Self-assembled carbohydrate-stabilized ceramic nanoparticles for the parenteral delivery of insulin

Formulation, optimization and full characterization of mirtazapine loaded aquasomes: a new technique to boost antidepressant effects

OBJECTIVE

The development of Mirtazapine (MRT)-loaded aquasomes by co-precipitation sonication technique to boost the antidepressant potential of MRT.

METHODOLOGY

MRT-loaded aquasomes formulations were prepared using Box-Behnken design to investigate the effect of independent factors including sonication time (X1), sonication temperature (X2), and sugar concentration (X3) on the dependent variables as particle size and drug loading efficiency. The formulation of the optimized formula was verified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD). Furthermore, the morphology of the formula was evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The optimum MRT- loaded aquasomes was assessed for physiochemical properties, in vitro MRT release and in vivo antidepressant effects in mice model.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the optimized formula showed a small particle size of 202.7 ± 3.7 nm and a high loading efficiency of 77.65 ± 2.6%. Thermal DSC and XRPD studies demonstrated the amorphous nature of MRT-loaded aquasomes. The in vitro study demonstrated sustained release of F (opt) 88.16% after 8 h, compared with plain MRT release of 63.06% after 1 h. Mice treated with MRT-loaded aquasomes demonstrated reduced immobility time in behavioral analysis to 37% with MRT-loaded aquasomes, while plain MRT reduced it to 55%.

CONCLUSION

These results confirmed that the antidepressant effect of MRT was significantly boosted in formulated aquasomes, and thereby they provide a promising carrier nano vesicular system for effective delivery of MRT.

Review on Different Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems (VDDSs) and Their Applications

BACKGROUND

Colloidal dispersions, also known as vesicular drug delivery systems (VDDSs), are highly ordered assemblies composed of one or more concentric bilayers formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic building blocks in the presence of water.

OBJECTIVE

VDDSs are important to target the entrapped drugs at specific sites inside the body, control the drug release, enhance the drug bioavailability, and reduce undesired side effects.

METHODS

There are different types of VDDSs suitable for the entrapment of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. According to the patent composition, VDDSs are classified into lipid-based and nonlipid- based VDDSs.

RESULTS

There are different types of VDDSs which include liposomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, ufasomes, colloidosomes, cubosomes, niosomes, bilosomes, aquasomes, etc. Conclusion: This review article aims to address the different types of VDDSs, their advantages and disadvantages, and their therapeutic applications.

NANO-BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS INNOVATIVE PERSPECTIVE IN DIABETES MANAGEMENT

Diabetes occurs due to the imbalance of glucose in the body known as glucose homeostasis, thus leading to metabolic changes in the body. The two stages hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia classify diabetes into various categories. Various bio-nanotechnological approaches are coupled up with nano particulates, polymers, liposome, various gold plated and solid lipid particulates, regulating transcellular transport, non specific cellular uptake, and paracellular transport, leading to oral, trans-dermal , pulmonary, buccal , nasal , specific gene oriented administration to avoid the patient's non compliance with the parental routes of administration. Phytochemicals are emerging strategies for the future prospects of diabetes management.

(Carboxymethyl-stevioside)-coated magnetic dots for enhanced magnetic hyperthermia and improved glioblastoma treatment

The use of different types of biomaterials as surfactant moities has a defined role in magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT). In this work, we present carboxymethyl-stevioside (CMS)-modified magnetic dots (MDs) as efficient magnetic hyperthermia agents for glioma therapy. The synthesized MDs with CMS biosurfactant coating exhibited significant water stability that resulted in a remarkable specific absorption rate of 209.25 W/g on application of alternating magnetic field of strength 359 kHz and 188 Oe. The MDs further demonstrated significant anti-migratory and anti-invasive effect on glioma C6 cells by inhibiting the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9. The effect of immediate and long term hyperthermia treatment was then evaluated after repetitive exposure to hyperthermia, in terms of glioma cell viability, the effect of treatment on cell morphology, the cell cycle distribution and oxidative stress generation. The results obtained suggest the promising potential of CMS-modified nano-heaters for excellent magnetic hyperthermia-mediated glioma therapy.

Advanced trends in protein and peptide drug delivery: a special emphasis on aquasomes and microneedles techniques

Proteins and peptides have a great potential as therapeutic agents; they have higher efficiency and lower toxicity, compared to chemical drugs. However, their oral bioavailability is very low; also, the transdermal peptide delivery faces absorption limitations. Accordingly, most of proteins and peptides are administered by parenteral route, but there are many problems associated with this route such as patient discomfort, especially for pediatric use. Thus, it is a great challenge to develop drug delivery systems for administration of proteins and peptides by routes other than parenteral one. This review provides an overview on recent advances adopted for protein and peptide drug delivery, focusing on oral and transdermal routes. This is followed by an emphasis on two recent approaches adopted as delivery systems for protein and peptide drugs, namely aquasomes and microneedles. Aquasomes are nanoparticles fabricated from ceramics developed to enhance proteins and peptides stability, providing an adequate residence time in circulation. It consists of ceramic core coated with poly hydroxyl oligomer, on which protein and peptide drug can be adsorbed. Aquasomes preparation, characterization, and application in protein and peptide drug delivery are discussed. Microneedles are promising transdermal approach; it involves creation of micron-sized pores in the skin for enhancing the drug delivery across the skin, as their length ranged between 150 and 1500 μm. Types of microneedles with different drug delivery mechanisms, characterization, and application in protein and peptide drug delivery are discussed. Graphical abstract.

Selected nanotechnologies and nanostructures for drug delivery, nanomedicine and cure

The development of nanoparticle-based drugs has provided many opportunities to diagnose, treat and cure challenging diseases. Through the manipulation of size, morphology, surface modification, surface characteristics, and materials used, a variety of nanostructures can be developed into smart systems, encasing therapeutic and imaging agents with stealth properties. These nanostructures can deliver drugs to specific tissues or sites and provide controlled release therapy. This targeted and sustained drug delivery decreases the drug-related toxicity and increases the patient's compliance with less frequent dosing. Nanotechnology employing nanostructures as a tool has provided advances in the diagnostic testing of diseases and cure. This technology has proven beneficial in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, and many other diseases. This review article highlights the recent advances in nanostructures and nanotechnology for drug delivery, nanomedicine and cures.

Physical PEGylation Enhances The Cytotoxicity Of 5-Fluorouracil-Loaded PLGA And PCL Nanoparticles

Purpose

The main goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of physical incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NPs).

Methods

The 5-FU-loaded NPs were prepared utilizing a simple double emulsion method using polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) with or without PEG 6000. The surface charge, particle size, and shape of NPs were evaluated by standard procedures. Both Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectra of the 5-FU loaded NPs were compared against the pure 5-FU. The in vitro release profile of 5-FU from the NPs was monitored by the dialysis tubing method. Cell death and apoptosis induction in response to 5-FU NP exposure were measured by MTT and Annexin-V/7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) assays, respectively, in Daoy, HepG2, and HT-29 cancer cell lines.

Results

The 5-FU loaded NPs were found to be spherical in shape with size ranging between 176±6.7 and 253.9±8.6 nm. The zeta potential varied between -7.13± 0.13 and -27.06±3.18 mV, and the entrapment efficiency was between 31.96% and 74.09%. The in vitro release of the drug followed a two-phase mode characterized by rapid release in the first 8 hrs followed by a period of slow release up to 72 hrs with composition-based variable extents. Cells exposed to NPs demonstrated a significant cell death which correlated with the ratio of PEG in the formulations in Daoy and HepG2 cells but not in HT-29 cells. Formulations (F1-F3) significantly induced early apoptosis in HT-29 cell lines.

Conclusion

The physical PEGylation significantly enhanced the entrapment and loading efficiencies of 5-FU into NPs formulated with PLGA and PCL. It also fostered the in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-FU-loaded NPs in both Daoy and HepG2 cells. Induction of early apoptosis was confirmed for some of the formulations.

Microfluidics as tool to prepare size-tunable PLGA nanoparticles with high curcumin encapsulation for efficient mucus penetration

Great challenges still remain to develop drug carriers able to penetrate biological barriers (such as the dense mucus in cystic fibrosis) and for the treatment of bacteria residing in biofilms, embedded in mucus. Drug carrier systems such as nanoparticles (NPs) require proper surface chemistry and small size to ensure their permeability through the hydrogel-like systems. We have employed a microfluidic system to fabricate poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with a muco-penetrating stabilizer (Pluronic), with a tunable hydrodynamic diameter ranging from 40 nm to 160 nm. The size dependence was evaluated by varying different parameters during preparation, namely polymer concentration, stabilizer concentration, solvent nature, the width of the focus mixing channel, flow rate ratio and total flow rate. Furthermore, the influence of the length of the focus mixing channel on the size was evaluated in order to better understand the nucleation-growth mechanism. Surprisingly, the channel length was revealed to have no effect on particle size for the chosen settings. In addition, curcumin was loaded (EE% of ≈68%) very efficiently into the nanoparticles. Finally, the permeability of muco-penetrating PLGA NPs through pulmonary human mucus was assessed; small NPs with a diameter of less than 100 nm showed fast permeation, underlining the potential of microfluidics for such pharmaceutical applications.

A role for ultrasound in the fabrication of carbohydrate-supported nanomaterials

Nowadays, sonication is a well-known technique for the fabrication and surface modification of nanomaterials with various sizes, shapes, and chemical and physical properties. In addition to conducting catalyst-mediated chemical reactions and enhancing medicinal properties, such as antibacterial and antifungal activities, nanoparticles made from biodegradable and biocompatible carbohydrate coatings and glycosidic frameworks offer exciting opportunities for the development of biomaterials, optical sensors, packaging materials, agricultural products, and food. This review article discusses the synthesis of carbohydrate-coated nanoparticles by ultrasound radiation as well as the many applications of these nanoparticles.

Nanocarrier fabrication and macromolecule drug delivery: challenges and opportunities

Macromolecules (proteins/peptides) have the potential for the development of new therapeutics. Due to their specific mechanism of action, macromolecules can be administered at relatively low doses compared with small-molecule drugs. Unfortunately, the therapeutic potential and clinical application of macromolecules is hampered by various obstacles including their large size, short in vivo half-life, phagocytic clearance, poor membrane permeability and structural instability. These challenges have encouraged researchers to develop novel strategies for effective delivery of macromolecules. In this review, various routes of macromolecule administration (invasive/noninvasive) are discussed. The advantages/limitations of novel delivery systems and the potential role of nanotechnology for the delivery of macromolecules are elaborated. In addition, fabrication approaches to make nanoformulations in different shapes and sizes are also summarized.

Biodegradable polymeric nanostructures in therapeutic applications: opportunities and challenges

Biodegradable polymeric nanostructures (BPNs) have shown great promise in different therapeutic applications such as diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, cosmetics, organ implants, and tissue engineering.

Nanotoxicity: An Interplay of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Cell Death

Nanoparticles are emerging as a useful tool for a wide variety of biomedical, consumer and instrumental applications that include drug delivery systems, biosensors and environmental sensors. In particular, nanoparticles have been shown to offer greater specificity with enhanced bioavailability and less detrimental side effects as compared to the existing conventional therapies in nanomedicine. Hence, bionanotechnology has been receiving immense attention in recent years. However, despite the extensive use of nanoparticles today, there is still a limited understanding of nanoparticle-mediated toxicity. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that nanoparticles are closely associated with toxicity by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and/or the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. The homeostatic redox state of the host becomes disrupted upon ROS induction by nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are also known to up-regulate the transcription of various pro-inflammatory genes, including tumor necrosis factor-α and IL (interleukins)-1, IL-6 and IL-8, by activating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. These sequential molecular and cellular events are known to cause oxidative stress, followed by severe cellular genotoxicity and then programmed cell death. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying nanotoxicity are not fully understood. This lack of knowledge is a significant impediment in the use of nanoparticles in vivo. In this review, we will provide an assessment of signaling pathways that are involved in the nanoparticle- induced oxidative stress and propose possible strategies to circumvent nanotoxicity.

Stealth lipid coated aquasomes bearing recombinant human interferon-α-2b offered prolonged release and enhanced cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells

PURPOSE

In present investigation, recombinant human interferon-α-2b (rhINF-α-2b) loaded aquasomes were prepared, optimized and overlaid with PEGylated phospholipid to offer prolong release and high therapeutic index against ovarian cancer, SKOV3 cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were employed to calculate the optimized conditions, 1:3 core to coat ratio, sonication power of 12.5W and time of about 55min for preparation of aquasomes. Consequently, rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes exhibited higher protein loading capacity and retained structural conformations of rhINF-α-2b, as compared to rhINF-α-2b-Cellob-Aq.somes, rhINF-α-2b-Tre-Aq.somes and rhINF-α-2b-Core (CaHPO4). Further, optimized rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes was superimposed with phospholipid-PEG2000 to prolong the release pattern of rhINF-α-2b from aquasomes. The rhINF-α-2b-core (CaHPO4) released 97.3% of protein in 1h, while 95.3% of rhINF-α-2b was released by rhINF-α-2b-Tre-Aq.somes in 4h. Concurrently, rhINF-α-2b-Cellob-Aq.somes and rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes released 96.2% and 97.8% of rhINF-α-2b respectively in 6 and 8h. Ultimately, rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes-P-PEG2000 displayed evidence of its prolonged release pattern and released 98.1% of rhINF-α-2b in 336h. FT-IR and XRD substantiated the involvement of vigorous intermolecular hydrogen bonding and amorphous geometry in rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes. In last, rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes-P-PEG2000 exhibited the∼4.55, 1.92, 2.3, 2.8, and 3.84 fold reductions in IC50 as compared to free rhINF-α-2b, rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes, rhINF-α-2b-Cellob-Aq.somes, rhINF-α-2b-Tre-Aq.somes and rhINF-α-2b-Core (CaHPO4), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, rhINF-α-2b-Py-5-P-Aq.somes-P-PEG2000 warrant further in depth in vitro and in vivo antitumor study to scale up the technology for clinical intervention.

Lipid Based Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems

Vesicular drug delivery system can be defined as highly ordered assemblies consisting of one or more concentric bilayers formed as a result of self-assembling of amphiphilic building blocks in presence of water. Vesicular drug delivery systems are particularly important for targeted delivery of drugs because of their ability to localize the activity of drug at the site or organ of action thereby lowering its concentration at the other sites in body. Vesicular drug delivery system sustains drug action at a predetermined rate, relatively constant (zero order kinetics), efficient drug level in the body, and simultaneously minimizes the undesirable side effects. It can also localize drug action in the diseased tissue or organ by targeted drug delivery using carriers or chemical derivatization. Different types of pharmaceutical carriers such as polymeric micelles, particulate systems, and macro- and micromolecules are presented in the form of novel drug delivery system for targeted delivery of drugs. Particulate type carrier also known as colloidal carrier system, includes lipid particles, micro- and nanoparticles, micro- and nanospheres, polymeric micelles and vesicular systems like liposomes, sphingosomes, niosomes, transfersomes, aquasomes, ufasomes, and so forth.

Smart designing of new hybrid materials based on brushite-alginate and monetite-alginate microspheres: bio-inspired for sequential nucleation and growth

In this report new hybrid materials based on brushite-alginate and monetite-alginate were prepared by self-assembling alginate chains and phosphate source ions via a gelation process with calcium ions. The alginate served as nanoreactor for nucleation and growth of brushite or/and monetite due to its gelling and swelling properties. The alginate gel framework, the crystalline phase and morphology of formed hybrid biomaterials were shown to be strongly dependent upon the concentration of the phosphate precursors. These materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX).

Ceramic nanocarriers: versatile nanosystem for protein and peptide delivery

INTRODUCTION

Proteins and peptides have been established to be the potential drug candidate for various human diseases. But, delivery of these therapeutic protein and peptides is still a challenge due to their several unfavorable properties. Nanotechnology is expanding as a promising tool for the efficient delivery of proteins and peptides. Among numerous nano-based carriers, ceramic nanoparticles have proven themselves as a unique carrier for protein and peptide delivery as they provide a more stable, bioavailable, readily manufacturable, and acceptable proteins and polypeptide formulation.

AREAS COVERED

This article provides an overview of the various aspects of ceramic nanoparticles including their classification, methods of preparation, latest advances, and applications as protein and peptide delivery carriers.

EXPERT OPINION

Ceramic nanocarriers seem to have potential for preserving structural integrity of proteins and peptides, thereby promoting a better therapeutic effect. This approach thus provides pharmaceutical scientists with a new hope for the delivery of proteins and peptides. Still, considerable study on ceramic nanocarrier is necessary with respect to pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and animal studies to confirm their efficiency as well as safety and to establish their clinical usefulness and scale-up to industrial level.

Multifactorial determinants that govern nanoparticle uptake by human endothelial cells under flow

Vascular endothelium is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in diverse pathological processes, including inflammation, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. By virtue of their intravascular topography, endothelial cells are exposed to dynamically changing mechanical forces that are generated by blood flow. In the present study, we investigated the interactions of negatively charged 2.7 nm and 4.7 nm CdTe quantum dots and 50 nm silica particles with cultured endothelial cells under regulated shear stress (SS) conditions. Cultured cells within the engineered microfluidic channels were exposed to nanoparticles under static condition or under low, medium, and high SS rates (0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 Pa, respectively). Vascular inflammation and associated endothelial damage were simulated by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or by compromising the cell membrane with the use of low Triton X-100 concentration. Our results demonstrate that SS is critical for nanoparticle uptake by endothelial cells. Maximal uptake was registered at the SS rate of 0.05 Pa. By contrast, endothelial exposure to mild detergents or TNF-α treatment had no significant effect on nanoparticle uptake. Atomic force microscopy demonstrated the increased formation of actin-based cytoskeletal structures, including stress fibers and membrane ruffles, which have been associated with nanoparticle endocytosis. In conclusion, the combinatorial effects of SS rates, vascular endothelial conditions, and nanoparticle physical and chemical properties must be taken into account for the successful design of nanoparticle-drug conjugates intended for parenteral delivery.

Novel erythropoietin-loaded nanoparticles with prolonged in vivo response

The aim of this study was to incorporate human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles targeting a prolonged-release effect. EPO-loaded poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles were prepared using double emulsion method (w/o/w) with least process-related stress on the encapsulated drug. The nanoparticles have been fully characterized including in vitro release profile. The biological activity was assessed in vivo using BALB-c mice. The produced particles appeared spherical in shape with smooth regular surfaces and had an average particle size of 225.9 ± 3.8 nm. The entrapment efficiency was 33.3%. The in vitro release profile exhibited a biphasic mode with a burst of 50% cumulative drug release, followed by a slow rate of release over 24 h, reaching a maximum of 82%. The bioassay results showed that EPO-loaded nanoparticles were able to maintain the physiological activity of EPO for 14 days after single subcutaneous injection compared with pure and marketed EPO formulae (EPREX®).

Nanochemoprevention by bioactive food components: a perspective

Chemoprevention through the use of bioactive food components is a practical approach for cancer control. Despite abundant efficacy data under preclinical settings, this strategy has resulted in limited success for human cancer control. Amongst many reasons, inefficient systemic delivery and bioavailability of promising chemopreventive agents are considered to significantly contribute to such a disconnect. We recently introduced a novel concept in which we utilized nanotechnology for enhancing the outcome of chemoprevention (Cancer Res. 2009; 69:1712-6) and termed it nanochemoprevention. To establish the proof-of-principle of nanotechnology for cancer management, we determined the efficacy of a well-known chemopreventive agent epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) encapsulated in polylactic acid (PLA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles in preclinical settings and observed that, compared to non-encapsulated EGCG, nano-EGCG retained its biological efficacy with over 10-fold dose advantage both in cell culture system and in vivo settings in athymic nude mice implanted with human prostate cancer cells. This study laid the foundation of nanochemoprevention by bioactive food components. Since oral consumption is the most desirable and acceptable form of delivery of bioactive food components, it will be important to develop nanoparticles containing bioactive food components that are suitable for oral consumption for which experiments are underway in this laboratory.

Do nanomedicines require novel safety assessments to ensure their safety for long-term human use?

Nanomaterials have different chemical, physical and biological characteristics than larger materials of the same chemical composition. These differences give nanotechnology a double identity: their use implies novel and interesting medical and/or industrial applications but also potential danger for human and environmental health. Here, we briefly review the most important types of nanomaterials, the difficulties in assessing safety or toxicity, and describe existing test protocols used in nanomaterial safety evaluation. In general, the big challenge of nanotechnology, particularly for nanomedicine (nano-bioengineering), is to understand which nano-specific characteristics interact with particular biological systems and functions in order to optimize the therapeutic potential and reduce the undesired responses. The evaluation of the safety of medicinal nanomaterials, especially for long-term application, is an important challenge for the near future. At present, it is still too early to predict, on the basis of the characteristics of the nanomaterial, a possible biological response because no reliable database exists. Therefore, a case-by-case approach for hazard identification is still required, so it is difficult to establish a risk assessment framework.

Biomaterials for the central nervous system

Biomaterials are widely used to help treat neurological disorders and/or improve functional recovery in the central nervous system (CNS). This article reviews the application of biomaterials in (i) shunting systems for hydrocephalus, (ii) cortical neural prosthetics, (iii) drug delivery in the CNS, (iv) hydrogel scaffolds for CNS repair, and (v) neural stem cell encapsulation for neurotrauma. The biological and material requirements for the biomaterials in these applications are discussed. The difficulties that the biomaterials might face in each application and the possible solutions are also reviewed in this article.

Preparation, Characterization, and Scale-up of Ketoconazole with Enhanced Dissolution and Bioavailability

Many new molecular entities targeted for pharmaceutical applications face serious development challenges because of poor water solubility. Although particle engineering technologies such as controlled precipitation have been shown to enhance aqueous dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, the data available are the results of laboratory-scale experiments. These technologies must be evaluated at larger scale to ensure that the property enhancement is scalable and that the modified drugs can be processed on conventional equipment. In experiments using ketoconazole as the model drug, the controlled precipitation process was shown to produce kg-scale modified drug powder with enhanced dissolution comparable to that of lab-scale powder. Ketoconazole was demonstrated to be stable throughout the controlled precipitation process, with a residual methanol level below the ICH limit. The modified crystalline powder can be formulated, and then compressed using conventional high-speed tableting equipment, and the resulting tablets showed bioavailability more than double that of commercial tablets. When appropriately protected from moisture, both the modified powder and tablets prepared from the modified powder showed no change in dissolution performance for at least 6 months following storage at accelerated conditions and for at least 18 months following storage at room temperature.

Detecting and treating cancer with nanotechnology

Nanotechnology offers many opportunities for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic medicine against cancer and other diseases. In this review, the special properties that result from the nanoscale size of quantum dots, metal colloids, superparamagnetic iron oxide, and carbon-based nanostructures are reviewed and interpreted against a background of the structural and electronic detail that gives rise to their nanotechnologic behavior. The detection and treatment of cancer is emphasized, with special attention paid to the biologic targeting of the disease. The future of nanotechnology in cancer research and clinical practice is projected to focus on 'theranostic' nanoparticles that are both diagnostic and therapeutic by design.

Nanotechnology in cardiovascular medicine

Nanotechnology is a new field of science and technology that has already had significant impact in the development of novel products in industry. In medicine, application of nanotechnology has the potential to develop new imaging agents, pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices with unique physical and chemical properties. This article reviews the potential for various nanoparticles in cardiovascular imaging and therapeutics, nanoporous structures for sensing and implant based drug delivery, and self-assembled monolayers for surface modification and implant based drug delivery.

Nanoparticles: pharmacological and toxicological significance

Nanoparticles are tiny materials (<1000 nm in size) that have specific physicochemical properties different to bulk materials of the same composition and such properties make them very attractive for commercial and medical development. However, nanoparticles can act on living cells at the nanolevel resulting not only in biologically desirable, but also in undesirable effects. In contrast to many efforts aimed at exploiting desirable properties of nanoparticles for medicine, there are limited attempts to evaluate potentially undesirable effects of these particles when administered intentionally for medical purposes. Therefore, there is a pressing need for careful consideration of benefits and side effects of the use of nanoparticles in medicine. This review article aims at providing a balanced update of these exciting pharmacological and potentially toxicological developments. The classes of nanoparticles, the current status of nanoparticle use in pharmacology and therapeutics, the demonstrated and potential toxicity of nanoparticles will be discussed.

Emerging implications of nanotechnology on cancer diagnostics and therapeutics

Nanotechnology is multidisciplinary field that involves the design and engineering of objects <500 nanometers (nm) in size. The National Cancer Institute has recognized that nanotechnology offers an extraordinary, paradigm-changing opportunity to make significant advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In the last several decades, nanotechnology has been studied and developed primarily for use in novel drug-delivery systems (e.g. liposomes, gelatin nanoparticles, micelles). A recent explosion in engineering and technology has led to 1) the development of many new nanoscale platforms, including quantum dots, nanoshells, gold nanoparticles, paramagnetic nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes, and 2) improvements in traditional, lipid-based nanoscale platforms. The emerging implications of these platforms for advances in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics form the basis of this review. A widespread understanding of these new technologies is important, because they currently are being integrated into the clinical practice of oncology.

Engineered nanoparticles as precise drug delivery systems

With the remarkable development of nanotechnology in recent years, new drug delivery approaches based on the state-of-the-art nanotechnology have been receiving significant attention. Nanoparticles, an evolvement of nanotechnology, are increasingly considered as a potential candidate to carry therapeutic agents safely into a targeted compartment in an organ, particular tissue or cell. These particles are colloidal structures with a diameter smaller than 1,000 nm, and therefore can penetrate through diminutive capillaries into the cell's internal machinery. This innovative delivery technique might be a promising technology to meet the current challenges in drug delivery. When loaded with a gene or drug agent, nanoparticles can become nanopills, which can effectively treat problematical diseases such as cancer. This article summarizes different types of nanoparticles drug delivery systems under investigation and their prospective therapeutic applications. Also, this article presents a closer look at the advances, current challenges, and future direction of nanoparticles drug delivery systems.

Nanocarriers: Promising Vehicle for Bioactive Drugs

Development of new delivery systems that deliver the potential drug specifically to the target site in order to meet the therapeutic needs of the patients at the required time and level remains the key challenge in the field of pharmaceutical biotechnology. Developments in this context to achieve desired goal has led to the evolution of the multidisciplinary field nanobiotechnology which involves the combination of two most promising technologies of 21st century--biotechnology and nanotechnology. Nanobiotechnology encompasses a wide array of different techniques to improve the delivery of biotech drugs, and nanoparticles offer the most suitable form whose properties can be tailored by chemical methods. This review highlights the different types of nanoparticulate delivery systems employed for biotech drugs in the field of molecular medicine with a short overlook at its applications and the probable associated drawbacks.

Nanoparticle Engineering Processes for Enhancing the Dissolution Rates of Poorly Water Soluble Drugs

Poor water solubility is an industry wide issue, especially for pharmaceutical scientists in drug discovery and drug development. In recent years, nanoparticle engineering processes have become promising approaches for the enhancement of dissolution rates of poorly water soluble drugs. Nanoparticle engineering enables manufacturing of poorly water soluble drugs into nanoparticles alone, or incorporation with a combination of pharmaceutical excipients. The use of these processes has dramatically improved in vitro dissolution rates and in vivo bioavailabilities of many poorly water soluble drugs. This review highlights several commercially or potentially commercially available nanoparticle engineering processes recently reported in the literature for increasing the dissolution properties of poorly water soluble drugs.

Nanotech approaches to drug delivery and imaging

Nanotechnology, a multidisciplinary scientific undertaking, involves creation and utilization of materials, devices or systems on the nanometer scale. The field of nanotechnology is currently undergoing explosive development on many fronts. The technology is expected to create innovations and play a critical role in various biomedical applications, not only in drug delivery, but also in molecular imaging, biomarkers and biosensors. Target-specific drug therapy and methods for early diagnosis of pathologies are the priority research areas where nanotechnology would play a vital role. This review considers different nanotechnology-based drug delivery and imaging approaches, and their economic impact on pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.