Current Drug Delivery - Volume 14, Issue 3, 2017

Background: Cancer hyperthermia is attracting much attention in basic science and clinics. Among the hyperthermia techniques, microwave (MW) heating is most commonly used for cancer treatment. It offers highly competitive advantages: faster heat generation from microwave radiation, less susceptibility to heat up local tissues, maneuverability, and depth of penetration in tissues and capability of killing tumor cells. Altho Read More

Thermal ablation is a minimally invasive therapeutic technique that has shown remarkable potential in treating unresectable tumors. However, clinical applications have stalled, due to safety ambiguities, slow heat induction, lengthy ablation times, and post-therapeutic monitoring issues. To further improve treatment efficacy, an assortment of micromaterials (e.g., nanoparticulates of gold, silica, or iron oxide and single-walle Read More

Background: The lack of smart and controllable gene vectors with high safety and efficiency is still a main obstruction for clinical applications of gene therapy. Recently, the external physical stimuli, such as near infrared light induced temperature elevation, have been applied to enhance the gene transfection efficiency and specificity. The aim of this paper is to fabricate chitosan functionalized CuS nanoparticles (CuS@CS NPs) Read More

Background: Multimodal bio-imaging is a new technique with more than one imaging modality. Eu3+ doping can tailor the multi-functions of Gd-based nanorods (NRs) to obtain the resolution the imaging at the cellular level. Silk fibroin with His and Lys can induce to fabricate metal compounds particles. However, one-step preparation of SFP-linked Eu-Gd(OH)3 NRs with cyto-compatibility is very challenging. Methods: Read More

Background: The use of microneedles for transdermal drug delivery is a feasible alternative to injections and tablets. As different types of microneedles are being developed from a variety of materials, it is important to understand their insertion and fracture forces. In this review, it has been emphasized that for microneedles to be clinically useful, they must penetrate the skin without breaking. It means that the insertion Read More

Background: Resveratrol belonging to stilbene family has emerged as a leading candidate for enhancing the health span by potentially decreasing the aging process and reducing chronic diseases. Objective: The aim of this review is to focus on various studies related to chemical composition l, pharmacological activities, bioavailability problems associated with resveratrol. In addition, it includes section discussing the challenges Read More

Background: Curcumin is a natural, oil-soluble polyphenolic compound with potent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. In its free form, it is very poorly absorbed in the gut due to its very low solubility. The use of nanoemulsions as carrier is a feasible way for improving curcumin bioavailability. To this end, the choice of emulsifying agent for stabilizing the nanoemulsions is of the upmost importance for ac Read More

Background: Semisolid SLNs are novel strategy for dermal drug administration instead of incorporating the SLN dispersions into conventional semisolids. Etofenamate loaded semisolid SLNs were successfully prepared and in vitro characterization of formulations were performed in our previous study. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the dermal behavior of the semisolid SLNs selected on the basis of previous Read More

Objectives: Nitrofurantoin is widely used in the prophylaxis of urinary-tract infections. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize innovative transdermal formulations of nitrofurantoin, to increase the patient compliance and decrease the adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting which limit the drug use in long-term. Methods: Nitrofurantoin loaded microemulsion, gel (hydrogel, lipogel and DMSO gel) and Read More

Background: The improvement of drugs bioavailability, especially of the hydrophobic ones, by using various nanoparticles is a very exciting field of the modern research. Objective: The applicability of nano-sized shell crosslinked micelles based on dextran as supports for controlled release of several hydrophobic drugs (nystatin, rifampicin, resveratrol, and curcumin) was investigated by in vitro drug loading/release experiment Read More

Background: With its reported side effects Desvenlafaxine succinate (DSV) is a good candidate to prepare prolonged release system. Such prolonged release could decrease the rapid DSV absorption after oral administration and reduce its exaggerated side effects. Methods: A prolonged release Desvenlafaxine succinate (DSV) multilayered system was prepared by ionotropic gelation using sodium alginate (SA) and calciu Read More

Background: Nanotechnology has provided substantial benefits in drug delivery, especially in the treatment of dermatological diseases. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in which topical delivery of antipsoriatic agents is considered the first line treatment. Objective: To investigate whether the encapsulation of the synthetic retinoid tazarotene in a nanocarrier based on jojoba oil would decrease its irritation potential Read More

Objective: A new tumor targeted polymer-coated gold/graphene hybrid has been developed for achieving simultaneously thermoablation and chemoterapy of folate receptor-positive cancer cells. Methods: The gold/graphene hybrid was prepared by depositing gold nanospheres onto graphene oxide and coating it with an inulin-folate conjugate. Paclitaxel was loaded by sonication. The hybrid was characterized by UV-Vi Read More