Publications by authors named "Astrid Hyldbakk"

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of death, with poor prognosis and high unmet clinical need. Chemotherapy is a common part of the treatment, either alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, but with limited efficacy and severe side effects. Encapsulation of drugs into nanoparticles can enable a more targeted delivery with reduced off-target toxicity.

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Polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugation (PEGylation) is a well-established strategy to improve the pharmacokinetic and biocompatibility properties of a wide variety of nanomedicines and therapeutic peptides and proteins. This broad use makes PEG an attractive 'allround' candidate marker for the biodistribution of such PEGylated compounds. This paper presents the development of a novel strategy for PEG quantification in biological matrices.

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A deep and detailed understanding of drug-dendrimer conjugates key properties is needed to define the critical quality attributes that affect drug product performance. The characterization must be executed both in the formulation media and in biological matrices. This, nevertheless, is challenging on account of a very limited number of suitable, established methods for characterizing the physicochemical properties, stability, and interaction with biological environment of complex drug-dendrimer conjugates.

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Colorectal and ovarian cancers frequently develop peritoneal metastases with few treatment options. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has shown promising therapeutic effects, but is limited by rapid drug clearance and systemic toxicity. We therefore encapsulated the cabazitaxel taxane in poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles (NPs), designed to improve intraperitoneal delivery.

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Alginate hydrogels have been broadly investigated for use in medical applications due to their biocompatibility and the possibility to encapsulate cells, proteins, and drugs. In the treatment of peritoneal metastasis, rapid drug clearance from the peritoneal cavity is a major challenge. Aiming to delay drug absorption and reduce toxic side effects, cabazitaxel (CAB)-loaded poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) nanoparticles were encapsulated in alginate microspheres.

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Poly (alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are promising drug carriers in drug delivery. However, the selection of commercially available alkyl cyanoacrylate (ACA) monomers is limited, because most monomers were designed for use in medical and industrial glues and later repurposed for drug encapsulation. This study therefore aimed to seek out novel ACA materials for use in NP systems using a toxicity led screening approach.

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Biodistribution of nanoencapsulated bioactive compounds is primarily determined by the size, shape, chemical composition and surface properties of the encapsulating nanoparticle, and, thus, less dependent on the physicochemical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredient encapsulated. In the current work, we aimed to investigate the impact of formulation type on biodistribution profile for two clinically relevant nanoformulations. We performed a comparative study of biodistribution in healthy rats at several dose levels and durations up to 14-day post-injection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a significant health challenge due to the lack of effective treatments for advanced stages, with Paclitaxel (PTX) being the first-line chemotherapy option but facing limitations due to hypersensitivity reactions.
  • Researchers developed a new drug formulation by conjugating PTX to a biodegradable nanocarrier called tert-Ser-PTX, which allows for sustained and pH-responsive release of the drug, enhancing its stability in the bloodstream.
  • Preliminary studies show that tert-Ser-PTX not only reduces toxicity compared to traditional PTX but also effectively inhibits tumor growth and spread in mice, indicating its potential as a promising treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
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Article Synopsis
  • Ultrasound combined with microbubbles shows potential for better chemotherapy delivery, but most research is done on immune-compromised mice with implanted tumors.
  • In a study using an advanced mouse prostate cancer model (TRAMP), cabazitaxel (Cab) was tested both as a free drug and in nanoparticles, leading to temporary reductions in tumor size.
  • However, combining Cab with ultrasound and microbubbles did not show significant improvements in treatment outcomes, and differences in treatment effects were not observed through histological analyses.
  • Additionally, nanoparticle formulation improved Cab's circulation time and accumulation in organs like the liver and spleen compared to the free drug, illustrating the complexities of translating results from xenograft studies to spontaneous tumor models.
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