Controlled Release of Curcumin and Hypocrellin A from Electrospun Poly(l-Lactic Acid)/Silk Fibroin Nanofibers for Enhanced Cancer Cell Inhibition

Nanofibers have emerged as a highly effective method for drug delivery, attributed to their remarkable porosity and ability to regulate drug release rates while minimizing toxicity and side effects. In this study, we successfully loaded the natural anticancer drugs curcumin (CUR) and hypocrellin A (HA) into pure poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and PLLA-silk protein (PS) composite nanofibers through electrospinning technology. This result was confirmed through comprehensive analysis involving SEM, FTIR, XRD, DSC, TG, zeta potential, and pH stability analysis. The encapsulation efficiency of all samples exceeded 85%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the loading process. Additionally, the drug release doses were significantly higher in the composites compared to pure PLLA, owing to the enhanced crystallinity and stability of the silk proteins. Importantly, the composite nanofibers exhibited excellent pH stability in physiological and acidic environments. Furthermore, the drug-loaded composite nanofibers displayed strong inhibitory effects on cancer cells, with approximately 28% (HA) and 37% (CUR) inhibition of cell growth and differentiation within 72 h, while showing minimal impact on normal cells. This research highlights the potential for controlling drug release through the manipulation of fiber diameter and crystallinity, paving the way for wider applications of electrospun green nanomaterials in the field of medicine.

Study the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin-loaded redox-responsive chitosan-derived nanoparticles in the MDA-MB-231 cell line

This study focuses on the design and evaluation of redox-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) by synthesizing disulfide-containing N-phthaloyl chitosan-SS-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (NPC-SS-mPEG) and incorporating the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin into the NPs. The structural features of NPC-SS-mPEG were investigated using FTIR, NMR, XRD, and TGA/DTA analysis. DLS and TEM analysis confirmed the particle size and morphology of the NPs. The stability of the NPs was measured with the presence and absence of glutathione (GSH) in buffers pH 5 and 7.4. Furthermore, the release of DOX from the NPs was studied in GSH (10 mM) containing/absent medium at pH 5 and pH 7.4 which mimics the intracellular environment with redox potential. The results indicated a significantly increased release of DOX in the GSH containing medium pH 5 (82.9 ± 2.1 %) and pH 7.4 (67.37 ± 0.88 %) compared to the GSH free pH 7.4 (29.99 ± 1.01 %) and pH 5 medium (56.56 ± 1.7 %) at 60 h. The cytotoxicity study in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line by MTT assay indicated higher toxicity of redox-responsive NPs to cancer cells than free DOX. In concurrence with the cytotoxicity assay, in-vitro fluorescence staining assays (AO/EB, Hoechst, ROS generation) also confirmed that NPs loaded with DOX induce higher toxicity to cancer cells than free DOX. Taken together, the overall results confirmed the superiority of the redox response-mediated release of DOX in effectively controlling cancer progression.

Self-targeted hyaluronic acid-b-poly (β-amino ester) pH-switchable polymersome for guided doxorubicin delivery to metastatic breast cancer

In this study, a targeted pH-sensitive polymersome incorporating doxorubicin (DOX) was manufactured implementing diblock copolymer of hyaluronic acid-b-pPoly (β-amino ester) (HA-PBAE). The hydrophilic DOX was loaded into the aqueous compartment of HA-PBAE polymersomal structure during nanoprecipitation process with 60 % ± 3.0 entrapment efficiency (EE%) and 5.3 % ± 0.2 loading content (LC%) while demonstrating spherical morphology with size of 196 ± 3.8 nm and PDI of 0.3. The prepared platform (DOX-HA-PBAE) illustrated accelerated DOX release in acidic pH 5.4, and showed significantly higher cytotoxicity and cellular internalization in comparison with free DOX against 4T1 cell line (CD44 positive cell). In contrast, no significant growth inhibition was observed in CHO cell line (CD44 negative cell). Furthermore, DOX-HA-PBAE platform displayed higher therapeutic efficacy, favorable tumor accumulation and lower systemic toxicity in comparison with free DOX based on obtained experimental data in ectopic 4T1 tumor model in BALB/c Female mice in terms of tumor growth rate, survival rate, body weight loss, ex vivo biodistribution and pathological evaluations. The obtained results demonstrated that DOX-HA-PBAE polymersomes have potential to be used in metastatic breast cancer therapy with promising characteristics in terms of tumor growth suppression and safety profile.

Recent Advances in Polycaprolactones for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Poly(ε-Caprolactone)s are biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters that have gained considerable attention for drug delivery applications due to their slow degradation and ease of functionalization. One of the significant advantages of polycaprolactone is its ability to attach various functionalities to its backbone, which is commonly accomplished through ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of functionalized caprolactone monomer. In this review, we aim to summarize some of the most recent advances in polycaprolactones and their potential application in drug delivery. We will discuss different types of polycaprolactone-based drug delivery systems and their behavior in response to different stimuli, their ability to target specific locations, morphology, as well as their drug loading and release capabilities.

Caffeic Acid Modified Nanomicelles Inhibit Articular Cartilage Deterioration and Reduce Disease Severity in Experimental Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammation plays an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). NR4A1 is an anti-inflammatory orphan nuclear receptor involved in protection from inflammatory stimuli in RA. In this study we have explored the anti-inflammatory potential of the FDA-approved drug 9-aminoacridine (9AA) and the natural compound caffeic acid (CA) conjugated to nanomicelles for the treatment of RA. We have synthesized methoxy polyethylene glycol polycaprolactone block copolymer (mPEG-b-PCL) by ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Then, we conjugated the hydrophilic caffeic acid (CA) with mPEG-b-PCL micelles via Steglich esterification and incorporated the 9AA drug. These nanomicelles were formulated by the solvent evaporation method with a size distribution around 190 nm and showed maximum drug loading capacity along with sustained drug release behavior. Furthermore, we tested the therapeutic potential of the formulated 9AA-encapsulated CA-conjugated nanomicelles (9AA-NMs) against an experimental RA model. We observed promising results which showed alleviation of arthritic symptoms by reducing inflammation, joint damage, bone erosion, and swelling. Further, collagen destruction was significantly reduced in articular cartilage, as shown by safranin-O and toluidine blue staining. The protective mechanism might be due to the simultaneous inhibition of NF-κB by 9AA and CA, whereas the activation of NR4A1 by 9AA leads to the suppression of HIF-1α. This combined therapeutic effect of 9AA and CA has enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of 9AA-NM and markedly reduced the severity of inflammatory arthritis. Unlike existing drugs for pain management and with limited efficacy, 9AA-NM exerted a disease-relevant activation/blockade that alleviated inflammation and exhibited marked therapeutic efficacy against RA.

Tumor Targeting with Methotrexate-Conjugated Zwitterionic Near-Infrared Fluorophore for Precise Photothermal Therapy

Targeted tumor imaging can effectively enable image-guided surgery and precise cancer therapy. Finding the right combination of anticancer drugs and near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores is the key to targeted photothermal cancer treatment. In this study, a tumor-targetable NIR fluorophore conjugate with rapid body clearance was developed for accurate tumor imaging and effective photothermal therapy (PTT). The methotrexate (MTX) and zwitterionic NIR fluorophore conjugate (MTX-ZW) were prepared by conjugating a folate antagonist MTX with an aminated ZW800-1 analog to increase the tumor targetability for NIR laser-based PTT of cancer. The MTX, known as a poor tumor-selective drug, showed high tumor accumulation and rapid background clearance after conjugation with the highly water-soluble zwitterionic NIR fluorophore up to 4 h post-injection. The photothermal energy was generated from the MTX-ZW conjugate to induce necrotic cell death in the targeted tumor site under 808 nm laser irradiation. Compared with the previously reported MTX conjugates, the MTX-ZW conjugate can be a great candidate for targeted tumor imaging and fluorescence-guided photothermal cancer therapy. Therefore, these results provide a strategy for the design of drug-fluorophore conjugates and elaborate therapeutic platforms for cancer phototherapy.

Influence of magnetite incorporation into chitosan on the adsorption of the methotrexate and in vitro cytotoxicity

Emerging pollutants are a group of substances involved in environmental contamination resulting mostly from incomplete drug metabolism, associated with inadequate disposal and ineffective effluent treatment techniques. Methotrexate (MTX), for instance, is excreted at high concentrations in unchanged form through the urine. Although the MTX is still effective in cancer and autoimmune disease treatment, this drug shows the ability of bioaccumulation and toxicity to the organism. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the adsorption of the MTX drug onto magnetic nanocomposites containing different amounts of incorporated magnetite (1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 wt%), combining the theoretical-experimental study as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity. Moreover, equilibrium studies (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Hill, Redlich-Peterson, and Sips), kinetic (PFO, PSO, and IPD), and thermodynamic (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) were used to describe the experimental data, and ab initio simulations were employed in the theoretical study. Magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized by the co-precipitation method using only FeCl₂ as the iron precursor. Adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM-EDS, BET, and VSM analysis. Meanwhile, cytotoxic effects on L929 and A375 cell lines were evaluated through MTT, NR, and LDH assays. The adsorption of the MTX was carried out in a typical batch system, exploring the different experimental conditions. The theoretical study suggests the occurrence of chemisorption between CS·Fe₃O₄-MTX. The maximum adsorption capacity of MTX was 285.92 mg g^-1, using 0.125 g L^-1 of CS·Fe₃O₄ 1:1, with an initial concentration of the MTX (50 mg L^-1), pH 4.0 at 293 ± 1.00 K. The best adjustment of equilibrium and kinetic data were the Sips (low values for statistical errors) and PSO (q_e = 96.73 mg g^-1) models, respectively. Thermodynamic study shows that the adsorption occurred spontaneously (ΔG° < 0), with exothermic (ΔH° =  - 4698.89 kJ mol^-1) and random at the solid-solution interface (ΔS° = 1,476,022.00 kJ mol^-1 k^-1) behavior. Finally, the in vitro study shows that magnetic nanomaterials exhibit higher cytotoxicity in melanoma cells. Therefore, the magnetic nanocomposite reveals to be not only an excellent tool for water remediation studies but also a promising platform for drug delivery.

Preparation of colloidal nanoparticles PVA-PHEMA from hydrolysis of copolymers of PVAc-PHEMA as anticancer drug carriers

The novel pH-responsive polymer nanoparticles have been widely used for drug delivery and cancer therapy. The pH-sensitive nanoparticles include chemical structures that can accept or donate protons in response to an environmental pH change. Polybases which mostly contain alkaline groups such as amines and hydroxy, accept protons at low pH and are neutral at higher pH values. This study aimed to prepare pH-sensitive colloidal amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PVA-PHEMA) copolymers in cancer therapy applications. For this purpose, poly(vinyl acetate-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PVAc-PHEMA) copolymer nanoparticles were synthesized in different polymerization medium fractions from water and methanol and different monomer feed concentration. Then acetate groups were hydrolyzed, and the PHEMA-PVA nanoparticles were synthesized. The nanoparticles were further characterized using dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis to identify the structural and morphological changes. The Methotrexate (MTX) was loaded into the nanoparticles, and drug release kinetics were evaluated. The results confirmed that PHEMA-PVA copolymeric nanoparticles could be favorably used in cancer therapy.

Transdermal release of methotrexate by cationic starch/poly(vinyl alcohol)-based films as an approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Methotrexate (MTX) is a common drug used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment; however, a series of adverse effects associated with its oral or subcutaneous administration is reported. Transdermal delivery of MTX is an alternative to abate these issues, and the use of drug delivery systems (DDS) based on polymeric films presents an impressive potential for this finality. Based on this, in this study, we report the preparation of films made by cationic starch (CSt), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and chondroitin sulfate (ChS) to incorporate and release MTX, as well as the in vivo evaluation in model of rheumatoid arthritis in mice. CSt/PVA and CSt/PVA/ChS-based films (with and without MTX) were prepared using a simple protocol under mild conditions. The films loaded with 5 w/w-% of MTX exhibited appreciable drug loading efficiency and distribution. The MTX permeation through the layers of porcine skin demonstrated that most of the drug permeated was detected in the medium, suggesting that the formulation can provide a systemic absorption of the MTX. In vivo studies performed in an arthritis-induced model in mice demonstrated that the MTX-loaded films were able to treat and attenuate the symptoms and the biochemical alterations related to RA (inflammatory process, oxidative stress, and nociceptive behaviors). Besides, the pharmacological activity of MTX transdermally delivery by the CSt/PVA and CSt/PVA/ChS films was comparable to the MTX orally administered. Based on these results, it can be inferred that both films are prominent materials for incorporation and transdermal delivery of MTX in a practical and non-invasive manner.

Self-assembled magnetic polymeric micelles for delivery of quercetin: Toxicity evaluation on isolated rat liver mitochondria

Multifunctional nanocarriers as a promising platform could provide numerous opportunities in the field of drug delivery. Drug carriers loaded with both magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and therapeutic agents would allow the combination of chemotherapy with the possibility of monitoring or controlling the distribution of the nano vehicles in the body which may improve the effectiveness of the therapy. Furthermore, by applying these strategies, triggering drug release and/or synergistic hyperthermia treatment are also reachable. This study aimed to explore the potential of the quercetin (QUR) loaded magnetic nano-micelles for improving drug bioavailability while reducing the drug adverse effects. The bio-safety of developed QUR loaded magnetic nano-micelles (QMNMs) were conducted via mitochondrial toxicity using isolated rat liver mitochondria including glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). QMNMs with a mean particle size of 85 nm (PDI value of 0.269) and great physical stability were produced. Also, TEM images indicated that the prepared QMNMs were semi-spherical in shape. These findings also showed that the constructed QMNMs, as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system, exhibited a stable and high rate of QUR release under mildly acidic conditions pH (5.3) compared to neutral pH (7.4). The most striking result to emerge from the data is that an investigation of various mitochondrial functional parameters revealed that both QMNMs and QUR have no specific mitochondrial toxicity. Altogether, these results offer overwhelming evidence for the bio-safety of QMNMs and might be used as an effective drug delivery system for targeting and stimuli-responsive QUR delivery.

PEGylated ethyl cellulose micelles as a nanocarrier for drug delivery

Natural polymers provide a better alternative to synthetic polymers in the domain of drug delivery systems (DDSs) because of their renewability, biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity; therefore, they are being studied for the development of bulk/nanoformulations. Likewise, current methods for engineering natural polymers into micelles are in their infancy, and in-depth studies are required using natural polymers as controlled DDSs. Accordingly, in our present study, a new micellar DDS was synthesized using ethyl cellulose (EC) grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG); it was characterized, its properties, cell toxicity, and hemocompatibility were evaluated, and its drug release kinetics were demonstrated using doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug. Briefly, EC was grafted with PEG to form the amphiphilic copolymers EC-PEG1 and EC-PEG2 with varying PEG concentrations, and nano-micelles were prepared with and without the drug (DOX) via a dialysis method; the critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) were recorded to be 0.03 mg mL⁻¹ and 0.00193 mg mL⁻¹ for EC-PEG1 and EC-PEG2, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the respective nano-micelles were evaluated via various characterization techniques. The morphologies of the nano-micelles were analyzed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the average size of the nano-micelles was recorded to be ∼80 nm. In vitro, drug release studies were done for 48 h, where 100% DOX release was recorded at pH 5.5 and 52% DOX release was recorded at pH 7.4 from the micelles. In addition, cytotoxicity studies suggested that DOX-loaded micelles were potent in killing MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells, and the blank micelles were non-toxic toward cancerous and normal cells. A cellular uptake study via fluorescence microscopy indicated the internalization of DOX-loaded micelles by cancer cells, delivering the DOX into the cellular compartments. Based on these studies, we concluded that the developed material should be studied further via in vivo studies to understand its potential as a controlled DDS to treat cancer.

Ethyl cellulose was developed as an amphiphilic polymer by PEGylation and fabricated as nanomicelles for delivery of active molecules. This polymeric system can be used as next generation nano drug delivery system (nanoDDS) for cancer therapy.

Modeling of Anti-cancer Drug Release Kinetics from Liposomes and Micelles: A review

Nanocarriers, such as liposomes and micelles, were developed to enhance the delivery of therapeutic drugs to malignant tissues. Internal or external stimuli can be applied to achieve spatiotemporal controlled release from these carriers. This will result in enhancing their therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity. Mathematical modeling is used to simulate drug release from nanocarriers; this will facilitate and optimize the development and design of desirable nanocarriers in a systematic manner, rather than a trial-and-error approach. This review summarizes nine mathematical models often used to simulate drug release from nanocarriers and reviews studies which employed these models to simulate drug release from conventional as well as temperature-, pH-, and ultrasound-triggered micelles and liposomes.

pH-responsive polymer micelles for methotrexate delivery at tumor microenvironments

Methotrexate (MTX) anticancer drug was successfully loaded and released in a controlled manner from polymer micelles made of a diblock copolymer of poly(monomethoxy ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL). The empty and MTX-loaded micelles (MTX/mPEG-PCL) were characterized by electron microscopy. The drug release dependence upon pH 5.4, 6.5, and 7.4 for 30 days was proven and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of MTX/mPEG-PCL micelles on MCF-7 breast cancer cells was evaluated through an MTT assay. The morphological analysis indicated the successful formation of micelles of 76 and 131 nm for empty and MTX-loaded micelles, respectively. An encapsulation efficiency of 70.2% and a loading capacity of 8.8% were obtained. The in vitro release of MTX showed a gradual and sustained profile over 22 days, with a clear trend to much higher release at acidic pH (80 and 90% for pH 6.7 and 5.5, respectively). The MTX/mPEG-PCL micelles showed an IC50 of MCF-7 cells at 30 µg mL−1. The results suggested that MTX/mPEG-PCL could be a promising drug delivery system for cancer treatment.

Ultrasonic De-cross-linking of the pH- and Magneto-Responsive PHEMA/PMMA Microgel to Janus Nanoparticles: A New Synthesis Based on "Grafting from"/"Grafting to" Polymerization

Stimuli-responsive Janus nanoparticles (NPs) with a two-facial structure have been used widely in biomedical applications. Among several methods to prepare these NPs, surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) has received much attention due to the precise deposition of polymers on the surface of the substrate. In this study, Janus nanoparticles with asymmetric surface chemistry were prepared through a masking method in three steps involving the covalent deposition of super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the cross-linked substrate based on methotrexate (MTX)-grafted poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (CPM), surface functionalization of unreacted sites of immobilized SPIONs with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) in order to prepare the macro-initiator (Br-Fe3O4-CPM), growing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on the surface of the macro-initiator through the SI-ATRP method. Optical microscopy was utilized to monitor the successful modification of SPIONs. Poly(methyl methacrylate)-iron oxide-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PMMA-Fe3O4-PHEMA) microgel was exposed to optimum ultrasound (US) waves to prepare the PMMA-Fe3O4-PHEMA nanoparticle. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to confirm the precise deposition of polymers and the Janus structure. The MTX release of US-synthesized Janus NPs was studied in PBS at pH values of 7.4 and 5.8. The release data were analyzed using the Excel add-in DDSolver program to evaluate the kinetics of the drug release process from the nanocarrier under different pH values.

A self-assembled polymer therapeutic for simultaneously enhancing solubility and antimicrobial activity and lowering serum albumin binding of fusidic acid

The global antimicrobial resistance crisis has prompted worldwide efforts to develop new and more efficient antimicrobial compounds, as well as to develop new drug delivery strategies and targeting mechanisms. This study aimed to synthesize a novel polyethylene glycol-fusidic acid (PEG-FA) conjugate for self-assembly into nano-sized structures and explore its potential for simultaneously enhancing aqueous solubility and antibacterial activity of FA. In addition, the ability of PEG-FA to bind to HSA with lower affinity than FA is also investigated. Haemolysis and in vitro cytotoxicity studies confirmed superior biosafety of the novel PEG-FA compared to FA. The water solubility of FA after PEG conjugation was increased by 25-fold compared to the bare drug. PEG-FA nanoparticles displayed particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of 149.3 ± 0.21 nm, 0.267 ± 0.01 and 5.97 ± 1.03 mV, respectively. Morphology studies using high-resolution transmission electron microscope revealed a homogenous spherical shape of the PEG-FA nanoparticles. In silico studies showed that Van der Waals forces facilitated PEG-FA self-assembly. HSA binding studies showed that PEG-FA had very weak or no interaction with HSA using in silico molecular docking (-2.93 kcal/mol) and microscale thermophoresis (K_d=14999 ± 1.36 µM), which may prevent bilirubin displacement. Conjugation with PEG did not inhibit the antibacterial activity of FA but rather enhanced it by 2.5-fold against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, compared to the bare FA. These results show that PEG-FA can simultaneously enhance solubility and antibacterial activity of FA, whilst also reducing binding of HSA to decrease its side effects.

Advancement of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers and Combination Application with Physical Penetration Technique

On account of the advantages of transdermal delivery and the application situation of transcutaneous technology in transdermal delivery, the article critically comments on nanosystems as permeation enhancement model. Nanosystems possess great potential for transcutaneous drug delivery. This review focuses on recent advances in lipid-based nanocarriers, including liposome, transfersomes, ethosomes, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and combination application of the lipid-based nanocarriers with microneedle, iontophoresis, electroporation and sonophoresis in the field for the development of the transdermal drug delivery system. We attempted to give an overview of lipid-based nanocarriers with the aim to improve transdermal and dermal drug delivery. A special focus is given to the nanocarrier composition, characteristic and interaction mechanisms through the skin. Recent combination applications of lipid-based nanocarriers with the physical penetration technology demonstrate the superiority of the combined use of nanocarriers and physical methods in drug penetration enhancement compared to their single use. In the future, lipidbased nanocarriers will play a greater role in the field of transdermal and dermal drug delivery.

Nano-Carriers Based on pH-Sensitive Star-Shaped Copolymers for Drug-Controlled Release

Polymeric nano-carriers are considered as promising tools in biomedical applications due to multiple attractive characteristics including their low toxicity, high loading capacity, controlled drug release capabilities, and highly tunable chemical properties. Here, a series of pH-sensitive star-shaped copolymers, Ad-P[(EMA-co-MAA)-b-PPEGMA]₄, was prepared via electron transfer atom radical polymerization (ARGETE ATRP) and selective hydrolysis. These star-shaped copolymers can be self-assembled into micelles (D_h = 150–160 nm) and their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) were estimated to be 3.9–5.0 mg/L. The pH-sensitiveness of the micelles was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The maximal paclitaxel (PTX) loading efficiency (DLC) and entrapment efficiency (EE) were 18.9% and 36%, respectively. In vitro release studies revealed that about 19% of the PTX released at an acidic condition of pH 1.2 over 70 h, whereas more than 70% was released within the same time interval at pH 6.8. In vitro cytotoxicity suggested that the low cytotoxicity of the blank micelles, while the PTX-loaded micelles providing the cytotoxicity close to that of free PTX. These results indicated that this novel pH-sensitive nano-carriers have great potential applications for oral drug-controlled release.

Permeation Efficacy of a Transdermal Vehicle with Steroidal Hormones and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents as Model Drugs

BACKGROUND

Transdermal delivery is an alternative route for the administration of drugs. However, it requires the development of vehicles that allow the drugs to cross the layers of the skin and reach the systemic circulation.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, a new transdermal vehicle was evaluated using progesterone, estradiol, estradiol + estriol (Biest) and ketoprofen administered as model drugs.

METHODS

To evaluate the ex vivo permeation of the drugs, the Franz vertical diffusion cell with human skin was used.

RESULTS

After 24 h, the vehicle was able to deliver 18.32 µg/cm2 of progesterone and 92.07 µg/cm2 of ketoprofen through the skin to the receptor medium. The permeation percentages were 91%, 78.8%, 48.5%, 73.2%, and 63.6%, respectively, for estradiol, estradiol (Biest), estriol (Biest), progesterone and ketoprofen. For all drugs, sufficient amounts were delivered to achieve a systemic effect, and it was also possible to decrease the amount of emulsion applied.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the vehicle demonstrated a high performance and the possibility of it being used for drugs that present difficulties in regards to administration by the transdermal route.

Preparation and characterization of angiopep-2 functionalized Ginsenoside-Rg3 loaded nanoparticles and the effect on C6 Glioma cells

The purpose of this work was to prepare and characterize Angiopep-2 functionalized ginsenoside-Rg3 loaded nanoparticles (ANG-Rg3-NP) and evaluate the therapeutic effect on C6 glioma cells. Nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method. Angiopep-2 was functionalized to nanoparticles via a maleimide-thiol covalent binding reaction to obtain ANG-Rg3-NP. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated for size, zeta potential, morphology, stability, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and release properties. The cytotoxicity study and targeting effect of ANG-Rg3-NP were evaluated by MTT assay. The study of cellular uptake in C6 glioma cells was performed by fluorescence microscopy and by using a microplate reader. The prepared ANG-Rg3-NP was observed to be uniformly spherical in shape with a particle size at 147.1 ± 2.7 nm. The encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity reached 80.6 ± 3.0% and 27.2 ± 1.4%, respectively. Additionally, ANG-Rg3-NP exhibited a desirable sustained release behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity study indicated that ANG-Rg3-NP could inhibit the proliferation of C6 glioma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, the functionalization of Angiopep-2 made nanoparticles cross the blood-brain barrier more easily and accelerated the cellular uptake of nanoparticles. The ANG-Rg3-NP was a promising brain drug delivery carrier for the treatment of glioma.

Preparation, characterisation, and controlled release of sex pheromone-loaded MPEG-PCL diblock copolymer micelles for Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Sex pheromones are important for agricultural pest control. The main sex pheromone components of Spodoptera litura are (Z,E)-9,11- and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E11-14:Ac; Z9,E12-14:Ac). In this study, we investigated the optimal conditions for encapsulation of S. litura sex pheromonesin micelles via the self-assembly method using monomethoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL) as a biodegradable wall-forming material with low toxicity. In the L₉(3⁴) orthogonal experiment, 3 amphiphilic block copolymers, with different hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity ratios, were examined. Optimal encapsulation conditions included stirring of MPEG₅₀₀₀-PCL₂₀₀₀ at 1000 rpm at 30°C with 2.5:1 wall-forming: core material mass ratio. S. litura sex pheromone-loaded MPEG₅₀₀₀-PCL₂₀₀₀ micelles presented a homogeneous spherical morphology with apparent core-shell structure. The release kinetics of optimized MPEG₅₀₀₀-PCL₂₀₀₀ micelles was best explained by a first-order model. Encapsulated Z9,E11-14:Ac and Z9,E12-14:Ac were released slowly, not suddenly. Methyl oleate (MO) was used as an agent to control micellar release performance. When MO content equalled block content, micelle half-life could be prolonged, thereby controlling the release speed. Overall, our results showed MPEG-PCL as a promising controlled-release substrate for sex pheromones.

Preparation of biocompatible copolymeric micelles as a carrier of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin for potential anticancer activity study

Statins are widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. However, their inhibitory action on HMG-CoA reductase also results in the depletion of intermediate biosynthetic products, which importantly contribute to cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of the individual commercially available statins on investigational breast cancer. Thus, in this study, biodegradable polymeric micelles as carrier of statins were prepared using biodegradable copolymers (PCL-PEG-PCL). These nanoparticles were prepared with two statins (atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) and drug loading, release, kinetic release, and anti-cancer activity of these drugs were studied. The triblock copolymer PCL-PEG-PCL was synthesized by a ring opening polymerization of e-caprolactone in the presence of PEG as the initiator and Sn(oct)₂ as the catalyst. The synthesized copolymers and nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, HNMR, GPC, DLS, and AFM analyses. The drug loading and release of drugs were studied by UV-Vis. Additionally, MTT assays on HFF-2 cell lines were performed for determination of biocompatibility of micelles. Finally, the anticancer activity of micelles was studied on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The results showed that the average diameter of nanoparticles was less than 45 nm. The loading capacity of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin was 20.0 ± 1.01% and 13.21 ± 1.18%, respectively, and encapsulation efficiency of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin was 88.19 ± 1.11% and 69.32 ± 0.23%, respectively. The results showed strong and dose-dependent inhibition of cell (MCF-7line) growth by the nanoparticles compared with statins. The result of cell viability assay on the MCF-7 cell line verified that the bare nanoparticles showed little inherent cytotoxicity whereas the statins-loaded nanoparticles were cytotoxic.

Facile synthesis of pH-responsive polymersomes based on lipidized PEG for intracellular co-delivery of curcumin and methotrexate

pH-responsive polymersomes were obtained by self-assembling of a carboxyl-terminated PEG amphiphile achieved via esterification of PEG diacid with PEG40stearate. The obtained vesicular systems had spherical shape and a mean diameter of 70 nm. The pH sensitivity was assessed by measuring the variations of particles mean diameter after incubation in media mimicking the physiological (pH 7.4) or tumor (pH 5.0) conditions, recording a significant increase of the vesicles dimensions at acidic pH. The ability of the polymersomes to carry both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs was evaluated by loading the vesicles with curcumin and methotrexate, respectively, obtaining high encapsulation efficiencies and pH-dependent release profiles. The drug-loaded polymeric vesicles exhibited improved cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 cancer cell line and were found to be highly hemocompatible. Finally, cellular uptake experiments on MCF-7 cancer cells were conducted to demonstrate the ability of the designed polymersomes to enhance drug penetration inside the cells.