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Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 August 2023) | Viewed by 30519

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Wing-Fu Lai

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Guest Editor

Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
Interests: bioactive agent delivery; sustained release; hydrogels; functional food development; food microencapsulation; materials engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers are potentially ideal building blocks for nanotechnology because of their well-defined structures, ease of functionalization, and their length scale which lies in the nano-range. Over the years, the use of polymers has continued to be exploited in biomedicine. Apart from their conventional use as adhesives and tissue void fillers, polymers have recently been employed in cell encapsulation, the fabrication of medical devices, drug delivery, tissue engineering and a diversity of other biomedical applications. In parallel with progression in nanomedicine, events in the polymer sciences are anticipated to be further evolved with the emergence of new materials and structures.

Regarding the practical potential of polymers, the objective of this Special Issue is to provide an updated account of recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, engineering and use of polymers for drug delivery and sustained drug release. It is expected that this Special Issue will be a valuable resource for all academic, industrial and clinical researchers who wish to be kept informed about recent patent breakthroughs in polymer-based carriers in therapeutics and diagnosis.

Dr. Wing-Fu Lai
Guest Editor

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Keywords

drug delivery
sustained drug release
materials science
materials engineering
non-viral carriers
polymers

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 4045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Poly(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) as Potential Systems for Dermal Delivery of Dexamethasone Phosphate

by Marin Simeonov, Bistra Kostova and Elena Vassileva

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(9), 2328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15092328 - 15 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

In this study, a series of novel poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)/poly(N,N′-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAM) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were synthesized and studied as potential drug delivery systems of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DXP) for dermal application. The IPN composition allows for control over its swelling ability as the incorporation of the highly hydrophilic PDMAM increases more than twice the IPN swelling ratio as compared to the PHEMA single networks, namely from ~0.5 to ~1.1. The increased swelling ratio of the IPNs results in an increased entrapment efficiency up to ~30% as well as an increased drug loading capacity of DXP up to 4.5%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) show the formation of a solid dispersion between the drug DXP and the polymer (IPNs) matrix. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy shows an even distribution of DXP within the IPN structure. The DXP release follows Fickian diffusion with ~70% of DXP released in 24 h. This study demonstrates the potential of the newly developed IPNs for the dermal delivery of DXP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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14 pages, 1516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Controlled Release of Flurbiprofen from 3D-Printed and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Processed Methacrylate-Based Polymer

by Truc T. Ngo and Jae D. Kim

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1301; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041301 - 21 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1093

Abstract

The ability to engineer and predict drug release behavior during treatment is critical to the design and implementation of effective drug delivery systems. In this study, a drug delivery system consisting of a methacrylate-based polymer and flurbiprofen was studied, and its release profile in a controlled phosphate-buffered saline solution was characterized. The polymer, which was 3D printed and processed in supercritical carbon dioxide under different temperature and pressure settings, showed sustained drug release over a prolonged period. A computer algorithm was used to determine the drug release time duration before reaching steady state and the maximum drug release at steady state. Several empirical models were applied to fit the release kinetic data to gain information about the drug release mechanism. The diffusion coefficients for each system were also estimated using Fick’s law. Based on the results, the influence of supercritical carbon dioxide processing conditions on the diffusion behavior is interpreted, providing insights into the effective and tunable design of drug delivery systems for targeted treatment specifications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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22 pages, 6280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micro-Injection Moulding of PEO/PCL Blend–Based Matrices for Extended Oral Delivery of Fenbendazole

by Gilberto S. N. Bezerra, Gabriel G. De Lima, Declan M. Colbert, Elaine Halligan, Joseph Geever and Luke Geever

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 900; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030900 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1922

Abstract

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic administered orally to ruminants; nevertheless, its poor water solubility has been the main limitation to reaching satisfactory and sustained levels at the site of the target parasites. Hence, the exploitation of hot-melt extrusion (HME) and micro-injection moulding (µIM) for the manufacturing of extended-release tablets of plasticised solid dispersions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/polycaprolactone (PCL) and FBZ was investigated due to their unique suitability for semi-continuous manufacturing of pharmaceutical oral solid dosage forms. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis demonstrated a consistent and uniform drug content in the tablets. Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggested the amorphous state of the active ingredient, which was endorsed by powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (pXRD). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis did not display any new peak indicative of either a chemical interaction or degradation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed smoother surfaces and broader pores as we increased the PCL content. Electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) revealed that the drug was homogeneously distributed within the polymeric matrices. Drug release studies attested that all moulded tablets of amorphous solid dispersions improved the drug solubility, with the PEO/PCL blend–based matrices showing drug release by Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetics. Thus, HME coupled with µIM proved to be a promising approach towards a continuous automated manufacturing process for the production of oral solid dispersions of benzimidazole anthelmintics to grazing cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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20 pages, 4392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermophilic Exopolysaccharide Films: A Potential Device for Local Antibiotic Delivery

by Joseph M. Laubach and Rajesh K. Sani

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 557; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020557 - 07 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1191

Abstract

Natural polysaccharides being investigated for use in the field of drug delivery commonly require the addition of sugars or pretreated biomass for fabrication. Geobacillus sp. strain WSUCF1 is a thermophile capable of secreting natural polymers, termed exopolysaccharides (EPSs), cultivated from cost-effective, non-treated lignocellulosic biomass carbon substrates. This preliminary investigation explores the capabilities of a 5% wt/wt amikacin-loaded film constructed from the crude EPS extracted from the strain WSUCF1. Film samples were seen to be non-cytotoxic to human keratinocytes and human skin-tissue fibroblasts, maintaining cell viability, on average, above 85% for keratinocytes over 72-h during a cell viability assay. The drug release profile of a whole film sample revealed a steady release of the antibiotic up to 12 h. The amikacin eluted by the EPS film was seen to be active against Staphylococcus aureus, maintaining above a 91% growth inhibition over a period of 48 h. Overall, this study demonstrates that a 5% amikacin-EPS film, grown from lignocellulosic biomass, can be a viable option for preventing or combating infections in clinical treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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21 pages, 4110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Optimization of a Nanoparticulate Pore Former as a Multifunctional Coating Excipient for pH Transition-Independent Controlled Release of Weakly Basic Drugs for Oral Drug Delivery

by Hao Han R. Chang, Kuan Chen, Jamie Anne Lugtu-Pe, Nour AL-Mousawi, Xuning Zhang, Daniel Bar-Shalom, Anil Kane and Xiao Yu Wu

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 547; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020547 - 07 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2437

Abstract

Bioavailability of weakly basic drugs may be disrupted by dramatic pH changes or unexpected pH alterations in the gastrointestinal tract. Conventional organic acids or enteric coating polymers cannot address this problem adequately because they leach out or dissolve prematurely, especially during controlled release applications. Thus, a non-leachable, multifunctional terpolymer nanoparticle (TPN) made of cross-linked poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-polysorbate 80-grafted-starch (PMAA-PS 80-g-St) was proposed to provide pH transition-independent release of a weakly basic drug, verapamil HCl (VER), by a rationally designed bilayer-coated controlled release bead formulation. The pH-responsive PMAA and cross-linker content in the TPN was first optimized to achieve the largest possible increase in medium uptake alongside the smallest decrease in drug release rate at pH 6.8, relative to pH 1.2. Such TPNs maintained an acidic microenvironmental pH (pH_m) when loaded in ethylcellulose (EC) films, as measured using pH-indicating dyes. Further studies of formulations revealed that with the 1:2 VER:TPN ratio and 19% coating weight gain, bilayer-coated beads maintained a constant release rate over the pH transition and exhibited extended release up to 18 h. These results demonstrated that the multifunctional TPN as a pH_m modifier and pH-dependent pore former could overcome the severe pH-dependent solubility of weakly basic drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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19 pages, 1675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composition-Property Relationships of pH-Responsive Poly[(2-vinylpyridine)-co-(butyl methacrylate)] Copolymers for Reverse Enteric Coatings

by Kyle Brewer and Anton Blencowe

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 454; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020454 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

The taste-masking of bitter-tasting active pharmaceutical ingredients is key to ensuring patient compliance when producing oral pharmaceutical formulations. This is generally achieved via the incorporation of pH-responsive, reverse enteric polymers, that prevent the dissolution of the formulation in the oral environment, but rapidly mediate it within the gastric environment. Reverse enteric polymers are commonly applied as coatings on oral dosage forms via spray atomisation (e.g., fluidised-bed spray coating), and generally exhibit the most efficient taste-masking. However, currently used reverse enteric coatings require high mass gains (% w/w) during coating to mediate taste-masking, and thereby exhibit delayed release within the gastric environment. Therefore, there remains a need for the development of new reverse enteric coatings, that can efficiently taste-mask at low mass gains and maintain rapid release characteristics within the gastric environment. Herein we report the synthesis and evaluation of a series of addition copolymers of 2-vinylpyridine and butyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and isobornyl methacrylate. The thermal, solubility, and water absorption properties of the copolymers were effectively tuned by altering the mol% fraction of the constitutive monomers. Based on their physical properties, selected copolymers were preliminarily evaluated for their compatibility with fluidised-bed spray coating, and effectiveness as taste-masking reverse enteric coatings. The copolymers poly[(2-vinylpyridine)-co-(butyl methacrylate)] (mol% ratio 40:60) and poly[(2-vinylpyridine)-co-(butyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate)] (mol% ratio 40:50:10) were found to exhibit excellent taste-masking properties following fluidised-bed spray coating onto Suglets^® sugar spheres. Suglets^® bearing a film coating of either copolymer (5.2–6.5% w/w mass gain) were found to effectively impede the release of a model drug formulation for up to 72 h in a simulated salivary environment, and rapidly release it (<10 min) within a simulated gastric environment. The results demonstrated the potential of poly[(2-vinylpyridine)-co-(butyl methacrylate)] copolymers to form effectively taste-masked, reverse enteric dosage forms, and suggested that these copolymers may provide improved performance compared to currently available polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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17 pages, 9372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sericin/Human Placenta-Derived Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds for Cutaneous Wound Treatment—Preparation, Characterization, In Vitro and In Vivo Analyses

by Jayavardhini Bhoopathy, Sankari Dharmalingam, Weslen Vedakumari Sathyaraj, Selvarajan Rajendran, Shibormi Rymbai, Rethinam Senthil and Raji Atchudan

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 362; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020362 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1798

Abstract

Human placenta is loaded with an enormous amount of endogenous growth factors, thereby making it a superior biomaterial for tissue regeneration. Sericin is a naturally occurring silk protein that is extensively used for biomedical applications. In the present work, sericin and human placenta-derived extracellular matrix were blended and fabricated in the form of scaffolds using the freeze-drying method for cutaneous wound treatment. The prepared sericin/placenta-derived extracellular matrix (SPEM) scaffolds were characterized to determine their morphology, functional groups, mechanical strength, and antibacterial activity. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the scaffolds showed smooth surfaces with interconnected pores. In vitro MTT and scratch wound assays performed using HaCaT cells proved the non-toxic and wound-healing efficacy of SPEM scaffolds. In vivo CAM assay using fertilized chick embryos proved the angiogenic potency of the scaffolds. Animal experiments using Wistar albino rats proved that the open excision wounds treated with SPEM scaffolds significantly reduced wound size with collagen deposition. These results confirm that SPEM scaffolds can serve as a promising biomaterial for tissue regeneration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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18 pages, 3934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioadhesive 3D-Printed Skin Drug Delivery Polymeric Films: From the Drug Loading in Mesoporous Silica to the Manufacturing Process

by Rafaela Santos de Oliveira, Nadine Lysyk Funk, Juliana dos Santos, Thayse Viana de Oliveira, Edilene Gadelha de Oliveira, Cesar Liberato Petzhold, Tania Maria Haas Costa, Edilson Valmir Benvenutti, Monique Deon and Ruy Carlos Ruver Beck

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 20; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010020 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2358

Abstract

The alliance between 3D printing and nanomaterials brings versatile properties to pharmaceuticals, but few studies have explored this approach in the development of skin delivery formulations. In this study, clobetasol propionate (CP) was loaded (about 25% w/w) in mesoporous silica nanomaterial (MSN) to formulate novel bioadhesive and hydrophilic skin delivery films composed of pectin (5% w/v) and carboxymethylcellulose (5% w/v) by 3D printing. As a hydrophobic model drug, CP was encapsulated in MSN at a 3:1 (w/w) ratio, resulting in a decrease of CP crystallinity and an increase of its dissolution efficiency after 72 h (65.70 ± 6.52%) as compared to CP dispersion (40.79 ± 4.75%), explained by its partial change to an amorphous form. The CP-loaded MSN was incorporated in an innovative hydrophilic 3D-printable ink composed of carboxymethylcellulose and pectin (1:1, w/w), which showed high tensile strength (3.613 ± 0.38 N, a homogenous drug dose (0.48 ± 0.032 mg/g per film) and complete CP release after 10 h. Moreover, the presence of pectin in the ink increased the skin adhesion of the films (work of adhesion of 782 ± 105 mN·mm). Therefore, the alliance between MSN and the novel printable ink composed of carboxymethylcellulose and pectin represents a new platform for the production of 3D-printed bioadhesive films, opening a new era in the development of skin delivery systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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15 pages, 2032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimisation of a High-Throughput Model for Mucus Permeation and Nanoparticle Discrimination Using Biosimilar Mucus

by Leah Wright, Timothy J. Barnes, Paul Joyce and Clive A. Prestidge

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(12), 2659; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14122659 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1618

Abstract

High-throughput permeation models are essential in drug development for timely screening of new drug and formulation candidates. Nevertheless, many current permeability assays fail to account for the presence of the gastrointestinal mucus layer. In this study, an optimised high-throughput mucus permeation model was developed employing a highly biorelevant mucus mimic. While mucus permeation is primarily conducted in a simple mucin solution, the complex chemistry, nanostructure and rheology of mucus is more accurately modelled by a synthetic biosimilar mucus (BSM) employing additional protein, lipid and rheology-modifying polymer components. Utilising BSM, equivalent permeation of various molecular weight fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans were observed, compared with native porcine jejunal mucus, confirming replication of the natural mucus permeation barrier. Furthermore, utilising synthetic BSM facilitated the analysis of free protein permeation which could not be quantified in native mucus due to concurrent proteolytic degradation. Additionally, BSM could differentiate between the permeation of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles (PLGA-NP) with varying surface chemistries (cationic, anionic and PEGylated), PEG coating density and size, which could not be achieved by a 5% mucin solution. This work confirms the importance of utilising highly biorelevant mucus mimics in permeation studies, and further development will provide an optimal method for high-throughput mucus permeation analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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15 pages, 2169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activated Carbon for Drug Delivery from Composite Biomaterials: The Effect of Grinding on Sirolimus Binding and Release

by Zhanna K. Nazarkina, Tatyana A. Savostyanova, Boris P. Chelobanov, Irina V. Romanova, Pavel A. Simonov, Ren I. Kvon, Andrey A. Karpenko and Pavel P. Laktionov

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(7), 1386; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14071386 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1383

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) could be potentially useful as a drug carrier in fiber polymer scaffolds destined for prolonged drug delivery. To be introduced, AC must be ground into smaller-sized particles to be introduced in scaffolds, as most biocompatible scaffolds consist of fibers with a diameter of less than 1 µm. In this study, the adsorption of sirolimus (SRL) from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution and blood plasma (BP) onto AC of AX-21 type, as well as the release of SRL from AC depending on its fragmentation, were studied. Two-stage grinding of the AC, first with a ball mill, and then with a bead mill, was performed. Grinding with a bead mill was performed either in water or in polyvinylpyrrolidone to prevent aggregation of AC particles. Dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the size of the particles obtained after grinding with a ball mill was 100–10,000 nm, and after grinding with a bead mill, 100–300 nm. Adsorption in PBS was significantly higher than in BP for all fractions, and depended on SRL concentration. The fraction obtained after grinding with a ball mill showed maximal SRL adsorption, both in PBS and BP, and slow SRL release, in comparison with other fractions. The 100–300 nm AC fractions were able to adsorb and completely release SRL into BP, in contrast to other fractions, which strongly bound a significant amount of SRL. The data obtained are to be used for controlled SRL delivery, and thus in the modification of drug delivery in biological media. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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17 pages, 8519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-, Antimicrobial Agent-, and Analgesic-Incorporated Nanofibrous Scaffolds for the Therapy of Alveolar Clefts

by Pang-Yun Chou, Demei Lee, Chi-Chang Weng, Ren-Chin Wu, Chien-Tun Liao and Shih-Jung Liu

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(2), 374; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14020374 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1976

Abstract

An alveolar cleft is a bone defect in the maxillary arch. Although the use of autologous iliac bone grafts to repair alveolar clefts is the preferred treatment method, donor-site morbidity remains a concern. In this study, we incorporated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), an antimicrobial agent, and an analgesic into nanofibrous scaffolds for alveolar cleft therapy. Three-dimensional (3D) printing and coaxial electrospinning techniques were used to fabricate the scaffolds. BMP-2, ketorolac, and amoxicillin were used as the growth factor, analgesic, and antimicrobial agent, respectively. The in vitro properties of the nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized, and in vivo efficacy was evaluated in a rat alveolar-cleft model. The empirical data indicated that the biomolecule-incorporated scaffolds offered extended discharge of BMP-2, amoxicillin, and ketorolac for >4 weeks. The animal test outcomes also demonstrated favorable bone healing at the cleft site. Biomolecule- and drug-incorporated nanofibrous scaffolds demonstrated their efficacy in alveolar cleft treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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Review

Jump to: Research

54 pages, 8542 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biomaterials Based on Organic Polymers and Layered Double Hydroxides Nanocomposites: Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

by Vera Regina Leopoldo Constantino, Mariana Pires Figueiredo, Vagner Roberto Magri, Denise Eulálio, Vanessa Roberta Rodrigues Cunha, Ana Clecia Santos Alcântara and Gustavo Frigi Perotti

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 413; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020413 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3084

Abstract

The development of biomaterials has a substantial role in pharmaceutical and medical strategies for the enhancement of life quality. This review work focused on versatile biomaterials based on nanocomposites comprising organic polymers and a class of layered inorganic nanoparticles, aiming for drug delivery (oral, transdermal, and ocular delivery) and tissue engineering (skin and bone therapies). Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are 2D nanomaterials that can intercalate anionic bioactive species between the layers. The layers can hold metal cations that confer intrinsic biological activity to LDHs as well as biocompatibility. The intercalation of bioactive species between the layers allows the formation of drug delivery systems with elevated loading capacity and modified release profiles promoted by ion exchange and/or solubilization. The capacity of tissue integration, antigenicity, and stimulation of collagen formation, among other beneficial characteristics of LDH, have been observed by in vivo assays. The association between the properties of biocompatible polymers and LDH-drug nanohybrids produces multifunctional nanocomposites compatible with living matter. Such nanocomposites are stimuli-responsive, show appropriate mechanical properties, and can be prepared by creative methods that allow a fine-tuning of drug release. They are processed in the end form of films, beads, gels, monoliths etc., to reach orientated therapeutic applications. Several studies attest to the higher performance of polymer/LDH-drug nanocomposite compared to the LDH-drug hybrid or the free drug. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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13 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Progress of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Intravesical Bladder Cancer Treatment

by Chong Yu, Shuai Wang, Wing-Fu Lai and Dahong Zhang

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 211; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010211 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequently occurring cancer of the urinary system, with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) accounting for 75–85% of all the bladder cancers. Patients with NMIBC have a good survival rate but are at high risk for tumor recurrence and disease progression. Intravesical instillation of antitumor agents is the standard treatment for NMIBC following transurethral resection of bladder tumors. Chemotherapeutic drugs are broadly employed for bladder cancer treatment, but have limited efficacy due to chemo-resistance and systemic toxicity. Additionally, the periodic voiding of bladder and low permeability of the bladder urothelium impair the retention of drugs, resulting in a weak antitumoral response. Chitosan is a non-toxic and biocompatible polymer which enables better penetration of specific drugs to the deeper cell layers of the bladder as a consequence of temporarily abolishing the barrier function of urothelium, thus offering multifaceted biomedical applications in urinary bladder epithelial. Nowadays, the rapid development of nanoparticles significantly improves the tumor therapy with enhanced drug transport. This review presents an overview on the state of chitosan-based nanoparticles in the field of intravesical bladder cancer treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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32 pages, 7831 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Polysaccharide 3D Printing for Drug Delivery Applications

by Alexandra Zamboulis, Georgia Michailidou, Ioanna Koumentakou and Dimitrios N. Bikiaris

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(1), 145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics14010145 - 07 Jan 2022

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5290

Abstract

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has gained considerable interest due to its versatility regarding design as well as in the large choice of materials. It is a powerful tool in the field of personalized pharmaceutical treatment, particularly crucial for pediatric and geriatric patients. Polysaccharides are abundant and inexpensive natural polymers, that are already widely used in the food industry and as excipients in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. Due to their intrinsic properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, etc., polysaccharides are largely investigated as matrices for drug delivery. Although an increasing number of interesting reviews on additive manufacturing and drug delivery are being published, there is a gap concerning the printing of polysaccharides. In this article, we will review recent advances in the 3D printing of polysaccharides focused on drug delivery applications. Among the large family of polysaccharides, the present review will particularly focus on cellulose and cellulose derivatives, chitosan and sodium alginate, printed by fused deposition modeling and extrusion-based printing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Drug Delivery and Sustained Drug Release)

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