Role of physicochemical parameters associated with the hydrophobic vs. amphiphilic biodegradable polymer nanoparticles formation

Novel AIE-Active Polyarylethersulfone Polymers Incorporating Tetraphenylethene for Enhanced Fluorescence

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials have gained significant attention for their unique fluorescence enhancement in the aggregated state. However, combining rigid polymers with AIE molecules to enhance luminescent properties remains to be investigated. In this work, two novel AIE-active polyarylethersulfone (PAES) derivatives are synthesized by incorporating tetraphenylethene (TPE) into either the side chain or main chain of PAES, resulting in side-chain polyarylethersulfone-tetraphenylethene (PAES-TPE) and main-chain polyarylethersulfone-tetraphenylethene (m-PAES-TPE), respectively. These derivatives are designed to investigate the influence of the rigid polymer backbone on the AIE properties of TPE. The incorporation of TPE into PAES resulted in a notable redshift in fluorescence emission compared to pure TPE. Notably, m-PAES-TPE50%, a polymer with 50% molar content of TPE, exhibited a fluorescence quantum yield to 57.43%, more than twice that of TPE powder. Thermal analysis showed that both PAES-TPE and m-PAES-TPE have excellent thermal stability and temperature-dependent fluorescence. Additionally, these materials are processed into hydrophobic nanoparticles, and in vitro experiments demonstrated good fluorescence properties and biocompatibility for cancer cell bioimaging. This work highlights the potential of rigid AIE-active PAES derivatives for advanced bioimaging applications.

Tannic acid-modified FK506-loaded nanoparticles targeting lymph nodes for acute heart transplant rejection treatment

Significant efforts have been made to deliver immunosuppressants-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) to lymph nodes (LNs) to mitigate transplant rejection. However, conventional administration techniques encounter challenges in enhancing the retention of NPs in the LNs. Attributing the strong affinity of tannic acid (TA) molecules to the elastin of LN conduits, we developed a novel formulation of NPs encapsulating Tacrolimus (FK506), and subsequently modified with TA to produce TA-FNP with a final diameter of approximately 86.07 ± 2.78 nm. These particles could traverse the the intercellular gaps in the lymphatic endothelial cells layers, enter the paracortex through LN capsule-associated conduits, and releases FK506 to inhibit the activation and proliferation of allogeneic T cells. Our finding demonstrated that TA-FNP could accumulate in LNs, significantly increasing the local concentration of FK506 from 69.06 ± 21.96 ng/g to 1041.28 ± 343.59 ng/g compared to the free FK506 treatment group. Subsequently, the therapeutic efficacy of TA-FNP was assessed in heart transplantation model, where treatment with TA-FNP resulted in decreased T cells infiltration within the grafts, reduced rejection grades, and a significant extension of graft survival time. In contrast, FNP without TA showed relatively poor therapeutic outcomes. Consequently, this study reveals a promising strategy utilizing TA to enhance the prolonged retention of FK506 within LNs, underscoring its potential therapeutic application in preventing heart transplant rejection.

Curcumin clarithromycin nano-form a promising agent to fight Helicobacter pylori infections

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main cause of gastric diseases. However, the traditional antibiotic treatment of H. pylori is limited due to increased antibiotic resistance, low efficacy, and low drug concentration in the stomach. This study developed a Nano-emulsion system with ability to carry Curcumin and Clarithromycin to protect them against stomach acidity and increase their efficacy against H. pylori. We used oil in water emulsion system to prepare a novel Curcumin Clarithromycin Nano-Emulsion (Cur-CLR-NE). The nano-emulsion was validated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, zeta potential; transmission electron microscopy (mean particle size 48 nm), UV-visible scanning and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The in vitro assay of Cur-CLR-NE against H. pylori was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (12.5 to 6.26 µg/mL), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and anti-biofilm that showed a higher inhibitory effect of Cur-CLR-NE in compere with, free curcumin and clarithromycin against H. pylori. The in vivo results indicated that Cur-CLR-NE showed higher H. pylori clearance effect than free clarithromycin or curcumin under the same administration frequency and the same dose regimen. Histological analysis clearly showed that curcumin is highly effective in repairing damaged tissue. In addition, a potent synergistic effect was obvious between clarithromycin and curcumin in nano-emulsion system. The inflammation, superficial damage, the symptoms of gastritis including erosion in the mouse gastric mucosa, necrosis of the gastric epithelium gastric glands and interstitial oedema of tunica muscularis were observed in the positive control infected mice and absent from treated mice with Cur-CLR-NE.

A Review on Polymer and Lipid-Based Nanocarriers and Its Application to Nano-Pharmaceutical and Food-Based Systems

Recently, owing to well-controlled release, enhanced distribution and increased permeability, nanocarriers used for alternative drug and food-delivery strategies have received increasingly attentions. Nanocarriers have attracted a large amount of interest as potential carriers of various bioactive molecules for multiple applications. Drug and food-based delivery via polymeric-based nanocarriers and lipid-based nanocarriers has been widely investigated. Nanocarriers, especially liposomes, are more and more widely used in the area of novel nano-pharmaceutical or food-based design. Herein, we aimed to discuss the recent advancement of different surface-engineered nanocarriers type, along with cutting-edge applications for food and nanomedicine and highlight the alternative of phytochemical as nanocarrier. Additionally, safety concern of nanocarriers was also highlighted.