Sol-Gel Carrier Systems for Controlled Drug Delivery

Embedding of the well-known coronary therapeuticum nifedipine into a modified silica matrix by the sol-gel technique allows its releasing behavior to be controlled to a high degree. The liberation rate is proportional to temperature and is increased by the addition of penetration agents such as sorbitol, but is inversely proportional to particle size and is decreased by modification of the silica matrix with methyl-triethoxysilane or polyethylene-glycol. It is presumed that the drug is dispersed in the gel matrix and that diffusion occurs through solvent-filled capillary channels. The liberation rate is governed by the relationship between the rates of dissolution and diffusion.     

A Review on Bioengineering Approaches to Insulin Delivery: A Pharmaceutical and Engineering Perspective

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent non‐contagious disease, which has affected a large number of people all over the world. Among all treatments known to have a positive influence in the control of DM, insulin therapy is the most common and effective one. Nowadays, various methods of insulin delivery are under investigation, which are able to reach a plausible bioavailability with ignorable side effects instead of insulin injection. This article presents a comprehensive review of the insulin therapy approach with a focus on modified methods in insulin delivery strategies and current advances in engineered insulin delivery systems.     

导电聚合物在药物可控释放领域的应用

导电聚合物(conducting polymers,CPs)是一类与金属具有相似的电、磁和光学特性的有机聚合物,电刺激会引起其氧化-还原状态的改变,从而导致CPs的电荷量、掺杂水平、导电性以及体积发生变化.利用CPs的这些特性,可将其用于药物、蛋白质以及基因等的传递和可控释放.通过对CPs基体进行化学物理修饰,可以扩大CPs基体的载药品种、提高载药量以及优化药物控释手段.本文简要介绍了CPs的性能和制备方法,对CPs基药物传递体系的药物担载和释放机理进行了详细的讨论,并归纳总结了近年来国内外以CPs为基体的药物传递体系的研究进展,最后对CPs基药物传递体系所面临的问题和未来发展进行了总结和展望.     

刺激响应型微胶囊的可控释放研究进展

刺激响应型微胶囊由于具有独有的高稳定性、多功能性、膜结构的可调性、以及对不同芯材的运送能力,在药物封装和释放、人造细胞、催化、化学传感器等领域具有广阔的应用前景.本文综述了近年来不同刺激响应型复合微胶囊的可控释放的研究进展,包括温敏型、pH响应型、磁响应型、生物响应型、电响应型,以及光响应型微胶囊,根据释放机理的不同着重对光响应型微胶囊的释放过程进行了总结,并对微胶囊可控释放在未来的发展趋势进行了展望.     

Effect of Silk Protein Processing on Drug Delivery from Silk Films

Sericin removal from the core fibroin protein of silkworm silk is a critical first step in the use of silk for biomaterial‐related applications, but degumming can affect silk biomaterial properties, including molecular weight, viscosity, diffusivity and degradation behavior. Increasing the degumming time (10, 30, 60, and 90 min) decreases the average molecular weight of silk protein in solution, silk solution viscosity, and silk film glass‐transition temperature, and increases the rate of degradation of a silk film by protease. Model compounds spanning a range of physical‐chemical properties generally show an inverse relationship between degumming time and release rate through a varied degumming time silk coating. Degumming provides a useful control point to manipulate silk's material properties.

     

Green Algae as a Drug Delivery System for the Controlled Release of Antibiotics

New strategies to efficiently treat bacterial infections are crucial to circumvent the increase of resistant strains and to mitigate side effects during treatment. Skin and soft tissue infections represent one of the areas suffering the most from these resistant strains. We developed a new drug delivery system composed of the green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is generally recognized as safe, to target specifically skin diseases. A two-step functionalization strategy was used to chemically modify the algae with the antibiotic vancomycin. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was found to mask vancomycin and the insertion of a photocleavable linker was used for the release of the antibiotic. This living drug carrier was evaluated in presence of Bacillus subtilis and, only upon UVA1-mediated release, growth inhibition of bacteria was observed. These results represent one of the first examples of a living organism used as a drug delivery system for the release of an antibiotic by UVA1-irradiation.     

Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Eliminating Intracellular Bacteria

The intracellular survival of pathogenic bacteria requires a range of survival strategies and virulence factors. These infections are a significant clinical challenge, wherein treatment frequently fails because of poor antibiotic penetration, stability, and retention in host cells. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) are promising tools to overcome these shortcomings and enhance the efficacy of antibiotic therapy. In this review, the classification and the mechanisms of intracellular bacterial persistence are elaborated. Furthermore, the systematic design strategies applied to DDSs to eliminate intracellular bacteria are also described, and the strategies used for internalization, intracellular activation, bacterial targeting, and immune enhancement are highlighted. Finally, this overview provides guidance for constructing functionalized DDSs to effectively eliminate intracellular bacteria.     

Next Generation Multiresponsive Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells

C?H bond activation of 2‐methoxyethylamino‐bis(phenolate)‐yttrium catalysts allowed the synthesis of BAB block copolymers comprised of 2‐vinylpyridine (2VP; monomer A) and diethylvinylphosphonate (DEVP; monomer B) as the A and B blocks, respectively, by rare‐earth‐metal‐mediated group‐transfer polymerization (REM‐GTP). The inherent multi‐stimuli‐responsive character and drug‐loading and ‐release capabilities were observed to be dependent on the chain length and monomer ratios. Cytotoxicity assays revealed the biocompatibility and nontoxic nature of the obtained micelles toward ovarian cancer (HeLa) cells. The BAB block copolymers effectively encapsulated, transported, and released doxorubicin (DOX) within HeLa cells. REM‐GTP enables access to previously unattainable vinylphosphonate copolymer structures, and thereby unlocks their full potential as nanocarriers for stimuli‐responsive drug delivery in HeLa cells. The self‐evident consequence is the application of these new micelles as potent drug‐delivery vehicles with reduced side effects in future cancer therapies.     

Novel Carboxymethyl Chitosan Microspheres for Controlled Delivery of Chelerythrine

Novel carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMCS) microspheres containing an anti-tumor drug chelerythrine (CHE) have been successfully prepared by an emulsion crosslinking method using glutaraldehyde. The optimized microsphere formulation was characterized for particle size, shape, morphology, crystallinity and in vitro drug release. Results for mean particle size, drug loading content, entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release of chelerythrine loaded microspheres were found to be 12.18 μm, 4.08%, 54.78% and 35.30% at pH 7.4 in 20 h, respectively. The optimized microspheres had an imperfect crystalline lattice and a spherical, rough morphology and the CHE release from O-CMCS microspheres followed the Higuchi matrix model. All these results suggested that O-CMCS microspheres are a promising carrier system for controlled drug delivery.     

智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系及其应用

药物控释体系可改善药物分子在机体内的释放、吸收、代谢和排泄过程,显著提高药物利用率并减弱药物的毒副作用。智能响应型水凝胶凭借其刺激响应性、亲水性和无毒性在药物控释方面得到了广泛的关注。本文介绍了智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系的概念、机理和应用,详细归纳了智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系的研究进展。按照刺激源不同将智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系分为pH响应型、温度响应型、光响应型、生物分子(如葡萄糖、酶)响应型、外场(如电场、磁场)响应型、压力响应型、氧化还原响应型及多重响应型水凝胶药物控释体系。进一步介绍了智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系在治疗癌症、急性肾损伤、眼病、糖尿病等疾病及抗菌、防止伤口感染等方面的应用。最后,基于目前智能响应型水凝胶药物控释体系存在的一些问题(如生物相容性差、存在突释或滞释现象、不可降解等)对其发展做出了展望。     

Soft Contact Lenses as Drug Delivery Systems: A Review

This review describes the role of contact lenses as an innovative drug delivery system in treating eye diseases. Current ophthalmic drug delivery systems are inadequate, particularly eye drops, which allow about 95% of the active substance to be lost through tear drainage. According to the literature, many interdisciplinary studies have been carried out on the ability of contact lenses to increase the penetration of topical therapeutic agents. Contact lenses limit drug loss by releasing the medicine into two layers of tears on either side of the contact lens, eventually extending the time of contact with the ocular surface. Thanks to weighted soft contact lenses, a continuous release of the drug over an extended period is possible. This article reviewed the various techniques to deliver medications through contact lenses, examining their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the potential of drug delivery systems based on contact lenses has been extensively studied.     

金粒子包封介孔二氧化硅杂化载药控释体系

靶向给药控释体系既可以增强药物在病灶部位的疗效, 又可以降低药物对正常部位的毒副作用. 基于介孔二氧化硅为"容器"-金纳米粒子为"开关"(MSN-AuNPs)的杂化纳米阀门体系同时具备两种纳米粒子的优良特性, 在化学、生物材料以及临床医药等多学科受到广泛关注. 本文根据刺激手段和应用功能分类, 介绍了单一功能和多重功能的MSN-AuNPs杂化纳米阀门体系的重要研究进展, 以及目前面临的挑战和今后的发展方向.     

高分子包囊药物释放体系

用高分子作为载体的高分子微包囊和纳米级包囊药物制剂不仅能控制药物以一定的速度释放，而且可对生物体的生理指标变化作出反馈，因而可以成为靶向药物释放体系。通过用高分子包囊还可以延长蛋白质和多肽类药物的生理活性，提高药物稳定性，使之成为长效药物，并使一些难以口服的药物能够制成口服制剂。文章在介绍有关高分子药物释放体系的一些基本原理，以及与之相关的药学、药理学、物理化学和高分子材料科学方面知识的基础上，较全面地综述了高分子包囊药物的制备技术和应用。阐述了高分子包囊的粒径、表面积、孔度、药物性能和药含量，以及高分子包囊材料的性能对药物释放行为的影响。对药物传送机理亦进行了扼要的介绍。     

光控释药型药物递送系统的研究进展

释药可控的药物递送系统能够在特定刺激条件下,在时间和空间上精确实现在病灶处释放包载的药物分子,具有药物利用率高、毒副作用低等诸多优点,为各种重大疾病,如肿瘤的精准治疗提供了新思路.在众多的可控释药递送系统中,利用特定光照控制药物释放的光控释药型药物递送系统展现出广阔的应用潜力,受到研究者的广泛关注.近年来,基于不同光响应机理的光控释药型药物递送系统被设计开发用于药物的精确可控释放,本文介绍了四种光敏感基团的不同光响应机理,对基于不同光响应机理的光控释药型药物递送系统的研究进展进行了综述,指出现有光控释药型药物递送系统存在的问题及对未来的研究方向进行了展望.     

Controlled Chemical and Drug Delivery via the Internal and External Surfaces of Layered Compounds

Abstract

We demonstrate, and review the very small, but growing body of literature regarding a recently discovered application of layered compounds, which involves the ability of layered materials to sequester and later release molecules of chemical and biological significance. The application relies upon intercalation chemistry; a reversible process whereby atoms, molecules, macromolecules, and polymers may be inserted into the interstices of a layered matrix. We demonstrate that layered materials are able to effectively getter water‐soluble atoms and molecules from aqueous dispersions, and further demonstrate that the absorbed molecules can be later released from the interlayer region to perform a desired chemical function. Work in our laboratory involving the application of layered hybrid materials in photographic media is described in detail and we establish two general release mechanisms whereby intercalated functional chemistry can be first sequestrated and later delivered via a chemical switch to perform a desired function. The process has enormous potential as a general method for the controlled, temporal release of materials of chemical and biological significance.     

聚膦腈在药物控释系统中的应用

聚膦腈由于其具有良好的生物相容性，可生物降解性及易于功能化的特性而成为一类独特的药物控释材料。本文就疏水性线型聚膦腈，聚膦腈水凝胶及聚膦腈高分子药物在药物控释系统中的应用作一简要综述。     

pH-Responsive Drug Delivery and Imaging Study of Hybrid Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

A system of pH-responsive and imaging nanocarriers was developed using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), in which gadolinium (Gd) was doped through in situ doping (Gd₂O₃@MSN). Sodium alginate (SA) was attached to the surfaces of the amino groups of MSNs (NH₂-Gd₂O₃@MSN) through the electrostatic adsorption between the amino groups and the carboxyl groups with the formation of hybrid SA-Gd₂O₃@MSN nanoparticles (NPs). The SA-coated NPs were spherical or near-spherical in shape with an average size of nearly 83.2 ± 8.7 nm. The in vitro drug release experiments of a model rhodamine B (RhB) cargo were performed at different pH values. The result confirmed the pH-responsiveness of the nanocarriers. The results of the cytotoxicity studies indicated that the SA-Gd₂O₃@MSN NPs were not cytotoxic by themselves. The results of the in vivo safety evaluation and the hemolysis assay confirmed that the system is highly biocompatible. It is noteworthy that the T1 contrast of the system was significantly enhanced by the Gd, as indicated by the result of the MR imaging. This study confirms that the synthesized hybrid nanosystem is promising for pH-responsive drug delivery and MR imaging for cancer diagnosis and treatment.     

Hybrid Nanoparticles as Drug Carriers for Controlled Chemotherapy of Cancer

Rapid developments in materials science and biological mechanisms have greatly boosted the research discoveries of new drug delivery systems. In the past few decades, hundreds of nanoparticle‐based drug carriers have been reported almost on a daily basis, in which new materials, structures, and mechanisms are proposed and evaluated. Standing out among the drug carriers, the hybrid nanoparticle systems offer a great opportunity for the optimization and improvement of conventional chemotherapy. By combining several features of functional components, these hybrid nanoparticles have shown excellent promises of improved biosafety, biocompatibility, multifunctionality, biodegradability, and so forth. In this Personal Account, we highlight the recent research advances of some representative hybrid nanoparticles as drug delivery systems and discuss their design strategies and responsive mechanisms for controlled drug delivery.     

聚合物功能梯度材料的研究现状与展望

功能梯度材料(FGM)是一种全新的非均质复合材料.聚合物梯度材料(PGM)是基体材料为高分子材料的一类功能梯度材料,因其独特的形态结构、奇特的功能和潜在的应用价值,已逐渐引起了人们的高度重视.本文综述了国内外聚合物功能梯度材料的研究现状,介绍了PGM的概念、分类、制备方法、表征方法及应用等,并对PGM未来的研究进行了展望.