Design, functionalization strategies and biomedical applications of targeted biodegradable/biocompatible polymer-based nanocarriers for drug delivery

Abstract

Design and functionalization strategies for multifunctional nanocarriers (e.g., nanoparticles, micelles, polymersomes) based on biodegradable/biocompatible polymers intended to be employed for active targeting and drug delivery are reviewed. This review will focus on the nature of the polymers involved in the preparation of targeted nanocarriers, the synthesis methods to achieve the desired macromolecular architecture, the selected coupling strategy, the choice of the homing molecules (vitamins, hormones, peptides, proteins, etc.), as well as the various strategies to display them at the surface of nanocarriers. The resulting morphologies and the main colloidal features will be given as well as an overview of the biological activities, with a special focus on the main in vivo achievements.

Microfluidic platform for photodynamic therapy cytotoxicity analysis of nanoencapsulated indocyanine-type photosensitizers

“…40 In order to increase the potential of hydrophobic cyanines towards improvement of drug efficacy, its stability, and better intracellular penetration, they need to be encapsulated in nanocarriers to avoid any unexpected problems with photoactivity and to improve their dissolution performance by means of encapsulation via template-mediated processes. 27,37 The main objective of this work is a basic research focused on examination of the mechanism and effectiveness of the introduction of a photosensitizer to carcinoma cells in the form of nanocarriers such as PE nanocapsules and then performing cytotoxicity tests during photodynamic therapy based on the use of model conditions and designed system lab-on-a-chip. Newly encapsulated hydrophobic indocyanine-type photosensitizer (i.e., IR-780) was subjected to in vitro studies to determine its release characteristics on a molecular level.…”

“…In the last few years, the major progress has been achieved in the template-based approaches to produce a variety of hydrophobic drug-loaded nanocarriers for drug delivery, diagnostics, or other biomedical applications. 27,28 One of the most versatile methods of formation of nanostructured functional coatings on colloidal cores, including the oil one, comprises the sequential adsorption of polyelectrolytes (PEs) called the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. [29][30][31][32] Among many micellar aggregates and their mediated polymeric systems, biocompatible long-sustained release oil-core polyelectrolyte nanocarriers are used.…”

Peptide-functionalized nanoparticles for selective targeting of pancreatic tumor

“…The 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker Avance 300 (300 MHz, 75 MHz) or Bruker Avance 400 (400 MHz, 100 MHz) spectrometers in CDCl 3 , CD 3 COCD 3 , CD 3 OD or D 2 O. Multiplicities of resonances are described as broad (b), singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), or multiplet (m). Recognition of methyl, methylene, methine, and quaternary carbon nuclei in 13 C NMR spectra rests on the Jmodulated spin-echo sequence. Mass spectra were obtained using electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions in a positive-ion or a negative-ion mode either on Finnigan-MAT TSQ 700 spectrometer (CA) or Esquire LC Bruker spectrometers.…”

“…However in several tumors, such passive targeting is inefficient. Therefore, the development of targeted therapeutic approaches, using nanoparticles (NPs) able to specifically bind to receptors mainly expressed onto malignant cells and relatively down regulated in healthy ones [12], represents an attractive therapeutic alternative [13][14][15]. To date, there are very few examples of drug-loaded nanoparticles functionalized with specific ligands showing a therapeutic efficacy in experimental pancreatic cancer models.…”

Sticky water surfaces: Helix–coil transitions suppressed in a cell-penetrating peptide at the air-water interface

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] The pH sensitive peptide GALA (WEAALAEALAEALAEHLAEALAEALEALAA) is a mimic of viral fusion proteins and provides a promising route to achieve site-specific delivery of therapeutic compounds. 1 The membrane penetrating activity of GALA is triggered by changes in the environmental pH.…”