Pulmonary Delivery of Docetaxel and Celecoxib by PLGA Porous Microparticles for Their Synergistic Effects Against Lung Cancer

Background: using a combination of chemotherapeutic agents with novel drug delivery platforms to enhance the anticancer efficacy of the drug and minimizing the side effects, is very imperative for lung cancer treatments. Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop, characterize, and optimize porous poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles for simultaneous delivery of docetaxel (DTX) and celecoxib (CXB) through the pulmonary route for lung cancer. Methods: Drug-loaded porous microparticles were prepared by an emulsion solvent evaporation method. The impact of various processing and formulation variables including PLGA amount, dichloromethane volume, homogenization speed, polyvinyl alcohol volume and concentration were assessed on entrapment efficiency, mean release time, particle size, mass median aerodynamic diameter, fine particle fraction and geometric standard deviation using a two-level factorial design. An optimized formulation was prepared and evaluated in terms of size and morphology using a scanning electron microscope. Results: FTIR, DSC, and XRD analysis confirmed drug entrapment and revealed no drug-polymer chemical interaction. Cytotoxicity of DTX along with CXB against A549 cells was significantly enhanced compared to DTX and CXB alone and the combination of DTX and CXB showed the greatest synergistic effect at a 1/500 ratio. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that encapsulation of DTX and CXB in porous PLGA microspheres with desirable features are feasible and their pulmonary co-administration would be a promising strategy for the effective and less toxic treatment of various lung cancers.

Modular Type III Porous Liquids based on Porous Organic Cage Microparticles

The dispersion of particulate porous solids in size-excluded liquids has emerged as a method to create Type III porous liquids, mostly using insoluble microporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites. Here, we present the first examples of Type III porous liquids based on porous organic cages (POCs). By exploiting the solution processability of the POCs, racemic and quasiracemic cage microparticles were formed by chiral recognition. Dispersion of these porous microparticles in a range of size-excluded liquids, including oils and ionic liquids, formed stable POC-based Type III porous liquids. The flexible pairing between the solid POC particles and a carrier liquid allows the formation of a range of compositions, pore sizes, and other physicochemical properties to suit different applications and operating conditions. For example, we show that it is possible to produce porous liquids with relatively low viscosities (7-14 mpa∙s) or high thermal stability (325 °C). A 12.5 wt. % Type III porous liquid comprising racemic POC microparticles and an ionic liquid, [BPy][NTf₂], shows a CO₂ working capacity (104.30 μmol/g_L) that is significantly higher than the neat ionic liquid (37.27 μmol/g_L) between 25 °C and 100 °C. This liquid is colloidally stable and can be recycled at least 10 times without loss of CO₂ capacity.

Modular Type III Porous Liquids based on Porous Organic Cage Microparticles

The dispersion of particulate porous solids in size-excluded liquids has emerged as a method to create Type III porous liquids, mostly using insoluble microporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites. Here, we present the first examples of Type III porous liquids based on porous organic cages (POCs). By exploiting the solution processability of the POCs, racemic and quasiracemic cage microparticles were formed by chiral recognition. Dispersion of these porous microparticles in a range of size-excluded liquids, including oils and ionic liquids, formed stable POC-based Type III porous liquids. The flexible pairing between the solid POC particles and a carrier liquid allows the formation of a range of compositions, pore sizes, and other physicochemical properties to suit different applications and operating conditions. For example, we show that it is possible to produce porous liquids with relatively low viscosities (7-14 mpa∙s) or high thermal stability (325 °C). A 12.5 wt. % Type III porous liquid comprising racemic POC microparticles and an ionic liquid, [BPy][NTf₂], shows a CO₂ working capacity (104.30 μmol/g_L) that is significantly higher than the neat ionic liquid (37.27 μmol/g_L) between 25 °C and 100 °C. This liquid is colloidally stable and can be recycled at least 10 times without loss of CO₂ capacity.

Modular Type III Porous Liquids based on Porous Organic Cage Microparticles

The dispersion of particulate porous solids in size-excluded liquids has emerged as a method to create Type III porous liquids, mostly using insoluble microporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and zeolites. Here, we present the first examples of Type III porous liquids based on porous organic cages (POCs). By exploiting the solution processability of the POCs, racemic and quasiracemic cage microparticles were formed by chiral recognition. Dispersion of these porous microparticles in a range of size-excluded liquids, including oils and ionic liquids, formed stable POC-based Type III porous liquids. The flexible pairing between the solid POC particles and a carrier liquid allows the formation of a range of compositions, pore sizes, and other physicochemical properties to suit different applications and operating conditions. For example, we show that it is possible to produce porous liquids with relatively low viscosities (7-14 mpa∙s) or high thermal stability (325 °C). A 12.5 wt. % Type III porous liquid comprising racemic POC microparticles and an ionic liquid, [BPy][NTf₂], shows a CO₂ working capacity (104.30 μmol/g_L) that is significantly higher than the neat ionic liquid (37.27 μmol/g_L) between 25 °C and 100 °C. This liquid is colloidally stable and can be recycled at least 10 times without loss of CO₂ capacity.

Hybrid Porous Microparticles Based on a Single Organosilica Cyclophosphazene Precursor

Porous organosilica microparticles consisting of silane-derived cyclophosphazene bridges were synthesized by a surfactant-mediated sol-gel process. Starting from the substitution of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with allylamine, two different precursors were obtained by anchoring three or six alkoxysilane units, via a thiol-ene photoaddition reaction. In both cases, spherical, microparticles (size average of ca. 1000 nm) with large pores were obtained, confirmed by both, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Particles synthesized using the partially functionalized precursor containing free vinyl groups were further functionalized with a thiol-containing molecule. While most other reported mesoporous organosilica particles are essentially hybrids with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), a unique feature of these particles is that structural control is achieved by exclusively using organosilane precursors. This allows an increase in the proportion of the co-components and could springboard these novel phosphorus-containing organosilica microparticles for different areas of technology.

Carbon Nanoparticles and Materials on Their Basis

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) are novel nanostructures with luminescent properties. The development of CNPs involves the elaboration of various synthetic methods, structure characterization, and different applications. However, the problems associated with the CNP structure definition and properties homogeneity are not solved and barely described in depth. In this feature article, we demonstrate the approaches for the effective separation and purification of CNPs by size and size/charge ratio. We propose a promising way for the synthesis of the uniform-size structures by the application of calcium carbonate porous microparticles as reactors with defined size. Additionally, the application of the CNPs agglomerates for controllable release systems triggered by light and in-situ synthesis of fluorescent conductive carbonaceous films on the base of polyelectrolyte multilayers are under consideration.