Erythrocytes and Nanoparticles: New Therapeutic Systems

Nano-delivery systems represent one of the most studied fields, thanks to the associated improvement in the treatment of human diseases. The functionality of nanostructures is a crucial point, which the effectiveness of nanodrugs depends on. A hybrid approach strategy using synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) and erythrocytes offers an optimal blend of natural and synthetic materials. This, in turn, allows medical practitioners to exploit the combined advantages of erythrocytes and NPs. Erythrocyte-based drug delivery systems have been investigated for their biocompatibility, as well as the long circulation time allowed by specific surface receptors that inhibit immune clearance. In this review, we will discuss several methods—whole erythrocytes as drug carriers, red blood cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles and nano-erythrosomes (NERs)—while paying attention to their application and specific preparation methods. The ability to target cells makes erythrocytes excellent drug delivery systems. They can carry a wide range of therapeutic molecules while also acting as bioreactors; thus, they have many applications in therapy and in the diagnosis of many diseases.

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Using Supercritical Fluid Technology as a Green Alternative During the Preparation of Drug Delivery Systems

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics11120629 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 629 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Paroma Chakravarty ◽

Amin Famili ◽

Karthik Nagapudi ◽

Mohammad A. Al-Sayah

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Supercritical Fluid ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Drug Carrier ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Size Control ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Residual Solvent

Micro- and nano-carrier formulations have been developed as drug delivery systems for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that suffer from poor physico-chemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties. Encapsulating the APIs in such systems can help improve their stability by protecting them from harsh conditions such as light, oxygen, temperature, pH, enzymes, and others. Consequently, the API’s dissolution rate and bioavailability are tremendously improved. Conventional techniques used in the production of these drug carrier formulations have several drawbacks, including thermal and chemical stability of the APIs, excessive use of organic solvents, high residual solvent levels, difficult particle size control and distributions, drug loading-related challenges, and time and energy consumption. This review illustrates how supercritical fluid (SCF) technologies can be superior in controlling the morphology of API particles and in the production of drug carriers due to SCF’s non-toxic, inert, economical, and environmentally friendly properties. The SCF’s advantages, benefits, and various preparation methods are discussed. Drug carrier formulations discussed in this review include microparticles, nanoparticles, polymeric membranes, aerogels, microporous foams, solid lipid nanoparticles, and liposomes.

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Niosomes as Nanoparticular Drug Carriers: Fundamentals and Recent Applications

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2016/7372306 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Didem Ag Seleci ◽

Muharrem Seleci ◽

Johanna-Gabriela Walter ◽

Frank Stahl ◽

Thomas Scheper

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Nonionic Surfactants ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

The Body ◽

Scientific Journals ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Different Types ◽

Self Association

Drug delivery systems are defined as formulations aiming for transportation of a drug to the desired area of action within the body. The basic component of drug delivery systems is an appropriate carrier that protects the drug from rapid degradation or clearance and thereby enhances drug concentration in target tissues. Based on their biodegradable, biocompatible, and nonimmunogenic structure, niosomes are promising drug carriers that are formed by self-association of nonionic surfactants and cholesterol in an aqueous phase. In recent years, numerous research articles have been published in scientific journals reporting the potential of niosomes to serve as a carrier for the delivery of different types of drugs. The present review describes preparation methods, characterization techniques, and recent studies on niosomal drug delivery systems and also gives up to date information regarding recent applications of niosomes in drug delivery.

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Advances in the use of MOFs for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: An Overview

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200406153949 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (33) ◽

pp. 4174-4184

Author(s):

Marina P. Abuçafy ◽

Bruna L. da Silva ◽

João A. Oshiro-Junior ◽

Eloisa B. Manaia ◽

Bruna G. Chiari-Andréo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Rational Design ◽

Gas Adsorption ◽

Drug Loading ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Academic Community ◽

Anticancer Drug Delivery ◽

Diagnostic Agents

Nanoparticles as drug delivery systems and diagnostic agents have gained much attention in recent years, especially for cancer treatment. Nanocarriers improve the therapeutic efficiency and bioavailability of antitumor drugs, besides providing preferential accumulation at the target site. Among different types of nanocarriers for drug delivery assays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing interest in the academic community. MOFs are an emerging class of coordination polymers constructed of metal nodes or clusters and organic linkers that show the capacity to combine a porous structure with high drug loading through distinct kinds of interactions, overcoming the limitations of traditional drug carriers explored up to date. Despite the rational design and synthesis of MOFs, structural aspects and some applications of these materials like gas adsorption have already been comprehensively described in recent years; it is time to demonstrate their potential applications in biomedicine. In this context, MOFs can be used as drug delivery systems and theranostic platforms due to their ability to release drugs and accommodate imaging agents. This review describes the intrinsic characteristics of nanocarriers used in cancer therapy and highlights the latest advances in MOFs as anticancer drug delivery systems and diagnostic agents.

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Biocompatible Nanovesicular Drug Delivery Systems with Targeting Potential for Autoimmune Diseases

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200523174108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (42) ◽

pp. 5488-5502 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yub Raj Neupane ◽

Asiya Mahtab ◽

Lubna Siddiqui ◽

Archu Singh ◽

Namrata Gautam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Immunological Tolerance ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

The Body ◽

Autoimmune Response ◽

Treatment Modalities

Autoimmune diseases are collectively addressed as chronic conditions initiated by the loss of one’s immunological tolerance, where the body treats its own cells as foreigners or self-antigens. These hay-wired antibodies or immunologically capable cells lead to a variety of disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and recently included neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism and testicular cancer triggered T-cells induced autoimmune response in testes and brain. Conventional treatments for autoimmune diseases possess several downsides due to unfavourable pharmacokinetic behaviour of drug, reflected by low bioavailability, rapid clearance, offsite toxicity, restricted targeting ability and poor therapeutic outcomes. Novel nanovesicular drug delivery systems including liposomes, niosomes, proniosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, pharmacosomes, ufasomes and biologically originated exosomes have proved to possess alluring prospects in supporting the combat against autoimmune diseases. These nanovesicles have revitalized available treatment modalities as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, less immunogenic and capable of carrying high drug payloads to deliver both hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs to specific sites via passive or active targeting. Due to their unique surface chemistry, they can be decorated with physiological or synthetic ligands to target specific receptors overexpressed in different autoimmune diseases and can even cross the blood-brain barrier. This review presents exhaustive yet concise information on the potential of various nanovesicular systems as drug carriers in improving the overall therapeutic efficiency of the dosage regimen for various autoimmune diseases. The role of endogenous exosomes as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of autoimmune diseases along with monitoring progress of treatment will also be highlighted.

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Development and Evaluation of Sustained Release Lipid Nanocarriers for Curcumin

Current Nanomaterials ◽

10.2174/2405461505999200917122147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 224-235

Author(s):

Harshal A. Pawar ◽

Bhagyashree D. Bhangale

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Sustained Release ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Curcuma Longa ◽

Research Work ◽

Elimination Rate ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Physicochemical Stability ◽

Wide Range

Background: Lipid based excipients have increased acceptance nowadays in the development of novel drug delivery systems in order to improve their pharmacokinetic profiles. Drugs encapsulated in lipids have enhanced stability due to the protection they experience in the lipid core of these nano-formulations. Phytosomes are newly discovered drug delivery systems and novel botanical formulation to produce lipophilic molecular complex which imparts stability, increases absorption and bioavailability of phytoconstituent. Curcumin, obtained from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has a wide range of biological activities. The poor solubility and wettability of curcumin are responsible for poor dissolution and this, in turn, results in poor bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, the curcumin-loaded nano phytosomes were developed to improve its physicochemical stability and bioavailability. Objective: The objective of the present research work was to develop nano-phytosomes of curcumin to improve its physicochemical stability and bioavailability. Methods: Curcumin-loaded nano phytosomes were prepared by using phospholipid Phospholipon 90 H using a modified solvent evaporation method. The developed curcumin nano phytosomes were evaluated by particle size analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: Results indicated that phytosomes prepared using curcumin and lipid in the ratio of 1:2 show good entrapment efficiency. The obtained curcumin phytosomes were spherical in shape with a size less than 100 nm. The prepared nano phytosomal formulation of curcumin showed promising potential as an antioxidant. Conclusion: The phytosomal complex showed sustained release of curcumin from vesicles. The sustained release of curcumin from phytosome may improve its absorption and lowers the elimination rate with an increase in bioavailability.

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Polymeric Drug Delivery System Based on Pluronics for Cancer Treatment

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26123610 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (12) ◽

pp. 3610

Author(s):

Jialin Yu ◽

Huayu Qiu ◽

Shouchun Yin ◽

Hebin Wang ◽

Yang Li

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Tumor Therapy ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Disease Diagnosis ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Polymeric Drug Delivery ◽

Physical And Chemical

Pluronic polymers (pluronics) are a unique class of synthetic triblock copolymers containing hydrophobic polypropylene oxide (PPO) and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) arranged in the PEO-PPO-PEO manner. Due to their excellent biocompatibility and amphiphilic properties, pluronics are an ideal and promising biological material, which is widely used in drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and treatment, among other applications. Through self-assembly or in combination with other materials, pluronics can form nano carriers with different morphologies, representing a kind of multifunctional pharmaceutical excipients. In recent years, the utilization of pluronic-based multi-functional drug carriers in tumor treatment has become widespread, and various responsive drug carriers are designed according to the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, resulting in major progress in tumor therapy. This review introduces the specific role of pluronic-based polymer drug delivery systems in tumor therapy, focusing on their physical and chemical properties as well as the design aspects of pluronic polymers. Finally, using newer literature reports, this review provides insights into the future potential and challenges posed by different pluronic-based polymer drug delivery systems in tumor therapy.

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Collagen Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery Systems and Tissue Engineering

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app112311369 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (23) ◽

pp. 11369

Author(s):

Ashni Arun ◽

Pratyusha Malrautu ◽

Anindita Laha ◽

Hongrong Luo ◽

Seeram Ramakrishna

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Tissue Engineering ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Drug Solubility ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Nanoparticle Preparation ◽

Responsive Behavior ◽

Reduced Toxicity

The versatile natural polymer, collagen, has gained vast attention in biomedicine. Due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, weak antigenicity, biomimetics and well-known safety profile, it is widely used as a drug, protein and gene carrier, and as a scaffold matrix in tissue engineering. Nanoparticles develop favorable chemical and physical properties such as increased drug half-life, improved hydrophobic drug solubility and controlled and targeted drug release. Their reduced toxicity, controllable characteristics of scaffolds and stimuli-responsive behavior make them suitable in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Collagen associates and absorbs nanoparticles leading to significant impacts on their biological functioning in any biofluid. This review will discuss collagen nanoparticle preparation methods and their applications and developments in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering.

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Advanced Technologies in DNA-based Nanomedicine

Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation ◽

10.2174/2667387815666210212142526 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Ameneh Mohammadi ◽

Pooria Gill ◽

Pedram Ebrahimnejad ◽

Said Abediankenari ◽

Zahra Kashi

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Gene Therapy ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Dna Nanostructures ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Rational Engineering ◽

Advanced Technologies ◽

Wide Range ◽

Or Gene

: The application of nanotechnology in medicine and pharmaceutical purpose suggested a novel procedure in the nanotechnology terminology as nanomedicine. There is a wide range of applications for nanotechnology in medicine, such as the use of nanocarriers in drug delivery systems. Recently a remarkable attention to DNA has been made through its amazing functionality and its nature as a nanomaterial in biological systems. Since DNA is a biocompatible, the use of DNA as a nanomaterial in medicine has shown a great perspective of rational engineering of DNA nanostructures. According to new approaches in treatment of diseases in gene levels, gene therapy, using DNA as a nanomedicine possesses an important role in the medical sciences as the researchers published enormous papers and patents in the fields, for instance, the applications of DNA and DNA-based nanostructures as drug or gene nanocarriers, DNA-based diagnostics and DNA nanovasccines. Here, some examples of DNA-based nanomedicine in the patent frame were reviewed.

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Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers as Smart Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12090860 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 860

Author(s):

Raneem Jnaidi ◽

António José Almeida ◽

Lídia M. Gonçalves

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Lipid Nanoparticles ◽

Tumor Location ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers ◽

Solid Lipid

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of brain tumor. In fact, tumor recurrence usually appears a few months after surgical resection and chemotherapy, mainly due to many factors that make GBM treatment a real challenge, such as tumor location, heterogeneity, presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and others. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represent the most promising carriers for therapeutics delivery into the central nervous system (CNS) owing to their inherent ability to cross the BBB. In this review, we present the main challenges in GBM treatment, a description of SLNs and NLCs and their valuable role as drug carriers in GBM treatment, and finally, a detailed description of all modification strategies that aim to change composition of SLNs and NLCs to enhance treatment outcomes. This includes modification of SLNs and NLCs to improve crossing the BBB, reduced GBM cell resistance, target GBM cells selectively minimizing side effects, and modification strategies to enhance SLNs and NLCs nose-to-brain delivery. Finally, future perspectives on their use are also be discussed, to provide insight about all strategies with SLNs and NLCs formulation that could result in drug delivery systems for GBM treatment with highly effective theraputic and minimum undesirable effects.

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Food-Derived Nanoscopic Drug Delivery Systems for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25153506 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (15) ◽

pp. 3506

Author(s):

Dong Han ◽

Qilei Chen ◽

Hubiao Chen

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Delivery Systems ◽

Drug Carriers ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Research Orientation ◽

Therapeutic Outcomes ◽

Systemic Inflammatory Disease ◽

Recent Developments

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severe systemic inflammatory disease with no cure at present. Recent developments in the understanding of inflammation and nanomaterial science have led to increased applications of nanostructured drug delivery systems in the treatment of RA. The present review summarizes novel fabrications of nanoscale drug carriers using food components as either the delivered drugs or carrier structures, in order to achieve safe, effective and convenient drug administration. Polyphenols and flavonoids are among the most frequently carried anti-RA therapeutics in the nanosystems. Fatty substances, polysaccharides, and peptides/proteins can function as structuring agents of the nanocarriers. Frequently used nanostructures include nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, liposomes, and various nanoparticles. Using these nanostructures has improved drug solubility, absorption, biodistribution, stability, targeted accumulation, and release. Joint vectorization, i.e., using a combination of bioactive molecules, can bring elevated therapeutic outcomes. Utilization of anti-arthritic chemicals that can self-assemble into nanostructures is a promising research orientation in this field.

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