Permeability of PEGylated immunoarsonoliposomes through in vitro blood brain barrier-medulloblastoma co-culture models for brain tumor therapy.

Purpose: Owing to restricted access of pharmacological agents into the brain due to blood brain barrier (BBB) there is a need: 1. to develop a more representative 3-D-co-culture model of tumor-BBB interaction to investigate drug and nanoparticle transport into the brain for diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation. 2.

Cholesterol level affects surface charge of lipid membranes in saline solution.

Cholesterol is an important component of all biological membranes as well as drug delivery liposomes. We show here that increasing the level of cholesterol in a phospholipid membrane decreases surface charge in the physiological environment. Through molecular dynamics simulation we have shown that increasing the level of cholesterol decreases Na+ ion binding.

Development of poly(glycerol adipate) nanoparticles loaded with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The aim of this study was to assess acylated and non-acylated poly(glycerol adipate) polymers (PGA) as suitable nanoparticulate systems for encapsulation and release of ibuprofen, ibuprofen sodium salt (IBU-Na) and ketoprofen as model drugs. Drug encapsulated nanoparticles were prepared using the interfacial deposition method in the absence of surfactants. Physicochemical characterisation studies of the produced loaded nanoparticles showed that drug-polymer interactions depend on the characteristics of the actual active substance.

The preparation of magnetically guided lipid based nanoemulsions using self-emulsifying technology.

This paper reports an easy and highly reproducible preparation route, using self-emulsifying technology, for an orally administered high quality magnetically responsive drug delivery system. Hydrophobic iron oxide nanoparticles of about 5 nm in diameter were prepared and incorporated into the lipid core of the produced oil droplets of a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (MagC(18)/SNEDDS). The produced nanoemulsion exhibits colloidal stability at high ionic strengths and temperatures.

Arsonoliposomes for the potential treatment of medulloblastoma.

Purpose: To investigate the arsonoliposome effect on medulloblastoma cells (VC312Rs) related to uptake, endocytotic mechanism and cell viability.

Methods: VC312R viability in presence of either arsonoliposomes or stealth liposomes was studied using MTT assay for 1-4 days. Fibroblasts (3T3) were used as control.

Drug incorporation and release of water soluble drugs from novel functionalized poly(glycerol adipate) nanoparticles.

We have previously demonstrated the ability of poly(glycerol adipate) backbone (PGA) and PGA polymer backbone substituted with varying amounts of pendant C(18) chain length acyl groups to yield Dexamethasone phosphate DXMP loaded nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of the underlying principles responsible for good drug incorporation and controlled release of drugs from poly (glycerol adipate) (PGA) nanoparticles. We compared the incorporation of the water soluble drugs DXMP and Cytosine arabinoside (CYT-ARA) in both unmodified and substituted PGA polymers.

Novel functionalized biodegradable polymers for nanoparticle drug delivery systems.

We have prepared and screened a library of novel functionalized polymers for development of nanoparticle drug delivery systems. The polymer backbone consisting of two ester-linked, nontoxic, biological monomers, glycerol and adipic acid, was prepared using a hydrolytic enzyme. The specificity of the chosen enzyme yields a linear polymer with one free pendant hydroxyl group per repeat unit, which can be further functionalized.

Arsenic trioxide liposomes: encapsulation efficiency and in vitro stability.

The use of arsenic-containing compounds in cancer therapy is currently being re-considered, after the recent approval of arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) for the treatment of relapsed promyelocytic leukemia (PML). In an attempt to prepare a carrier system to minimize the toxicity of this drug, the aim of this study is to prepare and characterize liposomes encapsulating arsenic trioxide (ATO). For this, we prepared different types of liposomes entrapping ATO: large multilamellar (MLV), sonicated (SUV) and dried reconstituted vesicles (DRV).

Dexamethasone incorporating liposomes: an in vitro study of their applicability as a slow releasing delivery system of dexamethasone from covered metallic stents.

Aim: To investigate the possibility of covering PET-covered commercially available metallic stents, with liposomal dexamethasone that will act as a slow releasing drug-depot at the site of interest.

Methods: Large multilamellar (MLV), sonicated (SUV) and dried reconstituted (DRV) liposomes entrapping dexamethasone were prepared by thin film hydration, sonication and the DRV method, respectively, and applied on stents using a simple evaporation technique. Drug encapsulation and retention in liposomes were measured by HPLC.