scholarly journals Melatonin-Loaded Nanocarriers: New Horizons for Therapeutic Applications

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3562
Author(s):  
Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa ◽  
Fábio Rodrigues Ferreira Seiva ◽  
Adriana Alonso Novais ◽  
Vinícius Augusto Simão ◽  
Virna Margarita Martín Giménez ◽  
...  

The use of nanosized particles has emerged to facilitate selective applications in medicine. Drug-delivery systems represent novel opportunities to provide stricter, focused, and fine-tuned therapy, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of chemical agents at the molecular level while reducing their toxic effects. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytriptamine) is a small indoleamine secreted essentially by the pineal gland during darkness, but also produced by most cells in a non-circadian manner from which it is not released into the blood. Although the therapeutic promise of melatonin is indisputable, aspects regarding optimal dosage, biotransformation and metabolism, route and time of administration, and targeted therapy remain to be examined for proper treatment results. Recently, prolonged release of melatonin has shown greater efficacy and safety when combined with a nanostructured formulation. This review summarizes the role of melatonin incorporated into different nanocarriers (e.g., lipid-based vesicles, polymeric vesicles, non-ionic surfactant-based vesicles, charge carriers in graphene, electro spun nanofibers, silica-based carriers, metallic and non-metallic nanocomposites) as drug delivery system platforms or multilevel determinations in various in vivo and in vitro experimental conditions. Melatonin incorporated into nanosized materials exhibits superior effectiveness in multiple diseases and pathological processes than does free melatonin; thus, such information has functional significance for clinical intervention.

2005 ◽  
Vol 04 (05n06) ◽  
pp. 855-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN GARNETT

The use of nanosized materials changes the way in which drugs are handled by the body and offers opportunities to improve drug delivery. The physiological mechanisms controlling the distribution of nanosized materials (enhanced permeability and retention effect, cellular uptake pathways and opsonisation/elimination of nanoparticles) are described. Two different nanosized drug delivery systems are considered; drug delivery and DNA delivery. The deficiencies of currently available biodegradable polymers for preparation of drug containing nanoparticles are mainly the amount of drug that can be incorporated and the rapid rate of drug release. The development of new biodegradable polymers which can interact with the drug and so significantly increase drug loading and decrease the rate of drug release are outlined. DNA delivery necessitates overcoming a variety of biological barriers. We are developing polyelectrolyte complexes of DNA with cationic polyamidoamines (PAA) as a delivery system. Complexing PAA with DNA results in good transfection of cells in vitro. However, in vivo, a more complex arrangement of PAA, Polyethylene glycol-PAA copolymers, DNA and the use of ligands will be required. Despite these efforts, further developments will be needed in nanotechnology for both drug and DNA nanoparticle delivery systems to achieve our clinical objectives.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1188
Author(s):  
Margaux Vigata ◽  
Christoph Meinert ◽  
Dietmar W. Hutmacher ◽  
Nathalie Bock

Owing to their tunable properties, controllable degradation, and ability to protect labile drugs, hydrogels are increasingly investigated as local drug delivery systems. However, a lack of standardized methodologies used to characterize and evaluate drug release poses significant difficulties when comparing findings from different investigations, preventing an accurate assessment of systems. Here, we review the commonly used analytical techniques for drug detection and quantification from hydrogel delivery systems. The experimental conditions of drug release in saline solutions and their impact are discussed, along with the main mathematical and statistical approaches to characterize drug release profiles. We also review methods to determine drug diffusion coefficients and in vitro and in vivo models used to assess drug release and efficacy with the goal to provide guidelines and harmonized practices when investigating novel hydrogel drug delivery systems.


Author(s):  
RIZWANA KHAN ◽  
RAGHUVEER IRCHHAIYA

Objective: The present study was aimed on formulation and evaluation of famotidine loaded niosomal formulation for in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviour. Formulating it as niosomal formulation might be quite advantageous for prolonging the duration of pharmacological action and improved bioavailability. Methods: In the present study niosomal formulations were prepared by using most documented thin film hydration technique by using various grades of surfactants (span 20, 40, 60, 80) in varying ratios with cholesterol, negative charge inducer di cetyl phosphate (DCP) and drug famotidine. Suitable preformulation studies were conducted like identification of drug, excipient and drug compatibility study. The optimized drug loaded niosomes were characterized for size and morphology, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug entrapment, in vitro release, in vivo study and stability study. Results: The results showed that the vesicles formed were spherical in shape, size ranging between 160.1 nm to 718.7 nm with zeta potential values indicating good stability and formulation containing span 60 (NMS7) showed the highest entrapment efficiency (73.234%). All the formulations showed prolonged release profile for more than 24 h with release kinetics better suited to zero order release pattern. In vivo study conducted on rabbits predicted a fourfold increase in pharmacokinetic parameter (area under curve)AUC and pharmacological action for more than 24 h as compared to free drug famotidine which showed its action only upto 12 h. Conclusion: Thus the famotidine loaded niosomal formulation may be considered as a very promising drug delivery system which could be successfully employed for prolonging the drug release and overcoming the drawbacks of conventional drug delivery systems.


1981 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H Levine ◽  
Danielle G Sladdin ◽  
Norman I Krinsky

SummaryIn the course of studying the effects on platelets of the oxidant species superoxide (O- 2), Of was generated by the interaction of xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Surprisingly, gel-filtered platelets, when exposed to xanthine oxidase in the absence of xanthine substrate, were found to generate superoxide (O- 2), as determined by the reduction of added cytochrome c and by the inhibition of this reduction in the presence of superoxide dismutase.In addition to generating Of, the xanthine oxidase-treated platelets display both aggregation and evidence of the release reaction. This xanthine oxidase induced aggreagtion is not inhibited by the addition of either superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c, suggesting that it is due to either a further metabolite of O- 2, or that O- 2 itself exerts no important direct effect on platelet function under these experimental conditions. The ability of Of to modulate platelet reactions in vivo or in vitro remains in doubt, and xanthine oxidase is an unsuitable source of O- 2 in platelet studies because of its own effects on platelets.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0975-0980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Gálvez ◽  
Goretti Gómez-Ortiz ◽  
Maribel Díaz-Ricart ◽  
Ginés Escolar ◽  
Rogelio González-Sarmiento ◽  
...  

SummaryThe effect of desmopressin (DDAVP) on thrombogenicity, expression of tissue factor and procoagulant activity (PCA) of extracellular matrix (ECM) generated by human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultures (HUVEC), was studied under different experimental conditions. HUVEC were incubated with DDAVP (1, 5 and 30 ng/ml) and then detached from their ECM. The reactivity towards platelets of this ECM was tested in a perfusion system. Coverslips covered with DD A VP-treated ECMs were inserted in a parallel-plate chamber and exposed to normal blood anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparin (Fragmin®, 20 U/ml). Perfusions were run for 5 min at a shear rate of 800 s1. Deposition of platelets on ECMs was significantly increased with respect to control ECMs when DDAVP was used at 5 and 30 ng/ml (p <0.05 and p <0.01 respectively). The increase in platelet deposition was prevented by incubation of ECMs with an antibody against human tissue factor prior to perfusion. Immunofluorescence studies positively detected tissue factor antigen on DDAVP derived ECMs. A chromogenic assay performed under standardized conditions revealed a statistically significant increase in the procoagulant activity of the ECMs produced by ECs incubated with 30 ng/ml DDAVP (p <0.01 vs. control samples). Northern blot analysis revealed increased levels of tissue factor mRNA in extracts from ECs exposed to DDAVP. Our data indicate that DDAVP in vitro enhances platelet adhesion to the ECMs through increased expression of tissue factor. A similar increase in the expression of tissue factor might contribute to the in vivo hemostatic effect of DDAVP.


1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 885-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuo Ueno ◽  
Norio Kobayashi ◽  
Tadashi Maekawa

SummaryPharmacokinetics of intravenously injected 125I-labeled urokinase (125I-UK) of a molecular weight of 33,000 daltons in normal rabbits and patients with various diseases were investigated. The plasma clearance of 125I-UK in rabbits was described by a biexponential curve within six hours with a half-life of 8 minutes, 2.3 hours, respectively. The radioactivity in the liver and kidneys 15 minutes after iv injection with 125I-UK was 9.6% and 14.0% of the radioactivity injected, respectively. Approximately 80% of the total radioactive material injected was excreted in the urine in 18 hours. No increase in activator activity in the urine was observed after a large amount of UK injection. Activity uptake of 125I-UK by experimentally induced arterial thrombus was little. Lysis of the stasis thrombus was produced by injecting 7.5 × 104 IU of UK in only one out of 8 rabbits. In vitro contact experiment revealed that transfer of 125I-UK to plasma clot is slow (24 hours for 10% of 125I-UK by plasma clot). In 4 patients plasma clearance of 125I-UK was essentially similar to that in rabbits. From the results obtained optimal dosage regimen of UK administration for complete thrombolysis in vivo was discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilani G. Gamage ◽  
Ajith Gunaratne ◽  
Gopal R. Periyannan ◽  
Timothy G. Russell

Background: The dipeptide composition-based Instability Index (II) is one of the protein primary structure-dependent methods available for in vivo protein stability predictions. As per this method, proteins with II value below 40 are stable proteins. Intracellular protein stability principles guided the original development of the II method. However, the use of the II method for in vitro protein stability predictions raises questions about the validity of applying the II method under experimental conditions that are different from the in vivo setting. Objective: The aim of this study is to experimentally test the validity of the use of II as an in vitro protein stability predictor. Methods: A representative protein CCM (CCM - Caulobacter crescentus metalloprotein) that rapidly degrades under in vitro conditions was used to probe the dipeptide sequence-dependent degradation properties of CCM by generating CCM mutants to represent stable and unstable II values. A comparative degradation analysis was carried out under in vitro conditions using wildtype CCM, CCM mutants and two other candidate proteins: metallo-β-lactamase L1 and α -S1- casein representing stable, borderline stable/unstable, and unstable proteins as per the II predictions. The effect of temperature and a protein stabilizing agent on CCM degradation was also tested. Results: Data support the dipeptide composition-dependent protein stability/instability in wt-CCM and mutants as predicted by the II method under in vitro conditions. However, the II failed to accurately represent the stability of other tested proteins. Data indicate the influence of protein environmental factors on the autoproteolysis of proteins. Conclusion: Broader application of the II method for the prediction of protein stability under in vitro conditions is questionable as the stability of the protein may be dependent not only on the intrinsic nature of the protein but also on the conditions of the protein milieu.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chen ◽  
Andrew Martin ◽  
Warren H. Finlay

Background: Many drugs are delivered intranasally for local or systemic effect, typically in the form of droplets or aerosols. Because of the high cost of in vivo studies, drug developers and researchers often turn to in vitro or in silico testing when first evaluating the behavior and properties of intranasal drug delivery devices and formulations. Recent advances in manufacturing and computer technologies have allowed for increasingly realistic and sophisticated in vitro and in silico reconstructions of the human nasal airways. Objective: To perform a summary of advances in understanding of intranasal drug delivery based on recent in vitro and in silico studies. Conclusion: The turbinates are a common target for local drug delivery applications, and while nasal sprays are able to reach this region, there is currently no broad consensus across the in vitro and in silico literature concerning optimal parameters for device design, formulation properties and patient technique which would maximize turbinate deposition. Nebulizers are able to more easily target the turbinates, but come with the disadvantage of significant lung deposition. Targeting of the olfactory region of the nasal cavity has been explored for potential treatment of central nervous system conditions. Conventional intranasal devices, such as nasal sprays and nebulizers, deliver very little dose to the olfactory region. Recent progress in our understanding of intranasal delivery will be useful in the development of the next generation of intranasal drug delivery devices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 688-697
Author(s):  
Ravinder Verma ◽  
Deepak Kaushik

: In vitro lipolysis has emerged as a powerful tool in the development of in vitro in vivo correlation for Lipid-based Drug Delivery System (LbDDS). In vitro lipolysis possesses the ability to mimic the assimilation of LbDDS in the human biological system. The digestion medium for in vitro lipolysis commonly contains an aqueous buffer media, bile salts, phospholipids and sodium chloride. The concentrations of these compounds are defined by the physiological conditions prevailing in the fasted or fed state. The pH of the medium is monitored by a pH-sensitive electrode connected to a computercontrolled pH-stat device capable of maintaining a predefined pH value via titration with sodium hydroxide. Copenhagen, Monash and Jerusalem are used as different models for in vitro lipolysis studies. The most common approach used in evaluating the kinetics of lipolysis of emulsion-based encapsulation systems is the pH-stat titration technique. This is widely used in both the nutritional and the pharmacological research fields as a rapid screening tool. Analytical tools for the assessment of in vitro lipolysis include HPLC, GC, HPTLC, SEM, Cryo TEM, Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) for the characterization of the lipids and colloidal phases after digestion of lipids. Various researches have been carried out for the establishment of IVIVC by using in vitro lipolysis models. The current publication also presents an updated review of various researches in the field of in vitro lipolysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-245
Author(s):  
Gang Wang ◽  
Junjie Wang ◽  
Rui Guan

Background: Owing to the rich anticancer properties of flavonoids, there is a need for their incorporation into drug delivery vehicles like nanomicelles for safe delivery of the drug into the brain tumor microenvironment. Objective: This study, therefore, aimed to prepare the phospholipid-based Labrasol/Pluronic F68 modified nano micelles loaded with flavonoids (Nano-flavonoids) for the delivery of the drug to the target brain tumor. Methods: Myricetin, quercetin and fisetin were selected as the initial drugs to evaluate the biodistribution and acute toxicity of the drug delivery vehicles in rats with implanted C6 glioma tumors after oral administration, while the uptake, retention, release in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and the effect on the brain endothelial barrier were investigated in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMECs). Results: The results demonstrated that nano-flavonoids loaded with myricetin showed more evenly distributed targeting tissues and enhanced anti-tumor efficiency in vivo without significant cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells and alteration in the Trans Epithelial Electric Resistance (TEER). There was no pathological evidence of renal, hepatic or other organs dysfunction after the administration of nanoflavonoids, which showed no significant influence on cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, Labrasol/F68-NMs loaded with MYR and quercetin could enhance antiglioma effect in vitro and in vivo, which may be better tools for medical therapy, while the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nano-flavonoids may ensure optimal therapeutic benefits.


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