Polyester-idarubicin nanoparticles and a polymer-photosensitizer complex as potential drug formulations for cell-mediated drug delivery.

Cell-mediated transport of therapeutics has emerged as promising alternative to classical drug delivery approaches. To preserve viability and functions of carrier cells, encapsulation of active drugs in protective nanoparticles or the use of inducible therapeutics has been proposed. Here, we compared the effects of novel polymeric formulations of an active and a stimulus-sensitive anti-cancer drug on human T lymphocytes to identify suitable drug preparations for cell-mediated drug delivery.

Development of sulfamethoxazole-imprinted polymers for the selective extraction from waters.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is an antibiotic of growing environmental concern. As specific filter material for the extraction of SMX from waters, a series of SMX-imprinted polymers have been synthesised varying their composition parameters, and their efficiency to selectively remove the contaminant SMX from complex polluted water was tested. Most of the developed materials exhibited an excellent uptake of the target pollutant SMX of more than 80% or even 90% and effective separation from selected easily degradable accompanying substances even in complex wastewater mixtures.

Degradation of the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and iopromide by corona discharge over water.

Common wastewater treatment plants often do not eliminate endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Aqueous solutions of three EDCs were treated with an enhanced corona discharge technology. The three EDCs were clofibric acid, a blood lipid regulator, carbamazepine, an antiepileptic drug, and iopromide, a contrast media.

T lymphocytes as potential therapeutic drug carrier for cancer treatment.

The aim of our research is the application of human immune cells (T lymphocytes) as target directed drug carrier. Thereby, the inclusion of therapeutical nanoparticles into immune cells is a new strategy for a localized chemotherapy. The autonomous targeting of diseased sites makes immune cells to perfectly controlled drug delivery systems.