeting therapy.

Dual Vinorelbine bitartrate and Resveratrol Loaded Polymeric Aqueous core Nanocapsules for Synergistic Efficacy in Breast Cancer

AIM

The current study focused on the development and evaluation of aqueous core nanocapsules (ACNs) as an effective carrier to deliver an optimal synergistic combination of a highly water soluble Vinorelbine bitartrate (VRL) and a poorly water-soluble Resveratrol (RES) for treatment of breast cancer.

METHODS

Various molar ratios of VRL to RES were screened against MCF-7 cell lines to determine the synergistic effects using Chou-Talalay method. Synergistic ratio of therapeutic agents was then incorporated into aqueous core nanocapsules utilizing a double emulsion solvent evaporation technique to yield dual drug loaded nanocapsules (dd-ACNs). The dd-ACNs were optimized using Box-Behnken design and characterized for physicochemical parameters such as particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, total drug content and encapsulation efficiency, surface morphology, drug excipient compatibility by FTIR and DSC, release kinetics, toxicity studies and anticancer efficacy (in-vitro and in-vivo).

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that the combination exhibited maximum synergy when higher doses of VRL were combined with smaller doses of RES (1:1, 5:1, and 10:1). The dual drug loaded ACNs were found to be stable and depicted a core-shell structure, narrow size range (150.2 ± 3.2 nm) with enhanced encapsulation (80% for VRL and 99% for RES). Moreover, the dd-ACNs were 5 times more efficacious in-vitro than a combination of free drugs, while reducing systemic toxicity. Also, pre-clinical evaluation of dd-ACNs also depicted drastic reduction of tumor volume as compared tp pristine VRL and physical combination of drugs.

CONCLUSION

The developed dd-ACNs can be applied as potential carrier for delivery of combination of chemotherapeutics at a synergistic ratio at tumor site.

Polymeric Nanoparticles: Exploring the Current Drug Development and Therapeutic Insight of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recommendations

This manuscript aims to provide the latest update on polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery system for breast cancer treatment after 2015 and how research-oriented it is based on the available research data. Therefore, the authors have chosen breast cancer which is the most frequent and common reason for mortality in women worldwide. The first-line treatment for breast cancer treatment is chemotherapy, apart from surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy. Chemotherapy is associated with lesser therapeutics and undesirable side effects and hence. In addition, drug resistance affects the therapeutic dose to the target site. Although various nano-based formulations have been developed for effective treatment, the polymeric nanoparticles effectively avoid the lacunae of conventional chemotherapy. There has been an effort made to understand the chemotherapy drugs and their conventional formulation-related problems for better targeting and effective drug delivery for breast cancer treatment. Thus, the polymeric nanoparticles as a strategy overcome the associated problems with resulting dose reduction, enhanced bioavailability, reduced side effects, etc. This present review has compiled the research reports published from 2015 to 2021 from different databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, which are related to breast cancer treatment in which the drug delivery of numerous chemotherapeutic agents alone or in combination, including phytoconstituents formulated into various polymer-based nanoparticles.

Fabrication and Characterization of Cinnamaldehyde-Loaded Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles/PHBV-Based Microspheres for Preventing Bacterial Infection and Promoting Bone Tissue Regeneration

Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is considered a suitable polymer for drug delivery systems and bone tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the lack of bioactivity and antibacterial activity hinders its biomedical applications. In this study, mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGN) were incorporated into PHBV to enhance its bioactivity, while cinnamaldehyde (CIN) was loaded in MBGN to introduce antimicrobial activity. The blank (PHBV/MBGN) and the CIN-loaded microspheres (PHBV/MBGN/CIN5, PHBV/MBGN/CIN10, and PHBV/MBGN/CIN20) were fabricated by emulsion solvent extraction/evaporation method. The average particle size and zeta potential of all samples were investigated, as well as the morphology of all samples evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. PHBV/MBGN/CIN5, PHBV/MBGN/CIN10, and PHBV/MBGN/CIN20 significantly exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the first 3 h, while CIN releasing behavior was observed up to 7 d. Human osteosarcoma cell (MG-63) proliferation and attachment were noticed after 24 h cell culture, demonstrating no adverse effects due to the presence of microspheres. Additionally, the rapid formation of hydroxyapatite on the composite microspheres after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) during 7 d revealed the bioactivity of the composite microspheres. Our findings indicate that this system represents an alternative model for an antibacterial biomaterial for potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

Recent advances in the production of biomedical systems based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and exopolysaccharides

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to naturally occurring biological macromolecules and their ensuing application in agriculture, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. They inherently have antigenicity, low immunogenicity, excellent biocompatibility and cytocompatibility, which are ideal properties for the design of biomedical devices, especially for the controlled delivery of active ingredients in the most diverse contexts. Furthermore, these properties can be modulated by chemical modification via the incorporation of other (macro)molecules in a random or controlled way, aiming at improving their functionality for each specific application. Among the wide variety of natural polymers, microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are often considered for the development of original biomaterials due to their unique physicochemical and biological features. Here, we aim to fullfil a gap on the present associated literature, bringing an up-to-date overview of ongoing research strategies that make use of PHAs (poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), poly (3-hydroxyoctanoate), poly(3-hydroxypropionate), poly (3-hydroxyhexanoate-co-3-hydroxyoctanoate), and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)) and EPS (bacterial cellulose, alginates, curdlan, pullulan, xanthan gum, dextran, hyaluronan, and schizophyllan) as sources of interesting and versatile biomaterials. For the first time, a monograph addressing the properties, pros and cons, status, challenges, and recent progresses regarding the application of these two important classes of biopolymers in biomedicine is presented.

Paula ML, M. de Moraes R, Alves GM, M. Lacerda T, dos Santos JC, M. dos Santos A, Medeiros SDF. Chemical Modification of Pullulan Exopolysaccharide by Grafting Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) via Click Chemistry

Biodegradable and biocompatible copolymers have been often studied for the development of biomaterials for drug delivery systems. In this context, this work reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel pullulan-g-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (Pull-g-PHBHV) graft copolymer using click chemistry. Well-defined and functional pullulan backbones containing azide groups (PullN₃) previously prepared by our group were successfully used for this purpose and propargyl-terminated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) was prepared via transesterification using propargyl alcohol as a chain transfer agent. By an alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction catalyzed by copper (Cu (I)) (CuAAC), the graft copolymer Pull-g-PHBHV was obtained. The chemical structures of the polymers were accessed by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR FTIR. Disappearance of the bands referring to the main bonds evidenced success in the grafting reaction. Besides that, DRX, DSC and TGA were used in order to access the changes in crystallinity and thermal behavior of the material. The remaining crystallinity of the Pull-g-PHBHV structure evidences the presence of PHBHV. Pull-g-PHBHV presented lower degradation maximum temperature values than the starting materials, indicating its minor thermal stability. Finally, the synthesized material is an innovative biopolymer, which has never been reported in the previous literature. It is a bio-derived and biodegradable polymer, chemically modified, resulting in interesting properties which can be useful for their further applications as biomedical systems for controlled delivery, for example.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(amine)-coated nickel oxide nanoparticles for norfloxacin delivery: antibacterial and cytotoxicity efficiency

Sustained release dosage forms enable prolonged and continuous release of a drug in the gastrointestinal tract for medication characterized by a short half lifetime. In this study, the effect of blending polyamine on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) as a carrier for norfloxacin (NF) was studied. The prepared blend was mixed with different amounts of NiO nanoparticles and characterized using FTIR analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the drug released from the nanocomposite has a slow rate in comparison with NiO, PHB, and PHB/polyamine blend. The highest ratio of NiO content to the matrix (highest NF loading), leads to a slower rate of drug release. The release from the nanocomposites showed a faster rate at pH = 2 than that at pH = 7.4. The mechanisms of NF adsorption and release were studied on PHB/polyamine-3% NiO nanocomposite. In addition, the antimicrobial efficacy of nanocomposites loaded with the drug was determined and compared with the free drug. Inclusion of NiO into PHB/polyamine showed a higher efficacy against Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than the free NF. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of PHB/polyamine-3% NiO against HePG-2 cells was investigated and compared with PHB and PHB/polyamine loaded with the drug. The most efficient IC50 was found for NF@PHB/polyamine-3% NiO (29.67 μg mL-1). No effect on cell proliferation against the normal human cell line (WISH) was observed and IC50 was detected to be 44.95 and 70 μg mL-1 for NiO nanoparticles and the PHB/polyamine-3% NiO nanocomposite, respectively indicating a selectivity of action towards tumor cells coupled with a lack of cytotoxicity towards normal cells.

Development of finasteride/PHBV@polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan reservoir-type microspheres as a potential embolic agent: from in vitro evaluation to animal study

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent urological disease affecting elders. Currently, the prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is considered as a minimally invasive and safe technique to treat BPH. However, various drug-loaded embolic agents have not been thoroughly investigated in BPH therapy. In this study, finasteride/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate)@polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (FNS/PHBV@PVA/CS) reservoir-type microspheres were prepared via the solid-in-water-in-oil (S/W/O) emulsion crosslinking method with the aim to reduce the burst effect and control localized drug delivery. The structure and properties of the drug and resultant microspheres were characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the drug-loaded hybrid microspheres were well-dispersed and spherical with a mean diameter of 238.1 ± 27.3 μm. All samples exhibited excellent thermal stability. The FNS/PHBV microspheres were successfully encapsulated inside the PVA/CS polymeric matrix, which effectively suppressed the burst effect and prolonged the drug release up to 51 days. In vitro biocompatibility assessment indicated that the microspheres possessed excellent cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Furthermore, in vivo studies performed in the rabbit ear embolization model showed the formation of progressive ischemic necrosis after treatment for various periods. Histopathological studies revealed that the microspheres completely occluded the blood vessels with minimal foreign body response and formed the fibrotic area at the periphery of embolized arteries. Furthermore, the auricular vascular endothelial cells showed acute ultrastructural changes, associated with the ischemic necrosis induced by the embolization procedures. All these findings suggest that the FNS/PHBV@PVA/CS hybrid microspheres could be used as a promising drug delivery system for potential applications in BPH therapy.

Gold nanoparticles for sustained antileukemia drug release: development, optimization and evaluation by quality-by-design approach

AIM

To design, develop, optimize and evaluate sustained-release dasatinib-loaded gold nanoparticles (DSB-GNPs) to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by using quality by design.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this study, we performed risk assessment, optimization, in vitro characterizations, stability study, drug release studies, cytotoxicity study and in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation.

RESULTS

DSB-GNPs of desired size, entrapment, smooth, spherical, stable and sustained drug release for 48 h were achieved. DSB-GNPs exhibited significantly more percentage growth inhibition and enhanced systemic bioavailability compared with pure DSB.

CONCLUSION

The in vitro and in vivo evaluation exhibited that the DSB-GNPs have a potential cytotoxic effect, systemic bioavailability and sustained release making them a promising system of DSB delivery in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Formulation and Characterization of Genistein-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Pharmacokinetic, Biodistribution and In vitro Cytotoxicity Studies

Background:

Genistein (Gen) is a naturally occurring soy isoflavonoid, possessing anticancer, antiproliferation & antioxidant-like properties. The disadvantage of poor solubility and less oral bioavailability restrict its use as a potential anticancer agent.

Objectives:

The current work was focused on the formulation and characterization of the genistein loaded nanostructured lipid carriers that can entrap enough quantity of the drug which will provide sustained release of the drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Methods:

The nanostructure lipid carriers of genistein were developed with the aid of solvent emulsification and evaporation technique by employing TPGS as a surfactant. The resultant formulation was characterized by various physicochemical properties. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies were carried out to estimate the mean plasma concentrations of the drug. Percentage cytotoxicity was evaluated by using PA-1 ovarian cancer cell lines.

Results:

The resultant formulation exhibited a particle size of 130.23 nm, and entrapment efficiency of 94.27 %, & zeta potential of -20.21 mV with unimodal size distribution. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution studies revealed that the formulation was able to provide sufficient plasma drug concentration for the longer period of time and the drug was more distributed in ovarian cancer tissues. Results of MTT assay concluded that GenNLC were more effective in comparison to pristine Gen.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, GenNLC seems to be a superior alternative carrier system for the formulation industry to obtain the higher entrapment with excellent stability of the formulation.

Docetaxel-loaded human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and evaluation

Background

Docetaxel (DTX) is an anticancer drug that is currently formulated with polysorbate 80 and ethanol (50:50, v/v) in clinical use. Unfortunately, this formulation causes hypersensitivity reactions, leading to severe side-effects, which have been primarily attributed to polysorbate 80.

Methods

In this study, a DTX-loaded human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticle (DTX-NP) was designed to overcome the hypersensitivity reactions that are induced by polysorbate 80. The methods of preparing the DTX-NPs have been optimized based on factors including the drug-to-HSA weight ratio, the duration of HSA incubation, and the choice of using a stabilizer. Synthesized DTX-NPs were characterized with regard to their particle diameters, drug loading capacities, and drug release kinetics. The morphology of the DTX-NPs was observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the successful preparation of DTX-NPs was confirmed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of DTX-NPs were investigated in the non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of DTX-NPs was evaluated via investigations with BALB/c mice.

Results

The study showed that the loading capacity and the encapsulation efficiency of DTX-NPs prepared under the optimal conditions was 11.2 wt% and 63.1 wt%, respectively and the mean diameter was less than 200 nm, resulting in higher permeability and controlled release. Similar cytotoxicity against A549 cells was exhibited by the DTX-NPs in comparison to DTX alone while higher maximum tolerated dose (MTD) with the DTX-NPs (75 mg/kg) than with DTX (30 mg/kg) was demonstrated in mice, suggesting that the DTX-NPs prepared with HSA yielded similar anti-tumor activity but were accompanied by less systemic toxicity than solvent formulated DTX.

Conclusions

DTX-NPs warrant further investigation and are promising candidates for clinical applications.

Design Optimization of Tumor Vasculature-Bound Nanoparticles

Nanotherapy may constitute a promising approach to target tumors with anticancer drugs while minimizing systemic toxicity. Computational modeling can enable rapid evaluation of nanoparticle (NP) designs and numerical optimization. Here, an optimization study was performed using an existing tumor model to find NP size and ligand density that maximize tumoral NP accumulation while minimizing tumor size. Optimal NP avidity lies at lower bound of feasible values, suggesting reduced ligand density to prolong NP circulation. For the given set of tumor parameters, optimal NP diameters were 288 nm to maximize NP accumulation and 334 nm to minimize tumor diameter, leading to uniform NP distribution and adequate drug load. Results further show higher dependence of NP biodistribution on the NP design than on tumor morphological parameters. A parametric study with respect to drug potency was performed. The lower the potency of the drug, the bigger the difference is between the maximizer of NP accumulation and the minimizer of tumor size, indicating the existence of a specific drug potency that minimizes the differential between the two optimal solutions. This study shows the feasibility of applying optimization to NP designs to achieve efficacious cancer nanotherapy, and offers a first step towards a quantitative tool to support clinical decision making.

Development, optimization, and in vitro characterization of dasatinib-loaded PEG functionalized chitosan capped gold nanoparticles using Box-Behnken experimental design

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this research study was to develop, optimize, and characterize dasatinib loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG) stabilized chitosan capped gold nanoparticles (DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs).

METHODS

Gold (III) chloride hydrate was reduced with chitosan and the resulting nanoparticles were coated with thiol-terminated PEG and loaded with dasatinib (DSB). Plackett-Burman design (PBD) followed by Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) were employed to optimize the process parameters. Polynomial equations, contour, and 3D response surface plots were generated to relate the factors and responses. The optimized DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs were characterized by FTIR, XRD, HR-SEM, EDX, TEM, SAED, AFM, DLS, and ZP.

RESULTS

The results of the optimized DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs showed particle size (PS) of 24.39 ± 1.82 nm, apparent drug content (ADC) of 72.06 ± 0.86%, and zeta potential (ZP) of -13.91 ± 1.21 mV. The responses observed and the predicted values of the optimized process were found to be close. The shape and surface morphology studies showed that the resulting DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs were spherical and smooth. The stability and in vitro drug release studies confirmed that the optimized formulation was stable at different conditions of storage and exhibited a sustained drug release of the drug of up to 76% in 48 h and followed Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetic model.

CONCLUSIONS

A process for preparing gold nanoparticles using chitosan, anchoring PEG to the particle surface, and entrapping dasatinib in the chitosan-PEG surface corona was optimized.