Drug Delivery Studies Research Articles

Intranasal Mucoadhesive In Situ Gel of Glibenclamide-Loaded Bilosomes for Enhanced Therapeutic Drug Delivery to the Brain

Background: The neuroprotective efficacy of glibenclamide (GLIB) has been demonstrated in multiple rodent models of ischemia, hemorrhagic stroke, traumatic brain damage, spinal cord injury, and metastatic brain tumors. Due to its poor solubility, GLIB has low oral bioavailability, limiting its transportation to the brain via the oral route. Objectives: Here, we attempted to develop and optimize an intranasal mucoadhesive in situ gel of GLIB-loaded bilosomes using a 32 Box–Behnken design for brain drug delivery. Methods: To facilitate a longer residence time of the administered dose within the nasal cavity, the prepared bilosomes were loaded into a mucoadhesive in situ gel providing resistance to rapid mucociliary clearance. The amounts of sodium deoxycholate, the cholesterol/Span 40 mixture, and the molar ratio between the mixture’s components were chosen as independent variables, while the entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release were selected as dependent variables. Results and conclusions: The optimal formulation was analyzed for particle size and entrapment efficiency, which were found to be 270.6 nm and 68.39%, respectively. In vitro drug release from optimal formulation after 12 h was 87.29 ± 1.98% as compared to 52.01 ± 2.04% of plain in situ gel of drug. An in vivo brain drug delivery study performed on Swiss albino mice showed that the brain concentration of drug through intranasal administration from mucoadhesive in situ gel of GLIB-bilosomes after 12 h was 2.12 ± 0.16 µg/mL as compared to 0.68 ± 0.04 µg/mL from plain in situ gel of drug. Conclusively, the developed bilosomal formulation offers a favorable intranasal substitute with enhanced therapeutic drug delivery to the brain.

Diosmin as Antidiabetic Agent: A Comprehensive Mechanistic Approach

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder which occurs due to deficiency of insulin or resistance to insulin receptor. There are naturally occurring compounds found in various plants, foods, and herbs that have potent anti-diabetic properties. They help to control blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity and stimulating glucose absorption in cells. Diosmin, a flavonoid glycoside found primarily in citrus fruits, has shown outstanding potential as a therapeutic agent due to its significant anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vascularprotective properties. Here, we review the diosmin molecular mechanism and its ability to regulate oxidative stress, reduce inflammatory cytokines, improve endothelial function, and explore its pathway for anti-diabetic properties. In addition, preclinical and clinical data that supports diosmin efficacy in decreasing blood glucose, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and delaying the development of diabetic squeal was considered. Furthermore, diosmin has shown great potential in a variety of therapeutic domains when associated with other drugs in combinational studies, and many diosmin-based drug delivery studies have been reported. This review also investigates the molecular processes and clinical uses of diosmin, emphasizing its therapeutic potential as an additional drug in diabetes control through a comprehensive review of current studies.

Metal-organic frameworks as anchors for giant unilamellar vesicle immobilization.

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are ideal for studying cellular mechanisms due to their cell-mimicking morphology and size. The formation, stability, and immobilization of these vesicles are crucial for drug delivery and bioimaging studies. Separately, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are actively researched owing to their unique and varied properties, yet little is known about the interaction between MOFs and phospholipids. This study investigates the influence of the metal-phosphate interface on the formation, size distribution, and stability of GUVs with different lipid compositions. GUVs were electroformed in the presence of a series of MOFs. The results show Al, Zn, Cu, Fe, Zr, and Ca metal centers of MOFs can coordinate to phospholipids on the surface of GUVs, leading to the formation of functional GUV@MOF constructs, with stablilities over 12 hours. Macroscopically, society has seen biology (people, plants, microbes) interacting with inorganic materials regularly. We now explore how microscopic biological models behave in the presence of inorganic constructs. This research opens new avenues for advanced biomedical applications interacting tailored frameworks with liposomes.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy for monitoring drug delivery: Unlocking the developmental phases of embryos.

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has emerged as a transformative imaging technique in the study of drug delivery and embryonic development, offering high-resolution, real-time visualization with minimal phototoxicity. This review examines the application of LSFM in tracking drug pharmacokinetics, tissue-specific targeting, and drug efficacy during critical phases of embryonic development. Recent advancements in fluorescent labeling and machine learning integration have enabled more precise monitoring of drug release, distribution, and interaction with developing tissues. The ability of LSFM to capture long-term dynamics at single-cell resolution has revolutionized drug discovery, especially in nanomedicine and targeted therapies. By integrating LSFM with multimodal imaging and AI-driven data analysis, researchers are now better equipped to explore complex biological processes and optimize drug delivery in a highly controlled, minimally invasive manner. Finally, the review highlights the pivotal role of LSFM in advancing drug delivery research, addressing existing challenges, and unlocking new frontiers in clinical applications.

Ocular drug delivery systems and nanotechnology

Drug delivery to certain eye tissues has long been a major challenge for ocular scientists. Some problems with the standard formulations of drug solutions given as topical drops led to the introduction of various carrier systems for ocular dispersion. A lot of work is being done on ocular research to create safe, novel, and patient-friendly methods of pharmaceutical administration. After being enclosed in nanoscale carrier systems or devices, drug molecules are administered using invasive, non-invasive, or minimally invasive techniques. In the years to come, drug delivery may be greatly enhanced by the creation of non-invasive sustained drug delivery devices and studies into the viability of topical application to deliver medications to the posterior region. The difficulties related to a number of anterior and posterior segment diseases may be significantly reduced by recent advancements in the administration of ocular medications.

Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity analyses of ABA-type block copolymer bearing p-xylene-bis(2-mercaptoethyloxy) core

ABA–type amphiphilic novel poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-block-poly(D,L-lactide)-block-poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PNVP-b-PDLLA-b-PNVP), triblock copolymer was synthesized via combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using novel bifunctional PDLLA based RAFT macro chain transfer agent (CTA) bearing p-xylene-bis(2-mercaptoethyloxy) core. For this goal, bifunctional initiator p-xylene-bis-(1-hydroxy-3-thia-propane) (1) was synthesized by the reaction of α,α'-dibromo-p-xylene with 2-mercaptoethanol in the presence of KOH in ethanol. PDLLA-diol was synthesized by metal-free organocatalyzed ROP of D, L-lactide (D,L-LA) in presence of 4-(dimethylamino) pyridine (DMAP) as catalyst using (1) as initiator Dibromoester end-functionalized PDLLA-based macroinitiator (3) was prepared by esterification of hydroxyl end groups of PDLLA-diol (2). PDLLA macro-CTA (4) was then synthesized via a substitution reaction of (3) with potassium ethylxanthate (KEX). Finally, PNVP-b-PDLLA-b-PNVP triblock copolymer (5) was synthesized RAFT polymerization of NVP using (4). Characterization of the molecular structures for synthesized novel polymers was made by spectroscopic (FTIR, 1H NMR) methods. In this study's application phase, polymers' effectiveness was examined on cervical cancer cells. Cytotoxicity and metastatic effects were evaluated in vitro on HeLa cell lines. In our study, we observed no toxic effect of the block copolymer below 600 µg/mL on the HeLa cervical cancer cell line and in future studies on drug delivery studies of cancer treatments.

Fabrication of porous nano silica materials by template-assisted strategy for controlled drug delivery studies

Fabrication of porous nano silica materials by template-assisted strategy for controlled drug delivery studies

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery for Vascular Applications.

Nanoparticle (NP)-based drug delivery systems have received widespread attention due to the excellent physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. Different types of NPs such as lipid NPs, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) NPs, inorganic NPs (e.g., iron oxide and Au), carbon NPs (graphene and carbon nanodots), 2D nanomaterials, and biomimetic NPs have found favor as drug delivery vehicles. In this review, we discuss the different types of customized NPs for intravascular drug delivery, nanoparticle behaviors (margination, adhesion, and endothelium uptake) in blood vessels, and nanomaterial compatibility for successful drug delivery. Additionally, cell surface protein targets play an important role in targeted drug delivery, and various vascular drug delivery studies using nanoparticles conjugated to these proteins are reviewed. Finally, limitations, challenges, and potential solutions for translational research regarding NP-based vascular drug delivery are discussed.

Effect of Cyclodextrins Formulated in Liposomes and Gold and Selenium Nanoparticles on siRNA Stability in Cell Culture Medium

Background: Encapsulation of siRNA fragments inside liposome vesicles has emerged as an effective method for delivering siRNAs in vitro and in vivo. However, the liposome’s fluid-phospholipid bilayer of liposomes allows siRNA fragments to diffuse out of the liposome, decreasing the dose concentration and therefore the effectiveness of the carrier. We have previously reported that β-cyclodextrins formulated in liposomes help increase the stability of siRNAs in cell culture medium. Here, we continued that study to include α, γ, methyl-β-cyclodextrins and β-cyclodextrin-modified gold and selenium nanoparticles. Methods: We used Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to study the binding thermodynamics of siRNAs to the cyclodextrin-modified nanoparticles and to screen for the best adamantane derivative to modify the siRNA fragments, and we used gel electrophoresis to study the stabilization effect of siRNA by cyclodextrins and the nanoparticles. Results: We found that only β- and methyl-β-cyclodextrins increased siRNA serum stability. Cyclodextrin-modified selenium nanoparticles also stabilize siRNA fragments in serum, and siRNAs chemically modified with an adamantane moiety (which forms inclusion complexes with the cyclodextrin-modified-nanoparticles) show a strong stabilization effect. Conclusions: β-cyclodextrins are good additives to stabilize siRNA in cell culture medium, and the thermodynamic data we generated of the interaction between cyclodextrins and adamantane analogs (widely used in drug delivery studies), should serve as a guide for future studies where cyclodextrins are sought for the delivery and solvation of small organic molecules.

Use of Optical Coherence Tomography to Assess Properties of Cutaneous Defects Following Radiofrequency Microneedling and Laser Treatment.

To characterize the properties of cutaneous defects created by energy-based devices using optical coherence tomography. Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling and non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) treatment were performed in vivo with various parameters. Following treatment, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to image and measure cutaneous defects at multiple time points over a 24 h period. Channel-like cutaneous defects were visible with OCT following bipolar RF microneedling and NAFL treatment. Using a double pulse technique with RF microneedling yielded a greater number of defects visible with OCT, as well as defects that were deeper and more durable over time. Following treatment with 1927 nm thulium fiber laser, the average diameter of the defects was greater when the energy level was 20 mJ as compared to 10 mJ (0.33 mm vs. 0.27 mm, p < 0.01). Cutaneous defects were observed following both RF microneedling and NAFL treatment. Properties of the cutaneous defects varied based on device, treatment setting, and technique, which may be useful in guiding further study of device-assisted drug delivery.

Synthesis of N-acetylcysteine functionalized cholic acid based triarmed poly DL-Lactide and encapsulation of gold nanoparticles: Studies on the antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility for drug delivery applications

Cholic acid based biodegradable reverse polymeric micelles have been widely utilized as preclinically suitable drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs. In this report, we developed N-acetylcysteine functionalized cholic acid based triarmed poly (Dl-lactide) (ACyCA-triarmed (DLL)n as reversed polymeric micelles for drug delivery studies. ACyCA was synthesized via thiol-yne click reaction and subsequently used as an initiator for the synthesis of ACyCA-triarmed (DLL)n through ring opening polymerization (ROP) using Sn (Oct)2 as a catalyst. The synthesized ACyCA-triarmed (DLL)n was characterized using GPC, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, spectrofluorometer, HR-TEM, DSC, TGA, XRD, DLS, and zeta potential techniques. The reverse critical micellar concentration of the polymer was determined to be 1.99 mg/mL using a spectrofluorometer. The synthesized reverse micelles (RMs) were utilized as a reducing and capping agent for the preparation of AuNPs under sunlight exposure. The formed AuNPs exhibited spherical in shape with an average size of ∼ 23.4 nm and Dh was found to be 86.8 ± 1.3 nm as evidenced by the TEM and DLS analysis. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity, hemolytic activity, anti-oxidant activity, and in-vitro drug release studies were examined for the RMs-AuNPs and compared with RMs. The hydrophobic nature of RMs and RMs-AuNPs had better haemocompatibility at above the reversed CMC. The antioxidant activity RMs-AuNPs showed better inhibitory effect in a dose-dependent manner as compared to RMs. The RMs-AuNPs formulation act as reservoir for solubilization of hydrophobic doxorubicin (Dox.HCl) drugs and can be used as therapeutic platform for slow and sustained release of drugs in biological medium.

Intestinal Lymphatic Biology, Drug Delivery and Therapeutics: Current status and Future directions.

Historically, the intestinal lymphatics were considered passive conduits for fluids, immune cells, dietary lipids, lipid soluble vitamins and lipophilic drugs. Studies of intestinal lymphatic drug delivery in the late 20th century focussed primarily on the drug physicochemical properties, especially high lipophilicity, that resulted in intestinal lymphatic transport. More recent discoveries have changed our traditional view by demonstrating that the lymphatics are active, plastic and tissue-specific players in a range of biological and pathological processes, including within the intestine. These findings have, in turn, inspired exploration of lymph-specific therapies for a range of diseases, as well as the development of more sophisticated strategies to actively deliver drugs or vaccines to the intestinal lymph, including a range of nanotechnologies, lipid prodrugs and lipid-conjugated materials that 'hitchhike' on lymphatic transport pathways. With the increasing development of novel biological therapeutics there has been interest in whether these novel therapeutics are absorbed and transported through intestinal lymph after oral administration. Here we review the current state of understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal lymphatic system in health and disease, with a focus on aspects relevant to drug delivery. We summarise the current state-of-the-art approaches to deliver drugs and quantify their uptake into the intestinal lymphatic system. Finally, and excitingly, we discuss recent examples of significant pharmacokinetic and therapeutic benefits achieved via intestinal lymphatic drug delivery. We also propose approaches to advance the development and clinical application of intestinal lymphatic delivery strategies into the future. Significance Statement This comprehensive review details understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the intestinal lymphatic system in health and disease, with a focus on aspects relevant to drug delivery. It highlights current state-of-the-art approaches to deliver drugs to the intestinal lymphatics and the shift toward the use of these strategies to achieve pharmacokinetic and therapeutic benefits for patients.

Niosome preparation of atorvastatin drug with green preparation approach for in-vitro study of transdermal absorption with lavender essential oil

Introduction: Studies have pointef to anti-inflammatory properties of atorvastatin. In this research, noisome nanoparticles have been used to increase skin penetration and drug retention. Method: Atorvastatin niosomes were prepared using the sonication method. The effect of cholesterol: surfactant mixture ratio was investigated on physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. Studies have been performed on the morphological features, and characterization of nanoparticles. The toxicity of optimal formulation was investigated on a normal human fibroblast cell line. Different percentages of lavender essential oil were added to the optimal formulation gel, and skin drug delivery studies were performed. Results: The optimal formulation had the optimum particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and EE%, which leads to higher stability and dissolution of atorvastatin in the body. Morphological studies conducted on properties of nanoparticles illustrated a spherical shape and no interference with other formulation components. No cytotoxicity was detected for improved formulation of nanoparticles, including atorvastatin. In-vitro skin permeation results indicated that gel containing 0.5% lavender essential oil atorvastatin noisome (Atrosome) could enhance the dermal delivery of atorvastatin where a higher concentration of atorvastatin can be detected in skin layers. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, preparing nanoparticles from atorvastatin and adding essential oil to the final formulation exerts a positive effect on local drug delivery. Moreover, drug delivery with nanocarriers significantly increased the percentage of drug retention in the target site.

Fabrication of Ca-alginate microspheres by diffusion-induced gelation in double emulsion droplets for oral insulin

Sodium alginate has good biocompatibility and is widely used in the study of drug carriers. In this paper, a method to prepare calcium alginate microspheres with high sphericity based on double emulsion droplets was proposed, in which sodium alginate is used as the innermost phase. By adjusting the density of the system, the double-emulsion droplets could be suspended in the collecting solution, leading to the homogeneous reaction between the sodium alginate droplets and the calcium ions. By changing the flow rate, the size of the droplets could be changed, and by changing the concentration of calcium ions in the collecting solution, the sphericity of the calcium alginate microspheres could be changed. Then the swelling properties and drug release properties of calcium alginate microspheres were determined. The drug delivery study revealed that the insulin-loaded Ca-Alginate microspheres were able to decrease blood glucose by 41.4 % after oral administration to mice. Thus, the Ca-Alginate microsphere is a suitable candidate for controlled pH-sensitive drug delivery.

Designing and developing a programmable in vitro gastrointestinal model to assess the impact of pasteurization on the bioaccessibility of lycopene nanoparticles

To evaluate potential health impact of engineered nanoparticles, evaluation of digestion effect is necessary. Digestion requires micro-management and sequential execution of complex enzymatic mechanisms with controlled human digestion environment. The objective of this study was to develop an automated in-vitro digestive system to assess bio-accessibility of encapsulated lycopene nanoparticles in model fruit juice. Lycopene was encapsulated in polylactic acid (PLA-LNP) and polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA-LNP) and evaluated the bio-accessibility in a programmable in-vitro human digestive system operated with high sensitivity (25–30μs) and volume accuracy (97.37–100%). Pasteurized Model juice containing PLA-LNP, revealing higher bio-accessibility (100%) compared to PLGA-LNP (73%) counterparts. Absorption profile of both types of nanoparticles followed Korsmeyer-Peppas diffusion model at R2 value of 0.98. All types of nanoparticles with different treatments followed non-Fickian types of diffusion except PLGA-PLA with microwave pasteurization. This automated in-vitro digestive system holds significant potential for advancing drug discovery and delivery studies in the future.

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Clinical Extrapolation for Topical Application of Pilocarpine on Eyelids: A Comprehensive Study

Exploiting a convenient and highly bioavailable ocular drug delivery approach is currently one of the hotspots in the pharmaceutical industry. Eyelid topical application is seen to be a valuable strategy in the treatment of chronic ocular diseases. To further elucidate the feasibility of eyelid topical administration as an alternative route for ocular drug delivery, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of pilocarpine were conducted in rabbits. Besides, a novel physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model describing eyelid transdermal absorption and ocular disposition was developed in rabbits. The PBPK model of rabbits was extrapolated to human by integrating the drug-specific permeability parameters and human physiological parameters to predict ocular pharmacokinetic in human. After eyelid topical application of pilocarpine, the concentration of pilocarpine in iris peaked at 2 h with the value of 18,724 ng/g and the concentration in aqueous humor peaked at 1 h with the value of 1,363 ng/mL. Significant miotic effect were observed from 0.5 h to 4.5 h after eyelid topical application of pilocarpine in rabbits, while that were observed from 0.5 h to 3.5 h after eyedrop instillation. The proposed eyelid PBPK model was capable of reasonably predicting ocular exposure of pilocarpine after application on the eyelid skin and based on the PBPK model, the human ocular concentration was predicted to be 10-fold lower than that in rabbits. And it was suggested that drugs applied on the eyelid skin could transfer into the eyeball through corneal pathway and scleral pathway. This work could provide pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data for the development of eyelid drug delivery, as well as the reference for clinical applications.

Schiff Base Metal Organic Frameworks for Biological Applications - A Review

Schiff bases are the organic compounds which are prepared by condensation method with aldehyde and amine derivatives. These have wide range of applications in chemistry due to their binding property with metal ions. Schiff base alone and Schiff base metal complexes have vital applications in inorganic, organic, medicinal and material sciences. Binding properties of Schiff bases can form the network with metal ions which leads to Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF’s). This review covers the detailed recent progress of Schiff base-based metal organic frameworks for various biological applications like, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, DNA binding, DNA interaction and drug delivery studies.

Microfluidic Electroporation Arrays for Investigating Electroporation-Induced Cellular Rupture Dynamics.

Electroporation is pivotal in bioelectrochemistry for cellular manipulation, with prominent applications in drug delivery and cell membrane studies. A comprehensive understanding of pore generation requires an in-depth analysis of the critical pore size and the corresponding energy barrier at the onset of cell rupture. However, many studies have been limited to basic models such as artificial membranes or theoretical simulations. Challenging this paradigm, our study pioneers using a microfluidic electroporation chip array. This tool subjects live breast cancer cell species to a diverse spectrum of alternating current electric field conditions, driving electroporation-induced cell rupture. We conclusively determined the rupture voltages across varying applied voltage loading rates, enabling an unprecedented characterization of electric cell rupture dynamics encompassing critical pore radius and energy barrier. Further bolstering our investigation, we probed cells subjected to cholesterol depletion via methyl-β-cyclodextrin and revealed a strong correlation with electroporation. This work not only elucidates the dynamics of electric rupture in live cell membranes but also sets a robust foundation for future explorations into the mechanisms and energetics of live cell electroporation.

Unlocking the Potential of Gold as Nanomedicine in Cancer Immunotherapy

Nanotechnology advancements have resulted in many sensors and devices for biomedical applications. Among the various nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), due to their size, shape, biocompatibility, and unique plasmonic property, are an excellent candidate for many biomedical applications. AuNPs, known for their easy surface modifications, robust nature, and photothermal activities, find application in drug delivery and cancer treatment studies. In this review, we are highlighting the recent trends in using AuNPs as nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer immunotherapy not only eliminates the primary tumors but also allows for the treatment of metastasis along with the recurrence of the tumor. AuNPs possess tissue-specific delivery functions that depend on the tunability in size and surface functionalization of AuNPs. AuNPs can be used to activate the tumor’s immune defense ability, or they can be used to enhance the anti-tumor immune response. Understanding the interaction of the tumor environment and nanobiomedicine is very important. In the present review, we give an idea of the mode of action of AuNPs and various combinations of therapies for cancer immunotherapy.

Biocompatible liposome and chitosan-coated CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell fluorescent nanoprobe for biomedical applications

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are brightly luminescent nanocrystals that have emerged as a new class of fluorescent probes for in vivo bioimaging and theranostic applications. CdTe QDs toxicity to normal human cells is minimized by coating with a less toxic ZnS and ZnSe shell forming a core–shell nanostructure. However, coating with ZnS or ZnSe shell is insufficient to prevent the leaching of toxic Cd metal ions. To further minimize toxicity, thiol dual capped CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots were coated with nanoliposome or liposome vesicles (CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@liposome) and chitosan nanoparticles (CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@ChitNPs) and their biocompatibility on HeLa and Vero cells were investigated. Different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to elucidate nanocomposites' optical, morphological, and physicochemical properties. The coating of CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots were conducted at different formulations (F1, F2 and F3) and results from the fluorescence studies show that F3 demonstrated the best interaction for both liposome and ChitNPs composite. Exposure to 12 h UV illumination studies also reveals that CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@liposome shows an enhancement in fluorescence compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe@ChitNPs. The cytotoxicity of the formulations towards HeLa and Vero cells also depicted minimal toxicity compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe QDs that shows much higher toxicity (IC50 = 0.09381 mg/ml). It was further observed that liposome coated multi-core-multi-shell QDs@F2 demonstrated lower toxicity (IC50 = 0.4364 mg/ml) compared to ChitNPs coated multi-core-multi-shell QDs@F2 (IC50 = 0.1618 mg/ml). Results from the florescence imaging studies reveal that CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe-multi-core-multi-shell QDs liposomes and ChitNPs composite retained most of their fluorescence and properties and could easily be tracked in cells and visualized around the nucleus. This indicates the successful internalization of the QDs in the cytosol. Therefore, these results shows that coating CdTe multi-core-mutli-shell QDs with liposomes and ChitNPs produce better biocompatibility compared to uncoated multi-core–shell QDs. However, liposome coated CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots show better optical properties, photostability and biocompatibility compared to CdTe/CdSe/ZnSe multi-core-multi-shell quantum dots with ChitNPs coating. These particles therefore show good promise in cell-labelling and drug delivery studies.