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Pharmaceutics
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Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment...
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Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 17912

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Diana Rafael

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery and Therapy (CB-DDT) group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: nanomedicine; nanotechnology; nanoparticles; hydrogels; stimuli-responsive hydrogels; controlled release; drug delivery; gene delivery; cancer targeting; pharmaceutical sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

In the last years the application of advanced drug delivery systems in the clinical practice has shown to be fundamental to discovery the way to solve a wide range of problems and challenges usually related with the conventional therapies, such as: i) poor solubility of several drugs, ii) low circulation half-life, iii) inadequate biodistribution profiles, iv) elevated drugs-associated toxicity and side effects, v) early appearance of resistance to therapy, vi) requirement of high doses to obtain a biological effect, vii) insufficient therapeutic efficacy, viii) lack of specificity, ix) inconvenient administration routes, among others. In this sense, both nanoparticles and hydrogels have been demonstrated to be extremely useful drug delivery tools not only to avoid the abovementioned difficulties, but also to enable a controlled, safe, specific and effective delivery of different types of cargos (i.e., drugs, genes, biomolecules, metals), through different administration routes (i.e., local, systemic, pulmonary, subcutaneous) for the treatment and/or diagnostic of a wide range of clinical conditions with unmet therapeutic needs. Several nanoparticles and hydrogels based products are already approved in the market in the field of Medicine and Health Sciences, and it is expected an exponential growth of the development and clinical approval of this type of products.

Dr. Diana Rafael
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanoparticles
  • hydrogels
  • nanotechnology
  • nanomedicine
  • drug delivery
  • controlled release
  • challenging diseases
  • unmet clinical needs
  • pharmacology
  • drug design

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3359 KiB  
Article
Thymol-Loaded Eudragit RS30D Cationic Nanoparticles-Based Hydrogels for Topical Application in Wounds: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation
by Amira Mohamed Mohsen, Yosra Ibrahim Nagy, Amr M. Shehabeldine and Mona M. Okba
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010019 - 21 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2427
Abstract
Natural medicines formulated using nanotechnology-based systems are a rich source of new wound-treating therapeutics. This study aims to develop thymol-loaded cationic polymeric nanoparticles (CPNPs) to enhance the skin retention and wound healing efficacy of thymol. The developed materials exhibited entrapment efficiencies of 56.58 [...] Read more.
Natural medicines formulated using nanotechnology-based systems are a rich source of new wound-treating therapeutics. This study aims to develop thymol-loaded cationic polymeric nanoparticles (CPNPs) to enhance the skin retention and wound healing efficacy of thymol. The developed materials exhibited entrapment efficiencies of 56.58 to 68.97%, particle sizes of 36.30 to 99.41 nm, and positively charged zeta potential. In Vitro sustained release of thymol up to 24 h was achieved. Selected thymol CPNPs (F5 and C2) were mixed with methylcellulose to form hydrogels (GF5 and GC2). An In Vivo skin-retention study revealed that GF5 and GC2 showed 3.3- and 3.6-fold higher retention than free thymol, respectively. An In Vitro scratch-wound healing assay revealed a significant acceleration in wound closure at 24 h by 58.09% (GF5) and 57.45% (GC2). The potential for free thymol hydrogel, GF5, and GC2 to combat MRSA in a murine skin model was evaluated. The bacterial counts, recovered from skin lesions and the spleen, were assessed. Although a significant reduction in the bacterial counts recovered from the skin lesions was shown by all three formulations, only GF5 and GC2 were able to reduce the bacterial dissemination to the spleen. Thus, our study suggests that Eudragit RS30D nanoparticles-based hydrogels are a potential delivery system for enhancing thymol skin retention and wound healing activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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11 pages, 1533 KiB  
Article
The Experimental Study of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Derived Exosomes with Hydrogel Accelerating Bone Regeneration on Alveolar Bone Defect
by Yang Zhao, Yujia Gong, Xianbo Liu, Jia He, Bowen Zheng and Yi Liu
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(10), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14102189 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3048
Abstract
Introduction: this study was conducted to investigate the osteogenic ability of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) derived exosomes (PDLSCs-Exos) and the effect of PDLSCs-Exos with hydrogel on alveolar bone defect repairment in the rat. Methods: the PDLSCs were obtained through primary cell culture, [...] Read more.
Introduction: this study was conducted to investigate the osteogenic ability of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) derived exosomes (PDLSCs-Exos) and the effect of PDLSCs-Exos with hydrogel on alveolar bone defect repairment in the rat. Methods: the PDLSCs were obtained through primary cell culture, and PDLSCs-Exos were purified by the ultracentrifugation method. The CCK-8 kit and ALP staining were used to explore the effect of PDLSCs-Exos on promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In vivo, the alveolar bone defect models were made mesial to the bilateral maxillary first molars of rats. MicroCT, HE staining, and Masson staining were used to analyze the new bone at the bone defect of rats. Results: the periodontal ligament stem cells and the periodontal ligament stem cells derived exosomes were successfully extracted. The results of the CCK-8 kit and ALP staining showed PDLSCs-Exos significantly promoted the proliferation osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In vivo experiment results revealed that compared with the control group and the hydrogel group, the rats in the hydrogel with exosomes group showed more new bone formation in alveolar bone defects. Conclusion: Periodontal ligament stem cells and exosomes derived from periodontal ligament stem cells were successfully extracted. The results demonstrated that the hydrogel successfully delivered periodontal ligament stem cells derived exosomes for repairing alveolar bone defects in rats in vivo at the initial stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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Review

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24 pages, 8454 KiB  
Review
The Nanotechnology-Based Approaches against Kirsten Rat Sarcoma-Mutated Cancers
by Fernanda Andrade, Júlia German-Cortés, Sara Montero, Pilar Carcavilla, Diego Baranda-Martínez-Abascal, Marc Moltó-Abad, Joaquín Seras-Franzoso, Zamira Vanessa Díaz-Riascos, Diana Rafael and Ibane Abasolo
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061686 - 8 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) is a small GTPase which acts as a molecular switch to regulate several cell biological processes including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in KRAS have been found in 25% of all human cancers, with pancreatic cancer (90%), colorectal [...] Read more.
Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) is a small GTPase which acts as a molecular switch to regulate several cell biological processes including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in KRAS have been found in 25% of all human cancers, with pancreatic cancer (90%), colorectal cancer (45%), and lung cancer (35%) being the types of cancer with the highest mutation rates. KRAS oncogenic mutations are not only responsible for malignant cell transformation and tumor development but also related to poor prognosis, low survival rate, and resistance to chemotherapy. Although different strategies have been developed to specifically target this oncoprotein over the last few decades, almost all of them have failed, relying on the current therapeutic solutions to target proteins involved in the KRAS pathway using chemical or gene therapy. Nanomedicine can certainly bring a solution for the lack of specificity and effectiveness of anti-KRAS therapy. Therefore, nanoparticles of different natures are being developed to improve the therapeutic index of drugs, genetic material, and/or biomolecules and to allow their delivery specifically into the cells of interest. The present work aims to summarize the most recent advances related to the use of nanotechnology for the development of new therapeutic strategies against KRAS-mutated cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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26 pages, 2060 KiB  
Review
Delivery Systems in Ocular Retinopathies: The Promising Future of Intravitreal Hydrogels as Sustained-Release Scaffolds
by Diana Rafael, Marcelo Guerrero, Adolfo Marican, Diego Arango, Bruno Sarmento, Roser Ferrer, Esteban F. Durán-Lara, Simon J. Clark and Simo Schwartz, Jr.
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051484 - 12 May 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Slow-release delivery systems are needed to ensure long-term sustained treatments for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are currently treated with anti-angiogenic agents that require frequent intraocular injections. These can cause serious co-morbidities for the patients and are [...] Read more.
Slow-release delivery systems are needed to ensure long-term sustained treatments for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are currently treated with anti-angiogenic agents that require frequent intraocular injections. These can cause serious co-morbidities for the patients and are far from providing the adequate drug/protein release rates and required pharmacokinetics to sustain prolonged efficacy. This review focuses on the use of hydrogels, particularly on temperature-responsive hydrogels as delivery vehicles for the intravitreal injection of retinal therapies, their advantages and disadvantages for intraocular administration, and the current advances in their use to treat retinal diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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28 pages, 3466 KiB  
Review
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Multitasking Nano-Carriers for Cancer Treatment
by Júlia German-Cortés, Mireia Vilar-Hernández, Diana Rafael, Ibane Abasolo and Fernanda Andrade
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030831 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
Despite all the advances seen in recent years, the severe adverse effects and low specificity of conventional chemotherapy are still challenging problems regarding cancer treatment. Nanotechnology has helped to address these questions, making important contributions in the oncological field. The use of nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Despite all the advances seen in recent years, the severe adverse effects and low specificity of conventional chemotherapy are still challenging problems regarding cancer treatment. Nanotechnology has helped to address these questions, making important contributions in the oncological field. The use of nanoparticles has allowed the improvement of the therapeutic index of several conventional drugs and facilitates the tumoral accumulation and intracellular delivery of complex biomolecules, such as genetic material. Among the wide range of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDS), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have emerged as promising systems for delivering different types of cargo. Their solid lipid core, at room and body temperature, provides SLNs with higher stability than other formulations. Moreover, SLNs offer other important features, namely the possibility to perform active targeting, sustained and controlled release, and multifunctional therapy. Furthermore, with the possibility to use biocompatible and physiologic materials and easy scale-up and low-cost production methods, SLNs meet the principal requirements of an ideal nanoDDS. The present work aims to summarize the main aspects related to SLNs, including composition, production methods, and administration routes, as well as to show the most recent studies about the use of SLNs for cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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24 pages, 5505 KiB  
Review
Locoregional Lymphatic Delivery Systems Using Nanoparticles and Hydrogels for Anticancer Immunotherapy
by Kyeong Jin Cho, Young-Eun Cho and Jihoon Kim
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(12), 2752; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14122752 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2531
Abstract
The lymphatic system has gained significant interest as a target tissue to control cancer progress, which highlights its central role in adaptive immune response. Numerous mechanistic studies have revealed the benefits of nano-sized materials in the transport of various cargos to lymph nodes, [...] Read more.
The lymphatic system has gained significant interest as a target tissue to control cancer progress, which highlights its central role in adaptive immune response. Numerous mechanistic studies have revealed the benefits of nano-sized materials in the transport of various cargos to lymph nodes, overcoming barriers associated with lymphatic physiology. The potential of sustained drug delivery systems in improving the therapeutic index of various immune modulating agents is also being actively discussed. Herein, we aim to discuss design rationales and principles of locoregional lymphatic drug delivery systems for invigorating adaptive immune response for efficient antitumor immunotherapy and provide examples of various advanced nanoparticle- and hydrogel-based formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Hydrogels as Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Challenging Diseases)
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