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Paper‐based electronics are emerging as a new class of technology with broad areas of application. Despite several efforts to fabricate new types of flexible electronic devices by screen printing of conductive paste, many of them are often nonbiodegradable, toxic, and expensive, limiting their practical use in bioresorbable paper‐based electronics. To address this need, a highly conductive and biodegradable bimodal conductive paste is developed using cost‐effective zinc‐based micro and nanoparticles with a facile low‐temperature sintering process compatible with paper substrates. The two‐step sintering process involves the removal of the insulating zinc oxide layer by spray coating acetic acid followed by a heat press sintering process to ensure the formation of highly packed and continuous metallic traces. The required conditions for the heat press sintering process are systematically studied using electrical, optical, and mechanical characterization techniques. The results of these investigations revealed an ultra‐packed microstructure with high electrical conductivity (0.5 × 105 S m−1) and low oxide content that is obtained with a heat press sintering setting of 220 °C for 60 s. Finally, as a proof of concept, the conductive paste with an optimized sintering process is used to fabricate a wearable wireless heater for remote‐controlled release of therapeutics. The controlled delivery of the system is validated in the practical and on‐demand delivery of antibiotics for eradicating commonly found bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus in dermal wound infections. The biocompatibility of all the materials and manufacturing process is validated by NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells via MTT assay and live/dead staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved global access to novel age‐appropriate formulations for paediatric subsets, either of new chemical entities or existing drugs, is a priority to ensure that medicines meet the needs of these patients. However, despite regulatory incentives, the introduction to the market of paediatric formulations still lags behind adult products. This is mainly caused by additional complexities associated with the development of acceptable age‐appropriate paediatric medicines. This position paper recommends the use of a paediatric Quality Target Product Profile as an efficient tool to facilitate early planning and decision making across all teams involved in paediatric formulation development during the children‐centric formulation design for new chemical entities, or to repurpose/reformulate off‐patent drugs. Essential key attributes of a paediatric formulation are suggested and described. Moreover, greater collaboration between formulation experts and clinical colleagues, including healthcare professionals, is advocated to lead to safe and effective, age‐appropriate medicinal products. Acceptability testing should be a secondary endpoint in paediatric clinical trials to ensure postmarketing adherence is not compromised by a lack of acceptability. Not knowing the indications and the related age groups and potential dosing regimens early enough is still a major hurdle for efficient paediatric formulation development; however, the proposed paediatric Quality Target Product Profile could be a valuable collaborative tool for planning and decision making to expedite paediatric product development, particularly for those with limited experience in developing a paediatric product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older people are often affected by impaired organ and bodily functions resulting in multimorbidity and polypharmacy, turning them into the main user group of many medicines. Very often, medicines have not specifically been developed for older people, causing practical medication problems for them like limited availability of easy to swallow formulations, easy to open packaging and dosing instructions for enteral administration. In 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a reflection paper 'Pharmaceutical development of medicines for use in the older population', which discusses how the emerging needs of an ageing European population can be addressed by medicines regulation. The paper intends to help industry to better consider the needs of older people during pharmaceutical/clinical medicines development by summarising data on the most relevant topics, providing early suggestions on how to move forward and prompting expert discussions and studies into knowledge gaps. Topics include patient acceptability, (dis)advantages of an administration route, formulation, dosage form, packaging, dosing device and user instruction. While the paper is directed at older people and the pharmaceutical industry, the reflections are also relevant to younger patients with similar disease‐related needs and of value to other stakeholders parties, e.g., healthcare professionals, academics, patients and caregivers, as the paper makes clear what can be expected from industry and where collaborative work is needed. This commentary provides an overview of the different steps in the development of the reflection paper, discusses points considered most controversial and/or subject to (multidisciplinary) expert discussions and indicates their value for real world clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To liberate society from its dependence on fossil‐based fuels and materials it is pivotal to explore components of renewable plant biomass in applications that benefit from their intrinsic biodegradability, safety, and sustainability. Lignin, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, is a plausible material for carrying various types of cargo in small‐ and large‐scale applications. Herein, possibilities and constraints regarding the physical–chemical properties of the lignin source as well as modifications and processing required to render lignins suitable for the loading and release of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and biological macromolecules is reviewed. In addition, the technical challenges, regulatory and toxicological aspects, and future research needed to realize some of the promises that nano‐ and microscaled lignin materials hold for a sustainable future are critically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited by malignant tumor cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of malignant tumors. This role encompasses immune evasion, promotion of angiogenesis, stimulation of cancer cell proliferation, correlation with cancer stem cells, multilineage differentiation within the TME, and development of treatment resistance. Simultaneously, extensive research is exploring the homing effect of MSCs and MSC‐derived extracellular vesicles (MSCs‐EVs) in tumors, aiming to design them as carriers for antitumor substances. These substances are targeted to deliver antitumor drugs to enhance drug efficacy while reducing drug toxicity. This paper provides a review of the supportive role of MSCs in tumor progression and the associated molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we summarize the latest therapeutic strategies involving engineered MSCs and MSCs‐EVs in cancer treatment, including their utilization as carriers for gene therapeutic agents, chemotherapeutics, and oncolytic viruses. We also discuss the distribution and clearance of MSCs and MSCs‐EVs upon entry into the body to elucidate the potential of targeted therapies based on MSCs and MSCs‐EVs in cancer treatment, along with the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous organic frameworks (POFs) represent a significant subclass of nanoporous materials in the field of materials science, offering exceptional characteristics for advanced applications. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as a novel and intriguing type of porous material, have garnered considerable attention due to their unique design capabilities, diverse nature, and wide‐ranging applications. The unique structural features of COFs, such as high surface area, tuneable pore size, and chemical stability, render them highly attractive for various applications, including targeted and controlled drug release, as well as improving the sensitivity and selectivity of electrochemical biosensors. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the methods employed in creating COFs with specific properties that can be effectively utilized in biomedical applications. To address this indispensable fact, this review paper commences with a concise summary of the different methods and classifications utilized in synthesizing COFs. Second, it highlights the recent advancements in COFs for drug delivery, including drug carriers as well as the classification of drug delivery systems and biosensing, encompassing drugs, biomacromolecules, small biomolecules and the detection of biomarkers. While exploring the potential of COFs in the biomedical field, it is important to acknowledge the limitations that researchers may encounter, which could impact the practicality of their applications. Third, this paper concludes with a thought‐provoking discussion that thoroughly addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging COFs for biomedical applications. This review paper aims to contribute to the scientific community's understanding of the immense potential of COFs in improving drug delivery systems and enhancing the performance of biosensors in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis, a chronic disease associated with metabolism, poses a significant risk to human well‐being. Currently, existing treatments for atherosclerosis lack sufficient efficiency, while the utilization of surface‐modified nanoparticles holds the potential to deliver highly effective therapeutic outcomes. These nanoparticles can target and bind to specific receptors that are abnormally over‐expressed in atherosclerotic conditions. This paper reviews recent research (2018–present) advances in various ligand‐modified nanoparticle systems targeting atherosclerosis by specifically targeting signature molecules in the hope of precise treatment at the molecular level and concludes with a discussion of the challenges and prospects in this field. The intention of this review is to inspire novel concepts for the design and advancement of targeted nanomedicines tailored specifically for the treatment of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common outcome of excessive reactive oxygen species in the cochlea, and the targeted delivery of antioxidants to the inner ear is a potential therapeutic strategy. In this paper, a novel natural biomaterials‐derived multifunctional delivery system using silk fibroin‐polydopamine (PDA)‐composited inverse opal microcarriers (PDA@SFMCs) is presented for inner ear drug delivery and NIHL therapy. Due to their large specific surface area and interpenetrating nanochannels, PDA@SFMCs can rapidly load active biomolecules making them a convenient medium for the storage and delivery of such molecules. In addition, surface modification of PDA enables the microcarriers to remain in the round window niche, thus facilitating the precise local and directed delivery of loaded drugs. Based on these features, it is demonstrated here that n‐acetylcysteine‐loaded silk microcarriers have satisfactory antioxidant properties on cells and can successfully prevent NIHL in guinea pigs. These results indicate that the natural multifunctional silk microcarriers are promising agents for local inner ear drug delivery in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamins are crucial for sustaining life because they play an essential role in numerous physiological processes. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to a wide range of severe health issues. In this context, there is a need to administer vitamin supplements through appropriate routes, such as the oral route, to ensure effective treatment. Therefore, understanding the pharmacokinetics of vitamins provides critical insights into absorption, distribution, and metabolism, all of which are essential for achieving the desired pharmacological response. In this review paper, we present information on vitamin deficiencies and emphasize the significance of understanding vitamin pharmacokinetics for improved clinical research. The pharmacokinetics of several vitamins face various challenges, and thus, this work briefly outlines the current issues and their potential solutions. We also discuss the feasibility of enhanced nanocarrier‐based pharmaceutical formulations for delivering vitamins. Recent studies have shown a preference for nanoformulations, which can address major limitations such as stability, solubility, absorption, and toxicity. Ultimately, the pharmacokinetics of pharmaceutical dosage forms containing vitamins can impede the treatment of diseases and disorders related to vitamin deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine has been developed to reduce or eliminate the side effects and toxicity upon systemic therapy of chemotherapeutic agents and to improve their therapeutic efficacy. However, the translation of non‐sized or nano‐encapsulated drugs is hampered by the low penetration and accumulation of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in sites of tumors as well as their poor pharmacokinetics. This may be due to the synthetic structure of NPs and also complicated and unknown characteristics of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME). As a result, the TME is being better identified, and the interactions between NPs and the TME or human body are being discovered or predicted. These findings have led to the development of more biocompatible, intelligent, and controllable bio‐based nanoformulations that could overcome current barriers and provide sufficient drug delivery to the TME, as discussed in this paper. These formulations are designed to (i) modify the surface of NPs to improve blood circulation while reducing their off‐target accumulation and side effects in vivo, (ii) pass through the tumor vasculature by modulating or targeting angiogenesis, (iii) promote NPs distribution in solid tumor regions by applying biological/physical stimuli or extracellular matrix remodeling, and (iv) overcome the cell membrane barrier and other compartments of the cell by specific cell targeting to release the payload drug into the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospraying has emerged as a versatile technique in the pharmaceutical field due to its potential in drug delivery and formulation. With its advantages of cost‐effectiveness, reproducibility, ease of operation, and scalability, electrospraying offers numerous benefits for pharmaceutical applications. Notably, the production of nanoparticles using electrospraying provides unique properties, including small size, drug encapsulation capabilities, biocompatibility, and scalability. Electrospray nanoparticles have demonstrated significant promise in various drug delivery routes, such as oral and topical administration. These nanoparticles enhance drug stability, protection, and permeability, effectively overcoming limitations associated with these routes. Moreover, electrospray nanoparticles have proven valuable in targeted drug delivery, improving drug bioavailability and efficacy. Their ability to penetrate tissues and cells enables enhanced drug delivery to specific sites within the body. Additionally, electrospray nanoparticles can be tailored with targeting ligands or responsive components for controlled release and combination therapy, exhibiting successful applications in cancer treatment and neurological disorders. Therefore, electrospray nanoparticle technology shows great promise in biomedical applications, offering a versatile platform for targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions. This comprehensive review examines the various drug delivery applications of electrospraying and provides insights into its possibilities and challenges. The paper discusses the principles, methods, and parameters of electrospraying, while also exploring its use in fabricating drug delivery systems, addressing poorly soluble drugs. By synthesizing the findings from multiple studies, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of electrospraying's current state and potential in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerogel‐based biomaterials are increasingly being considered for biomedical applications due to their unique properties such as high porosity, hierarchical porous network, and large specific pore surface area. Depending on the pore size of the aerogel, biological effects such as cell adhesion, fluid absorption, oxygen permeability, and metabolite exchange can be altered. Based on the diverse potential of aerogels in biomedical applications, this paper provides a comprehensive review of fabrication processes including sol‐gel, aging, drying, and self‐assembly along with the materials that can be used to form aerogels. In addition to the technology utilizing aerogel itself, it also provides insight into the applicability of aerogel based on additive manufacturing technology. To this end, how microfluidic‐based technologies and 3D printing can be combined with aerogel‐based materials for biomedical applications is discussed. Furthermore, previously reported examples of aerogels for regenerative medicine and biomedical applications are thoroughly reviewed. A wide range of applications with aerogels including wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and diagnostics are demonstrated. Finally, the prospects for aerogel‐based biomedical applications are presented. The understanding of the fabrication, modification, and applicability of aerogels through this study is expected to shed light on the biomedical utilization of aerogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomolecule‐incorporated metal‐organic frameworks (b‐MOFs) exhibit enhanced bioavailability and biocompatibility, making them an ideal option for use as drug delivery vehicles. While b‐MOFs possess outstanding drug loading and release capabilities, their microscale crystal sizes restrict their applicability as nanocarriers and drug delivery systems. To overcome this limitation, this paper presents a microwave‐irradiation‐based technique for the synthesis of porous adenine‐incorporated Zn‐based MOFs with particle sizes of approximately 200 nm as paclitaxel nanocarriers. The nanomaterial demonstrated a substantial paclitaxel loading capacity of 637 mg g−1. Moreover, it effectively increased the solubility of paclitaxel by 2.5‐fold compared to that of the free form. Thus, the nano MOF is a promising delivery vehicle for paclitaxel. Notably, the paclitaxel‐loaded nano MOF exhibited higher toxicity toward cancer cells than the free drug, further highlighting its potential as an effective anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely accepted in keratocyte carcinoma and an increasing number of literatures concerning PDT in skin cancer is published. But a detailed examination of publication patterns of PDT in skin cancer has not yet been carried out. Methods: Bibliographies were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection restricted the publication date from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 2021. The search terms were photodynamic therapy and skin cancer. Visualization analysis and statistical analysis were performed by VOSviewer (Version 1.6.13), R software (Version 4.1.2) and Scimago Graphica (Version 1.0.15). Results: 3248 documents were selected for analysis. The results showed that the number of annual publications related to PDT in skin cancer was gradually increased and would continue to increase in the future. The results illustrated that "melanoma", "nanoparticles", "drug‐delivery", "mechanism", "delivery" and "in‐vitro" are newly occurred topics. The most prolific country was the United States and the most productive institution was the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. German researcher Szeimies RM published the most papers related to PDT in skin cancer. British Journal of Dermatology was the most popular journal in this field. Conclusion: The topic that PDT in skin cancer is a heated issue. Our study revealed the bibliometric result of the field, which might provide the prospects for further research. We recommend future investigations focusing on PDT in treating melanoma, innovation of photosensitizer, improvement of drug delivery and the mechanism of PDT in skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystals refer to materials with at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm, composing of atoms arranged in single crystals or polycrystals. Nanocrystals have significant research value as they offer unique advantages over conventional pharmaceutical formulations, such as high bioavailability, enhanced targeting selectivity and controlled release ability and are therefore suitable for the delivery of a wide range of drugs such as insoluble drugs, antitumor drugs and genetic drugs with broad application prospects. In recent years, research on nanocrystals has been progressively refined and new products have been launched or entered the clinical phase of studies. However, issues such as safety and stability still stand that need to be addressed for further development of nanocrystal formulations, and significant gaps do exist in research in various fields in this pharmaceutical arena. This paper presents a systematic overview of the advanced development of nanocrystals, ranging from the preparation approaches of nanocrystals with which the bioavailability of poorly water‐soluble drugs is improved, critical properties of nanocrystals and associated characterization techniques, the recent development of nanocrystals with different administration routes, the advantages and associated limitations of nanocrystal formulations, the mechanisms of physical instability, and the enhanced dissolution performance, to the future perspectives, with a final view to shed more light on the future development of nanocrystals as a means of optimizing the bioavailability of drug candidates. This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging TechnologiesNanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ferritin, a ubiquitously distributed iron storage protein, can specifically target tumor cells through transferrin receptor 1. Due to its rearrangeable nanocage structure, ferritin can be loaded with anticancer drugs. Combined with amino acid modifications on the outer- and/or inner-spaces of the nanocage, ferritins can be further coupled with antigens, antibodies, and nucleotide sequences. Since ferritin is naturally presented in the human body, when used in vivo, ferritin exhibits good biocompatibility, and no immunogenic response occurs. These makes ferritin an ideal nanocarrier which shows broad application prospects in cancer therapy. Methods: In this study, to find articles, a search was made in PubMed with the keywords ferritin, drug delivery, drug delivery, and cancer treatment. Results: According to the investigation, some studies suggest that ferritin can be loaded with drugs and targeted for delivery to tumor tissue. Therefore, ferritin nanocarriers loaded with drugs can be used in chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and immunotherapy. Importantly, the specific targeting of ferritin nanocarriers to tumor cells increases the effectiveness of related therapies and reduces side effects. Conclusions: We conclude in this paper that the superior properties of ferritin nanocarriers as an emerging drug delivery system make them a promising cancer treatment strategy. In the future, it is worth conducting clinical trials to further investigate the safety and efficacy of ferritin nanocarriers in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While autoregulative adaptation is a common feature of living tissues, only a few feedback-controlled adaptive biomaterials are available so far. This paper herein reports a new polymer hydrogel platform designed to release anti-inflammatory molecules in response to the inflammatory activation of human blood. In this system, anti-inflammatory peptide drugs, targeting either the complement cascade, a complement receptor, or cyclophilin A, are conjugated to the hydrogel by a peptide sequence that is cleaved by elastase released from activated granulocytes. As a proof of concept, the adaptive drug delivery from the gel triggered by activated granulocytes and the effect of the released drug on the respective inflammatory pathways are demonstrated. Adjusting the gel functionalization degree is shown to allow for tuning the drug release profiles to effective doses within a micromolar range. Feedback-controlled delivery of covalently conjugated drugs from a hydrogel matrix is concluded to provide valuable safety features suitable to equip medical devices with highly active anti-inflammatory agents without suppressing the general immunosurveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimulus‐sensitive drug delivery materials are of vital significance to modern therapeutic technology. In particular, glucose‐responsive hydrogels capable of biomimetic release of hypoglycemic drugs according to glucose concentrations are one of the current research hotspots. In this paper, an injectable, glucose‐induced disintegrated natural‐polysaccharide‐based hydrogel with good self‐healing ability and biocompatibility is reported. The glucose‐responsiveness of the hydrogel stems from the reversible phenylborate ester bonds. The glucose‐triggered disintegration and insulin release are demonstrated in the hydrogel in a physiological environment. The two polymers produced by the disintegration of the hydrogel have good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, the hydrogel is considered to result in the development of smart insulin delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose herein is to provide an up‐to‐date review on noninvasive biomimetic, bioinspired, and bioengineered drug delivery system (DDS). Noninvasive DDS is an ever‐growing field critical for the applicability of drugs. It offers noninvasive administration routes with improved controlled, targeted, and triggered drug delivery. Noninvasive DDS employ many approaches and strategies, such as, nano‐ and microparticles, lipid‐based systems, sonophoresis, electrophoresis and iontophoresis, penetration enhancers, microneedles, and gels. The last decade seen a surge in research papers employing the paradigms of biomimicry, bioinspiration, and bioengineering. However, since the use of these terms in noninvasive DDS field is often inconsistent and unclear, some generalized perspectives are provided on the possible usage of these terms in future publications. Additionally, a critical discussion on the novelty and origins of these paradigms is provided. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the noninvasive routes and their current main limitations are summarized. The main aspects of indicated fields are discussed: The unique physiology of the related tissues, the main hurdles for mass transport, the various DDS tested, and materials selection. Finally, the basic concepts and therapeutic effects of these DDS are discussed and future venues for noninvasive biomimetic, bioinspired, and bioengineered DDS research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, biodegradable hybrid hydrogels were prepared by using chitosan as a natural polymer and polyurethane containing azomethine as a synthetic polymer for the drug delivery application for 5‐fluorouracil. The fabricated hydrogels were characterized via FT‐IR and SEM analysis. Besides, the thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties, water uptake, biodegradation, protein absorption, drug loading, and release behaviors of the hybrid hydrogels were studied. The obtained results indicated that the fabricated hybrid hydrogels have exhibited good mechanical, hydrophilic, water uptake, and biodegradation behaviors. The hybrid hydrogels also showed 50% drug release amounts and they could be a good candidate for the controlled delivery of 5‐FU due to these properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to give an overview of our current research and development on hot‐melt extrusion (HME) for pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery. Unfortunately, a large percentage of marketed drugs (40%) and those in the development pipeline (90%) are poorly water soluble. We use a few examples to show that solubility of APIs can be drastically improved by using HME to mix them with different biocompatible polymers and playing with the various process parameters (extrusion temperature, screw speed, screw configuration, etc.). The advantages of this technique are then presented as well as the further development needed to make this process fully industrial for pharmaceutical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liposomes are versatile three-dimensional, biomaterial- based frameworks that can spatially enclose a variety of organic and inorganic biomaterials for advanced targeted-delivery applications. Implementation of external-stimulicontrolled release of their cargo will significantly augment their wide application for liposomal drug delivery. This paper presents the synthesis of a carbohydrate-derived lipid, capable of changing its conformation depending on the presence of Zn2+: an active state in the presence of Zn2+ ions and back to an inactive state in the absence of Zn2+ or when exposed to Na2EDTA, a metal chelator with high affinity for Zn2+ ions. This is the first report of a lipid triggered by the presence of a metal chelator. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and a single-liposome study showed that it indeed was possible for the lipid to be incorporated into the bilayer of stable liposomes that remained leakage-free for the fluorescent cargo of the liposomes. On addition of EDTA to the liposomes, their fluorescent cargo could be released as a result of the membrane-incorporated lipids undergoing a conformational change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, neurological disorders have led to a growing global burden of fatalities and disabilities. The limited capacity for natural self‐regeneration poses a significant challenge in repairing nervous system injuries, which is closely related to the complex microenvironment and nonregenerative nature of neurons. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with their distinctive structure and properties including high surface area, porosity, tunability, stimuli‐responsive behavior, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, stand as an auspicious platform for devising therapeutic strategies aiming at nerve regeneration and repair. By taking advantage of these characteristics, researchers have the opportunity to explore innovative methods including endogenous stimulation, magnetic response therapy, phototherapy, ultrasound therapy, and drug delivery systems for the treatment of neurological diseases. Moreover, MOFs‐based stem cell therapy also is developed to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, promote axon growth, regulate stem cell differentiation, promote nerve regeneration, and finally restore the function of injured nerves. In this paper, the preparation strategy and biological characteristics of MOFs, highlighting their applications in repairing nerve injuries and treating neural stem cells is presented. Finally, an outlook on the future development and challenges in the field of neuroscience concerning MOFs is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable drug delivery systems is very important in the field of pharmaceutical research and has many advantages over the usual methods of drug administration, including improving effectiveness, reducing side effects, and increasing patient compliance. Among various techniques, electrospraying as a voltage‐driven process has emerged as a promising technology for the fabrication of drug‐loaded nanoparticles. In recent years, the application of electrospray approach for drug release has been widely investigated. However, optimization of electrospray process parameters and development of mathematical models to predict drug release kinetics from microparticles are still challenging. To address these issues, a combination of Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been used. This paper focuses on the application of CCD‐RSM for modeling and optimization of doxorubicin (DOX)‐poly(caprolactone) (PCL)‐polyethylene glycol (PEG) microparticles prepared using electrospray method. Doxorubicin, a widely used anticancer drug, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against a wide range of cancers. PCL‐PEG microparticles are promising as drug carriers due to their biocompatibility, controlled release properties, and ability to protect the encapsulated drug from degradation. The CCD‐RSM approach allows systematic investigation and optimization of several formulation and process variables, including polymer concentration, PCL‐PEG weight ratio, and applied voltage on drug release behavior. In addition, the effect of rheology and electrical conductivity of polymer fluid on the size of particles obtained from electrospraying was investigated. The effect of adding folic acid and doxorubicin in the optimized sample of nanoparticles and the effect of different concentrations of doxorubicin were investigated, and SEM, DLS, and FTIR techniques were used to characterize the microparticles, and the MMT test was performed to evaluate their cytotoxicity. The results showed that the optimized formulation is effective for sustained drug release over a long period for drug delivery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional microneedles (MNs) are designed as an array of micrometer‐sized projections that can painlessly penetrate the skin. Fabrication of MN arrays can be costly and time‐consuming; additionally, full penetration of an array of MNs with ten to thousands of projections into the skin may not be achievable. This paper reports a new design of MNs known as microblades (MBs) which consist of a singular microstructure. The single integrated design of the MBs reduces the fabrication cost and time, facilitates more effective penetration, and may pave the way for the scale‐up manufacturing of MN devices. Different designs of MBs are fabricated by two‐photon polymerization technique, followed by polydimethylsiloxane micromolding and soft embossing to create replicas. The mechanical integrity of the designs is determined by a series of compression tests. Skin insertion and drug diffusion studies are conducted using a custom‐made applicator to insert the MBs into the porcine abdominal skin to demonstrate delivery of fluorescein tracer. MBs insertion and penetration capabilities and the diffusion of a model drug into a multi‐layered human skin are demonstrated using finite element analysis and 3D diffusion models. The results demonstrate the functional capabilities of the MBs as an alternative to MN arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/β‐TCP) has been widely studied as a drug carrier, but the drug loading and release rate of the composites with different morphology significantly vary. In this paper, needle‐shaped, rod‐shaped, and ordered porous HA/β‐TCP composite was prepared by chemical co‐precipitation method, and ibuprofen (IBU) was used as a drug model to study the sustained‐release properties of IBU in vitro. The results showed that morphology of the HA/β‐TCP composite had a significant effect on the drug loading of IBU. The IBU loading of the ordered porous composite was as high as 101.3 mg/g, which was 2.2 times and 3.46 times higher than that of the rod‐shaped and needle‐shaped composite to IBU, respectively. The drug release test of IBU showed that the release rate of the ordered porous HA/β‐TCP to IBU was slower than that of the rod‐shaped and needle‐shaped composite in the initial 10 h, and reached the drug release equilibrium after the subsequent 30 h. The cumulative release of the ordered porous HA/β‐TCP composite to IBU reached 83.79 %, which was significantly smaller than that of the needle‐shaped and the rod‐shaped, showing better slow‐release performance for IBU. The ordered porous HA/β‐TCP composite have great application potential in quantitative drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the development of polymeric nanocarriers based on amphiphilic copolymers of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and acrylic acid of various molecular weights synthesized through the AIBN‐initiated radical copolymerization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and acrylic acid in the presence of n‐octadecyl mercaptan. The structure of the copolymers is characterized by 1Н NMR, 13С NMR, IR and MALDI‐TOF MS spectroscopy. It is shown that the length of the hydrophilic block defines the size of the nanoaggregates while impacting the steric stabilization efficiency and the probability of the interchain hydrogen bond formation. The hydrogen bonds formation between the residues of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and acrylic acid is in agreement with the reduction of the ζ‐potential of the nanoaggregates and the critical aggregation concentrations upon increasing the molecular weight. The presence of acrylic acid residues in the amphiphilic macromolecules leads to a higher affinity for doxorubicin and slow partial release of doxorubicin bonded with the aggregates' corona, which is helpful for reducing its cardiac toxicity. Nanoaggregates with a paclitaxel‐loaded hydrophobic core are obtained, showing the possibility of dual loading. The amphiphilic copolymers of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and acrylic acid containing an n‐octadecyl thio end group are thus promising candidates for combination cancer therapy with immobilized anti‐cancer drugs, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence and lethal rate of cancers are rapidly rising recently, however current treatments of cancers, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, usually require long treatment period and have more side effects and high recurrence rate. Enzyme‐powered micro/nanomotors (EMNMs), with powerful self‐propulsion, enhanced permeability and good biocompatibility, have shown great potential in crossing biological barrier and targeted drug transportation for cancer treatment; moreover, advanced approaches based on EMNMs such as photothermal therapy and starvation therapy have also been widely explored in cancer treatment. Although there are several review works discussing the progress of micro/nanomotors for biomedical applications, there is not one review paper with the focus on the cancer treatment based on EMNMs. Therefore, in this review, we try to concisely and timely summarize the recent progress of cancer treatment based on enzyme‐driven micro/nanomotors, such as brain tumors, bladder cancer, breast cancer and others. Finally, the challenges and outlook of cancer therapy based on EMNMs are discussed, hoping to provide fundamental guidance for the future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Inspired by the adaptation of cells to the surrounding environment, the combination of cell membrane and nanomaterials has gradually become a new type of biomimetic nanocomposite. The construction of endogenous membrane biomimetic nanocarriers (EMBNs) not only retains the structure of membrane surface protein, but also has the properties of nanoparticles (NPs), also provides the ability of natural interaction between nanomaterials and organisms, thus overcoming the severe challenges faced by traditional nanodelivery systems in clinical application. In this paper, the construction methods of EMBNs are reviewed, focusing on a simple method to prepare membrane proteins. Secondly, EMBNs were classified according a variety of cell membranes. Finally, the unique advantages of EMBNs in nanomedicine are introduced, including improving biocompatibility, homologous targeting ability, prolonging blood circulation time and immune escape ability. In nanomedicine, such as targeted delivery, phototherapy, immunotherapy and tumor imaging, multifaceted biological interfaces through membrane masking provide a new approach for the development of multifunctional NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanoparticles having magnetic properties are exciting for application in the directed transport of anticancer drugs encapsulated in them. To ensure drug‐loading capacity and controlled release, surface modification with host molecules is a fascinating choice. In this paper, we report the synthesis and surface modification of magnetic cobalt metal nanoparticles with oligosaccharide host molecules (β‐cyclodextrin) tethered on the surface. A β‐cyclodextrin‐folate derivative is synthesized and characterized using Infrared‐, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance‐, and Matrix‐Assisted Laser Deposition Ionization‐Time of Flight mass spectrometry. The size of the cobalt nanoparticles carrying the host molecule on the surface is ~10 nm. The nanoparticles are characterized using X‐Ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, particle size analyzer, Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray, and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The bare magnetic nanoparticles also show a strong saturation magnetization of 142.21 emu g−1. The chemotherapeutic drug 5‐fluorouracil is loaded on the surface‐modified cobalt nanoparticles through host: guest complexation mode and its controlled release is measured in‐vitro. The slow release is spread over more than 14 days, and a complete release of the loaded therapeutic cargo is not reached. The release is pH‐dependent and changes with acidic levels of the medium. The anticancer activity of the drug‐loaded nanocarrier on MDA‐MB‐231 (breast cancer) cells is investigated. The mechanism of cell death is studied, and the cells are found inhibited in the synthesis phase. Flow cytometric analysis shows that 79.70 % of the empty nanocarrier‐treated and 74.86 % 5‐fluorouracil‐loaded nanocarrier‐treated MDA‐MB‐231 cells were in the early apoptosis phase. This new combination nanocarrier is intriguing owing to its structural and magnetic properties, and the action on cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the development of hollow starch nanoparticles (HSNPs) as promising carriers for poorly soluble drugs. A new and efficient method is presented, based on an in situ gas‐foaming/salt‐leaching process within individual starch nanoparticles prepared by a solvent displacement technique. Characterization using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis confirmed the successful preparation of HSNPs. Solid dispersion systems with piroxicam (PRX) as a model drug were formulated to evaluate HSNPs' potential as poorly water‐soluble drug carriers. Solid‐state properties, dissolution behavior and stability of PRX‐HSNPs solid dispersions were investigated. In vitro dissolution studies revealed that using hydrophilic HSNPs as carriers significantly improved the release of PRX. Solid‐state characterization showed that the main reason for the improved dissolution was the adsorption of PRX on the outer and inner surfaces of the HSNPs in an amorphous state. Stability studies demonstrated that the amorphous nature of loaded PRX remained unaffected even after 12 weeks of storage at 75 % relative humidity. Accordingly, the proposed HSNPs offer a promising alternative for the delivery of poorly water‐soluble drugs. In addition, the synthesis strategy demonstrated for HSNPs is easy, efficient and could be extended to the preparation of other hollow polymeric nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of supporting matrices for biological applications, many types of drugs have been administered via various forms of conventional drug delivery preparations, such as pills, solutions, creams, suppositories, injected gels and so on. Key parameters to all these systems for effective drug delivery are controlled release for sustained periods, targeted delivery, and enhancements of drug stability and efficacy, all of which can be manipulated by using polymers. Given the important impact of the structures of the polymers on these parameters, this mini‐review gives a simple introduction to the requirements of drug delivery systems and surveys the synthetic pathways to a key polymer in this field, namely poly(lactic acid). We also review the preparation of block copolymers that incorporate poly(lactic acid), to expand and further develop its properties for drug delivery systems. It is hoped that this short teacherly and introductory review will provide a basic stepping‐stone to more in‐depth reviews and papers and enable an easy access to this fast growing field. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stimuli‐responsiveness of injectable hydrogel has been drastically developed for the controlled release of drugs and has achieved encouraging curative effects in a variety of diseases including wounds, cardiovascular diseases, and tumors. The gelation, swelling, and degradation of such hydrogels respond to endogenous biochemical factors (such as pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, enzymes, glucose) and/or to exogenous physical stimulations (like light, magnetism, electricity, and ultrasound), thereby accurately releasing loaded drugs in response to specifically pathological status and as desired for treatment plan, and thus improving therapeutic efficacy effectively. This paper gives a detailed introduction of recent progresses in responsive injectable hydrogels and focuses on the design strategy of various stimuli‐sensitivities and their resultant alteration of gel dissociation and drug liberation behavior. Their application in disease treatment is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromotors have opened novel avenues for drug delivery due to their capacity for self‐propelling. Attempts in this field trend towards ameliorating their functions to promote their clinical applications. In this paper, an ingenious suction‐cup‐inspired micromotor is presented with adhesive properties for drug delivery in the stomach. The micromotors are fabricated by using hydrogel replicating the structure of suction‐cup‐like microparticles, which derive from self‐assembly of colloidal crystals under rapid solvent extraction, followed by loading magnesium (Mg) in the bottom spherical surface. The Mg‐loaded micromotors can realize spontaneous movement due to the continual generation of hydrogen bubbles in gastric juice. The combination of unique suction‐cup‐like structure with excellent motion performance makes the micromotor an ideal carrier for drug delivery as they can efficiently adhere to the tissue. Moreover, benefiting from the porous structure, the hydrogel micromotors exhibit a high volume‐surface ratio, which enables efficient drug loading. It is demonstrated that the suction‐cup‐inspired micromotors can adhere efficiently to the ulcer‐region in the stomach and release drugs due to their distinctive architecture and spontaneous motion, exhibiting desirable curative effect of gastric ulcer. Thus, the suction‐cup‐inspired micromotors with adhesive properties are expected to advance the development of micromotor in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controllable locomotion enables micron/nanorobots to voyage and perform microsurgeries inside the human body. With the assistance of micro/nanorobots, medical tasks can be fulfilled more efficiently than traditional treatment approaches. The micro/nanorobots have performed various tasks that would not be possible by conventional methods. Moreover, wireless propelling methods bring about a lot of benefits, so that the biomedical field gains a new development opportunity. Because of the continuous efforts made by researchers in the past decade, tremendous achievements have been obtained for micro/nanorobots working in vivo. Inside the human body, the micro/nanorobots hold great potential for various applications including cancer therapy, sensing, gene silencing and thrombolysis. In this paper, we provide an overview on recent wireless micro&nanorobots applied in cells, blood vessels, tissue and eyes. Actuation methods, including acoustic, magnetic, light, chemical and bioenergy, for micro&nanorobots insidethe human body are summarized and specific applications of them are also discussed. Furthermore, challenges such as speed, biocompatibility, controllability still exist. However, we can also foresee promising developments in future. Multifunction, simplified devices and intelligence will be the forthcoming development directions for in body micro&nanorobots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐therapy strategies that coexist in a single system for cancer therapy has a great clinical application potential. In this paper, with the aim of establishing a suitable implantable platform for multimodal chemo‐photothermal cancer therapy, we have fabricated a coaxial composite hydrogel fiber that facilitated prolonged release of Doxorubicin from core. Fibers also served as NIR‐absorbing mediators, via incorporation of Cu2‐xSe nanoparticles in the shell, to facilitate chemo‐photothermal combinational effects. In vitro experiments exhibited excellent photo‐thermal properties of the fibers and exceptional cancer cell‐killing efficiency. Remarkably, in vivo antitumor experiments showed that Doxorubicin‐loaded coaxial hydrogel fibers containing Cu2‐xSe nanoparticles had outstanding antitumor efficacy, compared with chemotherapy or photothermal application alone. Overall, the coaxial composite hydrogel fibers provided a safe and efficacious implantable platform for multimodal chemo‐photothermal therapy that could potentially be used to control the progression of cancer locally at the tumor site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autologous nerve grafts are the current "gold standard" for repairing large nerve gaps. However, they cause morbidity at the donor nerve site and only a limited amount of nerve can be harvested. Nerve conduits are a promising alternative to autografts and can act as guidance cues for the regenerating axons, without the need to harvest donor nerve. Separately, it has been shown that localized delivery of GDNF can enhance axon growth and motor recovery. FK506, an FDA approved small molecule, has also been shown to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. This paper describes the design of a novel hole‐based drug delivery apparatus integrated with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nerve conduit for controlled local delivery of a protein such as GDNF or a small molecule such as FK506. The PTFE devices were tested in a diffusion chamber, and the bioactivity of the released media was evaluated by measuring neurite growth of dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) exposed to the released drugs. The drug delivering nerve guide was able to release bioactive concentrations of FK506 or GDNF. Following these tests, optimized drug releasing nerve conduits were implanted across 10 mm sciatic nerve gaps in a BL6 yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mouse model, where they demonstrated significant improvement in muscle mass, compound muscle action potential, and axon myelination in vivo as compared with nerve conduits without the drug. The drug delivery nerve guide could release drug for extended periods of time and enhance axon growth in vitro and in vivo. This paper describes the design of a novel drug delivery apparatus integrated with a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) based nerve conduit for controlled local delivery of a protein such as GDNF or a small molecule such as FK506. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and facile approach has been applied for the synthesis of molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (MNs). Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets were prepared by mix‐solvent reflux exfoliation technique of bulk MoS2 with ethanol/water as the solvent. In this paper, a novel nano sorbent is reported for the surface grafting of poly [N‐Vinyl caprolactam‐co‐Vinyl Acetate] copolymer onto molybdenum disulfide nanosheets. The MNs@ p (NVCL‐co‐VAc) was modified by 3, 4‐diaminobenzoic acid (DABA) to enhance its adsorption capacity. The ability of MNs@ p (NVCL‐co‐VAc)‐DABA was estimated as a nanocarrier for the delivery of Imatinib Mesylate (IM) as an anticancer drug. The polymer grafted MNs@ p (NVCL‐co‐VAc)‐DABA was characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The effect of the experimental parameters, such as pH, contact time, and the temperature was evaluated. In vitro controlled drug release and phototherapy under near‐infrared (NIR) light irradiation are also discussed. In vitro release of IM from IM/MNs@ p (NVCL‐co‐VAc)‐DABA nanocarriers in the simulated blood fluid (pH = 7.4) shown that the release of IM was faster at 50°C than that at 37°C. The drug release amount under NIR light irradiation reached up to 98% over 15 min, which was about 12 times that without NIR light irradiation. The existence of absorbed NIR energy causes shrinkage of thermosensitive polymer chains and successfully caused the drug release. The sorption process was described by the Langmuir model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic. The drug release kinetics was examined using Zero‐order, First‐order, Korsmeyer–Peppas, and Higuchi mathematical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the use of a self‐assembling hydrogel as a delivery vehicle for the Parkinson's disease drug l‐DOPA. Based on a two‐component combination of an l‐glutamine amide derivative and benzaldehyde, this gel has very soft rheological properties and self‐healing characteristics. It is demonstrated that the gel can be formulated to encapsulate l‐DOPA. These drug‐loaded gels are characterized, and rapid release of the drug is obtained from the gel network. This drug‐loaded hydrogel has appropriate rheological characteristics to be amenable for injection. This system is therefore tested as a vehicle for nasal delivery of neurologically‐active drugs—a drug delivery strategy that can potentially avoid first pass liver metabolism and bypass the blood–brain barrier, hence enhancing brain uptake. In vitro tests indicate that the gel has biocompatibility with respect to nasal epithelial cells. Furthermore, animal studies demonstrate that the nasal delivery of a gel loaded with 3H‐labeled l‐DOPA out‐performed a simple intranasal l‐DOPA solution. This is attributed to longer residence times of the gel in the nasal cavity resulting in increased blood and brain concentrations. It is demonstrated that the likely routes of brain penetration of intranasally‐delivered l‐DOPA gel involve the trigeminal and olfactory nerves connecting to other brain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among various kinds of photothermal conversion materials, polypyrrole (PPy) has attracted ever‐increasing attention because of its good biocompatibility and excellent near‐infrared light response property. In this research, the core‐shell nanoparticles with magnetic Fe3O4 as the core and mesoporous silica (MSN) as the shell were prepared, the resulted Fe3O4@MSN nanoparticles were then surface coated with a layer of PPy and further modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to gain colloidal stability. The Fe2+ in Fe3O4 can catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 in tumor cells to produce cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals, thus realizing the tumor chemodynamic therapy. Meanwhile, the MSN layer gives the nanoparticles a higher drug loading capacity of chemotherapeutics (doxorubicin, DOX). Therefore, the prepared Fe3O4@MSN@PPy‐PVP nanoparticles not only have good biocompatibility, magnetism and colloidal stability but also can realize the combined tumor photothermal, chemo, and chemodynamic therapy. This study demonstrates the rational design of multifunctional nanoplatforms for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobically modified alginate hydrogels have great potential in drug delivery as they are biologically compatible and cost efficient. While previous works have shown successful protein, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic drug delivery, little information regarding the relationship between crosslinker density and drug release rate is known. This paper investigates the impact of crosslinker density and hydrophobic degree of substitution within modified alginate gels and solutions on the release kinetics using model hydrophobic drug, sulindac. Near zero-order release was obtained for an extended period of 5 days. Drug release rates decreased as the crosslinker density within both modified alginate hydrogels and solutions increased. Release data fit well to a simplified Fickian relationship, suggesting that the release mechanism is diffusion-limited. These release characteristics also correlate with bulk rheological measurements, indicating a strong interrelationship between the mechanical properties and the drug release characteristics of the hydrogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, graphene oxide/ magnetite (GO/Fe3O4) nanocomposite was synthesized as a carrier and MRI contrast agent. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the crystalline structure of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Furrier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) provided evidence for the presence of Fe3O4 and GO in the nanocomposite. The surface morphology of the nanocomposite was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnetic properties of the synthesized nanocomposite was studied by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of the curcumin were 22 and 96 %, respectively. The comparison between drug release from GO/Fe3O4 in neutral and acidic pH was shown high release in neutral conditions. MTT results demonstrated that the GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite illustrates considerable toxicity due to which cell viability decreased to lower than 50 % at 140 μg ml−1 concentration. The results showed that curcumin and curcumin loaded nanocomposite has a similar power of antioxidant activities. GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite is a good magnetic resonance T2 contrast agent under the T2‐imaging sequences. The novelty of this study is the application of water‐dispersed GO/Fe3O4 with pH‐dependent release properties for designing a new colon drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese dioxide (MnO2)‐based functional nanomaterials have attracted great attention in the fields of nanoscience, biosensors, bioimaging, drug/gene delivery, and cancer therapy. Especially, all‐in‐one tumor microenvironment (TME) responsive MnO2‐based nanoagents have become a research hotspot due to their simple fabrication procedure, high specific surface area, controllable size and morphologies, easy surface modification, TME response, and oxygen generation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of strategies for construction of MnO2‐based all‐in‐one nanoplatforms for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Major highlighted topics in this paper focus on the controllable fabrication of MnO2 nanobuilding blocks, tumor targeting accumulation, working mechanisms of enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and the necessary considerations for construction of all‐in‐one nanoplatform. Finally, the current challenges and future directions in this rapidly growing research field are also discussed, which will provide guidance on the future works about the clinical translation of MnO2‐based all‐in‐one nanoplatform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supercritical antisolvent process (SAS) was employed to obtain polymer/drug coprecipitated powders. Indeed, processes based on the use of supercritical fluids allow us to obtain polymer/active drug coprecipitated microparticles with tunable bioavailability. In this work, two different biocompatible polymers were selected to be used as carriers for obtaining drug microparticles with different releases for different applications: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was coprecipitated with ketoprofen to obtain a rapid drug release and zein was coprecipitated with ampicillin to obtain a controlled drug release. The experiments were performed both on a bench‐scale and a pilot‐scale plant. Ketoprofen is one of the most prescribed non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. It is poorly soluble in water and, to overcome this inconvenience, in this work, it was coprecipitated with PVP. In correspondence with the optimized polymer/drug ratio, the dissolution rate of the active principle in the coprecipitated particles was about three times higher than the one of the unprocessed ketoprofen. The second model drug under study in this paper is ampicillin, a semi‐synthetic penicillin that is one of the most commonly prescribed broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Prolonging the release of the drug would imply a reduction in the number of administrations and, therefore, of the side effects associated with too high dosages. For this purpose, in this work, ampicillin was coprecipitated with zein. Zein/ampicillin microparticles were produced up to a polymer/drug ratio of 5/1 w/w; in this case, the antibiotic coprecipitated with zein reaches 90% of its dissolution in about 14 hours, while the unprocessed antibiotic takes about 3 hours to dissolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite(HA) are widely used in the field of drug delivery, especially nano‐HA and porous HA. However, there are few reports on the use of inverse opal HA as drug carrier. In this paper, based on the colloidal crystal template prepared by polystyrene microsphere with the diameter of 380 ± 10 nm, inverse opal HA was prepared by template method as the drug sustained‐release carrier using different dispersants and ratio of template to precursor. The results indicated that when the ratio of template to precursor was 1 : 15 and the dispersant was a mixture of water and alcohol, the prepared inverse opal HA showed a complete ordered porous morphology with uniform pore spacing. In the drug delivery test of amoxicillin, drug loading and release properties of the inverse opal HA were significantly better than that of nano‐HA. Drug loading of the inverse opal HA was about 2.17 times than that of nano‐HA, and drug‐loading performance was also obviously improved. At the same time, sustained release ability of the inverse opal HA was better than that of nano‐HA when releasing amoxicillin. In the first 3 h, the cumulative release rate of amoxicillin in the inverse opal HA was less than 40%, much lower than about 60% of nano‐HA, significantly slowing down the drug release rate and showing good persistence. Therefore, the inverse opal HA as a drug carrier could also improve the sudden release effect of drugs and make the release rate of drugs gentler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research within the field of colloidal liquid aphrons (CLAs) for enzyme immobilization has often used ionic surfactants for the retention of enzymes. Although these charged interactions allow for enhanced immobilization, they can often lead to denaturation of enzyme activity, and even release of the protein. Sodium alginate has been used in drug delivery applications due to its low toxicity and charged interactions that allow for encapsulation. Hence, alginate systems can be used as an alternative to ionic surfactants in CLA immobilization. This paper presents, for the first time, the use of sodium alginate as potential ligand for enhanced CLA immobilization. The use of five model proteins; lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, insulin, and α‐chymotrypsin, of various pIs and hydrophobicities, showed the relevance of electrostatic interactions in promoting binding with sodium alginate when the pH < pI, with 100% immobilization attributed to alginate incorporated CLAs over general nonionic formulations. Furthermore, above their pI, >80% protein recovery was observed, with activity and conformation comparable to their native counterparts. Finally, the use of proteolysis showed that as the degree of ionic bonding increased between the protein and sodium alginate, the degree of protease resistance decreased due to conformational changes experienced during binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New generations of vaccines have been developed by encapsulating messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) carriers. In addition to the physicochemical properties of LNPs, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of mRNA in LNPs is a key factor to screen vaccine assembly assays. Fluorescent dyes with amplified signals upon binding with mRNA are at the core of developing assays to quantify EE. However, disregarding the temporal effects during the assay impacts the accuracy of the assay. Here, the kinetics of temporal decay in fluorescence intensity of dye‐RNA complex—in Ribogreen assay—are reported and shown how this dynamic process can be impeded in the presence of a nonionic surfactant. Further, the impact of this dynamic process on the calculated EE is studied. The corrections needed to accurately assay dynamic mRNA loading processes are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing time‐sustained drug delivery systems is a main goal in innovative medicines. Inspired by the architecture of secretory granules from the mammalian endocrine system it has generated non‐toxic microscale amyloid materials through the coordination between divalent metals and poly‐histidine stretches. Like their natural counterparts that keep the functionalities of the assembled protein, those synthetic structures release biologically active proteins during a slow self‐disintegration process occurring in vitro and upon in vivo administration. Being these granules formed by a single pure protein species and therefore, chemically homogenous, they act as highly promising time‐sustained drug delivery systems. Despite their enormous clinical potential, the nature of the clustering process and the quality of the released protein have been so far neglected issues. By using diverse polypeptide species and their protein‐only oligomeric nanoscale versions as convenient models, a conformational rearrangement and a stabilization of the building blocks during their transit through the secretory granules, being the released material structurally distinguishable from the original source is proved here. This fact indicates a dynamic nature of secretory amyloids that act as conformational arrangers rather than as plain, inert protein‐recruiting/protein‐releasing granular depots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New advancements in nanocarrier technologies are revolutionizing the delivery of drugs through the skin, allowing for precise treatment with better absorption, stability, and bioavailability. This review investigates lipid and inorganic nanocarriers like liposomes, ethosomes, and inorganic nanoparticles and assesses their potential for delivering drugs through the skin. It emphasizes the mechanisms that enable controlled release and deeper skin penetration, which are crucial for ensuring effectiveness in clinical applications. The review synthesizes existing research, acknowledging that only few nanocarriers are successfully deployed in clinical settings. By offering a comprehensive overview, it sheds light on the progress and future obstacles to using nanocarriers for drug delivery through the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]