OpenNano最新文献

Metabolic disorders result from inborn and acquired dysfunction of organs and tissues that are responsible for producing energy in the body. These diseases are now among the most prevalent maladies in the world. Treatment often requires addressing individual conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and liver diseases with a combination of multiple drugs. Accumulating evidence shows that the defects or overexpression of some specific genes in the diseased organ cause such diseases. Therefore, advanced options are required to control them at the molecular level. In this review, we highlight the current approaches of nanotechnologies, especially for delivering exogenous nucleic acid nanoparticles to treat metabolic disorders. We also summarize the mechanisms of how various nucleic acid nanoparticles have been utilized, the trends, and the potential applications of these materials in metabolic disorders. Greater knowledge of nanotechnologies and nucleic acid particles may pave the way to cure these prevalent diseases effectively.

Carboplatin (CRBP) is a chemotherapeutic agent based on platinum that has applications in the effective management of ovarian, testis, cervical, neck, head, and small cell lung cancer. CRBP prevents duplication and transcription by binding to the DNA of tumor cells to inhibit the growth and division of cancer cells. CRBP has some limitations such as destroying normal cells alongside cancer cells and being poor at uptake by the cells, leading to the need for high doses, which has prompted significant attention to develop a targeted and localized delivery system that is effective for this anticancer drug. It is common to use CRBP in drug combination therapy. However, there are some disadvantages that could be overcome with nanoparticulate systems. Nano-engineered delivery systems can be an efficient approach to enhancing the cellular uptake and accumulation of CRBP, leading to improving the therapeutic potential with negligible toxicity. CRBP has been encapsulated into various nano-delivery systems, including polymer-based nanocarriers and micelles, protein nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles), silica-based nanostructures, carbon nanoparticles and etc. Moreover, there is growing interest in stimuli-responsive delivery systems for cancer-targeted delivery using modes such as induced temperature changes, electric/magnetic fields, pH, ultrasound waves, light, and laser. Cancer targeting by drug delivery systems, owing to their selective targeting, efficacy, biocompatibility and high drug payload, provides an attractive alternative treatment; however, there are technical, therapeutic, manufacturing and clinical barriers that limit their use. In this regard, the need for robust analytical methods to determine biodistribution, PK and PD profile of liposomes was highlighted in addition to a critical gap between efficient preclinical to clinical efficacy predictive modeling. Systems with the ability of co-delivery also could be useful to decrease drug toxicity on healthy tissues and improve the bioavailability of CRBP.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are versatile nanomaterials that can be used as drug delivery systems and photothermal agents for cancer therapy. In this study, we developed a novel nanoplatform based on AuNPs using a modified one-pot chemical method for the synthesis of AuNPs using generation 3.0 highly branched biphasic polymeric (polyamidoamine) dendrimers as reducing and stabilizing agent, and hyaluronic acid (HA) as functional moiety. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) was chosen for this formulation to be encapsulated in the synthesized AuNPs and their efficacy as nanotherapeutics was investigated in vitro. The developed nanoplatform was characterized by various techniques and evaluated for its drug loading and release, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. We found that the nanoplatform had optimal size, charge, stability, and solubility, and showed high encapsulation efficiency of THC. The nanoplatform exhibited pH-responsive drug release and enhanced cellular uptake of THC. The nanoplatform also induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cell line. The HA coating on the nanoplatform improved its biocompatibility and specificity, by facilitating its targeting to CD44 glycoprotein on Caco-2 cells. Our results suggest that the developed nanoplatform is a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for cancer therapy by co-delivering of anti-cancer agents and AuNPs to cancer cells.

Cancer continues to threaten people's lives and health, and the number of deaths from cancer is very high each year. Traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery are poorly selective and have many side effects. While traditional cancer treatments kill tumor cells, they also damage normal cells and cause a series of toxic side effects. Targeted therapy can compensate for the shortcomings of conventional therapies based on nanomaterials. This paper introduces novel nanomaterials commonly used in tumor-targeted drug delivery as well as imaging therapy, demonstrates the types of active and passive drug delivery systems, and gives examples of research and applications in the past three years. The characteristics of nanomaterials for tumor-targeted therapy and their recent research progress in tumor therapy are summarized. This paper provides theoretical and practical support for nanomaterial-based targeted drug delivery systems and imaging therapy for tumors and provides a reference for the development of nanomaterials for controlled targeted therapy for tumors.

Vismodegib, first approved in 2012 for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, is an inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway that becomes active in certain tumors. However, its secondary effects after oral administration and systemic distribution are severe. In this study, we loaded vismodegib into conventional liposomes, which are typically unable to penetrate the stratum corneum barrier effectively after topical application. We studied its skin penetration when co-administered with empty ethosomes, aimed at transiently disrupting the skin impermeability.The drug was successfully recovered from the deeper viable epidermal layers in an in vitro model. The preparation method for the liposomal formulation is reproducible and relatively straightforward to scale up. Furthermore, it involves the use of biocompatible lipids, thus avoiding the utilization of potentially risky compounds.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of TiO₂, Ag-TiO_2, and Cu-TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) addition on the mechanical and antibacterial properties of resin-based sealants. TiO₂, Ag-TiO_2, and Cu-TiO₂ NPs were characterized with FTIR, Raman, SEM-EDX, TEM, XPS, and XRD, and evaluated for cytotoxicity study. After characterization, the nanoparticles were mixed with commercial pit and fissure sealants (PAFS) in ratios of 1 and 2%. A total of 7 groups were made, control group (PAFS only) and experimental groups (1%-2% TiO₂, 1%-2% Ag-TiO_2, and 1%-2% Cu-TiO₂). ISO standards were adopted to prepare samples for mechanical properties, i.e., compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (FS), and Vickers hardness evaluation. Samples were tested against Streptococcus mutans through an agar well diffusion test. The CS, FS, and Vickers hardness were increased for the Cu-TiO₂ group with respect to Ag-TiO₂ but values were less compared to TiO₂ groups. The highest flow rate was measured in the control group which was 8.16±0.06 mm and 9.17±0.1 mm after 3 and 10 mins respectively. In the agar well diffusion test, the control group showed no zone of inhibition, and the lowest zone of bacterial inhibition was found in PAFS with 1% TiO₂ NPs group (13.3 ± 1.5 mm) while the highest was found in PAFS with 2% Ag-TiO₂ NPs (21.8 ± 1.7 mm). Cu-doped TiO₂ NPs showed more biocompatibility as compared to Ag-doped TiO₂. The outcomes were statistically significant for all the mechanical tests and agar well diffusion antibacterial test as the p-value ≤0.05 while for the cytotoxicity test, the p-value >0.05. The TiO₂ addition generally improved both the mechanical and antibacterial properties of pit and fissure sealant.

Lung cancer is an uncontrolled and abnormal mass of growing cells with the highest mortality rate in the world. Progressive lung cancer shows a robust resistance to cancer therapy; today no acceptable therapeutic results are achieved with drugs. Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor and blocks the proliferation of downstream signals that prevent cancer cells from proliferating by inhibiting tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. It also increases survival rates in patients with progressive lung cancer. Gefitinib belongs to the BCS class II drugs and due to its low bioavailability; its clinical use has been severely restricted. In recent years, several research papers have been published on the use of nanoparticles to increase therapeutic efficacy and drug targeting in lung cancer. Furthermore, to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of gefitinib, nanoparticles have been extensively studied and several nanoparticles including polymers, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nano cells, albumin, and silica nanoparticles have been developed for the treatment of lung cancer. All of these nanocarriers have improved targeted gefitinib treatment of lung cancer and improved nanomedicines for lung cancer treatment. This article provides an overview of various nanotechnology-based carrier systems of gefitinib such as polymeric, lipidic, albumin, and silica nanoparticles for lung cancer therapy. It also discusses the targeted and responsive delivery of gefitinib along with a combination strategy for better therapeutic efficacy. We believe that this manuscript will bring important information for formulation scientists to overcome the biopharmaceutical challenges associated with gefitinib for better clinical outcomes.

Nanoparticles (NPs) serve as the contrasting agent in the computed tomography (CT) guided interventional devices and processes. The high contrast imaging of the patient is critical for accurate and early diagnosis, and thereafter the elimination of the abnormality. A high contrast CT scan helps in the diagnosis of blood clots, broken bones, carcinogenic tumors, infections, internal injuries and bleeding, and cardiovascular diseases. Thereafter it helps in the determination of the precise location of surgery, biopsy, and monitoring conditions after surgery. Besides iodine, today radiologists are interested in high atomic number NPs like gold, tantalum, bismuth, silver, etc. The advancement in NP-based CT-guided imaging for a specific target is highly desirable for effective intervention processes like drainage by catheter, needle insertion, etc. In computed tomography (CT) guided interventional devices and procedures, NPs are known to act as contrasting agents. High-contrast imaging of the patient is essential for an accurate and prompt diagnosis, followed by the treatment of the diseased site. Blood clots, shattered bones, cancerous tumors, infections, internal injuries and bleeding, and cardiovascular disorders can be easily diagnosed with the use of a CT scan with high contrast. In addition, it aids in determining the precise surgical site, conducting biopsies, and monitoring postoperative conditions. Iodine-based contrast agents have been the conventional choice, but lately, radiologists are also interested in NPs with a high atomic number, such as gold, tantalum, bismuth, silver, etc. This review talks about recent research on metallic NPs and the usage of their conjugates for CT imaging of tumors, special attention has been given to gold NPs.

Vaccines manufacture and enhancement for preventing infection and promoting quality of life are of great concern worldwide. For vaccine enhancement, to date, only limited adjuvants have been approved globally. One of them is alum, which presents several side effects and limitations. Related to vaccine administration, mucosal vaccination is a promising method since it can induce both mucosal and systemic immunity since oral mucosa is the most exposed site of the body to various microbes, pathogens, and environmental particles. Consequently, an escalated specific local immunity is required in which stability and integrity of an encapsulated antigen is expected to result in a stable mucosal vaccine to protect the antigens from degradative chemical reactions occurring in the oral cavity and act as immunomodulator. Carbonate apatite (CHA) has been one of the most innovative materials as a newly developed vaccine adjuvant since it can adequately enhance drug and protein stability and delivery in various disease therapies. However, CHA fabrication that meets the parameters for adjuvants and immunomodulators remains challenging. In the form of nanoparticles, CHA is reported to enable targeted delivery of dendritic cells (DC), enhance uptakes, cross presentation, and biodistribution, as well as immune responses. Therefore, the development of nano-CHA-encapsulated vaccine antigens is required to enhance oral mucosal vaccinations and their effectiveness to prevent diseases. This study focuses on factors and strategies that affect the designing, fabrication, and testing of CHA nanoparticles for oral mucosal vaccines, especially in the aspect of physicochemical, immunological, cellular, surface chemistry, and biofunctionalization of the nanoparticle.