Exploring the Potential of Nanotechnology in Pediatric Healthcare: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions

The utilization of nanotechnology has brought about notable advancements in the field of pediatric medicine, providing novel approaches for drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and tissue engineering. Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale, resulting in improved drug effectiveness and decreased toxicity. Numerous nanosystems, including nanoparticles, nanocapsules, and nanotubes, have been explored for their therapeutic potential in addressing pediatric diseases such as HIV, leukemia, and neuroblastoma. Nanotechnology has also shown promise in enhancing disease diagnosis accuracy, drug availability, and overcoming the blood-brain barrier obstacle in treating medulloblastoma. It is important to acknowledge that while nanotechnology offers significant opportunities, there are inherent risks and limitations associated with the use of nanoparticles. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the existing literature on nanotechnology in pediatric medicine, highlighting its potential to revolutionize pediatric healthcare while also recognizing the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed.

Immunological Basis of the Endometriosis: The Complement System as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Endometriosis (EM) is a chronic disease characterized by the presence and proliferation of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Ovaries and pelvic peritoneum are the most common locations for endometrial ectopic tissue, followed by deep infiltrating EM sites. The cyclic and recurrent bleeding, the progressive fibrosis and the peritoneal adhesions of ectopic endometrial glands, may cause different symptoms depending on the origin involved. EM is a frequent clinical condition affecting around 10% of women of mainly reproductive age, as well as in post-menopausal women and adolescents, especially with uterine anomalies. The risk of developing EM depends on a complex interaction between genetic, immunological, hormonal, and environmental factors. It is largely considered to arise due to a dysfunction of immunological surveillance. In fact, women with EM exhibit altered functions of peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and natural killer cells, as well as levels of inflammatory mediators and growth factors in the peritoneal fluid. In EM patients, peritoneal macrophages are preponderant and highly active compared to healthy women. Peritoneal macrophages are able to regulate the events that determine the production of cytokines, prostaglandins, growth factors and complement components. Several studies have shown alteration in the regulation of the complement activation, leading to chronic inflammation characteristic of EM. Aberrant regulation/activation of the complement system has been observed in the peritoneal cavity of women affected by EM. Thus, complement inhibition may represent a new approach for the treatment of EM, given that a number of complement inhibitors are under pre-clinical and clinical development. Such an intervention may provide a broader therapeutic control of complement-mediated inflammatory damage in EM patients. This review will focus on our current understanding of the role of complement activation in EM and possible modalities available for complement-based therapy.

Fixed-Dose Subcutaneous C1-Inhibitor Liquid for Prophylactic Treatment of C1-INH-HAE: SAHARA Randomized Study

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH) is characterized by swelling of subcutaneous and/or submucosal tissues.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate efficacy/safety of fixed-dose subcutaneous plasma-derived C1-INH (pdC1-INH) liquid for HAE attack prevention (NCT02584959).

METHODS

Eligible patients were ≥12 years with ≥2 monthly attacks prescreening or pre-long-term prophylaxis. In a partial crossover design, 80% of patients were randomized to placebo or pdC1-INH liquid for 14 weeks and crossed over from active to placebo or vice versa for another 14 weeks. The remainder were randomized to pdC1-INH liquid for 28 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was normalized number of attacks (NNA) versus placebo. Key additional endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving NNA reduction ≥50%, attack severity, number of attack-free days, and safety.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients were randomized and 58 (77%) completed the study. Mean age 41 years; 88% HAE type I. Least-squares means of NNA were reduced from 3.9 with placebo to 1.6 with pdC1-INH (from day 1; P < .0001). Most patients had ≥50% NNA reduction with pdC1-INH (from day 1, 78%). A total of 8.8% of placebo-treated patients were attack-free and 5.3%, 22.8%, and 63.2% had mild, moderate, and severe attacks, respectively; 37.5% of pdC1-INH-treated patients were attack-free and 8.9%, 26.8%, and 26.8% had mild, moderate, and severe attacks, respectively. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar between groups (52% vs 56% for pdC1-INH crossover vs placebo, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Fixed-dose subcutaneous pdC1-INH liquid was superior to placebo in preventing HAE attacks and demonstrated a favorable safety profile.

The safety of treatments for angioedema with hereditary C1 inhibitor deficiency

INTRODUCTION

Angioedema is a localized and self-limiting edema of the subcutaneous and submucosal tissue. Hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is the best characterized form of hereditary angioedema. In C1-INH-HAE, the reduced plasma levels of C1-INH cause instability of the contact system with release of bradykinin, the key mediator of angioedema. C1-INH-HAE is characterized by recurrent skin swelling, abdominal pain, and potentially life-threatening upper airways obstruction. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms leading from C1-INH deficiency to angioedema allowed the development of several therapies.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of this review article is to discuss the safety of currently available treatments of C1-INH-HAE. The authors give an insight on the mechanism of action and safety profile of drugs for treatment of acute attacks and for short- and long-term prophylaxis. Evidence from systematic reviews, clinical trials, retrospective studies, and case reports is summarized in this review.

EXPERT OPINION

C1-INH-HAE is a disabling, life-threatening condition that lasts life-long. Different therapeutic approaches with different drugs provide significant benefit to patients. Safety profiles of these therapies are critical for optimal therapeutic decision and need to be known by C1-INH-HAE treating physicians for appropriate risk/benefit evaluation.