The Imprinted PARAFILM as a New Carrier Material for Dried Plasma Spots (DPSs) Utilizing Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (DESI-MS) in Phospholipidomics

The application of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) and dried blood spot (DBS) sampling has been successfully implemented several times. However, the difficulty of combining DBS sampling with DESI-MS is still the carrier material used for the blood samples. In this study, a new, easily obtained, and cost-effective carrier substrate for dried plasma spot (DPS) sampling and DESI-MS analysis and its application in phospholipidomics studies was described. First, the effects of several carrier materials, including cellulose-based materials (31 ET paper and filter paper) and non-cellulose-based materials (PARAFILM and its shape-modified material, PTFE-printed glass slide and polyvinylidene fluoride film), were tested. Second, a method combining DPS sampling with DESI-MS for phospholipidomics analysis was established, and parameters affecting compound signal intensities, such as sample volume and sprayer solvent system, were optimized. In conclusion, the total signal intensity obtained from shape-modified PARAFILM was the strongest. The suitable plasma sample volume deposited on PARAFILM carriers was 5 μl, and acetonitrile (ACN) was recommended as the optimal spray solvent for phospholipid (PL) profiling. Repeatability (87.5% of compounds with CV < 30%) and stability for data acquisition (48 h) were confirmed. Finally, the developed method was applied in phospholipidomics analysis of schistosomiasis, and a distinguished classification between control mice and infected mice was observed by using multivariate pattern recognition analysis, confirming the practical application of this new carrier material for DPS sampling and DESI-MS analysis. Compared with a previously reported method, the rapid metabolomics screening approach based on the implementation of DPS sampling coupled with the DESI-MS instrument developed in this study has increased analyte sensitivity, which may promote its further application in clinical studies.

Chitosan and its Use as a Polymeric Drug Carrier Material in Dosage Form Design- A Critical Review

The prime goal in the drug therapy of any disease is to attain the desired therapeutic concentration of the drug in plasma or at the site of action and maintain it for the entire duration of treatment. To minimize drug degradation/loss, prevent harmful side effects and to increase drug bioavailability various drug delivery and drug targeting systems are presently under investigation. Chitosan has been the subject of interest for its use as a polymeric drug carrier material in dosage form design due to its appealing properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and relatively low production cost from abundant natural sources. Microspheres are the choice of drug delivery system for the controlled release of drugs, vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones for specific target sites. There are various methods that can be used to encapsulate drugs within chitosan matrixes such as ionotropic gelation, spray drying, emulsification-solvent evaporation, co-acervation, double layer coating and many more. Combinations of these practices are also used in order to obtain micro-particles with specific properties and performances. Double-layer coating method is used to prevent the loss of encapsulated materials in the acidic medium. The microspheres should be coated with another polymer that forms a membrane on the surface. Due to the bilayer properties, the micro carriers additionally protected against acidic conditions of the stomach and drug releases in the intestine in a better controlled manner. This review focused on the techniques applied directly to chitosan micro-particulate systems and their role in novel drug delivery systems

Novel ROS-Responsive Marine Biomaterial Fucoidan Nanocarriers with AIE Effect and Chemodynamic Therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been widely used in the treatment of many kinds of tumors, which can effectively induce tumor cell apoptosis by using produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper, ROS-sensitive multifunctional marine biomaterial natural polysaccharide nanoparticles (CT/PTX) were designed. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules tetraphenylethylene (TPE) labeled and caffeic acid (CA) modified fucoidan (FUC) amphiphilic carrier material (CA-FUC-TK-TPE, CFTT) was fabricated, in which the thioketal bond was used as the linkage arm between TPE and fucoidan chain, giving the CFTT material ROS sensitivity. In addition, amphiphilic carrier material (FUC-TK-VE, FTVE) composed of thioketal-linked vitamin E and fucoidan was synthesized. The mixed carrier material CFTT and FTVE self-assembled in water to form nanoparticles (CT/PTX ) loaded with PTX and Fe3+. CT/PTX nanoparticles could induce ROS oxidative stress in tumor sites through the CDT effect induced by Fe3+. The CDT effect was combined with the chemotherapeutic drug PTX to achieve tumor inhibition. In vitro cell studies have proved that CT/PTX nanoparticles have excellent cell permeability and tumor cytotoxicity. In vivo antitumor experiments confirmed effective antitumor activity and reduced side effects.