Enhanced systemic antilymphoma immune response by photothermal therapy with CpG deoxynucleotide-coated nanoparticles.

In preclinical studies, we investigated a novel mechanism of in situ vaccination in lymphoma. Radiation therapy (RT) can induce abscopal responses in lymphoma models, but this has not translated into clinical efficacy. We hypothesized that immune stimulation with cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG) deoxynucleotides could enhance abscopal effects induced by RT or photothermal therapy (PTT), which has been shown to have an immune stimulatory effect in solid tumors but has not been studied in lymphoma.

Magneto-Activation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Natural Killer Cells Labeled with Magnetic Nanocomplexes for the Treatment of Solid Tumors.

Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has been considered a promising cell-based cancer treatment strategy with low side effects for early tumors and metastasis. However, the therapeutic efficacy is generally low in established solid tumors. activation of NK cells with exogenous cytokines is often essential but ineffective to generate high doses of functional NK cells for cancer treatment.

Preparation and Characterization of a Lutein Solid Dispersion to Improve Its Solubility and Stability.

Lutein has been used as a dietary supplement for the treatment of eye diseases, especially age-related macular degeneration. For oral formulations, we investigated lutein stability in artificial set-ups mimicking different physiological conditions and found that lutein was degraded over time under acidic conditions. To enhance the stability of lutein upon oral intake, we developed enteric-coated lutein solid dispersions (SD) by applying a polymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-LF), through a solvent-controlled precipitation method.

Preparation of Gastro-retentive Tablets Employing Controlled Superporous Networks for Improved Drug Bioavailability.

The development of an oral formulation that ensures increased bioavailability of drugs is a great challenge for pharmaceutical scientists. Among many oral formulation systems, a drug delivery system employing superporous networks was developed to provide a prolonged gastro-retention time as well as improved bioavailability of drugs with a narrow absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract. Superporous networks (SPNs) were prepared from chitosan by crosslinking with glyoxal and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA).

An On-Demand pH-Sensitive Nanocluster for Cancer Treatment by Combining Photothermal Therapy and Chemotherapy.

Combination therapy is considered to be a promising strategy for improving the therapeutic efficiency of cancer treatment. In this study, an on-demand pH-sensitive nanocluster (NC) system was prepared by the encapsulation of gold nanorods (AuNR) and doxorubicin (DOX) by a pH-sensitive polymer, poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-PEG, to enhance the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. At pH 6.

A nano-sized blending system comprising identical triblock copolymers with different hydrophobicity for fabrication of an anticancer drug nanovehicle with high stability and solubilizing capacity.

A very common and simple method (known as the blending method) to formulate drug delivery systems with required properties is to physically mix amphiphilic block copolymers with different hydrophobicity. In addition to its simplicity, this blending strategy could help avoid the time and effort involved in the synthesis of block copolymers with the desired structure required for specific drug formulations.  We used the blending strategy to design a system that could overcome the problem of high hydrophobicity and be a good candidate for drug product development using PEG-PLA-PEG triblock copolymers.

A nano-complex system to overcome antagonistic photo-chemo combination cancer therapy.

Photo-Chemo combination therapy has been intensively investigated for treatment of cancers, especially multidrug resistance cancer. However, antagonistic interactions between chemo-drugs and photosensitizers are frequently reported, and drugs doses and treatment sequences have been changed to overcome the problems. We observed the antagonistic effect by a decrease in singlet oxygen generation from the photosensitizer when Dox was in close physical proximity.

Cyclic RGD-conjugated Pluronic blending system for active, targeted drug delivery.

Background: Blending micellar systems of different types of polymers has been proposed as an efficient approach for tailor-made drug formulations. The lamellar structure of hydrophobic polymers may provide a high drug loading capacity, and hydrophilic polymers may provide good colloidal stability.

Methods: In this study, the anticancer model drug docetaxel was loaded onto a nanosized blending micellar system with two pluronics (L121/F127).

Development of a docetaxel micellar formulation using poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PLA-PEG) with successful reconstitution for tumor targeted drug delivery.

Docetaxel (DTX)-loaded polymeric micelles (DTBM) were formulated using the triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PLA-PEG), to comprehensively study their pharmaceutical application as anticancer nanomedicine. DTBM showed a stable formulation of anticancer nanomedicine that could be reconstituted after lyophilization (DTBM-R) in the presence of PEG 2000 and D-mannitol (Man) as surfactant and protectant, respectively. DTBM-R showed a particle size less than 150 nm and greater than 90% of DTX recovery after reconstitution.

Correction: Synergistic photodynamic therapeutic effect of indole-3-acetic acid using a pH sensitive nano-carrier based on poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol).

Correction for 'Synergistic photodynamic therapeutic effect of indole-3-acetic acid using a pH sensitive nano-carrier based on poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol)' by Taehoon Sim et al., J. Mater.

Synergistic photodynamic therapeutic effect of indole-3-acetic acid using a pH sensitive nano-carrier based on poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol).

Poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-poly(ethylene glycol) (P(Asp-g-Im)-PEG) was utilized as a pH-sensitive nanocarrier of the photosensitizer indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for the treatment of skin cancer. IAA loaded micelles (ILMs) exhibited the formation of ca. 140 nm spherical particles at pH 7.

HM10660A, a long-acting hIFN-α-2b, is a potent candidate for the treatment of hepatitis C through an enhanced biological half-life.

Interferon-α (IFN-α) has been widely used for the treatment of infections due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Because of the short half-life of IFN-α in serum, it must be administered three times per week. To increase the half-life of IFN-α, the immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) Fc fragment (HMC001) was conjugated with human IFN-α-2b to develop a long-acting IFN-α-2b, HM10660A.

A charge-reversible nanocarrier using PEG-PLL (--Ce6, DMA)-PLA for photodynamic therapy.

A polyelectrolyte nanoparticle composed of PEG-PLL(--Ce6, DMA)-PLA was developed for nanomedicinal application in photodynamic therapy. These nanoparticles formed stable aggregates through the hydrophobic interaction of poly(lactic acid) and demonstrated pH-dependent behaviors such as surface charge conversion and enhanced cellular uptake at acidic pH, resulting in improved phototoxicity. In vivo animal imaging revealed that the prepared PEG-PLL(--Ce6, DMA)-PLA nanoparticles effectively accumulated at the targeted tumor site through enhanced permeability and retention effects.

Characterization and pharmacokinetic study of itraconazole solid dispersions prepared by solvent-controlled precipitation and spray-dry methods.

Objectives: Solid dispersion formulations have attracted attention to improve solubility and bioavailability of water-insoluble drugs. In this study, the variation of solubility and bioavailability by different preparation methods were studied using itraconazole (ITZ) solid dispersions.

Methods: Itraconazole solid dispersions were prepared by a solvent-controlled precipitation method (SCPM) using HPMCAS-LF, HCl antisolvent or a spray-drying method (SDM) for comparison.

A stable nanoplatform for antitumor activity using PEG-PLL-PLA triblock co-polyelectrolyte.

Polyelectrolyte has been proposed as an efficient approach for various types of drug formulations. However, one drawback of using the conventional polyelectrolyte for drug delivery is its dissociation in in vivo conditions by counter ions due to the lack of self-assembling aggregation force. In this study, we reported a stable nanoplatform based on triblock co-polyelectrolyte composed of a poly(ethylene glycol), poly(l-lysine), and poly(lactic acid).

Development of a robust pH-sensitive polyelectrolyte ionomer complex for anticancer nanocarriers.

A polyelectrolyte ionomer complex (PIC) composed of cationic and anionic polymers was developed for nanomedical applications. Here, a poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene imine) triblock copolymer (PEG-PLA-PEI) and a poly(aspartic acid) (P[Asp]) homopolymer were synthesized. These polyelectrolytes formed stable aggregates through electrostatic interactions between the cationic PEI and the anionic P(Asp) blocks.

A feasibility study of a pH sensitive nanomedicine using doxorubicin loaded poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) micelles.

A polyelectrolyte block copolymer, poly(aspartic acid-graft-imidazole)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (P(Asp-g-Im)-PEG), with several advantages such as an easy synthesis, having a high molecular weight and the buffer capacity of a zwitterionic polymer backbone compared to poly(histidine) backbones, was presently investigated to evaluate its feasibility as a pH sensitive anticancer nanomedicine. Doxorubicin (DOX) loaded P(Asp-g-Im)-PEG micelles (DPHAIM) were prepared by the bottom flask and diafiltration methods, forming stable pH sensitive nano-systems. DPHAIM with a 28% loading capacity displayed a pH dependent behavior with respect to drug release and cytotoxicity.