In Vitro and In Vivo Skin Distribution of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Loaded Into Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles

Self-assembling processes of amphiphilic lipids in water give rise to complex architectures known as lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) phases. Particularly, bicontinuous cubic and hexagonal LLC phases can be dispersed in water forming colloidal nanoparticles respectively known as cubosomes and hexosomes. These non-lamellar LLC dispersions are of particular interest for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications as they are potentially non-toxic, chemically stable, and biocompatible, also allowing encapsulation of large amounts of drugs. Furthermore, conjugation of specific moieties enables their targeting, increasing therapeutic efficacies and reducing side effects by avoiding exposure of healthy tissues. In addition, as they can be easy loaded or functionalized with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic imaging probes, cubosomes and hexosomes can be used for the engineering of multifunctional/theranostic nanoplatforms. This review outlines recent advances in the applications of cubosomes and hexosomes for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging.

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Enhanced oral absorption of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol by self-assembled liquid crystalline nanoparticles containing piperine: in vitro and in vivo studies

International Journal of Nanomedicine ◽

10.2147/ijn.s38203 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 641 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xiao-bin Jia ◽

Jin ◽

Zhen-hai Zhang ◽

Tan ◽

Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liquid Crystalline ◽

Oral Absorption ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles ◽

Self Assembled

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Stealth, biocompatible monoolein-based lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles for enhanced aloe-emodin delivery to breast cancer cells: in vitro and in vivo studies

International Journal of Nanomedicine ◽

10.2147/ijn.s111736 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol Volume 11 ◽

pp. 4799-4818 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

May Freag ◽

Yosra Elnaggar ◽

Doaa Abdelmonsif ◽

Ossama Y. Abdallah

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Liquid Crystalline ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles ◽

Aloe Emodin

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Use of light microscopy in the qualitative and quantitative study of liquid crystalline order

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100121727 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 264-265

Author(s):

Christopher Viney

Keyword(s):

Light Microscopy ◽

Liquid Crystalline ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Molecular Order ◽

Liquid Crystalline Phases ◽

Convenient Technique ◽

Liquid Crystalline Materials ◽

Transparent Windows

Light microscopy is a convenient technique for characterizing molecular order in fluid liquid crystalline materials. Microstructures can usually be observed under the actual conditions that promote the formation of liquid crystalline phases, whether or not a solvent is required, and at temperatures that can range from the boiling point of nitrogen to 600°C. It is relatively easy to produce specimens that are sufficiently thin and flat, simply by confining a droplet between glass cover slides. Specimens do not need to be conducting, and they do not have to be maintained in a vacuum. Drybox or other controlled environmental conditions can be maintained in a sealed chamber equipped with transparent windows; some heating/ freezing stages can be used for this purpose. It is relatively easy to construct a modified stage so that the generation and relaxation of global molecular order can be observed while specimens are being sheared, simulating flow conditions that exist during processing. Also, light only rarely affects the chemical composition or molecular weight distribution of the sample. Because little or no processing is required after collecting the sample, one can be confident that biologically derived materials will reveal many of their in vivo structural characteristics, even though microscopy is performed in vitro.

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