Efficient delivery of Temozolomide using ultrasmall large-pore silica nanoparticles for glioblastoma.

The prognosis of brain cancers such as glioblastoma remains poor despite numerous advancements in the field of neuro-oncology. The presence of the blood brain barrier (BBB) along with the highly invasive and aggressive nature of glioblastoma presents a difficult challenge for developing effective therapies. Temozolomide (TMZ) is a first line agent used in the clinic for glioblastoma and it has been useful in increasing patient survival rates.

Understanding the role of colon-specific microparticles based on retrograded starch/pectin in the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles along the gastrointestinal tract.

The encapsulation of nanoparticles within microparticles designed for specific delivery to the colon is a relevant strategy to avoid premature degradation or release of nanoparticles during their passage through the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), allowing the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics to the colon after oral administration. Here, we designed an oral multiparticulate system to achieve targeted release in the colon. In this sense, chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) encapsulated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and incorporated into retrograded starch and pectin (RS/P) microparticles were developed and their in vivo distribution along the mouse GIT after oral administration was monitored using multispectral optical imaging.