Advances in the application of lipid nanocapsules and nanostructured carriers in the treatment of lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with limited curative options, particularly in advanced stages. Lipid-based nanocarriers, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms owing to their biocompatibility, versatility, and potential for pulmonary administration. This review highlights recent advances in lipid nanocarriers for lung cancer therapy, with a particular focus on NLCs and LNCs.

Biodegradable microneedle-based electrodes for electrophysiological measurements.

Biopotential recordings such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) generally use wet gel electrodes to ensure a low coupling impedance at the electrode/tissue interface. This set-up is long and tedious and may lead to non-robust signals because of the gel that can leak or dry out. We propose to replace wet gel electrodes with initially dry hydrogel microneedle (MN)-based electrodes capable of piercing the insulating outer layers of the skin and reach the conductive interstitial fluid located in the dermis.

Chemical modification of sialylated oligosaccharides to functionalize nanostructured lipid carriers: exploring two different strategies.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are innovative lipid-based formulations made up of a carefully balanced mixture of solid and liquid lipids in their core. This unique architecture offers several advantages over traditional lipid nanoparticles, including enhanced stability and improved drug loading capacity. NLC nanoparticles hold great promise across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, as well as cosmetics and personal care products.

Self-Extracting Dextran-Based Hydrogel Microneedle Arrays with an Interpenetrating Bioelectroenzymatic Sensor for Transdermal Monitoring with Matrix Protection.

Continuous glucose monitors have revolutionized diabetes management, yet such devices are limited by their cost, invasiveness, and stability. Microneedle (MN) arrays could offer improved comfort compared to invasive implanted or mm-sized needle devices, but such arrays are hampered by complex fabrication processes, limited mechanical and sensor stability, and/or cytotoxicity concerns. This work demonstrates the first crosslinked hydrogel microneedle-bioelectroenzymatic sensor arrays capable of biomarker extraction and robust transdermal continuous monitoring in artificial interstitial fluid for 10 days.

Resorbable conductive materials for optimally interfacing medical devices with the living.

Implantable and wearable bioelectronic systems are arising growing interest in the medical field. Linking the microelectronic (electronic conductivity) and biological (ionic conductivity) worlds, the biocompatible conductive materials at the electrode/tissue interface are key components in these systems. We herein focus more particularly on resorbable bioelectronic systems, which can safely degrade in the biological environment once they have completed their purpose, namely, stimulating or sensing biological activity in the tissues.

Methacrylated Cellulose Nanocrystals as Fillers for the Development of Photo-Cross-Linkable Cytocompatible Biosourced Formulations Targeting 3D Printing.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from cotton were functionalized in aqueous medium using methacrylic anhydride (MA) to produce methacrylated cellulose nanocrystals (mCNCs) with a degree of methacrylation (DM) up to 12.6 ± 0.50%.

Design of hyaluronan-based dopant for conductive and resorbable PEDOT ink.

Conformable biocompatible conductive materials are increasingly sought for the development of bioelectronics. If additionally resorbable, they could serve for the design of transient implantable electronic devices, opening the way to new healthcare applications. Hyaluronan (HA) derivatives including sulfate and aminophenylboronic acid (PBA) groups (HAS-PBA) were therefore designed to serve as dopants of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene (PEDOT).

A comparative biodistribution study of polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles.

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.

A multistep in vitro hemocompatibility testing protocol recapitulating the foreign body reaction to nanocarriers.

The development of drug nanocarriers based on polymeric, lipid and ceramic biomaterials has been paving the way to precision medicine, where the delivery of poorly soluble active compounds and personalized doses are made possible. However, the nano-size character of these carriers has been demonstrated to have the potential to elicit pathways of the host response different from those of the same biomaterials when engineered as larger size implants and of the drugs when administered without a carrier. Therefore, a specific regulatory framework needs to be made available that can offer robust scientific insights and provide safety data by reliable tests of these novel nano-devices.

Development, formulation, and cellular mechanism of a lipophilic copper chelator for the treatment of Wilson's disease.

Copper homeostasis is finely regulated in human to avoid any detrimental impact of free intracellular copper ions. Upon copper accumulation, biliary excretion is triggered in liver thanks to trafficking of the ATP7B copper transporter to bile canaliculi. However, in Wilson's disease this protein is mutated leading to copper accumulation.

Lectin recognition and hepatocyte endocytosis of GalNAc-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers.

Liver is the main organ for metabolism but is also subject to various pathologies, from viral, genetic, cancer or metabolic origin. There is thus a crucial need to develop efficient liver-targeted drug delivery strategies. Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is a C-type lectin expressed in the hepatocyte plasma membrane that efficiently endocytoses glycoproteins exposing galactose (Gal) or N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc).

Nanostructured lipid carriers accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE mice.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) might represent an interesting approach for the identification and targeting of rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques. In this study, we evaluated the biodistribution, targeting ability and safety of Cu-fonctionalized NLC in atherosclerotic mice. Cu-chelating-NLC (51.

Quantification of Surface GalNAc Ligands Decorating Nanostructured Lipid Carriers by UPLC-ELSD.

Nanoparticles have been extensively studied for drug delivery and targeting to specific organs. The functionalization of the nanoparticle surface by site-specific ligands (antibodies, peptides, saccharides) can ensure efficient recognition and binding with relevant biological targets. One of the main challenges in the development of these decorated nanocarriers is the accurate quantification of the amount of ligands on the nanoparticle surface.

Verteporfin-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles Improve Ovarian Cancer Photodynamic Therapy In Vitro and In Vivo.

Advanced ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer, with a high rate of chemoresistance and relapse. Photodynamic therapy offers new prospects for ovarian cancer treatment, but current photosensitizers lack tumor specificity, resulting in low efficacy and significant side-effects. In the present work, the clinically approved photosensitizer verteporfin was encapsulated within nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for targeted photodynamic therapy of ovarian cancer.

Biodistribution of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Mice Atherosclerotic Model.

Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease worldwide, that could benefit from innovative nanomedicine imaging tools and treatments. In this perspective, we here studied, by fluorescence imaging in ApoE mice, the biodistribution of non-functionalized and RXP470.1-targeted nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) loaded with DiD dye.

Characterization of Collagen/Lipid Nanoparticle-Curcumin Cryostructurates for Wound Healing Applications.

Curcumin-loaded collagen cryostructurates have been devised for wound healing applications. Curcumin displays strong antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties, while collagen is acknowledged for promoting cell adhesion, migration and differentiation. However, when curcumin is loaded directly into collagen hydrogels, it forms large molecular aggregates and clogs the matrix pores.

Measuring Particle Size Distribution by Asymmetric Flow Field Flow Fractionation: A Powerful Method for the Preclinical Characterization of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles.

Particle size distribution and stability are key attributes for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy profile of medical nanoparticles (Med-NPs). Measuring particle average size and particle size distribution is a challenging task which requires the combination of orthogonal high-resolution sizing techniques, especially in complex biological media. Unfortunately, despite its limitations, due to its accessibility, low cost, and easy handling, batch mode dynamic light scattering (DLS) is still very often used as the only approach to measure particle size distribution in the nanomedicine field.

Lipid Nanoparticles and Their Hydrogel Composites for Drug Delivery: A Review.

Several drug delivery systems already exist for the encapsulation and subsequent release of lipophilic drugs that are well described in the scientific literature. Among these, lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have specifically come up for dermal, transdermal, mucosal, intramuscular and ocular drug administration routes in the last twenty years. However, for some of them (especially dermal, transdermal, mucosal), the LNP aqueous dispersions display unsuitable rheological properties.

Comparative analysis of nanosystems' effects on human endothelial and monocytic cell functions.

The objective of our work was to investigate the effects of different types of nanoparticles on endothelial (HUVEC) and monocytic cell functions. We prepared and tested 14 different nanosystems comprising liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, polymer, and iron oxide nanoparticles. Some of the tested nanosystems contained targeting, therapeutic, or contrast agent(s).

From design to the clinic: practical guidelines for translating cardiovascular nanomedicine.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for nearly half of all deaths in Europe and almost 30% of global deaths. Despite the improved clinical management, cardiovascular mortality is predicted to rise in the next decades due to the increasing impact of aging, obesity, and diabetes. The goal of emerging cardiovascular nanomedicine is to reduce the burden of CVD using nanoscale medical products and devices.

Chitosan-lipid nanoparticles (CS-LNPs): Application to siRNA delivery.

To benefit from the biocompatibility of lipid nanoparticles associated with the transfection ability of chitosan, small chitosan lipid nanoparticles (CS-LNPs) dedicated to SiRNA delivery were formulated by an easy-to-implement one-step process. Formulations of CS-LNPs (lipid core stabilized by a shell comprising phospholipids/cationic lipids and hydrophobically modified chitosan) were optimized for their physico-chemical properties (size, zeta potential, colloidal stability) according to their shell composition. In particular, amphiphilic chitosan with various molecular weight and C12 degrees of substitution, and different phospholipids and cationic lipids (lecithin, DOTAP, DOPE) were included at the particle surface at different ratios.

Time-Controllable Lipophilic-Drug Release System Designed by Loading Lipid Nanoparticles into Polysaccharide Hydrogels.

A hybrid hydrogel composed of solid lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) entrapped within chemically cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is developed to achieve localized and sustained release of lipophilic drugs. The analysis of LNP stability as well as the hydrogel swelling and mechanical properties confirm the successful incorporation of particles up to a concentration of 50% w/w . The initial LNP release rate can be prolonged by increasing the particle diameter from 50 to 120 nm, while the amount of long-term release can be adjusted by tailoring the particle surface charge or the cross-linking density of the polymer.

Design of interpenetrating chitosan and poly(ethylene glycol) sponges for potential drug delivery applications.

Semi-interpenetrating chitosan (CS)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) sponges were designed by crosslinking PEG in the CS matrix via nucleophilic thiol-yne addition. This reaction does not require the use of any potentially cytotoxic catalytic species and offers possibilities to prepare materials with tunable properties. The molecular structure of the sponges was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy, which provided evidence of intermolecular interactions between PEG and CS, and the presence of a cross-linked PEG network in the CS matrix.

Nanoparticles for intravascular applications: physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity testing.

Aim: We report the physicochemical analysis of nanosystems intended for cardiovascular applications and their toxicological characterization in static and dynamic cell culture conditions.

Methods: Size, polydispersity and ζ-potential were determined in 10 nanoparticle systems including liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, polymeric and iron oxide nanoparticles. Nanoparticle effects on primary human endothelial cell viability were monitored using real-time cell analysis and live-cell microscopy in static conditions, and in a flow model of arterial bifurcations.

An MRI-based classification scheme to predict passive access of 5 to 50-nm large nanoparticles to tumors.

Nanoparticles are useful tools in oncology because of their capacity to passively accumulate in tumors in particular via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, the importance and reliability of this effect remains controversial and quite often unpredictable. In this preclinical study, we used optical imaging to detect the accumulation of three types of fluorescent nanoparticles in eight different subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models, and dynamic contrast-enhanced and vessel size index Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to measure the functional parameters of these tumors.