Incorporating halloysite nanotube/carvedilol nanohybrids into gelatin microsphere as a novel oral pH-sensitive drug delivery system

Exploring Protein-Based Carriers in Drug Delivery: A Review

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) represent an emerging focus for many researchers and they are becoming progressively crucial in the development of new treatments. Great attention is given to all the challenges that a drug has to overcome during its journey across barriers and tissues and all the pharmacokinetics modulations that are needed in order to reach the targeting sites. The goal of these pathways is the delivery of drugs in a controlled way, optimizing their bioavailability and minimizing side effects. Recent innovations in DDSs include various nanotechnology-based approaches, such as nanoparticles, nanofibers and micelles, which provide effective targeted delivery and sustained release of therapeutics. In this context, protein-based drug delivery systems are gaining significant attention in the pharmaceutical field due to their potential to revolutionize targeted and efficient drug delivery. As natural biomolecules, proteins offer distinct advantages, including safety, biocompatibility and biodegradability, making them a fascinating alternative to synthetic polymers. Moreover, protein-based carriers, including those derived from gelatin, albumin, collagen, gliadin and silk proteins, demonstrate exceptional stability under physiological conditions, and they allow for controlled and sustained drug release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current trends, challenges, and future perspectives in protein-based drug delivery, focusing on the types of proteins adopted and the techniques that are being developed to enhance their functionality in terms of drug affinity and targeting capabilities, underscoring their potential to significantly impact modern therapeutics.

Mechanical Properties, Drug Release, Biocompatibility, and Antibacterial Activities of Modified Emulsified Gelatin Microsphere Loaded with Gentamicin Composite Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement In Vitro

Bone defects are commonly addressed with bone graft substitutes; however, surgical procedures, particularly for open and complex fractures, may pose a risk of infection. As such, a course of antibiotics combined with a drug carrier is often administered to mitigate potential exacerbations. This study involved the preparation and modification of emulsified (Em) crosslinking-gelatin (gel) microspheres (m-Em) to reduce their toxicity. The antibiotic gentamicin was impregnated into gel microspheres (m-EmG), which were incorporated into calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC). The study investigated the effects of m-EmG@CPC on antibacterial activity, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and proliferation and mineralization of mouse progenitor osteoblasts (D1 cells). The average size of the gel microspheres ranged from 22.5 to 16.1 μm, with no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Most of the oil content within the microspheres was transferred through modification, resulting in reduced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, antibiotic-impregnated m-EmG did not compromise the intrinsic properties of the microspheres and exhibited remarkably antibacterial effects. After combining with CPC (m-EmG@CPC), the microspheres did not significantly hinder the CPC reaction and produced the main product, hydroxyapatite (HA). However, the compressive strength of the largest microsphere content of 0.5 wt.% m-EmG in CPC decreased significantly from 59.8 MPa of CPC alone to 38.7 MPa of 0.5m-EmG@CPC (p < 0.05). The 0.5m-EmG@CPC composite was effective against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in drug release and antibacterial tests. Compared with m-EmG alone, the 0.5m-EmG@CPC composite showed no toxicity to mouse fibroblast cells (L929). Additionally, the proliferation and mineralization of mouse osteoblastic osteoprogenitor cells (D1 cells) did not have a negative impact on the 0.5m-EmG@CPC composite over time in culture compared with CPC alone. Results suggest that the newly developed antibacterial 0.5m-EmG@CPC composite bone cement did not negatively affect the performance of osteoprogenitor cells and could be a new option for bone graft replacement in surgeries.

Facile Synthesis of Novel Magnetic Janus Graphene Oxide for Efficient and Recyclable Demulsification of Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsion

Nanoparticles have been widely applied to treat emulsion-containing wastewater in the form of chemical demulsifiers, such as SiO2, Fe3O4, and graphene oxide (GO). Owing to their asymmetric structures and selective adsorption, Janus nanoparticles show greater application potential in many fields. In the present work, the novel magnetic Janus graphene oxide (MJGO) nanoparticle was successfully prepared by grafting magnetic Fe3O4 to the surface of the JGO, and its demulsifying ability to treat a crude oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated. The MJGO structure and its magnetic intensity were verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetization saturation (MS) tests. Compared with GO and JGO, MJGO displayed the superior efficiency (>96%) to demulsify the crude oil-in-water emulsion, which can be attributed to the reduced electrostatic repulsion between MJGO and the emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the effects of pH and temperature on the demulsification performance of MJGO were also studied. Lastly, the recyclability of MJGO largely reduced the cost of demulsifiers in separating crude oil and water. The current research presents an efficient and recyclable demulsifier, which provides a new perspective for the structural design of nanomaterials and their application in the field of demulsification.

Cefixime loaded bare and functionalized halloysite nanocarriers and their biomedical applications

Effective drug delivery for is the foremost requirement for the complete recovery of the disease. Nanomedicine and nanoengineering has provided so many spaces and ideas for the drug delivery design, whether controlled, targeted, or sustained. Different types of nanocarriers or nanoparticles are aggressively designed for the drug delivery applications. Clay minerals are identified as a one of the potential nanocarrier for the drug delivery. Owing to their biocompatibility and very low cytotoxicity, clay minerals showing effective therapeutic applications. In the present investigation, clay mineral, i.e., Halloysite nano tubes are utilized as a nanocarrier for the delivery of antibiotic cefixime (CFX), a third-generation cephalosporin. The HNT was first functionalized with the sulfuric acid and then further treated with the 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The drug is loaded on three different classifications of HNTs, i.e., Bare-CFX-HNT, Acid-CFX-HNT, and APTES-CFX-HNT and their comparative analysis is established. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscopy TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), adsorption studies, and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed to evaluate their chemical, structural, morphological, and thermal properties. TGA confirmed the encapsulation efficiency of Bare-CFX-HNT, Acid-CFX-HNT, and APTES-CFX-HNT as 42.65, 52.19, and 53.43%, respectively. Disk diffusion and MTT assay confirmed that the drug loaded HNTs have potential antibacterial activities and less cytotoxicity. The adsorption capacity of CFX with different HNTs are evaluated and Different adsorption and kinetic models have been discussed. Drug release studies shows that APTES-CFX-HNT showing sustained release of cefixime as compared to Bare-CFX-HNT and Acid-CFX-HNT.

A self-healing crosslinked-xanthan gum/soy protein based film containing halloysite nanotube and propolis with antibacterial and antioxidant activity for wound healing

Traumatic multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are the most threat to wound healing. Lower extremity wounds under diabetic conditions display a significant delay during the healing process. To overcome these challenges, the utilization of protein-based nanocomposite dressings is crucial in implementing a successful regenerative medicine approach. These dressings hold significant potential as polymer scaffolds, allowing them to mimic the properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). So, the objective of this study was to develop a nanocomposite film using dialdehyde-xanthan gum/soy protein isolate incorporated with propolis (PP) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) (DXG-SPI/PP/HNTs). In this protein-polysaccharide hybrid system, the self-healing capability was demonstrated through Schiff bonds, providing a favorable environment for cell encapsulation in the field of tissue engineering. To improve the properties of the DXG-SPI film, the incorporation of polyphenols found in PP, particularly flavonoids, is proposed. The synthesized films were subjected to investigations regarding degradation, degree of swelling, and mechanical characteristics. Additionally, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were introduced into the DXG-SPI/PP nanocomposite films as a reinforcing filler with varying concentrations of 3 %, 5 %, and 7 % by weight. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed the proper embedding and dispersion of HNTs onto the DXG-SPI/PP nanocomposite films, leading to functional interfacial interactions. The structure and crystallinity of the synthesized nanocomposite films were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Moreover, the developed DXG-SPI/PP/HNTs nanocomposite films significantly improved cell growth of NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells in the presence of PP and HNTs, indicating their cytocompatibility. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite was evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus), which are commonly associated with wound infections. Overall, our findings suggest that the synthesis of DXG-SPI/PP/HNTs nanocomposite scaffolds holds great promise as a clinically relevant biomaterial and exhibits strong potential for numerous challenging biomedical applications.

Preparation and mechanism study of hydrogen bond induced enhanced composited gelatin microsphere probe

Fluorescent probes offer rapid and efficient detection of metal ions. However, their properties, including high biotoxicity and low detection limits, often limit their utility in biological systems. In this study, we used a microfluidic approach to fabricate photocrosslinked gelatin microspheres with a micropore, providing a straightforward method for loading fluorescent probes into these microspheres based on the adsorption effect and hydrogen bonding interaction. The gelatin microsphere loaded probes, GelMA/TPA-DAP and GelMA/TPA-ISO-HNO were designed and obtained. The results show that these probes exhibit obviously low biotoxicity compared to the original molecular probes TPA-DAP and TPA-ISO-HNO. Simultaneously, it is found that GelMA/TPA-DAP and GelMA/TPA-ISO-HNO have better detection sensitivity, the detection limits are 35.4 nM for Cu2+, 16.5 nM for Co2+ and 20.5 nM for Ni2+ for GelMA/TPA-DAP probe. Compared to the original TPA-DAP they are improved by 37.2 %, 26.3 % and 22.6 % respectively. The corresponding coordination constants were 10.8 × 105, 4.11×105 and 6.04×105, which is larger than homologous TPA-DAP. Similar results were also verified in the GelMA/TPA-ISO-HNO probe. The mechanism was investigated in detail by theoretical simulations and advanced spectral analysis. The density functional theory (DFT) simulations show that the probes are anchored inside the microspheres and the molecular structure is modified due to the hydrogen bonding interaction between the microsphere and the molecular probe, which makes GelMA/TPA-DAP exhibit stronger coordination capacity with metal ions than homologous TPA-DAP. In addition, the adsorption effect also provided some synergistic enhancement contribution. Meanwhile, cellular experiments have also shown that the composite microspheres can improve the biocompatibility of the probe and will provide a wider range of applications towards bioassay. This simple and effective method will provide a convenient way to improve the performance of fluorescent probes and their biological applications.

Advanced Drug Carriers: A Review of Selected Protein, Polysaccharide, and Lipid Drug Delivery Platforms

Studies on bionanocomposite drug carriers are a key area in the field of active substance delivery, introducing innovative approaches to improve drug therapy. Such drug carriers play a crucial role in enhancing the bioavailability of active substances, affecting therapy efficiency and precision. The targeted delivery of drugs to the targeted sites of action and minimization of toxicity to the body is becoming possible through the use of these advanced carriers. Recent research has focused on bionanocomposite structures based on biopolymers, including lipids, polysaccharides, and proteins. This review paper is focused on the description of lipid-containing nanocomposite carriers (including liposomes, lipid emulsions, lipid nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers), polysaccharide-containing nanocomposite carriers (including alginate and cellulose), and protein-containing nanocomposite carriers (e.g., gelatin and albumin). It was demonstrated in many investigations that such carriers show the ability to load therapeutic substances efficiently and precisely control drug release. They also demonstrated desirable biocompatibility, which is a promising sign for their potential application in drug therapy. The development of bionanocomposite drug carriers indicates a novel approach to improving drug delivery processes, which has the potential to contribute to significant advances in the field of pharmacology, improving therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects.

Gelatin microsphere-alginate hydrogel combined system for sustained and gastric targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil

In the current study, novel gelatin microspheres/methacrylated alginate hydrogel combined system (5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA) was developed for gastric targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil as an anticancer agent. While water-in-oil emulsification method was used for the production of 5-FU-GELms, Alg-MA was synthesized through methacrylation reaction occurred by epoxide ring-opening mechanism. Then, 5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA hydrogel system was fabricated by the encapsulation of 5-FU-GELms into Alg-MA hydrogel network via UV-crosslinking. To evaluate applicability of fabricated 5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA as gastric targeted drug delivery vehicle, both swelling and in vitro drug release experiments were carried out at pH 1.2 medium resembling gastric fluid. Compared to drug release directly from 5-FU-GELms, 5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA hydrogel system showed more controlled and sustained drug release profile with lower amount of cumulative release starting from early stages, since hydrogel matrix created a barrier to the diffusion of 5-FU included in microspheres. Drug release kinetic results obtained by applying various kinetic models to release data showed that the mechanism of 5-FU release from 5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA hydrogel system is controlled by Fickian diffusion. All results revealed that 5-FU-GELms/Alg-MA hydrogel integrated system could be potentially utilized as gastric targeted drug carrier to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce systemic side effects in gastric cancer treatments for future studies.

Montmorillonite-Sodium Alginate Oral Colon-Targeting Microcapsule Design for WGX-50 Encapsulation and Controlled Release in Gastro-Intestinal Tract

The montmorillonite-sodium alginate (MMT-SA) colon-targeting microcapsules have been designed as a WGX-50 encapsulation and controlled release vehicle used in oral administration. The MMT-SA microcapsule was formed from a cross-linking reaction, and the stable micropore in the microcapsule changed with a different MMT-SA mixed mass ratio. The MMT-SA microcapsule has a reinforced micropore structure and an enhanced swell-dissolution in SIF and SCF with alkaline environment, which is attributed to the incorporated MMT. The MMT-SA microcapsule exhibited a high WGX-50 encapsulation rate up to 98.81 ± 0.31% and an obvious WGX-50 controlled release in the simulated digestive fluid in vitro. The WGX-50 loaded with MMT-SA microcapsule showed a weak minimizing drug loss in SGF (Simulated Gastric Fluid) with an acidic environment, while it showed a strong maximizing drug release in SIF (Simulated Intestinal Fluid) and SCF (Simulated Colonic Fluid) with an alkaline environment. These features make the MMT-SA microcapsule a nominated vehicle for colon disease treatment used in oral administration.

The State of the Art of Natural Polymer Functionalized Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticle Composites for Drug Delivery Applications: A Review

Natural polymers have received a great deal of interest for their potential use in the encapsulation and transportation of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive compounds for disease treatment. In this perspective, the drug delivery systems (DDS) constructed by representative natural polymers from animals (gelatin and hyaluronic acid), plants (pectin and starch), and microbes (Xanthan gum and Dextran) are provided. In order to enhance the efficiency of polymers in DDS by delivering the medicine to the right location, reducing the medication's adverse effects on neighboring organs or tissues, and controlling the medication's release to stop the cycle of over- and under-dosing, the incorporation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with the polymers has engaged the most consideration due to their rare characteristics, such as easy separation, superparamagnetism, and high surface area. This review is designed to report the recent progress of natural polymeric Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in drug delivery applications, based on different polymers' origins.

Investigation of wound healing efficiency of multifunctional eudragit/soy protein isolate electrospun nanofiber incorporated with ZnO loaded halloysite nanotubes and allantoin

One significant aspect of the current therapeutic agents employed in wound healing involves the engineering of nano polymeric scaffolds to mimic the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM). The present work aimed to prepare and evaluate Eudragit® L100 (EU) nanofibers in combination with soy protein isolate (SPI). Allantoin (Ala) with a 2 wt% was encapsulated as a model drug renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Moreover, the synthesized ZnO-halloysite nanotubes (ZHNTs) with different concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt% were incorporated into the EU/SPI/Ala nanofiber as a reinforcing filler and a remarkable antibacterial agent. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that by increasing the weight percentage of SPI from 1 % to 2.5 %, the average diameter of nanofibers decreased from 132.3 ± 51.3 nm to 126.7 ± 47.2 nm. It was 223.5 ± 95.6 nm for nanofibers containing 5 wt% ZHNTs (the optimal sample). The evaluation of in vitro release kinetics of Ala for 24 h, showed a burst release during the first 2 h and a sustained release during the subsequent times. Moreover, the structure, crystallinity, and thermal stability of synthesized nanofibers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. In vitro degradation and mechanical characteristics of these nanofibers were studied. Furthermore, the capability of the nanofibers for cell proliferation was revealed through the MTT test and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images of cell attachment. The antimicrobial activity of EU/SPI/Ala/ZHNTs showed that this sample with high ZHNTs content (5 w%t) had the most remarkable antibacterial activity against S. aureus. The results revealed that EU/SPI/Ala/ZHNTs mats could be promising potential wound dressings.

Delivery systems for fucoxanthin: Research progress, applications and future prospects

Fucoxanthin is a special kind of keto-carotenoid found only in algae. The unique structure of fucoxanthin endows it with extraordinary biological activities, which are of great significance to improve food quality and enhance human health. However, due to its highly unsaturated structure, fucoxanthin also suffers from some limitations, such as instability, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, although its content is relatively abundant, its applications in the food industry are extremely scarce. In recent years, there have been many reports on the preparation and characterization of delivery systems for fucoxanthin. These well-designed delivery systems can efficaciously alleviate the instability of fucoxanthin under adverse conditions, thereby improving its oral bioavailability. Thus, this review emphatically summarizes the delivery systems that are widely used to encapsulate, protect and release fucoxanthin. Besides, the influence of delivery systems on the absorption of fucoxanthin by intestinal epithelial cells is highlighted. The applications and future development trends of delivery systems for fucoxanthin are also discussed. The extraction of fucoxanthin, development of novel delivery systems, sensory evaluation and toxicity studies, and industrial production may be promising research directions in the future. Overall, this review provides guidance for the development of fucoxanthin-loaded delivery systems.

Advanced Drug Delivery Micro- and Nanosystems for Cardiovascular Diseases

Advanced drug delivery micro- and nanosystems have been widely explored due to their appealing specificity/selectivity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. They can be applied for the targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals, with the benefits of good biocompatibility/stability, non-immunogenicity, large surface area, high drug loading capacity, and low leakage of drugs. Cardiovascular diseases, as one of the primary mortalities cause worldwide with significant impacts on the quality of patients’ life, comprise a variety of heart and circulatory system pathologies, such as peripheral vascular diseases, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and coronary artery diseases. Designing novel micro- and nanosystems with suitable targeting properties and smart release behaviors can help circumvent crucial challenges of the tolerability, low stability, high toxicity, and possible side- and off-target effects of conventional drug delivery routes. To overcome different challenging issues, namely physiological barriers, low efficiency of drugs, and possible adverse side effects, various biomaterials-mediated drug delivery systems have been formulated with reduced toxicity, improved pharmacokinetics, high bioavailability, sustained release behavior, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy for targeted therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the existing drug delivery systems encompassing a variety of biomaterials for treating cardiovascular diseases, the number of formulations currently approved for clinical use is limited due to the regulatory and experimental obstacles. Herein, the most recent advancements in drug delivery micro- and nanosystems designed from different biomaterials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases are deliberated, with a focus on the important challenges and future perspectives.