Communication of Drug Loaded Nanogels with Cancer Cell Receptors for Targeted Delivery

Temozolomide nano enabled medicine: promises made by the nanocarriers in glioblastoma therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is abnormal cell proliferation of glial cells. GBM is the grade IV glioma brain cancer which is life-threatening to many individuals affected by this cancer. The DNA alkylating agent Temozolomide (TMZ) has the distinctiveness of being FDA approved anticancer drug for the first line treatment for GBM. However, treatment of GBM still remains a challenge. This is attributed to TMZ's toxic nature, severe side effects, and fast degradation in vivo. In addition, the lack of targeting ability increases the chances of systemic toxicities. A nano enabled targeted delivery system not only improves the efficiency of TMZ by making it cross the blood brain barrier, have specificity to target, but also reduces toxicity to healthy tissues. Over the last decade the significant advances in the area of nanotechnology applied to medicine have developed many multifunctional therapeutics. In this context, the present review article comprehends the significant progress in the field of TMZ loaded nanocarriers showing promise for futuristic nanomedicine therapies in treating GBM.

An outlook on procedures of conjugating folate to (co)polymers and drugs for effective cancer targeting

Folate receptors (FRs) are expressed in vast majority of cancers. Selective targeting of the FRs is, therefore, one of the most popular and sought-after strategies for improving the efficacy of cancer therapeutics. Variety of approaches involving folate conjugation to several well-known and novel, nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible (co)polymers have been attempted and successfully applied to a large number of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, quantum dots, mesoporous silica-based materials, and others) in the last decade-and-a-half. Standard and novel synthetic approaches were utilized for the conjugation, followed by the formulation of the drug delivery modality. In most of the cases, the targeted system lived up to its reputation, validating its usefulness in targeted cancer therapeutics. The present review summarizes the progress and state-of-the-art synthetic methodologies for folate conjugation to (co)polymers, drugs, and nucleic acids. The limitations of the FR targeting are discussed in brief to give the reader the other side of the story. Finally, the information on marketed folic acid conjugates highlight their industrial applications.

Targeted drug therapy in nonsmall cell lung cancer: clinical significance and possible solutions-part II (role of nanocarriers)

INTRODUCTION

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of the cases of lung cancer. The conventional therapeutic effective dosage forms used to treat NSCLC are associated with rigid administration schedules, adverse effects, and may be associated with acquired resistance to therapy. Nanocarriers may provide a suitable alternative to regular formulations to overcome inherent drawbacks and provide better treatment modalities for the patient.

AREAS COVERED

The article explores the application of drug loaded nanocarriers for lung cancer treatment. Drug-loaded nanocarriers can be modified to achieve controlled delivery at the desired tumor infested site. The type of nanocarriers employed are diverse based on polymers, liposomes, metals and a combination of two or more different base materials (hybrids). These may be designed for systemic delivery or local delivery to the lung compartment (via inhalation).

EXPERT OPINION

Nanocarriers can improve pharmacokinetics of the drug payload by improving its delivery to the desired location and can reduce associated systemic toxicities. Through nanocarriers, a wide variety of therapeutics can be administered and targeted to the cancerous site. Some examples of the utilities of nanocarriers are codelivery of drugs, gene delivery, and delivery of other biologics. Overall, the nanocarriers have promising potential in improving therapeutic efficacy of drugs used in NSCLC.

Potentiality of Q3 characterization of nanosystem: Surrogate data for obtaining a biowaiver

A tremendous increase in the entry of drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanotechnology has been observed as a result of the ability of pharmaceutical nanotechnology to overcome the various drawbacks related to the first generation DDS. The patent period of these proprietary branded drugs gives its manufacturers sole exclusivity of their product in the market. As the patent period of these products expire, the generic players will initiate their attempts to manufacture and bring generic versions of the reference listed drug product (RLD) into the market. The regulatory approval for a generic DDS based on nanotechnology requires proving the therapeutic equivalence of the generic product with that of the RLD via pharmacodynamics clinical endpoint study on healthy subjects or patients. These studies are extremely complex, expensive and time-consuming and may have uncertain outcomes. Furthermore, development, scale-up and manufacturing of generic versions of nanotechnology-based DDS involves complex steps and achieving an optimized formulation heavily depends on the process parameters during manufacturing. The information in this review addresses the said issues above and emphasizes on the possibility of using exhaustive in vitro characterization of the generic versions of nanotechnology-based DDSs in the current market to obtain a biowaiver. Various processes involved and their importance in obtaining an optimized formulation have been described to address the issue regarding manufacturing complexities.

Polymers, responsiveness and cancer therapy

A single outcome in a biological procedure at the time of cancer therapy is due to multiple changes happening simultaneously. Hence to mimic such complex biological processes, an understanding of stimuli responsiveness is needed to sense specific changes and respond in a predictable manner. Such responses due to polymers may take place either simultaneously at the site or in a sequential manner from preparation to transporting pathways to cellular compartments. The present review comprehends the stimuli-responsive polymers and multi-responsiveness with respect to cancer therapy. It focuses on the exploitation of different stimuli like temperature, pH and enzymes responsiveness in a multi-stimuli setting. Nanogels and micelles being two of the most commonly used responsive polymeric carriers have also been discussed. The role of multiple stimuli delivery system is significant due to multiple changes happening in the near surroundings of cancer cells. These responsive materials are able to mimic some biological processes and recognize at the molecular level itself to manipulate development of custom-designed molecules for targeting cancer cells.

Functional Microgels: Recent Advances in Their Biomedical Applications

Here, a spotlight is shown on aqueous microgel particles which exhibit a great potential for various biomedical applications such as drug delivery, cell imaging, and tissue engineering. Herein, different synthetic methods to develop microgels with desirable functionality and properties along with degradable strategies to ensure their renal clearance are briefly presented. A special focus is given on the ability of microgels to respond to various stimuli such as temperature, pH, redox potential, magnetic field, light, etc., which helps not only to adjust their physical and chemical properties, and degradability on demand, but also the release of encapsulated bioactive molecules and thus making them suitable for drug delivery. Furthermore, recent developments in using the functional microgels for cell imaging and tissue regeneration are reviewed. The results reviewed here encourage the development of a new class of microgels which are able to intelligently perform in a complex biological environment. Finally, various challenges and possibilities are discussed in order to achieve their successful clinical use in future.