Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems

In recent years, there has been a considerable interest in the development of novel drug delivery systems using nanotechnology. Nanoparticles represent a promising drug delivery system of controlled and targeted release. In this context, nanosuspensions will be effective in increasing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This review focuses on advantages, method of preparation, physical characteristics, and evaluation of drug nanosuspensions.     

A Review About the Drug Delivery from Microsponges

Microparticulate drug delivery systems have shown a great interest in the pharmaceutical area. They allow the increase of drug therapeutic efficacy and the reduction of side effects. In this context, microsponges represent a new model of porous polymer microspheres, which allow the entrapment of a wide range of active agents. During the development, it is necessary the characterization of the system and among of the most important tests are the release and permeation profile analysis. They can demonstrate the behavior of drug in a specific site with a particular application condition and are related to therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, this review provides an overview of drug delivery profile from microsponges. Methods for determination of in vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies are detailed. Examples of drug delivery from microsponges administered in different sites are also discussed with aim to provide an understanding of the use of this strategy to modify the drug delivery.     

Advances in Hydrogel-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Parkinson's Disease

Neurochemical Research - Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common central nervous system disorder (CNS) characterized by cell loss in the substantia nigra. Severe loss of dopaminergic neurons and...     

生物可降解聚合物纳米粒给药载体

生物可降解聚合物纳米粒用于给药载体具有广阔的前景。本文综述了生物可降解聚合物纳米粒给药载体领域的最新进展 :包括纳米粒表面修饰特性、药物释放、载多肽和蛋白质等生物大分子药物传输中的潜在应用。     

金纳米粒在药物传递系统中的应用

金纳米粒是一种新型纳米载体,具有独特的理化、光学和生物学性质,且具有低毒性、低免疫原性、生物相容性好、体表面积大、易制备、粒径和形态可控、表面易修饰等优点,在生物医学领域和药物传递系统中具有广阔的应用前景。综述金纳米粒在小分子药物和基因药物传递系统中的应用研究新进展。     

Mesoscale Simulation and cryo-TEM of Nanoscale Drug Delivery Systems

This work sets out to study the effect of hydrophobic molecules on the morphology of aqueous solutions of amphiphilic block copolymer, which has potential drug delivery applications. The effect is studied both experimentally and by using simulations. Using cryogenic TEM observations, micelles can clearly be visualised and their core size measured. While pure polymer solutions form into spherical micelles with a narrow size distribution, addition of small amounts of hydrophobic drug molecules leads to distortions in shape, a wider size distribution, and larger average core diameter. Simulations are based on a mesoscale dynamic density functional method with Gaussian chain Hamiltonian and mean-field interactions, as implemented in the MesoDyn code. With parameters for the amphiphilic system established in earlier work, and mean-field interactions for the drug molecule derived from structure–property relationships, we obtain good agreement with the TEM observations for the effect of the hydrophobic molecules on the morphology. The simulations clearly show how increasing drug concentration leads to an increase in micelle size, a wider distribution and more elongated rather than spherical micelles.     

生物可降解嵌段共聚物在给药载体中的应用

生物可降解嵌段聚合物因具有双亲性 ,靶向药物到特定部位等优点大大推动了作为给药载体系统的发展。本文综述了生物可降解嵌段聚合物在表面修饰、水凝胶、胶束、生物大分子载体系统中的应用     

肿瘤靶向纳米载药系统的设计与构建

近年来将纳米载药系统应用于肿瘤靶向递药的研究层出不穷。与正常组织相比,肿瘤组织具有较低的pH环境、大量新生血管生成、 不规则的血流灌注、局部缺氧等特异性的微环境,利用这些特点进行合理的纳米载药系统设计能够实现肿瘤部位的高效递药及深层穿透, 显著提高肿瘤治疗效果。针对现有的肿瘤靶向纳米载药系统的构建与设计方法进行综述,以阐述纳米载药系统在肿瘤靶向传递中的研究进展     

A New Brain Drug Delivery Strategy: Focused Ultrasound-Enhanced Intranasal Drug Delivery

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are difficult to treat because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents most drugs from entering into the brain. Intranasal (IN) administration is a promising approach for drug delivery to the brain, bypassing the BBB; however, its application has been restricted to particularly potent substances and it does not offer localized delivery to specific brain sites. Focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles can deliver drugs to the brain at targeted locations. The present study proposed to combine these two different platform techniques (FUS+IN) for enhancing the delivery efficiency of intranasally administered drugs at a targeted location. After IN administration of 40 kDa fluorescently-labeled dextran as the model drug, FUS targeted at one region within the caudate putamen of mouse brains was applied in the presence of systemically administered microbubbles. To compare with the conventional FUS technique, in which intravenous (IV) drug injection is employed, FUS was also applied after IV injection of the same amount of dextran in another group of mice. Dextran delivery outcomes were evaluated using fluorescence imaging of brain slices. The results showed that FUS+IN enhanced drug delivery within the targeted region compared with that achieved by IN only. Despite the fact that the IN route has limited drug absorption across the nasal mucosa, the delivery efficiency of FUS+IN was not significantly different from that of FUS+IV. As a new drug delivery platform, the FUS+IN technique is potentially useful for treating CNS diseases.     

A Review of Polymeric Refabrication Techniques to Modify Polymer Properties for Biomedical and Drug Delivery Applications

Polymers are extensively used in the pharmaceutical and medical field because of their unique and phenomenal properties that they display. They are capable of demonstrating drug delivery properties that are smart and novel, such properties that are not achievable by employing the conventional excipients. Appropriately, polymeric refabrication remains at the forefront of process technology development in an endeavor to produce more useful pharmaceutical and medical products because of the multitudes of smart properties that can be attained through the alteration of polymers. Small alterations to a polymer by either addition, subtraction, self-reaction, or cross reaction with other entities have the capability of generating polymers with properties that are at the level to enable the creation of novel pharmaceutical and medical products. Properties such as stimuli-responsiveness, site targeting, and chronotherapeutics are no longer figures of imaginations but have become a reality through utilizing processes of polymer refabrication. This article has sought to review the different techniques that have been employed in polymeric refabrication to produce superior products in the pharmaceutical and medical disciplines. Techniques such as grafting, blending, interpenetrating polymers networks, and synthesis of polymer complexes will be viewed from a pharmaceutical and medical perspective along with their synthetic process required to attain these products. In addition to this, each process will be evaluated according to its salient features, impeding features, and the role they play in improving current medical devices and procedures.     

Carbohydrate Systems in Targeted Drug Delivery: Expectation and Reality

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - In the end of the twentieth century, the world entered the era of high-tech and personalized medicine, characterized by the introduction of targeted drugs...     

Colon-Targeted Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Design Trends and Approaches

Colon-specific drug delivery systems (CDDS) are desirable for the treatment of a range of local diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, and colonic cancer. In addition, the colon can be a potential site for the systemic absorption of several drugs to treat non-colonic conditions. Drugs such as proteins and peptides that are known to degrade in the extreme gastric pH, if delivered to the colon intact, can be systemically absorbed by colonic mucosa. In order to achieve effective therapeutic outcomes, it is imperative that the designed delivery system specifically targets the drugs into the colon. Several formulation approaches have been explored in the development colon-targeted drug delivery systems. These approaches involve the use of formulation components that interact with one or more aspects of gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, such as the difference in the pH along the GI tract, the presence of colonic microflora, and enzymes, to achieve colon targeting. This article highlights the factors influencing colon-specific drug delivery and colonic bioavailability, and the limitations associated with CDDS. Further, the review provides a systematic discussion of various conventional, as well as relatively newer formulation approaches/technologies currently being utilized for the development of CDDS.KEY WORDS: colon targeting, factors affecting colon delivery, future trends, novel approaches, traditional approaches     

Production of Electrospun Fast-Dissolving Drug Delivery Systems with Therapeutic Eutectic Systems Encapsulated in Gelatin

Fast-dissolving delivery systems (FDDS) have received increasing attention in the last years. Oral drug delivery is still the preferred route for the administration of pharmaceutical ingredients. Nevertheless, some patients, e.g. children or elderly people, have difficulties in swallowing solid tablets. In this work, gelatin membranes were produced by electrospinning, containing an encapsulated therapeutic deep-eutectic solvent (THEDES) composed by choline chloride/mandelic acid, in a 1:2 molar ratio. A gelatin solution (30% w/v) with 2% (v/v) of THEDES was used to produce electrospun fibers and the experimental parameters were optimized. Due to the high surface area of polymer fibers, this type of construct has wide applicability. With no cytotoxicity effect, and showing a fast-dissolving release profile in PBS, the gelatin fibers with encapsulated THEDES seem to have promising applications in the development of new drug delivery systems.     

Automated Insulin Delivery Systems as a Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

ObjectiveApproximately 6.3% of the worldwide population has type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the number of people requiring insulin is increasing. Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems integrate continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and continuous glucose monitoring with a predictive control algorithm to provide more physiologic glycemic control. Personalized glycemic targets are recommended in T2DM owing to the heterogeneity of the disease. Based on the success of hybrid closed-loop systems in improving glycemic control and safety in type 1 diabetes mellitus, there has been further interest in the use of these systems in people with T2DM.MethodsWe performed a review of AID systems with a focus on the T2DM population.ResultsIn 5 randomized controlled trials, AID systems improve time in range and reduce glycemic variability, without increasing insulin requirements or the risk of hypoglycemia.ConclusionAID systems in T2DM are safe and effective in hospitalized and closely monitored settings. Home studies of longer duration are required to assess for long-term benefit and identify target populations of benefit.     

Overview and Future Potential of Buccal Mucoadhesive Films as Drug Delivery Systems for Biologics

The main route of administration for drug products is the oral route, yet biologics are initially developed as injectables due to their limited stability through the gastrointestinal tract and solubility issues. In order to avoid injections, a myriad of investigations on alternative administration routes that can bypass enzymatic degradation and the first-pass effect are found in the literature. As an alternative site for biologics absorption, the buccal route presents with a number of advantages. The buccal mucosa is a barrier, providing protection to underlying tissue, but is more permeable than other alternative routes such as the skin. Buccal films are polymeric matrices designed to be mucoadhesive properties and usually formulated with permeability enhancers to improve bioavailability. Conventionally, buccal films for biologics are manufactured by solvent casting, yet recent developments have shown the potential of hot melt extrusion, and most recently ink jet printing as promising strategies. This review aims at depicting the field of biologics-loaded mucoadhesive films as buccal drug delivery systems. In light of the literature available, the buccal epithelium is a promising route for biologics administration, which is reflected in clinical trials currently in progress, looking forward to register and commercialize the first biologic product formulated as a buccal film.     

Folate-Targeted Liposomes for Drug Delivery

Abstract

The folate receptor has been identified as a marker for ovarian carcinomas and is also up-regulated in many other types of cancer. Folate-conjugation has been successfully applied in the tumor cell-selective targeting of liposomes. A long polyethyleneglycol (PEG) spacer between the targeting ligand (i.e. folic acid) and the liposome surface is required for receptor recognition. Ligand binding is compatible with the PEG-coating of the liposomes needed for prolonged systemic circulation. Folate-targeted liposomes have been shown to enhance the in vitro cytotoxicity of liposome-entrapped doxorubicin and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to receptor-bearing tumor cells. Folate, as a targeting ligand, offers unique advantages over immunoliposomes, i.e., easy liposomal incorporation, low cost, high receptor affinity and tumor specificity, extended stability, and potential lack of immunogenicity.     

A Composite Polyelectrolytic Matrix for Controlled Oral Drug Delivery

The purpose of this study was to formulate drug-loaded polyelectrolyte matrices constituting blends of pectin, chitosan (CHT) and hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAAm) for controlling the premature solvation of the polymers and modulating drug release. The model drug employed was the highly water-soluble antihistamine, diphenhydramine HCl (DPH). Polyelectrolyte complex formation was validated by infrared spectroscopy. Matrices were characterized by textural profiling, porositometry and SEM. Drug release studies were performed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions using USP apparatus 3. FTIR spectra revealed distinctive peaks indicating the presence of –COO⁻ symmetrical stretching (1,425–1,390 cm⁻¹) and -NH₃⁺ deformation (1,535 cm⁻¹) with evidence of electrostatic interaction between the cationic CHT and anionic HPAAm corroborated by molecular mechanics simulations of the complexes. Pectin–HPAAm matrices showed electrostatic attraction due to residual –NH₂ and –COO⁻ groups of HPAAm and pectin, respectively. Textural profiling demonstrated that CHT-HPAAm matrices were most resilient at 6.1% and pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices were the least (3.9%). Matrix hardness and deformation energy followed similar behavior. Pectin–CHT–HPAAm and CHT–HPAAm matrices produced type IV isotherms with H3 hysteresis and mesopores (22.46 nm) while pectin–HPAAm matrices were atypical with hysteresis at a low P/P₀ and pore sizes of 5.15 nm and a large surface area. At t _2 h, no DPH was released from CHT–HPAAm matrices, whereas 28.2% and 82.2% was released from pectin–HPAAm and pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices, respectively. At t _4 h, complete DPH release was achieved from pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices in contrast to only 35% from CHT–HPAAm matrices. This revealed the release-modulating capability of each matrix signifying their applicability in controlled oral drug delivery applications.