Transporter-Guided Delivery of Nanoparticles to Improve Drug Permeation across Cellular Barriers and Drug Exposure to Selective Cell Types

Anti-inflammatory effect of a novel piperazino-enaminone delivered by liposomes in a mouse model of hemophilic arthropathy

Hemophilic arthropathy (HA) is a condition caused by recurrent intra-articular bleeding in patients with hemophilia. Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HA. Our previous research demonstrated that a novel compound, piperazino-enaminone (JODI), effectively inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β, in a mouse model of hemarthrosis. This study aims to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of JODI by employing nanoparticle delivery systems, which could potentially improve its poor water solubility. Here, we developed liposomes modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for the delivery of JODI (JODI-LIP), and found that JODI-LIP exhibited uniform size, morphology, good stability and in vitro release degree. JODI-LIP mitigated cytotoxicity of JODI, and significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and nitric oxide (NO) release in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as the proliferation of human fibroblast-like synovial (HFLS) cells. In a murine model of HA, JODI-LIP demonstrated superior efficacy in ameliorating joint swelling and synovitis, compared to JODI. Importantly, JODI-LIP markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-33, and MCP-1) in injured joints. No hepatic or hematological toxicity was observed in mice treated with JODI-LIP. In summary, our results suggest that JODI-LIP holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for HA by attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Inhibition of fibril formation by polyphenols: molecular mechanisms, challenges, and prospective solutions

Fibril formation is a key feature in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and systemic amyloidosis. Polyphenols, found in plant-based foods, show promise in inhibiting fibril formation and disrupting disease progression. The ability of polyphenols to break the amyloid fibrils of many disease-linked proteins has been tested in numerous studies. Polyphenols have their distinctive mechanism of action. They behave differently on various events in the aggregation pathway. Their action also differs for different proteins. Some polyphenols only inhibit the formation of fibrils whereas others break the preformed fibrils. Some break the fibrils into smaller species, and some change them to other morphologies. This article delves into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on fibrillogenesis, shedding light on their interactions with amyloidogenic proteins and the disruption of fibril assembly pathways. However, addressing the challenges associated with solubility, stability, and bioavailability of polyphenols is crucial. The current strategies involve nanotechnology to improve the solubility and bioavailability, thus showing the potential to enhance the efficacy of polyphenols as therapeutics. Advancements in structural biology, computational modeling, and biophysics have provided insights into polyphenol-fibril interactions, offering hope for novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and amyloidosis.

Defect Engineering of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals via Spontaneous Diffusion of Ag Nanocrystals

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as a promising building block for the fabrication of optic-/optoelectronic-/electronic devices owing to their superior characteristics, such as high absorption coefficient, rapid ion mobilities, and tunable energy levels. However, their low structural stability and poor surface passivation have restricted their application to next-generation devices. Herein, a drug delivery system (DDS)-inspired post-treatment strategy is reported for improving their structural stability by doping of Ag into CsPbBr3 (CPB) perovskite NCs; delivery to damaged sites can promote their structural recovery slowly and uniformly, averting the permanent loss of their intrinsic characteristics. Ag NCs are designed through surface-chemistry tuning and structural engineering to enable their circulation in CPB NC dispersions, followed by their delivery to the CPB NC surface, defect-site recovery, and defect prevention. The perovskite-structure healing process through the DDS-type process (with Ag NCs as the drug) is analyzed by a combination of theoretical calculations (with density functional theory) and experimental analyses. The proposed DDS-inspired healing strategy significantly enhances the optical properties and stability of perovskite NCs, enabling the fabrication of white light-emitting diodes.

Dendritic nanoparticles for immune modulation: a potential next-generation nanocarrier for cancer immunotherapy

Immune activation, whether occurring from direct immune checkpoint blockade or indirectly as a result of chemotherapy, is an approach that has drastically impacted the way we treat cancer. Utilizing patients' own immune systems for anti-tumor efficacy has been translated to robust immunotherapies; however, clinically significant successes have been achieved in only a subset of patient populations. Dendrimers and dendritic polymers have recently emerged as a potential nanocarrier platform that significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy of current and next-generation cancer immunotherapies. In this paper, we highlight the recent progress in developing dendritic polymer-based therapeutics with immune-modulating properties. Specifically, dendrimers, dendrimer hybrids, and dendronized copolymers have demonstrated promising results and are currently in pre-clinical development. Despite their early stage of development, these nanocarriers hold immense potential to make profound impact on cancer immunotherapy and combination therapy. This overview provides insights into the potential impact of dendrimers and dendron-based polymers, offering a preview of their potential utilities for various aspects of cancer treatment.

Nanomedicine revolutionizes epilepsy treatment: overcoming therapeutic hurdles with nanoscale solutions

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy, a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, profoundly impacts the physical and mental well-being of millions globally. Historically, antiseizure drugs (ASDs) have been the primary treatment modality. However, despite the introduction of novel ASDs in recent decades, a significant proportion of patients still experiences uncontrolled seizures.

AREAS COVERED

The rapid advancement of nanomedicine in recent years has enabled precise targeting of the brain, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy for brain diseases, including epilepsy.

EXPERT OPINION

Nanomedicine holds immense promise in epilepsy treatment, including but not limited to enhancing drug solubility and stability, improving drug across blood-brain barrier, overcoming resistance, and reducing side effects, potentially revolutionizing clinical management. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current epilepsy treatment modalities and highlights recent advancements in nanomedicine-based drug delivery systems for epilepsy control. We discuss the diverse strategies used in developing novel nanotherapies, their mechanisms of action, and the potential advantages they offer compared to traditional treatment methods.

Research Progress of Drug Delivery Systems Targeting the Kidneys

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 10% of the global population, and its incidence is increasing, partially due to an increase in the prevalence of disease risk factors. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an independent risk factor for CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The pathogenic mechanisms of CKD provide several potential targets for its treatment. However, due to off-target effects, conventional drugs for CKD typically require high doses to achieve adequate therapeutic effects, leading to long-term organ toxicity. Therefore, ideal treatments that completely cure the different types of kidney disease are rarely available. Several approaches for the drug targeting of the kidneys have been explored in drug delivery system research. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have multiple merits, including good biocompatibility, suitable degradability, the ability to target lesion sites, and fewer non-specific systemic effects. In this review, the development, potential, and limitations of low-molecular-weight protein-lysozymes, polymer nanomaterials, and lipid-based nanocarriers as drug delivery platforms for treating AKI and CKD are summarized.

Revolution in Cancer Treatment: How Are Intelligently Designed Nanostructures Changing the Game?

Nanoparticles (NPs) are extremely important tools to overcome the limitations imposed by therapeutic agents and effectively overcome biological barriers. Smart designed/tuned nanostructures can be extremely effective for cancer treatment. The selection and design of nanostructures and the adjustment of size and surface properties are extremely important, especially for some precision treatments and drug delivery (DD). By designing specific methods, an important era can be opened in the biomedical field for personalized and precise treatment. Here, we focus on advances in the selection and design of nanostructures, as well as on how the structure and shape, size, charge, and surface properties of nanostructures in biological fluids (BFs) can be affected. We discussed the applications of specialized nanostructures in the therapy of head and neck cancer (HNC), which is a difficult and aggressive type of cancer to treat, to give an impetus for novel treatment approaches in this field. We also comprehensively touched on the shortcomings, current trends, and future perspectives when using nanostructures in the treatment of cancer.

Hopping the Hurdle: Strategies to Enhance the Molecular Delivery to the Brain through the Blood-Brain Barrier

Modern medicine has allowed for many advances in neurological and neurodegenerative disease (ND). However, the number of patients suffering from brain diseases is ever increasing and the treatment of brain diseases remains an issue, as drug efficacy is dramatically reduced due to the existence of the unique vascular structure, namely the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Several approaches to enhance drug delivery to the brain have been investigated but many have proven to be unsuccessful due to limited transport or damage induced in the BBB. Alternative approaches to enhance molecular delivery to the brain have been revealed in recent studies through the existence of molecular delivery pathways that regulate the passage of peripheral molecules. In this review, we present recent advancements of the basic research for these delivery pathways as well as examples of promising ventures to overcome the molecular hurdles that will enhance therapeutic interventions in the brain and potentially save the lives of millions of patients.

Hyaluronic acid modified nanocarriers for aerosolized delivery of verteporfin in the treatment of acute lung injury

Verteporfin (VER), a photosensitizer used in macular degeneration therapy, has shown promise in controlling macrophage polarization and alleviating inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, its hydrophobicity, limited bioavailability, and side effects hinder its therapeutic potential. In this study, we aimed to enhance the therapeutic potential of VER through pulmonary nebulized drug delivery for ALI/ARDS treatment. We combined hydrophilic hyaluronic acid (HA) with an oil-in-water system containing a poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer of VER to synthesize HA@PLGA-VER (PHV) nanoparticles with favorable surface characteristics to improve the bioavailability and targeting ability of VER. PHV possesses suitable electrical properties, a narrow size distribution (approximately 200 nm), and favorable stability. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the excellent biocompatibility, safety, and anti-inflammatory responses of the PHV by suppressing M1 macrophage polarization while inducing M2 polarization. The in vivo experiments indicated that the treatment with aerosolized nano-VER (PHV) allowed more drugs to accumulate and penetrate into the lungs, improved the pulmonary function and attenuated lung injury, and mortality of ALI mice, achieving improved therapeutic outcomes. These findings highlight the potential of PHV as a promising delivery system via nebulization for enhancing the therapeutic effects of VER in ALI/ARDS.

Unlocking the Mitochondria for Nanomedicine-based Treatments: Overcoming Biological Barriers, Improving Designs, and Selecting Verification Techniques

Enhanced targeting approaches will support the treatment of diseases associated with dysfunctional mitochondria, which play critical roles in energy generation and cell survival. Obstacles to mitochondria-specific targeting include the presence of distinct biological barriers and the need to pass through (or avoid) various cell internalization mechanisms. A range of studies have reported the design of mitochondrially-targeted nanomedicines that navigate the complex routes required to influence mitochondrial function; nonetheless, a significant journey lies ahead before mitochondrially-targeted nanomedicines become suitable for clinical use. Moving swiftly forward will require safety studies, in vivo assays confirming effectiveness, and methodologies to validate mitochondria-targeted nanomedicines' subcellular location/activity. From a nanomedicine standpoint, we describe the biological routes involved (from administration to arrival within the mitochondria), the features influencing rational design, and the techniques used to identify/validate successful targeting. Overall, rationally-designed mitochondria-targeted-based nanomedicines hold great promise for precise subcellular therapeutic delivery.

Long-Term Tumor-Targeting Effect of E. coli as a Drug Delivery System

To overcome the limitations of current nano/micro-scale drug delivery systems, an Escherichia coli (E. coli)-based drug delivery system could be a potential alternative, and an effective tumor-targeting delivery system can be developed by attempting to perform chemical binding to the primary amine group of a cell membrane protein. In addition, positron emission tomography (PET) is a representative non-invasive imaging technology and is actively used in the field of drug delivery along with radioisotopes capable of long-term tracking, such as zirconium-89 (89Zr). The membrane proteins were labeled with 89Zr using chelate (DFO), and not only was the long-term biodistribution in tumors and major organs evaluated in the body, but the labeling stability of 89Zr conjugated to the membrane proteins was also evaluated through continuous tracking. E. coli accumulated at high levels in the tumor within 5 min (initial time) after tail intravenous injection, and when observed after 6 days, 89Zr-DFO on the surface of E. coli was found to be stable for a long period of time in the body. In this study, we demonstrated the long-term biodistribution and tumor-targeting effect of an E. coli-based drug delivery system and verified the in vivo stability of radioisotopes labeled on the surface of E. coli.

Vitamin B3 Containing Polymers for Nanodelivery

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with an integrated dual delivery system enable the controlled release of bioactive molecules and drugs, providing therapeutic advantages. Key design targets include high biocompatibility, cellular uptake, and encapsulating efficiency. In this study, a polymer library derived from niacin, also known as vitamin B3 is synthesized. The library comprises poly(2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl nicotinate) (PAEN), poly(2-acrylamidoethyl nicotinate) (PAAEN), and poly(N-(2-acrylamidoethyl)nicotinamide) (PAAENA), with varying hydrophilicity in the backbone and pendant group linker. All polymers are formulated, and those with increased hydrophobicity yield NPs with homogeneous spherical distribution and diameters below 150 nm, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Encapsulation studies utilizing a model drug, neutral lipid orange (NLO), reveal the influence of polymer backbone on encapsulation efficiency. Specifically, efficiencies of 46% and 96% are observed with acrylate and acrylamide backbones, respectively. Biological investigations showed that P(AEN) and P(AAEN) NPs are non-toxic up to 300 µg mL-1, exhibit superior cellular uptake, and boost cell metabolic activity. The latter is attributed to the cellular release of niacin, a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a central coenzyme in metabolism. The results underline the potential of nutrient-derived polymers as pro-nutrient and drug-delivery materials.

Achieving Precision Healthcare through Nanomedicine and Enhanced Model Systems

The ability to customize medical choices according to an individual's genetic makeup and biomarker patterns marks a significant advancement toward overall improved healthcare for both individuals and society at large. By transitioning from the conventional one-size-fits-all approach to tailored treatments that can account for predispositions of different patient populations, nanomedicines can be customized to target the specific molecular underpinnings of a patient's disease, thus mitigating the risk of collateral damage. However, for these systems to reach their full potential, our understanding of how nano-based therapeutics behave within the intricate human body is necessary. Effective drug administration to the targeted organ or pathological niche is dictated by properties such as nanocarrier (NC) size, shape, and targeting abilities, where understanding how NCs change their properties when they encounter biomolecules and phenomena such as shear stress in flow remains a major challenge. This Review specifically focuses on vessel-on-a-chip technology that can provide increased understanding of NC behavior in blood and summarizes the specialized environment of the joint to showcase advanced tissue models as approaches to address translational challenges. Compared to conventional cell studies or animal models, these advanced models can integrate patient material for full customization. Combining such models with nanomedicine can contribute to making personalized medicine achievable.

Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles synthesized from Tinospora Cordifolia induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer

Cancer chemotherapy remains a serious challenge, and new approaches to therapy are urgently needed to build novel treatment regimens. The methanol extract of the stem of Tinospora Cordifolia was used to synthesize biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) that display anticancer activities against colorectal cancer. Biogenic ZnO-NPs synthesized from methanol extract of Tinospora Cordifolia stem (ZnO-NPs TM) were tested against HCT-116 cell lines to assess anticancer activity. UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM analysis characterized the biogenic ZnO-NPs. To see how well biogenic ZnO-NPs fight cancer, cytotoxicity, AO/EtBr staining, Annexin V/PI staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis, and caspase cascade activity analysis were performed to assess the anticancer efficacy of biogenic ZnO-NPs. The IC50 values of biogenic ZnO-NPs treated cells (HCT-116 and Caco-2) were 31.419 ± 0.682μg/ml and 36.675 ± 0.916μg/ml, respectively. qRT-PCR analysis showed that cells treated with biogenic ZnO-NPs Bax and P53 mRNA levels increased significantly (p ≤ 0.001). It showed to have impaired MMP and increased ROS generation. In a corollary, our in vivo study showed that biogenic ZnO-NPs have an anti-tumour effect. Biogenic ZnO-NPs TM showed both in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects that could be employed as anticancer drugs.

In Silico prediction of inhibitors for multiple transporters via machine learning methods

Transporters play an indispensable role in facilitating the transport of nutrients, signaling molecules and the elimination of metabolites and toxins in human cells. Contemporary computational methods have been employed in the prediction of transporter inhibitors. However, these methods often focus on isolated endpoints, overlooking the interactions between transporters and lacking good interpretation. In this study, we integrated a comprehensive dataset and constructed models to assess the inhibitory effects on seven transporters. Both conventional machine learning and multi-task deep learning methods were employed. The results demonstrated that the MLT-GAT model achieved superior performance with an average AUC value of 0.882. It is noteworthy that our model excels not only in prediction performance but also in achieving robust interpretability, aided by GNN-Explainer. It provided valuable insights into transporter inhibition. The reliability of our model's predictions positioned it as a promising and valuable tool in the field of transporter inhibition research. Related data and code are available at https://gitee.com/wutiantian99/transporter_code.git.

Microfluidic synthesis of lipid-based nanoparticles for drug delivery: recent advances and opportunities

Microfluidic technologies are revolutionizing the synthesis of nanoscale lipid particles and enabling new opportunities for the production of lipid-based nanomedicines. By harnessing the benefits of microfluidics for controlling diffusive and advective transport within microfabricated flow cells, microfluidic platforms enable unique capabilities for lipid nanoparticle synthesis with precise and tunable control over nanoparticle properties. Here we present an assessment of the current state of microfluidic technologies for lipid-based nanoparticle and nanomedicine production. Microfluidic techniques are discussed in the context of conventional production methods, with an emphasis on the capabilities of microfluidic systems for controlling nanoparticle size and size distribution. Challenges and opportunities associated with the scaling of manufacturing throughput are discussed, together with an overview of emerging microfluidic methods for lipid nanomedicine post-processing. The impact of additive manufacturing on current and future microfluidic platforms is also considered.

Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxicity Screening of Acyldepsipeptide-1 Analogues Conjugated to Silver/Indium/Sulphide Quantum Dots

The continuous rise in bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance is the driving force behind the search for new antibacterial agents with novel modes of action. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently gained attention as promising antibiotic agents with the potential to treat drug-resistant infections. Several AMPs have shown a lower propensity towards developing resistance compared to conventional antibiotics. However, these peptides, especially acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) present with unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, such as high toxicity and low bioavailability. Different ways to improve these peptides to be drug-like molecules have been explored, and these include using biocompatible nano-carriers. ADEP1 analogues (SC005-8) conjugated to gelatin-capped Silver/Indium/Sulfide (AgInS2) quantum dots (QDs) improved the antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. The ADEP1 analogues exhibited minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) between 63 and 500 µM, and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) values between 125 and 750 µM. The AgInS2-ADEP1 analogue conjugates showed enhanced antibacterial activity as evident from the MIC and MBC values, i.e., 1.6-25 µM and 6.3-100 µM, respectively. The AgInS2-ADEP1 analogue conjugates were non-toxic against HEK-293 cells at concentrations that showed antibacterial activity. The findings reported herein could be helpful in the development of antibacterial treatment strategies.

Inulin-based formulations as an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer: A comprehensive review

Cancer stands as the second leading cause of death in the United States (US). Most chemotherapeutic agents exhibit severe adverse effects that are attributed to exposure of drugs to off-target tissues, posing a significant challenge in cancer therapy management. In recent years, inulin, a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber has gained substantial attention for its potential in cancer treatment owing to its multitudinous health values. Its distinctive structure, stability, and nutritional properties position it as an effective adjuvant and carrier for drug delivery in cancer therapy. To address some of the above unmet clinical issues, this review summarizes the recent efforts towards the development of inulin-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites for healthcare applications with special emphasis on the multifunctional role of inulin in cancer therapy as a synergist, signaling molecule, immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic molecule. Furthermore, the review provides a concise overview of ongoing clinical trials and observational studies associated with inulin-based therapy. In conclusion, the current review offers insights on the significant role of inulin interventions in exploring its potential as a therapeutic agent to treat cancer.

Engineered extracellular vesicles: A new approach for targeted therapy of tumors and overcoming drug resistance

Targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs and overcoming drug resistance in malignant tumor cells remain significant clinical challenges. However, there are only few effective methods to address these issues. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), actively secreted by cells, play a crucial role in intercellular information transmission and cargo transportation. Recent studies have demonstrated that engineered EVs can serve as drug delivery carriers and showed promising application prospects. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for further improvements in the isolation and purification of EVs, surface modification techniques, drug assembly processes, and precise recognition of tumor cells for targeted drug delivery purposes. In this review, we summarize the applications of engineered EVs in cancer treatment and overcoming drug resistance, and current challenges associated with engineered EVs are also discussed. This review aims to provide new insights and potential directions for utilizing engineered EVs as targeted delivery systems for anti-tumor drugs and overcoming drug resistance in the near future.

Polydopamine Nanosystems in Drug Delivery: Effect of Size, Morphology, and Surface Charge

Recently, drug delivery strategies based on nanomaterials have attracted a lot of interest in different kinds of therapies because of their superior properties. Polydopamine (PDA), one of the most interesting materials in nanomedicine because of its versatility and biocompatibility, has been widely investigated in the drug delivery field. It can be easily functionalized to favor processes like cellular uptake and blood circulation, and it can also induce drug release through two kinds of stimuli: NIR light irradiation and pH. In this review, we describe PDA nanomaterials' performance on drug delivery, based on their size, morphology, and surface charge. Indeed, these characteristics strongly influence the main mechanisms involved in a drug delivery system: blood circulation, cellular uptake, drug loading, and drug release. The understanding of the connections between PDA nanosystems' properties and these phenomena is pivotal to obtain a controlled design of new nanocarriers based on the specific drug delivery applications.

Advances in functional lipid nanoparticles: from drug delivery platforms to clinical applications

Since Doxil's first clinical approval in 1995, lipid nanoparticles have garnered great interest and shown exceptional therapeutic efficacy. It is clear from the licensure of two RNA treatments and the mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination that lipid nanoparticles have immense potential for delivering nucleic acids. The review begins with a list of lipid nanoparticle types, such as liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles. Then it moves on to the earliest lipid nanoparticle forms, outlining how lipid is used in a variety of industries and how it is used as a versatile nanocarrier platform. Lipid nanoparticles must then be functionally modified. Various approaches have been proposed for the synthesis of lipid nanoparticles, such as High-Pressure Homogenization (HPH), microemulsion methods, solvent-based emulsification techniques, solvent injection, phase reversal, and membrane contractors. High-pressure homogenization is the most commonly used method. All of the methods listed above follow four basic steps, as depicted in the flowchart below. Out of these four steps, the process of dispersing lipids in an aqueous medium to produce liposomes is the most unpredictable step. A short outline of the characterization of lipid nanoparticles follows discussions of applications for the trapping and transporting of various small molecules. It highlights the use of rapamycin-coated lipid nanoparticles in glioblastoma and how lipid nanoparticles function as a conjugator in the delivery of anticancer-targeting nucleic acids. High biocompatibility, ease of production, scalability, non-toxicity, and tailored distribution are just a meager of the enticing allowances of using lipid nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles. Due to the present constraints in drug delivery, more research is required to utterly realize the potential of lipid nanoparticles for possible clinical and therapeutic purposes.

A New Paradigm in Spinal Cord Injury Therapy: from Cell-free Treatment to Engineering Modifications

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an intractable and poorly prognostic neurological disease, and current treatments are still unable to cure it completely and avoid sequelae. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), as important carriers of intercellular communication and pharmacological effects, are considered to be the most promising candidates for SCI therapy because of their low toxicity and immunogenicity, their ability to encapsulate endogenous bioactive molecules (e.g., proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids), and their ability to cross the blood-brain/cerebrospinal barriers. However, poor targeting, low retention rate, and limited therapeutic efficacy of natural EVs have bottlenecked EVs-based SCI therapy. A new paradigm for SCI treatment will be provided by engineering modified EVs. Furthermore, our limited understanding of the role of EVs in SCI pathology hinders the rational design of novel EVbased therapeutic approaches. In this study, we review the pathophysiology after SCI, especially the multicellular EVs-mediated crosstalk; briefly describe the shift from cellular to cell-free therapies for SCI treatment; discuss and analyze the issues related to the route and dose of EVs administration; summarize and present the common strategies for EVs drug loading in the treatment of SCI and point out the shortcomings of these drug loading methods; finally, we analyze and highlight the feasibility and advantages of bio-scaffold-encapsulated EVs for SCI treatment, providing scalable insights into cell-free therapy for SCI.

Exploring the Potential of Nanogels: From Drug Carriers to Radiopharmaceutical Agents

Nanogels open up access to a wide range of applications and offer among others hopeful approaches for use in the field of biomedicine. This review provides a brief overview of current developments of nanogels in general, particularly in the fields of drug delivery, therapeutic applications, tissue engineering, and sensor systems. Specifically, cyclodextrin (CD)-based nanogels are important because they have exceptional complexation properties and are highly biocompatible. Nanogels as a whole and CD-based nanogels in particular can be customized in a wide range of sizes and equipped with a desired surface charge as well as containing additional molecules inside and outside, such as dyes, solubility-mediating groups or even biological vector molecules for pharmaceutical targeting. Currently, biological investigations are mainly carried out in vitro, but more and more in vivo applications are gaining importance. Modern molecular imaging methods are increasingly being used for the latter. Due to an extremely high sensitivity and the possibility of obtaining quantitative data on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, nuclear methods such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) using radiolabeled compounds are particularly suitable here. The use of radiolabeled nanogels for imaging, but also for therapy, is being discussed.

Neuronanomedicine for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease: Current progress and a guide to improve clinical translation

Neuronanomedicine is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to create innovative nanotechnologies to treat major neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). A key component of neuronanomedicine are nanoparticles, which can improve drug properties and demonstrate enhanced safety and delivery across the blood-brain barrier, a major improvement on existing therapeutic approaches. In this review, we critically analyze the latest nanoparticle-based strategies to modify underlying disease pathology to slow or halt AD/PD progression. We find that a major roadblock for neuronanomedicine translation to date is a poor understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems (i.e., bio-nano interactions), which is partly due to inconsistent reporting in published works. Accordingly, this review makes a set of specific recommendations to help guide researchers to harness the unique properties of nanoparticles and thus realise breakthrough treatments for AD/PD.

A review on nanotechnological perspective of "the amyloid cascade hypothesis" for neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons which deteriorates the brain functions. An early detection of the onset of NDs is utmost important, as it will provide the fast treatment strategies to prevent further progression of the disease. Conventionally, accurate diagnosis of the brain related disorders is difficult in their early phase. To solve this problem, nanotechnology based neurofunctional imaging and biomarker detection techniques have been developed which allows high specificity and sensitivity towards screening and diagnosis of NDs. Another challenge to treat the brain related disorders is to overcome the complex integrity of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) for the delivery of theranostic agents. Fortunately, utilization of nanomaterials has been pursued as promising strategy to address this challenge. Herein, we critically highlighted the recent improvements in the field of neurodiagnostic and therapeutic approaches involving innovative strategies for diagnosis, and inhibition of protein aggregates. We have provided particular emphasis on the use of nanotechnology which can push forward the blooming research growth in this field to win the battle against devastating NDs.

Nano-Osmolyte Conjugation: Tailoring the Osmolyte-Protein Interactions at the Nanoscale

Osmolytes are small organic compounds accumulated at higher concentrations in the cell under various stress conditions like high temperature, high salt, high pressure, etc. Osmolytes mainly include four major classes of compounds including sugars, polyols, methylamines, and amino acids and their derivatives. In addition to their ability to maintain protein stability and folding, these osmolytes, also termed as chemical chaperones, can prevent protein misfolding and aggregation. Although being efficient protein folders and stabilizers, these osmolytes exhibit certain unavoidable limitations such as nearly molar concentrations of osmolytes being required for their effect, which is quite difficult to achieve inside a cell or in the extracellular matrix due to nonspecificity and limited permeability of the blood-brain barrier system and reduced bioavailability. These limitations can be overcome to a certain extent by using smart delivery platforms for the targeted delivery of osmolytes to the site of action. In this context, osmolyte-functionalized nanoparticles, termed nano-osmolytes, enhance the protein stabilization and chaperone efficiency of osmolytes up to 105 times in certain cases. For example, sugars, polyols, and amino acid functionalized based nano-osmolytes have shown tremendous potential in preventing protein aggregation. The enhanced potential of nano-osmolytes can be attributed to their high specificity at low concentrations, high tunability, amphiphilicity, multivalent complex formation, and efficient drug delivery system. Keeping in view the promising potential of nano-osmolytes conjugation in tailoring the osmolyte-protein interactions, as compared to their molecular forms, the present review summarizes the recent advancements of the nano-osmolytes that enhance the protein stability/folding efficiency and ability to act as artificial chaperones with increased potential to prevent protein misfolding disorders. Some of the potential nano-osmolyte aggregation inhibitors have been highlighted for large-scale screening with future applications in aggregation disorders. The synthesis of nano-osmolytes by numerous approaches and future perspectives are also highlighted.

Oral nanomedicine biointeractions in the gastrointestinal tract in health and disease

Oral administration is the preferred route of administration based on the convenience for and compliance of the patient. Oral nanomedicines have been developed to overcome the limitations of free drugs and overcome gastrointestinal (GI) barriers, which are heterogeneous across healthy and diseased populations. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview and comparison of the oral nanomedicine biointeractions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in health and disease (GI and extra-GI diseases) and highlight emerging strategies that exploit these differences for oral nanomedicine-based treatment. We introduce the key GI barriers related to oral delivery and summarize their pathological changes in various diseases. We discuss nanomedicine biointeractions in the GIT in health by describing the general biointeractions based on the type of oral nanomedicine and advanced biointeractions facilitated by advanced strategies applied in this field. We then discuss nanomedicine biointeractions in different diseases and explore how pathological characteristics have been harnessed to advance the development of oral nanomedicine.

The Other Side of Plastics: Bioplastic-Based Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Systems in the Brain

Plastics have changed human lives, finding a broad range of applications from packaging to medical devices. However, plastics can degrade into microscopic forms known as micro- and nanoplastics, which have raised concerns about their accumulation in the environment but mainly about the potential risk to human health. Recently, biodegradable plastic materials have been introduced on the market. These polymers are biodegradable but also bioresorbable and, indeed, are fundamental tools for drug formulations, thanks to their transient ability to pass through biological barriers and concentrate in specific tissues. However, this "other side" of bioplastics raises concerns about their toxic potential, in the form of micro- and nanoparticles, due to easier and faster tissue accumulation, with unknown long-term biological effects. This review aims to provide an update on bioplastic-based particles by analyzing the advantages and drawbacks of their potential use as components of innovative formulations for brain diseases. However, a critical analysis of the literature indicates the need for further studies to assess the safety of bioplastic micro- and nanoparticles despite they appear as promising tools for several nanomedicine applications.

Procedurally Targeted Delivery of Antitumor Drugs Using FAPα-Responsive TPGS Dimer-Based Flower-like Polymeric Micelles

To overcome the intestinal epithelium barrier and achieve a better antitumor effect, the procedurally targeting flower-like nanomicelles for oral delivery of antitumor drugs were designed based on FAPα-responsive TPGS1000 dimer (TPGS-Gly-Pro-TPGS) and L-carnitine linked poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-b-poly(D, l-lactide) (Car-PEOz-b-PLA). As expected, compared with unmodified polymeric micelles (TT-PMs) composed of TPGS-Gly-Pro-TPGS, L-carnitine conjugated polymeric micelles (CTT-PMs) formed from both TPGS-Gly-Pro-TPGS and Car-PEOz-b-PLA with favorable stability in simulated gastrointestinal fluid and FAPα-dependent release capability exhibited remarkably enhanced cellular uptake and transmembrane transport through OCTN2 mediation confirmed by fluorescence immunoassay, which was intuitively evidenced by stronger fluorescence within epithelial cells, and the basal side of small intestinal epithelium of mice being given intragastric administration of DiI-labeled micelles. The transport of CTT-PMs across the intestinal epithelium in an intact form was mediated by clathrin along the intracellular transport pathway of endosome-lysosome-ER-Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, both the increased uptake by FAPα-positive U87MG cells and unchangeable uptake by FAPα-negative C6 cells for coumarin-6 (C-6)/CTT-PMs compared with C-6/TT-PMs evidenced the targeting ability of CTT-PMs to FAPα-positive tumor cells. Both OCTN2-mediation and FAPα-responsiveness were beneficial for polymeric micelles to improve the delivery and therapeutic efficiency of antitumor agents, which was further supported by the remarkable enhancement in in vivo antitumor efficacy via promoting apoptosis of tumor cells for paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded CTT-PMs (PTX/CTT-PMs) with low toxicity compared with PTX/TT-PMs. Our findings offered an alternative design strategy for procedurally targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics by an oral route.

Towards a simple in vitro surface chemistry pre-screening method for nanoparticles to be used for drug delivery to solid tumours

An efficient nanoparticulate drug carrier intended for chemotherapy based on intravenous administration must exhibit a long enough blood circulation time, a good penetrability into the tumour volume, as well as an efficient uptake by cancer cells. Limiting factors for the therapeutic outcome in vivo are recognition of the nanoparticles as foreign objects, which triggers nanoparticle uptake by defence organs rich in macrophages, e.g. liver and spleen, on the time-scale of accumulation and uptake in/by the tumour. However, the development of nanomedicine towards efficient nanoparticle-based delivery to solid tumours is hampered by the lack of simple, reproducible, cheap, and predictive means for early identification of promising nanoparticle formulations. The surface chemistry of nanoparticles is known to be the most important determinant for the biological fate of nanoparticles, as it influences the extent of serum protein adsorption, and also the relative composition of the protein corona. Here we preliminarily evaluate an extremely simple screening method for nanoparticle surface chemistry pre-optimization based on nanoparticle uptake in vitro by PC-3 cancer cells and THP-1 macrophages. Only when both selectivity for the cancer cells as well as the extent of nanoparticle uptake are taken into consideration do the in vitro results mirror literature results obtained for small animal models. Furthermore, although not investigated here, the screening method does also lend itself to the study of actively targeted nanoparticles.

Dual receptor specific nanoparticles targeting EGFR and PD-L1 for enhanced delivery of docetaxel in cancer therapy

Dual-receptor targeted (DRT) nanoparticles which contain two distinct targeting agents may exhibit higher cell selectivity, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity toward cancer cells than single-ligand targeted nanoparticle systems without additional functionality. The purpose of this study is to prepare DRT poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles for targeting the delivery of docetaxel (DTX) to the EGFR and PD-L1 receptor positive cancer cells such as human glioblastoma multiform (U87-MG) and human non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Anti-EGFR and anti-PD-L1 antibody were decorated on DTX loaded PLGA nanoparticles to prepare DRT-DTX-PLGA via. single emulsion solvent evaporation method. Physicochemical characterizations of DRT-DTX-PLGA, such as particle size, zeta-potential, morphology, and in vitro DTX release were also evaluated. The average particle size of DRT-DTX-PLGA was 124.2 ± 1.1 nm with spherical and smooth morphology. In the cellular uptake study, the DRT-DTX-PLGA endocytosed by the U87-MG and A549 cells was single ligand targeting nanoparticle. From the in vitro cell cytotoxicity, and apoptosis studies, we reported that DRT-DTX-PLGA exhibited high cytotoxicity and enhanced the apoptotic cell compared to the single ligand-targeted nanoparticle. The dual receptor mediated endocytosis of DRT-DTX-PLGA showed a high binding affinity effect that leads to high intracellular DTX concentration and exhibited high cytotoxic properties. Thus, DRT nanoparticles have the potential to improve cancer therapy by providing selectivity over single-ligand-targeted nanoparticles.

Co-delivery of vitamin D3 and Lkb1 siRNA by cationic lipid-assisted PEG-PLGA nanoparticles to effectively remodel the immune system in vivo

The imbalance of the immune system can lead to the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Controlling and regulating the proliferation and function of effector T (Teff) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells becomes the key to treating these diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs), as dedicated antigen-presenting cells, play a key role in inducing the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells. In this study, we designed a cationic lipid-assisted PEG-PLGA nanoparticle (NPs/VD3/siLkb1) to deliver 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) to DC cells in the draining lymph nodes. By modulating the phenotypic changes of DC cells, this approach expands Treg cells and reduces the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Thus, this study provides a novel approach to alleviating the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases while also minimizing the risk of unwanted complications.

Plant-derived polyphenolic compounds: nanodelivery through polysaccharide-based systems to improve the biological properties

Plant-derived polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds widely distributed in plants. They have received greater attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their potential health benefits, reducing the risk of some chronic diseases due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuro-action properties. Polyphenolic compounds orally administered can be used as adjuvants in several treatments but with restricted uses due to chemical instability. The review discusses the different structural compositions of polyphenols and their influence on chemical stability. Despite the potential and wide applications, there is a need to improve the delivery of polyphenolics to target the human intestine without massive chemical modifications. Oral administration of polyphenols is unfeasible due to instability, low bioaccessibility, and limited bioavailability. Nano-delivery systems based on polysaccharides (starch, pectin, chitosan, and cellulose) have been identified as a viable option for oral ingestion, potentiate biological effects, and direct-controlled delivery in specific tissues. The time and dose can be individualized for specific diseases, such as intestinal cancer. This review will address the mechanisms by which polysaccharides-based nanostructured systems can protect against degradation and enhance intestinal permeation, oral bioavailability, and the potential application of polysaccharides as nanocarriers for the controlled and targeted delivery of polyphenolic compounds.

Fe-involved nanostructures act as photothermal transduction agents in cancer photothermal therapy

Cancer, a disease notorious for its difficult therapy regimen, has long puzzled researchers. Despite attempts to cure cancer using surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, their effectiveness is limited. Recently, photothermal therapy (PTT), a rising strategy, has gained attention. PTT can increase the surrounding temperature of cancer tissues and cause damage to them. Fe is widely used in PTT nanostructures due to its strong chelating ability, good biocompatibility, and the potential to induce ferroptosis. In recent years, many nanostructures incorporating Fe3+ have been developed. In this article, we summarize PTT nanostructures containing Fe and introduce their synthesis and therapy strategy. However, PTT nanostructures containing Fe are still in their infancy, and more effort must be devoted to improving their effectiveness so that they can eventually be used in clinics.

Recent advances in nanomedicine preparative methods and their therapeutic potential for colorectal cancer: a critical review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy that affects a large percentage of the global population. The conventional treatments for CRC have a number of limitations. Nanoparticles have emerged as a promising cancer treatment method due to their ability to directly target cancer cells and regulate drug release, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing side effects. This compilation examines the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for CRC treatment. Different nanomaterials can be used to administer anticancer drugs, including polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles. In addition, we discuss recent developments in nanoparticle preparation techniques, such as solvent evaporation, salting-out, ion gelation, and nanoprecipitation. These methods have demonstrated high efficacy in penetrating epithelial cells, a prerequisite for effective drug delivery. This article focuses on the various targeting mechanisms utilized by CRC-targeted nanoparticles and their recent advancements in this field. In addition, the review offers descriptive information regarding numerous nano-preparative procedures for colorectal cancer treatments. We also discuss the outlook for innovative therapeutic techniques in the management of CRC, including the potential application of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. The review concludes with a discussion of current nanotechnology patents and clinical studies used to target and diagnose CRC. The results of this investigation suggest that nanoparticles have great potential as a method of drug delivery for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Are Local Drug Delivery Systems a Challenge in Clinical Periodontology?

Placing antimicrobial treatments directly in periodontal pockets is an example of the local administration of antimicrobial drugs to treat periodontitis. This method of therapy is advantageous since the drug concentration after application far surpasses the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and lasts for a number of weeks. As a result, numerous local drug delivery systems (LDDSs) utilizing various antibiotics or antiseptics have been created. There is constant effort to develop novel formulations for the localized administration of periodontitis treatments, some of which have failed to show any efficacy while others show promise. Thus, future research should focus on the way LDDSs can be personalized in order to optimize future clinical protocols in periodontal therapy.

pH-Modulated Nanoarchitectonics for Enhancement of Multivalency-Induced Vesicle Shape Deformation at Receptor-Presenting Lipid Membrane Interfaces

Multivalent ligand-receptor interactions between receptor-presenting lipid membranes and ligand-modified biological and biomimetic nanoparticles influence cellular entry and fusion processes. Environmental pH changes can drive these membrane-related interactions by affecting membrane nanomechanical properties. Quantitatively, however, the corresponding effects on high-curvature, sub-100 nm lipid vesicles are scarcely understood, especially in the multivalent binding context. Herein, we employed the label-free localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing technique to track the multivalent attachment kinetics, shape deformation, and surface coverage of biotin ligand-functionalized, zwitterionic lipid vesicles with different ligand densities on a streptavidin receptor-coated supported lipid bilayer under varying pH conditions (4.5, 6, 7.5). Our results demonstrate that more extensive multivalent interactions caused greater vesicle shape deformation across the tested pH conditions, which affected vesicle surface packing as well. Notably, there were also pH-specific differences, i.e., a higher degree of vesicle shape deformation was triggered at a lower multivalent binding energy in pH 4.5 than in pH 6 and 7.5 conditions. These findings support that the nanomechanical properties of high-curvature lipid membranes, especially the membrane bending energy and the corresponding responsiveness to multivalent binding interactions, are sensitive to solution pH, and indicate that multivalency-induced vesicle shape deformation occurs slightly more readily in acidic pH conditions relevant to biological environments.

Cell membrane-coated nanomaterials for cancer therapy

With the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles have emerged as a delivery carrier for tumor drug therapy, which can improve the therapeutic effect by increasing the stability and solubility and prolonging the half-life of drugs. However, nanoparticles are foreign substances for humans, are easily cleared by the immune system, are less targeted to tumors, and may even be toxic to the body. As a natural biological material, cell membranes have unique biological properties, such as good biocompatibility, strong targeting ability, the ability to evade immune surveillance, and high drug-carrying capacity. In this article, we review cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CMNPs) and their applications to tumor therapy. First, we briefly describe CMNP characteristics and applications. Second, we present the characteristics and advantages of different cell membranes as well as nanoparticles, provide a brief description of the process of CMNPs, discuss the current status of their application to tumor therapy, summarize their shortcomings for use in cancer therapy, and propose future research directions. This review summarizes the research progress on CMNPs in cancer therapy in recent years and assesses remaining problems, providing scholars with new ideas for future research on CMNPs in tumor therapy.

Advanced liposome and polymersome-based drug delivery systems: Considerations for physicochemical properties, targeting strategies and stimuli-sensitive approaches

Liposomes and polymersomes are colloidal vesicles that are self-assembled from lipids and amphiphilic polymers, respectively. Because of their ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic therapeutics, they are of great interest in drug delivery research. Today, the applications of liposomes and polymersomes have expanded to a wide variety of complex therapeutic molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins and enzymes. Thanks to their chemical versatility, they can be tailored to different drug delivery applications to achieve maximum therapeutic index. This review article evaluates liposomes and polymersomes from a perspective that takes into account the physical and biological barriers that reduce the efficiency of the drug delivery process. In this context, the design approaches of liposomes and polymersomes are discussed with representative examples in terms of their physicochemical properties (size, shape, charge, mechanical), targeting strategies (passive and active) and response to different stimuli (pH, redox, enzyme, temperature, light, magnetic field, ultrasound). Finally, the challenges limiting the transition from laboratory to practice, recent clinical developments, and future perspectives are addressed.

ATB0,+-targeted nanoparticles initiate autophagy suppression to overcome chemoresistance for enhanced colorectal cancer therapy

Oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance remains the major obstacle to the successful chemotherapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). As a self-protection mechanism, autophagy may contribute to tumor drug resistance, therefore autophagy suppression could be regarded as a possible treatment option in chemotherapy. Cancer cells, especially drug-resistant tumor cells, increase their demand for specific amino acids by expanding exogenous supply and up-regulating de novo synthesis, to meet the needs for excessive proliferation. Therefore, it is possible to inhibit cancer cell proliferation through pharmacologically blocking the entry of amino acid into cancer cells. SLC6A14 (ATB^{0, +}) is an essential amino acid transporter, that is often abnormally up-regulated in most cancer cells. Herein, in this study, we designed oxaliplatin/berbamine-coloaded, ATB^0,+-targeted nanoparticles ((O+B)@Trp-NPs) to therapeutically target SLC6A14 (ATB^{0, +}) and inhibit cancer proliferation. The (O+B)@Trp-NPs utilize the surface-modified tryptophan to achieve SLC6A14-targeted delivery of Berbamine (BBM), a compound that is found in a number of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, which could suppress autolysosome formation though impairing autophagosome-lysosome fusion. We verified the feasibility of this strategy to overcome the OXA resistance during colorectal cancer treatment. The (O+B)@Trp-NPs significantly inhibited the proliferation and decreased the drug resistance of resistant colorectal cancer cells. In vivo, (O+B)@Trp-NPs greatly suppressed the tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice, which is consistent with the in vitro data. This research offers a unique and promising chemotherapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer.

A Systematic Review of Drug-Carrying Nanosystems Used in the Treatment of Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease responsible for a huge rate of morbidity and mortality in humans. Chemotherapy consists of the use of pentavalent antimonial, amphotericin B, pentamidine, miltefosine, and paromomycin. However, these drugs are associated with some drawbacks such as high toxicity, administration by parenteral route, and most seriously the resistance of some strains of the parasite to them. Several strategies have been used to increase the therapeutic index and reduce the toxic effects of these drugs. Among them, the use of nanosystems that have great potential as a site-specific drug delivery system stands out. This review aims to compile results from studies that were carried out using first- and second-line antileishmanial drug-carrying nanosystems. The articles referred to here were published between 2011 and 2021. This study shows the promise of effective applicability of drug-carrying nanosystems in the field of antileishmanial therapeutics, with the perspective of providing better patient adherence to treatment, increased therapeutic efficacy, reduced toxicity of conventional drugs, as well as the potential to efficiently improve the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Quatsomes Loaded with Squaraine Dye as an Effective Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive therapeutic strategy that combines external light with a photosensitizer (PS) to destroy abnormal cells. Despite the great progress in the development of new photosensitizers with improved efficacy, the PS’s photosensitivity, high hydrophobicity, and tumor target avidity still represent the main challenges. Herein, newly synthesized brominated squaraine, exhibiting intense absorption in the red/near-infrared region, has been successfully incorporated into Quatsome (QS) nanovesicles at different loadings. The formulations under study have been characterized and interrogated in vitro for cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and PDT efficiency in a breast cancer cell line. The nanoencapsulation of brominated squaraine into QS overcomes the non-water solubility limitation of the brominated squaraine without compromising its ability to generate ROS rapidly. In addition, PDT effectiveness is maximized due to the highly localized PS loadings in the QS. This strategy allows using a therapeutic squaraine concentration that is 100 times lower than the concentration of free squaraine usually employed in PDT. Taken together, our results reveal the benefits of the incorporation of brominated squaraine into QS to optimize their photoactive properties and support their applicability as photosensitizer agents for PDT.

Structural parameters of nanoparticles affecting their toxicity for biomedical applications: a review

Rapidly growing interest in using nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications has increased concerns about their safety and toxicity. In comparison with bulk materials, NPs are more chemically active and toxic due to the greater surface area and small size. Understanding the NPs' mechanism of toxicity, together with the factors influencing their behavior in biological environments, can help researchers to design NPs with reduced side effects and improved performance. After overviewing the classification and properties of NPs, this review article discusses their biomedical applications in molecular imaging and cell therapy, gene transfer, tissue engineering, targeted drug delivery, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, cancer treatment, wound healing, and anti-bacterial applications. There are different mechanisms of toxicity of NPs, and their toxicity and behaviors depend on various factors, which are elaborated on in this article. More specifically, the mechanism of toxicity and their interactions with living components are discussed by considering the impact of different physiochemical parameters such as size, shape, structure, agglomeration state, surface charge, wettability, dose, and substance type. The toxicity of polymeric, silica-based, carbon-based, and metallic-based NPs (including plasmonic alloy NPs) have been considered separately.

Nanoparticle targeting of mechanically modulated glycocalyx

The mechanical properties and forces in the extracellular environment surrounding alveolar epithelial cells have the potential to modulate their behavior. Particularly, breathing applies 3-dimensional cyclic stretches to the cells, while the stiffness of the interstitium changes in disease states, such as fibrosis and cancer. A platform was developed that effectively imitates the active forces in the alveolus, while allowing one to control the interstitium matrix stiffnesses to mimic fibrotic lung tumor microenvironments. Alveolar epithelial cancer cells were cultured on these platforms and changes in the glycocalyx expression were evaluated. A complex combination of stiffness and dynamic forces altered heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expressions. Consequently, we designed liposomal nanoparticles (LNPs) modified with peptides that can target heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulfates of cell surface glycocalyx. Cellular uptake of these modified nanoparticles increased in stiffer conditions depending on the stretch state. Namely, chondroitin sulfate A targeting improved uptake efficiency in cells experiencing dynamic stretches, while cells seeded on static stiff interstitium preferentially took up heparan sulfate targeting LNPs. These results demonstrate the critical role that mechanical stiffness and stretching play in the alveolus and the importance of including these properties in nanotherapeutic design for cancer treatment.

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles Loaded with Flavonoids: A Promising Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders that cause chronic non-specific inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, primarily affecting the ileum and colon. The incidence of IBD has risen sharply in recent years. Despite continuous research efforts over the past decades, the aetiology of IBD is still not fully understood and only a limited number of drugs are available for its treatment. Flavonoids, a ubiquitous class of natural chemicals found in plants, have been widely used in the prevention and treatment of IBD. However, their therapeutic efficacy is unsatisfactory due to poor solubility, instability, rapid metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination. With the development of nanomedicine, nanocarriers can efficiently encapsulate various flavonoids and subsequently form nanoparticles (NPs), which greatly improves the stability and bioavailability of flavonoids. Recently, progress has also been made in the methodology of biodegradable polymers that can be used to fabricate NPs. As a result, NPs can significantly enhance the preventive or therapeutic effects of flavonoids on IBD. In this review, we aim to evaluate the therapeutic effect of flavonoid NPs on IBD. Furthermore, we discuss possible challenges and future perspectives.

Nanomedicine as potential cancer therapy via targeting dysregulated transcription factors

Cancer as a disease possess quite complicated pathophysiological implications and is among the prominent causes of morbidity and mortality on global scales. Anti-cancer chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are some of the present-day conventional treatment options. However, these therapeutic paradigms own several retreats, including lack of specificity, non-targeted toxicological implications, inefficient drug delivery to targeted cells, and emergence of cancer resistance, ultimately causing ineffective cancer management. Owing to the advanced and better biophysical characteristic features and potentiality for the tailoring and customizations and in several fashions, nanotechnology can entirely transubstantiate the cancer identification and its managements. Additionally, nanotechnology also renders several answers to present-day mainstream limitations springing-up in anti-cancer therapeutics. Nanocarriers, owing to their outstanding physicochemical features including but not limited to their particle size, surface morphological features viz. shape etc., have been employed in nanomedicinal platforms for targeting various transcription factors leading to worthy pharmacological outcomes. This transcription targeting activates the wide array of cellular and molecular events like antioxidant enzyme-induction, apoptotic cell death, cell-cycle arrest etc. These outcomes are obtained after the activation or inactivation of several transcription factors and cellular pathways. Further, nanoformulations have been precisely calibrated and functionalized with peculiar targeting groups for improving their efficiency to deliver the drug-payload to specified and targeted cancerous cells and tissues. This review undertakes an extensive, across-the-board and all-inclusive approach consisting of various studies encompassing different types of tailored and customized nanoformulations and nanomaterials designed for targeting the transcription factors implicated in the process of carcinogenesis, tumor-maturation, growth and metastasis. Various transcription factors viz. nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB), signal transducer and activators of transcription (STAT), Cmyc and Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) along with several types of nanoparticles targeting these transcription factors have been summarized here. A section has also been dedicated to the different types of nanoparticles targeting the hypoxia inducing factors. Efforts have been made to summarize several other transcription factors implicated in various stages of cancer development, growth, progression and invasion, and their targeting with different kinds of nanomedicinal agents.

Tailoring surface properties of liposomes for dexamethasone intraocular administration

Diseases of the posterior eye segment are often characterized by intraocular inflammation, which causes, in the long term, severe impairment of eye functions and, ultimately, vision loss. Aimed at enhancing the delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs to the posterior eye segment upon intravitreal administration, we developed liposomes with an engineered surface to control their diffusivity in the vitreous and retina association. Hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC)/cholesterol liposomes were coated with (agmatinyl)₆-maltotriosyl-acetamido-N-(octadec-9-en-1-yl)hexanamide (Agm₆-M-Oleate), a synthetic non-peptidic cell penetration enhancer (CPE), and/or 5% of mPEG_2kDa-DSPE. The zeta potential of liposomes increased, and the mobility in bovine vitreous and colloidal stability decreased with the Agm₆-M-Oleate coating concentration. Oppositely, mPEG_2kDa-DSPE decreased the zeta potential of liposomes and restored both the diffusivity and the stability in vitreous. Liposomes with 5 mol% Agm₆-M-Oleate coating were well tolerated by ARPE-19 retina cells either with or without mPEG_2kDa-DSPE, while 10 mol% Agm₆-M-Oleate showed cytotoxicity. Agm₆-M-Oleate promoted the association of liposomes to ARPE-19 cells with respect to plain liposomes, while mPEG_2kDa-DSPE slightly reduced the cell interaction. Dexamethasone hemisuccinate (DH) was remotely loaded into liposomes with a loading capacity of ∼10 wt/wt%. Interestingly, mPEG_2kDa-DSPE coating reduced the rate of DH release and enhanced the disposition of Agm₆-M-Oleate coated liposomes in the ARPE-19 cell cytosol resulting in a more efficient anti-inflammatory effect. Finally, mPEG_2kDa-DSPE enhanced the association of DH-loaded Agm₆-M-Oleate coated liposomes to explanted rat retina, which reflected in higher viability of inner and outer nuclear layer cells.

Transporter-Mediated Drug Delivery

Transmembrane transport of small organic and inorganic molecules is one of the cornerstones of cellular metabolism. Among transmembrane transporters, solute carrier (SLC) proteins form the largest, albeit very diverse, superfamily with over 400 members. It was recognized early on that xenobiotics can directly interact with SLCs and that this interaction can fundamentally determine their efficacy, including bioavailability and intertissue distribution. Apart from the well-established prodrug strategy, the chemical ligation of transporter substrates to nanoparticles of various chemical compositions has recently been used as a means to enhance their targeting and absorption. In this review, we summarize efforts in drug design exploiting interactions with specific SLC transporters to optimize their therapeutic effects. Furthermore, we describe current and future challenges as well as new directions for the advanced development of therapeutics that target SLC transporters.

Nanoparticles and convergence of artificial intelligence for targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy: Current progress and challenges

Cancer is a life-threatening disease, resulting in nearly 10 million deaths worldwide. There are various causes of cancer, and the prognostic information varies in each patient because of unique molecular signatures in the human body. However, genetic heterogeneity occurs due to different cancer types and changes in the neoplasms, which complicates the diagnosis and treatment. Targeted drug delivery is considered a pivotal contributor to precision medicine for cancer treatments as this method helps deliver medication to patients by systematically increasing the drug concentration on the targeted body parts. In such cases, nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) can help bridge the gap and enhance localized drug delivery systems capable of biomarker sensing. Diagnostic assays using nanoparticles (NPs) enable biomarker identification by accumulating in the specific cancer sites and ensuring accurate drug delivery planning. Integrating NPs for cancer targeting and AI can help devise sophisticated systems that further classify cancer types and understand complex disease patterns. Advanced AI algorithms can also help in biomarker detection, predicting different NP interactions of the targeted drug, and evaluating drug efficacy. Considering the advantages of the convergence of NPs and AI for targeted drug delivery, there has been significantly limited research focusing on the specific research theme, with most of the research being proposed on AI and drug discovery. Thus, the study's primary objective is to highlight the recent advances in drug delivery using NPs, and their impact on personalized treatment plans for cancer patients. In addition, a focal point of the study is also to highlight how integrating AI, and NPs can help address some of the existing challenges in drug delivery by conducting a collective survey.

Elastin-like polypeptide-based micelles as a promising platform in nanomedicine

New and improved nanomaterials are constantly being developed for biomedical purposes. Nanomaterials based on elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) have increasingly shown potential over the past two decades. These polymers are artificial proteins of which the design is based on human tropoelastin. Due to this similarity, ELP-based nanomaterials are biodegradable and therefore well suited to drug delivery. The assembly of ELP molecules into nanoparticles spontaneously occurs at temperatures above a transition temperature (T_t). The ELP sequence influences both the T_t and the physicochemical properties of the assembled nanomaterial. Nanoparticles with desired properties can hence be designed by choosing the appropriate sequence. A promising class of ELP nanoparticles are micelles assembled from amphiphilic ELP diblock copolymers. Such micelles are generally uniform and well defined. Furthermore, site-specific attachment of cargo to the hydrophobic block results in micelles with the cargo shielded inside their core, while conjugation to the hydrophilic block causes the cargo to reside in the corona where it is available for interactions. Such control over particle design is one of the main contributing factors for the potential of ELP-based micelles as a drug delivery system. Additionally, the micelles are easily loaded with protein or peptide-based cargo by expressing it as a fusion protein. Small molecule drugs and other cargo types can be either covalently conjugated to ELP domains or physically entrapped inside the micelle core. This review aims to give an overview of ELP-based micelles and their applications in nanomedicine.