Current Drug Metabolism - Volume 18, Issue 4, 2017

Objective: Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field, which have the potential to cover applications in many subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics. Method: The combined efforts of these subjects can lead to the successful engineering of nanodevices and nanovectors for targeted delivery and sensing/detection of cancer cells/tissues. The modulation of nanomaterials at surface and bulk level further adds value to this technology and develop strategies for early detection of precancerous and malignant cells from biological fluids. Furthermore, the novel nanotechnology-based imaging modalities have the prospects to offer non-invasive cancer imaging and treatment response study in real-time. Result: This review covers the advantages of nanotechnology, which have been exploited for effective and targeted delivery of anti-cancer agents. Conclusion: Moreover, the initiatives taken by National Cancer Laboratory, USA to improve the clinical success of nanomedicines and nanovectors have also been comprehensively summarized.

Candida species remain a significant cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections, associated with prolonged hospital stay in the ICU and high healthcare cost. The incidence of Candida is very high in certain risk groups of patients (AIDS, diabetes, cancer, etc.). Recent developments of nanotechnology have strongly contributed to the design of new multifunctional drug carriers that improve drug bioavailability through a controlled and prolonged release profile or even through a more specific targeted delivery of the antifungal agent. Those types of systems have strongly increased with a progressive generation of new structures, permitting the conjunction of new materials, biomolecules, physical and chemical techniques, for better outcomes. Nanotechnology shows expanded possibilities within the medical field and in the case of the yeast infections it may overcome several issues related with the fungal proliferation or higher inhibition of the pathogen causing the infection. This review covers a period of the most representative research of Candidiasis since 1993 to the present.

The scientific research papers by Professor John William Gorrod who died in December 2015 are reviewed. He was one of the most important scientists in the area and investigated mainly the biological oxidation of nitrogen containing drugs and xenobiotics. In this review, more than 200 papers belong to him are evaluated, most of which involved the results from in vitro microsomal oxidative metabolism of nitrogen containing xenobiotics. These studies include the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke constituents, aromatic amines, aminophenols, rubber and aminobiphenyls, the assay for ferriheamoglobinemia forming compounds, metabolism of aralkyl azo compounds, aromatic amines, aromatic azaheterocycles, synthesis of N-oxidative metabolites i.e. N-oxides, nitrones and hydroxylamines, mutagenicity of amines, metabolism of adenine derivatives, alicyclic amines and aromatic heterocyclic amines, in vivo and in vitro metabolism of nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids, effects of various substrates on MAO enzyme and reviews related to nicotine and N-oxidation of other nitrogen containing compounds. In the major part of these studies, the spectroscopic and chromatographic methods were developed to evaluate and determine the investigated compounds.

Vasopressin (AVP) and its receptors play a pivotal role in maintaining body homeostasis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. As a consequence, the vasopressin system has emerged as an important target for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in a number of medical conditions. Stoichiometric generation of AVP with copeptin, which is relatively accessible in the blood for measurements, makes copeptin a valuable surrogate of AVP. In this review, we present the regulation of release of AVP and activation of V1a, V1b, and V2 vasopressin receptors under physiological and pathological conditions. We make a survey of the role of AVP in: the regulation of the cardiovascular system; body fluid osmolality; natraemia; endocrine regulation; food intake; metabolism; circadian rhythmicity, immunological processes; and in the formation of learning, memory, cognition, and emotional and social behaviours. We also discuss the significance of the inappropriate functioning of the vasopressin system for: the development of cardiovascular diseases; disturbances of the water-electrolyte balance; energy metabolism; inflammatory processes; pain; neurogenic stress; memory disorders; depression; anxiety; autism; and schizophrenia. The structure and biological properties of peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists of V1a, V1b and V2 vasopressin receptors are presented and the potential use of copeptin and the current and likely indications for AVP agonists and antagonists in the diagnosis and therapeutics of multiple pathological conditions is discussed.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, with an extremely poor prognosis. This cancer is considered the 5th leading cause of cancer related death. The median survival after diagnosis is generally 2-8 months and five-year survival rate is less than 5%. In recent years, nanotechnology is emerging as a rising approach for drug delivery since it has opened up new landscapes in medicine through introduction of smart nanocarrier systems that can selectively deliver the therapeutic agent in a specific region and in appropriate levels, reducing the adverse side effects. This review covers the main delivery systems developed so far for anticancer drug delivery to the pancreas over a period of 20 years, from polymeric to lipidic-based nanosystems, with a particular emphasis on albumin as core material.