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Special Issue "Carbohydrate-Based Carriers for Drug Delivery"

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2023 | Viewed by 3048

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Dr. Ioana Mirela Vasincu

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Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: anti-inflammatory agents; DPPH; antioxidant activity
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Dr. Florentina Lupascu

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Romania Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"—Iași, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: organic synthesis; chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles; antioxidant activity; diabetes mellitus type 2; drug delivery systems; drug loading; release profile
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Dr. Maria Apotrosoaei

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Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: synthesis; 13C-NMR; 1H-NMR; synthetic chemistry; synthetic organic chemistry; heterocyclic chemistry; organic chemistry synthesis; IR; medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry
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Prof. Dr. Lenuta Profire

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Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa” Iasi, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: chitosan-tripolyphosphate; chitosan; drug delivery systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbohydrates, or saccharides, are among the most common molecules found in nature and have biological and structural features that allow for their use in drug delivery systems as carriers. The main classes of these molecules include monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polisaccharides, which have shown great potential for overcoming the limitations of drugs and navigating biological barriers to achieve targeted delivery. Chitosan, cyclodextrin, alginate, gellan, xanthan gum, cellulose, dextran, pullulan, etc., are some of the most well-known carbohydrate carriers in drug delivery. By protecting the structural integrity of the drug and proving hydrophilic properties, these carriers can modulate undesirable biological properties in drugs as well as their solubility and release profile.

Carbohydrates can improve drug delivery due to their ability to selectively bind to protein receptors, thus increasing drug targeting. They also have the advantages of nontoxicity, biodegradability, good biocompatibility and increased encapsulation stability.

In recent years, carbohydrate-based drug delivery systems have been developed and improved, with their use being of great interest to researchers for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, infections, chronic wounds, diabetes mellitus and other diseases.

This Special Issue will focus on current advances in carbohydrate-based carriers and their applications in drug delivery.

Dr. Ioana Mirela Vasincu
Dr. Florentina Lupascu
Dr. Maria Apotrosoaei
Prof. Dr. Lenuta Profire
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

nanomaterials
drug delivery
release profile
polisaccharides
oligosaccharides
inclusion complexes
targeted therapy

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

New Smart Bioactive and Biomimetic Chitosan-Based Hydrogels for Wounds Care Management

Simona-Maria Tatarusanu

Alexandru Sava

Bianca-Stefania Profire

Tudor Pinteala

Alexandra Jitareanu

Andreea-Teodora Iacob

and

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030975 - 17 Mar 2023

Viewed by 332

Abstract

Wound management represents a continuous challenge for health systems worldwide, considering the growing incidence of wound-related comorbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and autoimmune diseases. In this context, hydrogels are considered viable options since they mimic the skin structure and promote autolysis and growth factor synthesis. Unfortunately, hydrogels are associated with several drawbacks, such as low mechanical strength and the potential toxicity of byproducts released after crosslinking reactions. To overcome these aspects, in this study new smart chitosan (CS)-based hydrogels were developed, using oxidized chitosan (oxCS) and hyaluronic acid (oxHA) as nontoxic crosslinkers. Three active product ingredients (APIs) (fusidic acid, allantoin, and coenzyme Q10), with proven biological effects, were considered for inclusion in the 3D polymer matrix. Therefore, six API-CS-oxCS/oxHA hydrogels were obtained. The presence of dynamic imino bonds in the hydrogels’ structure, which supports their self-healing and self-adapting properties, was confirmed by spectral methods. The hydrogels were characterized by SEM, swelling degree, pH, and the internal organization of the 3D matrix was studied by rheological behavior. Moreover, the cytotoxicity degree and the antimicrobial effects were also investigated. In conclusion, the developed API-CS-oxCS/oxHA hydrogels have real potential as smart materials in wound management, based on their self-healing and self-adapting properties, as well as on the benefits of APIs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrate-Based Carriers for Drug Delivery)

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Open AccessArticle

Polyethylenimine-Conjugated Hydroxyethyl Cellulose for Doxorubicin/Bcl-2 siRNA Co-Delivery Systems

Jiwon Park

Seoyoung Kim

and

Tae-il Kim

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020708 - 20 Feb 2023

Viewed by 594

Abstract

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), widely known for its biocompatibility and water solubility, is a polysaccharide with potential for pharmaceutical applications. Here, we synthesized polyethylenimine2k (PEI2k)-conjugated hydroxyethyl cellulose (HECP2k) for doxorubicin/Bcl-2 siRNA co-delivery systems. HECP2ks were synthesized by reductive amination of PEI2k with periodate-oxidized HEC. The synthesis of the polymers was characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, primary amine quantification, FT-IR, and GPC. Via agarose gel electrophoresis and Zeta-sizer measurement, it was found that HECP2ks condensed pDNA to positively charged and nano-sized complexes (100–300 nm, ~30 mV). The cytotoxicity of HECP2ks was low and HECP2k 10X exhibited higher transfection efficiency than PEI25k even in serum condition, showing its high serum stability from ethylene oxide side chains. Flow cytometry analysis and confocal laser microscopy observation verified the superior cellular uptake and efficient endosome escape of HECP2k 10X. HECP2k 10X also could load Dox and Bcl-2 siRNA, forming nano-particles (HECP2k 10X@Dox/siRNA). By median effect analysis and annexin V staining analysis, it was found that HECP2k 10X@Dox/siRNA complexes could cause synergistically enhanced anti-cancer effects to cancer cells via induction of apoptosis. Consequently, it was concluded that HECP2k possesses great potential as a promising Dox/Bcl-2 siRNA co-delivery carrier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrate-Based Carriers for Drug Delivery)

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Open AccessArticle

Novel Silicone-Grafted Alginate as a Drug Delivery Scaffold: Pharmaceutical Characterization of Gliclazide-Loaded Silicone-Based Composite Microcapsules

and

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(2), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020530 - 04 Feb 2023

Viewed by 899

Abstract

A novel gliclazide-loaded elastomeric carbohydrate pharmaceutical vehicle was successfully developed. This new siliconized alginate platform showed pseudoplastic rheology with a zeta potential ranging from (−43.8 mV to −75.5 mV). A Buchi-B390 encapsulator was employed to formulate different types of silicone-grafted alginate microcapsules loaded with gliclazide relying on the vibrational ionic gelation technology. The use of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to crosslink the silicone elastomer (hydroxy terminated polydimethylsiloxane) of this new platform had improved the gliclazide encapsulation (>92.13% ± 0.76) of the free-flowing composite microcapsules, which showed good mechanical durability (up to 12 h in PBS pH 6.8) and promising results to sustain the drug release. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrate-Based Carriers for Drug Delivery)

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Open AccessArticle

In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Assays of Dextran Coated Iron Oxide Aqueous Magnetic Fluids

Silviu-Adrian Predoi

Simona Liliana Iconaru

and

Daniela Predoi

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010177 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 743

Abstract

The iron oxide nanoparticles coated with different surface coatings were studied and characterized by multiple physicochemical and biological methods. The present paper aims at estimating the toxicity in vitro and in vivo of dextran coated iron oxide aqueous magnetic fluids. The in vitro studies were conducted by quantifying the viability of HeLa cells after their incubation with the samples (concentrations of 62.5–125–250–500 μg/mL at different time intervals). The estimation of the toxicity in vivo of administering dextran coated iron oxide aqueous magnetic fluids (DIO-AMF) with hydrodynamic diameter of 25.73 ± 4 nm to Male Brown Norway rats has been made. Different concentrations (62.5–125–250–500 μg/mL) of dextran coated iron oxide aqueous magnetic fluids were administered for 7 consecutive days. Hematology and biochemistry of the Male Brown Norway rats assessment was performed at various time intervals (24–72 h and 21–28 days) after intra-peritoneal injection. The results showed that high concentrations of DIO-AMF (250 and 500 μg/mL) significantly increased white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit compared to the values obtained for the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, following the administration of DIO-AMF, the levels of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase increased compared to the control group (p < 0.05). After DIO-AMF administration, no significant difference was observed in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, urea and creatinine compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The results of the present study showed that dextran coated iron oxide aqueous magnetic fluids in concentrations lower than 250 μg/mL are reliable for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrate-Based Carriers for Drug Delivery)

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