Key Design Features of Lipid Nanoparticles and Electrostatic Charge-Based Lipid Nanoparticle Targeting

Comprehensive analysis of lipid nanoparticle formulation and preparation for RNA delivery

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics are a common approach that is increasingly popular for a wide spectrum of diseases. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising delivery carriers that provide RNA stability, with strong transfection efficiency, favorable and tailorable pharmacokinetics, limited toxicity, and established translatability. In this review article, we describe the lipid-based delivery systems, focusing on lipid nanoparticles, the need of their use, provide a comprehensive analysis of each component, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the existing manufacturing processes. We further summarize the ongoing and completed clinical trials utilizing LNPs, indicating important aspects/questions worth of investigation, and analyze the future perspectives of this significant and promising therapeutic approach.

Nanomaterial-enabled drug transport systems: a comprehensive exploration of current developments and future avenues in therapeutic delivery

Over the years, nanotechnology has gained popularity as a viable solution to address gene and drug delivery challenges over conventional methods. Extensive research has been conducted on nanosystems that consist of organic/inorganic materials, drugs, and its biocompatibility become the primary goal of improving drug delivery. Various surface modification methods help focus targeted and controlled drug release, further enabling multidrug delivery also. This newer technology ensures the stability of drugs that can unravel the mechanisms involved in cellular processes of disease development and its management. Tailored medication delivery provides benefits such as therapy, controlled release, and reduced adverse effects, which are especially important for controlling illnesses like cancer. However, multifunctional nanocarriers that possess high viscoelasticity, extended circulation half-life, biocompatibility, and biodegradability face some challenges and limitations too in human bodies. To produce a consistent therapeutic platform based on complex three-dimensional nanoparticles, careful design and engineering, thorough orthogonal analysis methods, and reproducible scale-up and manufacturing processes will be required in the future. Safety and effectiveness of nano-based drug delivery should be thoroughly investigated in preclinical and clinical trials, especially when considering biodistribution, targeting specific areas, and potential immunological toxicities. Overall, the current review article explores the advancements in nanotechnology, specific to nanomaterial-enabled drug delivery systems, carrier fabrication techniques and modifications, disease management, clinical research, applications, limitations, and future challenges. The work portrays how nanomedicine distribution affects healthcare with an emphasis on the developments in drug delivery techniques.

Growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer by targeted delivery of gemcitabine via fucoidan-coated pH-sensitive liposomes

Fucoidan-coated pH sensitive liposomes were designed for targeted delivery of gemcitabine (FU-GEM PSL) to treat pancreatic cancer (PC). FU-GEM PSL had a particle size of 175.3 ± 4.9 nm, zeta potential of -19.0 ± 3.7 mV, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 74.05 ± 0.17 %, and drug loading (DL) of 21.27 ± 0.05 %. Cell experiments in vitro showed that FU-GEM PSL could increase the release of GEM and drug concentration, and could inhibit tumor cell proliferation by affecting the cell cycle. FU-GEM PSL entered cells through macropinocytosis and caveolin-mediated endocytosis to exert effects. Meanwhile, the expression of P-selectin was detected in human tissues, demonstrating the feasibility of targeting FU. Moreover, combined with animal experiments in vivo, FU-GEM PSL could inhibit the development of PC. Furthermore, anti-tumor experiments in vivo carried on BALB/c mice indicated that FU-GEM PSL had tumor suppression abilities and safety. Therefore, FU-GEM PSL is a promising formulation for PC therapy.

Innovative lipid nanoparticles: A cutting-edge approach for potential renal cell carcinoma therapeutics

The kidney plays a crucial role in regulating homeostasis within the human body. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer, accounting for nearly 90 % of all renal malignancies. Despite the availability of various therapeutic strategies, RCC remains a challenging disease due to its resistance to conventional treatments. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field, offering new opportunities in cancer therapeutics. It presents several advantages over traditional methods, enabling diverse biomedical applications, including drug delivery, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), approximately 100 nm in size, are derived from a range of lipids and other biochemical compounds. these particulates are designed to overcome biological barriers, allowing them to selectively accumulate at diseased target sites for effective therapeutic action. Many pharmaceutically important compounds face challenges such as poor solubility in aqueous solutions, chemical and physiological instability, or toxicity. LNP technology stands out as a promising drug delivery system for bioactive organic compounds. This article reviews the applications of LNPs in RCC treatment and explores their potential clinical translation, identifying the most viable LNPs for medical use. With ongoing advancement in LNP-based anticancer strategies, there is a growing potential to improve the management and treatment of renal cancer.

Impact of physicochemical properties on biological effects of lipid nanoparticles: Are they completely safe

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising materials and human-use approved excipients, with manifold applications in biomedicine. Researchers have tended to focus on improving the pharmacological efficiency and organ targeting of LNPs, while paid relatively less attention to the negative aspects created by their specific physicochemical properties. Here, we discuss the impacts of LNPs' physicochemical properties (size, surface hydrophobicity, surface charge, surface modification and lipid composition) on the adsorption-transportation-distribution-clearance processes and bio-nano interactions. In addition, since there is a lack of review emphasizing on toxicological profiles of LNPs, this review outlined immunogenicity, inflammation, hemolytic toxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by LNPs and the underlying mechanisms, with the aim to understand the properties that underlie the biological effects of these materials. This provides a basic strategy that increased efficacy of medical application with minimized side-effects can be achieved by modulating the physicochemical properties of LNPs. Therefore, addressing the effects of physicochemical properties on toxicity induced by LNPs is critical for understanding their environmental and health risks and will help clear the way for LNPs-based drugs to eventually fulfill their promise as a highly effective therapeutic agents for diverse diseases in clinic.

Silicon Ether Ionizable Lipids Enable Potent mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles with Rapid Tissue Clearance

The advent of mRNA for nucleic acid (NA) therapeutics has unlocked many diverse areas of research and clinical investigation. However, the shorter intracellular half-life of mRNA compared with other NAs may necessitate more frequent dosing regimens. Because lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the principal delivery system used for mRNA, this could lead to tolerability challenges associated with an accumulated lipid burden. This can be addressed by introducing enzymatically cleaved carboxylic esters into the hydrophobic domains of lipid components, notably, the ionizable lipid. However, enzymatic activity can vary significantly with age, disease state, and species, potentially limiting the application in humans. Here we report an alternative approach to ionizable lipid degradability that relies on nonenzymatic hydrolysis, leading to a controlled and highly efficient lipid clearance profile. We identify highly potent examples and demonstrate their exceptional tolerability in multiple preclinical species, including multidosing in nonhuman primates (NHP).

Intranasal Drug Delivery by Nanotechnology: Advances in and Challenges for Alzheimer's Disease Management

Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, is characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive functions. Current treatment approaches primarily involve the administration of medications through oral, parenteral, and transdermal routes, aiming to improve cognitive function and alleviate symptoms. However, these treatments face limitations, such as low bioavailability and inadequate permeation. Alternative invasive methods, while explored, often entail discomfort and require specialized assistance. Therefore, the development of a non-invasive and efficient delivery system is crucial. Intranasal delivery has emerged as a potential solution, although it is constrained by the unique conditions of the nasal cavity. An innovative approach involves the use of nano-carriers based on nanotechnology for intranasal delivery. This strategy has the potential to overcome current limitations by providing enhanced bioavailability, improved permeation, effective traversal of the blood-brain barrier, extended retention within the body, and precise targeting of the brain. The comprehensive review focuses on the advancements in designing various types of nano-carriers, including polymeric nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, Quantum dots, and dendrimers. These nano-carriers are specifically tailored for the intranasal delivery of therapeutic agents aimed at combatting Alzheimer's disease. In summary, the development and utilization of intranasal delivery systems based on nanotechnology show significant potential in surmounting the constraints of current Alzheimer's disease treatment strategies. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge regulatory as well as toxicity concerns associated with this route; meticulous consideration is required when engineering a carrier. This comprehensive review underscores the potential to revolutionize Alzheimer's disease management and highlights the importance of addressing regulatory considerations for safe and effective implementations. Embracing this strategy could lead to substantial advancements in the field of Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Delivery of nucleic acids using nanomaterials

The increasing number of approved nucleic acid therapeutics demonstrates the potential for the prevention and treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. This trend underscores the significant impact and promise of nucleic acid-based treatments in the field of medicine. Nevertheless, employing nucleic acids as therapeutics is challenging due to their susceptibility to degradation by nucleases and their unfavorable physicochemical characteristics that hinder delivery into cells. Appropriate vectors play a pivotal role in improving nucleic acid stability and delivering nucleic acids into specific cells. The maturation of delivery systems has led to breakthroughs in the development of therapeutics based on nucleic acids such as DNA, siRNA, and mRNA. Non-viral vectors have gained prominence among the myriad of nanomaterials due to low immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and simplicity of cost-effective, large-scale production. Here, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in nanomaterials for nucleic acid delivery. Specifically, we give a detailed introduction to the characteristics of polymers, lipids, and polymer-lipid hybrids, and provide comprehensive descriptions of their applications in nucleic acid delivery. Also, biological barriers, administration routes, and strategies for organ-selective delivery of nucleic acids are discussed. In summary, this review offers insights into the rational design of next-generation delivery vectors for nucleic acid delivery.

Theranostic Lipid Nanoparticles for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy and represents a leading threat to healthcare. Recent years have seen a series of progresses in the early diagnosis and management of RCC. Theranostic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are increasingly becoming one of the focuses in this field, because of their suitability for tumor targeting and multimodal therapy. LNPs can be precisely fabricated with desirable chemical compositions and biomedical properties, which closely match the physiological characteristics and clinical needs of RCC. Herein, a comprehensive review of theranostic LNPs is presented, emphasizing the generic tool nature of LNPs in developing advanced micro-nano biomaterials. It begins with a brief overview of the compositions and formation mechanism of LNPs, followed with an introduction to kidney-targeting approaches, such as passive, active, and stimulus responsive targeting. With examples provided, a series of modification strategies for enhancing the tumor targeting and functionality of LNPs are discussed. Thereafter, research advances on applications of these LNPs for RCC including bioimaging, liquid biopsy, drug delivery, physical therapy, and gene therapy are summarized and discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective. The final part highlights the milestone achievements of translation medicine, current challenges as well as future development directions of LNPs for the diagnosis and treatment of RCC.