Effect of size and pH-sensitivity of liposomes on cellular uptake pathways and pharmacokinetics of encapsulated gemcitabine.

To enhance cytoplasmic delivery efficiency, pH-sensitive liposomes (PSL) have been proposed as a novel strategy. To facilitate clinical translation, this study aims to understand the impact of both size and pH-sensitivity on cellular uptake pathways, intracellular trafficking and pharmacokinetics of liposomes. The large liposomes (130-160 nm) were prepared using thin-film hydration method, while small liposomes (∼60 nm) were fabricated using microfluidics, for both PSL and non-pH-sensitive liposomes (NPSL).

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Bioadhesive Hydrogels for Topical Application and Sustained Drug Release: The Effect of Polyvinylpyrrolidone on the Physicomechanical Properties of Hydrogel.

Hydrogels are homogeneous three-dimensional polymeric networks capable of holding large amounts of water and are widely used in topical formulations. Herein, the physicomechanical, rheological, bioadhesive, and drug-release properties of hydrogels containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were examined, and the intermolecular interactions between the polymers were explored. A three-level factorial design was used to form HPMC-PVP binary hydrogels.

A simple and reliable isocratic high-performance chromatographic assay for the simultaneous determination of hydrophilic benzophenone-4 and lipophilic octocrylene in sunscreens.

Objective: This work aimed to develop a simple HPLC method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of the ultraviolet (UV) filters, hydrophilic benzophenone-4 and lipophilic octocrylene, in the presence of three other commonly used UV filters, avobenzone, octisalate and homosalate.

Methods: Reverse-phased HPLC was performed on a C18 column. A scouting gradient was initially used to determine the approximate mobile phase composition required for efficient analyte elution and separation before further optimization.

Photosensitive drug delivery systems for cancer therapy: Mechanisms and applications.

Over the past three decades, various photosensitive nanoparticles have been developed as potential therapies in human health, ranging from photodynamic therapy technologies that have already reached clinical use, to drug delivery systems that are still in the preclinical stages. Many of these systems are designed to achieve a high spatial and temporal on-demand drug release via phototriggerable mechanisms. This review examines the current clinical and experimental applications in cancer treatment of photosensitive drug release systems, including nanocarriers such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and hydrogels.

Recent Advancement and Technical Challenges in Developing Small Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Drug Delivery.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of lipid bilayer membrane-enclosed vesicles and act like 'messages in a bottle' in cell-cell communication by transporting their cargoes to recipient cells. Small EVs (sEVs, < 200 nm) are highly researched recently and have been harnessed as novel delivery systems for the treatment of various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and most importantly cancer primarily because of their non-immunogenicity, tissue penetration and cell-tropism. This review will first provide a comprehensive overview of sEVs regarding the current understanding on their properties, biogenesis, new classification by the ISEV, composition, as well as their roles in cancer development (thereby called "oncosomes").

Physical Growth of the Contralateral Cerebrum is Preserved After Hemispherotomy in Childhood.

Background: Hemispherotomy can be an effective treatment for refractory childhood epilepsy. However, the extent of postoperative brain development after hemispherotomy remains incompletely understood. This study aims to provide an anatomic foundation in assessing development of the contralateral hemisphere, by measuring volumetric growth after hemispherotomy.

Ipsilateral transradial access in transarterial embolization of upper extremity bony metastases.

Transarterial embolization of bone tumors is effective in both decreasing intraoperative hemorrhage and alleviating symptoms. Transradial access has been associated with a lower risk of access site complications when compared to transfemoral access. Three cases of transarterial embolization of bony metastases in the upper extremity and shoulder girdle were performed with an ipsilateral transradial access.

Comparison of Double-Freeze versus Modified Triple-Freeze Pulmonary Cryoablation and Hemorrhage Volume Using Different Probe Sizes in an In Vivo Porcine Lung.

Purpose: To determine size of ablation zone and pulmonary hemorrhage in double-freeze (DF) vs modified triple-freeze (mTF) cryoablation protocols with different probe sizes in porcine lung.

Materials And Methods: In 10 healthy adult pigs, 20 pulmonary cryoablations were performed using either a 2.4-mm or a 1.

A real-time characterization method to rapidly optimize molecular beacon signal for sensitive nucleic acids analysis.

This research demonstrates an integrated microfluidic titration assay to characterize the cation concentrations in working buffer to rapidly optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of molecular beacons (MBs). The "Microfluidic Droplet Array Titration Assay" (MiDATA) integrated the functions of sample dilution, sample loading, sample mixing, fluorescence analysis, and re-confirmation functions all together in a one-step process. It allows experimentalists to arbitrarily change sample concentration and acquire SNR measurements instantaneously.

Impact of phase of respiration on central venous catheter tip position.

Purpose: To determine the impact of the phase of respiration on CVC tip position using cross-sectional imaging.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the CT scans of 24 consecutive patients (eight men and 16 women, mean age 56.3 years, range 18-79) who underwent a CT scan protocol that includes both imaging of the thorax in inspiration and expiration.

Nonviral gene vector formation in monodispersed picolitre incubator for consistent gene delivery.

A novel picolitre incubator based microfluidic system for consistent nonviral gene carrier formulation is presented. A cationic lipid-based carrier is the most attractive nonviral solution for delivering plasmid DNA, shRNA, or drugs for pharmaceutical research and RNAi applications. The size of the cationic lipid and DNA complex (CL-DNA), or the lipoplex, is one of the important variations for consistency of gene transfection.