HUAN GAO^1,2, JIE ZHANG¹, TONY G. KLEIJN^1,3,4, ZHAOYONG WU⁵, BING LIU^1,6, YUJIN MA⁶, BAOYUE DING^1,*, DONGFENG YIN^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 769-784, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.044276

Abstract Bone metastasis secondary to breast cancer negatively impacts patient quality of life and survival. The treatment of bone metastases is challenging since many anticancer drugs are not effectively delivered to the bone to exert a therapeutic effect. To improve the treatment efficacy, we developed Pluronic P123 (P123)-based polymeric micelles dually decorated with alendronate (ALN) and cancer-specific phage protein DMPGTVLP (DP-8) for targeted drug delivery to breast cancer bone metastases. Doxorubicin (DOX) was selected as the anticancer drug and was encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of the micelles with a high drug loading capacity (3.44%). The DOX-loaded polymeric micelles were spherical,… More > Graphic Abstract

FRANCESCO PETRELLA^*, ENRICO MARIO CASSINA, LIDIA LIBRETTI, EMANUELE PIRONDINI, FEDERICO RAVEGLIA, ANTONIO TUORO

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.3, pp. 433-437, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.046497

Abstract The main aim of antineoplastic treatment is to maximize patient benefit by augmenting the drug accumulation within affected organs and tissues, thus incrementing drug effects and, at the same time, reducing the damage of non-involved tissues to cytotoxic agents. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) represent a group of undifferentiated multipotent cells presenting wide self-renewal features and the capacity to differentiate into an assortment of mesenchymal family cells. During the last year, they have been proposed as natural carriers for the selective release of antitumor drugs to malignant cells, thus optimizing cytotoxic action on cancer cells, while significantly reducing adverse side effects… More >

Thean Heng Tan¹, Najihah Mohd Hashim², Wageeh Abdulhadi Yehya Dabdawb¹, Mochamad Zakki Fahmi^3,*, Hwei Voon Lee^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 29-43, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.043449

Abstract The study focuses on the development of biocompatible and stable FA-functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) as a potential drug delivery system for targeting folate receptor-positive cancer cells. The FA-functionalized NCCs were synthesized through a series of chemical reactions, resulting in nanoparticles with favorable properties for biomedical applications. The microstructural analysis revealed that the functionalized NCCs maintained their rod-shaped morphology and displayed hydrodynamic diameters suitable for evading the mononuclear phagocytic system while being large enough to target tumor tissues. Importantly, these nanoparticles possessed a negative surface charge, enhancing their stability and repelling potential aggregation. The binding specificity of FA-functionalized NCCs to folate… More > Graphic Abstract

A.D.S.M.R. Pascoal^a , P.M. da Silva^b,c, M.N.C. Coelho Pinheiro^a,d,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.12, pp. 1-7, 2019, DOI:10.5098/hmt.12.29

Abstract Efforts have been made to obtain new drug formulations in ophthalmologic applications to replace eye drops that are inefficient. Soft contact lenses have been using as an ophthalmic drug delivery device. Several hydrogels were used to prepare solid matrices with the drug impregnated. Assuming drug diffusion within polymeric devices as the dominant mechanism in the mass transfer process, simple models were developed to describe drug release from an ocular delivery device. The timolol maleate (medicine for glaucoma treatment) dissolution profile in the release medium for methacrylate hydrogels based contact lenses were obtained experimentally and compared with predictions considering one-dimensional and… More >

F.C.C. Almeida^a , P.M. da Silva^b,c, M.N.C. Coelho Pinheiro^a,d,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.12, pp. 1-9, 2019, DOI:10.5098/hmt.12.16

Abstract In the last decades, polymeric systems were essayed and applied successfully as vehicles for transdermal delivery devices of active principles. Applications in contraception, pain control, and smoking cessation are already frequent. A crucial aspect in the development of new formulations is the maintenance of the therapeutic drug concentration range for long periods. Recognizing this topic as interesting and challenging, simple models to describe drug release from a transdermal device were developed with the purpose to perform a parametric sensitivity analysis. Assuming drug diffusion within the polymeric delivery system as the dominant mechanism the models were developed and implemented. Transdermal patches… More >

Saher Manzoor¹, Muhammad Waseem Ashraf^1,*, Shahzadi Tayyaba², Muhammad Imran Tariq^3,*, M. Khalid Hossain⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.135, No.2, pp. 1007-1052, 2023, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2022.022093

Abstract The progress of membrane technology with the development of membranes with controlled parameters led to porous membranes. These membranes can be formed using different methods and have numerous applications in science and technology. Anodization of aluminum in this aspect is an electro-synthetic process that changes the surface of the metal through oxidation to deliver an anodic oxide layer. This process results in a self-coordinated, exceptional cluster of round and hollow formed pores with controllable pore widths, periodicity, and thickness. Categorization in barrier type and porous type films, and different methods for the preparation of membranes, have been discussed. After the… More > Graphic Abstract

KAI WANG^2,#, FENGTIAN ZHANG^1,3,4,#, CHANGLONG WEN⁵, ZHIHUA HUANG⁶, ZHIHAO HU¹, YUWEN ZHANG¹, FUQIANG HU^2,*, LIJUAN WEN^1,6,*

Oncology Research, Vol.29, No.5, pp. 351-363, 2021, DOI:10.32604/or.2022.025696

Abstract The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an essential component in regulating and maintaining the homeostatic microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS). During the occurrence and development of glioblastoma (GBM), BBB is pathologically destroyed with a marked increase in permeability. Due to the obstruction of the BBB, current strategies for GBM therapeutics still obtain a meager success rate and may lead to systemic toxicity. Moreover, chemotherapy could promote pathological BBB functional restoration, which results in significantly reduced intracerebral transport of therapeutic agents during multiple administrations of GBM and the eventual failure of GBM chemotherapy. The effective delivery of intracerebral drugs still… More >

ADRIANA L. FERREIRA, GUSTAVO C. PARIS, ALINE DE A. AZEVEDO, ERIKA A. C. CORTEZ, SIMONE N. CARVALHO, LAIS DE CARVALHO, ALESSANDRA A. THOLE^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.8, pp. 1807-1813, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019363

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have pushed the field of stem cell-based therapies by inducing tissue regeneration, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis mainly through vesicles and soluble factors release (paracrine signaling). MSC-extracellular vesicles (MSC-EV) adaptable secretome and homing to injured sites allowed researchers to unlock a new era of cell-free based therapy. In parallel, nanoparticles (NP) have been explored in contributing to transport and drug delivery systems, giving drugs desired physical-chemical properties to exploit cell behavior. However, NPs can be quickly recognized by immune cells and cleared from circulation. In this viewpoint, we explore how combining both therapeutic strategies can improve efficacy and… More >

KENJI TSUJI^*, SHINJI KITAMURA, JUN WADA

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.4, pp. 899-902, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018594

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have abilities to mediate tissue protection through mechanisms of anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidative stress and anti-fibrosis as well as tissue regeneration through mechanisms of cell proliferation, differentiation and angiogenesis. These effects by MSCs are mediated by a variety of factors, including growth factors, cytokines and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Among these factors, EVs, containing proteins, mRNA and microRNAs (miRNA), may carry their contents into distant tissues with high stability. Therefore, the treatment with MSC-derived EVs may be promising as ‘natural’ drug delivery systems (DDS). Especially, the treatment of MSC-derived EVs with the manipulation of specific miRNAs expression has been… More >

Muhammad Zafar^1,#,*, Muhammad Saif Ullah^1,#, Tareq Manzoor², Muddassir Ali³, Kashif Nazar⁴, Shaukat Iqbal⁵, Habib Ullah Manzoor⁶, Rizwan Haider¹, Woo Young Kim^7,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.130, No.2, pp. 723-749, 2022, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2022.017257

Abstract In recent years, the emergence of nanotechnology experienced incredible development in the field of medical sciences. During the past decade, investigating the characteristics of nanoparticles during fluid flow has been one of the intriguing issues. Nanoparticle distribution and uniformity have emerged as substantial criteria in both medical and engineering applications. Adverse effects of chemotherapy on healthy tissues are known to be a significant concern during cancer therapy. A novel treatment method of magnetic drug targeting (MDT) has emerged as a promising topical cancer treatment along with some attractive advantages of improving efficacy, fewer side effects, and reduce drug dose. During… More >