Conundrum and therapeutic potential of curcumin in drug delivery

Turmeric, the source of the polyphenolic active compound curcumin (diferuloylmethane), has been used extensively in traditional medicine since ancient times as a household remedy against various diseases, including hepatic disorders, cough, sinusitis, rheumatism, and biliary disorders. In the past few decades, a number of studies have been done on curcumin showing its potential role in treating inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, AIDS, and neurological disorders. However, the main drawback associated with curcumin is its poor aqueous solubility and stability in gastrointestinal fluids, which leads to poor bioavailability. Multifarious novel drug-delivery approaches, including microemulsions, nanoemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, microspheres, solid dispersion, polymeric nanoparticles, and self-microemulsifying drug-delivery systems have been used to enhance the bioavailability and tissue-targeting ability of curcumin. These attempts have revealed promising results for enhanced bioavailability and targeting to disease such as cancer, but more extensive research on tissue-targeting and stability-related issues is needed. Tissue targeting and enhanced bioavailability of curcumin using novel drug-delivery methods with minimum side effects will in the near future bring this promising natural product to the forefront of therapy for the treatment of human diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular ailments. We provide a detailed analysis of prominent research in the field of curcumin drug delivery with special emphasis on bioavailability-enhancement approaches and novel drug-delivery system approaches.     

Physically facilitating drug-delivery systems

Facilitated/modulated drug-delivery systems have emerged as a possible solution for delivery of drugs of interest to pre-allocated sites at predetermined doses for predefined periods of time. Over the past decade, the use of different physical methods and mechanisms to mediate drug release and delivery has grown significantly. This emerging area of research has important implications for development of new therapeutic drugs for efficient treatments. This review aims to introduce and describe different modalities of physically facilitating drug-delivery systems that are currently in use for cancer and other diseases therapy. In particular, delivery methods based on ultrasound, electrical, magnetic and photo modulations are highlighted. Current uses and areas of improvement for these different physically facilitating drug-delivery systems are discussed. Furthermore, the main advantages and drawbacks of these technologies reviewed are compared. The review ends with a speculative viewpoint of how research is expected to evolve in the upcoming years.     

Nanosuspensions as the most promising approach in nanoparticulate drug delivery systems

Over the years, controlled drug delivery as well as site-specific delivery have made considerable advances. One area that contributed significantly to this progress is the rapidly developing field of colloidal drug delivery systems. Nanoparticles, one of the colloidal drug delivery systems, may enable new possibilities for therapy that presently have not been investigated. Recent advances in nanoparticle research are discussed here. The present review highlights new and upcoming developments such as nanosuspensions and solid lipid nanoparticles.     

Nanoparticles: a boon to drug delivery, therapeutics, diagnostics and imaging

Drug delivery is an interdisciplinary and independent field of research and is gaining the attention of pharmaceutical researchers, medical doctors and industry. A safe and targeted drug delivery could improve the performance of some classic medicines already on the market, and moreover, will have implications for the development and success of new therapeutic strategies such as anticancer drug delivery, peptide and protein delivery and gene therapy. In the last decade, several drug-delivery technologies have emerged and a fascinating part of this field is the development of nanoscale drug delivery devices. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed as an important strategy to deliver conventional drugs, recombinant proteins, vaccines and more recently, nucleotides. NPs and other colloidal drug-delivery systems modify the kinetics, body distribution and drug release of an associated drug. This review article focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in medicine and discusses different nanoparticulate drug-delivery systems including polymeric NPs, ceramic NPs, magnetic NPs, polymeric micelles and dendrimers as well as their applications in therapeutics, diagnostics and imaging. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This comprehensive review focuses on different nanoparticulate drug-delivery systems including polymeric NPs, ceramic NPs, magnetic NPs, polymeric micelles and dendrimers as well as their applications in therapeutics, diagnostics and imaging.     

Surface loading of nanoparticles on engineered or natural erythrocytes for prolonged circulation time: strategies and applications

Nano drug-delivery systems (DDS) may significantly improve efficiency and reduce toxicity of loaded drugs, but a few nano-DDS are highly successful in clinical use. Unprotected nanoparticles in blood flow are often quickly cleared, which could limit their circulation time and drug delivery efficiency. Elongating their blood circulation time may improve their delivery efficiency or grant them new therapeutic possibilities. Erythrocytes are abundant endogenous cells in blood and are continuously renewed, with a long life span of 100–120 days. Hence, loading nanoparticles on the surface of erythrocytes to protect the nanoparticles could be highly effective for enhancing their in vivo circulation time. One of the key questions here is how to properly attach nanoparticles on erythrocytes for different purposes and different types of nanoparticles to achieve ideal results. In this review, we describe various methods to attach nanoparticles and drugs to the erythrocyte surface, and discuss the key factors that influence the stability and circulation properties of the erythrocytes-based delivery system in vivo. These data show that using erythrocytes as a host for nanoparticles possesses great potential for further development.Keyword: drug delivery systems, nanoparticle, erythrocytes, prolonged circulation time     

Ion-exchange resins: carrying drug delivery forward

Ion-exchange resins (IER), or ionic polymer networks, have received considerable attention from pharmaceutical scientists because of their versatile properties as drug-delivery vehicles. In the past few years, IER have been extensively studied in the development of novel drug-delivery systems (DDSs) and other biomedical applications. Some of the DDSs containing IER have been introduced into the market. In this review, the applications of IER in drug delivery research are discussed.     

Local drug delivery to the inner ear using biodegradable materials

The lack of an effective method of drug delivery has been a considerable obstacle in the development of novel therapeutics for inner ear diseases. However, several strategies have been investigated to achieve drug delivery to the inner ear, particularly for local application. Here, we review recent advances in the development of inner ear drug-delivery systems, focusing on biodegradable materials. Both synthetic and natural biodegradable materials have shown efficacy for inner ear drug delivery, resulting in an attenuation of hearing loss in animal models. We expect the further development of such drug-delivery systems to help translate the findings of experimental studies to clinical applications.     

PLGA nanoparticles containing various anticancer agents and tumour delivery by EPR effect

As mortality due to cancer continues to rise, advances in nanotechnology have significantly become an effective approach for achieving efficient drug targeting to tumour tissues by circumventing all the shortcomings of conventional chemotherapy. During the past decade, the importance of polymeric drug-delivery systems in oncology has grown exponentially. In this context, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a widely used polymer for fabricating 'nanoparticles' because of biocompatibility, long-standing track record in biomedical applications and well-documented utility for sustained drug release, and hence has been the centre of focus for developing drug-loaded nanoparticles for cancer therapy. Such PLGA nanoparticles have also been used to develop proteins and peptides for nanomedicine, and nanovaccines, as well as a nanoparticle-based drug- and gene-delivery system for cancer therapy, and nanoantigens and growth factors. These drug-loaded nanoparticles extravasate through the tumour vasculature, delivering their payload into the cells by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, thereby increasing their therapeutic effect. Ongoing research about drug-loaded nanoparticles and their delivery by the EPR effect to the tumour tissues has been elucidated in this review with clarity.     

Microspheres as floating drug-delivery systems to increase gastric retention of drugs

Gastric emptying is a complex process, which is highly variable and makes in vivo performance of the drug-delivery systems uncertain. In order to avoid this variability, efforts have been made to increase the retention time of the drug-delivery systems for more than 12 h. The floating or hydrodynamically controlled drug-delivery systems are useful in such applications. The present review addresses briefly the physiology of the gastric emptying process with respect to floating drug-delivery systems. In recent years, the multiparticulate drug-delivery systems are used in the oral delivery of drugs. One of the approaches toward this goal is to develop the floating microspheres so as to increase the gastric retention time. Such systems have more advantages over the single-unit dosage forms. The development of floating microspheres involves different solvent evaporation techniques to create the hollow inner core. The present review addresses the preparation and characterization of the floating microspheres for the peroral route of administration of the drug.     

Solid lipid nanoparticles as drug delivery systems

For a decade, trials have been made to utilize solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as alternative drug delivery systems to colloidal drug delivery systems such as lipid emulsions, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles. Various lipid matrices, surfactants, and other excipients used in formulation, preparation methods, sterilization and lyophilization of SLNs are discussed in this article. Entrapment efficiency of drug carrier and its effect on physical parameters, drug release, and release mechanisms of various compositions are reviewed and discussed. Important points in characterization and stability of SLNs are outlined. Various in vitro studies carried out by different research groups are mentioned in addition to in vivo evaluation. Exploitation potential of SLNs to administer by various routes of administration are covered. Passive and active drug targeting using SLNs are presented.     

固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体在经皮给药系统中的研究进展

目的介绍固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体在经皮给药系统中的应用与优势,为其开发利用提供参考。方法查阅国内外相关文献共30余篇,从固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体用于经皮给药系统的优势、药物在固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体中的分布形式及固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体在经皮给药领域中的应用等方面进行综述。结果固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体可以增强药物稳定性,能在皮肤表面产生包封效应,增加皮肤水合作用,具有药物靶向性。结论固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体是极有发展前景的新型经皮给药系统。     

Liposomes a vesicular nanocarrier: potential advancements in cancer chemotherapy

The indispensable obligation behind the successful therapy of a disease is to deliver the effective drug/bioactive concentration with sustained release manner at the diseased organs without any exposure to the healthy tissues. Novel drug-delivery systems increase the concentration and persistence of drug at the vicinity of the target site and thereby minimize the undesired side effects of the drug to the normal tissues of body. With advances in nanotechnology, several new drug delivery approaches have become available that may fulfil the requirement of safe and effective drug therapy. Among these techniques, vesicular drug-delivery systems, particularly liposomes, are under rigorous research for their applicability to deliver FDA-approved and newer drugs. Liposomes have been widely investigated as one of the most widely used nanocarriers in cancer therapy and have shown their potential in spatial and temporal release of bioactive agents for the effective treatment of various life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Various targeted and triggered-release approaches of bioactive substances using liposomes further improve the applicability of liposomes in cancer therapeutics. Thus, keeping these points in view, the present review has been focussed on application of liposomes for development of liposome technology and its novel applications for effective cancer therapy.     

固体脂质纳米粒和纳米结构脂质载体在药物传递中的研究进展

基于固体脂质的纳米粒（Solid lipid - based nanoparticles,SLBNs）作为新型药物传递系统比常规的药物传递系统存在优势。通常,基于固体脂质的纳米粒可以分成两种形态,即固体脂质纳米粒（ Solid lipid nanoparticles, SLNs）和纳米结构脂质载体（Nanostructured lipid carriers,NLCs）。但固体脂质纳米粒与纳米结构脂质载体在基质的组成上不同,本文就基于固体脂质的纳米粒的制备技术、表征方法及应用的最新研究进展进行总结,为基于固体脂质的纳米粒进一步研究提供参考依据。     

Tumour targeting: biological factors and formulation advances in injectable lipid nanoparticles

Cancer chemotherapeutic agents are often administered systemically. Following systemic administration, numerous biological factors associated with the tumours influence the delivery of the drugs to the tumours. These factors have been extensively studied for the last 2 decades. The influence of these biological factors has brought about a drastic change in the design of drug delivery systems to solid tumours. This review discusses the various biological factors influencing drug delivery to tumours and the subsequent development of injectable delivery systems (i.e., lipid-based nanoparticles (SLNs)) for adequate delivery of drug to solid tumours.     

Advances in nanotechnology-based carrier systems for targeted delivery of bioactive drug molecules with special emphasis on immunotherapy in drug resistant tuberculosis – a critical review

Abstract

From the early sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to the present day of life, tuberculosis (TB) still is a global health threat with some new emergence of resistance. This type of emergence poses a vital challenge to control TB cases across the world. Mortality and morbidity rates are high due to this new face of TB. The newer nanotechnology-based drug-delivery approaches involving micro-metric and nano-metric carriers are much needed at this stage. These delivery systems would provide more advantages over conventional systems of treatment by producing enhanced therapeutic efficacy, uniform distribution of drug molecule to the target site, sustained and controlled release of drug molecules and lesser side effects. The main aim to develop these novel drug-delivery systems is to improve the patient compliance and reduce therapy time. This article reviews and elaborates the new concepts and drug-delivery approaches for the treatment of TB involving solid-lipid particulate drug-delivery systems (solid-lipid micro- and nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers), vesicular drug-delivery systems (liposomes, niosomes and liposphere), emulsion-based drug-delivery systems (micro and nanoemulsion) and some other novel drug-delivery systems for the effective treatment of tuberculosis and role of immunomodulators as an adjuvant therapy for management of MDR-TB and XDR-TB.     

Gastroretentive floating drug-delivery systems: a critical review

The oral delivery of drugs with a narrow absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is often limited by poor bioavailability with conventional dosage forms due to incomplete drug release and short residence time at the site of absorption. To overcome this drawback and to maximize the oral absorption of these drugs, gastroretentive systems such as mucoadhesive, high-density, expandable, and floating systems have been developed. These systems provide controlled delivery of drugs with prolonged gastric residence time. However, in humans, differences in various physiological and biological factors can affect the gastric residence time and drug-delivery behavior from gastroretentive systems. Some floating drug-delivery systems (FDDS) have shown the capability to accommodate these variations without affecting drug release. This review mainly focuses on various physiological considerations for development of FDDS, and highlights recent technological developments including new dosage forms and their production techniques (e.g., holt-melt extrusion, melt pelletization, and pulsed plasma-irradiation processes). Alternatives to the existing in vitro compendial methods for evaluating floating dosage forms will be discussed, and a critical analysis of the existing literature on FDDS, identifying the potential areas for future research, is provided.     

溶致液晶的制备、表征以及作为药物载体的应用

脂质已经被广泛地用作多种药物传递系统中的主要组分,例如脂质体、固体脂质纳米粒、纳米结构脂质载体和溶致液晶。其中,溶致液晶具有高度的有序性和热力学稳定的内部纳米结构,从而具有作为持续释放药物模型的潜力。立方相和六角相的复杂结构已经被证实能够为活性药物原料（不同的相对分子质量和极性）提供由扩散控制的释放。此外,脂质的生物可降解性和生物相容性证明了其具有最小的毒性并且可应用于多种给药途径。因此,近几年对溶致液晶的研究已经吸引了很多研究者的关注。本文将对溶致液晶的结构特点、制备方法、表征进行综述。此外,溶致液晶作为药物传递系统的最新研究进展将被进一步讨论。     

Status of novel drug delivery technology for phytotherapeutics

Herbal medicines have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their better therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects as compared with modern medicines. However, phytotherapeutics needs a scientific approach to deliver the components in a sustained manner to increase patient compliance and avoid repeated administration. This can be achieved by designing novel drug delivery systems for herbal constituents. Novel drug delivery systems not only reduce the repeated administration to overcome non-compliance, but also help to increase the therapeutic value by reducing toxicity and increasing the bioavailability, and so on. Recently, pharmaceutical scientists have shifted their focus to designing a drug delivery system for herbal medicines using a scientific approach. For a long time herbal medicines were not considered for development as novel formulations owing to lack of scientific justification and processing difficulties, such as standardization, extraction and identification of individual drug components in complex polyherbal systems. However, modern phytopharmaceutical research solves the scientific needs for herbal medicines as in modern medicine, which gives way for developing novel formulations such as nanoparticles, microemulsions, matrix systems, solid dispersions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and so on. This article summarizes various drug delivery technologies for herbal actives, which are gaining more attention for better therapeutic response.     

Perspectives on cutting-edge nanoparticulate drug delivery technologies based on lipids and their applications

Numerous nanotech arenas in therapeutic biology have recently provided a scientific platform to manufacture a considerable swath of unique chemical entities focusing on drugs. Recently, nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have emerged to deliver a specific drug to a specified site. Among all other carriers, lipids possess features exclusive to nanostructured dosage forms. The bioavailability of orally administered drugs is typically negatively affected by their poor water solubility, resulting from the unique chemical moieties introduced. Because of their unique advantages, lipid nanoparticles must become increasingly predictable as a robust delivery mechanism. The enhanced biopharmaceutical properties and significance of lipid-based targeting technologies such as liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and micelles are highlighted in this review. Pharmaceutical implications of lipid nanocarriers for the transport and distribution of various therapeutic agents, such as biotechnological products and small pharmaceutical molecules, is a booming topic. Lipid nanoparticles as drug delivery systems have many appealing properties, including high biocompatibility, ease of preparation, tissue specificity, avoidance of reticuloendothelial systems, delayed drug release, scale-up feasibility, nontoxicity and targeted delivery. The use of lipid nanoparticles to enhance the transport of biopharmaceuticals is currently considered state-of-the-art. Similarly, we critically examine the upcoming guidelines that therapeutic scientists should handle.     

Phase-shift, stimuli-responsive drug carriers for targeted delivery

The intersection of particles and directed energy is a rich source of novel and useful technology that is only recently being realized for medicine. One of the most promising applications is directed drug delivery. This review focuses on phase-shift nanoparticles (that is, particles of submicron size) as well as micron-scale particles whose action depends on an external-energy triggered, first-order phase shift from a liquid to gas state of either the particle itself or of the surrounding medium. These particles have tremendous potential for actively disrupting their environment for altering transport properties and unloading drugs. This review covers in detail ultrasound and laser-activated phase-shift nano- and micro-particles and their use in drug delivery. Phase-shift based drug-delivery mechanisms and competing technologies are discussed.