Correction: Hallan et al. Challenges in the Physical Characterization of Lipid Nanoparticles. 2021, , 549.

In the original publication [...

Supramolecular delivery systems for polyphenols: A green approach to predict in vivo permeability through an in vitro setup.

The use of in vitro markers able to reproduce the in vivo permeability and diffusivity of orally administered drugs, could represent an innovative starting point for the formulation of delivery systems, in particular for low soluble and low permeable drugs belonging to BCS class II and IV. Considering the great interest in the green pharmaceutical approaches and the increasing use of natural molecules as novel therapeutic drugs, in this study, rutin, hesperidin and curcumin have been selected as lipophilic model drugs to investigate their possible enhancement of their permeability and bioavailability after oral administration. As the low solubility of the three drugs hinders their application, β-cyclodextrins (CD), amphiphilic natural moieties able to form stable inclusion complexes, have been considered to promote their solubilization.

Applications of Antioxidant Nanoparticles.

The regulation of numerous physiological processes is strictly dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [...

Lipid-based nanosystems for wound healing.

Introduction: Wounds, resulting from traumas, surgery, burns or diabetes, are important medical problems due to the complexity of wound healing process regarding healing times and healthcare costs. Nanosystems have emerged as promising candidates in this field thank to their properties and versatile applications in drugs delivery.

Areas Covered: Lipid-based nanosystems (LBN) are described for wound treatment, highlighting their different behaviors when interacting with the cutaneous tissue.

Manganese-Loaded Liposomes: An In Vitro Study for Possible Diagnostic Application.

The present study investigates the possible use of manganese (Mn)-based liposomal formulations for diagnostic applications in imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the aim of overcoming the toxicity limitations associated with the use of free Mn. Specifically, anionic liposomes carrying two model Mn(II)-based compounds, MnCl (MC) and Mn(HMTA) (MH), were prepared and characterised in terms of morphology, size, loading capacity, and in vitro activity. Homogeneous dispersions characterised mainly by unilamellar vesicles were obtained; furthermore, no differences in size and morphology were detected between unloaded and Mn-loaded vesicles.

Bilosomes and Biloparticles for the Delivery of Lipophilic Drugs: A Preliminary Study.

In this study, bile acid-based vesicles and nanoparticles (i.e., bilosomes and biloparticles) are studied to improve the water solubility of lipophilic drugs.

Liposomal and Ethosomal Gels: From Design to Application.

The use of lipid-based nanosystems for topical administration represents an innovative "green" approach, being composed of materials, defined as GRAS (generally recognized as safe), characterized by low toxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability [...

Lipid-Based Nanosystems for the Topical Application of Ferulic Acid: A Comparative Study.

In this study, we examined and compared two different lipid-based nanosystems (LBNs), namely Transferosomes (TFs) and Monoolein Aqueous Dispersions (MADs), as delivery systems for the topical application of Ferulic Acid (FA), an antioxidant molecule derived from natural sources. Our results, as demonstrated through Franz-cell experiments, indicate that the LBNs produced with poloxamer 188 in their composition create a multilamellar system. This system effectively controls the release of the drug.

Niosomes for Topical Application of Antioxidant Molecules: Design and In Vitro Behavior.

In the present study, gels based on xanthan gum and poloxamer 407 have been developed and characterized in order to convey natural antioxidant molecules included in niosomes. Specifically, the studies were conducted to evaluate how the vesicular systems affect the release of the active ingredient and which formulation is most suitable for cutaneous application. Niosomes, composed of Span 20 or Tween 20, were produced through the direct hydration method, and therefore, borate buffer or a micellar solution of poloxamer 188 was used as the aqueous phase.

Synthetic and Nanotechnological Approaches for a Diagnostic Use of Manganese.

The development of multimodal imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the contemporary obtaining of metabolic and morphological information. To fully exploit the complementarity of the two imaging modalities, the design of probes displaying radioactive and magnetic properties at the same time could be very beneficial. In this regard, transition metals offer appealing options, with manganese representing an ideal candidate.

Antisense Oligonucleotides Conjugated with Lipophilic Compounds: Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation of Exon Skipping in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Our groups previously reported that conjugation at 3'-end with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) significantly enhanced in vitro exon skipping properties of ASO 51 oligonucleotide targeting the human DMD exon 51. In this study, we designed a series of lipophilic conjugates of ASO 51, to explore the influence of the lipophilic moiety on exon skipping efficiency. To this end, three bile acids and two fatty acids have been derivatized and/or modified and conjugated to ASO 51 by automatized solid phase synthesis.

A spectrofluorometric analysis to evaluate transcutaneous biodistribution of fluorescent nanoparticulate gel formulations.

The investigation of the absorption of drug delivery systems, designed for the transport of therapeutic molecules inside the body, could be relatively simplified by the fluorophore association and tracking by means of bio-imaging techniques (i.e., optical in vivo imaging or confocal and multiphoton microscopy).

Antioxidant-containing monoolein aqueous dispersions: a preliminary study.

The present study describes a preliminary study on the use of monoolein aqueous dispersions (MADs) as delivery systems for antioxidant molecules, namely, ascorbyl palmitate (AP) and alpha-tocopherol (AT). MAD, produced by emulsifying monoolein (4.5% w/w) in water and poloxamer 407 (0.

Manganese in Diagnostics: A Preformulatory Study.

This investigation aims to find lipid-based nanosystems to be used as tools to deliver manganese for diagnostic purposes in multimodal imaging techniques. In particular, the study describes the production and characterization of aqueous dispersions of anionic liposomes as delivery systems for two model manganese-based compounds, namely manganese chloride and manganese acetylacetonate. Negatively charged liposomes were obtained using four different anionic surfactants, namely sodium docusate (SD), N-lauroylsarcosine (NLS), Protelan AG8 (PAG) and sodium lauroyl lactylate (SLL).

Mangiferin-Loaded Smart Gels for HSV-1 Treatment.

Infections due to HSV-1 affect many people all over the world. To counteract this pathology, usually characterized by perioral sores or by less frequent serious symptoms including keratitis, synthetic antiviral drugs are employed, such as acyclovir, often resulting in resistant viral strains under long-term use. Many plant-derived compounds, such as mangiferin and quercetin, have demonstrated antiviral potentials.

"Plurethosome" as Vesicular System for Cutaneous Administration of Mangiferin: Formulative Study and 3D Skin Tissue Evaluation.

Human skin is dramatically exposed to toxic pollutants such as ozone. To counteract the skin disorders induced by the air pollution, natural antioxidants such as mangiferin could be employed. A formulative study for the development of vesicular systems for mangiferin based on phosphatidylcholine and the block copolymer pluronic is described.

Design of Liposomes Carrying HelixComplex Snail Mucus: Preliminary Studies.

In recent decades liposomes have been used in different field thanks to their ability to act as a vehicle for a wide range of biomolecules, their great versatility and their easy production. The aim of this study was to evaluate liposomes as a vehicle for the actives present in the HelixComplex (HC) snail mucus for topical delivery. Liposomes composed of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and octadecylamine were prepared with and without HC (empty liposomes) and their biological efficacy was tested by evaluating cell viability and migration.

Lipid-Based Nanosystems as a Tool to Overcome Skin Barrier.

Skin may be affected by many disorders that can be treated by topical applications of drugs on the action site. With the advent of nanotechnologies, new efficient delivery systems have been developed. Particularly, lipid-based nanosystems such as liposomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, cubosomes, and monoolein aqueous dispersions have been proposed for cutaneous application, reaching in some cases the market or clinical trials.

Ethosomes and Transethosomes for Mangiferin Transdermal Delivery.

Mangiferin is a natural glucosyl xanthone with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, making it suitable for protection against cutaneous diseases. In this study ethosomes and transethosomes were designed as topical delivery systems for mangiferin. A preformulation study was conducted using different surfactants in association with phosphatidylcholine.

Challenges in the Physical Characterization of Lipid Nanoparticles.

Nano-sized drug transporters have become an efficient approach with considerable commercial values. Nanomedicine is not only limited to drug delivery by means of different administration routes, such as intravenous, oral, transdermal, nasal, pulmonary, and more, but also has applications in a multitude of areas, such as a vaccine, antibacterial, diagnostics and imaging, and gene delivery. This review will focus on lipid nanosystems with a wide range of applications, taking into consideration their composition, properties, and physical parameters.

The Potential of Caffeic Acid Lipid Nanoparticulate Systems for Skin Application: In Vitro Assays to Assess Delivery and Antioxidant Effect.

The object of this study is a comparison between solid lipid nanoparticles and ethosomes for caffeic acid delivery through the skin. Caffeic acid is a potent antioxidant molecule whose cutaneous administration is hampered by its low solubility and scarce stability. In order to improve its therapeutic potential, caffeic acid has been encapsulated within solid lipid nanoparticles and ethosomes.

Design of Nanosystems for the Delivery of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors: A Preliminary Study.

Biofilm production is regulated by the Quorum Sensing system. Nowadays, Quorum Sensing represents an appealing target to design new compounds to increase antibiotics effects and avoid development of antibiotics multiresistance. In this research the use of liposomes to target two novel synthetic biofilm inhibitors is presented, focusing on a preformulation study to select a liposome composition for in vitro test.

Design and Characterization of Ethosomes for Transdermal Delivery of Caffeic Acid.

The present investigation describes a formulative study aimed at designing ethosomes for caffeic acid transdermal administration. Since caffeic acid is characterized by antioxidant potential but also high instability, its encapsulation appears to be an interesting strategy. Ethosomes were produced by adding water into a phosphatidylcholine ethanol solution under magnetic stirring.

Ethosomes for Coenzyme Q10 Cutaneous Administration: From Design to 3D Skin Tissue Evaluation.

Ethosome represents a smart transdermal vehicle suitable for solubilization and cutaneous application of drugs. Coenzyme Q10 is an endogenous antioxidant whose supplementation can counteract many cutaneous disorders and pathologies. In this respect, the present study describes the production, characterization, and cutaneous protection of phosphatidylcholine based ethosomes as percutaneous delivery systems for coenzyme Q10.