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17 pages, 3824 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Investigation of Antimicrobial Effects of Polydopamine-Based Composite Coatings

by Rahila Batul, Mrinal Bhave and Aimin Yu

Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4258; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114258 - 23 May 2023

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Herein, polydopamine (PDA)-based antimicrobial coatings loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and gentamicin were designed and prepared on glass slides using two different approaches. To our knowledge, this study was performed for the first time with the aim to compare these methods (viz., [...] Read more.

Herein, polydopamine (PDA)-based antimicrobial coatings loaded with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and gentamicin were designed and prepared on glass slides using two different approaches. To our knowledge, this study was performed for the first time with the aim to compare these methods (viz., in situ loading and physical adsorption method) regarding the loading and release behavior of payloads. In one method, gentamicin was in situ loaded on PDA-coated substrates during PDA polymerization followed by Ag NPs immobilization (named as Ag@Gen/PDA); for the second method, Ag NPs and gentamicin were simultaneously loaded onto PDA via physical adsorption by immersing pre-formed PDA coatings into a mixed solution of Ag NPs and gentamicin (named as Ag/Gen@PDA). The loading and release characteristics of these antimicrobial coatings were compared, and both gave variable outcomes. The in situ loading method consequently provided a relatively slow release of loaded antimicrobials, i.e., approx. 46% for Ag@Gen/PDA as compared to 92% from physically adsorbed Ag/GenPDA in an immersion period of 30 days. A similar trend was observed for gentamicin release, i.e., ~0.006 µg/mL from Ag@Gen/PDA and 0.02 µg/mL from Ag/Gen@PDA each day. The slower antimicrobial release from Ag@Gen/PDA coatings would ultimately provide an effective long-term antimicrobial property as compared to Ag/Gen@PDA. Finally, the synergistic antimicrobial activities of these composite coatings were assessed against two microbial species, namely, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, hence providing evidence in the prevention of bacterial colonization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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15 pages, 4277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multifunctional Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles Filled Polydopamine Hollow Rods for Antibacterial Biofilm Treatment

by Huy Quang Tran, Husna Alam, Abigail Goff, Torben Daeneke, Mrinal Bhave and Aimin Yu

Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2325; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052325 - 02 Mar 2023

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Abstract

This work reports the use of mesoporous silica rods as templates for the step-wise preparation of multifunctional Fe₃O₄ NPs filled polydopamine hollow rods (Fe₃O₄@PDA HR). The capacity of as-synthesized Fe₃O₄@PDA HR as [...] Read more.

This work reports the use of mesoporous silica rods as templates for the step-wise preparation of multifunctional Fe₃O₄ NPs filled polydopamine hollow rods (Fe₃O₄@PDA HR). The capacity of as-synthesized Fe₃O₄@PDA HR as a new drug carrier platform was assessed by its loading and the triggered release of fosfomycin under various stimulations. It was found that the release of fosfomycin was pH dependent with ~89% of fosfomycin being released in pH 5 after 24 h, which was 2-fold higher than that in pH 7. The magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ NPs and the photothermal properties of PDA enabled the triggered release of fosfomycin upon the exposure to rotational magnetic field, or NIR laser irradiation. Additionally, the capability of using multifunctional Fe₃O₄@PDA HR to eliminate preformed bacterial biofilm was demonstrated. Upon exposure to the rotational magnetic field, the biomass of a preformed biofilm was significantly reduced by 65.3% after a 20 min treatment with Fe₃O₄@PDA HR. Again, due to the excellent photothermal properties of PDA, a dramatic biomass decline (72.5%) was achieved after 10 min of laser exposure. This study offers an alternative approach of using drug carrier platform as a physical mean to kill pathogenic bacteria along with its traditional use for drug delivery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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18 pages, 4062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antiviral and Antibacterial Sulfated Polysaccharide–Chitosan Nanocomposite Particles as a Drug Carrier

by Ai-Yi Yin, Junpeng Xu, Chii-Shen Yang and Shan-hui Hsu

Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052105 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1866

Abstract

Drug delivery system (DDS) refers to the method of delivering drugs to the targeted sites with minimal risk. One popular strategy of DDS is using nanoparticles as a drug carrier, which are made from biocompatible and degradable polymers. Here, nanoparticles composed of Arthrospira [...] Read more.

Drug delivery system (DDS) refers to the method of delivering drugs to the targeted sites with minimal risk. One popular strategy of DDS is using nanoparticles as a drug carrier, which are made from biocompatible and degradable polymers. Here, nanoparticles composed of Arthrospira-derived sulfated polysaccharide (AP) and chitosan were developed and expected to possess the capabilities of antiviral, antibacterial, and pH-sensitive properties. The composite nanoparticles, abbreviated as APC, were optimized for stability of morphology and size (~160 nm) in the physiological environment (pH = 7.4). Potent antibacterial (over 2 μg/mL) and antiviral (over 6.596 μg/mL) properties were verified in vitro. The pH-sensitive release behavior and release kinetics of drug-loaded APC nanoparticles were examined for various categories of drugs, including hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and protein drugs, under different pH values of the surroundings. Effects of APC nanoparticles were also evaluated in lung cancer cells and neural stem cells. The use of APC nanoparticles as a drug delivery system maintained the bioactivity of the drug to inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells (with ~40% reduction) and to relieve the growth inhibitory effect on neural stem cells. These findings indicate that the pH-sensitive and biocompatible composite nanoparticles of sulfated polysaccharide and chitosan well keep the antiviral and antibacterial properties and may serve as a promising multifunctional drug carrier for further biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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12 pages, 2362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research and Application of Kupffer Cell Thresholds for BSA Nanoparticles

by Huanhuan Guo, Zongguang Tai, Fang Liu, Jing Tian, Nan Ding, Zhongjian Chen and Shen Gao

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020880 - 16 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1632

Abstract

Over the past decade, the dose of nanoparticles given to solid tumors has remained at a median of 0.7% of the injected dose. Most nanoparticles are trapped in a mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), of which 85% are Kupffer cells. In our study, threshold [...] Read more.

Over the past decade, the dose of nanoparticles given to solid tumors has remained at a median of 0.7% of the injected dose. Most nanoparticles are trapped in a mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), of which 85% are Kupffer cells. In our study, threshold doses of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles were investigated for the uptake of Kupffer cells in vitro and in vivo. The antitumor effect and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel (ABP) were improved by using threshold doses of BSA nanoparticles. We found a threshold dose of 20,000 nanoparticles per macrophage uptake in vitro and a saturation dose of 0.3 trillion nanoparticles in tumor-bearing mice. In vivo efficacy and safety evaluations demonstrated that the threshold doses of blank BSA nanoparticles could significantly improve the efficacy and safety of ABP against tumors compared with ABP alone. In this study, the delivery efficiency of ABP was improved by using blank nanoparticles to saturate Kupffer cells, which provided a new approach to studying the Kupffer cell saturation threshold and thus a new scheme for improving the curative effect of ABP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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17 pages, 5007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sponge-liked Silica Nanoporous Particles for Sustaining Release and Long-Term Antibacterial Activity of Natural Essential Oil

by Huazhang Lai, Shuiyan Chen, Xiaoyu Su, Xiaoying Huang, Qin Zheng, Ming Yang, Baode Shen and Pengfei Yue

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020594 - 06 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1694

Abstract

To improve the sustained release and long-term antibacterial activity of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. essential oil (CEO), novel sponge-liked nanoporous silica particles (SNP) were synthesized via the soft template method, which was employed as a biocompatible carrier to prepare spong-liked nanoporous silica particles loading [...] Read more.

To improve the sustained release and long-term antibacterial activity of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. essential oil (CEO), novel sponge-liked nanoporous silica particles (SNP) were synthesized via the soft template method, which was employed as a biocompatible carrier to prepare spong-liked nanoporous silica particles loading with CEO (CEO-SNP) through physical adsorption. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized via N2 adsorption/desorption measurements, thermogravimetry (TGA), Fourier transform infrared, SEM and TEM. The result showed that the SNP exhibited an excellent loading capability of CEO up to 76.3%. The thermal stability and release behavior of the CEO were significantly improved via the physical adsorption of the SNP materials. The release profile of CEO was in accordance with the first-order kinetic model, which meant that the release mechanism was drug Fick’s diffusion. The antibacterial evaluation results demonstrated that the CEO-SNP exhibited strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial results have shown that the CEO-SNP could destroy the cell structure of bacteria, and result in the generation of oxidative stress and the release of nucleic acid. After storage of 30 d at 25 °C, the CEO-SNP still had the stronger antibacterial activity towards S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa in comparison with CEO. Therefore, the sponge-like silica nanoporous particles seemed to be a promising carrier for long-term stability and antibacterial delivery of CEO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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15 pages, 6016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macrophage-Targeted Dextran Sulfate-Dexamethasone Conjugate Micelles for Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Jiangfan Han, Ren Na, Ningning Zhao, Xiaofeng Yuan, Linke Fu, Jianmei Jing, Airong Qian and Weiliang Ye

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020591 - 06 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1698

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic immune disease that causes joint affection and even disability. Activated macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of RA by producing pro-inflammatory factors. The use of dexamethasone (DXM) is effective in relieving the [...] Read more.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic immune disease that causes joint affection and even disability. Activated macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of RA by producing pro-inflammatory factors. The use of dexamethasone (DXM) is effective in relieving the intractable pain and inflammatory progression of RA. However, long-term use of DXM is strongly associated with increased rates of diabetes, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and mortality, which hinders its clinical use. In this study, the dextran sulfate-cisaconitic anhydride-dexamethasone (DXM@DS-cad-DXM) micelles were prepared to treat RA by selectively recognizing scavenger receptor (SR) on the activated macrophages. The potent targeting property of DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles to SR was by fluorescence microscope. Additionally, the effective accumulation and powerful anti-inflammatory activity of DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles were observed in the inflamed joints of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats after intravenous administration. Overall, DXM@DS-cad-DXM micelles are a potentially effective nanomedicine for targeted therapy of RA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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Review

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27 pages, 2393 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sonosensitive Cavitation Nuclei—A Customisable Platform Technology for Enhanced Therapeutic Delivery

by Brian Lyons, Joel P. R. Balkaran, Darcy Dunn-Lawless, Veronica Lucian, Sara B. Keller, Colm S. O’Reilly, Luna Hu, Jeffrey Rubasingham, Malavika Nair, Robert Carlisle, Eleanor Stride, Michael Gray and Constantin Coussios

Molecules 2023, 28(23), 7733; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237733 - 23 Nov 2023

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Abstract

Ultrasound-mediated cavitation shows great promise for improving targeted drug delivery across a range of clinical applications. Cavitation nuclei—sound-sensitive constructs that enhance cavitation activity at lower pressures—have become a powerful adjuvant to ultrasound-based treatments, and more recently emerged as a drug delivery vehicle in [...] Read more.

Ultrasound-mediated cavitation shows great promise for improving targeted drug delivery across a range of clinical applications. Cavitation nuclei—sound-sensitive constructs that enhance cavitation activity at lower pressures—have become a powerful adjuvant to ultrasound-based treatments, and more recently emerged as a drug delivery vehicle in their own right. The unique combination of physical, biological, and chemical effects that occur around these structures, as well as their varied compositions and morphologies, make cavitation nuclei an attractive platform for creating delivery systems tuned to particular therapeutics. In this review, we describe the structure and function of cavitation nuclei, approaches to their functionalization and customization, various clinical applications, progress toward real-world translation, and future directions for the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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28 pages, 4172 KiB

Open AccessReview

Drug Delivery and Therapy Strategies for Osteoporosis Intervention

by Mingyang Ma, Huiling Zeng, Pei Yang, Jiabing Xu, Xingwang Zhang and Wei He

Molecules 2023, 28(18), 6652; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186652 - 16 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1580

Abstract

With the advent of the aging society, osteoporosis (OP) risk increases yearly. Currently, the clinical usage of anti-OP drugs is challenged by recurrent side effects and poor patient compliance, regardless of oral, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration. Properly using a drug delivery system or [...] Read more.

With the advent of the aging society, osteoporosis (OP) risk increases yearly. Currently, the clinical usage of anti-OP drugs is challenged by recurrent side effects and poor patient compliance, regardless of oral, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration. Properly using a drug delivery system or formulation strategy can achieve targeted drug delivery to the bone, diminish side effects, improve bioavailability, and prolong the in vivo residence time, thus effectively curing osteoporosis. This review expounds on the pathogenesis of OP and the clinical medicaments used for OP intervention, proposes the design approach for anti-OP drug delivery, emphatically discusses emerging novel anti-OP drug delivery systems, and enumerates anti-OP preparations under clinical investigation. Our findings may contribute to engineering anti-OP drug delivery and OP-targeting therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology and Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

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