Three-dimensional culture models: emerging platforms for screening the antitumoral efficacy of nanomedicines.

Nanomedicines have been investigated for delivering drugs to tumors due to their ability to accumulate in the tumor tissues. 2D cell culture has been used to investigate the antitumoral potential of nanomedicines. However, a 2D model cannot adequately mimic the tissue conditions because of the lack of cell-cell interaction, a gradient of nutrients and the expression of genes.

Design of experiments (DoE) to develop and to optimize nanoparticles as drug delivery systems.

Nanotechnology has been widely applied to develop drug delivery systems to improve therapeutic performance. The effectiveness of these systems is intrinsically related to their physicochemical properties, so their biological responses are highly susceptible to factors such as the type and quantity of each material that is employed in their synthesis and to the method that is used to produce them. In this context, quality-oriented manufacturing of nanoparticles has been an important strategy to understand and to optimize the factors involved in their production.

Docetaxel-loaded folate-modified TPGS-transfersomes for glioblastoma multiforme treatment.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a first primary Central Nervous System tumor with high incidence and lethality. Its treatment is hampered by the difficulty to overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and by the non-specificity of chemotherapeutics to tumor cells. This study was based on the development characterization and in vitro efficacy of folate-modified TPGS transfersomes containing docetaxel (TF-DTX-FA) to improve GBM treatment.

Generation of a Three-Dimensional in Vitro Ovarian Cancer Co-Culture Model for Drug Screening Assays.

In vitro 3D culture models have emerged in the cancer field due to their ability to recapitulate characteristics of the in vivo tumor. Herein, we described the establishment and characterization of 3D multicellular spheroids using ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) in co-culture with mesenchymal cells (MUC-9) or fibroblasts (CCD27-Sk). We demonstrated that SKOV-3 cells in co-culture were able to form regular and compact spheroids with diameters ranging from 300 to 400 µm and with a roundness close to 1.

In vitro evaluation of folate-modified PLGA nanoparticles containing paclitaxel for ovarian cancer therapy.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer of female reproductive system. In order to improve the survival rate, some modifications on nanoparticles surfaces have been investigated to promote active targeting of drugs into tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was the development and characterization of folate-modified (PN-PCX-FA) and unmodified PLGA nanoparticles (PN-PCX) containing paclitaxel for ovarian cancer treatment.

Development, characterization and biological in vitro assays of paclitaxel-loaded PCL polymeric nanoparticles.

Adenocarcinoma is the most lethal gynecologic tumor and treatment usually consists in surgery followed by chemotherapy. However, the chemotherapy benefits are eventually limited due to drug toxicity to normal tissues and cells, which cause several and harsh side effects. Paclitaxel (PCX) is the drug of first choice for ovarian cancer treatment, but it has low aqueous solubility, which reduces its bioavailability.

Poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles enhance ursolic acid in vivo efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Despite affecting millions of people worldwide, Chagas disease is still neglected by the academia and industry and the therapeutic option available, benznidazole, presents limited efficacy and side effects. Within this context, ursolic acid may serve as an option for treatment, however has low bioavailability, which can be enhanced through the encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles. Therefore, herein we developed ursolic acid-loaded nanoparticles with poly-ε-caprolactone by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized them for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, morphology by scanning electron microscopy and thermal behavior by differential scanning calorimetry.

Impact of Pharmaceutical Care interventions in the identification and resolution of drug-related problems and on quality of life in a group of elderly outpatients in Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a Pharmaceutical Care service in the identification and resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs) and in quality of life (QoL) of a group of elderly outpatients with chronic health conditions.

Methods: 30 outpatients (aged 60-75-years old) were followed between August 2003 and July 2004 at a primary health care unit in Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. Patients were scheduled monthly to meet with the researcher, who provided Pharmaceutical Care service (the intervention).