Intracellular Dynamics of Extracellular Vesicles by Segmented Trajectory Analysis.

The analysis of nanoparticle (NP) dynamics in live cell studies by video tracking provides detailed information on their interactions and trafficking in the cells. Although the video analysis is not yet routinely used in NP studies, the equipment suitable for the experiments is already available in most laboratories. Here, we compare trajectory patterns, diffusion coefficients, and particle velocities of NPs in A549 cells with a rather simple experimental setup consisting of a fluorescence microscope and openly available trajectory analysis software.

Models using native tracheobronchial mucus in the context of pulmonary drug delivery research: Composition, structure and barrier properties.

Mucus covers all wet epithelia and acts as a protective barrier. In the airways of the lungs, the viscoelastic mucus meshwork entraps and clears inhaled materials and efficiently removes them by mucociliary escalation. In addition to physical and chemical interaction mechanisms, the role of macromolecular glycoproteins (mucins) and antimicrobial constituents in innate immune defense are receiving increasing attention.

Nano-in-Microparticles for Aerosol Delivery of Antibiotic-Loaded, Fucose-Derivatized, and Macrophage-Targeted Liposomes to Combat Mycobacterial Infections: In Vitro Deposition, Pulmonary Barrier Interactions, and Targeted Delivery.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections rapidly emerge and demand potent medications to cope with resistance. In this context, targeted loco-regional delivery of aerosol medicines to the lungs is an advantage. However, sufficient antibiotic delivery requires engineered aerosols for optimized deposition.

Targeting extracellular lectins of with glycomimetic liposomes.

The antimicrobial resistance crisis requires novel approaches for the therapy of infections especially with Gram-negative pathogens. is defined as priority 1 pathogen by the WHO and thus of particular interest. Its drug resistance is primarily associated with biofilm formation and essential constituents of its extracellular biofilm matrix are the two lectins, LecA and LecB.

Spray-dried lactose-leucine microparticles for pulmonary delivery of antimycobacterial nanopharmaceuticals.

Pulmonary delivery of nanocarriers for novel antimycobacterial compounds is challenging because the aerodynamic properties of nanomaterials are sub-optimal for such purposes. Here, we report the development of dry powder formulations for nanocarriers containing benzothiazinone 043 (BTZ) or levofloxacin (LVX), respectively. The intricacy is to generate dry powder aerosols with adequate aerodynamic properties while maintaining both nanostructural integrity and compound activity until reaching the deeper lung compartments.

A pulmonary mucus surrogate for investigating antibiotic permeation and activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

Background: Pulmonary infections associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be life-threatening for patients suffering from chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. In this scenario, the formation of biofilms embedded in a mucus layer can limit the permeation and the activity of anti-infectives.

Objectives: Native human pulmonary mucus can be isolated from endotracheal tubes, but this source is limited for large-scale testing.

Macro- and Microrheological Properties of Mucus Surrogates in Comparison to Native Intestinal and Pulmonary Mucus.

Mucus is a complex hydrogel that acts as a protective barrier in various parts of the human body. Both composition and structural properties play a crucial role in maintaining barrier properties while dictating diffusion of molecules and (nano)materials. In this study, we compare previously described mucus surrogates with the native human airway and pig intestinal mucus.