Magnetic and pH-responsive magnetite/chitosan (core/shell) nanoparticles for dual-targeted methotrexate delivery in cancer therapy.

Methotrexate successful therapy encounters various challenges in chemotherapy, such as poor oral bioavailability, low specificity, side effects and the development of drug resistances. In this study, it is proposed a dual-targeted nanocarrier comprising magnetite/chitosan nanoparticles for an efficient Methotrexate delivery. The formation of the particles was confirmed through morphological analysis using electron microscopy and elemental mappings via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Evaluation of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles to improve the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in breast cancer.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a cornerstone in the treatment of breast cancer, the most common type of cancer in women. However, this drug has serious limitations, including lack of tissue-specificity, poor water solubility, and the development of drug resistance. The transport of PTX in a polymeric nanoformulation could overcome these limitations.

Microfluidic Manufacturing of Liposomes: Development and Optimization by Design of Experiment and Machine Learning.

Liposomes constitute the most exploited drug-nanocarrier with several liposomal drugs on the market. Microfluidic-based preparation methods stand up as a promising approach with high reproducibility and the ability to scale up. In this study, liposomes composed of DOPC, cholesterol, and DSPE-PEG 2000 with different molar ratios were fabricated using a microfluidic system.

Recent Advances in the Surface Functionalization of PLGA-Based Nanomedicines.

Therapeutics are habitually characterized by short plasma half-lives and little affinity for targeted cells. To overcome these challenges, nanoparticulate systems have entered into the disease arena. Poly(d,l-lactide--glycolide) (PLGA) is one of the most relevant biocompatible materials to construct drug nanocarriers.

Potential use for chronic pain: Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) nanoparticles enhance the effects of Cannabis-Based terpenes on calcium influx in TRPV1-Expressing cells.

The objective of these in vitro studies was to investigate the impact of the encapsulation of three cannabis-based terpenes, namely β-myrcene (MC), β-caryophyllene (CPh), and nerolidol (NL), on their potential efficacy in pain management. Terpene-encapsulated poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PEG-PLGA NPs) were prepared by an emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The terpene-loaded NPs were examined in HEK293 cells that express the nociceptive transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), an ion channel involved in pain perception.

An update on liposomes in drug delivery: a patent review (2014-2018).

: Pharmacotherapy is limited by the inefficient drug targeting of non-healthy cells/tissues. In this pharmacological landscape, liposomes are contributing to the impulse given by Nanotechnology to optimize drug therapy. : The analysis of the state-of-the-art in liposomal formulations for drug delivery purposes have underlined that lately published patents (since 2014) are exploring alternative compositions and ways to optimize the stability and drug loading content/release profile.

A novel nanoformulation of PLGA with high non-ionic surfactant content improves in vitro and in vivo PTX activity against lung cancer.

Paclitaxel (PTX), a chemotherapy agent widely used to treat lung cancer, is characterised by high toxicity, low bioavailability and the need to use of excipients with serious side effects that limit its use. Paclitaxel encapsulation into nanoparticles (NPs) generates drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantages compared to free PTX. In this context, a NP carrier formed from a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid (PLGA) has demonstrated high biocompatibility and low toxicity and therefore being approved by FDA to be used in humans.

Development and Characterization of Magnetite/Poly(butylcyanoacrylate) Nanoparticles for Magnetic Targeted Delivery of Cancer Drugs.

A great attention is presently paid to the design of drug delivery vehicles based on surface-modified magnetic nanoparticles. They can, in principle, be directed to a desired target area for releasing their drug payload, a process triggered by pH, temperature, radiation, or even magnetic field. To this, the possibility of forming part of diagnostic tools by enhanced magnetic resonance imaging or that of further treatment by magnetic hyperthermia can be added.

Folic acid-decorated and PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles for improving the antitumour activity of 5-fluorouracil.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a broad spectrum cytotoxic agent being used in chemotherapy of malignancies. However, 5-FU shows a number of limitations like short half-life, non-selective biodistribution, and the development of drug resistances by tumour cells. It was investigated the potential use of folic acid-decorated and PEGylated poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (FOL-PEG-PLGA NPs) for the targeted delivery of 5-FU to colon and breast cancers.

Iron oxide-based multifunctional nanoparticulate systems for biomedical applications: a patent review (2008 - present).

Introduction: Iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs) exhibit remarkable properties, including inherent magnetism, biocompatibility, high surface to volume ratio, and versatility of engineering, making them ideal candidates for a variety of clinical applications.

Areas Covered: The review provides an in-depth discussion on recent patents and developments related to IO NPs in Biomedicine from the last 7 years. It covers innovations in the chemical synthesis, surface coating and functionalization, and biomedical applications, including MRI and multimodal imaging, molecular imaging, cell labeling, drug delivery, hyperthermia, hyperphosphatemia, and antibacterial activity.

Nano-sized platforms for vaginal drug delivery.

Nano-sized systems have shown promise for efficient vaginal drug delivery providing sustained drug release and enhanced permeation. In parallel with advancements in drug discovery of new vaginal therapeutic agents, such as peptides, proteins, nucleic material, antigens, hormones, and microbicides, nanoplatforms are gaining momentum as prospective vectors for these agents. Thus far, extensive research in this arena has been focused on local delivery to the mucus vagina.