Genome editing and its role in vaccine, diagnosis, and therapeutic advancement

Genome editing involves precise modification of specific nucleotides in the genome using nucleases like CRISPR/Cas, ZFN, or TALEN, leading to increased efficiency of homologous recombination (HR) for gene editing, and it can result in gene disruption events via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homology-driven repair (HDR). Genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, revolutionizes vaccine development by enabling precise modifications of pathogen genomes, leading to enhanced vaccine efficacy and safety. It allows for tailored antigen optimization, improved vector design, and deeper insights into host genes' impact on vaccine responses, ultimately enhancing vaccine development and manufacturing processes. This review highlights different types of genomes editing methods, their associated risks, approaches to overcome the shortcomings, and the diverse roles of genome editing.

In Situ Photo Responsive Biodegradable Nanoparticle Forming Intrauterine Implant for Drug Delivery to Treat Ovarian Diseases: A Rationale-based Review

BACKGROUND

Ovarian disease constitutes various types of endocrine disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), ovarian cancer, premature ovarian failure, ovarian endometriosis, and ovarian cysts. The prevalence of ovarian-related diseases is highly vulnerable in the world. The utility of various drug delivery systems for ovarian diseases has resulted in varied success. Moreover, most of them lead to severe adverse effects and are incapable of ameliorating the signs and symptoms of the condition.

HYPOTHESIS

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have positioned themselves as a mechanism to deliver the drug for various ovarian-related diseases. Thereby avoiding various stability-related issues arising due to various physiological barriers of the female reproductive tract. However, the use of intrauterine devices for drug delivery to the ovaries has not been fully explored. This is attributed to the fact that they cause cysts in the ovaries and skepticism among patients and physicians. Photo-sensitive devices are an appealing approach for managing disorders affecting the ovaries. Photo-sensitive in situ forming intrauterine implants (IUIs) have several advantages, including simplicity in application, reduced invasiveness, as well as improved site-specific drug release control. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) loaded with a drug may be a suitable choice to provide sustained release, alter the pharmacokinetics, and reduce the dose and dosing frequency.

CONCLUSION

The current manuscript hypothesizes the utility of a PNP-loaded biodegradable photo-responsive intrauterine implantable device as an alternate novel strategy for ameliorating ovarian-related diseases.

HPMCAS-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersions in Clinic: A Review on Manufacturing Techniques (Hot Melt Extrusion and Spray Drying), Marketed Products and Patents

Today, therapeutic candidates with low solubility have become increasingly common in pharmaceutical research pipelines. Several techniques such as hot melt extrusion, spray drying, supercritical fluid technology, electrospinning, KinetiSol, etc., have been devised to improve either or both the solubility and dissolution to enhance the bioavailability of these active substances belonging to BCS Class II and IV. The principle involved in all these preparation techniques is similar, where the crystal lattice of the drug is disrupted by either the application of heat or dissolving it in a solvent and the movement of the fine drug particles is arrested with the help of a polymer by either cooling or drying to remove the solvent. The dispersed drug particles in the polymer matrix have higher entropy and enthalpy and, thereby, higher free energy in comparison to the crystalline drug. Povidone, polymethaacrylate derivatives, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate derivatives are commonly used as polymers in the preparation of ASDs. Specifically, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS)-based ASDs have become well established in commercially available products and are widely explored to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. This article provides an analysis of two widely used manufacturing techniques for HPMCAS ASDs, namely, hot melt extrusion and spray drying. Additionally, details of HPMCAS-based ASD marketed products and patents have been discussed to emphasize the commercial aspect.

Correction: Kalvala et al. Cannabidiol-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Pharmaceutics 2023, 15, 554

"Yan Li" was not included as an author in the original publication [...].

Engineered Liposomes in Interventional Theranostics of Solid Tumors

Engineered liposomal nanoparticles have unique characteristics as cargo carriers in cancer care and therapeutics. Liposomal theranostics have shown significant progress in preclinical and clinical cancer models in the past few years. Liposomal hybrid systems have not only been approved by the FDA but have also reached the market level. Nanosized liposomes are clinically proven systems for delivering multiple therapeutic as well as imaging agents to the target sites in (i) cancer theranostics of solid tumors, (ii) image-guided therapeutics, and (iii) combination therapeutic applications. The choice of diagnostics and therapeutics can intervene in the theranostics property of the engineered system. However, integrating imaging and therapeutics probes within lipid self-assembly "liposome" may compromise their overall theranostics performance. On the other hand, liposomal systems suffer from their fragile nature, site-selective tumor targeting, specific biodistribution and premature leakage of loaded cargo molecules before reaching the target site. Various engineering approaches, viz., grafting, conjugation, encapsulations, etc., have been investigated to overcome the aforementioned issues. It has been studied that surface-engineered liposomes demonstrate better tumor selectivity and improved therapeutic activity and retention in cells/or solid tumors. It should be noted that several other parameters like reproducibility, stability, smooth circulation, toxicity of vital organs, patient compliance, etc. must be addressed before using liposomal theranostics agents in solid tumors or clinical models. Herein, we have reviewed the importance and challenges of liposomal medicines in targeted cancer theranostics with their preclinical and clinical progress and a translational overview.

Collagen-Based Hydrogels for the Eye: A Comprehensive Review

Collagen-based hydrogels have emerged as a highly promising platform for diverse applications in ophthalmology, spanning from drug delivery systems to biomedical interventions. This review explores the diverse sources of collagen, which give rise to different types of collagen protein. The critical isolation and purification steps are discussed, emphasizing their pivotal role in preparing collagen for biomedical use. To ensure collagen quality and purity, and the suitability of collagen for targeted applications, a comprehensive characterization and quality control are essential, encompassing assessments of its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Also, various cross-linking collagen methods have been examined for providing insight into this crucial process. This comprehensive review delves into every facet of collagen and explores the wide-ranging applications of collagen-based hydrogels, with a particular emphasis on their use in drug delivery systems and their potential in diverse biomedical interventions. By consolidating current knowledge and advancements in the field, this review aims to provide a detailed overview of the utilization of engineered collagen-based hydrogels in ocular therapeutics.

"Bioinspired" Membrane-Coated Nanosystems in Cancer Theranostics: A Comprehensive Review

Achieving precise cancer theranostics necessitates the rational design of smart nanosystems that ensure high biological safety and minimize non-specific interactions with normal tissues. In this regard, "bioinspired" membrane-coated nanosystems have emerged as a promising approach, providing a versatile platform for the development of next-generation smart nanosystems. This review article presents an in-depth investigation into the potential of these nanosystems for targeted cancer theranostics, encompassing key aspects such as cell membrane sources, isolation techniques, nanoparticle core selection, approaches for coating nanoparticle cores with the cell membrane, and characterization methods. Moreover, this review underscores strategies employed to enhance the multi-functionality of these nanosystems, including lipid insertion, membrane hybridization, metabolic engineering, and genetic modification. Additionally, the applications of these bioinspired nanosystems in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics are discussed, along with the recent advances in this field. Through a comprehensive exploration of membrane-coated nanosystems, this review provides valuable insights into their potential for precise cancer theranostics.

Versatility of Liposomes for Antisense Oligonucleotide Delivery: A Special Focus on Various Therapeutic Areas

Nucleic acid therapeutics, specifically antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), can effectively modulate gene expression and protein function, leading to long-lasting curative effects. The hydrophilic nature and large size of oligonucleotides present translational challenges, which have led to the exploration of various chemical modifications and delivery systems. The present review provides insights into the potential role of liposomes as a drug delivery system for ASOs. The potential benefits of liposomes as an ASO carrier, along with their method of preparation, characterization, routes of administration, and stability aspects, have been thoroughly discussed. A novel perspective in terms of therapeutic applications of liposomal ASO delivery in several diseases such as cancer, respiratory disease, ophthalmic delivery, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal disease, neuronal disorders, hematological malignancies, myotonic dystrophy, and neuronal disorders remains the major highlights of this review.

Chitosan: A Potential Biopolymer in Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications

Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide derived from chitin, has surfaced as a material of promise for drug delivery and biomedical applications. Different chitin and chitosan extraction techniques can produce materials with unique properties, which can be further modified to enhance their bioactivities. Chitosan-based drug delivery systems have been developed for various routes of administration, including oral, ophthalmic, transdermal, nasal, and vaginal, allowing for targeted and sustained release of drugs. Additionally, chitosan has been used in numerous biomedical applications, such as bone regeneration, cartilage tissue regeneration, cardiac tissue regeneration, corneal regeneration, periodontal tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Moreover, chitosan has also been utilized in gene delivery, bioimaging, vaccination, and cosmeceutical applications. Modified chitosan derivatives have been developed to improve their biocompatibility and enhance their properties, resulting in innovative materials with promising potentials in various biomedical applications. This article summarizes the recent findings on chitosan and its application in drug delivery and biomedical science.

Emerging Trends in Lipid-Based Vaccine Delivery: A Special Focus on Developmental Strategies, Fabrication Methods, and Applications

Lipid-based vaccine delivery systems such as the conventional liposomes, virosomes, bilosomes, vesosomes, pH-fusogenic liposomes, transferosomes, immuno-liposomes, ethosomes, and lipid nanoparticles have gained a remarkable interest in vaccine delivery due to their ability to render antigens in vesicular structures, that in turn prevents its enzymatic degradation in vivo. The particulate form of lipid-based nanocarriers confers immunostimulatory potential, making them ideal antigen carriers. Facilitation in the uptake of antigen-loaded nanocarriers, by the antigen-presenting cells and its subsequent presentation through the major histocompatibility complex molecules, leads to the activation of a cascade of immune responses. Further, such nanocarriers can be tailored to achieve the desired characteristics such as charge, size, size distribution, entrapment, and site-specificity through modifications in the composition of lipids and the selection of the appropriate method of preparation. This ultimately adds to its versatility as an effective vaccine delivery carrier. The current review focuses on the various lipid-based carriers that have been investigated to date as potential vaccine delivery systems, the factors that affect their efficacy, and their various methods of preparation. The emerging trends in lipid-based mRNA vaccines and lipid-based DNA vaccines have also been summarized.

SNAC for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability: An Updated Review

The delivery of proteins and peptides via an oral route poses numerous challenges to improve the oral bioavailability and patient compliance. To overcome these challenges, as well as to improve the permeation of proteins and peptides via intestinal mucosa, several chemicals have been studied such as surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, pH modifiers, and chelating agents, amongst these medium chain fatty acid like C10 (sodium caprate) and Sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino] caprylate (SNAC) and its derivatives that have been well studied from a clinical perspective. This current review enumerates the challenges involved in protein and peptide delivery via the oral route, i.e., non-invasive routes of protein and peptide administration. This review also covers the chemistry behind SNAC and toxicity as well as mechanisms to enhance the oral delivery of clinically proven molecules like simaglutide and other small molecules under clinical development, as well as other permeation enhancers for efficient delivery of proteins and peptides.

Cannabidiol-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

In cancer patients, chronic paclitaxel (PTX) treatment causes excruciating pain, limiting its use in cancer chemotherapy. The neuroprotective potential of synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) and CBD formulated in extracellular vesicles (CBD-EVs) isolated from human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells was investigated in C57BL/6J mice with PTX-induced neuropathic pain (PIPN). The particle size of EVs and CBD-EVs, surface roughness, nanomechanical properties, stability, and release studies were all investigated. To develop neuropathy in mice, PTX (8 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered every other day (four doses). In terms of decreasing mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity, CBD-EVs treatment was superior to EVs treatment or CBD treatment alone (p < 0.001). CBD and CBD-EVs significantly reduced mitochondrial dysfunction in dorsal root ganglions and spinal homogenates of PTX-treated animals by modulating the AMPK pathway (p < 0.001). Studies inhibiting the AMPK and 5HT1A receptors found that CBD did not influence the neurobehavioral or mitochondrial function of PIPN. Based on these results, we hypothesize that CBD and CBD-EVs mitigated PIPN by modulating AMPK and mitochondrial function.

Interplay of Gut Microbiota in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Role of Gut Microbiota, Mechanistic Pathways and Potential Treatment Strategies

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) comprises a set of symptoms that pose significant risk factors for various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Effective and safe methods to treat all the pathological symptoms of PCOS are not available. The gut microbiota has been shown to play an essential role in PCOS incidence and progression. Many dietary plants, prebiotics, and probiotics have been reported to ameliorate PCOS. Gut microbiota shows its effects in PCOS via a number of mechanistic pathways including maintenance of homeostasis, regulation of lipid and blood glucose levels. The effect of gut microbiota on PCOS has been widely reported in animal models but there are only a few reports of human studies. Increasing the diversity of gut microbiota, and up-regulating PCOS ameliorating gut microbiota are some of the ways through which prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols work. We present a comprehensive review on polyphenols from natural origin, probiotics, and fecal microbiota therapy that may be used to treat PCOS by modifying the gut microbiota.

The role of Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabivarin to overcome doxorubicin resistance in MDA-MB-231 xenografts in athymic nude mice

The significant resistance to currently available chemotherapeutics makes treatment for TNBC a key clinical concern. Herein, we studied the anti-cancer potentials of synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin (DOX) against MDA-MB-231 resistant cells. Pre-treatment with CBD and THCV significantly increased the cytotoxicity of DOX in MDA-MB-231 2D and 3D cultures that were DOX-resistant. Transcriptomics and Proteomics studies revealed that CBD and THCV, by downregulating PD-L1, TGF-β, sp1, NLRP3, P38-MAPK, and upregulating AMPK induced apoptosis leading to improved DOX's chemosensitivity against DOX resistant MDA-MB-231 tumors in BALB/c nude mice. CBD/THCV in combination with DOX significantly inhibited H3k4 methylation and H2K5 acetylation as demonstrated by western blotting and RT-PCR. Based on these findings, CBD and THCV appear to counteract histone modifications and their subsequent effects on DOX, resulting in chemo-sensitization against MDA-MB-231 resistant cancers.

Anabolic Peptide-Enriched Stealth Nanoliposomes for Effective Anti-Osteoporotic Therapy

The objective of the present work was to develop PTH (1-34)-loaded stealth nanoliposomes (PTH-LPs) by employing the use of the Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Risk identification was carried out using the Ishikawa fishbone diagram. PTH-LPs were optimized using Box Behnken Design, a type of response surface methodology to examine the effect of independent variables on dependent variables such as particle size and percentage entrapment efficiency (%EE). Design space was generated for PTH-LPs to reduce interbatch variability during the formulation development process. Furthermore, a cytotoxicity assay, cell proliferation assay, calcium calorimetric assay, mineralized nodule formation, and cellular uptake assay were carried out on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells. The results obtained from these procedures demonstrated that lipid concentration had a significant positive impact on particle size and %EE, whereas cholesterol concentration showed a reduction in %EE. The particle size and %EE of optimized formulation were found to be 147.76 ± 2.14 nm and 69.18 ± 3.62%, respectively. Optimized PTH-LPs showed the sustained release profile of the drug. In vitro cell evaluation studies showed PTH-LPs have good biocompatibility with MG-63 cells. The cell proliferation study revealed that PTH-LPs induced osteoblast differentiation which improved the formation of mineralized nodules in MG-63 cells. The outcome of the present study conclusively demonstrated the potential of the QbD concept to build quality in PTH-LPs with improved osteoanabolic therapy in osteoporosis.

Stealth Liposomal Chemotherapeutic Agent for Triple Negative Breast Cancer with Improved Pharmacokinetics

Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most lethal cancers. Chemotherapeutics for targeting CDK4 and CDK6 like Palbociclib (PAB) in triple-negative breast cancer was widely explored. However, poor bioavailability and severe side effects profile limiting its clinical usage in the field of cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we set out to develop the stealth liposomes (LPS) of PAB by rotary thin film evaporation with a vesicle size of less than 100 nm. In vitro, drug release studies were performed and fitted into different release kinetic models. LPS were characterized by electron microscopic techniques for morphology. The engineered nanotherapeutics agents were further evaluated in 4T1 triple-negative breast cancer cell lines for its anti-cancer potential and cellular uptake. The hemolytic potential and pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of developed LPS-PAB and PAB were analyzed by using robust UHPLC-QTOF-MS method. LPS-PAB demonstrates biphasic release profile with first-order release kinetics. Further, LPS-PAB has shown less IC₅₀ value (1.99 µM) compared to PAB alone (3.24 µM). The designed nanoliposomes were tagged with fluorescent FITC dye to check rapid cellular uptake. Importantly, stealth LPS-PAB has shown a 1.75-fold reduction in hemolytic potential as compared to PAB plain drug at 100 µg/mL concentration. The PK results obtained was displayed 2.5-fold increase in C_max, 1.45-fold increase in AUC_tot, 1.8-fold increase in half-life and 1.3-fold increase in MRT with LPS-PAB when compared to orally administered PAB suspension. These findings suggest that novel LPS-PAB can be employed as an alternate therapeutic strategy to eradicate triple-negative breast cancer.

Recent Advances in Adsorptive Nanocomposite Membranes for Heavy Metals Ion Removal from Contaminated Water: A Comprehensive Review

Water contamination is one of the most urgent concerns confronting the world today. Heavy metal poisoning of aquatic systems has piqued the interest of various researchers due to the high toxicity and carcinogenic consequences it has on living organisms. Due to their exceptional attributes such as strong reactivity, huge surface area, and outstanding mechanical properties, nanomaterials are being produced and employed in water treatment. In this review, recent advances in the use of nanomaterials in nanoadsorptive membrane systems for wastewater treatment and heavy metal removal are extensively discussed. These materials include carbon-based nanostructures, metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and layered double hydroxide-based compounds. Furthermore, the relevant properties of the nanostructures and the implications on their performance for water treatment and contamination removal are highlighted. The hydrophilicity, pore size, skin thickness, porosity, and surface roughness of these nanostructures can help the water permeability of the nanoadsorptive membrane. Other properties such as surface charge modification and mechanical strength can improve the metal adsorption effectiveness of nanoadsorptive membranes during wastewater treatment. Various nanocomposite membrane fabrication techniques are also reviewed. This study is important because it gives important information on the roles of nanomaterials and nanostructures in heavy metal removal and wastewater treatment.

Stability characterization for pharmaceutical liposome product development with focus on regulatory considerations: An update

Liposomes have several advantages, such as the ability to be employed as a carrier/vehicle for a variety of drug molecules and at the same time they are safe and biodegradable. In the recent times, compared to other delivery systems, liposomes have been one of the most well-established and commercializing drug products of new drug delivery methods for majority of therapeutic applications. On the other hand, it has several limitations, particularly in terms of stability, which impedes product development and performance. In this review, we reviewed all the potential instabilities (physical, chemical, and biological) that a formulation development scientist confronts throughout the development of liposomal formulations as along with the ways to overcome these challenges. We have also discussed the effect of microbiological contamination on liposomal formulations with a focus on the use of sterilization methods used to improve the stability. Finally, we have reviewed quality control techniques and regulatory considerations recommended by the agencies (USFDA and MHLW) for liposome drug product development.

Combined Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling to Unravel Osimertinib, CARP-1 Functional Mimetic (CFM 4.17) Formulation and Telmisartan Combo Treatment in NSCLC Tumor Xenografts

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in many non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), necessitating the use of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line treatments. Osimertinib (OSM), a third-generation TKI, is routinely used in clinics, but T790M mutations in exon 20 of the EGFR receptor lead to resistance against OSM, necessitating the development of more effective therapeutics. Telmisartan (TLM), OSM, and cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory protein 1 (CARP-1) functional mimetic treatments (CFM4.17) were evaluated in this study against experimental H1975 tumor xenografts to ascertain their anti-cancer effects. Briefly, tumor growth was studied in H1975 xenografts in athymic nude mice, gene and protein expressions were analyzed using next-generation RNA sequencing, proteomics, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. TLM pre-treatment significantly reduced the tumor burden when combined with CFM-4.17 nanoformulation and OSM combination (TLM_CFM-F_OSM) than their respective single treatments or combination of OSM and TLM with CFM 4.17. Data from RNA sequencing and proteomics revealed that TLM_CFM-F_OSM decreased the expression of Lamin B2, STAT3, SOD, NFKB, MMP-1, TGF beta, Sox-2, and PD-L1 proteins while increasing the expression of AMPK proteins, which was also confirmed by RT-PCR, proteomics, and Western blotting. According to our findings, the TLM_CFM-F_OSM combination has a superior anti-cancer effect in the treatment of NSCLC by affecting multiple resistant markers that regulate mitochondrial homeostasis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Microneedle-Based Natural Polysaccharide for Drug Delivery Systems (DDS): Progress and Challenges

In this focused progress review, the most widely accepted methods of transdermal drug delivery are hypodermic needles, transdermal patches and topical creams. However, microneedles (MNs) (or microneedle arrays) are low-invasive 3D biomedical constructs that bypass the skin barrier and produce systemic and localized pharmacological effects. In the past, biomaterials such as carbohydrates, due to their physicochemical properties, have been extensively used to manufacture microneedles (MNs). Due to their wide range of functional groups, carbohydrates enable the design and development of tunable properties and functionalities. In recent years, numerous microneedle products have emerged on the market, although much research needs to be undertaken to overcome the various challenges before the successful introduction of microneedles into the market. As a result, carbohydrate-based microarrays have a high potential to achieve a future step in sensing, drug delivery, and biologics restitution. In this review, a comprehensive overview of carbohydrates such as hyaluronic acid, chitin, chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, cellulose and starch is discussed systematically. It also discusses the various drug delivery strategies and mechanical properties of biomaterial-based MNs, the progress made so far in the clinical translation of carbohydrate-based MNs, and the promotional opportunities for their commercialization. In conclusion, the article summarizes the future perspectives of carbohydrate-based MNs, which are considered as the new class of topical drug delivery systems.

Cannabidiol loaded extracellular vesicles sensitize triple-negative breast cancer to doxorubicin in both in-vitro and in vivo models

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) were isolated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) and were further encapsulated with cannabidiol (CBD) through sonication method (CBD EVs). CBD EVs displayed an average particle size of 114.1 ± 1.02 nm, zeta potential of -30.26 ± 0.12 mV, entrapment efficiency of 92.3 ± 2.21% and stability for several months at 4 °C. CBD release from the EVs was observed as 50.74 ± 2.44% and 53.99 ± 1.4% at pH 6.8 and pH 7.4, respectively after 48 h. Our in-vitro studies demonstrated that CBD either alone or in EVs form significantly sensitized MDA-MB-231 cells to doxorubicin (DOX) (*P < 0.05). Flow cytometry and migration studies revealed that CBD EVs either alone or in combination with DOX induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest and decreased migration of MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. CBD EVs and DOX combination significantly reduced tumor burden (***P < 0.001) in MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor model. Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that CBD EVs and DOX combination decreased the expression of proteins involved in inflammation, metastasis and increased the expression of proteins involved in apoptosis. CBD EVs and DOX combination will have profound clinical significance in not only decreasing the side effects but also increasing the therapeutic efficacy of DOX in TNBC.

Exosomes as Naturally Occurring Vehicles for Delivery of Biopharmaceuticals: Insights from Drug Delivery to Clinical Perspectives

Exosomes as nanosized vesicles are emerging as drug delivery systems for therapeutics owing to their natural origin, their ability to mediate intercellular communication, and their potential to encapsulate various biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids within the lipid bilayer membrane or in the lumen. Exosomes contain endogenous components (proteins, lipids, RNA) that could be used to deliver cargoes to target cells, offering an opportunity to diagnose and treat various diseases. Owing to their ability to travel safely in extracellular fluid and to transport cargoes to target cells with high efficacy, exosomes offer enhanced delivery of cargoes in vivo. However, several challenges related to the stabilization of the exosomes, the production of sufficient amounts of exosomes with safety and efficacy, the efficient loading of drugs into exosomes, the clearance of exosomes from circulation, and the transition from the bench scale to clinical production may limit their development and clinical use. For the clinical use of exosomes, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the transport and function of exosome vesicles. This review exploits techniques related to the isolation and characterization of exosomes and their drug delivery potential to enhance the therapeutic outcome and stabilization methods. Further, routes of administration, clinical trials, and regulatory aspects of exosomes will be discussed in this review.

Lignin: Drug/Gene Delivery and Tissue Engineering Applications

Lignin is an abundant renewable natural biopolymer. Moreover, a significant development in lignin pretreatment and processing technologies has opened a new window to explore lignin and lignin-based bionanomaterials. In the last decade, lignin has been widely explored in different applications such as drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, food science, water purification, biofuels, environmental, pharmaceuticals, nutraceutical, catalysis, and other interesting low-value-added energy applications. The complex nature and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biocompatibility of lignin attracted its use in various biomedical applications because of ease of functionalization, availability of diverse functional sites, tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties. In addition to it, its diverse properties such as reactivity towards oxygen radical, metal chelation, renewable nature, biodegradability, favorable interaction with cells, nature to mimic the extracellular environment, and ease of nanoparticles preparation make it a very interesting material for biomedical use. Tremendous progress has been made in drug delivery and tissue engineering in recent years. However, still, it remains challenging to identify an ideal and compatible nanomaterial for biomedical applications. In this review, recent progress of lignin towards biomedical applications especially in drug delivery and in tissue engineering along with challenges, future possibilities have been comprehensively reviewed.

Role of nano-lipid formulation of CARP-1 mimetic, CFM-4.17 to improve systemic exposure and response in osimertinib resistant non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

EGFR mutated NSCLCs have been shown to employ the use of CARP-1 in overriding the signaling inhibition of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (such as Osimertinib). CFM 4.17 is a CARP-1 inhibitor which has a promising role in overcoming Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) resistance when used as a pre-treatment through promoting apoptosis. Lack of solubility, hydrophobicity leading to poor systemic exposure are the limitations of CFM 4.17. This can be overcome by nano lipid-based formulation (NLPF) of CFM 4.17 which can enhance systemic exposure in preclinical animal models as well as improve therapeutic efficacy in drug-resistant cancer cell lines.

METHODS

Molecular docking simulation studies were performed for CFM 4.17. CFM 4.17-NLPF was formulated by melt dispersion technique and optimized using a Box-Behnken designed surface response methodology approach using Design Expert and MATLAB. In vitro, CFM 4.17 release studies were performed in simulated gastric fluids (SGF-pH-1.2) and simulated intestinal fluids (SIF- pH-6.8). Cell viability assays were performed with HCC827 and H1975 Osimertinib resistant and non-resistant cells in 2D and 3D culture models of Non-small cell lung cancer to determine the effects of CFM 4.17 pre-treatment in Osimertinib response. In vivo pharmacokinetics in rats were performed measuring the effects of NLPF on CFM 4.17 to improve the systemic exposure.

RESULTS

CFM 4.17 was well accommodated in the active pocket of the active site of human EGFR tyrosine kinase. CFM 4.17 NLPF was optimized with robust experimental design with particle size less than 300 nm and % entrapment efficiency of 92.3 ± 1.23. Sustained diffusion-based release of CFM 4.17 was observed from NLPF in SGF and SIFs with Peppas and Higuchi based release kinetics, respectively. CFM 4.17 pretreatment improved response by decreasing IC50 value by 2-fold when compared to single treatment Osimertinib in both 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid assays in HCC827 and H1975 Osimertinib resistant and non-resistant cells of Non-small cell lung cancer. There were no differences between CFM 4.17 NLPF and suspension in 2D monolayer culture pretreatments; however, The 3D culture assays showed that CFM 4.17 NLPF improved combination sensitivity. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that CFM 4.17 NLPF displayed higher AUCtot (2.9-fold) and Cmax (1.18-fold) as compared to free CFM 4.17. In contrast, the animal groups administered CFM 4.17 NLPF showed a 4.73-fold (in half-life) and a 3.07-fold increase (in MRT) when compared to equivalent dosed suspension.

CONCLUSION

We have successfully formulated CFM 4.17 NLPFs by robust RSM design approach displaying improved response through sensitizing cells to Osimertinib treatment as well as improving the oral bioavailability of CFM 4.17.

Role of Exosomes for Delivery of Chemotherapeutic Drugs

Exosomes are endogenous extracellular vesicles (30-100 nm) composed with membrane lipid bilayer which carry vesicular proteins, enzymes, mRNA, miRNA and nucleic acids. They act as messengers for intra- and inter-cellular communication. In addition to their physiological roles, exosomes have the potential to encapsulate and deliver small chemotherapeutic drugs and biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acid-based drugs to the recipient tissue or organs. Due to their biological properties, exosomes have better organotropism, homing capacity, cellular uptake and cargo release ability than other synthetic nano-drug carriers such as liposomes, micelles and nanogels. The secretion of tumor-derived exosomes is increased in the hypoxic and acidic tumor microenvironment, which can be used as a target for nontoxic and nonimmunogenic drug delivery vehicles for various cancers. Moreover, exosomes have the potential to carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs, bypass RES effect and bypass BBB. Exosomes can be isolated from other types of EVs and cell debris based on their size, density and specific surface proteins through ultracentrifugation, density gradient separation, precipitation, immunoaffinity interaction and gel filtration. Drugs can be loaded into exosomes at the biogenesis stage or with the isolated exosomes by incubation, electroporation, extrusion or sonication methods. Finally, exosomal cargo vehicles can be characterized by ultrastructural microscopic analysis. In this review we intend to summarize the inception, structure and function of the exosomes, role of exosomes in immunological regulation and cancer, methods of isolation and characterization of exosomes and products under clinical trials. This review will provide an inclusive insight of exosomes in drug delivery.

Amorphous solid dispersions: An update for preparation, characterization, mechanism on bioavailability, stability, regulatory considerations and marketed products

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) are being employed frequently to improve bioavailability of poorly soluble molecules by enhancing the rate and extant of dissolution in drug product development process. These systems comprise of an amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredient stabilized by a polymer matrix to provide enhanced stability. This review discussed the methodologies of preparation and characterization of ASDs with an emphasis on understanding and predicting stability. Rational selection of polymers, preparation techniques with its advantages and disadvantages and characterization of polymeric amorphous solid dispersions have discussed. Stability aspects have been described as per ICH guidelines which intend to depend on selection of polymers and preparation methods of ASD. The mechanism involved on improvement of bioavailability also considered. Regulatory importance of ASD and current evolving details of QBD approach were reviewed. Amorphous products and particularly ASDs are currently most emerging area in the pharmaceutical field. This strategic approach presents huge impact and advantageous features concerning the overall improvement of drug product performance in clinical settings which ultimately lead to drug product approval by leading regulatory agencies into the market.

Comparison of cationic liposome and PAMAM dendrimer for delivery of anti-Plk1 siRNA in breast cancer treatment

Delivery of negatively charged, high molecular weight and unstable siRNA is difficult. The present study describes the development and comparison of cationic liposomes (CLs) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer generation 4 (PG4) nanocarriers of gene for cancer therapy. CLs and PG4 were complexed with anticancer siRNA (siPlk1) to form siPlk1-CLs lipoplex and siPlk1-PG4 dendriplex. siPlk1-CLs/PG4 complexes were characterized for average particle size, zeta potential, fluorescence and integrity of siPlk1 by agarose gel electrophoresis, ethidium bromide intercalation assay, circular dichroism, protection against RNase and stability in serum. The complexation of CLs/siPlk1 and PG4/siPlk1 were at a 100/1 and 2/1 charge ratio respectively. The CLs and PG4 were effective in protecting siPlk1 from RNase activity, also they enhanced the siPlk1 serum stability. Additionally, siPlk1-CLs and siPlk1-PG4 were evaluated by cell culture studies. In vitro anticancer activity study using MCF-7 cells showed that siPlk1-CLs and siPlk1-PG4 causes nearly similar cell death. Both siPlk1-CLs and siPlk1-PG4 resulted in enhanced cellular uptake of siPlk1 in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to naked siPlk1 solution. Cell cycle analysis suggested that increased cell population arrest in subG1 phase by siPlk1-CLs and siPlk1-PG4 compared to naked siPlk1 solution. These observations suggested that CLs and PG4 can be a potential carrier for siPlk1 delivery in breast cancer treatment.

Preparation and Comparison of Oral Bioavailability for Different Nano-formulations of Olaparib

Olaparib (OLA) is a poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor approved for germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) advanced ovarian cancer and breast cancer. Low oral bioavailability of this drug requires increase in the dose and frequency causing haematological toxicity in the patients. The purpose of this study is to prepare different nano-formulations of OLA lipospheres (LP) by melt dispersion and nano-suspensions (NSP) by solvent evaporation (SE) and wet milling (WM) techniques and compare oral bioavailability of these formulations. Size of the nano-formulations OLA-LP, OLA-NSP_SE and OLA-NSP_WM were found to be 126.71 ± 4.54, 128.6 ± 2.34 and 531.1 ± 5.34 nm with polydispersity index below 0.3. In vitro release studies were performed by dialysis bag method where the sustained drug release was observed from nano-formulations until 9 h with Higuchi for OLA suspended in 2.5% w/v sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (OLA-SP), OLA-LP and OLA-NSP_WM and Peppas for OLA-NSP_SE-based drug release kinetics. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies, haematological toxicity and distribution studies were performed on rats. Results showed that there was an improvement in C_max, AUC_total, t_1/2 and MRT by OLA nano-formulations when compared with OLA-SP. OLA-SP has shown reduction in WBC, platelets and lymphocytes at 12 and 36 h time points; however, no reduction in cell count was observed with OLA nano-formulations. Distribution studies proved FITC nano-formulations were most rapidly absorbed and distributed when compared with FITC-loaded suspension. From the above results, it was concluded that OLA nano-formulations can be an alternative to enhance the oral bioavailability and to reduce the haematological toxicity of OLA.

Cabazitaxel-Loaded Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy with Reduced Side Effects

Jevtana^® is a micellar cabazitaxel (CBZ) solution that was approved for prostate cancer in 2010, and recently, this drug has been reported for breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mediated delivery of CBZ via liposomes and nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of breast cancer and compare these with a micellar formulation that is currently in clinical use. CBZ-loaded nanocarriers were prepared with particle sizes between 70–110 nm, and with the sustained in vitro release of CBZ for more than 28 days. Cytotoxicity studies on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated the toxic potential of these nanocarriers. Cellular internalization revealed that NPs and liposomes have better permeability than micelles. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis studies on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells confirmed G2/M phase arrest as well as cell death due to apoptosis and necrosis, where formulations were found to be effective compared to a micellar CBZ solution. Results from pharmacokinetic studies revealed that there is an increased circulation half-life and mean residence time for CBZ liposomes and NPs in comparison with a micellar CBZ solution. CBZ liposomes and NPs showed a reduction in hemolysis and neutropenia in comparison with a micellar CBZ solution in rats.

Dithranol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier-based gel ameliorate psoriasis in imiquimod-induced mice psoriatic plaque model

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to formulate nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of dithranol-loaded in gel for ease of application and to evaluate its anti-psoriatic efficacy vis-a-vis conventional ointment formulation.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study will provide an insight about the use of nanocarriers, esp. NLCs loaded with dithranol for the effective treatment of psoriasis.

METHODS

Dithranol-loaded NLCs were prepared by hot melt homogenization method and characterized for particle size and percentage entrapment efficiency. The optimized NLCs were loaded into gel and evaluated for drug release, spreadability, rheological behavior, and staining. Anti-psoriatic efficacy of the NLC gel was evaluated in imiquimod (IMQ) induced psoriatic plaque model in comparison with prepared conventional ointment formulation (1.15% w/w dithranol).

RESULTS

NLCs were prepared with particle size below 300 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.3 and percentage entrapment efficiency of ∼100%. The prepared NLC gel was then compared with the ointment for drug release, staining property, and efficacy. Topical application of dithranol-loaded NLC gel on IMQ-induced psoriatic plaque model reduced the symptoms of psoriasis assessed by both Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scoring and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was a significant reduction in disease severity and cytokines like Interleukins-17, 22, 23 and Tumor necrosis factor-α by the developed system in comparison to the negative control.

CONCLUSIONS

To conclude dithranol-loaded NLCs in gel base was efficacious in management of psoriasis at the same drug concentration and also offer less cloth staining to that of the ointment product.

Cabazitaxel and thymoquinone co-loaded lipospheres as a synergistic combination for breast cancer

Cabazitaxel as microtubule inhibitor and thymoquinone as HDAC inhibitor affects the important genes like p53, STAT3, Bax, BCL-2, p21 and down regulation of NF-κB are reported for potential activity against breast tumors. However, poor aqueous solubility and permeability hinders the delivery of these drugs to target site. To address the delivery challenges cabazitaxel and thymoquinone co-loaded lipospheres were developed. Lipospheres are the lipid based self-assemblies of particle size below 150 nm were prepared with more than 90% entrapment efficiency for both the drugs. In vitro drug release studies revealed there was a sustained diffusion controlled drug release from liposphere matrix leading to decrease in particle size with increase in zeta potential. Cytotoxicity studies on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated cabazitaxel and thymoquinone as synergistic combination for the treatment of breast cancer which was proved by CompuSyn software. Enhanced efficacy of developed lipospheres can be due to rapid cellular internalization which was observed in confocal laser scanning microscopy. Drastic changes in cancer cell morphology such as nuclear fragmentation were observed upon treatment with these lipospheres in comparison to combination solution as observed in fluorescent imaging which are the hall marks of apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis studies confirmed the increased Sub G1 phase arrest as well as cell death due to apoptosis. Thus, as per observed results, it can be concluded that cabazitaxel and thymoquinone co-loaded lipospheres are the efficient delivery vehicles in management of breast cancer.

Non-polymer drug-eluting coronary stents

Cardiovascular complications are leading causes of most fatalities. Coronary artery disease and surgical failures contribute to the death of the majority of patients. Advanced research in the field of medical devices like stents has efficiently resolved these problems. Clinically, drug-eluting stents have proven their efficacy and safety compared to bare metal stents, which have problems of in-stent restenosis. However, drug-loaded stents coated with polymers have shown adverse effects related to the stability and deterioration of the polymer coating over time. This results in late stent thrombosis and immunogenicity. These reasons laid the foundation for the development of non-polymeric drug-eluting stents. This review focuses on non-polymer drug-eluting stents loaded with different drugs like anti-inflammatory agents, anti-thrombotic, anti-platelet agents, immune suppressants and others. Surface modification techniques on stents like crystalline coating; microporous, macroporous, and nanoporous coatings; and chemically modified self-assembled monolayers are described in detail. There is also an update on clinically approved products and those under development.

Dendrimer as a new potential carrier for topical delivery of siRNA: A comparative study of dendriplex vs. lipoplex for delivery of TNF-α siRNA

Topical delivery of siRNA is challenging task due to complex barrier property of stratum corneum and cationic lipid based carriers have been widely explored for this purpose due to improved permeation through skin. For gene delivery application, dendrimers are considered as efficient carrier due to their cationic nature and well-defined surface groups. However, they are not well explored for topical delivery. This work compares the suitability of PAMAM dendrimer with DOTAP liposome for topical delivery of siRNA against TNF-α. The particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency of dendriplex were 99.80 ± 1.80 nm, 13.40 ± 4.84 mV and 98.72 ± 2.02% whereas for lipoplex were 174.80 ± 0.80 nm, 29.96 ± 0.51 mV and 94.99 ± 5.01% respectively. Both the formulations were stable in serum and in the presence of RNAse. TNF-α is inflammatory cytokine, hence the in vivo efficacy of developed formulations was determined using psoriatic plaque model. Results suggested improved phenotypic and histopathological features and reduced levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-22 for dendriplex and lipoplex treated groups in comparison to Imiquimod treated group. These findings suggest that dendrimer can be a potential carrier for topical gene delivery.

Liposomal Formulations in Clinical Use: An Updated Review

Liposomes are the first nano drug delivery systems that have been successfully translated into real-time clinical applications. These closed bilayer phospholipid vesicles have witnessed many technical advances in recent years since their first development in 1965. Delivery of therapeutics by liposomes alters their biodistribution profile, which further enhances the therapeutic index of various drugs. Extensive research is being carried out using these nano drug delivery systems in diverse areas including the delivery of anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory drugs and therapeutic genes. The significant contribution of liposomes as drug delivery systems in the healthcare sector is known by many clinical products, e.g., Doxil®, Ambisome®, DepoDur™, etc. This review provides a detailed update on liposomal technologies e.g., DepoFoam™ Technology, Stealth technology, etc., the formulation aspects of clinically used products and ongoing clinical trials on liposomes.

Association of PIK3CA gene mutations with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

The Phosphoinositide-3-kinase catalytic alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA) is an important regulator of cell signaling pathways in human cancers. Mutations in PIK3CA were found to be associated with more aggressive clinical outcome and aberrant activation of cellular mechanisms in cancers. Hence the present study aimed to understand the mutations in the PIK3CA gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). After the approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee we recruited 129 HNSCC patients and 150 healthy controls for screening of mutations in the helical (exon9) and kinase domain (exon 20) of the PIK3CA gene using PCR, SSCP and Sanger Sequencing. We found about 60.46% of HNSCC patients and 26% of controls with the following mutations 1634A>C (E545A) and 3075C>T (T1025T) in the helical and kinase domains of PIK3CA. Both these mutations 1634A>C and 3075C>T were more prominent in oral cancers, advanced stages of HNSCC and tobacco plus alcohol habits (p<0.05). Hence, we conclude that the distribution of mutations of PIK3CA in HNSCC were associated with demographic (tobacco and alcohol) and clinical parameters (advanced stage, primary site) of HNSCC. It is possible that when this pathway is overactive due to mutations, it may reduce apoptosis and allow proliferation of the tumor cells. Therefore we propose that these mutations may serve as prognostic biomarkers, and can also be proposed as novel therapeutic targets for HNSCC.

KEYWORDS

PI3 kinase, gene polymorphism, helical domain, kinase domain, oral cancers.