Exploring dendrimer-based drug delivery systems and their potential applications in cancer immunotherapy

Biotinylated nanoparticles: A new frontier in nanomedicine and targeted cancer therapy

The development of targeted drug delivery systems has become a cornerstone of modern cancer therapy which provides a pathway to maximize treatment effectiveness while reducing side effects. Among the plethora of innovative strategies, biotinylated nanoparticles have evolved as a hopeful tool due to their ability to exploit the elevated expression of biotin receptors on cancerous cells. The design, synthesis, and functionalization of biotinylated nanoparticles for cancer treatment are thoroughly examined in this review article. By leveraging biotin's high affinity for biotin receptors, these nanoparticles achieve selective cancerous cell targeting, leading to enhanced drug bioavailability and cellular uptake. The discussion extends to the underlying mechanisms of drug release, receptor-mediated endocytosis, and strategies for achieving endosomal escape or pH-sensitive drug activation. Furthermore, the article also emphasizes how biotinylation in combination therapy allows for synergistic effects with immunomodulators, nucleic acids, and chemotherapeutic drugs. Preclinical studies are examined to underscore the translational potential of these systems. The review concludes by addressing current challenges, including scalability, and potential immunogenicity, while proposing future directions for optimizing biotinylated nanoparticles as a transformative approach in cancer treatment.

Recent advances in the clinical application of transferosomes for skin cancer management

Skin cancer, encompassing melanoma and non-melanoma types, represents a significant health burden, with melanoma being particularly aggressive. Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment, integrating small molecule drugs, phytoceuticals, and large biomolecules to combat this malignancy. Topical drug delivery provides a non-invasive alternative; however, the skin's inherent barriers limit drug penetration, posing a significant therapeutic challenge. Transferosomes, specialized vesicular systems, have shown potential in overcoming these limitations. Incorporated into gels, these vesicles enhance skin permeation and extend drug contact duration, reducing the frequency of applications and associated side effects. The optimization of their composition-focusing on phospholipid selection, edge activators, and manufacturing techniques-is pivotal for achieving better drug retention, enhanced penetration, and control over particle size. This review delves into the overview of skin cancer, existing treatment modalities, and their inherent constraints. It emphasizes the advantages of topical drug delivery, examining the mechanisms by which transferosomes surmount delivery challenges. Additionally, it evaluates the application of transferosomes for small-molecule drugs and phytoceuticals, underscoring their role in advancing skin cancer therapy and enhancing treatment outcomes.

Targeting ovarian cancer: The promise of liposome-based therapies

A major cause of mortality among gynecological cancers, ovarian cancer is frequently unresponsive to standard therapies because to systemic toxicity and medication resistance. The contribution of liposomal drug delivery systems, specifically pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), to the advancement of ovarian cancer treatment is examined in this review. Liposomes, spherical lipid vesicles consisting of bilayer phospholipids, enable better drug delivery by preserving encapsulated pharmaceuticals and enabling tailored administration to tumor areas. In comparison to traditional doxorubicin, PLD has a better pharmacokinetic profile and less cardiotoxicity, according to the analysis, which examines several trials showing its effectiveness in treating both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Furthermore, studies on liposomal versions of other medications, such as paclitaxel and cisplatin, demonstrate encouraging effects in terms of overcoming drug resistance and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Recent advancements in tailored liposomal delivery systems that include components such tumor-specific peptides and folate receptors show improved tumor selectivity and fewer adverse effects. The study also looks at new combination treatments that use liposomal formulations with immunotherapeutic and new targeted medicines. Although liposomal drug delivery methods have great potential for treating ovarian cancer, further study is required to maximize their effectiveness, reduce side effects, and get beyond resistance mechanisms. These developments in liposomal technology are a major step toward turning ovarian cancer from a deadly illness into a chronic condition that can be managed, possibly increasing patient survival and quality of life.

Polyglutamic acid in cancer nanomedicine: Advances in multifunctional delivery platforms

Polyglutamic acid (PGA)-coated nanoparticles have emerged as a significant advancement in cancer nanomedicine due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility. PGA enhances the stability and bioavailability of therapeutic agents, enabling controlled and sustained drug release with reduced systemic toxicity. Stimuli-responsive modifications to PGA allow for precise drug delivery tailored to the tumor microenvironment, improving specificity and therapeutic outcomes. PGA's potential extends to gene delivery, where it facilitates safe and efficient transfection, addressing critical challenges such as multidrug resistance. Additionally, PGA-coated nanoparticles play a pivotal role in theranostic, integrating diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities within a single platform for real-time monitoring and treatment optimization. These nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced efficacy in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and combination regimens, tackling persistent issues like poor tumor penetration and non-specific drug distribution. Advancements in stimuli-responsive designs, ligand functionalization, and payload customization highlight the adaptability of PGA-based platforms for precision oncology. However, challenges such as scalability, stability under physiological conditions, and regulatory compliance remain key obstacles to clinical translation. This review explores the design, development, and applications of PGA-coated nanoparticles, emphasizing their potential to transform cancer treatment through safer, more effective, and personalized therapeutic approaches.

Exploring the potential of nanoemulgels for dermatological disorders

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nanoemulgels are an advanced innovation in dermatological formulations designed to treat various skin diseases. By combining the advantages of hydrogels and nanoemulsions, these hybrid systems optimise drug delivery and improve therapeutic results. Because of their nanoscale droplets, nanoemulsions improve solubility by increasing surface area and stability and bioavailability of medications.

METHODS AND RESULTS

When embedded in a hydrogel matrix, their transformation into nanoemulgels, provide regulated and prolonged drug release, ensuring sustained therapeutic action. The ability of nanoemulgels to penetrate deeply into the layers of skin and get past obstacles like the stratum corneum to improve drug penetration and efficacy makes them highly effective in dermatology. Since the gel component helps to reduce the surface and interfacial tension and a rise in spreading coefficient along with the viscosity. The benefits of using NEGs for external use include their thixotropic, greaseless, readily dispersed properties, longer shelf life, emollient, effortlessly removed, non-staining clear, cosmetically attractive and environment friendly characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

By providing an overview of research on nanoemulgels' permeability mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, uses, properties and the difficulties involved in topical drug delivery for skin disorders, this review emphasises the potential of these materials as topical drug delivery systems in dermatology.

Recent advances in PD-L1 siRNA nanocarriers for cancer therapy

Tumor immune evasion depends on the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) mechanism, making it a prominent target in cancer therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) designed to inhibit PD-L1 expression presents an innovative approach for boosting immunity against tumors. However, the therapeutic use of siRNA faces challenges, primarily due to its instability and inefficient cellular delivery. Recent advancements in nanocarrier technologies have shown promise in overcoming these obstacles, improving the delivery and efficacy of PD-L1 siRNA. This review comprehensively explores various nanocarrier systems, including lipid nanoparticles, polymeric carriers, and inorganic nanoparticles, highlighting their design innovations and applications in targeting PD-L1 in diverse cancer models. We discuss the synergistic effects of PD-L1 siRNA delivered via nanocarriers in conjunction with chemotherapy and immunomodulators, showcasing their potential to boost immune responses and reduce tumor growth. Additionally, we address ongoing challenges such as optimizing biodistribution and minimizing off-target effects, which hinder clinical translation. By synthesizing recent research findings, this review aims to illuminate the transformative potential of PD-L1 siRNA nanocarriers in cancer immunotherapy, paving the way for future studies aimed at enhancing therapeutic strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Ammonia-Induced Cell Death: A Novel Frontier to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment paradigms, but its efficacy is often curtailed by T-cell exhaustion and the suppressive tumour microenvironment. Recent studies reveal a novel mechanism of T-cell demise termed ammonia-induced cell death (AICD), which significantly impacts effector CD8+ T-cell survival and function. This phenomenon arises from metabolic reprogramming during immune activation, wherein heightened glutamine metabolism leads to the accumulation of toxic ammonia levels. Ammonia damages lysosomes and mitochondria, disrupting cell balance and causing apoptosis. These insights provide a unique metabolic perspective on T-cell attrition, underscoring the critical interplay between metabolic byproducts and immune regulation. Targeting AICD offers promising therapeutic avenues to bolster immunotherapy. Strategies such as inhibiting ammonia transport, enhancing autophagic pathways and employing ammonia scavengers may extend T-cell longevity and improve antitumor efficacy. Moreover, integrating ammonia modulation with established immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, could yield synergistic benefits. Addressing this metabolic bottleneck is particularly compelling in immune 'cold' tumours resistant to conventional therapies. However, further research is essential to refine these interventions, evaluate safety profiles and explore broader applications across cancer types. Ammonia metabolism thus represents a transformative frontier in advancing cancer immunotherapy and precision oncology.

Polymeric Nanosystems: A Breakthrough Approach to Treating Inflammation and Inflammation Related Diseases

Inflammation processes can cause mild to severe damage in the human body and can lead to a large number of inflammation-related diseases (IRD) such as cancer, neural, vascular, and pulmonary diseases. Limitations of anti-inflammatory drugs (AID) application are reflected in high therapeutic doses, toxicity, low bioavailability and solubility, side effects, etc. Polymeric nanosystems (PS) have been recognized as a safe and effective technology that is able to overcome these limitations by AID encapsulation and is able to answer to the specific demands of the IRD treatment. PS are attracting great attention due to their versatility, biocompatibility, low toxicity, fine-tuned properties, functionality, and ability for precise delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs to the targeted sites in the human body. This article offers an overview of three classes of polymeric nanosystems: a) dendrimers, b) polymeric micelles and polymeric nanoparticles, and c) polymeric filomicelles, as well as their properties, preparation, and application in IRD treatment. In the future, the number of PS formulations in clinical practice will certainly increase.

Harnessing phytoconstituents in ethosomes: A new frontier in skin disorder management

The rising incidence of skin disorders has necessitated the exploration of innovative therapeutic modalities that harness the beneficial properties of natural compounds. Phytoconstituents, renowned for their diverse pharmacological attributes, present considerable promise in the management of various dermatological conditions. This review delineates the integration of phytoconstituents into ethosomal formulations, which are advanced lipid-based carriers specifically designed to enhance transdermal delivery. We discuss the advantages conferred by ethosomes, including their capacity to improve the stability and bioavailability of phytochemicals, facilitate deeper skin penetration, and provide controlled release profiles. Recent advancements in the formulation of ethosomes encapsulating a variety of phytoconstituents are highlighted, with a focus on their physicochemical properties, therapeutic efficacy, and safety profiles. Furthermore, the review examines the mechanisms by which ethosomes enhance the delivery of bioactive compounds to targeted skin layers, particularly in the context of treating conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Challenges associated with formulation stability and scalability are also addressed, along with potential future research directions in this domain. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying existing gaps, this article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of phytoconstituent-based ethosomes as a promising strategy for the development of effective and safe topical therapies for skin disorders. Ultimately, this review underscores the potential of these innovative formulations to improve patient outcomes and contribute significantly to the advancement of dermatological treatment options.

Nanomaterial-Based Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance: Mechanisms and Applications

The rapid rise of antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis, necessitating the development of innovative strategies to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Nanomaterials have emerged as promising tools in this fight, offering unique physicochemical properties that enhance antibiotic efficacy, overcome resistance mechanisms, and provide alternative therapeutic approaches. This review explores the diverse nanomaterial-based strategies used to combat antibiotic resistance, focusing on their mechanisms of action and practical applications. Nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and polymeric nanostructures exhibit antibacterial properties through various pathways, including the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of bacterial membranes, and enhancement of antibiotic delivery. Additionally, the ability of nanomaterials to bypass traditional resistance mechanisms, such as biofilm formation and efflux pumps, has been demonstrated in numerous studies. This review also discusses the synergistic effects observed when nanomaterials are combined with conventional antibiotics, leading to increased bacterial susceptibility and reduced required dosages. By highlighting the recent advancements and clinical applications of nanomaterial-antibiotic combinations, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of how nanomaterials are reshaping the future of antibacterial therapies. Future research directions and challenges, including toxicity and scalability, are also addressed to guide the development of safer, more effective nanomaterial-based antibacterial treatments.

Structurally programmable, functionally tuneable dendrimers in biomedical applications

The application of nanotechnology in medical biology has seen a significant rise in recent years because of the introduction of novel tools that include supramolecular systems, complexes, and composites. Dendrimers are one of the remarkable examples of such tools. These spherical, regularly branching structures with enhanced cell compatibility and bioavailability have shown to be an excellent option for gene or drug administration. They are the fourth important architectural group of polymers after the three well-known types (branched, cross-linked, and linear polymers). These tiny macromolecules generate nanometer-size structures consisting of branching, with identical units assembled around a central core. By regulating dendrimer synthesis, it is possible to manipulate both their molecular weight and chemical content carefully, permitting predictable tailoring of their biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics, making them a promising candidate for biomedical uses. In contrast to their more easily obtainable synthetic techniques and comparable functions in hyperbranched polymers, dendrimers have demonstrated efficacy in biological applications, exhibiting remarkable sample purity and synthesizing reproducibility. Dendrimers are appealing as basic materials for manufacturing nanomaterials for uses in many different disciplines because of their highly specified chemical structure and globular form. Thus, much effort has been made to create functional materials with dendrimers. Especially looking at dendrimer-based nanomaterials meant for use in the biomedical domain, this review discusses the design, types, properties, and function of bionanomaterials employing several techniques, including surface modification, assembly, and hybrid development, and their uses.

Recent advances in lipid-based nanocarriers for advanced skin cancer therapy

Skin cancer is prevalent worldwide,surpassing all other forms of cancer and it does not respond effectively to conventional formulations. Treatment of skin cancer further require deeper permeation into the skin. Therefore, researchers are working on different types of nanoformulations for delivering therapeutic agents to the site of action. Amongst, lipid-based nanoparticles have shown potential for the efficient delivery of drugs to skin tumors, where properties like biocompatible, non-toxic, and biodegradable have attracted researcher concern. The literature revealed that these lipid-mediated nanocarriers with a size < 100 nm treats skin cancer efficiently and surmount resistance by increasing the solubility and stability of the hydrophobic chemotherapeutics. These lipid nanocarriers are safer for topical application and facilitate permeation through the skin by interacting with the lipid bilayer membranes, resulting in rearrangement of them to promote penetration into the cells. This review discussed the research done so far to treat skin cancer with lipid-based nanocarriers. These nanocarriers can be effective tools, which can be explored and established further to combat the increasing incidences of skin cancer in the future.

Advances in Dendritic Systems and Dendronized Nanoparticles: Paradigm Shifts in Cancer Targeted Therapy and Diagnostics

Cancer has emerged as a global health crisis, claiming millions of lives annually. Dendrimers and dendronized nanoparticles, a novel class of nanoscale molecules with highly branched three-dimensional macromolecular structures, have gained significant attention in cancer treatment and diagnosis due to their unique properties. These dendritic macromolecules offer a precisely controlled branching architecture, enabling functionalization with specific targeting molecules to enhance the selective delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. Through surface modifications and the incorporation of various components, dendrimers demonstrate remarkable adaptability as nanocarriers for biomedical imaging and theranostic applications. Surface functionalization strategies, including PEGylation and ligand attachment (e.g., folic acid, RGD peptide, lactobionic acid), further enhance biocompatibility and facilitate targeted tumor cell imaging. Leveraging their improved biocompatibility and target specificity, dendritic nanosystems offer heightened sensitivity and precision in cancer diagnostics. Notably, the encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within dendrimers, such as gold nanoparticles, has shown promise in enhancing tumor imaging capabilities. Ongoing advancements in nanotechnology are poised to increase the sophistication and complexity of dendrimer-based systems, highlighting their potential as nanocarriers in drug delivery platforms, with a growing number of clinical trials on the horizon. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential and future prospects of dendrimers and dendrimer-based nanocarriers in targeted cancer therapy and diagnosis, exploring their ability to enhance biocompatibility, reduce toxicity, and improve therapeutic outcomes across various malignancies.

Plasmodium Falciparum and mosquito vector IgG patterns across suspected malaria cases in Ghana

INTRODUCTION

Malaria, a widespread tropical disease, remains a significant global health issue, resulting in numerous deaths each year. In Ghana, malaria is a leading cause of illness, contributing to a large proportion of hospital outpatient visits. The study assessed the pattern of malaria and vector IgG antibody levels among suspected malaria patients seeking healthcare at selected health facilities across Ghana.

METHODS

Samples from a total of 823 participants aged 1 to 85 years with clinical malaria from the ten regions of Ghana were recruited into the study. Archived plasma obtained from each participant was used to assess antibody responses against MSP1 (19 k), MSP2 (FC27 & 3D7), MSP3, gSG6-P1, and GLURP-RO using ELISA. The data were categorized according to study site, age group, gender, and diagnostic tests. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis's statistics. The statistical significance was assessed at 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean ± standard error of the mean (S.E) of MSP3 IgG concentration for the different age groups were 16, 847 ± 3, 031 ng/mL for 0-4 years, 18, 973 ± 4,357 ng/mL for 5-10 years, 25,961 ± 5,436 ng/mL for 11-15 years and 76, 244 ± 8, 209 ng/mL for ≥ 16 years. A significant (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 122.6, p < 0.0001) increase in P. falciparum MSP 3 (p < 0.0001) and gSG6-P1(p < 0.0001) IgG concentration was observed with increasing age categories. There were significant differences in antibody responses against MSP2 (FC27) IgG (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 29.63, p = 0.0005), MSP3 IgG (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 32.53, p = 0.0002), GLURP-RO IgG (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 52.8, p < 0.0001) and gSG6-P1 IgG (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 152.8, p < 0.0001) across the study regions.

CONCLUSION

The study reveals that IgG against merozoite surface proteins MSP3, GLURP-RO, and gSG6-P1 but not MSP1 and MSP2 antibodies increase with age. The mean IgG antibody concentrations varied in the selected regions of Ghana. A longitudinal study where confounding factors are controlled for is recommended to provide insights into the development of immunity and antibody efficacy, and to enhance the effectiveness of malaria prevention efforts in Ghana. This will help improve the overall understanding of malaria transmission.

Nano- and Micro-Platforms in Therapeutic Proteins Delivery for Cancer Therapy: Materials and Strategies

Proteins have emerged as promising therapeutics in oncology due to their great specificity. Many treatment strategies are developed based on protein biologics, such as immunotherapy, starvation therapy, and pro-apoptosis therapy, while some protein biologics have entered the clinics. However, clinical translation is severely impeded by instability, short circulation time, poor transmembrane transportation, and immunogenicity. Micro- and nano-particles-based drug delivery platforms are designed to solve those problems and enhance protein therapeutic efficacy. This review first summarizes the different types of therapeutic proteins in clinical and research stages, highlighting their administration limitations. Next, various types of micro- and nano-particles are described to demonstrate how they can overcome those limitations. The potential of micro- and nano-particles are then explored to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of proteins by combinational therapies. Finally, the challenges and future directions of protein biologics carriers are discussed for optimized protein delivery.

Folate-engineered chitosan nanoparticles: next-generation anticancer nanocarriers

Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) are well-recognized as promising vehicles for delivering anticancer drugs due to their distinctive characteristics. They have the potential to enclose hydrophobic anticancer molecules, thereby enhancing their solubilities, permeabilities, and bioavailabilities; without the use of surfactant, i.e., through surfactant-free solubilization. This allows for higher drug concentrations at the tumor sites, prevents excessive toxicity imparted by surfactants, and could circumvent drug resistance. Moreover, biomedical engineers and formulation scientists can also fabricate chitosan NPs to slowly release anticancer agents. This keeps the drugs at the tumor site longer, makes therapy more effective, and lowers the frequency of dosing. Notably, some types of cancer cells (fallopian tube, epithelial tumors of the ovary, and primary peritoneum; lung, kidney, ependymal brain, uterus, breast, colon, and malignant pleural mesothelioma) have overexpression of folate receptors (FRs) on their outer surface, which lets folate-drug conjugate-incorporated NPs to target and kill them more effectively. Strikingly, there is evidence suggesting that the excessively produced FR&αgr (isoforms of the FR) stays consistent throughout treatment in ovarian and endometrial cancer, indicating resistance to conventional treatment; and in this regard, folate-anchored chitosan NPs can overcome it and improve the therapeutic outcomes. Interestingly, overly expressed FRs are present only in certain tumor types, which makes them a promising biomarker for predicting the effectiveness of FR-targeted therapy. On the other hand, the folate-modified chitosan NPs can also enhance the oral absorption of medicines, especially anticancer drugs, and pave the way for effective and long-term low-dose oral metronomic scheduling of poorly soluble and permeable drugs. In this review, we talked briefly about the techniques used to create, characterize, and tailor chitosan-based NPs; and delved deeper into the potential applications of folate-engineered chitosan NPs in treating various cancer types.

Synthesis of eco-friendly multifunctional dextran microbeads for multiplexed assays

There has been an increasing demand for simultaneous detection of multiple analytes in one sample. Microbead-based platforms have been developed for multiplexed assays. However, most of the microbeads are made of non-biodegradable synthetic polymers, leading to environmental and human health concerns. In this study, we developed an environmentally friendly dextran microbeads as a new type of multi-analyte assay platform. Biodegradable dextran was utilized as the primary material. Highly uniform magnetic dextran microspheres were successfully synthesized using the Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technique. To enhance the amount of surface functional groups for ligand conjugation, we coated the dextran microbeads with a layer of dendrimers via a simple electrostatic adsorption process. Subsequently, a unique and efficient click chemistry coupling technique was developed for the fluorescence encoding of the microspheres, enabling multiplexed detection. The dextran microbeads were tested for 3-plex cytokine analysis, and exhibited excellent biocompatibility, stable coding signals, low background noise and high sensitivity.

Enhancing cancer immunotherapy: Exploring strategies to target the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and analyzing the associated patent, regulatory, and clinical trial landscape

Cancer treatment modalities and their progression is guided by the specifics of cancer, including its type and site of localization. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the most often used conventional treatments. Conversely, emerging treatment techniques include immunotherapy, hormone therapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, dendritic cell-based immunotherapy, and stem cell therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors' anticancer properties have drawn considerable attention in recent studies in the cancer research domain. Programmed Cell Death Protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) checkpoint pathway are key regulators of the interactions between activated T-cells and cancer cells, protecting the latter from immune destruction. When the ligand PD-L1 attaches to the receptor PD-1, T-cells are prevented from destroying cells that contain PD-L1, including cancer cells. The PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors block them, boosting the immune response and strengthening the body's defenses against tumors. Recent years have seen incredible progress and tremendous advancement in developing anticancer therapies using PD-1/PD-L1 targeting antibodies. While immune-related adverse effects and low response rates significantly limit these therapies, there is a need for research on methods that raise their efficacy and lower their toxicity. This review discusses various recent innovative nanomedicine strategies such as PLGA nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and drug loaded liposomes to treat cancer targeting PD-1/PD-L1 axis. The biological implications of PD-1/PD-L1 in cancer treatment and the fundamentals of nanotechnology, focusing on the novel strategies used in nanomedicine, are widely discussed along with the corresponding guidelines, clinical trial status, and the patent landscape of such formulations.

Journey from lab to clinic: Design, preclinical, and clinical development of systemic, targeted dendrimer-N-acetylcysteine (D-NAC) nanomedicines

Drug discovery is challenging task with numerous obstacles in translating drug candidates into clinical products. Dendrimers are highly adaptable nanostructured polymers with significant potential to improve the chances of clinical success for drugs. Yet, dendrimer-based drug products are still in their infancy. However, Hydroxyl polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers showed significant promise in drug discovery efforts, owning their remarkable potential to selectively target and deliver drugs specifically to activated microglia and astrocytes at the site of brain injury in several preclinical models. After a decade's worth of academic research and pre-clinical efforts, the hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimer-N-acetyl cysteine conjugate (OP-101) nanomedicine has made a significant advancement in the field of nanomedicine and targeted delivery. The OP-101 conjugate, primarily developed and validated in academic labs, has now entered clinical trials as a potential treatment for hyperinflammation in hospitalized adults with severe COVID-19 through Ashvattha Therapeutics. This chapter, we delve into the journey of the hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimer-N-acetylcysteine (NAC) OP-101 formulation from the laboratory to the clinic. It will specifically focus on the design, synthesis, preclinical, and clinical development of OP-101, highlighting the potential it holds for the future of medicine and the positive Phase 2a results for treating severe COVID-19.

Dendritic polymer prodrug-based unimolecular micelles for pH-responsive co-delivery of doxorubicin and camptothecin with synergistic controlled drug release effect

Combination chemotherapy has been recognized as a more powerful strategy for tumor treatment rather than the single chemotherapy. However, the interactive mechanism of the two hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs has not been explored by now. Aiming for a better synergistic effect, such interactive mechanism was investigated in the present work, by designing CPT@DOX-DPUTEA-PEG nanomedicine with encapsulated camptothecin (CPT) and conjugated doxorubicin (DOX). The synergistic controlled drug release effect was found for the two drugs loaded on the different sites of the dendritic polyurethane core. Synergism was achieved on the HepG2 cells with a combination index (CI) of 0.58 in the in vitro cellular experiments. The results demonstrated the promising application of the unimolecular micelles-based nanomedicine with independently loading of two hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs.

Dendritic nanoparticles for immune modulation: a potential next-generation nanocarrier for cancer immunotherapy

Immune activation, whether occurring from direct immune checkpoint blockade or indirectly as a result of chemotherapy, is an approach that has drastically impacted the way we treat cancer. Utilizing patients' own immune systems for anti-tumor efficacy has been translated to robust immunotherapies; however, clinically significant successes have been achieved in only a subset of patient populations. Dendrimers and dendritic polymers have recently emerged as a potential nanocarrier platform that significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy of current and next-generation cancer immunotherapies. In this paper, we highlight the recent progress in developing dendritic polymer-based therapeutics with immune-modulating properties. Specifically, dendrimers, dendrimer hybrids, and dendronized copolymers have demonstrated promising results and are currently in pre-clinical development. Despite their early stage of development, these nanocarriers hold immense potential to make profound impact on cancer immunotherapy and combination therapy. This overview provides insights into the potential impact of dendrimers and dendron-based polymers, offering a preview of their potential utilities for various aspects of cancer treatment.

Inorganic nanoparticle-cored dendrimers for biomedical applications: A review

Hybrid nanostructures exhibit a synergistic combination of features derived from their individual components, showcasing novel characteristics resulting from their distinctive structure and chemical/physical properties. Surface modifiers play a pivotal role in shaping INPs' primary attributes, influencing their physicochemical properties, stability, and functional applications. Among these modifiers, dendrimers have gained attention as highly effective multifunctional agents for INPs, owing to their unique structural qualities, dendritic effects, and physicochemical properties. Dendrimers can be seamlessly integrated with diverse inorganic nanostructures, including metal NPs, carbon nanostructures, silica NPs, and QDs. Two viable approaches to achieving this integration involve either growing or grafting dendrimers, resulting in inorganic nanostructure-cored dendrimers. The initial step involves functionalizing the nanostructures' surface, followed by the generation of dendrimers through stepwise growth or attachment of pre-synthesized dendrimer branches. This hybridization imparts superior qualities to the resulting structure, including biocompatibility, solubility, high cargo loading capacity, and substantial functionalization potential. Combining the unique properties of dendrimers with those of the inorganic nanostructure cores creates a multifunctional system suitable for diverse applications such as theranostics, bio-sensing, component isolation, chemotherapy, and cargo-carrying applications. This review summarizes the recent developments, with a specific focus on the last five years, within the realm of dendrimers. It delves into their role as modifiers of INPs and explores the potential applications of INP-cored dendrimers in the biomedical applications.

Understanding the Novel Approach of Nanoferroptosis for Cancer Therapy

As a new form of regulated cell death, ferroptosis has unraveled the unsolicited theory of intrinsic apoptosis resistance by cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of ferroptosis depends on the induction of oxidative stress through excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation and glutathione depletion to damage the structural integrity of cells. Due to their high loading and structural tunability, nanocarriers can escort the delivery of ferro-therapeutics to the desired site through enhanced permeation or retention effect or by active targeting. This review shed light on the necessity of iron in cancer cell growth and the fascinating features of ferroptosis in regulating the cell cycle and metastasis. Additionally, we discussed the effect of ferroptosis-mediated therapy using nanoplatforms and their chemical basis in overcoming the barriers to cancer therapy.

Quality by Design Assisted Development of Luliconazole Transethosomes in Gel for the Management of Candida albicans Infection

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel vesicular formulation of luliconazole (LUL) for the management of Candida albicans infection through a topical route. LUL-loaded transethosomes (LUL-TE) were prepared by the film hydration method and various independent and dependent variables were optimized using the Box-Behnken design. Selected critical material attributes were the content of phospholipids (X1), concentration of ethanol (X2), and amount of sodium cholate (X3). Formulated LUL-TE were characterized for percent entrapment efficiency, percent drug loading, vesicle size, and polydispersity index (PDI) and were incorporated into the carbomer gel base and further evaluated for gel characterizations. The prepared transethosomal gel (LUL-TE-CHG) was evaluated for pH, spreadability, viscosity, antifungal activity, and in vitro study. From the observed results, it was evident that the prepared LUL-TE-CHG was in the desired pH (6.2 ± 0.45), spreadability [8.3 ± 0.42 g/(cm·s)], viscosity (236.1-19.2.26 mPa·s), nanovesicle size (252 ± 9.82), entrapment efficiency (85% ± 5.24%), zeta potential (-34.05 ± 3.52 mV), and PDI (0.233 ± 0.002). The zone of inhibition results suggested that the LUL-TE-CHG formulation has the highest antifungal activity, that is, 5.83 ± 0.15 mm3. The in vitro results showed that drug release within 2 h was 18.1% ± 2.0% and after that sustained release action, 83.2% ± 1.7% within 8 h. Finally, to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of the developed formulation, fungal infection was induced by using C. albicans in Wistar rats. In vivo, skin irritation study and histopathology studies were performed in the disease-induced model. Animal experiments revealed that LUL-TE-CHG has significantly improved the diseased condition in Wistar rats. The results observed from the skin permeation and skin deposition profile ensure that the prepared novel LUL-loaded TE system had a higher permeation rate and increased retention time compared with LUL-CHG. The hydrogel incorporated with LUL could be a novel approach with safe and effective fungal treatment.

Guanidinium-based Integrated Peptide Dendrimers: Pioneer Nanocarrier in Cancer Therapy

The landscape of cancer therapy has witnessed a paradigm shift with the emergence of innovative delivery systems, and Guanidinium-based Peptide Dendrimers have emerged as a vanguard in this transformative journey. With their unique molecular architecture and intrinsic biocompatibility, these dendrimers offer a promising avenue for the targeted delivery of therapeutic cargo in cancer treatment. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate world of Guanidinium- based Peptide Dendrimers, unraveling their structural intricacies, mechanisms of action, and advancements that have propelled them from laboratory curiosities to potential clinical champions. Exploiting the potent properties of guanidinium, these dendrimers exhibit unparalleled precision in encapsulating and transporting diverse cargo molecules, ranging from conventional chemotherapeutics to cutting-edge nucleic acids. The review navigates the depths of their design principles, investigating their prowess in traversing the complex terrain of cellular barriers for optimal cargo delivery. Moreover, it delves into emerging trends, such as personalized therapeutic approaches, multimodal imaging, and bioinformatics-driven design, highlighting their potential to redefine the future of cancer therapy. Crucially, the review addresses the pivotal concerns of biocompatibility and safety, examining cytotoxicity profiles, immune responses, and in vivo studies. It underscores the importance of aligning scientific marvels with the stringent demands of clinical applications. Through each section, the narrative underscores the promises and possibilities that Guanidinium-based Peptide Dendrimers hold and how they can potentially reshape the landscape of precision cancer therapy.

Advances in Doxorubicin-based nano-drug delivery system in triple negative breast cancer

Triple positive breast cancer (TPBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer. Due to the unique cell phenotype, aggressiveness, metastatic potential and lack of receptors or targets, chemotherapy is the choice of treatment for TNBC. Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the representative agents of anthracycline chemotherapy, has better efficacy in patients with metastatic TNBC (mTNBC). DOX in anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens have higher response rates. Nano-drug delivery systems possess unique targeting and ability of co-load, deliver and release chemotherapeutic drugs, active gene fragments and immune enhancing factors to effectively inhibit or kill tumor cells. Therefore, advances in nano-drug delivery systems for DOX therapy have attracted a considerable amount of attention from researchers. In this article, we have reviewed the progress of nano-drug delivery systems (e.g., Nanoparticles, Liposomes, Micelles, Nanogels, Dendrimers, Exosomes, etc.) applied to DOX in the treatment of TNBC. We also summarize the current progress of clinical trials of DOX combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIS) for the treatment of TNBC. The merits, demerits and future development of nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of TNBC are also envisioned, with the aim of providing a new class of safe and efficient thoughts for the treatment of TNBC.

Recent advancements in the targeted delivery of etoposide nanomedicine for cancer therapy: A comprehensive review

Etoposide (ETO), a popular anticancer drug that inhibits topoisomerase II enzymes, may be administered more effectively and efficiently due to nanomedicine. The therapeutic application of ETO is constrained by its limited solubility, weak absorption, and severe side effects. This article summarizes substantial progress made in the development of ETO nanomedicine for the treatment of cancer. It discusses various organic and inorganic nanostructures used to load or affix ETOs, such as lipids, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), dendrimers, micelles, gold NPs, iron oxide NPs, and silica NPs. In addition, it evaluates the structural properties of these nanostructures, such as their size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release mechanism, as well as their in vitro or in vivo performance. The article also emphasizes the co-delivery of ETO with other medications or agents to produce synergistic effects or combat drug resistance in the treatment of cancer. It concludes with a discussion of the challenges and potential avenues for clinical translation of ETO nanomedicine.

An overview on nanoplatforms for statins delivery: Perspectives for safe and effective therapy

Statins are the most widely used pharmacological agents for reducing blood cholesterol levels and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Most of the statins' derivatives have been limited by water solubility, bioavailability, and oral absorption, which has led to adverse effects on several organs, especially at high doses. As an approach to reducing statin intolerance, achieving a stable formulation with improved efficacy and bioavailability at low doses has been suggested. Nanotechnology-based formulations may provide a therapeutic benefit over traditional formulations in terms of potency and biosafety. Nanocarriers can provide tailored delivery platforms for statins, thereby enhancing the localized biological effects and lowering the risk of undesired side effects while boosting statin's therapeutic index. Furthermore, tailored nanoparticles can deliver the active cargo to the desired site, which culminates in reducing off-targeting and toxicity. Nanomedicine could also provide opportunities for therapeutic methods by personalized medicine. This review delves into the existing data on the potential improvement of statin therapy using nano-formulations.

Hyaluronic acid-functionalized lipoplexes and polyplexes as emerging nanocarriers for receptor-targeted cancer therapy

Cancer is an intricate disease that develops as a response to a combination of hereditary and environmental risk factors, which then result in a variety of changes to the genome. The cluster of differentiation (CD44) is a type of transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a potential biomarker for cancer stem cells (CSC) and viable targets for therapeutic intervention in the context of cancer therapy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear polysaccharide that exhibits a notable affinity for the CD44 receptor. This characteristic renders it a promising candidate for therapeutic interventions aimed at selectively targeting CD44-positive cancer cells. Treating cancer via non-viral vector-based gene delivery has changed the notion of curing illness through the incorporation of therapeutic genes into the organism. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of various hyaluronic acid-modified lipoplexes and polyplexes as potential drug delivery methods for specific forms of cancer by effectively targeting CD44.

Lyophilization of Nanoparticles, Does It Really Work? Overview of the Current Status and Challenges

Nanoparticles are being increasingly used as drug delivery systems to enhance the delivery to and uptake by target cells and to reduce off-target toxicity of free drugs. However, although the advantages of nanoparticles as drug carriers are clear, there are still some limitations, especially in maintaining their long-term stability. Lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying, has been heavily investigated as a solution to this problem. This strategy has been shown to be effective in increasing both the long-term stability of nanoparticles and the shelf life of the drug product. However, the process is still in need of improvement in several aspects, such as the process parameters, formulation factors, and characterization techniques. This review summarizes the advantages and limitations of nanoparticles for the treatment of disease, advantages and limitations, and the status of the lyophilization of nanoparticles for therapeutic use and provides insight into both the advantages and the limitations.

Targeted Bioluminescent Imaging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using Nanocarrier-Complexed EGFR-Binding Affibody-Gaussia Luciferase Fusion Protein

In vivo imaging has enabled impressive advances in biological research, both preclinical and clinical, and researchers have an arsenal of imaging methods available. Bioluminescence imaging is an advantageous method for in vivo studies that allows for the simple acquisition of images with low background signals. Researchers have increasingly been looking for ways to improve bioluminescent imaging for in vivo applications, which we sought to achieve by developing a bioluminescent probe that could specifically target cells of interest. We chose pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as the disease model because it is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and has an extremely low survival rate. We targeted the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is frequently overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells, using an EGFR-specific affibody to selectively identify PDAC cells and delivered a Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) bioluminescent protein for imaging by engineering a fusion protein with both the affibody and the bioluminescent protein. This fusion protein was then complexed with a G5-PAMAM dendrimer nanocarrier. The dendrimer was used to improve the protein stability in vivo and increase signal strength. Our targeted bioluminescent complex had an enhanced uptake into PDAC cells in vitro and localized to PDAC tumors in vivo in pancreatic cancer xenograft mice. The bioluminescent complexes could delineate the tumor shape, identify multiple masses, and locate metastases. Through this work, an EGFR-targeted bioluminescent-dendrimer complex enabled the straightforward identification and imaging of pancreatic cancer cells in vivo in preclinical models. This argues for the targeted nanocarrier-mediated delivery of bioluminescent proteins as a way to improve in vivo bioluminescent imaging.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials-Based Targeted Drug Delivery for Preclinical Cancer Diagnosis and Therapeutics

Nano-oncology is a branch of biomedical research and engineering that focuses on using nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanomaterials are extensively employed in the field of oncology because of their minute size and ultra-specificity. A wide range of nanocarriers, such as dendrimers, micelles, PEGylated liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles are used to facilitate the efficient transport of anti-cancer drugs at the target tumor site. Real-time labeling and monitoring of cancer cells using quantum dots is essential for determining the level of therapy needed for treatment. The drug is targeted to the tumor site either by passive or active means. Passive targeting makes use of the tumor microenvironment and enhanced permeability and retention effect, while active targeting involves the use of ligand-coated nanoparticles. Nanotechnology is being used to diagnose the early stage of cancer by detecting cancer-specific biomarkers using tumor imaging. The implication of nanotechnology in cancer therapy employs photoinduced nanosensitizers, reverse multidrug resistance, and enabling efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and RNA molecules for therapeutic applications. However, despite recent advancements in nano-oncology, there is a need to delve deeper into the domain of designing and applying nanoparticles for improved cancer diagnostics.

Advances in Nanotechnology for Biofilm Inhibition

Biofilm-associated infections have emerged as a significant public health challenge due to their persistent nature and increased resistance to conventional treatment methods. The indiscriminate usage of antibiotics has made us susceptible to a range of multidrug-resistant pathogens. These pathogens show reduced susceptibility to antibiotics and increased intracellular survival. However, current methods for treating biofilms, such as smart materials and targeted drug delivery systems, have not been found effective in preventing biofilm formation. To address this challenge, nanotechnology has provided innovative solutions for preventing and treating biofilm formation by clinically relevant pathogens. Recent advances in nanotechnological strategies, including metallic nanoparticles, functionalized metallic nanoparticles, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, cyclodextrin-based delivery, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymer drug conjugates, and liposomes, may provide valuable technological solutions against infectious diseases. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive review to summarize the recent advancements and limitations of advanced nanotechnologies. The present Review encompasses a summary of infectious agents, the mechanisms that lead to biofilm formation, and the impact of pathogens on human health. In a nutshell, this Review offers a comprehensive survey of the advanced nanotechnological solutions for managing infections. A detailed presentation has been made as to how these strategies may improve biofilm control and prevent infections. The key objective of this Review is to summarize the mechanisms, applications, and prospects of advanced nanotechnologies to provide a better understanding of their impact on biofilm formation by clinically relevant pathogens.

A self-healable metallohydrogel for drug encapsulations and drug release

A self-healable metallohydrogel (MOG) of Mn(ii) has been prepared using a low molecular weight gelator, Na₂HL {H₃L = l-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-benzyl)amino aspartic acid}. The MOG has been characterized by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry, rheological studies, IR spectroscopy, and microscopic techniques. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), indomethacin (IND) and anti-cancer drug gemcitabine (GEM) were encapsulated into the metallohydrogel. The GEM-loaded metallogel (MOG_GEM) shows better delivery and more adverse cytotoxicity than the drug against breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-468 and 4T1. The anti-cancer property was evaluated with in vitro MTT cytotoxic assay, live-dead assay and cell migration assay. In vitro cytotoxicity assay against RAW 264.7 cell line with the treatment of MOG_IND shows the improved anti-inflammatory response in the case of MOG_IND compared to the drug alone.

A review on pollutants remediation competence of nanocomposites on contaminated water

Clean freshwater has been required for drinking, sanitation, agricultural activities, and industry, as well as for the development and maintenance of the eco - systems on which all livelihoods rely. Water contamination is currently a significant concern for researchers all over the world; hence it is essential that somehow this issue is resolved as soon as possible. It is now recognised as one of the most important research areas in the world. Current wastewater treatment techniques degrade a wide range of wastewaters efficiently; however, such methods have some limitations. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a wonderful solution, and researchers are conducting research in this water remediation field with a variety of potential applications. The pollutants remediation capability of nanocomposites as adsorbents, photocatalysts, magnetic separation, and so on for contaminant removal from contaminated water has been examined in this study. This study has spotlighted the most significant nanocomposites invention reported to date for contaminated and effluent remediation, as well as a research gap as well as possible future perspectives.

Recent advances in microbeads-based drug delivery system for achieving controlled drug release

Novel drug delivery system endows a beneficial method for achieving a desired drug concentration at the appropriate site in the body. The concept of targeted drug delivery has been emerged to localize the drug in the targeted tissue of interest while reducing the relative concentration of the medication in the surrounding tissues. This could be easily accomplished by using different multi-particulate dosage forms like pellets, granules, microcapsules, liposomes, beads. But the major drawbacks associated with them are the use of harsh chemicals and an elevated temperature for their preparation. Preparation of microbeads by ionotropic gelation and emulsion gelation method overcomes these problems by neither using harsh chemicals nor elevated temperature for their preparation. Thus, this can be proved to be a better alternative over other dosage forms. Several parameters were studied in terms of their morphology, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, swelling ratio, mucoadhesivity, etc. The endeavor of present article is toward presenting a wider perspective of the comprehensive knowledge available in the field of microbeads. Thus, the intent of this review is to recapitulate the relevance of microbeads.

GLUT1 transporter-facilitated solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer therapeutics for ovarian cancer targeting

The therapeutics available for cancer treatment have the major hurdle of site-specific delivery of anti-cancer drugs to the tumor site and non-target specific side effects. The standard therapy for ovarian cancer still poses numerous pitfalls due to the irrational use of drugs affecting healthy cells. As an appealing approach, nanomedicine could revamp the therapeutic profile of anti-cancer agents. Owing to the low manufacturing cost, increased biocompatibility, and modifiable surface properties, lipid-based nanocarriers, particularly solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), have remarkable drug delivery properties in cancer treatment. Given the extra-ordinary benefits, we developed anti-neoplastic (paclitaxel) drug-loaded SLN (PTX-SLN) and functionalized with N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GLcNAc) (GLcNAc-PTX-SLN) to reduce the rate of proliferation, growth, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells over-expressing GLUT1 transporters. The particles presented considerable size and distribution while demonstrating haemocompatibility. Using GLcNAc modified form of SLNs, confocal microscopy, MTT assay, and flow cytometry study demonstrated higher cellular uptake and significant cytotoxic effect. Also, molecular docking results established excellent binding affinity between GLcNAc and GLUT1, complimenting the feasibility of the therapeutic approach in targeted cancer therapy. Following the compendium of target-specific drug delivery by SLN, our results demonstrated a significant response for ovarian cancer therapy.

Nanocrystals as an emerging nanocarrier for the management of dermatological diseases

Skin conditions are amongst the most prevalent health issues in the world and come with a heavy economic, social, and psychological burden. Incurable and chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections are linked to major morbidity in the manner of physical pain and a reduction in quality life of patients. Several drugs have difficulties for penetrating the skin due to the barrier mechanism of the skin layers and the incompatible physicochemical characteristics of the drugs. This has led to the introduction of innovative drug delivery methods. Currently, formulations depend on nanocrystals have indeed been researched for topical administration of drugs and have resulted in enhanced skin penetration. This review focuses on skin penetration barriers, modern methods to enhance topical distribution, and the use of nanocrystals to overcome these barriers. By means of mechanisms such as adherence to skin, creation of diffusional corona, targeting of hair follicles, and the generation of a greater concentration gradient throughout the skin, nanocrystals could enhance transport across the skin. Scientists working on product formulations incorporating chemicals that are "challenging-to-deliver" topically may find the most current findings to be of relevance.

Properties and Bioapplications of Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers: A Review

Amphiphilic Janus dendrimers are arrangements containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic units, capable of forming ordered aggregates by intermolecular noncovalent interactions between the dendrimer units. Compared to conventional dendrimers, these molecular self-assemblies possess particular and effective attributes i.e., the presence of different terminal groups, essential to design new elaborated materials. The present review will focus on the pharmaceutical and biomedical application of amphiphilic Janus dendrimers. Important information for the development of novel optimized pharmaceutical formulations, such as structural classification, synthetic pathways, properties and applications, will offer the complete characterization of this type of Janus dendrimers. This work will constitute an up-to-date background for dendrimer specialists involved in designing amphiphilic Janus dendrimer-based nanomaterials for future innovations in this promising field.

Formulation and development of novel lipid-based combinatorial advanced nanoformulation for effective treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common malignancies reported with high number of morbidities, demanding an advanced treatment option with superior chemotherapeutic effects. Due to high degree of drug resistance, conventional therapy fails to meet the desired therapeutic efficacy. To break the bottleneck, nanoparticles have been used as next generation vehicles that facilitate the efficient interaction with the cancer cells. Here, we developed combined therapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cannabidiol (CBD)-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel (FU-CBD-NLCs gel). The NLCs were optimized using central composite design that showed an average particle size of 206 nm and a zeta potential of -34 mV. In addition, in vitro and ex vivo drug permeations studies demonstrated the effective delivery of both drugs in the skin layers via lipid structured nanocarriers. Also, the prepared FU-CBD-NLCs showed promising effect in-vitro cell studies including MTT assays, wound healing and cell cycle as compared to the conventional formulation. Moreover, dermatokinetic studies shows there was superior deposition of drugs at epidermal and the dermal layer when treated with FU-CBD-NLCs. In the end, overall study offered a novel combinatorial chemotherapy that could be an option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Lipid-based nanocarrier mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery for cancer therapy

CRISPR/Cas mediated gene-editing has opened new avenues for therapies that show great potential for treating or curing cancers, genetic disorders, and microbial infections such as HIV. CRISPR/Cas9 tool is highly efficacious in revolutionizing the advent of genome editing; however, its efficient and safe delivery is a major hurdle due to its cellular impermeability and instability. Nano vectors could be explored to scale up the safe and effective delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. This review highlights the importance of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system in cancer treatment along with the effect of lipid-based nanoparticles in its safe delivery to cancer cells. The solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carrier, lipid nanoparticles and niosomes have shown great effect in the delivery of CRISPR compounds to the cancer cells. The design and genome editing application in cancer therapy has been discussed along with the future concern and prospects of lipid nanoparticle based CRISPR/Cas9 has been focused toward the end.

Silver-dendrimer nanocomposite as emerging therapeutics in anti-bacteria and beyond

To develop next-generation nanomedicine, theranostic nanotherapeutic strategies are increasingly being emphasized. In recent years, it is observed that the effective lifetime of anti-bacterial and anti-cancer agent is diminishing, which undermines the economic incentives necessary for clinical development and therapeutic applications. Thus, novel formulations ought to not only kill drug resistant strains and cancerous cells but also inhibit their formation. Recently, metallic nanoparticles [for example- silver (Ag) nanoparticles] have been widely investigated for their biomedical applications. The so-called applications necessitate the inclusion of these nanoparticles inside polymeric matrices (for example- dendrimer) leading to chemical functionalization of the metallic nanoparticles. Silver and silver nanoparticles' antibacterial activity has already been well established over years. Dendrimers due to their homogeneous highly branched structure and uniform composition are perfectly suitable for the inclusion of silver nanoparticles [Ag NPs]. Recently, the increasing trend in the development of Ag-dendrimer nanocomposites is attributed to the excellent antibacterial activity of Ag as well as dendrimer's unique properties like variable functional terminal ends and potential antibacterial effect necessarily. This review provides an informative overview regarding the numerous aspects of bactericidal and other biomedical applications of Ag-dendrimer nanocomposites, particularly emphasizing analysis of existing research and prospective worth to the pharmaceutical sector in future.

Advancements in nanoparticle-based treatment approaches for skin cancer therapy

Skin cancer has emerged as the fifth most commonly reported cancer in the world, causing a burden on global health and the economy. The enormously rising environmental changes, industrialization, and genetic modification have further exacerbated skin cancer statistics. Current treatment modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are facing several issues related to cost, toxicity, and bioavailability thereby leading to declined anti-skin cancer therapeutic efficacy and poor patient compliance. In the context of overcoming this limitation, several nanotechnological advancements have been witnessed so far. Among various nanomaterials, nanoparticles have endowed exorbitant advantages by acting as both therapeutic agents and drug carriers for the remarkable treatment of skin cancer. The small size and large surface area to volume ratio of nanoparticles escalate the skin tumor uptake through their leaky vasculature resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this context, the present review provides up to date information about different types and pathology of skin cancer, followed by their current treatment modalities and associated drawbacks. Furthermore, it meticulously discusses the role of numerous inorganic, polymer, and lipid-based nanoparticles in skin cancer therapy with subsequent descriptions of their patents and clinical trials.