Rapid Microfluidic Preparation of Niosomes for Targeted Drug Delivery

Abstract

Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant-based vesicles with high promise for drug delivery applications. They can be rapidly prepared via microfluidics, allowing their reproducible production without the need of a subsequent size reduction step, by controlled mixing of two miscible phases of an organic (lipids dissolved in alcohol) and an aqueous solution in a microchannel. The control of niosome properties and the implementation of more complex functions, however, thus far are largely unknown for this method. Here we investigate microfluidics-based manufacturing of topotecan (TPT)-loaded polyethylene glycolated niosomes (PEGNIO). The flow rate ratio of the organic and aqueous phases was varied and optimized. Furthermore, the surface of TPT-loaded PEGNIO was modified with a tumor homing and penetrating peptide (tLyp-1). The designed nanoparticular drug delivery system composed of PEGNIO-TPT-tLyp-1 was fabricated for the first time via microfluidics in this study. The physicochemical properties were determined through dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis. In vitro studies of the obtained formulations were performed on human glioblastoma (U87) cells. The results clearly indicated that tLyp-1-functionalized TPT-loaded niosomes could significantly improve anti-glioma treatment.

Fabrication and Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review

“…These nonionic surfactant-based vesicles can be prepared in microfluidic chips and be further used in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications [ 140 ]. In this respect, Ag Seleci et al prepared a targeted niosomal drug delivery system to improve topotecan’s (TPT) therapeutic efficacy for gliomas by parallelly loading TPT synthesizing the controlled-sized niosomes [ 141 ].…”

In-Vitro Application of Magnetic Hybrid Niosomes: Targeted siRNA-Delivery for Enhanced Breast Cancer Therapy

“…Moreover, their low cost, simple preparation and remarkable stability make them a notable candidate for potential commercialization. In order to achieve specific functionalities, the hydrophilic core and the hydrophobic bilayer structure can incorporate various low-molecular substances, proteins, DNA/RNA and nanoparticles with a wide range of solubilities [ 47 , 48 ]. If entities with strong magnetic properties (e.g., superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, referred to as Fe x O y -NPs) are entrapped, an external magnetic field can be used to achieve a magnetic targeting functionality of the resulting hybrid niosomes [ 49 , 50 ].…”

A smart viral vector for targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs

“…tLyP-1, chosen as a targeting peptide, is an active CendR peptide that binds to neuropilin receptors (NRP1 and NRP2) that are typically overexpressed in the angiogenic vessels of most malignant tumor cells and in the majority of carcinomas 36 . So far, tLyP-1 has been conjugated to a variety of nano-delivery vehicles based on metal 37 , 38 , mesoporous silica 39 , PEG-PLA 40 , non-ionic surfactants 41 , liposomes 42 , 43 and exosomes 44 . tLyP-1 has also been conjugated with molecular trackers 36 , 45 , with other peptides 46 , and co-administered with drug-polymer conjugates 47 – 49 .…”

“…Conjugation of tLyP-1 to these delivery vehicles has resulted in targeting of tumor imaging agents, as well as therapeutics for treatment of glioblastoma, pulmonary adenocarcinoma and triple negative breast carcinoma 36 , 40 – 45 , 47 – 49 . tLyP-1 conjugates have been observed to mediate significantly enhanced targeted accumulation of respective therapeutic molecules 36 , 41 , 47 – 49 . To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report of tLyP-1 attachment to a virus-based particle by chemical conjugation.…”