Sustained delivery of olanzapine from sunflower oil-based polyol-urethane nanoparticles synthesised through a cyclic carbonate ring-opening reaction

Development and Utilization of Multifunctional Polymeric Scaffolds for the Regulation of Physical Cellular Microenvironments

Polymeric biomaterials exhibit excellent physicochemical characteristics as a scaffold for cell and tissue engineering applications. Chemical modification of the polymers has been the primary mode of functionalization to enhance biocompatibility and regulate cellular behaviors such as cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and maturation. Due to the complexity of the in vivo cellular microenvironments, however, chemical functionalization alone is usually insufficient to develop functionally mature cells/tissues. Therefore, the multifunctional polymeric scaffolds that enable electrical, mechanical, and/or magnetic stimulation to the cells, have gained research interest in the past decade. Such multifunctional scaffolds are often combined with exogenous stimuli to further enhance the tissue and cell behaviors by dynamically controlling the microenvironments of the cells. Significantly improved cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as tissue functionalities, are frequently observed by applying extrinsic physical stimuli on functional polymeric scaffold systems. In this regard, the present paper discusses the current state-of-the-art functionalized polymeric scaffolds, with an emphasis on electrospun fibers, that modulate the physical cell niche to direct cellular behaviors and subsequent functional tissue development. We will also highlight the incorporation of the extrinsic stimuli to augment or activate the functionalized polymeric scaffold system to dynamically stimulate the cells.

A Green Composite Based on Gelatin/Agarose/Zeolite as a Potential Scaffold for Tissue Engineering Applications

Designing a novel platform capable of providing a proper tissue regeneration environment is a key factor in tissue engineering. Herein, a green composite based on gelatin/agarose/zeolite with pomegranate peel extract was fabricated as an innovative platform for tissue engineering. Gelatin/agarose was loaded with pomegranate peel extract-loaded zeolite to evaluate its swelling behavior, porosity, release rate, and cell viability performance. The composite characteristics were evaluated using XRD and DSC. The hydrogel performance can be adjusted for the desired aim by zeolite content manipulation, such as controlled release. It was shown that the green nanocomposite exhibited proper cellular activity along with a controlled release rate. Moreover, the hydrogel composite’s swelling ratio was decreased by adding zeolite. This study suggested a fully natural composite as a potential biomaterial for tissue engineering, which opens new ways to design versatile hydrogels for the regeneration of damaged tissues. The hydrogel performance can be adjusted specifically by zeolite content manipulation for controlled release.

Boron Nitride Nanotube as an Antimicrobial Peptide Carrier: A Theoretical Insight

INTRODUCTION

Nanotube-based drug delivery systems have received considerable attention because of their large internal volume to encapsulate the drug and the ability to penetrate tissues, cells, and bacteria. In this regard, understanding the interaction between the drug and the nanotube to evaluate the encapsulation behavior of the drug in the nanotube is of crucial importance.

METHODS

In this work, the encapsulation process of the cationic antimicrobial peptide named cRW3 in the biocompatible boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) was investigated under the Canonical ensemble (NVT) by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.

RESULTS

The peptide was absorbed into the BNNT by van der Waals (vdW) interaction between cRW3 and the BNNT, in which the vdW interaction decreased during the simulation process and reached the value of -142.7 kcal·mol-1 at 4 ns.

DISCUSSION

The increase in the potential mean force profile of the encapsulated peptide during the pulling process of cRW3 out of the nanotube showed that its insertion into the BNNT occurred spontaneously and that the inserted peptide had the desired stability. The energy barrier at the entrance of the BNNT caused a pause of 0.45 ns when half of the peptide was inside the BNNT during the encapsulation process. Therefore, during this period, the peptide experienced the weakest movement and the smallest conformational changes.

Nose-to-brain delivery of antipsychotics using nanotechnology: a review

INTRODUCTION

Orally-administered antipsychotics are effective in the management of psychosis-related disorders although generation-specific adverse drug reactions (ADRs) significantly hinder clinical outcomes, driven by issues such as patient non-compliance. Direct nose-to-brain (N2B) delivery of antipsychotics via the olfactory epithelium could avert peripheral ADRs by maximizing cerebral drug concentrations, and reducing drug levels in the periphery. However, there exist physicochemical challenges related to psychotropic drugs, alongside biochemical barriers associated with targeting the olfactory region. Nanotechnological approaches present a viable strategy for the development of intranasal antipsychotic formulations where drug stability, mucosal absorption and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-bioavailability can be optimized.

AREAS COVERED

This review explores the unique anatomical features of the nasal cavity as a pathway for antipsychotic drug delivery to the brain. Nanocarrier-based approaches to encapsulate antipsychotics, and enhance stability, absorption and bioavailability are explored. The aim of this review is to determine current knowledge gaps for direct N2B psychotropic drug delivery, and identify clinically acceptable strategies to overcome them.

EXPERT OPINION

The olfactory epithelium may be the most effective and direct administration route for antipsychotic delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). This research is novel and has the potential to revolutionize the mode of delivery of neurological medicines to the CNS in the future.

Electrically Conductive Materials: Opportunities and Challenges in Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering endeavors to regenerate tissues and organs through appropriate cellular and molecular interactions at biological interfaces. To this aim, bio-mimicking scaffolds have been designed and practiced to regenerate and repair dysfunctional tissues by modifying cellular activity. Cellular activity and intracellular signaling are performances given to a tissue as a result of the function of elaborated electrically conductive materials. In some cases, conductive materials have exhibited antibacterial properties; moreover, such materials can be utilized for on-demand drug release. Various types of materials ranging from polymers to ceramics and metals have been utilized as parts of conductive tissue engineering scaffolds, having conductivity assortments from a range of semi-conductive to conductive. The cellular and molecular activity can also be affected by the microstructure; therefore, the fabrication methods should be evaluated along with an appropriate selection of conductive materials. This review aims to address the research progress toward the use of electrically conductive materials for the modulation of cellular response at the material-tissue interface for tissue engineering applications.