Emerging Lipid-based Carriers for Systematic Utilization in the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences: A Review

Emerging lipid-based carriers are revolutionizing drug delivery in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. These innovative carriers harness the unique properties of lipids to improve the solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, ushering in a new era of precision medicine. Lipid- based carriers, such as liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, offer several advantages. They can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, enabling the delivery of a wide range of compounds. Additionally, lipids are biocompatible and biodegradable, minimizing the risk of toxicity. Their ability to mimic cell membranes allows for enhanced cellular uptake and controlled release, optimizing drug efficacy while minimizing side effects. Furthermore, lipid-based carriers are ideal for delivering drugs to specific sites within the body. By modifying the lipid composition, surface charge, and size, researchers can tailor these carriers to target tumours, inflamed tissues, or specific cells, improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing systemic toxicity. In summary, emerging lipid-based carriers are poised to transform pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences by addressing critical challenges in drug delivery. These carriers enhance drug stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery, offering the potential to revolutionize the treatment of various diseases and improve patient outcomes. As research in this field continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated lipid-based carrier systems to emerge, further expanding the possibilities for precision medicine. This review focuses on the contribution of lipid carriers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences.

Lecithin and Chitosan as Building Blocks in Anti-Candida Clotrimazole Nanoparticles

The main focus when considering treatment of non-healing and infected wounds is tied to the microbial, particularly bacterial, burden within the wound bed. However, as fungal contributions in these microbial communities become more recognized, the focus needs to be broadened, and the remaining participants in the complex wound microbiome need to be addressed in the development of new treatment strategies. In this study, lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles loaded with clotrimazole were tailored to eradicate one of the most abundant fungi in the wound environment, namely C. albicans. Moreover, this investigation was extended to the building blocks and their organization within the delivery system. In the evaluation of the novel nanoparticles, their compatibility with keratinocytes was confirmed. Furthermore, these biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic carriers comprising clotrimazole (~189 nm, 24 mV) were evaluated for their antifungal activity through both disk diffusion and microdilution methods. It was found that the activity of clotrimazole was fully preserved upon its incorporation into this smart delivery system. These results indicate both that the novel carriers for clotrimazole could serve as a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of fungi-infected wounds and that the building blocks and their organization affect the performance of nanoparticles.

Combinational System of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers and Biodegradable Polymers for Wound Healing: An Updated Review

Skin wounds have imposed serious socioeconomic burdens on healthcare providers and patients. There are just more than 25,000 burn injury-related deaths reported each year. Conventional treatments do not often allow the re-establishment of the function of affected regions and structures, resulting in dehydration and wound infections. Many nanocarriers, such as lipid-based systems or biobased and biodegradable polymers and their associated platforms, are favorable in wound healing due to their ability to promote cell adhesion and migration, thus improving wound healing and reducing scarring. Hence, many researchers have focused on developing new wound dressings based on such compounds with desirable effects. However, when applied in wound healing, some problems occur, such as the high cost of public health, novel treatments emphasizing reduced healthcare costs, and increasing quality of treatment outcomes. The integrated hybrid systems of lipid-based nanocarriers (LNCs) and polymer-based systems can be promising as the solution for the above problems in the wound healing process. Furthermore, novel drug delivery systems showed more effective release of therapeutic agents, suitable mimicking of the physiological environment, and improvement in the function of the single system. This review highlights recent advances in lipid-based systems and the role of lipid-based carriers and biodegradable polymers in wound healing.

Action Mechanisms of Curcumin in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Brain Targeted Delivery

AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disease. Many different signaling pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, ROS/JNK, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR are involved in Alzheimer’s disease and crosstalk between themselves. A promising treatment involves the uses of flavonoids, and one of the most promising is curcumin; however, because it has difficulty permeating the blood–brain barrier (BBB), it must be encapsulated by a drug carrier. Some of the most frequently studied are lipid nanocarriers, liposomes, micelles and PLGA. These carriers are further conjugated with brain-targeting agents such as lactoferrin and transferrin. In this review paper, curcumin and its therapeutic effects, which have been examined in vivo, are analyzed and then the delivery systems to the brain are addressed. Overall, the analysis of the literature revealed great potential for curcumin in treating AD and indicated the challenges that require further research.