Paclitaxel-eluting silicone airway stent for preventing granulation tissue growth and lung cancer relapse in central airway pathologies

Mathematical surface function-based design and 3D printing of airway stents

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a method applied to build a 3D object of any shape from a digital model, and it provides crucial advantages especially for transferring patient-specific designs to clinical settings. The main purpose of this study is to introduce the newly designed complex airway stent models that are created through mathematical functions and manufactured with 3D printing for implementation in real life.

METHODS

A mathematical modeling software (MathMod) was used to design five different airway stents. The highly porous structures with designated scales were fabricated by utilizing a stereolithography-based 3D printing technology. The fine details in the microstructure of 3D printed parts were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties of airway stents with various designs and porosity were compared by compression test.

RESULTS

The outputs of the mathematical modeling software were successfully converted into 3D printable files and airway stents with a porosity of more than 85% were 3D printed. SEM images revealed the layered topography of high-resolution 3D printed parts. Compression tests have shown that the mathematical function-based design offers the opportunity to adjust the mechanical strength of airway stents without changing the material or manufacturing method.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel approach, which includes mathematical function-based design and 3D printing technology, is proposed in this study for the fabrication of airway stents as a promising tool for future treatments of central airway pathologies.

Malignant Central Airway Obstruction: What's New?

Malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) is a debilitating and life-limiting complication that occurs in an unfortunately large number of individuals with advanced intrathoracic cancer. Although the management of MCAO is multimodal and interdisciplinary, the task of providing patients with prompt palliation falls increasingly on the shoulders of interventional pulmonologists. While a variety of tools and techniques are available for the management of malignant obstructive lesions, advancements and evolution in this therapeutic venue have been somewhat sluggish and limited when compared with other branches of interventional pulmonary medicine (e.g., the early diagnosis of peripheral lung nodules). Indeed, one pragmatic, albeit somewhat uncharitable, reading of this article's title might suggest a wry smile and shug of the shoulders as to imply that relatively little has changed in recent years. That said, the spectrum of interventions for MCAO continues to expand, even if at a less impressive clip. Herein, we present on MCAO and its endoscopic and nonendoscopic management-that which is old, that which is new, and that which is still on the horizon.

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Folic Acid-Modified Paclitaxel-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles

Purpose

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with good physical and biological properties are often used in medicine, diagnostics, food, and similar industries. This paper explored an AuNPs drug delivery system that had good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cells to induce apoptosis.

Methods

A novel drug delivery system, Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX, was developed carrying paclitaxel (PTX) on folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified AuNPs. The nanomaterial was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Also, the biological activity of the AuNPs drug delivery system was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in HL-7702, Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, apoptotic activity using annexin V-FITC, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was estimated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Results

Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX exhibited a distinct core-shell structure with a controllable size of 28±1 nm. Also, the AuNPs maintained good dispersion and spherical shape uniformity before and after modification. The MTT assay revealed good antitumor activity of the Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX against the Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells, while Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX produced better pharmacological effects than PTX in isolation. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that effective internalization of AuNPs by folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells induced cell apoptosis through excessive production of intracellular ROS.

Conclusion

The AuNPs drug delivery system showed good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells to induce target cell-specific apoptosis. These AuNPs may have great potential as theranostic agents such as in cancer.