OpenNano最新文献

Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising drug delivery systems for various RNAs such as small interfering (siRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA). Microfluidic mixing is a common technique to encapsulate RNA in LNPs. However, high flow rates and lipid concentrations are used for LNP formation to control LNP size as well as RNA encapsulation efficiency. We investigated the feasibility of downscaling siRNA and mRNA LNP manufacturing to save materials and enable a broader access to this technology. To optimize such a down-scaled procedure, we evaluated physicochemical nanoparticle characteristics including hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, particle concentration, encapsulation efficiency, and recovery for LNPs produced with three different microfluidic methods. We observed differences in nanoparticle characteristics and in vitro performance regarding cellular uptake, gene silencing, and mRNA expression. We determined the gene knockdown ability of the best siRNA LNPs formulation ex vivo using precision-cut lung slices to highlight the translational character of LNPs for inhalation and observed comparable efficacy as with a commercially available transfection reagent.

Due to the fact that bacterial contamination of wounds is the cause of increased morbidity and mortality today, various antimicrobial wound dressings are developing to prevent wound contamination. In addition, an ideal wound dressing should have proper mechanical and hemostatic properties to maintain wound healing conditions. Here, a double-layer sponge hydrogel nanocomposite wound dressing was designed and manufactured by combining zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) with different concentrations in the hydrogel layer and green carbon dots in the sponge layer. The surface morphology of two layers was investigated using a scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction proved the presence of ZnONPs. Physical tests showed a decrease in water absorption and water vapor transmission rate and an increase in blood absorption in the presence of ZnO. The sponge layer showed suitable absorption support in the presence of carbon dots. By combining nanoparticles in both layers, the mechanical properties were greatly enhanced. The sponge hydrogel with the highest concentration of ZnO showed excellent inhibition of 41 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria and 25 mm of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, in vitro blood clotting and animal tests confirmed the increase in the hemostatic power of the sponge hydrogel with the maximum concentration of ZnO.

The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, mainly Gram-negative bacteria, challenges their effective treatment. Graphene oxide (GO) represents antibacterial activities; however, the synergistic effect of GO with conventional antibiotics remains unclarified. Here, meropenem-loaded GO (Mrp-GO) was prepared and its physicochemical and biocompatibility properties along with its inhibitory effect against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were evaluated. Cytotoxicity of Mrp-GO on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) was examined as well. The prepared nanoparticles had suitable and acceptable physicochemical properties. The antibacterial activity of Mrp-GO increased in comparison to the GO and Mrp alone. Moreover, the Mrp-GO had low hemolytic effects at the concentrations required for bacterial inhibition. The cell viability of hBM-MSCs at toxic Mrp-GO concentrations for bacterial isolates was almost 90–100%. The combination of nanostructure and conventional antibiotics can be a promising treatment modality against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

In recent years, the incidence and mortality rate of cancer is raising worldwide. Traditional approaches for cancer patient management including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies provide unsatisfactory results and are often associated with adverse reactions. Over the last few decades, nanotechnology has been a rapidly emerging area of theragnostic in clinical research. It plays a vital role as a bridge between the science and technology of miscellaneous nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomedicine. In general, NPs with a range of sizes of 1–100 nm are thought to be acceptable for cancer medications. NPs may enhance the consistency and solubility of therapeutic drugs to obtain site-specific targeting, controlled release, and safe for healthy organs. NPs have the benefit of pathophysiological properties, enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects, and an advantage in cancer targeting. Furthermore, theranostic nanoparticles have been established having incorporated diagnostics and therapy in a single system that might provide more personalized treatment with optimal doses and monitoring the distribution, targeting, and response to therapy by using imaging tools. In this review, we have discussed the classes of nanoparticles, targeting approaches, and implications of NPs for cancer theranostics with recent examples.

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely searched for their usage in breast cancer research because of their unique features. For example, these particles can deliver drugs to specific sites, making imaging and photothermal therapy possible, thus rendering them suitable particles for theranostic purposes. Bibliometric research is a statistical analytical technique useful for the data systematically found in the literature. In this bibliometric study, the global research output regarding GNPs in breast cancer (BC) research was analyzed, mapped, and evaluated using bibliometric indicators.

All documents related to the application of GNPs applications in BC research that were published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals over the past 20 years were retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric indicators were extracted using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. Thematic maps, conceptual maps, and visualization graphs were created.

A total of 2035 published documents were retrieved. Chinese authors were the most active, having published approximately 27.5% of the total documents, while researchers from the United States (USA) had the most significant scientific impact. The study revealed weak international collaboration in this research area. Keywords mapping identified the main research themes and hotspots in this research field. Multimodal approaches in cancer treatment and diagnostics, targeted and effective cancer treatment, aptamers and biosensors, and green synthesis of GNPs were the four clusters retrieved from theme and hotspot analyses. This study analyzed and mapped the expanding field of GNPs in breast cancer research (GNP-BCR) and identified various applications of GNPs in this field. GNPs were used as drug delivery systems to target specific cancer cells and improve anticancer drug bioavailability. Different treatment and diagnostic modalities were revealed, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Moreover, the development of aptamer-based biosensors using gold nanoparticles was identified as a niche theme in this research, while the green synthesis of GNPs emerged as a new and promising theme. However, clinical research is still warranted to translate this fundamental knowledge into practical and human-useable formulas.

Cutaneous drug concentration quantification after topical application remains an active, yet challenging research area for topical drug development. Macroscale approaches quantify cutaneous pharmacokinetics 30  min to hours after application and miss rapid temporal and spatial dynamics that are vital to comprehend drug disposition. We have developed a 3D-printed applicator coupled with an inverted microscope and a rapidly-tunable fiber optic laser to quantify active pharmaceutical ingredients via sparse spectral sampling stimulated Raman scattering. The 3D-printed applicator is cost-effective (< $0.70/applicator) and utilizes a small formulation volume (20 µL). Ruxolitinib was formulated in two known permeation enhancers (propylene glycol and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether) that are known to display different permeation profiles to validate device capabilities. Results indicated that the applicator enabled relative-concentration monitoring immediately following drug product application. This approach has significant potential for investigating novel excipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and formulations to understand the permeation and biodistribution of these compounds.

Leishmania parasites are the organisms responsible for one of the most important tropical diseases, leishmaniasis. This neglected disease mainly affects populations in developing or underdeveloped countries, causing nearly one million new cases per year. This article focuses on the cutaneous form of the disease. Common antileishmanial medications have several disadvantages, such as low efficiency, high toxicity, several adverse effects, resistant strains, long treatments, and high costs. As a result, first- and second-line treatments are insufficient. Therefore, there is a need for new antileishmanial agents and strategies, most of which utilize nanotechnology. While novel nano-drug delivery devices can transport antileishmanial drugs to target cells, reducing secondary toxic effects, several advances in nanotechnology and photonics pursue activation of leishmanicidal mechanisms once they reach their target. Here is a summary of recent nanotechnology approaches to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of human cutaneous leishmaniasis, including promising techniques still in development.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the most widely utilized field of science in human healthcare, tissue engineering, food and agriculture. It has several advantages, such as superior surface area and nano-sized molecular structure. Nanomaterial properties like elasticity, mechanical characteristics like hardness, tensile strength, and magnetic and optical properties. It has capability to store high energy, which makes them applicable in the healthcare system. “Executable biology” is applied to the computational model of physiological processes. These models have the advantage of computer science and simulation of pharmacokinetic study. Because of their high potential and computational power, they are widely accepted in pharmaceutical research. US-FDA has tested and utilized computational models in manufacturing various pharmaceutical equipment's that also can be used in drug discovery and manufacturing. These models can create exact validated in vitro and in vivo pharmacological systems, which helps to obtain faster, accurate and more pertinent human data. These models suffer from simplicity, versatility and lack of cumulative research. Multiscale simulations, like the ones based on coarse-graining, are important areas for future research. More significantly, a collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and computational scientists involved in this field could assist in work in areas wherein molecular dynamic simulations can influence substantially. In this review, different drug target identification models via chemo genomic methods are explained, and the advantages of computational modeling over mathematical model is studied. It also focuses on a wide range of simulation techniques, biomedical applications and challenges of computational modelling. Finally, it gives a brief account of compounds studied using computational modeling and its future perspectives.

Microfluidics are systems that set forth valuable means to efficiently control fluid movement and dynamics in specially fabricated micro-channel systems. The advancement of the unique design and microfluidics technology can offer an alternative to the traditional systems used in many pharmaceutical applications. In this context, this review presents a vivid depiction of microfluidics and an overview of the various mixing techniques and mechanisms. Insights on how microfluidic methodologies can be utilized in the efficient manufacture of various drug delivery systems e.g., liposomes, microparticles, nanoparticles, and nano-in-microparticles are provided. Moreover, the different analytical applications of microfluidic systems such as lab-on-chip, dielectrophoresis, droplet microfluidic, and digital microfluidics are addressed. Specifically, the pharmaceutical approaches for antibody screening technology and Cell-free protein synthesis system are highlighted. Lastly, the modular microfluidic approach in planning and constructing microfluidic systems is explored as a key player for implementing futuristic custom-made microfluidic systems. Collectively, microfluidic systems hold the potential in various domains including biosensors, point-of-care diagnostics, health monitoring and patient care management.