In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT.

Nanoparticles (NP) have gained importance as drug delivery systems for pharmaceutical challenging drugs. Their size properties allow passive targeting of cancer tissue by exploiting the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Furthermore, surface modifications enable an active drug targeting for diseased regions in the human body.

The impact of gastrointestinal mucus on nanoparticle penetration - in vitro evaluation of mucus-penetrating nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy.

Over the last years nanoparticles (NP) have become a promising vehicle as drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy (PDT), combining the advantages of an effective drug transport to the target cells and the reduction of undesired side effects. The in vitro evaluation of new nanoparticulate formulations has become a rising problem since cell culture models differ from the in vivo situation of the human body to a large extent. Particularly, in case of gastrointestinal tumors, after peroral application nanoparticles are challenged by overcoming the mucus layer as a first physical barrier before reaching the target cells, an aspect often neglected in literature.

Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT.

Nanoparticles based on biodegradable polymers are well-known as approved carrier systems for a diversity of drugs. Despite their advantages, such as the option of an active drug targeting or the physicochemical protection of instable payloads, the controlled drug release often underlies intra- and interindividual influences and is therefore difficult to predict. To circumvent this limitation, the release behavior can be optimized using light-responsive materials for the nanoparticle preparation.

Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles: Promising drug delivery systems for the photodynamic therapy of intestinal cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an auspicious therapy approach for the treatment of cancer. Despite its numerous benefits, the drug delivery of the used photosensitizer (PS) to target locations inside the human body remains a main therapy challenge, since the standard intravenous PS injection often causes systemic side-effects. To circumvent this therapy drawback, the oral application represents a promising administration alternative.