Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and non-immunogenic glycosaminoglycan used for various biomedical applications. The interaction of HA with the CD44 receptor, whose expression is elevated on the surface of many types of tumor cells, makes this polymer a promising candidate for intracellular delivery of imaging and anticancer agents exploiting a receptor-mediated active targeting strategy. Therefore, HA and its derivatives have been most investigated for the development of several carrier systems intended for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Nonetheless, different and important delivery applications of the polysaccharide have also been described, including gene and peptide/protein drugs delivery. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the existing recent literature on the use of HA and its derivatives for drug delivery and imaging. Notable attention is given to nanotheranostic systems obtained after conjugation of HA to nanocarriers as quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and graphene. Meanwhile, attention is also paid to some challenging aspects that need to be addressed in order to allow translation of preclinical models based on HA and its derivatives for drug delivery and imaging purposes to clinical testing and further their development.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2015.03.032DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

delivery imaging
16
derivatives drug
12
drug delivery
12
hyaluronic acid
8
delivery
6
derivatives
4
acid derivatives
4
imaging
4
imaging advances
4
advances challenges
4

Similar Publications

Poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles have numerous applications, including drug and gene delivery, molecular imaging, and cancer therapy. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions with cell membranes, we utilized a Langmuir monolayer as a model membrane system. This approach enabled us to investigate the processes of penetration and reorganization of PBCA nanoparticles when deposited in a phospholipid monolayer subphase.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the last decade, pulmonary fungal infections such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) have increased in incidence due to the increased number of immunocompromised individuals. This increase is especially problematic when considering mortality rates associated with IPA are upwards of 70%. This high mortality rate is due to, in part, the length of time it takes to diagnose a patient with IPA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant vascular condition characterized by the dilation of the abdominal aorta, presenting a substantial risk of rupture and associated high mortality rates. Current management strategies primarily rely on aneurysm diameter and growth rates to predict rupture risk and determine the timing of surgical intervention. However, this approach has limitations, as ruptures can occur in smaller AAAs below surgical thresholds, and many large AAAs remain stable without intervention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Currently, materials with specific, strictly defined functional properties are becoming increasingly important. A promising strategy for achieving these properties involves developing methods that facilitate the formation of hierarchical porous materials that combine micro-, meso-, and macropores in their structure. Macropores facilitate effective mass transfer of substances to the meso- and micropores, where further adsorption or reaction processes can occur.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biological agents such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) and growth factors, when administered in vivo, often face rapid clearance, limiting their therapeutic potential. To address this challenge and enhance their efficacy, we propose the electrostatic conjugation and sequestration of these agents into gelatin-based biomaterials. In this study, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) were synthesized via the nanoprecipitation method, with adjustments to the pH of the gelatin solution (4.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!