Development of BSA gel/Pectin/Chitosan polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules for Berberine delivery and evaluation of their inhibitory effect on Cutibacterium acnes

Layer-By-Layer Synthesis of the pH-Responsive Hollow Microcapsule and Investigation of Its Drug Delivery and Anticancer Properties

Multilayered pH-responsive hollow microcapsules with non-toxicity and biological specificity advantages were prepared from two kinds of polymers i.e., chitosan (CH) and poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PE) via layer-by-layer (LbL) method, which is followed by subsequent removal of silica core. The hollow nature of obtained spherical microcapsules was found by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microcapsules were prepared as gemcitabine (GM) and curcumin (CR) carriers. The drugs have been loaded within the microcapsules during or after the synthetic procedure. Although acceptable loading efficiencies (LE) were obtained in both methods, the amount of drug loaded during the synthesis method is relatively higher. Values above 78% and 87%, for releasing efficiency (RE%) and encapsulation efficiency (EE%), respectively, demonstrate the high potential of the prepared microcapsules for drug delivery. In addition, the difference between the amount of drug released in acidic and neutral pH indicates the pH-responsivity of the prepared microcapsules. Moreover, the dose-dependent high cytotoxicity effect of the prepared microcapsules was observed on the HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells.

Layer-by-layer self-assembled emerging systems for nanosized drug delivery

New frontiers in the development of stimuli-responsive surfaces that offer switchable properties according to the end-use application have added a new dimension to the design of drug-delivery systems (DDS). In this respect, layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled technologies have attracted interest in nano-DDS (NDDS) design due to the advantage of encapsulating different drug types either individually or in multiple formulations as an easy-to-apply and cost-effective strategy. LbL-based microcapsules and core-shell structures in the form of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) have been proposed as versatile vehicles for NDDS over the last quarter. This review aims to provide a global view of LbL-PEMs used as templates in NDDS for the last 5 years with an emphasis on emerging drug loading and release strategies.

A review of the berberine natural polysaccharide nanostructures as potential anticancer and antibacterial agents

Despite the promising medicinal properties, berberine (BBR), due to its relatively poor solubility in plasma, low bio-stability and limited bioavailability is not used broadly in clinical stages. Due to these drawbacks, drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanoscale natural polysaccharides, are applied to address these concerns. Natural polymers are biodegradable, non-immunogenic, biocompatible, and non-toxic agents that are capable of trapping large amounts of hydrophobic compounds in relatively small volumes. The use of nanoscale natural polysaccharide improves the stability and pharmacokinetics of the small molecules and, consequently, increases the therapeutic effects and reduces the side effects of the small molecules. Therefore, this paper presents an overview of the different methods used for increasing the BBR solubility and bioavailability. Afterwards, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic of BBR nanostructures were discussed followed by the introduction of natural polysaccharides of plant (cyclodextrines, glucomannan), the shells of crustaceans (chitosan), and the cell wall of brown marine algae (alginate)-based origins used to improve the dissolution rate of poorly soluble BBR and their anticancer and antibacterial properties. Finally, the anticancer and antibacterial mechanisms of free BBR and BBR nanostructures were surveyed. In conclusion, this review may pave the way for providing some useful data in the development of BBR-based platforms for clinical applications.

Construction and characterization of Juglans regia L. polyphenols nanoparticles based on bovine serum albumin and Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides, and their gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation in vitro

Herein, we report the construction and characterization of nanoparticles based on bovine serum albumin and Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides for the delivery of polyphenols isolated from the shells of Juglans regia L. (BSA-JRP-HSP NPs). We also systematically investigated their gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation characteristics in vitro. BSA-JRP-HSP NPs, with amorphous properties and regular spherical morphological features, have a high encapsulation efficiency of 88.47 ± 0.04%, average particle size of 285.7 ± 3.1 nm, and zeta potential of -12.20 ± 0.61 mV, and they exhibit excellent photothermal stabilities and strong mucin adhesion capacity. Through measurements of gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation in vitro, the results suggest that BSA-JRP-HSP NPs presented well-sustained release characteristics for preventing the biodegradation of JRP during gastrointestinal digestion. After gastrointestinal digestion, BSA-JRP-HSP NPs could modulate the composition and structure of gut microbiota, promoting the growth of beneficial bacterial (e.g. Prevotella, Dialister, Akkermansia, etc.) and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Bacteroides, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, etc.). The production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid was remarkably enhanced by treatment with BSA-JRP-HSP NPs. This study has proved that BSA-JRP-HSP NPs can serve as a novel candidate for improving the bioavailability of JRP.

Applications of serum albumins in delivery systems: Differences in interfacial behaviour and interacting abilities with polysaccharides

One of the major applications of Serum Albumins is their use as delivery systems for lipophilic compounds in biomedicine. Their biomedical application is based on the similarity with Human Serum Albumin (HSA), as a fully biocompatible protein. In general, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) is treated as comparable to its human homologue and used as a model protein for fundamental studies since it is available in high amounts and well understood. This protein can act as a carrier for lipophilic compounds or as protective shell in an emulsion-based vehicle. Polysaccharides are generally included in these formulations in order to increase the stability and/or applicability of the carrier. In this review, the main biomedical applications of Albumins as drug delivery systems are first presented. Secondly, the differences between BSA and HSA are highlighted, exploring the similarities and differences between these proteins and their interaction with polysaccharides, both in solution and adsorbed at interfaces. Finally, the use of Albumins as emulsifiers for emulsion-based delivery systems, concretely as Liquid Lipid Nanocapsules (LLNs), is revised and discussed in terms of the differences encountered in the molecular structure and in the interfacial properties. The specific case of Hyaluronic Acid is considered as a promising additive with important applications in biomedicine. The literature works are thoroughly discussed highlighting similarities and differences between BSA and HSA and their interaction with polysaccharides encountered at different structural levels, hence providing routes to control the optimal design of delivery systems.

Multilayered Porous Titanium-Based 3rd Generation Biomaterial Designed for Endosseous Implants

This work proposes a novel complex multi-layered material consisting of porous titanium as a substrate and a complex coating consisting of a chitosan film engulfing microsphere loaded with growth factors such as BMP2 (bone morphogenic protein 2) and IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor-1). The microspheres were obtained through deposition of dual layers of calcium cross linked pectin–chitosan/pectin polyelectrolyte onto a BSA (bovine serum albumin) gel core. The multilayer was conceived to behave like a 3rd generation biomaterial, by slow delivery of viable growth factors around implants, and to assist the healing of implantation wound and the development of new vital bone. The biologic effect of the delivery of growth factors was studied in vitro, on MSC-CD1 mesenchymal stem cells, and in vivo, on CD1 mice. Proliferation and differentiation of cells were accelerated by growth factors, especially IGF1 for proliferation and BMP2 for differentiation. In vivo tests analyzed histologically and by MicroCT show a more structured tissue around BMP2 samples. The present concept will give the best clinical results if both growth factors are delivered together by a coating film that contains a double population of microcarriers.