Current Drug Discovery Technologies - Volume 8, Issue 3, 2011

Over the past few decades, micro and nanomaterials for drug delivery applications have received tremendous experimental attraction in almost every field of biosciences. These materials hold great promise in biomedical applications for earlydiagnostics, noninvasive imaging and targeting delivery of therapeutics, as well as combined multifunctions and simultaneous therapy and monitoring of the diseases (theranostics). Mo Read More

Protein drugs represent a significant part of the new pharmaceuticals coming on the market every year and are now widely spread in therapy to treat or relief symptomatology related to many metabolic and oncologic diseases. The delivery of therapeutic proteins is still a major drawback against their maximum pharmacodynamic due to their physicochemical properties, poor stability, permeability and biodistribution. Despi Read More

Drug-loaded polymeric nanocapsules have exhibited potential applications in the field of drug delivery systems in recent years. This article entails the biodegradable polymers generally used for preparing nanocapsules, which include both natural polymers and synthetic polymers. Furthermore, the article presents a general review of the different preparation methods: nanoprecipitation method, emulsion-diffusion method, doubl Read More

Nanocarriers can penetrate the tumour vasculature through its leaky endothelium and, in this way, accumulate in several solid tumours. This is called the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Together with nanocarriers whose surface is tailored for prolonged blood circulation times, the concept is referred to as passive targeting. Targeting ligands, which bind to specific receptors on the tumour cells and endoth Read More

Folic acid, transferrin and integrin alpha v beta 3 (αvβ3) receptors are overexpressed in various cancer cell lines. Ligands having high affinity for these receptors are often conjugated to nanocarriers to facilitate the tumor localization of therapeutic agents. In this review the use of these ligands for targeted delivery using liposomes, dendrimers and (N-(2- hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide) (HPMA) copolymers is discussed. Read More

In 1990, the lipid nanoparticles were invented in the laboratories, the first patent filings took place in 1991. The lipid nanoparticles were developed as alternative to traditional carriers such as polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. After 20 years of lipid nanoparticles, the present state of development is reviewed - academic progress but also the development state of pharmaceutical products for the benefit of patients. Me Read More

Major challenges in drug formulation are the poor solid state stability of drug molecules, poor dissolution/ solubility and/or poor pharmacokinetic properties (bioavailability), which may lead to unreliable in vitro-in vivo (IVIV) correlation. To improve current therapeutical strategies, novel means to deliver poorly water soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as to target them to specific sites or cells in the body are need Read More

In this review article we collect and analyse preparation, chemistry and properties of silica materials relevant for drug delivery applications. We review some of the most relevant milestones in the research of silica materials for implantable, oral, intravenous and dermal drug delivery systems. Preparation, chemistry and drug delivery characteristics of fumed silica nanoparticles (oral and dermal delivery route), silica x Read More

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment uses photosensitizers to generate singlet oxygen followed by photoirradiation. The efficacy of PDT is greatly determined by the dosimetry of activation light and the photosensitizer (PS), modulating the photodynamic reaction at depth in diseased tissue. Development of nano-formulated photosensitizer has emerged as a promising field because of the biocompatibility and the acce Read More

Oral mucositis is an inflammatory disease of the mucosa lining oral cavity which leads to atrophy of the epithelium and to its ulceration to form chronic lesions. Many studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have disclosed the effectiveness of growth factors derived from platelets to enhance cell proliferation, differentiation, chemotaxis, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix synthesis involved in the healing of tissues. Despite pote Read More