Nanocapsules For Drug Delivery Research Articles

Development of curcumin-loaded lipid nanocapsules for drug delivery across mucus

This study aimed to develop and characterize lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) for mucosal delivery. Curcumin loaded–LNCs (CCM–LNCs) were prepared by phase inversion temperature (PIT) method. Particle characteristics, morphology, entrapment efficiency (EE) and loading capacity were determined. Mucopenetration studies were conducted by Transwell® plate and tube methods. CCM solution served as control.Particle size and zeta-potential of the CCM-loaded LNCs were 67.47 ± 0.15 nm and −32.86 ± 2.51 mV. EE and loading capacity of CCM–LNCs was found to be 98.38 ± 0.45 % and 42.24 ± 2.24 %, respectively. No significant change on stability of CCM–LNCs was found after 30 days storage. CCM–LNCs could penetrate mucus 3 times deeper than CCM solution. Moreover, the delivered amount of CCM across mucus layer was 6 folds higher compared with CCM solution. LNCs with negative charge could be used as a promising particulate delivery system for delivering BCS class IV drug such as CCM across mucus.

Gene therapy of brain cancer by drug delivery nanocapsules

An all-in-one polymeric nanocapsule system that combines blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing and glioblastoma (GBM) dual-targeting peptide, intratumoral degradable disulfide cross-linker, and genome editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 is reported to show exquisite BBB penetration and brain tumor therapy with negligible off-target gene editing.

The Kinetics of Chitosan Degradation in Organic Acid Solutions

This paper presents a comparative study on chitosan degradation in organic acid solutions according to their different dissociation characteristics. More precisely, the aim of the study was to determine the kinetics of the degradation process depending on the different acid dissociation constants (pKa values). The scientists involved in chitosan to date have focused mainly on acetic acid solutions. Solutions of lactic, acetic, malic, and formic acids in concentrations of 3% wt. were used in this research. The progress of degradation was determined based on the intrinsic viscosity measurement, GPC/SEC chromatographic analysis, and their correlation. Changes in the viscosity parameters were performed at a temperature of 20 °C ± 1 °C and a timeframe of up to 168 h (7 days). The chemical structure and DDA of the initial chitosan were analyzed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy analysis. The results of this study can be considered of high importance for the purpose of electrospinning, production of micro- and nano-capsules for drug delivery, and other types of processing. Understanding the influence of the dissociation constant of the solvent on the kinetics of chitosan degradation will allow the selection of an appropriate medium, ensuring an effective and stable spinning process, in which the occurrence of polymer degradation is unfavorable.

General and facile syntheses of hybridized deformable hollow mesoporous organosilica nanocapsules for drug delivery

Deformable materials have garnered widespread attention in biomedical applications. Herein, a controllable, general, and simple alkaline etching strategy was used to synthesize deformable hollow mesoporous organosilica nanocapsules (DMONs), in which multiple organic moieties were homogeneously incorporated into the framework. DMONs with double-, triple-, and even quadruple-hybridized frameworks were prepared by the selective introduction of organosilica precursors in accordance with the chemical homology principle through a surfactant-directed sol–gel procedure and a subsequent etching process in alkaline solution. The triple-hybridized DMONs possessed uniform and controllable diameters (100–330 nm), and large hollow cavities (50–270 nm). Liquid cell electron microscopy images demonstrated that the DMONs were deformable in solution. Elemental mapping images suggested that the organic components were homogeneous distribution within the entire DMONs framework. Statistical analysis of cell proliferation assays showed that breast cancer MCF-7 viability exceeded 85% when the cells are incubated with the triple-hybridized DMONs (800 μg mL−1) for 24 h. Histological assessments of main organs indicated no tissue injury or necrosis after intravenous injection of the DMONs 7 days (5 mg kg−1 body weight). Quantitative analysis indicated that the cellular uptake of the DMONs was 6-fold higher than that of their hard counterparts when the number of nanoparticles added was 1.25 × 104, and similar results were found for 4 T1 cells. Furthermore, doxorubicin (DOX) loaded triple-hybridized DMONs with a loading efficiency of 16.9 wt%, produced a strong killing effect on tumor cells. Overall, DMONs with various incorporated organic functional groups could serve as novel nanoplatforms for drug delivery in biomedical applications.

Second-Harmonic Scattering-Defined Topological Classes for Nano-Objects

Nano-objects topology determination is a central question in nano-science and remains a challenge to achieve in absence of supporting substrate and atomic resolution techniques. In this work, we demonstrate how second harmonic scattering is sensitive to the balance between the nano-objects shape symmetry and size, thereby allowing for a second harmonic scattering defined topological definition. Although many data on nano-objects have been reported with this method so far, in most cases dispersed in liquid suspensions, no topological retrieval has been proposed. To reach this task, we have measured the second harmonic scattered light from a series of representative nano-objects along two collection directions for well-defined polarization states. The experimental results are then recast within a general framework involving nonlinear emitting sources and the size as critical elements. This analysis leads to the classification of the nano-objects according to the topology defined by their second harmonic scattering response. Current Size (2726 words) Nano-objects topology determination is a central question in nano-science and remains a challenge to achieve in absence of supporting substrate and an atomic resolution techniques like electron microscopy [1, 2]. With the fast development of the design and engineering of nano-objects aiming for many different applications, from functional materials to sensors, nanoprobes for microscopy or nanocapsules for drug delivery, the fine physical details of these nano-objects must be determined precisely [3]. Among these structure parameters, one may identify the material nature, the size, the shape or the morphology. In the latter case, plain solid or core-shell nanostructures for example can yield very different properties with great variety, notably in nano-optics. The shape of the nano-objects is likewise also a critical parameter.

Size-Tailored Design of Highly Monodisperse Lipid Nanocapsules for Drug Delivery.

The empirical development of nanocarriers has unfortunately led to high attrition rates in clinical trials. This underpins the importance of the rational design of nanomedicines to achieve efficient disease-driven therapies. Since particle size certainly influences in vivo behaviour, rational disease-driven colloid design can only be achieved by determining the parameters that accurately control their size distribution. To this end, we have thoroughly revisited the parameters that drive the phase-inversion temperature nanoemulsification method to obtain kinetically stable and monodisperse lipid nanocapsules. Notably, we have evidenced that the major parameter driving nanocapsule formation is the oily phase/surfactant ratio and consequently, we have established a linear univariate mathematical model that predicts the particle size distribution for various oily phase-surfactant combinations (R² > 0 99). Furthermore, we have observed that the difference between the HLB values of the surfactants and the triglycerides utilized as oily phase correlates with the steepness of the slope of the linear mathematical model. This model will bring the implementation of size-tailored lipid drug carriers determined by pathophysiological features a step closer. Importantly, this model pioneeringly fits all data available in the literature on size distribution of colloids prepared by low-energy methods and that were originally evaluated following other parameters. Moreover, the nanocapsules have been obtained following a single-step process, with the ensuing potential for a future scale-up in an energetically-efficient manner. These findings will eventually enable nanomedicines to be obtained "on-demand" to meet disease-driven criteria in terms of particle size and will also increase their chances of success.

Nanocapsules for Drug Delivery: An Updated Review of the Last Decade.

For the past few decades, there has been considerable research interest in drug delivery strategies using nanoparticulate systems as carriers for a wide range of active pharmaceutical ingredients. It is known that nanoparticulate drug delivery systems comprise a wide variety of dosage forms including nanospheres, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, and nanocapsules. This review describes nanocapsule preparation techniques and their applications for the treatment of several diseases using patents and examples from the literature. Nanocapsules are vesicular systems consisting of an inner liquid core (aqueous/oily) surrounded by a polymeric wall that has immense potential as drug carriers because of the many advantages like improving poor aqueous solubility, stabilizing drugs by protecting the molecule from the environment, providing the desired pharmacokinetic profile, allowing controlled release, as well as facilitating oral administration. The present study discusses and summarizes patents related to preparation methods of and recent studies from the last 10 years on nanocapsules as drug delivery systems.

Synthesis of Yolk–Shell Polymeric Nanocapsules Encapsulated with Monodispersed Upconversion Nanoparticle for Dual-Responsive Controlled Drug Release

Dual-responsive (light and pH) yolk–shell structured drug delivery nanocapsules, each consisting of a movable upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) core and a shrinkable poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) shell, were prepared by distillation precipitation polymerization. Monodispersed NaYF4: Yb3+/Tm3+ UCNPs were synthesized and encapsulated in silica templates, followed by coating to form PMAA shells. Subsequently, the silica templates were dissolved to form nanocavities for drug loading. The PMAA shell contains pH and ultraviolet (UV) light sensing moieties, enabling a control release upon the exposure of nanocapsules to these stimuli. The near-infrared (NIR)-to-UV feature of UCNPs allows azobenzene isomerization to be light triggered remotely to control contraction and swelling of PMAA shells. The loading efficiency of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DXR) was up to 17 wt % due to the unique nanoporous structure of PMAA shells. The values of the diffusion coefficient under different release conditions were determ...

Acyclovir lipid nanocapsules gel for oromucosal delivery: A preclinical evidence of efficacy in the chicken pouch membrane model

The study aimed to develop a patient-friendly acyclovir gel with improved efficacy in viral mouth infections, in response to patients' need for an intraoral acyclovir product. Acyclovir was loaded in lipid nanocapsules in gel form, and formulae were evaluated for oromucosal delivery. Lipid nanocapsules were prepared by the phase inversion method. Formulae were optimized to achieve maximum acyclovir entrapment and minimum acyclovir precipitation. Colloidal properties, and pharmaceutical performance indicators were assessed. Drug-loaded lipid nanocapsules were in the nanorange (39–120 nm), PdI (0.03–0.2), negative zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency (33–64%). Acyclovir (0.3% w/w) lipid nanocapsules gels were prepared using hydroxyethylcellulose (3% w/w). Resulting gel attributes were considered suitable.Lipid nanocapsules gels (0.3% w/w) showed enhanced Ex vivo acyclovir permeation across, and comparable retention in chicken pouch membrane compared to the 5% marketed cream despite lower drug content. The data provides basis for future exploration of lipid nanocapsules as carrier for transmucosal delivery of acyclovir; the enhanced acyclovir retention in chicken pouch membrane, compared to controls, suggests suitability of lipid nanocapsules for drug delivery to the viral lesion within the buccal membrane.

High-Throughput Quantification of Nanoparticle Degradation Using Computational Microscopy and Its Application to Drug Delivery Nanocapsules

Design and synthesis of degradable nanoparticles are very important in drug delivery and biosensing fields. Although accurate assessment of nanoparticle degradation rate would improve the characterization and optimization of drug delivery vehicles, current methods rely on estimating the size of the particles at discrete points over time using, for example, electron microscopy or dynamic light scattering (DLS), among other techniques, all of which have drawbacks and practical limitations. There is a significant need for a high-throughput and cost-effective technology to accurately monitor nanoparticle degradation as a function of time and using small amounts of sample. To address this need, here we present two different computational imaging-based methods for monitoring and quantification of nanoparticle degradation. The first method is suitable for discrete testing, where a computational holographic microscope is designed to track the size changes of protease-sensitive protein-core nanoparticles following...

A Comprehensive Theoretical Study of Drug Delivery at Nanoscale

Nanotechnology a network of technologies has achieved momentous precedence worldwide over last few decades Progression in nanoparticle synthesis and nanoparticle based drug delivery systems is extensively anticipated to change the scenario of pharmaceutical industries because of the remarkable change in the properties of materials at nanoscale typically by virtue of their increased specific surface area to volume ratio and reactivity which in principal may increase their biomedical applications In the present study atheoretical study has been carried out about nanostructures acting as nano capsules for drug delivery A mathematical model has been formulated for the delivery and removal rate of nano capsules using a simple differential approach

Pullulan as a stabilizer agent of polymeric nanocapsules for drug delivery

Polymeric stabilizers have received attention in the preparation of nanostructured systems due to their ability to enhance formulation stability. Considering this, the objective of this work was to prepare poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules using the pullulan as a polymeric stabilizer. The nanocapsules were prepared using the interfacial deposition method of preformed polymers and they were characterized in terms of pH, average diameter, polydispersity index, zeta potential, beclomethasone dipropionate content, encapsulation efficiency, photostability and drug release profiles. The formulations showed physicochemical characteristics consistent with nanocarriers for drug delivery such as: average diameter lower than 270 nm, polydispersity indexes lower than 0.2, negative zeta potential (-22.7 to -26.3 mV) and encapsulation efficiencies close to 100%. In addition, the nanocapsules were able to delay the beclomethasone dipropionate photodegradation under UVC radiation and by the dialysis bag diffusion technique, the nanocapsules were able to prolong the drug release. Thus, pullulan could be considered an interesting excipient to formulate polymeric nanocapsules.

Polyaminoacid nanocapsules for drug delivery to the lymphatic system: Effect of the particle size

Previous work by our group showed the possibility to reduce the toxicity of docetaxel upon its encapsulation in polyaminoacid nanocapsules with a size of 200nm. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether a reduction in the nanocapsules size might facilitate their access to the lymphatic system. To do so, we analyzed the effect of several formulation parameters on the characteristics of polyglutamic acid, PEGylated polyglutamic acid and polyasparagine nanocapsules. From these experiments, we could identify the best conditions to produce nanocapsules with a small size (close to 100nm) and adequate capacity to encapsulate and sustain the release of the antitumor drug docetaxel. Moreover, the results of the stability study made evident the critical role of the polyaminoacid shell on the colloidal stability of the nanocapsules in biologically relevant media. Finally, we studied the influence of the particle size (100nm vs. 200nm) on the biodistribution of PGA-PEG nanocapsules following subcutaneous injection. The results showed that the 100 nm-size nanocapsules accumulate faster in the lymph nodes, than those with a size of 200nm. In summary, these data suggest the potential of 100nm-size polyaminoacid nanocapsules as lymphatic drug delivery carriers.

Preparation of pH-responsive hollow poly(MAA-co-EGDMA) nanocapsules for drug delivery and ultrasound imaging

The biocompatible hollow poly(MAA-co-EGDMA) nanocapsules with size of 260 nm shown controlled DOX drug delivery and effective ultrasound imaging.

Improving drug biological effects by encapsulation into polymeric nanocapsules.

This review is based on selected reports from 2004 to 2014 and provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the state of the art related to the drug delivery advantages of polymeric nanocapsules, which are a specific type of polymeric nanoparticles used for improvement of biological effects. Special attention is given to the application of nanocapsules to increase the chemical and photostability of drugs, to modulate the interaction with cells and tissues, to reduce adverse effects of drugs, and to increase the drug efficiency and/or bioavailability. Moreover, this review covers in vitro and in vivo studies, highlighting interesting examples of drugs from several therapeutic classes for which efficacy is improved by encapsulation in different types of nanocapsules, especially in lipid-core nanocapsules. We also briefly present the first results obtained so far attesting to the safety of using polymeric nanocapsules for drug delivery.

Triggered-release nanocapsules for drug delivery to the lungs

This study demonstrated the feasibility of trigger-responsive inhaled delivery of medicines using soft solid shelled nanocapsules. The delivery system was a 50nm sized lipid rich capsule carrier that distended rapidly when mixed with an exogenous non-ionic surfactant trigger, Pluronic® L62D. Capsule distension was accompanied by solid shell permeabilisation which resulted in payload release from the carrier; 63.9±16.3% within 1h. In electrolyte rich aqueous fluids Pluronic® L62D was loosely aggregated, which we suggest to be the cause of its potency in lipid nanocapsule permeabilisation compared to other structurally similar molecules. The specificity of the interaction between L62D and the nanocapsule resulted in carrier payload delivery into human epithelial cells without any adverse effects on metabolic activity or barrier function. This effective, biocompatible, trigger-responsive delivery system provides a versatile platform technology for inhaled medicines. From the Clinical EditorThis study demonstrates the feasibility, efficiency and biocompatibility of trigger-responsive inhaled delivery of 50nm lipid-rich capsule carrier that distends rapidly when mixed with an exogenous non-ionic surfactant trigger, Pluronic L62D.

Role of the Templating Approach in Influencing the Suitability of Polymeric Nanocapsules for Drug Delivery: LbL vs SC/MS

Polymer nanocapsules play an increasingly important role for drug delivery applications. Layer-by-layer (LbL) templated synthesis has received the widest attention to fabricate polymer nanocapsules. However, for drug delivery applications, the LbL approach may not necessarily offer the optimum nanocapsules. We make the first attempt to compare the LbL approach with a more recently developed solid core/mesoporous shell (SC/MS) templated approach in context of their suitability for construction of sub-500 nm sized capsules for drug delivery applications. The nanocapsules of chitosan, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) are fabricated using LbL and SC/MS templating approaches and loaded with curcumin, a model lipophilic anticancer drug. The influence of the templating approach on capsule aggregation, polymer loading, drug loading, cellular uptake, and therapeutic efficacy against MCF-7 breast cancer cells is compared in an effort to identify the most suitable fabrication method and polymer material for drug delivery applications. In combination, among different tested nanocapsules, chitosan nanocapsules fabricated using the SC/MS approach are found to be the most promising candidate that demonstrates the optimum cytotoxic efficiency and significant potential for drug delivery.

Synthesis and Characterization of Piezoelectric Nanocapsules for Drug Delivery

Hollow nanocapsules have the potential to be used as drug delivery carriers because of the high drug loading capacity of their inner void space. In this paper, we report a preliminary study of the synthesis of piezoelectric PZT nanocapsules (PZT-NCs). The hollow PZT-NCs were successfully fabricated by a nanoimprint method with a sol-gel process. A porous alumina membrane (PAM) was used as a mold. The PZT-NCs have a polycrystalline structure and consist of crystallites with a size in the range of 2–5 nm.

AIE luminogen bridged hollow hydroxyapatite nanocapsules for drug delivery

A new type of organophosphonic acid, (4,4'-(1,2-diphenylethene-1,2-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(methylene)diphosphonic acid (PATPE), based on tetraphenylethene has been prepared, and its ester derivative exhibits the characteristic property of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in DMSO-H2O solution. The PATPE is then fabricated into hydroxyapatite by a one-pot condensation process to form hollow mesoporous nanocapsules of ellipsoidal morphology. The AIE luminogen-bridged hollow hydroxyapatite nanocapsules emit strong blue light under UV irradiation, which is further used for drug delivery using ibuprofen (IBU) as a model drug. The fluorescence intensity of the materials varies greatly with the loading and release of IBU, suggesting that the drug release process may be tracked in terms of the change of luminescence intensity. The biocompatibility of AIE luminogen functionalized material is also evaluated on HUH7 human hepatoma cells using the MTT assay. The low cytotoxicity of the materials reveals that the as-prepared multifunctional hydroxyapatite will be a new candidate for simultaneous drug delivery and cell imaging in potential bioapplications.

Fluorescent hollow/rattle-type mesoporous Au@SiO 2 nanocapsules for drug delivery and fluorescence imaging of cancer cells

Multifunctional uniform and versatile hollow and rattle-type nanocapsules composed of spindle-shaped Au nanoparticles as cores and fluorescent mesoporous silica shells with tunable optical and fluorescent properties have been developed by controlled etching Au nanorods (AuNRs) coated with mesoporous SiO 2 (AuNR@mSiO 2) via a small amount of aqua regia (volume ratio HCl/HNO 3 = 3/1) as an etching agent in a facile way. The etching process can be tracked by UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and the size of cavities in the hollow/rattle-type particles can be tuned by controlling the reaction time. The dye molecules incorporated in mSiO 2 walls enabled the nanocapsules to be utilized as a fluorescent imaging agent in cancer cell imaging. Furthermore, such hollow/rattle-structured nanocapsules have the merit of enhanced drug loading capacity acting as carriers for the loading and delivery of an anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), with higher storage for cancer therapy. Herein, the combined functionalities of simultaneous cell imaging and drug delivery of the synthesized nanocapsules have been demonstrated, which provide a very promising candidate for application in optical imaging and drug delivery for cancer cells.