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Bupropion (Bup) belongs to the norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) class and it is the only FDA-approved drug of its class for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), sold under the name of Wellbutrin. Although bupropion is effective in suppressing the symptoms, its regular use and overdose might lead to seizures and liver failure. Thus, we aimed to nanoformulate bupropion onto a niosomal vesicle to improve its efficacy and achieve the same therapeutic effect at lower scheduled doses. A thin film hydration method was adopted to synthesize and optimize Bup entrapped niosomes using three different surfactants of the sorbitan ester series (Span 20, 40, and 60) in combination with cholesterol. The optimization data determined that the niosome formulated with a cholesterol-to-surfactant ratio of 1:1.5 is the most stable system, with the Bup entrapped niosomes containing Span 20 (Bup@N20C) exhibiting minimal in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and demonstrating the sustained release of Bup in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). The Bup@N20C formulation showed increased exploration activity and reduced irregular movements in reserpine-induced depression in the adult zebrafish model, suggesting the potential for mood improvement through the suppression of depression-like behavior which was established by statistical analysis and trajectory data. The Bup@N20C-treated group even surpasses the treatment effect of the positive control group and is comparable to the control group. Hence, it can be inferred that niosomal formulations of Bup represent a promising delivery system capable of achieving the brain delivery of the cargo by bypassing the blood–brain barrier facilitated by their small architectural structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that mainly affects the white blood cells. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) sudden growth of cancerous cells occurs in blood and bone marrow, and it disrupts normal blood cell production. Most patients are asymptomatic, but it spreads rapidly and can become fatal if left untreated. AML is the prevalent form of leukemia in children. Risk factors of AML include chemical exposure, radiation, genetics, etc. Conventional diagnostic methods of AML are complete blood count tests and bone marrow aspiration, while conventional treatment methods involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant. There is a risk of cancer cells spreading progressively to the other organs if left untreated, and hence, early diagnosis is required. The conventional diagnostic methods are time- consuming and have drawbacks like harmful side effects and recurrence of the disease. To overcome these difficulties, nanoparticles are employed in treating and diagnosing AML. These nanoparticles can be surface- modified and can be used against cancer cells. Due to their enhanced permeability effect and high surface-to-volume ratio they will be able to reach the tumour site which cannot be reached by traditional drugs. This review article talks about how nanotechnology is more advantageous over the traditional methods in the treatment and diagnosis of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several formulations have been developed in the current era using liposomes and niosomes as vesicular carriers, which have proven useful in oral drug delivery; nevertheless, their use is limited due to their gastrointestinal environment, including pH, enzymes, and bile salts. To overcome these difficulties, researchers are working on finding ways to improve the efficacy and stability of vesicles. Therefore bilosomes have been developed as promising vesicular carriers with the potential to deliver oral vaccines, parenteral and transdermal targeted drug delivery. In addition to incorporating hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs into vesicles, bilosomes are considered one of the most effective methods for enhancing bioavailability and efficacy. Bile acid-based bilosomes are rapidly growing in the current research areas and are expected to provide multiple applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields that will occur in the future with bile salts. This paper briefly introduces the bilosomes of a new generation (structure), their mechanism of action, stability, physicochemical properties, and potential biomedical applications including in oral immunization. Furthermore, surface-engineered bilosomes are more effective than bare bilosomes in various animal models, but clinical trials are needed to assess their safety and efficacy. There is also a need for more research on scaling-up factors for commercializing bilosomal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is evident that site-specific systemic drug delivery can reduce side effects, systemic toxicity, and minimal dosage requirements predominantly by delivering drugs to particular pathological sites, cells, and even subcellular structures. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and associated cell organelles play a vital role in several essential cellular functions and activities, such as the synthesis of lipids, steroids, membrane-associated proteins along with intracellular transport, signaling of Ca2+, and specific response to stress. Therefore, the dysfunction of ER is correlated with numerous diseases where cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disorder, etc., are very common. To achieve satisfactory therapeutic results in certain diseases, it is essential to engineer delivery systems that can effectively enter the cells and target ER. Nanoparticles are highly biocompatible, contain a variety of cargos or payloads, and can be modified in a pliable manner to achieve therapeutic effectiveness at the subcellular level when delivered to specific organelles. Passive targeting drug delivery vehicles, or active targeting drug delivery systems, reduce the nonselective accumulation of drugs while reducing side effects by modifying them with small molecular compounds, antibodies, polypeptides, or isolated bio-membranes. The targeting of ER and closely associated organelles in cells using nanoparticles, however, is still unsymmetrically understood. Therefore, here we summarized the pathophysiological prospect of ER stress, involvement of ER and mitochondrial response, disease related to ER dysfunctions, essential therapeutics, and nanoenabled modulation of their delivery to optimize therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascade molecules are nearly uniform-sized macromolecules of small molecules or linear polymer cores built around symmetric branching units. A wide range of biological properties can be achieved with phosphorus-containing dendrimers, depending on their terminal functions, ranging from biomaterials to imaging, drug delivery, and acting as a drug by themselves. This feature article presents significant examples of phosphorus-containing dendrimers used to develop biochips, support cell cultures, carry or deliver biomacromolecules and drugs, bioimaging, and combinational benefits. Because of the thermal stability, ferrocene function, and physical and chemical properties of phosphorus, dendrimers show greater rigidity, mobility, and strength. These dendrimers will be discussed as having a favorable effect on cell growths, especially on neuronal cells, as well as human immune cells like natural killer cells and monocytes, which have a crucial part in preventing cancerous and viral infections. Several phosphorus dendrimers are effective as drugs by themselves (drug per se) and show their activity against neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, inflammation, ocular hypertension, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in both in vivo and in vitro. The present review discusses the synthetic route, fabrications, and biomedical applications of phosphorus-containing dendrimers. The toxicity of these dendrimers was also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the limitations of conventional therapies, there has been an increasing need for nanomedicines for real-time diagnosis and effective treatment of life-threatening diseases. Despite the conceptual and technological success achieved by researchers worldwide, the complexities of biological systems, efficient engineering and formulation of monodispersed nanomedicines, inadequate information on bio–nano interactions, issues on health hazards, clinical trials and commercialization have set new challenges in biomedical research. This review highlights how the biological membrane improves the performance of nanomedicines in drug delivery. With the list of nanomedicines getting longer gradually to overcome the drawbacks of conventional therapeutics, it is important to concentrate on the interactions between nanostructures and living systems in order to improve the biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy of functional nanomedicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]