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Casula L, Zidar A, Kristl J, Jeras M, Kralj S, Fadda AM, Zupančič Š. Development of Nanofibers with Embedded Liposomes Containing an Immunomodulatory Drug Using Green Electrospinning. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041245. [PMID: 37111731 PMCID: PMC10143873 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional treatments for chronic wounds are often ineffective, thus new therapeutic approaches are needed, such as the delivery of immunomodulatory drugs that can reduce inflammation, restore immune cell function, and facilitate tissue regeneration. A potential drug for such an approach is simvastatin, which has major drawbacks including poor solubility and chemical instability. With the aim of developing a dressing for wound healing, simvastatin and an antioxidant were incorporated into alginate/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers by green electrospinning without the use of organic solvents, thanks to their prior encapsulation into liposomes. The composite liposome-nanofiber formulations exhibited fibrillar morphology (160-312 nm) and unprecedentedly high phospholipid and drug content (76%). Transmission electron microscopy revealed dried liposomes as bright ellipsoidal spots homogeneously distributed over the nanofibers. After nanofiber hydration, the liposomes reconstituted in two size populations (~140 and ~435 nm), as revealed by cutting-edge MADLS® analysis. Lastly, in vitro assays demonstrated that composite liposome-nanofiber formulations are superior to liposomal formulations due to a better safety profile in keratinocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, both formulations exhibited similarly advantageous immunomodulatory effects, measured as decreased inflammation in vitro. A synergistic combination of the two nanodelivery systems shows promise for the development of efficient dressings for chronic wound treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Casula
- Unit of Drug Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anže Zidar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Julijana Kristl
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Jeras
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Slavko Kralj
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department for Materials Synthesis, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Nanos SCI, Nanos Scientificae d.o.o., Teslova Ulica 30, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna Maria Fadda
- Unit of Drug Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Špela Zupančič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Electrohydrodynamic Techniques for the Manufacture and/or Immobilization of Vesicles. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15040795. [PMID: 36850078 PMCID: PMC9963335 DOI: 10.3390/polym15040795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of accurate drug delivery systems is one of the main challenges in the biomedical field. A huge variety of structures, such as vesicles, nanoparticles, and nanofibers, have been proposed as carriers for bioactive agents, aiming for precision in administration and dosage, safety, and bioavailability. This review covers the use of electrohydrodynamic techniques both for the immobilization and for the synthesis of vesicles in a non-conventional way. The state of the art discusses the most recent advances in this field as well as the advantages and limitations of electrospun and electrosprayed amphiphilic structures as precursor templates for the in situ vesicle self-assembly. Finally, the perspectives and challenges of combined strategies for the development of advanced structures for the delivery of bioactive agents are analyzed.
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