Development of ibuprofen-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier-based gels: characterization and investigation of in vitro and in vivo penetration through the skin

Evaluation of Emulgel and Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Based Gel Formulations for Transdermal Administration of Ibuprofen: Characterization, Mechanical Properties, and Ex-Vivo Skin Permeation

In transdermal applications of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the rheological and mechanical properties of the dosage form affect the performance of the drug. The aim of this study to develop emulgel and nanostructured lipid carrier NLC-based gel formulations containing ibuprofen, evaluate their mechanical properties, bioadhesive value and ex-vivo rabbit skin permeability. All formulations showed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior and their viscosity values are suitable for topical application. The particle size of the nanostructured lipid carrier system was found to be 468 ± 21 nm, and the encapsulation efficiency was 95.58 ± 0.41%. According to the index of viscosity, consistency, firmness, and cohesiveness values obtained as a result of the back extrusion study, E2 formulation was found to be more suitable for transdermal application. The firmness and work of shear values of the E2 formulation, which has the highest viscosity value, were also found to be the highest and it was chosen as the most suitable formulation in terms of the spreadability test. The work of bioadhesion values of NLC-based gel and IBU-loaded NLC-based gel were found as 0.226 ± 0.028 and 0.181 ± 0.006 mJ/cm2 respectively. The percentages of IBU that penetrated through rabbit skin from the Ibuactive-Cream and the E2 were 87.4 ± 2.11% and 93.4 ± 2.72% after 24 h, respectively. When the penetration of ibuprofen through the skin was evaluated, it was found that the E2 formulation increased penetration due to its lipid and nanoparticle structure. As a result of these findings, it can be said that the NLC-based gel formulation will increase the therapeutic efficacy and will be a good alternative transdermal formulation.

Lipid Nano-System Based Topical Drug Delivery for Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview

The overall purpose of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment is to give symptomatic alleviation; there is no recognized cure for RA. Frequent use of potent drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), lead to various adverse effects and patient compliance suffers. On the other hand, there are many drawbacks associated with traditional methods, such as high first pass, high clearance rate, and low bioavailability. Drug administration through the skin can be a promising alternative to cope with these drawbacks, increasing patient compliance and providing site-specific action. The stratum corneum, the uppermost non-viable epidermal layer, is one of the primary limiting barriers to skin penetration. Various nanocarrier technologies come into play as drug vehicles to help overcome these barriers. The nanocarrier systems are biocompatible, stable, and have a lower cytotoxic impact. The review discusses several lipid-based nanocarrier systems for anti-rheumatic medicines for topical administration it also discusses in-vivo animal models for RA and provides information on patents granted.

Novel Strategies against Cancer: Dexibuprofen-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

The aim of this work was to design innovative nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for the delivery of dexibuprofen (DXI) as an antiproliferative therapy against tumoral processes, and overcome its side effects. DXI-NLC samples were prepared with beeswax, Miglyol 812 and Tween 80 using high-pressure homogenization. A two-level factorial design 2⁴ was applied to optimize the formulation, and physicochemical properties such as particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and entrapment efficiency were measured. Optimized parameters of DXI-NLCs exhibited a mean particle size of 152.3 nm, a polydispersity index below 0.2, and high DXI entrapment efficiency (higher than 99%). Moreover, DXI-NLCs provided a prolonged drug release, slower than the free DXI. DXI-NLCs were stable for 2 months and their morphology revealed that they possess a spherical shape. In vitro cytotoxicity and anticancer potential studies were performed towards prostate (PC-3) and breast (MDA-MB-468) cancer cell lines. The highest activity of DXI-NLCs was observed towards breast cancer cells, which were effectively inhibited at 3.4 μM. Therefore, DXI-NLCs constitute a promising antiproliferative therapy that has proven to be especially effective against breast cancer.

Liposome and microemulsion loaded with ibuprofen: from preparation to mechanism of drug transport

To compare the difference between liposome (LP) and microemulsion (ME) in delivering ibuprofen (IBU) transdermally and explore relative mechanism. IBU-LP and IBU-ME were prepared by ethanol injection and spontaneous emulsification, respectively. The percutaneous delivery was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), activation energy (Ea), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to investigate the transdermal mechanism. The particle size and encapsulation efficiency were 228.00 ± 8.60 nm, 86.68 ± 1.43%(w/w) for IBU-LP, and 56.74 ± 7.11 nm, 91.08 ± 3.27%(w/w) for IBU-ME. Percutaneous study showed that formulations enhanced permeation and drug retention in the skin. FTIR and DSC showed that the permeation occurred due to the interaction of the formulations with the lipid bilayer and the protein. The decrease in Ea (1.506 and 0.939 kcal/mol) revealed that the stratum corneum (SC) lipid bilayers were significantly disrupted and this destructive effect of IBU-LP was stronger. IBU-LP was superior to IBU-ME in the aspects of transdermal delivery of IBU.

Electronic control of drug release from gauze or cellulose acetate fibres for dermal applications

Electronic controlled drug release from fibres was studied using ibuprofen as a model drug, one of the most popular analgesics, to impregnate gauze and cellulose acetate (CA) membranes. Conductivity in the range of 1-10 mS cm-1 was obtained in polypyrrole (Ppy) functionalised gauze and CA fibres, providing voltage-controlled drug release in a system consisting of Ppy/Ibuprofen/Ppy membranes and an Ag electrode. SEM images evidenced the Ppy adhesion to fibres and Micro Raman spectra proved drug incorporation and release. A small wound adhesive built with these membranes retains ibuprofen at 1.5 V and quickly releases it when -0.5 V is applied.

A Recent Update on Drug Delivery Systems for Pain Management

Pain remains a global health challenge affecting approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. Pain has been an implicit variable in the equation of human life for many centuries considering different types and the magnitude of pain. Therefore, developing an efficacious drug delivery system for pain management remains an open challenge for researchers in the field of medicine. Lack of therapeutic efficacy still persists, despite high throughput studies in the field of pain management. Research scientists have been exploiting different alternatives to curb the adverse side effects of pain medications or attempting a more substantial approach to minimize the prevalence of pain. Various drug delivery systems have been developed such as nanoparticles, microparticles to curb adverse side effects of pain medications or minimize the prevalence of pain. This literature review firstly provides a brief introduction of pain as a sensation and its pharmacological interventions. Second, it highlights the most recent studies in the pharmaceutical field for pain management and serves as a strong base for future developments. Herein, we have classified drug delivery systems based on their sizes such as nano, micro, and macro systems, and for each of the reviewed systems, design, formulation strategies, and drug release performance has been discussed.

Design and In Vitro Study of a Dual Drug-Loaded Delivery System Produced by Electrospinning for the Treatment of Acute Injuries of the Central Nervous System

Vascular and traumatic injuries of the central nervous system are recognized as global health priorities. A polypharmacology approach that is able to simultaneously target several injury factors by the combination of agents having synergistic effects appears to be promising. Herein, we designed a polymeric delivery system loaded with two drugs, ibuprofen (Ibu) and thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) to in vitro release the suitable amount of the anti-inflammation and the remyelination drug. As a production method, electrospinning technology was used. First, Ibu-loaded micro (diameter circa 0.95–1.20 µm) and nano (diameter circa 0.70 µm) fibers were produced using poly(l-lactide) PLLA and PLGA with different lactide/glycolide ratios (50:50, 75:25, and 85:15) to select the most suitable polymer and fiber diameter. Based on the in vitro release results and in-house knowledge, PLLA nanofibers (mean diameter = 580 ± 120 nm) loaded with both Ibu and T3 were then successfully produced by a co-axial electrospinning technique. The in vitro release studies demonstrated that the final Ibu/T3 PLLA system extended the release of both drugs for 14 days, providing the target sustained release. Finally, studies in cell cultures (RAW macrophages and neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells—OPCs) demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and promyelinating efficacy of the dual drug-loaded delivery platform.

Nanotherapeutic-directed approaches to analgesia

The ongoing opioid crisis highlighted the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nonaddictive analgesics against pain, fever, and inflammation. However, NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse effects. To avoid systemic toxicity and deliver drugs to diseased tissues, nanotechnology methods of NSAID encapsulation have been reported and some have reached clinical development. Currently, 57 micro- and nanodrugs are approved by the US FDA. Already approved nanoanalgesics have revealed superior efficacy or reduced toxicity compared with placebo or lower doses of systemically administered active comparators. In this review, the evidence for approval of the marketed nanodrugs will be discussed, with a focus on therapies for pain and inflammation. Nanomedicine remains an attractive field for the development of targeted analgesics.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Engineered as Topical Delivery of Etodolac: Optimization and Cytotoxicity Studies

Etodolac (ETD), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, exhibits antinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity. The main type of ETD administration is oral route, which is associated with significant systemic side effects. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), a modern lipid formulation, are non-toxic, biocompatible, can improve the solubility and stability of drugs. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing etodolac were prepared by a melt-emulsification and ultrasonication technique. Full factorial design (FFD) was applied to optimize the composition of NLC and their properties such as zeta potential, polidyspersity index, and entrapment efficiency. Formulations consisting of Capryol 90, glicerol monostearate, and Tween 20 displayed particle size below 300 nm, encapsulated drug with efficiency of approximately 87% and prolonged drug release up to 24 h. Stable formulations displayed moderately negative surface charge suggesting their limited ability to interact with skin surface but simultaneously presenting their lower risk to cause cell-membrane disruption. In fact, cytotoxicity assessment using human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes revealed that etodolac-loaded NLC had no important impact on skin cells viability evaluated in vitro, which might evidence that NLC formulations are safe for dermal delivery. The studies developed were relatively fast and simple, requiring no specialized equipment method to prepare NLC as ETD carriers ensuring better solubility and prolonged drug release.

An ex vivo skin model to probe modulation of local cutaneous arachidonic acid inflammation pathway

There is a need for inexpensive and reliable means to determine the modulation of cutaneous inflammation. The method outlined in this article draws together a number of scientific techniques and makes use of generally unwanted biological tissues as a means of determining skin inflammation ex vivo, and focuses on probing aspects of the arachidonic acid inflammation pathway. Freshly excised skin contains elevated levels of short-lived inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and, under viable conditions, COX-2 and its eicosanoid products will continue to be produced until tissue necrosis, providing a window of time in which relative levels can be probed to determine exacerbation due to an upregulating factor or downregulation due the presence of an agent exerting anti-inflammatory activity. Ex vivo porcine skin, mounted in Franz diffusion cells, is dosed topically with the xenobiotic challenge and then techniques such as Western blotting and immunohistochemistry can then be used to probe relative COX-2 levels on a semi-quantitative or qualitative level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or LCMS can be used to determine relative prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2) levels. Thus far, the technique has been used to examine the effects of topically applied anti-inflammatories (betamethasone, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and methotrexate), natural products (fish oil, Devil’s claw extract and pomegranate rind extract) and drug delivery vehicle (polyNIPAM nanogels). Topically applied xenobiotics that modulate factors such as COX-2 and PGE-2 must penetrate the intact skin, and this provides direct evidence of overcoming the "barrier function" of the stratum corneum in order to target the viable epidermis in sufficient levels to be able to elicit such effects. This system has particular potential as a pre-clinical screening tool for those working on the development of topical delivery systems, and has the additional advantage of being in line with 3 Rs philosophy.

Nanoemulsion-Loaded Capsules for Controlled Delivery of Lipophilic Active Ingredients

Nanoemulsions have become ideal candidates for loading hydrophobic active ingredients and enhancing their bioavailability in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. However, the lack of versatile carrier platforms for nanoemulsions hinders advanced control over their release behavior. In this work, a method is developed to encapsulate nanoemulsions in alginate capsules for the controlled delivery of lipophilic active ingredients. Functional nanoemulsions loaded with active ingredients and calcium ions are first prepared, followed by encapsulation inside alginate shells. The intrinsically high viscosity of the nanoemulsions ensures the formation of spherical capsules and high encapsulation efficiency during the synthesis. Moreover, a facile approach is developed to measure the nanoemulsion release profile from capsules through UV-vis measurement without an additional extraction step. A quantitative analysis of the release profiles shows that the capsule systems possess a tunable, delayed-burst release. The encapsulation methodology is generalized to other active ingredients, oil phases, nanodroplet sizes, and chemically crosslinked inner hydrogel cores. Overall, the capsule systems provide promising platforms for various functional nanoemulsion formulations.

Analytical Techniques for the Assessment of Drug-Lipid Interactions and the Active Substance Distribution in Liquid Dispersions of Solid Lipid Microparticles (SLM) Produced de novo and Reconstituted from Spray-Dried Powders

Solid lipid microparticles (SLM) can be presented as liquid suspension or spray-dried powder. The main challenge in SLM technology is to precisely determine the location of the active substance (API) in the different compartments of the formulation and its changes during SLM processing. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to assess the distribution of the API and to investigate the nature of the API-lipid interaction when the formulation was subjected to spray drying, with an indication of the most suitable techniques for this purpose. SLM were prepared with two various lipids (Compritol or stearic acid) and two model APIs: cyclosporine (0.1% and 1% w/w) and spironolactone (0.1% and 0.5% w/w). Physicochemical characterizations of the formulations, before and after spray drying, were performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The API distribution between the SLM matrix, SLM surface and the aqueous phase was determined, and the release study was performed. It was demonstrated that, in general, the spray drying did not affect the drug release and drug distribution; however, some changes were observed in the SLM with Compritol and when the API concentration was lower. Only in the SLM with stearic acid was a change in the DSC curves noted. Measurements with the AFM technique proved to be a useful method for detecting differences in the surface properties between the placebo and API-loaded SLM, while the Raman spectroscopy did not show such evident differences.

Nanotechnological Strategies for Osteoarthritis Diagnosis, Monitoring, Clinical Management, and Regenerative Medicine: Recent Advances and Future Opportunities

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review article, we discuss the potential for employing nanotechnological strategies for the diagnosis, monitoring, and clinical management of osteoarthritis (OA) and explore how nanotechnology is being integrated rapidly into regenerative medicine for OA and related osteoarticular disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

We review recent advances in this rapidly emerging field and discuss future opportunities for innovations in enhanced diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of OA and other osteoarticular disorders, the smart delivery of drugs and biological agents, and the development of biomimetic regenerative platforms to support cell and gene therapies for arresting OA and promoting cartilage and bone repair. Nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, and other nanotechnology-based drug and gene delivery systems may be used for targeting molecular pathways and pathogenic mechanisms involved in OA development. Nanocomposites are also being explored as potential tools for promoting cartilage repair. Nanotechnology platforms may be combined with cell, gene, and biological therapies for the development of a new generation of future OA therapeutics. Graphical Abstract.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: A Review

The efficacy of current standard chemotherapy is suboptimal due to the poor solubility and short half-lives of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as their high toxicity and lack of specificity which may result in severe side effects, noncompliance and patient inconvenience. The application of nanotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry and attracted increasing attention as a significant means for optimizing the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and enhancing their efficiency and safety profiles. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are lipid-based formulations that have been broadly studied as drug delivery systems. They have a solid matrix at room temperature and are considered superior to many other traditional lipid-based nanocarriers such as nanoemulsions, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) due to their enhanced physical stability, improved drug loading capacity, and biocompatibility. This review focuses on the latest advances in the use of NLCs as drug delivery systems and their preparation and characterization techniques with special emphasis on their applications as delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents and different strategies for their use in tumor targeting.

Biomaterial-engineered intra-articular drug delivery systems for osteoarthritis therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and degenerative disease, which is no longer confined to the elderly. So far, current treatments are limited to symptom relief, and no valid OA disease-modifying drugs are available. Additionally, OA relative joint is challenging for drug delivery, since the drugs experience rapid clearance in joint, showing a poor bioavailability. Existing therapeutic drugs, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, are not conducive for long-term use due to adverse effects. Though supplementations, including chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, have shown beneficial effects on joint tissues in OA, their therapeutic use is still debatable. New emerging agents, like Kartogenin (KGN) and Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 ra), without a proper formulation, still will not work. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a suitable and efficient drug delivery system for OA therapy. In this review, we pay attention to various types of drug delivery systems and potential therapeutic drugs that may escalate OA treatments.

Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Gel for the Dermal Application of Lidocaine: Comparison of Skin Penetration Testing Methods

The aim of this research was to investigate the stability of a lidocaine-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier dispersion at different temperatures, formulate a nanostructured lipid carrier gel, and test the penetration profile of lidocaine from the nanostructured lipid carrier gel using different skin penetration modeling methods. The formulations were characterized by laser diffraction, rheological measurements and microscopic examinations. Various in vitro methods were used to study drug release, diffusion and penetration. Two types of vertical Franz diffusion cells with three different membranes, including cellulose, Strat-M®, and heat separated human epidermis were used and compared to the Skin-parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) method. Results indicated that the nanostructured lipid carrier dispersion had to be gelified as soon as possible for proper stability. Both the Skin-PAMPA model and Strat-M® membranes correlated favorably with heat separated human epidermis in this research, with the Strat-M® membranes sharing the most similar drug permeability profile to an ex vivo human skin model. Our experimental findings suggest that even when the best available in vitro experiment is selected for modeling human skin penetration to study nanostructured lipid carrier gel systems, relevant in vitro/in vivo correlation should be made to calculate the drug release/permeation in vivo. Future investigations in this field are still needed to demonstrate the influence of membranes and equipment from other classes on other drug candidates.

Papaverine hydrochloride containing nanostructured lyotropic liquid crystal formulation as a potential drug delivery system for the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Purpose

Papaverine hydrochloride (PaHCl) is an old, well-known drug with spasmolytic activity but it has therapeutic effect in erectile dysfunction, too. As an intracavernous injection, it is not used in urologic clinics today because the side effects of the injection are pain, scarring or priapism. Our aim was to develop and test a topical semi-solid preparation containing PaHCl that would provide an alternative administration option by eliminating the undesirable side effects of the injection.

Materials and methods

Lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) systems were formulated as a semi-solid preparation with different concentrations of PaHCl. The characterization of the LLC structure was performed by polarization microscopy using a Leica image analyzer and rheological measurements. The drug diffusion and penetration tests were performed with in vitro synthetic membrane and an ex vivo human epidermis, using Franz diffusion cell to test the skin penetration of PaHCl. Human skin was investigated by Raman microscope to visualize the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in different skin layers.

Results

The results of diffusion and penetration showed reverse concentration dependency. The in vitro and ex vivo studies correlated with each other and the results of Raman microscopy. The LLC structure influenced the penetration results, the lower viscosity and lamellar structure increased penetration through the skin.

Conclusion

Based on our results, a PaHCl containing topically used LLC formulation may be a suitable and effective alternative to the injectable formulation.

Studying molecular dynamics of the slow, structural, and secondary relaxation processes in series of substituted ibuprofens

In this paper, the molecular dynamics of a series of ester derivatives of ibuprofen (IBU), in which the hydrogen atom from the hydroxyl group was substituted by the methyl, isopropyl, hexyl, and benzyl moieties, has been investigated using Broadband dielectric (BD), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Raman spectroscopies. We found that except for benzyl IBU (Ben-IBU), an additional process (slow mode, SM) appears in dielectric spectra in all examined compounds. It is worth noting that this relaxation process was observed for the first time in non-modified IBU (a Debye relaxation). According to suggestions by Affouard and Correia [J. Phys. Chem. B. 114, 11397 (2010)] as well as further studies by Adrjanowicz et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 139, 111103 (2013)] on Met-IBU, it was attributed to synperiplanar-antiperiplanar conformational changes within the molecule. Herein, we have shown that with an increasing molecular weight of the substituent, the relaxation times of the SM become longer and its activation energy significantly increases. Moreover, this new relaxation mode was found to be broader than a simple Debye relaxation in Iso-IBU and Hex-IBU. Additional complementary NMR studies indicated that either there is a significant slowdown of the rotation around the O=C-O-R moiety or this kind of movement is completely suppressed in the case of Ben-IBU. Therefore, the SM is not observed in the dielectric loss spectra of this compound. Finally, we carried out isothermal experiments on the samples which have a different thermal history. Interestingly, it turned out that the relaxation times of the structural processes are slightly shorter with respect to those obtained from temperature dependent measurements. This effect was the most prominent in the case of Hex-IBU, while for Ben-IBU, it was not observed at all. Additional time-dependent measurements revealed the ongoing equilibration manifested by the continuous shift of the structural process, until it finally reached its equilibrium position. Further Raman investigations showed that this effect may be related to the rotational/conformational equilibration of the long hexyl chains. Our results are the first ones demonstrating that the structural process is sensitive to the conformational equilibration occurring in the specific highly viscous systems.

Topical Administration of Ibuprofen for Injured Athletes: Considerations, Formulations, and Comparison to Oral Delivery

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of drugs commonly used to treat both the acute and chronic injuries sustained by athletes during training and competition. In many parts of the world, NSAIDs can be purchased over-the-counter and used without any physician oversight. However, the chronic nature of overuse injuries requires NSAIDs to be taken orally for an extended period of time. As a result, they can have significant adverse effects on athletes, namely gastrointestinal (GI), renal, and cardiovascular damage. Dyspepsia and upper GI ulceration and bleeding are of great concern in chronic NSAID use, and as such oral NSAIDs are generally contraindicated in those with a history of peptic ulcers or irritable bowel disease. In the setting of chronic overuse soft tissue or joint disease, topically administered NSAIDs offer an alternate route of administration that has the potential to deliver a similar level of pain and anti-inflammatory relief while bypassing the harmful side effects associated with oral intake. Topically applied NSAIDs are able to achieve high concentrations within the targeted site of action while simultaneously keeping plasma concentrations low, offering several advantages over oral administration. One commonly used generic NSAID is ibuprofen (2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid). First synthesized in the 1960s, ibuprofen has since become widely available as an over-the-counter pharmaceutical. In this review, we outline new and different techniques that have been used to deliver ibuprofen into diseased tissues, including supersaturations, microemulsions, gels, nanosystems, and microneedles. We also review relevant clinical trials comparing transdermally delivered ibuprofen to placebo and orally administered ibuprofen.

Enhanced antifungal activity of voriconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers against Candida albicans with a dimorphic switching model

Candida commonly adheres to implanted medical devices and forms biofilms. Due to the minimal activity of current antifungals against biofilms, new drugs or drug-delivery systems to treat these persistent infections are urgently needed. In the present investigation, voriconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Vrc-NLCs) were formulated for enhanced drug-delivery efficiency to C. albicans to increase the antifungal activity of Vrc and to improve the treatment of infectious Candida diseases. Vrc-NLCs were prepared by a hot-melt, high-pressure homogenization method, and size distribution, ζ-potential, morphology, drug-encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, and physical stability were characterized. The antifungal activity of Vrc-NLCs in vitro was tested during planktonic and biofilm growth in C. albicans. The mean particle size of the Vrc-NLCs was 45.62±0.53 nm, and they exhibited spheroid-like morphology, smooth surfaces, and ζ-potential of -0.69±0.03 mV. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of Vrc-NLCs were 75.37%±2.65% and 3.77%±0.13%, respectively. Physical stability results revealed that despite the low measured ζ-potential, the dispersion of the Vrc-NLCs was stable during their 3-week storage at 4°C. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Vrc-NLCs was identical to that of Vrc. However, the inhibition rate of Vrc-NLCs at lower concentrations was significantly higher than that of Vrc during planktonic growth in C. albicans in yeast-extract peptone dextrose medium. Surprisingly, Vrc-NLCs treatment reduced cell density in biofilm growth in C. albicans and induced more switches form hyphal cells to yeast cells compared with Vrc treatment. In conclusion, Vrc-NLCs maintain antifungal activity of Vrc and increase antifungal drug-delivery efficiency to C. albicans. Therefore, Vrc-NLCs will greatly contribute to the treatment of infectious diseases caused by C. albicans.

Co-delivery of paclitaxel and TOS-cisplatin via TAT-targeted solid lipid nanoparticles with synergistic antitumor activity against cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a major world health problem for women. Currently, cancer research focuses on improving therapy for cervical cancer using various treatment options such as co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents by nanocarriers.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to develop trans-activating transcriptional activator (TAT)-modified solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and α-tocopherol succinate-cisplatin prodrug (TOS-CDDP) (TAT PTX/TOS-CDDP SLNs) in order to achieve synergistic antitumor activity against cervical cancer.

METHODS

Lipid prodrug of CDDP (TOS-CDDP) and TAT-containing polyethylene glycol-distearoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (TAT-PEG-DSPE) were synthesized. TAT PTX/TOS-CDDP SLNs were prepared by emulsification and solvent evaporation method. Physicochemical characteristics of SLNs such as size, morphology, and release profiles were explored. In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to assess the efficacy of their antitumor activity in target cells.

RESULTS

TAT PTX/TOS-CDDP SLNs could be successfully internalized by HeLa cells and showed a synergistic effect in the suppression of cervical tumor cell growth. They exhibited high tumor tissue accumulation, superior antitumor efficiency, and much lower toxicity in vivo.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that the co-delivery system provides a promising platform as a combination therapy for the treatment of cervical cancer, and possibly other types of cancer as well.

Influence of Lipid Core Material on Physicochemical Characteristics of an Ursolic Acid-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier: An Attempt To Enhance Anticancer Activity

The impact of saturation and unsaturation in the fatty acyl hydrocarbon chain on the physicochemical properties of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was investigated to develop novel delivery systems loaded with an anticancer drug, ursolic acid (UA). Aqueous NLC dispersions were prepared by a high-pressure homogenization-ultrasonication technique with Tween 80 as a stabilizer. Mutual miscibility of the components at the air-water interface was assessed by surface pressure-area measurements, where attractive interactions were recorded between the lipid mixtures and UA, irrespective of the extent of saturation or unsaturation in fatty acyl chains. NLCs were characterized by combined dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry, drug encapsulation efficiency, drug payload, in vitro drug release, and in vitro cytotoxicity studies. The saturated lipid-based NLCs were larger than unsaturated lipids. TEM and AFM images revealed the spherical and smooth surface morphology of NLCs. The encapsulation efficiency and drug payload were higher for unsaturated lipid blends. In vitro release studies indicate that the nature of the lipid matrix affects both the rate and release pattern. All UA-loaded formulations exhibited superior anticancer activity compared to that of free UA against human leukemic cell line K562 and melanoma cell line B16.