Carboxy-PEG-thiol functionalized gold nanoparticle conjugates for the detection of SARS-CoV-2: Detection tools and analytical method development.

Addressing the need for accessible SARS-CoV-2 testing, carboxy-PEG 12-thiol functionalized gold nanoparticles conjugates were developed for rapid point-of-care (POC) detection against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, pseudo-SARS-CoV-2, and authentic Beta SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. These conjugates leverage gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as signal transducers, cross-linked to either angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) or SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibodies as bioreceptors and showed a distinct color shift from pink to blue. To assess their POC feasibility, the conjugates were integrated into facemasks and breathalyzers, wherein aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 antigens were successfully detected, producing a color change within 10 and 30 minutes for the breathalyzer and facemask prototypes, respectively.

Preclinical Assessment Addressing Intravenous Administration of a [Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 Microemulsion: Acute In Vivo Toxicity, Tolerability, PET Imaging, and Biodistribution.

It has been herein presented that a microemulsion, known to be an effective and safe drug delivery system following intravenous administration, can be loaded with traces of [Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 without losing its properties or causing toxicity. Following tolerated IV injections the capability of the microemulsion in altering [Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 distribution was presented at 120 min post injection based on its ex vivo biodistribution results.

Spray-Dried, Nanoencapsulated, Multi-Drug Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy Aimed at Once Weekly Administration for the Duration of Treatment.

Aiming to improve the treatment outcomes of current daily tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy over several months, we investigated whether nanoencapsulation of existing drugs would allow decreasing the treatment frequency to weekly, thereby ultimately improving patient compliance. Nanoencapsulation of three first-line anti-TB drugs was achieved by a unique, scalable spray-drying technology forming free-flowing powders in the nanometer range with encapsulation efficiencies of 82, 75, and 62% respectively for rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and isoniazid. In a pre-clinical study on TB infected mice, we demonstrate that the encapsulated drugs, administered once weekly for nine weeks, showed comparable efficacy to daily treatment with free drugs over the same experimental period.

Preclinical assessment of Ga-PSMA-617 entrapped in a microemulsion delivery system for applications in prostate cancer PET/CT imaging.

It has in recent years been reported that microemulsion (ME) delivery systems provide an opportunity to improve the efficacy of a therapeutic agent whilst minimising side effects and also offer the advantage of favourable treatment regimens. The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting agents PSMA-11 and PSMA-617, which accumulate in prostate tumours, allow for [ Ga]Ga -radiolabelling and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET) imaging of PSMA expression in vivo. We herein report the formulation of [ Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 into a ME ≤40 nm including its evaluation for improved cellular toxicity and in vivo biodistribution.

Tc-MDP as an imaging tool to evaluate the in vivo biodistribution of solid lipid nanoparticles.

The aim of this study was to establish the in vivo uptake and tissue distribution of Tc-MDP-encapsulated Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) post administration. Radioactive Tc-MDP encapsulated into SLNs was administered to rats to trace their biodistribution through imaging and ex vivo studies. As expected IV injected Tc-MDP exhibited predominant visual bone uptake and a high localisation of particles in the kidneys (3.