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Special Issue "Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications"

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Biopharmaceutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 2612

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Faiyaz Shakeel

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Interests: HPTLC; HPLC, nanotechnology; GC-MS; pharmaceutical analysis; phytochemical analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart nanomaterials have tremendous applications in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Innovative active biomolecule drug delivery systems have advanced significantly since the discovery of smart nanomaterials-based drug delivery systems, such as PLGA nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDSs). In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in the use of smart nanomaterials as drug delivery vehicles for therapeutic targeting of certain cells. These nanosized materials have the following benefits: biocompatibility, biodegradability, reduced toxicity, drug delivery efficiency, drug targeting efficiency, increased solubility, bioavailability, and bioactivity. These nanomaterials can also include a wide variety of therapeutically active biomolecules. These nanomaterials-based drug delivery systems can also increase the active therapeutic biomolecules’ pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effectiveness, enabling a more prolonged, focused, and regulated drug delivery system. Recent studies have demonstrated advancements in drug delivery systems based on nanomedicine for potential therapeutic targeting.

This Special Issue intends to compile recent advancements and future possibilities in the design, development, characterization, and biological assessment of drug delivery systems for active therapeutic biomolecules based on smart nanomaterials.

Dr. Faiyaz Shakeel
Guest Editor

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Keywords

chitosan nanoparticles
PLGA nanoparticles
nanovesicles
metallic nanoparticles
nanocarriers
solid lipid nanoparticles
self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Open AccessArticle

Nafcillin-Loaded Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Raluca Elena Ginghina

Mioara Alexandru

Florina Lucica Zorila

and

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061588 - 24 May 2023

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Abstract

Skin infections are frequently treated via intravenous or oral administration of antibiotics, which can lead to serious adverse effects and may sometimes contribute to the proliferation of resistant bacterial strains. Skin represents a convenient pathway for delivering therapeutic compounds, ensured by the high number of blood vessels and amount of lymphatic fluids in the cutaneous tissues, which are systematically connected to the rest of the body. This study provides a novel, straightforward method to obtain nafcillin-loaded photocrosslinkable nanocomposite hydrogels and demonstrates their performance as drug carriers and antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria. The novel formulations obtained, based on polyvinylpyrrolidone, tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether crosslinker, hydrophilic bentonite nanoclay, and/or two types of photoactive (TiO₂ and ZnO) nanofillers, were characterized using various analytical methods (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), mechanical tests (tension, compression, and shear), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), swelling investigations, and via specific microbiological assays (“agar disc diffusion method” and “time-kill test”). The results reveal that the nanocomposite hydrogel possessed high mechanical resistance, good swelling abilities, and good antimicrobial activity, demonstrating a decrease in the bacteria growth between 3log₁₀ and 2log₁₀ after one hour of direct contact with S. aureus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Repurposing Antimalarial Pyronaridine as a DNA Repair Inhibitor to Exploit the Full Potential of Gold-Nanoparticle-Mediated Radiation Response

and

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(12), 2795; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14122795 - 14 Dec 2022

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Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is frequently used to locally treat tumors. One of the major issues in RT is normal tissue toxicity; thus, it is necessary to limit dose escalation for enhanced local control in patients that have locally advanced tumors. Integrating radiosensitizing agents such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs) into RT has been shown to greatly increase the cure rate of solid tumors. The objective of this study was to explore the repurposing of an antimalarial drug, pyronaridine (PYD), as a DNA repair inhibitor to further enhance RT/GNP-induced DNA damage in cancerous cell lines. We were able to achieve inhibitory effects of DNA repair due to PYD at 500 nM concentration. Our results show a significant enhancement in DNA double-strand breaks of 42% in HeLa cells treated with PYD/GNP/RT in comparison to GNP/RT alone when irradiated with a dose of 2 Gy. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in cellular proliferation for both HeLa and HCT-116 irradiated cells with the combined treatment of PYD/GNP/RT. Therefore, the emergence of promising novel concepts introduced in this study could lay the foundation for the transition of this treatment modality into clinical environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications)

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Open AccessReview

Nanotechnology Applications in Sepsis: Essential Knowledge for Clinicians

Inês Vasconcelos

and

Tiago Santos

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061682 (registering DOI) - 08 Jun 2023

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to an invading pathogen such as multidrug-resistant bacteria. Despite recent advancements, sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, resulting in a significant global impact and burden. This condition affects all age groups, with clinical outcomes mainly depending on a timely diagnosis and appropriate early therapeutic intervention. Because of the unique features of nanosized systems, there is a growing interest in developing and designing novel solutions. Nanoscale-engineered materials allow a targeted and controlled release of bioactive agents, resulting in improved efficacy with minimal side effects. Additionally, nanoparticle-based sensors provide a quicker and more reliable alternative to conventional diagnostic methods for identifying infection and organ dysfunction. Despite recent advancements, fundamental nanotechnology principles are often presented in technical formats that presuppose advanced chemistry, physics, and engineering knowledge. Consequently, clinicians may not grasp the underlying science, hindering interdisciplinary collaborations and successful translation from bench to bedside. In this review, we abridge some of the most recent and most promising nanotechnology-based solutions for sepsis diagnosis and management using an intelligible format to stimulate a seamless collaboration between engineers, scientists, and clinicians. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications)

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Electrospun Nanofibers for Dura Mater Regeneration: A Mini Review on Current Progress

Bishweshwar Pant

Mira Park

and

Allison A. Kim

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1347; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051347 - 27 Apr 2023

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Abstract

Dural defects are a common problem in neurosurgical procedures and should be repaired to avoid complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, brain swelling, epilepsy, intracranial infection, and so on. Various types of dural substitutes have been prepared and used for the treatment of dural defects. In recent years, electrospun nanofibers have been applied for various biomedical applications, including dural regeneration, due to their interesting properties such as a large surface area to volume ratio, porosity, superior mechanical properties, ease of surface modification, and, most importantly, similarity with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Despite continuous efforts, the development of suitable dura mater substrates has had limited success. This review summarizes the investigation and development of electrospun nanofibers with particular emphasis on dura mater regeneration. The objective of this mini-review article is to give readers a quick overview of the recent advances in electrospinning for dura mater repair. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications)

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Special Issue "Smart Nanomaterials for Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications"

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