Drug Delivery Letters - Online First

Nanosuspensions have emerged as a promising drug delivery system for poorly water- soluble drugs, offering several advantages over traditional and other nanocarrier-based systems. Unlike liposomes or polymeric nanoparticles that encapsulate drugs, nanosuspensions are submicron colloidal dispersions consisting purely of drug particles stabilized by surfactants or polymers. This direct formulation enhances drug loading, increases dissolution rate, and improves oral and parenteral bioavailability. Various preparation techniques, including high-pressure homogenization, media milling, and precipitation methods, have been optimized for scalability and reproducibility. Recent research demonstrates the potential of nanosuspensions in targeted drug delivery, particularly in oncology, due to their ability to enhance tissue penetration and reduce off-target effects. This mini-review summarizes the fundamental principles, production techniques, physicochemical characterization, recent applications, limitations, and future directions in nanosuspension-based drug delivery, highlighting their unique advantages over other nanosystems.

Recent years have witnessed an enormous spike in interest in cell-derived particles (CDPs) that are also called Extracellular vesicles (EVs) due to their potential uses in both treatments and diagnostics. Small vesicles or particles, including apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, and exosomes, are released from both healthy and sick cells. They carry bioactive substances from their parent cells and transfer this cargo to target cells making them potential candidates for therapeutic interventions and diagnostic applications. These phospholipid-enclosed nanovesicles have multiple benefits over other carriers of biological materials, including high biocompatibility, high circulation stability, core propensity to target cells, low immunogenicity, ability to shield payload from degradation and biological barrier-crossing properties that make them unique. Cell-derived particles are used for evaluating treatment efficacy in addition to treating diseases by tracking changes in the payload composition of extracellular vesicles over time as real-time monitoring, thus treatment plans can be improved and patient outcomes can be forecast. Moreover, extracellular vesicles have gained attention as possible biomarkers because of their capacity to hold and transport biomolecules, and many biomarkers which might provide important details about cellular functions and the onset of illness. Cell-derived particles reflect the condition of the parent cell, making them an excellent source of biomarkers for a variety of illnesses. They can reveal information about the existence and course of illnesses and serve as a noninvasive substitute for conventional tissue biopsies. This review highlights the potential of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) as drug delivery carriers and as novel non-invasive molecular diagnostic tools for the prognosis of fatal illnesses. This article reveals the fundamental characteristics of EVs, the types of EVs, characteristics of EVs as biomarkers. Further, challenges in the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles, and applications of extracellular vesicles in drug delivery, are also succinctly summarized in this review article.

Cancer remains one of the most significant global health challenges, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches to improve treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. Traditional methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, while effective to some extent, face limitations, including drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and systemic toxicity. In this context, microbial-based nanoparticles have emerged as a novel and promising solution in cancer therapy. These nanoparticles leverage the inherent properties of microbes, such as targeting and biocompatibility, in combination with nanotechnology to deliver drugs with precision, enhance bioavailability, and reduce off-target effects.

This review highlights recent advancements in microbial-derived nanoparticles, focusing on their mechanisms of action, such as immune modulation, tumor penetration, and drug delivery capabilities. Furthermore, it discusses their potential to overcome current therapeutic challenges, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and scalability. Microbial-based nanoparticles offer a pathway toward more patient-centered and precision-based therapeutic solutions by addressing critical gaps in existing cancer treatments. The review also explores the challenges of clinical translation, such as toxicity concerns, regulatory hurdles, and manufacturing complexities, while providing insights into future research directions to accelerate their application in clinical practice.

Wound healing is an intricate biological process that is supported by well-coordinated cellular activities along with the influence of various factors, such as infection at the site of the wound, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits. Non-healing wounds pose a significant global health concern, with a substantial impact on healthcare resources and patient well-being. Wound dressings play a crucial role in creating an optimal microenvironment for healing, and the selection of an appropriate dressing is imperative to ensure faster healing and improved patient outcomes. Polyurethane (PU) foam based wound dressings have gained considerable attention owing to their versatile properties and potential applications in wound care. PU foam dressings are known for their high absorbency in managing moderate to heavy exudate, ability to maintain a moist wound environment, comfort, flexibility, and non-adherent properties. PU is the preferred substrate material for dressings because of its customizable mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Several studies have explored the use of polyurethane foam-based wound dressings and have highlighted their potential benefits and limitations. Despite the promising results of previous studies, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the applications and challenges of PU foam-based wound dressings in wound healing. This review aims to address the knowledge gap by providing an update on the current state of research on polyurethane foam based wound dressings and their potential applications and challenges in wound healing.

Research in ocular delivery of medication has both challenging and promising opportunities for the pharmaceutical sector. Present ocular delivery methods of drugs, including ointments, solutions, and suspensions, have a number of limitations, such as rapid elimination from the precorneal area, high variation in efficacy, and the risk of blurred vision. These disadvantages underscore the need for the introduction of more effective drug delivery systems. Research on ocular drug delivery has increased significantly in the past years, resulting in the use of numerous standard formulation forms, such as ointments and eye drops. One big drawback of the two formulations is the fast expulsion of the deposited dose through the action of blinking eyelids as well as the excretion of tear fluid. To counter this, in situ, gelling systems have been created that minimize drainage and prolong the period of contact with the ocular tissues and cornea. The formulations in these systems go through a sol-to-gel change due to conditions in the environment, for example, temperature, ionic strength, and pH. The transitions are usually triggered by the common polymers sodium alginate and high-performance methylcellulose. These preparations can be tested for any one of a number of properties, such as but not limited to clarity, ocular irritancy, texture, isotonicity, sterility, gel strength, gelling capacity, gelling time, ex-vivo release, in vitro drug release, stability, in vivo retention, and absorption.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health concern, with a growing patient population and associated complications. Traditional treatments often fall short due to the complex nature of the disease. Recent advances in nanotechnology, particularly the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), offer promising solutions. This review aims to highlight the eco-friendly, economical, and biocompatible characteristics of ZnO NPs, with a focus on green synthesis techniques for their production.

It also explores the green synthesis of ZnO NPs using natural resources, such as microorganisms and plant extracts, which act as stabilizing and reducing agents. It examines the potential of these nanoparticles in improving medicinal properties, particularly through their antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities. The possibility of combining ZnO NPs with other nanomaterials is also investigated, with an emphasis on applications in biosensing, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

ZnO NPs synthesized through green methods demonstrate significant potential in enhancing insulin sensitivity, glucose management, and preventing diabetes-related complications. Their improved medicinal properties, including antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities, are highlighted. This review also identifies opportunities for the development of combination products and discusses the transition from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale production.

Extensive safety and clinical studies are required to confirm the safety and efficacy of ZnO NPs, paving the way for regulatory approval and wider adoption in medical applications. This review underscores the importance of medicinal plants and biogenic approaches for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and calls for further research to explore the full potential of ZnO NPs in diabetes management and beyond.