Mucosa-plate for direct evaluation of mucoadhesion of drug carriers

Drug Delivery Platforms Containing Thermoresponsive Polymers and Mucoadhesive Cellulose Derivatives: A Review of Patents

Nowadays, the development of mucoadhesive systems for drug delivery has gained keen interest, with enormous potential in applications through different routes. Mucoadhesion characterizes an attractive interaction between the pharmaceutical dosage form and the mucosal surface. Many polymers have shown the ability to interact with mucus, increasing the residence time of local and/or systemic administered preparations, such as tablets, patches, semi-solids, and micro and nanoparticles. Cellulose is the most abundant polymer on the earth. It is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as an inert pharmaceutical ingredient, mainly in its covalently modified forms: methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose salts. Aiming to overcome the drawbacks of oral, ocular, nasal, vaginal, and rectal routes and thereby maintaining patient compliance, innovative polymer blends have gained the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. Combining mucoadhesive and thermoresponsive polymers allows for simultaneous in situ gelation and mucoadhesion, thus enhancing the retention of the system at the site of administration and drug availability. Thermoresponsive polymers have the ability to change physicochemical properties triggered by temperature, which is particularly interesting considering the physiological temperature. The present review provides an analysis of the main characteristics and applications of cellulose derivatives as mucoadhesive polymers and their use in blends together with thermoresponsive polymers, aiming at platforms for drug delivery. Patents were reviewed, categorized, and discussed, focusing on the applications and pharmaceutical dosage forms using this innovative strategy. This review manuscript also provides a detailed introduction to the topic and a perspective on further developments.

Alginate-Based Smart Materials and Their Application: Recent Advances and Perspectives

Nature produces materials using available molecular building blocks following a bottom-up approach. These materials are formed with great precision and flexibility in a controlled manner. This approach offers the inspiration for manufacturing new artificial materials and devices. Synthetic artificial materials can find many important applications ranging from personalized therapeutics to solutions for environmental problems. Among these materials, responsive synthetic materials are capable of changing their structure and/or properties in response to external stimuli, and hence are termed "smart" materials. Herein, this review focuses on alginate-based smart materials and their stimuli-responsive preparation, fragmentation, and applications in diverse fields from drug delivery and tissue engineering to water purification and environmental remediation. In the first part of this report, we review stimuli-induced preparation of alginate-based materials. Stimuli-triggered decomposition of alginate materials in a controlled fashion is documented in the second part, followed by the application of smart alginate materials in diverse fields. Because of their biocompatibility, easy accessibility, and simple techniques of material formation, alginates can provide solutions for several present and future problems of humankind. However, new research is needed for novel alginate-based materials with new functionalities and well-defined properties for targeted applications.

Water-dispersible unadulterated α-mangostin particles for biomedical applications

α-Mangostin, the extract from pericarp of Garcinia mangostana L . or mangosteen fruit, has been applied in various biomedical products because of its minimal skin irritation, and prominent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immune-modulating activities. Owing to its low water solubility, the particle formulations are necessary for the applications of α-mangostin in aqueous media. The particle formulations are usually prepared using surfactants and/or polymers, usually at a larger amount of these auxiliaries than the amount of α-mangostin itself. Here, we show the self-assembly of α-mangostin molecules into water-dispersible particles without a need of any polymers/surfactants. Investigations on chemical structure, crystallinity and thermal properties of the obtained α-mangostin particles, in comparison to the conventional α-mangostin crystalline solid, confirm no formation of the new compound during the particle formation and suggest changes in intermolecular interactions among α-mangostin molecules and significantly more hydroxyl functionality positioned at the particles' surface. The ability of the water suspension of the α-mangostin to inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, the acne-causing bacteria, is similar to that of the solution of the conventional α-mangostin in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Moreover, at 12.7 ppm in an aqueous environment of RAW 264.7 cell culture, α-mangostin suspension exhibits five times higher anti-inflammatory activity than the conventional α-mangostin solution, with the same acceptable cytotoxicity of less than 20% cell death.

Alginate nanoparticles as non-toxic delivery system for miltefosine in the treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcosis

Introduction and objective

Previous studies indicate that miltefosine (MFS) may be an alternative as an antifungal agent; however, it presents several adverse effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to produce miltefosine-loaded alginate nanoparticles (MFS.Alg) for toxicity reduction to be used as an alternative for the treatment of cryptococcosis and candidiasis.

Methods

Alginate nanoparticles were produced using the external emulsification/gelation method, and their physicochemical and morphological characteristics were analyzed. MFS encapsulation efficiency, release assay and toxicity on red blood cells and on Galleria mellonella larvae were assessed. The antifungal activity was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo larval models of G. mellonella infected with Candida albicans (SC5314 and IAL-40), Cryptococcus neoformans H99 and Cryptococcus gattii ATCC 56990. The treatment efficacy was evaluated by survival curve, colony forming unit (CFU) counting and histopathological analysis.

Results

MFS.Alg nanoparticles presented a mean size of 279.1±56.7 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.42±0.15 and a zeta potential of -39.7±5.2 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of MFS was 81.70±6.64%, and its release from the nanoparticles occurred in a sustained manner. MFS in alginate nanoparticles presented no hemolytic effect and no toxicity in G. mellonella larvae. Treatment with MFS.Alg extended the survival time of larvae infected with C. albicans and C. gattii. In addition, the fungal burden reduction was confirmed by CFU and histopathological data for all groups treated with 200 mg/Kg of MFS.Alg.

Conclusion

These results support the use of alginate-based drug delivery systems as carriers for MFS for drug toxicity reduction and control of the fungal infection in the in vivo model of G. mellonella.

Influence of the surface properties of nanocapsules on their interaction with intestinal barriers

Despite the convenience of the oral route for drug administration, the existence of different physiological barriers associated with the intestinal tract greatly lowers the bioavailability of many active compounds. We have previously suggested the potential polymeric nanocapsules, consisting of an oily core surrounded by a polymer shell, as oral drug delivery carriers. Here we present a systematic study of the influence of the surface properties of these nanocapsules on their interaction with the intestinal barriers. Two different surfactants, Pluronic®F68 (PF68) and F127 (PF127), and two polymeric shells, chitosan (CS) and polyarginine (PARG) were chosen for the formulation of the nanocapsules. We analyzed nine different combinations of these polymers and surfactants, and studied the effect of each specific combination on their colloidal stability, enzymatic degradation, and mucoadhesion/mucodiffusion. Our results indicate that both, the polymer shell and the surfactants located at the oil/water interface, influence the interaction of the nanocapsules with the intestinal barriers. More interestingly, according to our observations, the shell components of the nanosystems may have either synergic or disruptive effects on their capacity to overcome the intestinal barriers.

Mucoadhesive cellulosic derivative sponges as drug delivery system for vaginal application

Vaginal delivery of active drugs has been largely studied for local and systemic applications. It is well known that vagina is a complex route, due to physiological and non-physiological changes. Therefore, in order to achieve a prolonged local effect, these variations have to be considered. The aim of this study was to formulate and to characterize a solid system, called sponges, obtained by lyophilization of cellulosic derivative (HEC 250M) hydrogels. These sponges have to meet particular criteria to be adapted for vaginal application: they have to adhere to the vaginal cavity and to be rehydrated by the small amount of vaginal fluids. Moreover, they have to be easily manipulated and to be stable. Three freezing temperatures have been tested to prepare sponges (-15°C, -25°C, -35°C). By SEM analyzes, it was observed that the pores into the sponges were smaller and numerous as the freezing temperature decreases. However, this temperature did not have any influence on the rehydration speed that was rather influenced by the HEC concentration. Viscosity and mucoadhesive strength of hydrogels and corresponding sponges were also measured. It appeared that these parameters are mainly dependent on the HEC concentration. These mucoadhesive sponges can be considered as potential drug delivery systems intended for vaginal application.

Acrylate-tethering drug carrier: covalently linking carrier to biological surface and application in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

The development of carriers to sustain drugs at stomach surface is an attractive strategy to increase drug bioavailability locally and systematically. So far, the only reported carrier that can form a covalent bond with mucus, the thiolated carrier, relies on a reversible disulfide exchange reaction between thiols on the carrier and disulfide bridges on the mucus. Here we show the design and fabrication of a cellulose carrier with tethering acrylate groups (denoted here as clickable carrier) that, under a nontoxic condition, can efficiently react with thiols on biomaterials in situ through the thermodynamically driven and kinetically probable Michael thiol-ene click reaction. Here we show the attachments of the clickable carriers to a mucin protein, a surface of human laryngeal carcinoma cells, and a surface of a fresh porcine stomach. We also show that the required thiol moieties can be generated in situ by reducing existing cystine disulfide bridges with either the edible vitamin C or the relatively nontoxic tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine. Comparing to a control carrier, the clickable carrier can increase some drug concentrations in an ex vivo stomach tissue, and improve the Helicobacter pylori treatment in infected C57BL/6 mice.

Preparation methods of alginate nanoparticles

This article reviews available methods for the formation of alginate nano-aggregates, nanocapsules and nanospheres. Primarily, alginate nanoparticles are being prepared by two methods. In the "complexation method", complex formation on the interface of an oil droplet is used to form alginate nanocapsules, and complex formation in an aqueous solution is used to form alginate nano-aggregates. In a second method w/o emulsification coupled with gelation of the alginate emulsion droplet can be used to form alginate nanospheres. We review advantages and disadvantages of these methods, and give an overview of the properties of the alginate particles produced with these methods.