Lipid based nanocarriers for effective drug delivery and treatment of diabetes associated liver fibrosis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a cluster of several liver diseases like hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis which may eventually progress to liver carcinoma. One of the primary key factors associated with the development and pathogenesis of NAFLD is diabetes mellitus. The present review emphasizes on diabetes-associated development of liver fibrosis and its treatment using different lipid nanoparticles such as stable nucleic acid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, and conjugates including phospholipid, fatty acid and steroid-based. We have comprehensively described the various pathological and molecular events linking effects of elevated free fatty acid levels, insulin resistance, and diabetes with the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Various passive and active targeting strategies explored for targeting hepatic stellate cells, a key target in liver fibrosis, have also been discussed in detail in this review.

Strategies to load therapeutics into polysaccharide-based nanogels with a focus on microfluidics: A review

Nowadays nanoparticles are increasingly investigated for the targeted and controlled delivery of therapeutics, as suggested by the high number of research articles (2400 in 2000 vs 8500 in 2020). Among them, almost 2% investigated nanogels in 2020. Nanogels or nanohydrogels (NGs) are nanoparticles formed by a swollen three-dimensional network of synthetic polymers or natural macromolecules such as polysaccharides. NGs represent a highly versatile nanocarrier, able to deliver a number of therapeutics. Currently, NGs are undergoing clinical trials for the delivery of anti-cancer vaccines. Herein, the strategies to load low molecular weight drugs, (poly)peptides and genetic material into polysaccharide NGs as well as to formulate NGs-based vaccines are summarized, with a focus on the microfluidics approach.

Degradability and Clearance of Inorganic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Inorganic nanoparticles with tunable and diverse properties hold tremendous potential in the field of nanomedicine, while having non-negligible toxicity concerns in healthy tissues/organs that have resulted in their restricted clinical translation to date. In the past decade, the emergence of biodegradable or clearable inorganic nanoparticles has made it possible to completely solve this long-standing conundrum. A comprehensive understanding of the design of these inorganic nanoparticles with their metabolic performance in the body is of crucial importance to advance clinical trials and expand their biological applications in disease diagnosis. Here, a diverse variety of biodegradable or clearable inorganic nanoparticles regarding considerations of the size, morphology, surface chemistry, and doping strategy are highlighted. Their pharmacokinetics, pathways of metabolism in the body, and time required for excretion are discussed. Some inorganic materials intrinsically responsive to various conditions in the tumor microenvironment are also introduced. Finally, an overview of the encountered challenges is provided along with an outlook for applying these inorganic nanoparticles toward future clinical translations.

Targeting cancer with hyaluronic acid-based nanocarriers: recent advances and translational perspectives

Hyaluronic acid is a natural polysaccharide that has been widely explored for the development of anticancer therapies due to its ability to target cancer cells. Moreover, advances made in the last decade have revealed the versatility of this biomaterial in the design of multifunctional carriers, intended for the delivery of a variety of bioactive molecules, including polynucleotides, immunomodulatory drugs and imaging agents. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the major recent achievements in this field, highlighting the application of the newly developed nanostructures in combination therapies, immunomodulation and theranostics. Finally, we will discuss the main challenges and technological advances that will allow these carriers to be considered as candidates for clinical development.

Solid lipid nanoparticles as attractive drug vehicles: Composition, properties and therapeutic strategies

This work briefly reviews up-to-date developments in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as effective nanocolloidal system for drug delivery. It summarizes SLNs in terms of their preparation, surface modification and properties. The application of SLNs as a carrier system enables to improve the therapeutic efficacy of drugs from various therapeutic groups. Present uses of SLNs include cancer therapy, dermatology, bacterial infections, brain targeting and eye disorders among others. The usage of SLNs provides enhanced pharmacokinetic properties and modulated release of drugs. SLN ubiquitous application results from their specific features such as possibility of surface modification, increased permeation through biological barriers, resistance to chemical degradation, possibility of co-delivery of various therapeutic agents or stimuli-responsiveness. This paper will be useful to the scientists working in the domain of SLN-based drug delivery systems.

Synthesis and In Vivo PET Imaging of Hyaluronan Conjugates of Oligonucleotides

Synthesis for (68)Ga-labeled 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-chelated oligonucleotide hyaluronan (HA) tetra- and hexasaccharide conjugates is described. A solid-supported technique is used to introduce NOTA-chelator into the 3'-terminus of oligonucleotides and a copper-free strain promoted azide alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) to HA/oligonucleotide conjugation. Protecting group manipulation, required for the HA-moieties, is carried out after the SPAAC-conjugation. Positron emission tomography (PET) is used (1) in the whole-body distribution kinetic studies of the conjugates in healthy rats and (2) to show the potential of hyaluronan-induced targeting of oligonucleotides into the infarcted area of rats with myocardial infarction.

Preparation and characterization of double macromolecular network (DMMN) hydrogels based on hyaluronan and high molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol)

Ultra-strong and resilient double macromolecular network (DMMN) hydrogels with a more evenly distributed polymer network and a double-network structure have been developed.