Core Shell Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Oral Bioavailability Enhancement of Ibrutinib via Lymphatic Uptake

The purpose of this research was to develop ibrutinib (IBR)-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (IBR-LPHNPs) to improve oral absorption by intestinal lymphatic uptake. IBR-LPHNPs were fabricated by nanoprecipitation method using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), lipoid S 100, and DSPE-MPEG 2000. The IBR-LPHNPs showed particle size of 85.27±3.82 nm, entrapment efficiency of 97.70±3.85%, and zeta potential of -24.9±3.08 mV respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry study revealed compatibility between IBR and excipients. X-ray diffraction study showed the conversion of IBR into amorphous form. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic image displayed spherical-shaped, discrete layered polymeric core and lipid shell structure. The drug release from IBR-LPHNPs exhibited prolong release profile up to 48 h and was best fitted to Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Higher fluorescence intensity at the end of 2 h in the intestinal tissue confirmed the uptake of LPHNPs by Peyer's patches. The oral bioavailability of IBR was improved 22.52-fold with LPHNPs as compared to free IBR. The intestinal lymphatic uptake study in rats pretreated with cycloheximide confirmed the intestinal lymphatic uptake of IBR-LPHNPs. All the results conclusively showed that LPHNPs could be a promising approach to improve oral bioavailability of IBR.

Polymer-based drug delivery systems for anticancer drugs: A systematic review

Recent advances in nanotechnology sciences lead to the development of new treatment approaches for various diseases such as cancer. Nanotechnology advances can potentially minimize the side effects of drugs through the employment of effective and controlled drug delivery systems (DDSs). Polymers are optimal tools providing drug delivery mechanisms through the unique features of pharmacokinetics, circulation time, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This systematic review aimed to evaluate polymer-based DDSs for anticancer drugs and their various therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. This study was conducted with no time limitation by November 2021. Related articles were collected through a deep search in English and Persian databases of SID, MagIran, Scopus, Web Of Science (WoS), PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Keywords included drug delivery system, anticancer agent, polymeric nanostructure-based drug delivery, polymer-based drug delivery, and polymeric system. As the results showed, polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) have influential roles in cancer treatment than conventional chemotherapy procedures. PNPs can reduce cytotoxicity following chemotherapy drug administration, improve the solubility characteristics of these therapeutic agents and inhibit the rate of tumor growth.

Utilization of Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapy

Cancer represents one of the most dangerous diseases, with 1.8 million deaths worldwide. Despite remarkable advances in conventional therapies, these treatments are not effective to completely eradicate cancer. Nanotechnology offers potential cancer treatment based on formulations of several nanoparticles (NPs). Liposomes and polymeric nanoparticle are the most investigated and effective drug delivery systems (DDS) for cancer treatment. Liposomes represent potential DDS due to their distinct properties, including high-drug entrapment efficacy, biocompatibility, low cost, and scalability. However, their use is restricted by susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, instability, burst release of drugs, and the limited surface modification. Similarly, polymeric nanoparticles show several chemical modifications with polymers, good stability, and controlled release, but their drawbacks for biological applications include limited drug loading, polymer toxicity, and difficulties in scaling up. Therefore, polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes are combined to form polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNPs), with the positive attributes of both components such as high biocompatibility and stability, improved drug payload, controlled drug release, longer circulation time, and superior in vivo efficacy. In this review, we have focused on the prominent strategies used to develop tumor targeting PLHNPs and discuss their advantages and unique properties contributing to an ideal DDS.

Assessment of the hepatoprotective effect of developed lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) encapsulating naturally extracted β-Sitosterol against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of β-Sitosterol (BSS), a natural phytosterol, after being formulated into a suitable pharmaceutical drug delivery system has not been widely explored. BSS was isolated from Centaurea pumilio L., identified and formulated as lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) using the poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymer and DSPE-PEG-2000 lipid in different ratios. The selected formulation, prepared with a lipid: polymer: drug ratio of 2:2:2, had an entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 94.42 ± 3.8, particle size of 181.5 ± 11.3 nm, poly dispersity index (PDI) of 0.223 ± 0.06, zeta potential of −37.34 ± 3.21 and the highest drug release after 24 h. The hepatoprotective effect of the formulation at two different doses against CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in rats. The results showed that the BSS-LPHNPs (400 mg/kg) have the ability to restore the liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), liver lipid peroxidation markers (malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT)), total bilirubin and albumin to their normal levels without inhibitory effect on the CYP2E1 activity. Also, the formulation could maintain the normal histological structure of liver tissue and decrease the cleaved caspase-3 expression. LPHNPs formulation encapsulating natural BSS is a promising hepatoprotective drug delivery system.

pH-Responsive Micelles Assembled by Three-Armed Degradable Block Copolymers with a Cholic Acid Core for Drug Controlled-Release

One of the most famous anticancer drugs, paclitaxel (PTX), has often been used in drug controlled-release studies. The polymers derived from bio-compound bile acids and degradable poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) form a reservoir and have been used as a drug delivery system with great advantages. Herein, we grafted poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) into the bile acid-derived three-armed macroinitiator CA-(PCL)₃, resulting in the amphiphilic block copolymers CA-(PCL-b-PDEAEMA-b-PPEGMA)₃. These pH-responsive three-armed block copolymers self-assembled into micelles in aqueous solution and PTX was encapsulated into the micellar core to form PTX-loaded micelles with a drug loading of 29.92 wt %. The micelles were stable in PBS at pH 7.4 and showed a pH-triggered release behavior of PTX under acidic environments, in which 55% of PTX was released at pH 5.0 in 80 h. These cholic acid-based functionalized three-armed block polymers present good biocompatibility, showing great potential for drug controlled-release.

Dual-drug delivery based charge-conversional polymeric micelles for enhanced cellular uptake and combination therapy

We herein report on the synthesis and characterization of a dual-drug conjugated prodrug, and the self-assembled micelles showed a charge-conversion behavior and synergistic effectin vitro.

A novel smart PEGylated gelatin nanoparticle for co-delivery of doxorubicin and betanin: A strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy

Betanin (BET) can reduce the side effects of potent anticancer drugs e.g. doxorubicin (DOX) on the normal tissues in co-administration with them because of the synergistic therapeutic effect and consequently the reduced required amount of anticancer agents. Despite interest in the use of BET, incomplete oral absorption and low stability of BET limit its application. Thus, in this study to overcome the restrictions of BET and providing the synergistic effect of DOX@BET, we designed a new pH-responsive nanocarrier via decoration of gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) by (methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly ((2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate-co-itaconic acid) (PGNPs). DOX and BET were effectively loaded (the loading capacity of 20.5% and 16.25%, respectively) into the PGNPs and this nanoplatform exhibited the suitable small particle size (162 nm). Additionally, the triggered release ability of drugs was studied through the assessment of simulated physiological and tumor tissue environments and showed the controlled release of DOX and BET with adjusting the pH of environment. Moreover, the synergistic effect of DOX@BET loaded PGNPs decreased the cell viability amount of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) respect to the free form of DOX or BET which indicated that the developed smart nanocarrier will be a hopeful nanocarrier for cancer therapy.