Monolithic precolumns as efficient tools for guiding the design of nanoparticulate drug-delivery formulations.

The development of nanomedicines for improved diagnosis and treatment of diseases is pushing current analytical methods to their limits. More efficient, quantitative high-throughput screening methods are needed to guide the optimization of promising nanoparticulate drug delivery formulations. In response to this need, we present herein a novel approach using monolithic separation media.

Adiponectin-coated nanoparticles for enhanced imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of mortality in the Western world, and plaque diagnosis is still a challenge in cardiovascular medicine. The main focus of this study was to make atherosclerotic plaques visible using targeted nanoparticles for improved imaging. Today various biomarkers are known to be involved in the pathophysiologic scenario of atherosclerotic plaques.

VPAC receptor mediated tumor cell targeting by protamine based nanoparticles.

The receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), VPAC1-, VPAC2-, and PAC1-receptor are overexpressed by various tumor cells. VIP can target these receptors and transport conjugates into the cell. However, the use of VIP for tumor cell targeting is hampered by the peptides short half-lives due to enzymatic degradation.

Depot formulation of vasoactive intestinal peptide by protamine-based biodegradable nanoparticles.

Drug delivery of protein and peptide-based drugs, which represent a growing and important therapeutic class, is hampered by these drugs' very short half-lives. High susceptibility towards enzymatic degradation necessitates frequent drug administration followed by poor adherence to therapy. Among these drugs is vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a potent systemic and pulmonary vasodilator, which is a promising drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

Apolipoprotein A-I coating of protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles increases particle uptake and transcytosis in an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier.

Drug delivery to the brain is severely restricted by formation of tight junctions between adjacent brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC). In the present study we have evaluated the effects of protamine-oligonucleotide nanoparticles (proticles) on the functional properties of primary porcine BCEC and characterized uptake and transcytosis of proticles by these cells. Proticles had no adverse effects on BCEC properties relevant to blood-brain barrier (BBB) function.