Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2022) | Viewed by 33808

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
Interests: polysaccharide; nanoparticle; nanomedicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, nanocarriers can be highly enriched in tumor sites, which is conducive to enhance the circulation time of drugs and enhance the stability of drugs, so they have become a powerful means to enhance the effect of tumor treatment and diagnosis. As a natural biomacromolecule, polysaccharide has good biocompatibility and biological function, and can realize active targeting. For example, hyaluronic acid has the function of specifically targeting CD44 receptor. Natural polysaccharides have become a good carrier for nano delivery systems because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and unique physical and chemical properties such as hydrophilicity, positive charge and easy modification. Polysaccharide nanoparticles not only have the dual advantages of nanotechnology and polysaccharide, but also have the specificity of highly targeted drug delivery and molecular imaging in the application of theranostic nanomedicine. Polysaccharide based nanoparticles are increasingly used as platforms for simultaneous drug delivery and imaging, so they have become popular therapeutic nanoparticles.

Prof. Dr. Jingdi Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • polysaccharide
  • nanoparticles
  • therapeutics
  • diagnostics
  • nano-drugs

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 160 KiB  
Editorial
Advancements and Perspectives in Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine
by Jingdi Chen
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17010036 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 639
Abstract
It is with great enthusiasm [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)

Research

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16 pages, 2677 KiB  
Article
Multifunctional Gel Films of Marine Polysaccharides Cross-Linked with Poly-Metal Ions for Wound Healing
by Di Zhao, Chao Shi, Tingting Guo, Kun Zhang, Shenghao Cui, Liqi Chen, Faming Yang and Jingdi Chen
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(6), 750; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15060750 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2132
Abstract
The development of an efficient and convenient material to improve skin tissue regeneration is a major challenge in healthcare. Inspired by the theory of moist wound healing, portable chitooligosaccharide (COS)/sodium alginate (SA) dual-net gel films containing multiple metal ions were prepared by a [...] Read more.
The development of an efficient and convenient material to improve skin tissue regeneration is a major challenge in healthcare. Inspired by the theory of moist wound healing, portable chitooligosaccharide (COS)/sodium alginate (SA) dual-net gel films containing multiple metal ions were prepared by a casting and in-situ spray method, which can be used to significantly promote wound healing without the use of therapeutic drugs. A variety of divalent cations was introduced in this experiment to improve the advantages of each metal ion by forming metal ion chelates with COS. Moreover, the physicochemical properties and antioxidant properties of nIon2+-COS/SA gel films were systematically characterized and evaluated by in vitro experiments. The gel films showed good antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, the gel films showed good cytocompatibility in cellular experiments, and the gel films with Zn2+ and Sr2+ addition significantly accelerated wound healing in whole skin defect model experiments. Therefore, this nIon2+-COS/SA gel film is an ideal candidate material for wound dressing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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14 pages, 11569 KiB  
Article
Fucoidan Is Not Completely Dependent on Degradation to Fucose to Relieve Ulcerative Colitis
by Qiang Wei, Maochen Xing, Ke Wang, Qiong Yang, Jiarui Zhao, Yuan Wang, Xia Li, Kai Ji and Shuliang Song
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(4), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15040430 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2157
Abstract
Recently, fucoidan has been proposed for use as a potential anti-inflammatory drug. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of fucoidan in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. We compared the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan and fucose induced by dextran sulfate [...] Read more.
Recently, fucoidan has been proposed for use as a potential anti-inflammatory drug. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of fucoidan in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. We compared the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan and fucose induced by dextran sulfate sodium, and the effects of fucoidan and fucose on the gut microbiota of mice. Our results showed that low-dose fucoidan significantly improved weight loss, disease activity index scores, colonic shortening, colonic histopathological damage, intestinal fatty acid binding protein 2 levels, and the expression of Occludin, Claudin-4, and Claudin-1. However, both high-dose fucoidan and fucose did not perform as well as low-dose fucoidan as described above. In addition, 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing showed that low-dose fucoidan significantly increased the abundance of Alloprevotella, and fucose significantly increased Ruminococcaceae, but neither significantly reversed the imbalance in the gut microbiota. Therefore, we inferred that the regulation of fucoidan on colitis has a unique and complex mechanism, and it is not completely dependent on degradation to fucose to relieve ulcerative colitis, nor is it achieved only by regulating the gut microbiota. The mechanism by which fucoidan treats colitis may also include reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and increasing intestinal barrier function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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13 pages, 1509 KiB  
Article
Application of Fucoidan in Caco-2 Model Establishment
by Qiong Yang, Maochen Xing, Ke Wang, Qiang Wei, Jiarui Zhao, Yuan Wang, Kai Ji and Shuliang Song
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15040418 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2415
Abstract
The Caco-2 model is a common cell model for material intestinal absorption in vitro, which usually takes 21 days to establish. Although some studies have shown that adding puromycin (PM) can shorten the model establishment period to 7 days, this still requires a [...] Read more.
The Caco-2 model is a common cell model for material intestinal absorption in vitro, which usually takes 21 days to establish. Although some studies have shown that adding puromycin (PM) can shorten the model establishment period to 7 days, this still requires a long modeling time. Therefore, exploring a shorter modeling method can reduce the experimental costs and promote the development and application of the model. Fucoidan is an acidic polysaccharide with various biological activities. Our study showed that the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value could reach 600 Ω·cm2 on the fourth day after the addition of fucoidan and puromycin, which met the applicable standards of the model (>500 Ω). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, fluorescein sodium transmittance, and cell morphology of this model all met the requirements of model establishment. Fucoidan did not affect the absorption of macromolecular proteins and drugs. The results indicate that fucoidan can be applied to establish the Caco-2 model and can shorten the model establishment period to 5 days. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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13 pages, 3219 KiB  
Article
Particle Size Effect of Curcumin Nanocrystals on Transdermal and Transfollicular Penetration by Hyaluronic Acid-Dissolving Microneedle Delivery
by Hong Xiang, Sai Xu, Jingyuan Li, Shihui Pan and Xiaoqing Miao
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15020206 - 08 Feb 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3277
Abstract
Microneedles are one promising penetration enhancement vehicle to overcome the stratum corneum skin barrier, which hampers the penetration of drug nanocrystals by transdermal delivery. In order to clarify the particle size effect of nanocrystals on transdermal delivery, 60 nm, 120 nm, and 480 [...] Read more.
Microneedles are one promising penetration enhancement vehicle to overcome the stratum corneum skin barrier, which hampers the penetration of drug nanocrystals by transdermal delivery. In order to clarify the particle size effect of nanocrystals on transdermal delivery, 60 nm, 120 nm, and 480 nm curcumin nanocrystals were fabricated and incorporated into dissolving hyaluronic acid polysaccharide microneedles. The microneedles showed good mechanical strength with 1.4 N/needle, possessing the ability to insert into the skin. The passive permeation results showed that the smaller particle size of 60 nm curcumin nanocrystals diffused faster and deeper than the larger 120 nm and 480 nm curcumin nanocrystals with size-dependent diffusion behaviors. Thereafter, higher concentration gradients and overlap diffusional coronas also formed in the skin layers by the smaller-particle-size nanocrystals. Furthermore, the diffusion rate of the smaller particle size of curcumin nanocrystals to the hair follicle was also higher than that of the larger curcumin nanocrystals. In conclusion, the particle sizes of curcumin nanocrystals influenced the transdermal and transfollicular penetration in deeper skin layers Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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Review

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25 pages, 3286 KiB  
Review
Chitosan-Based Scaffolds for Facilitated Endogenous Bone Re-Generation
by Yao Zhao, Sinuo Zhao, Zhengxin Ma, Chunmei Ding, Jingdi Chen and Jianshu Li
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(8), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15081023 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2582
Abstract
Facilitated endogenous tissue engineering, as a facile and effective strategy, is emerging for use in bone tissue regeneration. However, the development of bioactive scaffolds with excellent osteo-inductivity to recruit endogenous stem cells homing and differentiation towards lesion areas remains an urgent problem. Chitosan [...] Read more.
Facilitated endogenous tissue engineering, as a facile and effective strategy, is emerging for use in bone tissue regeneration. However, the development of bioactive scaffolds with excellent osteo-inductivity to recruit endogenous stem cells homing and differentiation towards lesion areas remains an urgent problem. Chitosan (CS), with versatile qualities including good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable physicochemical and biological properties is undergoing vigorously development in the field of bone repair. Based on this, the review focus on recent advances in chitosan-based scaffolds for facilitated endogenous bone regeneration. Initially, we introduced and compared the facilitated endogenous tissue engineering with traditional tissue engineering. Subsequently, the various CS-based bone repair scaffolds and their fabrication methods were briefly explored. Furthermore, the functional design of CS-based scaffolds in bone endogenous regeneration including biomolecular loading, inorganic nanomaterials hybridization, and physical stimulation was highlighted and discussed. Finally, the major challenges and further research directions of CS-based scaffolds were also elaborated. We hope that this review will provide valuable reference for further bone repair research in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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22 pages, 1668 KiB  
Review
Microencapsulating Alginate-Based Polymers for Probiotics Delivery Systems and Their Application
by Xiaochen Wang, Shukun Gao, Shuaiting Yun, Mingjing Zhang, Liyang Peng, Yingxiu Li and Yanxia Zhou
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(5), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15050644 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4667
Abstract
Probiotics exhibit many health benefits and a great potential for broad applications in pharmaceutical fields, such as prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases (irritable bowel syndrome), prevention and therapy of allergies, certain anticancer effects, and immunomodulation. However, their applications are limited by [...] Read more.
Probiotics exhibit many health benefits and a great potential for broad applications in pharmaceutical fields, such as prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases (irritable bowel syndrome), prevention and therapy of allergies, certain anticancer effects, and immunomodulation. However, their applications are limited by the low viability and metabolic activity of the probiotics during processing, storage, and delivery in the digestive tract. To overcome the mentioned limitations, probiotic delivery systems have attracted much attention. This review focuses on alginate as a preferred polymer and presents recent advances in alginate-based polymers for probiotic delivery systems. We highlight several alginate-based delivery systems containing various types of probiotics and the physical and chemical modifications with chitosan, cellulose, starch, protein, fish gel, and many other materials to enhance their performance, of which the viability and protective mechanisms are discussed. Withal, various challenges in alginate-based polymers for probiotics delivery systems are traced out, and future directions, specifically on the use of nanomaterials as well as prebiotics, are delineated to further facilitate subsequent researchers in selecting more favorable materials and technology for probiotic delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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31 pages, 8247 KiB  
Review
Polysaccharide-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery
by Jingyuan Li, Hong Xiang, Qian Zhang and Xiaoqing Miao
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(5), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15050602 - 14 May 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5097
Abstract
Materials derived from natural plants and animals have great potential for transdermal drug delivery. Polysaccharides are widely derived from marine, herbal, and microbial sources. Compared with synthetic polymers, polysaccharides have the advantages of non-toxicity and biodegradability, ease of modification, biocompatibility, targeting, and antibacterial [...] Read more.
Materials derived from natural plants and animals have great potential for transdermal drug delivery. Polysaccharides are widely derived from marine, herbal, and microbial sources. Compared with synthetic polymers, polysaccharides have the advantages of non-toxicity and biodegradability, ease of modification, biocompatibility, targeting, and antibacterial properties. Currently, polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery vehicles, such as hydrogel, film, microneedle (MN), and tissue scaffolds are being developed. The addition of polysaccharides allows these vehicles to exhibit better-swelling properties, mechanical strength, tensile strength, etc. Due to the stratum corneum’s resistance, the transdermal drug delivery system cannot deliver drugs as efficiently as desired. The charge and hydration of polysaccharides allow them to react with the skin and promote drug penetration. In addition, polysaccharide-based nanotechnology enhances drug utilization efficiency. Various diseases are currently treated by polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery devices and exhibit promising futures. The most current knowledge on these excellent materials will be thoroughly discussed by reviewing polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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18 pages, 3316 KiB  
Review
Advances in Research on Antiviral Activities of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Seaweeds
by Qiang Wei, Guoqiang Fu, Ke Wang, Qiong Yang, Jiarui Zhao, Yuan Wang, Kai Ji and Shuliang Song
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(5), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15050581 - 06 May 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3479
Abstract
In recent years, various viral diseases have suddenly erupted, resulting in widespread infection and death. A variety of biological activities from marine natural products have gradually attracted the attention of people. Seaweeds have a wide range of sources, huge output, and high economic [...] Read more.
In recent years, various viral diseases have suddenly erupted, resulting in widespread infection and death. A variety of biological activities from marine natural products have gradually attracted the attention of people. Seaweeds have a wide range of sources, huge output, and high economic benefits. This is very promising in the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, sulfated polysaccharides derived from seaweeds, considered a potential source of bioactive compounds for drug development, have shown antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of viruses, mainly including common DNA viruses and RNA viruses. In addition, sulfated polysaccharides can also improve the body’s immunity. This review focuses on recent advances in antiviral research on the sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds, including carrageenan, galactan, fucoidan, alginate, ulvan, p-KG03, naviculan, and calcium spirulan. We hope that this review will provide new ideas for the development of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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17 pages, 1244 KiB  
Review
Mechanism and Application of Chitosan and Its Derivatives in Promoting Permeation in Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: A Review
by Jinqian Ma, Yuchen Wang and Rong Lu
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15040459 - 10 Apr 2022
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 4977
Abstract
The mechanisms and applications of chitosan and its derivatives in transdermal drug delivery to promote drug permeation were reviewed in this paper. Specifically, we summarized the permeation-promoting mechanisms of chitosan and several of its derivatives, including changing the structure of stratum corneum proteins, [...] Read more.
The mechanisms and applications of chitosan and its derivatives in transdermal drug delivery to promote drug permeation were reviewed in this paper. Specifically, we summarized the permeation-promoting mechanisms of chitosan and several of its derivatives, including changing the structure of stratum corneum proteins, acting on the tight junction of granular layers, affecting intercellular lipids, and increasing the water content of stratum corneum. These mechanisms are the reason why chitosan and its derivatives can increase the transdermal permeation of drugs. In addition, various transdermal preparations containing chitosan and its derivatives were summarized, and their respective advantages were expounded, including nanoparticles, emulsions, transdermal microneedles, nanocapsules, transdermal patches, transdermal membranes, hydrogels, liposomes, and nano-stents. The purpose of this review is to provide a theoretical basis for the further and wider application of chitosan in transdermal drug delivery systems. In the future, research results of chitosan and its derivatives in transdermal drug delivery need more support from in vivo experiments, as well as good correlation between in vitro and in vivo experiments. In conclusion, the excellent permeability-promoting property, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability of chitosan and its derivatives make them ideal materials for local transdermal drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Theranostic Nanomedicine)
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