Instigation of the epoch of nanovaccines in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer is an unprecedented proliferation of cells leading to abnormalities in differentiation and maturation. Treatment of primary and metastatic cancer is challenging. In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapies have been conventionally used; however, they suffer from severe toxicity and non-specificity. Immunotherapy, the science of programming the body's own defense system against cancer has gained tremendous attention in the last few decades. However, partial immunogenic stimulation, premature degradation and inability to activate dendritic and helper T cells has resulted in limited clinical success. The era of nanomedicine has brought about several breakthroughs in various pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Hereby, we review and discuss the interplay of tumor microenvironment (TME) and the immunological cascade and how they can be employed to develop nanoparticle-based cancer vaccines and immunotherapies. Nanoparticles composed of lipids, polymers and inorganic materials contain useful properties suitable for vaccine development. Proteinaceous vaccines derived from mammalian viruses, bacteriophages and plant viruses also have unique advantages due to their immunomodulation capabilities. This review accounts for all such considerations. Additionally, we explore how attributes of nanotechnology can be utilized to develop successful nanomedicine-based vaccines for cancer therapy. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Tuning Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Novel Avenues of Cancer Therapy

The global menace of cancer has led to an increased death toll in recent years. The constant evolution of cancer therapeutics with novel delivery systems has paved the way for translation of innovative therapeutics from bench to bedside. This review explains the significance of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as delivery vehicles with particular emphasis on cancer therapy, including novel opportunities for biomimetic therapeutics and vaccine delivery. Parameters governing MSN synthesis, therapeutic agent loading characteristics, along with tuning of MSN toward cancer cell specificity have been explained. The advent of MSN in nanotheranostics and its potential in forming nanocomposites for imaging purposes have been illustrated. Additionally, various hurdles encountered during the bench to bedside translation have been explained along with potential avenues to circumvent them. This also opens up new horizons in drug delivery, which could be useful to researchers in the years to come.

Advances in nanoparticle mediated targeting of RNA binding protein for cancer

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) enact a very crucial part in the RNA directive processes. Atypical expression of these RBPs affects many steps of RNA metabolism, majorly altering its expression. Altered expression and dysfunction of RNA binding proteins lead to cancer progression and other diseases. We enumerate various available interventions, and recent findings focused on targeting RBPs for cancer therapy and diagnosis. The treatment, sensitization, chemoprevention, gene-mediated, and virus mediated interventions were studied to treat and diagnose cancer. The application of passively and actively targeted lipidic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, virus-based particles, and vaccine-based immunotherapy for the delivery of therapeutic agent/s against cancer are discussed. We also discuss the formulation aspect of nanoparticles for achieving delivery at the site of action and ongoing clinical trials targeting RBPs.

Nanomedicine based approaches for combating viral infections

Millions of people die each year from viral infections across the globe. There is an urgent need to overcome the existing gap and pitfalls of the current antiviral therapy which include increased dose and dosing frequency, bioavailability challenges, non-specificity, incidences of resistance and so on. These stumbling blocks could be effectively managed by the advent of nanomedicine. Current review emphasizes over an enhanced understanding of how different lipid, polymer and elemental based nanoformulations could be potentially and precisely used to bridle the said drawbacks in antiviral therapy. The dawn of nanotechnology meeting vaccine delivery, role of RNAi therapeutics in antiviral treatment regimen, various regulatory concerns towards clinical translation of nanomedicine along with current trends and implications including unexplored research avenues for advancing the current drug delivery have been discussed in detail.

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Intranasally Administered Heparin.. [PMID: 35194614 PMCID: PMC8863150 DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.05.21259936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Purpose

Intranasally administered unfractionated heparin (UFH) and other sulfated polysaccharides are potential prophylactics for COVID-19. The purpose of this research was to measure the safety and pharmacokinetics of clearance of intranasally administered UFH solution from the nasal cavity.

Methods

Double-blinded daily intranasal dosing in C57Bl6 mice with four doses (60 ng to 60 μg) of UFH was carried out for fourteen consecutive days, with both blood coagulation measurements and subject adverse event monitoring. The pharmacokinetics of fluorescent-labeled UFH clearance from the nasal cavity were measured in mice by in vivo imaging. Intranasal UFH at 2000 U/day solution with nasal spray device was tested for safety in a small number of healthy human subjects.

Results

UFH showed no evidence of toxicity in mice at any dose measured. No significant changes were observed in activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelet count, or frequency of minor irritant events over vehicle-only control. Human subjects showed no significant changes in aPTT time, international normalized ratio (INR), or platelet count over baseline measurements. No serious adverse events were observed. In vivo imaging in a mouse model showed a single phase clearance of UFH from the nasal cavity. After 12 hours, 3.2% of the administered UFH remained in the nasal cavity, decaying to background levels by 48 hours.

Conclusions

UFH showed no toxic effects for extended daily intranasal dosing in mice as well as humans. The clearance kinetics of intranasal heparin solution from the nasal cavity indicates potentially protective levels for up to 12 hours after dosing.

Formulation and optimization of sildenafil citrate-loaded PLGA large porous microparticles using spray freeze-drying technique: A factorial design and in-vivo pharmacokinetic study

The oral administration of sildenafil citrate (SC) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with several drawbacks. The study aimed to design and formulate SC-loaded inhalable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA] large porous microparticles (LPMs) for pulmonary delivery. A factorial design was used to study the effect of the composition of LPMs on physicochemical properties. The study also evaluated the effect of glucose and L-leucine concentration on the formulation. The developed LPMs demonstrated an acceptable yield% (≤48%), large geometric particle size (>5µm) with a spherical and porous surface, and sustained drug release (up to 48 h). Increasing the concentration of poly(ethyleneimine) from 0.5% to 1% in SC-loaded LPMs led to an increase in entrapment efficiency from ~3.02% to ~94.48%. The optimum LPMs showed adequate aerodynamic properties with a 97.68 ± 1.07% recovery, 25.33 ± 3.32% fine particle fraction, and low cytotoxicity. Intratracheal administration of LPMs demonstrated significantly higher lung deposition, systemic bioavailability, and longer retention time (p < 0.05) compared to orally administered Viagra® tablets. The study concluded that SC-loaded LPMs could provide better therapeutic efficacy, reduced dosing frequency, and enhanced patient compliance.

An in vitro Assessment of Thermo-Reversible Gel Formulation Containing Sunitinib Nanoparticles for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents have been widely used to treat several eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An approach to maximize the local concentration of drug at the target site and minimize systemic exposure is to be sought. Sunitinib malate, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles to impart sustained release. The residence time in vitreal fluid was further increased by incorporating nanoparticles in thermo-reversible gel. Nanoparticles were characterized using TEM, DSC, FTIR, and in vitro drug release profile. The cytotoxicity of the formulation was assessed on ARPE-19 cells using the MTT assay. The cellular uptake, wound scratch assay, and VEGF expression levels were determined in in vitro settings. The optimized formulation had a particle size of 164.5 nm and zeta potential of - 18.27 mV. The entrapment efficiency of 72.0% ± 3.5% and percent drug loading of 9.1 ± 0.7% were achieved. The viability of ARPE-19 cells was greater than 90% for gel loaded, as such and blank nanoparticles at 10 μM and 20 μM concentration tested, whereas for drug solution viability was found to be 83% and 71% respectively at above concentration. The cell viability results suggest the compatibility of the developed formulation. Evaluation of cellular uptake, wound scratch assay, and VEGF expression levels for the developed formulations indicated that the formulation had higher uptake, superior anti-angiogenic potential, and prolonged inhibition of VEGF activity compared with drug solution. The results showed successful development of sunitinib-loaded nanoparticle-based thermo-reversible gel which may be used for the treatment of neovascular AMD.

Nano-liposomal dry powder inhaler of Amiloride Hydrochloride

The purpose of this study was to encapsulate Amiloride Hydrochloride into nano-liposomes, incorporate it into dry powder inhaler, and to provide prolonged effective concentration in airways to enhance mucociliary clearance and prevent secondary infection in cystic fibrosis. Liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique and then dispersion was passed through high pressure homogenizer to achieve size of nanometer range. Nano-liposomes were separated by centrifugation and were characterized. They were dispersed in phosphate buffer saline pH 7.4 containing carriers (lactose/sucrose/mannitol), and glycine as anti-adherent. The resultant dispersion was spray dried. The spray dried powders were characterized and in vitro drug release studies were performed using phosphate buffer saline pH 7.4. In vitro and in vivo drug pulmonary deposition was carried out using Andersen Cascade Impactor and by estimating drug in bronchial alveolar lavage and lung homogenate after intratracheal instillation in rats respectively. Nano-liposomes were found to have mean volume diameter of 198 +/- 15 nm, and 57% +/- 1.9% of drug entrapment. Mannitol based formulation was found to have low density, good flowability, particle size of 6.7 +/- 0.6 microm determined by Malvern MasterSizer, maximum fine particle fraction of 67.6 +/- 0.6%, mean mass aerodynamic diameter 2.3 +/- 0.1 microm, and geometric standard deviation 2.4 +/- 0.1. Developed formulations were found to have prolonged drug release following Higuchi's Controlled Release model and in vivo studies showed maximal retention time of drug of 12 hrs within the lungs and slow clearance from the lungs. This study provides a practical approach for direct lung delivery of Amiloride Hydrochloride encapsulated in liposomes for controlled and prolonged retention at the site of action from dry powder inhaler. It can provide a promising alternative to the presently available nebulizers in terms of prolonged pharmacological effect, reducing systemic side effects such as potassium retention due to rapid clearance of the drug from lungs in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.