scholarly journals Improving Release of Liposome-Encapsulated Drugs with Focused Ultrasound and Vaporizable Droplet-Liposome Nanoclusters

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 609
Author(s):  
Arvin Honari ◽  
Darrah A. Merillat ◽  
Aditi Bellary ◽  
Mohammadaref Ghaderi ◽  
Shashank R. Sirsi

Active targeted delivery of small molecule drugs is becoming increasingly important in personalized therapies, especially in cancer, brain disorders, and a wide variety of other diseases. However, effective means of spatial targeting and delivering high drug payloads in vivo are still lacking. Focused ultrasound combined with superheated phase-shift nanodroplets, which vaporize into microbubbles using heat and sound, are rapidly becoming a popular strategy for targeted drug delivery. Focused ultrasound can target deep tissue with excellent spatial precision and without using ionizing energy, thus can activate nanodroplets in circulation. One of the main limitations of this technology has been poor drug loading in the droplet core or the shell material. To address this need, we have developed a strategy to combine low-boiling point decafluorabutane and octafluoropropane (DFB and OFP) nanodroplets with drug-loaded liposomes, creating phase-changeable droplet-liposome clusters (PDLCs). We demonstrate a facile method of assembling submicron PDLCs with high drug-loading capacity on the droplet surface. Furthermore, we demonstrate that chemical tethering of liposomes in PDLCs enables a rapid release of their encapsulated cargo upon acoustic activation (>60% using OFP-based PDLCs). Rapid uncaging of small molecule drugs would make them immediately bioavailable in target tissue or promote better penetration in local tissue following intravascular release. PDLCs developed in this study can be used to deliver a wide variety of liposome-encapsulated therapeutics or imaging agents for multi-modal imaging applications. We also outline a strategy to deliver a surrogate encapsulated drug, fluorescein, to tumors in vivo using focused ultrasound energy and PDLCs.

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1059
Author(s):  
Saif Ahmad Khan ◽  
Saleha Rehman ◽  
Bushra Nabi ◽  
Ashif Iqubal ◽  
Nida Nehal ◽  
...  

Atazanavir (ATZ) presents poor brain availability when administered orally, which poses a major hurdle in its use as an effective therapy for the management of NeuroAIDS. The utilization of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) in conjunction with the premeditated use of excipients can be a potential approach for overcoming the limited ATZ brain delivery. Methods: ATZ-loaded NLC was formulated using the quality by design-enabled approach and further optimized by employing the Box–Behnken design. The optimized nanoformulation was then characterized for several in vitro and in vivo assessments. Results: The optimized NLC showed small particle size of 227.6 ± 5.4 nm, high entrapment efficiency (71.09% ± 5.84%) and high drug loading capacity (8.12% ± 2.7%). The release pattern was observed to be biphasic exhibiting fast release (60%) during the initial 2 h, then trailed by the sustained release. ATZ-NLC demonstrated a 2.36-fold increase in the cumulative drug permeated across the rat intestine as compared to suspension. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed 2.75-folds greater Cmax in the brain and 4-fold improvement in brain bioavailability signifying the superiority of NLC formulation over drug suspension. Conclusion: Thus, NLC could be a promising avenue for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs and delivering it to their target site. The results suggested that increase in bioavailability and brain-targeted delivery by NLC, in all plausibility, help in improving the therapeutic prospects of atazanavir.


Nanoscale ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (43) ◽  
pp. 20956-20967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaojuan Jia ◽  
Zhenzhen Li ◽  
Chuanpan Guo ◽  
Xiaoyu Huang ◽  
Yingpan Song ◽  
...  

A biocompatible γ-CD-MOF based DDS with high drug loading and full drug release was prepared and effective tumor growth inhibition was achieved in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haowen Li ◽  
Biao Liu ◽  
Hui Ao ◽  
Jingxin Fu ◽  
Yian Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractDisulfiram (DSF) has been considered as “Repurposing drug” in cancer therapy in recent years based on its good antitumor efficacy. DSF is traditionally used as an oral drug in the treatment of alcoholism. To overcome its rapid degradation and instability, DSF nanosuspensions (DSF/SPC-NSps) were prepared using soybean lecithin (SPC) as a stabilizer of high drug-loaded content (44.36 ± 1.09%). Comprehensive characterization of the nanosuspensions was performed, and cell cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumor efficacy and biodistribution were studied. DSF/SPC-NSps, having a spherical appearance with particle size of 155 nm, could remain very stable in different physiological media, and sustained release. The in vitro MTT assay indicated that the cytotoxicity of DSF/SPC-NSps was enhanced remarkably compared to free DSF against the 4T1 cell line. The IC50 value decreased by 11-fold (1.23 vs. 13.93 μg/mL, p < 0.01). DSF/SPC-NSps groups administered via intravenous injections exhibited better antitumor efficacy compared to the commercial paclitaxel injection (PTX injection) and had a dose-dependent effect in vivo. Notably, DSF/SPC-NSps exhibited similar antitumor activity following oral administration as PTX administration via injection into a vein. These results suggest that the prepared nanosuspensions can be used as a stable delivery vehicle for disulfiram, which has potential application in breast cancer chemotherapy.


Author(s):  
Upasana Yadav ◽  
Angshuman Ray Chowdhuri ◽  
Sumanta Kumar Sahu ◽  
Nuzhat Husain ◽  
Qamar Rehman

  Objective: In this study, we have made an attempt to the developed formulation of nanoparticles (NPs) of telmisartan (TLM) incorporated in carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) for the better drug delivery and enhanced bioavailability.Materials and Methods: The NPs size and morphology were investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The crystal structures and surface functional groups were analyzed using X-ray diffraction pattern, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively.Results: To increase the solubility of TLM by targeted delivery of the drug through polymeric NPs is an alternative efficient, option for increasing the solubility. TLM nanosuspension powders were successfully formulated for dissolution and bioavailability enhancement of the drug. We focused on evaluating the influence of particle size and crystalline state on the in vitro and in vivo performance of TLM.Conclusion: In summary, we have developed a new approach toward the delivery of poorly water-soluble drug TLM by CMCS NPs. The particles having a good drug loading content and drug encapsulation efficiency. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized NPs is also very less.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Kotmakçı ◽  
Vildan Bozok Çetintaş

A new platform for drug, gene and peptide-protein delivery is emerging, under the common name of “extracellular vesicles”. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 30-1000 nm-sized cell-derived, liposome-like vesicles. Current research on EVs as nano-delivery systems for small-molecule drugs and genetic material, reveal that these tiny, biologically-derived vesicles carry a great potential to boost the efficacy of many therapeutic protocols. Several features of EVs; from efficacy to safety, from passive to active targeting ability, the opportunity to be biologically or chemically labelled, and most importantly, their eobiotic origin make them promising candidate for development of the next generation personalized nanomedicines. The aim of this article is to provide a view on the current research in which EVs are used as drug/genetic material delivery systems. Their application areas, drug loading and targeting strategies, and biodistribution properties are discussed.This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James O’Connell ◽  
John Porter ◽  
Boris Kroeplien ◽  
Tim Norman ◽  
Stephen Rapecki ◽  
...  

AbstractTumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine belonging to a family of trimeric proteins; it has been shown to be a key mediator in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. While TNF is the target of several successful biologic drugs, attempts to design small molecule therapies directed to this cytokine have not led to approved products. Here we report the discovery of potent small molecule inhibitors of TNF that stabilise an asymmetrical form of the soluble TNF trimer, compromising signalling and inhibiting the functions of TNF in vitro and in vivo. This discovery paves the way for a class of small molecule drugs capable of modulating TNF function by stabilising a naturally sampled, receptor-incompetent conformation of TNF. Furthermore, this approach may prove to be a more general mechanism for inhibiting protein–protein interactions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
pp. 5775-5783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Dai ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Jing Cheng ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Li-Hong Deng ◽  
...  

Multiarm-polyethylene glycol–betulinic acid prodrugs were prepared by using multiarm-polyethylene glycol linkers and betulinic acid, which exhibited high drug loading capacity, good water solubility, and excellent anticancer activity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dick Yan Tam ◽  
Pik Kwan Lo

The rapidly emerging DNA nanotechnology began with pioneer Seeman’s hypothesis that DNA not only can carry genetic information but also can be used as molecular organizer to create well-designed and controllable nanomaterials for applications in materials science, nanotechnology, and biology. DNA-based self-assembly represents a versatile system for nanoscale construction due to the well-characterized conformation of DNA and its predictability in the formation of base pairs. The structural features of nucleic acids form the basis of constructing a wide variety of DNA nanoarchitectures with well-defined shapes and sizes, in addition to controllable permeability and flexibility. More importantly, self-assembled DNA nanostructures can be easily functionalized to construct artificial functional systems with nanometer scale precision for multipurposes. Apparently scientists envision artificial DNA-based nanostructures as tool for drug loading andin vivotargeted delivery because of their abilities in selective encapsulation and stimuli-triggered release of cargo. Herein, we summarize the strategies of creating multidimensional self-assembled DNA nanoarchitectures and review studies investigating their stability, toxicity, delivery efficiency, loading, and control release of cargos in addition to their site-specific targeting and delivery of drug or cargo molecules to cellular systems.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 2584-2584
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Wolf ◽  
Kathrin Hochegger ◽  
Robert Zeiser ◽  
Christoph Duerr ◽  
Michael Sixt ◽  
...  

Abstract CD4+CD25+ T cells (Treg) entry into secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) and local expansion after activation is at least in part responsible for their immunosuppressive action. Thus we hypothesized that trapping of adoptively transferred Treg in SLO would be an effective means to tip the balance towards a more immunosuppressive milieu within the LN microenvironment. Systemic application of the sphingosine-phosphate receptor agonist FTY720 has been proven to trap harmful effector T cells in SLO, thereby inhibiting their migration and destruction of target tissue. Here we provide first evidence that selective entrapment of adoptively transferred Treg in inflammatory LN can be achieved by blockade of SP-receptors upon ex vivo exposure of Treg to FTY720 before adoptive transfer. FTY720 exposure did not interfere with proper Treg localization within the T-cell areas of SLO as determined by immunofluorescent microscopy after co-transfer of either FTY720- or solvent exposed and subsequently differentially labelled Treg. However, despite the fact that the in vitro phenotype (including expression of adhesion and chemokine receptors), function (including anergy and suppressive activity) and survival (determined by Annexin/PI staining) of Treg remained unaltered by FTY720, it abrogated their protective effect after adoptive transfer in a murine model of acute experimental glomerulonephritis (determined by quantification of proteinuria and histological analysis) as well as in an acute GvHD model (determined by survival analysis and quantification of the in vivo expansion of luciferase-transgenic effector T cells by bioluminiscence technology). Notably, adoptive transfer of CFSE-labelled Treg revealed a markedly impaired proliferation of Treg in inflammatory SLO when pre-exposed to FTY720 ex vivo. Accordingly, FTY720 blocked Treg-proliferation induced by TCR-stimulation in combination with IL-2 in vitro. In line with this observation, FTY720 completely abolishes IL-2 induced phosphorylation of STAT-5. Thus, SP-1P receptors induce Treg trapping in inflammatory SLO but abrogate their in vivo immunosuppressive potential by inhibition of local Treg expansion.


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