Current Nanomedicine - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2019

Background: Worldwide, lung cancer is the major cause of deaths due to cancer. Most of the lung cancer cases are categorized as 85% cases of non-small cell lung cancer, while remainder 15% cases are known as small cell lung cancer. The long survival time as well as the improved quality of life for patients undergoing lung cancer using conventional chemotherapy is still not satisfactory. Therefore, robust research undergoes development of drug delivery system which increased drug at target side with reduced systemic side effect. Method: Bibliography database reviewed various inhalable nanostructured drug delivery strategies for effective delivery of anticancer drugs to lung cancer which are designed to improve the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs throughout improvement of their stability as well as bioavailability. Results: It has been reported that nanostructure based inhalation chemotherapy is more successful targeting system and also offers reduced side effects than conventional chemotherapy. Conclusion: Thus, the review highlights the critical issues, strategies for delivery and provides detail on various inhalable nanostructures for anticancer drug delivery along with toxicity concerns as well as rationale behind development of inhalable nanostructures.

Background: Cancer has been considered as a deadly disease and its appropriate management is still a global challenge. The traditional anticancer therapeutics have been able to combat the disease to some extent but with numerous adverse effects which affect the quality of life of patients. Method: The introduction of alternative medicines, especially herbal medicines, has attracted the scientists’ due to low toxicity and high efficacy associated with them. However, their poor solubility and bioavailability decrease their efficacy. This has led to the increased use of targeted drug delivery systems in phyto-cancer therapy. Results: Nanoparticles (NPs), a novel drug delivery system has been widely used in the recent years due to their various advantages such as drug targeting, improved solubility, and bioavailability, high efficacy, low toxicity towards normal cells, low drug resistance, high drug loading at tumor site, etc. Conclusion: These benefits have also been observed in studies evaluating phytonanotherapy in cancer. The present review highlights current trends followed by phyto-cancer therapy using NPs. The recent studies conducted on herbal NPs for cancer therapy have also been enlisted.

Background: Nanotechnology has considerably modified the treatment of cancer by overcoming the prevailing drawbacks in conventional chemotherapy like severe systemic side effects, undesirable bio-distribution and drug resistance. Objective: The objective behind the present study was to develop polymeric nanoparticles loaded with gefitinib by ionic gelation method and optimize the prepared nanoparticles using Box-Behnken Design at 3-factors and 3-levels. The main and interactive effects of three selected process variables i.e chitosan concentration, sodium tripolyphosphate (NaTPP) concentration and NaTPP volume on the encapsulation efficiency and % cumulative drug release were determined. Method: Seventeen nanoparticle formulations were prepared by ionic gelation method using chitosan concentration (0.1-0.3% w/v), NaTPP concentration (0.2-0.6% w/v) and NaTPP volume (8-12 ml) applying Box-behnken design. The cryoprotectant used was 5% w/v trehalose. The nanoparticle formulations were further evaluated for various parameters. Results: The formulation (NP-5) prepared using chitosan (0.1% w/v) and NaTPP (0.4% w/v ) in 8 ml volume exhibited particle size (79.4 nm), polydispersity index (0.349), encapsulation efficiency (82.05 %) and % cumulative drug released (40.83 %) in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) over a period of 24 h. The release mechanism followed was higuchi model. The values of various evaluation parameters observed were found to be in close concurrence with the values predicted employing the Design expert software. Conclusion: The nanoparticle formulation obtained using chitosan in low concentration, optimum concentration ratio of chitosan: NaTPP along with low volume of NaTPP showed desired features. The mathematical models were further designed to develop polymeric nanoparticles with required characteristics.

Background: Nanotechnology has gained a great deal of public interest due to the needs and applications of nanomaterials in many areas of human endeavours such as industry, agriculture, business, medicine and public health amongst many others. Polymeric nanoparticles from biodegradable and biocompatible polymers are good candidates for drug carrier to deliver the drugs because they are expected to be adsorbed in an intact form in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of some precarious variables like, concentration of chitosan, concentration of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and stirring time on physicochemical characteristics of lycopene loaded chitosan nanoparticles. Method: Eight batches of lycopene loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using various concentrations of chitosan (100-200 mg), STPP (50-100 mg) by varying stirring speed in the range of 10-20 minutes using ionic gelation method. The optimized nanoparticulate formulation was characterized for various parameters like morphology study, particle size and size distribution studies, differential scanning calorimetry, entrapment efficiency and in-vitro drug release studies. Results: Lycopene loaded chitosan nanoparticles containing 150 mg of chitosan, 75 mg of STPP, 20 mg of drug lycopene and with 15 min of stirring time showed entrapment efficiency of 89.4%. The percent release of lycopene loaded chitosan nanoparticles at the end of 6 h was found to be 83.5%, however, percent release of pure lycopene at the end of 6 h was observed as 79.6%. Conclusion: Lycopene loaded chitosan nanoparticles may show a great promise for the development of drug delivery system by enhancing the cellular accumulation of lycopene with chitosan.

Background: Paclitaxel (PTX) is a potent anticancer drug which is highly effective against several cancers. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with anticancer drugs can enhance its toxicity against tumor cells at low concentrations. Objective: To develop and characterize SLNs of PTX (PSLN) to enhance its toxicity against cancerous cells. Method: The solubility of PTX was screened in various lipids. Solid lipid nanoparticles of PTX (PSLN) were developed by hot homogenization method using Cutina HR and Gelucire 44/14 as lipid carriers and Solutol HS 15 as a surfactant. PSLNs were characterized for size, morphology, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, physical state of the drug and in vitro release profile in 7.4 pH phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The ability of PTX to enhance toxicity towards cancerous cells was tested by performing cytoxicity assay in MCF7 cell line. Results: Solubility studies of PTX in lipids indicated better solubility when Cutina HR and Gelucire 44/14 were used. PSLNs were found to possess a neutral zeta potential with a size range of 155.4 ± 10.7 nm to 641.9 ± 4.2 nm. In vitro release studies showed a sustained release profile for PSLN over a period of 48 hours. SLNs loaded with PTX were found to be more toxic in killing MCF7 cells at a lower concentration than the free PTX.

Background: Polymeric micelles are being used as successful nanocarriers for the delivery of diverse drug molecules due to properties like solubilization, selective targeting, P-glycoprotein inhibition, altered drug internalization route and subcellular localization etc. Objective: The present investigation was planned to prepare and characterize novel polymeric micelles derived from self assembly of amphiphilic chitosan-bile salt derivative (CS-mPEG-DA) as nanocarrier and evaluate their potential in delivery of an anticancer drug, paclitaxel. Method: Paclitaxel, a diterpenoid compound, useful in clinical treatment of several solid tumors such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer suffers from limitations like low aqueous solubility and bioavailability and subsequently was used as the model drug. Results: Paclitaxel was successfully incorporated into polymeric micelles using dialysis and emulsion method with encapsulation efficiency up to 95% having particle size in nanometer range (<200 nm). Paclitaxel loaded micelles were found to release the drug in a sustained manner up to 96 h in PBS containing 0.1% (w/v) tween 80 at 37°C. The micelles powders subjected to stability studies for a period of 90 days were found to be stable at 4 ± 2°C with respect to particle size and drug content. In vivo cytotoxicity assay confirmed that paclitaxel encapsulated in polymeric micelles showed higher cytotoxicity against cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cells than paclitaxel alone. Conclusion: Polymeric micellar systems derived from copolymerization of chitosan exhibit a great potential in successful delivery of poorly water soluble or low bioavailable drugs like paclitaxel.