scholarly journals Microparticles and Nanoparticles from Plants—The Benefits of Bioencapsulation

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 369
Author(s):  
Jennifer Schwestka ◽  
Eva Stoger

The efficacy of drugs and vaccines depends on their stability and ability to interact with their targets in vivo. Many drugs benefit from encapsulation, which protects them from harsh conditions and allows targeted delivery and controlled release. Although many encapsulation methods are inexpensive, such as the formulation of tablets for oral delivery, others require complex procedures that add significantly to production costs and require low-temperature transport and storage, making them inaccessible in developing countries. In this review we consider the benefits of encapsulation technologies based on plants. Plant-derived biopolymers such as starch and the maize storage protein zein are already used as protective coatings, but plant cells used as production host provide natural in vivo bioencapsulation that survives passage through the stomach and releases drugs in the intestine, due to the presence of microbes that can digest the cell wall. Proteins can also be encapsulated in subcellular compartments such as protein bodies, which ensure stability and activity while often conferring additional immunomodulatory effects. Finally, we consider the incorporation of drugs and vaccines into plant-derived nanoparticles assembled from the components of viruses. These are extremely versatile, allowing the display of epitopes and targeting peptides as well as carrying cargoes of drugs and imaging molecules.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Mooranian ◽  
Susbin Raj Wagle ◽  
Bozica Kovacevic ◽  
Ryu Takechi ◽  
John Mamo ◽  
...  

AbstractThe antilipidemic drug, probucol (PB), has demonstrated potential applications in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) through its protective effects on pancreatic β-cells. PB has poor solubility and bioavailability, and despite attempts to improve its oral delivery, none has shown dramatic improvements in absorption or antidiabetic effects. Preliminary data has shown potential benefits from bile acid co-encapsulation with PB. One bile acid has shown best potential improvement of PB oral delivery (ursodeoxycholic acid, UDCA). This study aimed to examine PB and UDCA microcapsules (with UDCA microcapsules serving as control) in terms of the microcapsules’ morphology, biological effects ex vivo, and their hypoglycemic and antilipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. PBUDCA and UDCA microcapsules were examined in vitro (formulation studies), ex vivo and in vivo. PBUDCA microcapsules exerted positive effects on β-cells viability at hyperglycemic state, and brought about hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects on the prediabetic mice. In conclusion, PBUDCA co-encapsulation have showed beneficial therapeutic impact of dual antioxidant-bile acid effects in diabetes treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (26) ◽  
pp. 3134-3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Enck ◽  
Surya Banks ◽  
Hariom Yadav ◽  
Mark E. Welker ◽  
Emmanuel C. Opara

Background: There is a significant interest in effective oral drug delivery of therapeutic substances. For probiotics, there is a particular need for a delivery platform that protects the bacteria from destruction by the acidic stomach while enabling targeted delivery to the intestine where microbiota naturally reside. The use of probiotics and how they impact the gut microbiota is a growing field and holds promise for the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel disease Crohn’s disease and C. diff and other diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s diseases. Objective: The aim of this research was to use our newly developed chemically-modified alginate hydrogel with the characteristic feature of stability in acidic environments but disintegration under neutral-basic pH conditions to design a novel system for effective targeted delivery of ingested probiotics. Method and Results: We have used the approach of encapsulation of bacterial cells in the hydrogel of the modified alginate with in vitro studies in both simulated stomach acid and intestinal fluid conditions to demonstrate the potential application of this novel platform in oral delivery of probiotics. Our data provide a proof-of-concept that enables further studies in vivo with this delivery platform. Conclusion: We have demonstrated in the present study that our chemically modified alginate hydrogel is resistant to acidic conditions and protects bacterial cells encapsulated in it, but it is sensitive to neutral-basic pH conditions under which it disintegrates and releases its viable bacteria cell payload. Our data provide a proof-ofconcept that enables further studies in vivo with this delivery platform for the efficacy of therapeutic bacteria in various disease conditions.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2002
Author(s):  
Adrian Rump ◽  
Franziska N. Weiss ◽  
Louisa Schulz ◽  
Marie-Luise Kromrey ◽  
Eberhard Scheuch ◽  
...  

Controlling the time point and site of the release of active ingredients within the gastrointestinal tract after administration of oral delivery systems is still a challenge. In this study, the effect of the combination of small capsules (size 3) and large capsules (size 00) on the disintegration site and time was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with a salivary tracer technique. As capsule shells, Vcaps® HPMC capsules, Vcaps® Plus HPMC capsules, gelatin and DRcaps® designed release capsules were used. The three HPMC-based capsules (Vcaps®, Vcaps® Plus and DRcaps® capsules) were tested as single capsules; furthermore, seven DUOCAP® capsule-in-capsule combinations were tested in a 10-way crossover open-label study in six healthy volunteers. The capsules contained iron oxide and hibiscus tea powder as tracers for visualization in MRI, and two different caffeine species (natural caffeine and 13C3) to follow caffeine release and absorption as measured by salivary levels. Results showed that the timing and location of disintegration in the gastrointestinal tract can be measured and differed when using different combinations of capsule shells. Increased variability among the six subjects was observed in most of the capsule combinations. The lowest variability in gastrointestinal localization of disintegration was observed for the DUOCAP® capsule-in-capsule configuration using a DRcaps® designed release capsule within a DRcaps® designed release outer capsule. In this combination, the inner DRcaps® designed release capsule always opened reliably after reaching the ileum. Thus, this combination enables targeted delivery to the distal small intestine. Among the single capsules tested, Vcaps® Plus HPMC capsules showed the fastest and most consistent disintegration.


1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (05) ◽  
pp. 1244-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Stormorken ◽  
H Holmsen ◽  
R Sund ◽  
K S Sakariassen ◽  
T Hovig ◽  
...  

SummaryThe Stormorken syndrome is a multifacetted syndrome including a bleeding tendency. No deviations were found in the coagulation- or fibrinolytic systems. Platelet number was low normal, and size abnormal, whereas EM findings were unremarkable. Survival time was half normal. Clot retraction was initially rapid, but clearly decreased, whereas prothrombin consumption was also initially rapid, but complete. Membrane GP’s were normal, so was AA metabolism, PI-cycle, granule storage and secretion, and c-AMP function, whereas 5-HT uptake and storage was decreased. Optical platelet aggregation was low normal with all physiological agonists. The only clearly abnormal finding was that coagulant activity was present on non stimulated platelets at the same level as kaolin-stimulated normal platelets. This indicated a platelet abnormality which should lead to a thrombogenic, not to a haemorrhagic trait. This paradox may have its origin in rheology, because when challenged with in vivo shear rates in an ex vivo perfusion chamber, platelet cohesion was abnormally low. Further studies to better delineate the membrane abnormality are underway.


Author(s):  
Venu Madhav K ◽  
Somnath De ◽  
Chandra Shekar Bonagiri ◽  
Sridhar Babu Gummadi

Fenofibrate (FN) is used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. It shows poor dissolution and poor oral bioavailability after oral administration due to high liphophilicity and low aqueous solubility. Hence, solid dispersions (SDs) of FN (FN-SDs) were develop that might enhance the dissolution and subsequently oral bioavailability. FN-SDs were prepared by solvent casting method using different carriers (PEG 4000, PEG 6000, β cyclodextrin and HP β cyclodextrin) in different proportions (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% w/v). FN-SDs were evaluated solubility, assay and in vitro release studies for the optimization of SD formulation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed for crystalline and morphology analysis, respectively. Further, optimized FN-SD formulation evaluated for pharmacokinetic performance in Wistar rats, in vivo in comparison with FN suspension.  From the results, FN-SD3 and FN-SD6 have showed 102.9 ±1.3% and 105.5±3.1% drug release, respectively in 2 h. DSC and PXRD studies revealed that conversion of crystalline to amorphous nature of FN from FT-SD formulation. SEM studies revealed the change in the orientation of FN when incorporated in SDs. The oral bioavailability FN-SD3 and FN-SD6 formulations exhibited 2.5-folds and 3.1-folds improvement when compared to FN suspension as control. Overall, SD of FN could be considered as an alternative dosage form for the enhancement of oral delivery of poorly water-soluble FN.


Author(s):  
Chukwuebuka Umeyor ◽  
Uchechukwu Nnadozie ◽  
Anthony Attama

This study seeks to formulate and evaluate a solid lipid nanoparticle-based, solidified micellar carrier system for oral delivery of cefepime. Cefepime has enjoyed a lot of therapeutic usage in the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections; however, its use is limited due to its administration as an injection only with poor patient compliance. Since oral drug administration encourage high patient compliance with resultant effect in improved therapy, cefepime was formulated as solid lipid microparticles for oral delivery using the concept of solidified micellar carrier system. The carrier system was evaluated based on particle yield, particle size and morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE %), and thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Preliminary microbiological studies were done using gram positive and negative bacteria. In vitro release study was performed using biorelevant media, while in vivo release study was performed in white albino rats. The yield of solid lipid microparticles (SLM) ranged from 84.2 – 98.0 %. The SLM were spherical with size ranges of 3.8 ± 1.2 to 42.0 ± 1.4 µm. The EE % calculated ranged from 83.6 – 94.8 %. Thermal analysis showed that SLM was less crystalline with high potential for drug entrapment. Microbial studies showed that cefepime retained its broad spectrum anti-bacterial activity. In vitro release showed sustained release of cefepime from SLM, and in vivo release study showed high concentration of cefepime released in the plasma of study rats. The study showed that smart engineering of solidified micellar carrier system could be used to improve oral delivery of cefepime.


Author(s):  
Narendar Dudhipala ◽  
Arjun Narala ◽  
Dinesh Suram ◽  
Karthik Yadav Janga

The objective of this present study is to develop a semisolid dispersion (SSD) of zaleplon with the aid of self-emulsifying lipid based amphiphilic carriers (TPGS E or Gelucire 44/14) addressing the poor solubility of this drug. A linear relationship between the solubility of drug with respect to increase in the concentration of lipid surfactant in aqueous medium resulting in AL type phase diagram was observed from phase solubility studies. Fusion method was employed to obtain semisolid dispersions (SSD) of zaleplon which showed high content uniformity of drug. The absence of chemical interactions between the pure drug, excipients and formulations were conferred by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopic examinations. The photographic images from polarized optical microscopic studies revealed the change in crystalline form of drug to amorphous or molecular state. The superior dissolution parameters of zaleplon from SSD over pure crystalline drug interpreted from in vitro dissolution studies envisage the ability of these lipid surfactants as solubility enhancers. Further, the caliber of TPGS E or Gelucire 44/14 in encouraging the GI absorption of drug was evident with the higher human effective permeability coefficient and fraction oral dose of drug absorbed from SSD in situ intestinal permeation study. In conclusion, in vivo studies in Wister rats demonstrated an improvement in the oral bioavailability of zaleplon from SSD over control pure drug suspension suggesting the competence of Gelucire 44/14 and TPGS E as conscientious carriers to augment the dissolution rate limited bioavailability of this active


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 1639-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian-ling Qian ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Ran Wei ◽  
Hui Lin ◽  
Li-xia Xiong

Background: Anticancer chemotherapeutics have a lot of problems via conventional Drug Delivery Systems (DDSs), including non-specificity, burst release, severe side-effects, and damage to normal cells. Owing to its potential to circumventing these problems, nanotechnology has gained increasing attention in targeted tumor therapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs or genes encapsulated in nanoparticles could be used to target therapies to the tumor site in three ways: “passive”, “active”, and “smart” targeting. Objective: To summarize the mechanisms of various internal and external “smart” stimulating factors on the basis of findings from in vivo and in vitro studies. Method: A thorough search of PubMed was conducted in order to identify the majority of trials, studies and novel articles related to the subject. Results: Activated by internal triggering factors (pH, redox, enzyme, hypoxia, etc.) or external triggering factors (temperature, light of different wavelengths, ultrasound, magnetic fields, etc.), “smart” DDSs exhibit targeted delivery to the tumor site, and controlled release of chemotherapeutic drugs or genes. Conclusion: In this review article, we summarize and classify the internal and external triggering mechanism of “smart” nanoparticle-based DDSs in targeted tumor therapy, and the most recent research advances are illustrated for better understanding.


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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