Ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets are a class of new emerging smart drug delivery systems which provide image-guided nano-therapy of various diseases, especially cancers. Here, we developed multifunctional smart curcumin-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets for contrast-ultrasound imaging and on-demand drug delivery. The nanodroplets were synthesized via nanoemulsion process. The optimal formulation with the size of 101.2nm and 77.8% curcumin entrapment was chosen for release study and cytotoxicity evaluation. Sonication at the frequency of 1MHz, 2W/cm for 4min triggered the release of 63.5% of curcumin from optimal formulation (Cur-NDs-2). Ultrasound aided release study indicated that the concentration of perfluorohexane and the degree of acoustic droplet vaporization play important role in ultrasound-active drug release. B-mode ultrasound imaging confirmed strong ultrasound contrast of chitosan nanodroplets even at low concentrations via droplet to bubble transition. Finally, cytotoxicity of the ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets in the presence of ultrasound was evaluated in-vitro on 4T1 human breast cancer cells. Cell growth inhibitory effects of curcumin-loaded nanodroplets significantly increased by ultrasound exposure. According to the obtained results, these ultrasound responsive curcumin-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets have a great potential for imaged-guided cancer therapy.

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In this research, nanocomposite scaffolds were prepared from gelatin/chitosan and hydroxyapatite via a biomimetic method. The prepared scaffolds were then evaluated by means of commonly used bulk techniques: X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. In this study, the gelatin–chitosan/apatite nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated using the applied biomimetic method accompanied by freeze drying. The apatite was formed using double diffusion within the gelatin/chitosan hydrogel at similar pH and temperature to the human body. The obtained nanocomposites were soaked in glutaraldehyde solution in order to enhance their mechanical properties and also make them insoluble in water. Diffusion of calcium and phosphate ions from lateral sides into the hydrogel middle caused formation of a white layered precipitate. Analysis of precipitates formed within the hydrogel middle for the samples showed that detected materials are composed of carbonated hydroxyapatite and amorphous dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. After incubation in simulated body fluid, the amorphous phase converted to crystalline hydroxyapatite, which process is similar to bone formation in the human body. Mechanical properties obtained for the scaffolds were comparable to spongy bone. Also in this work, MTT assay and alkaline phosphatase activity on the prepared scaffolds were evaluated and discussed. Finally, the obtained experimental results ascertained that the nanocomposite prepared with chitosan/gelatin (20/80) had appropriate properties for bone tissue engineering scaffold.

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Bioactive glass of the type CaO–SrO–P2O5–SiO2was obtained by the sol-gel processing method. Three samples containing 0 mol%, 5 mol% and 10 mol% of SrO were synthesized. The obtained bioactive glasses were characterized by the techniques such as, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the effect of SrO/CaO substitution on in vitro biological properties of the synthesized glasses were evaluated and biocompatibility of the samples was measured using MTT assay. The results showed that incorporation of Sr in the obtained glass network did not result in any structural alteration of it due to the similar role of SrO compared with that of CaO. In vitro experiments with human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63) and MTT assay indicated that bioactive glass incorporating 5 mol% of Sr in the composition is non-toxic and revealed good biocompatibility.