Peptide-based targeting strategies for simultaneous imaging and therapy with nanovectors

Over recent years, multifunctional compounds that combine diagnostic and therapeutic modalities using one unified material have been developed and designated as theranostics. These compounds provide the chance to develop individually designed therapies against various diseases to accomplish personalized medicine. In this review, theranostic agents based on nanovectors (liposomes, naposomes, micelles, polymeric micelles and micelles built around a solid core) externally modified with targeting peptides able to simultaneously carry a drug and a contrast agent are described, demonstrating that peptide-modified nanovectors can selectively carry a drug to target cells with an imaging probe co-incorporated into the nanovector to monitor therapy

Evaluation of the Environmental Benefit of an Eco-design Strategy on the Life Cycle Assessment of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous High-speed Electric Motor

The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous high-speed electric Motor (PMSM) and quantify the environmental savings resulting from the adoption of an eco-design strategy. To this end, a PMSM was identified as a baseline for the study, and a cradle-to-grave environmental life cycle assessment was performed based on primary data. The environmental impacts of the baseline PMSM were compared to those of its lightweighted version, which was obtained by adopting an eco-design strategy focused on aluminum content reduction. Other eco-design strategies were investigated to evaluate additional savings. The results obtained for the baseline PMSM reveal that the procurement and processing of raw materials contribute the most to all impact categories. The results obtained for the lightweighted PMSM reveal that, while reducing the aluminum content does not significantly lower the impacts in any of the most relevant impact categories, reducing the copper content would significantly reduce the use of mineral and metal resources. Lastly, eco-design strategies that focus on permanent magnets would significantly reduce climate change

Supramolecular aggregates containing lipophilic Gd(III) complexes as contrast agents in MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents based on paramagnetic gadolinium complexes are widely used in biomedical research and diagnosis. Their application is intended to improve efficacy of MRI providing physiological information along with the impressive anatomical detail already obtained by images without contrast. The classical gadolinium complexes currently used for MRI contrast enhancement are all lowmolecularweightcompounds that rapidly equilibrate between the intra and extravascular spaces after intravenous administration. In order to obtain gadolinium-based agents with different pharmacokinetic properties, supramolecular aggregates such as micelles and liposomes have been recently proposed. Micelles and liposomes, obtained by the aggregation of lipophilic gadolinium complexes are here described, with the aim to correlate their structural and relaxometric properties.We report on the state of the art in the development of supramolecular aggregates obtained by self-assembly of lipophilic gadolinium complexes and aggregates in which lipophilic gadolinium complexes are assembled with surfactants. Moreover aggregates derivatized with bioactive molecules, such as peptides and antibodies, acting as target selective MRI contrast agents are described

Liposomes derivatized with tetrabranched Neurotensin peptide via click chemistry reactions

Liposomes decorated with Neurotensin tetramers are obtained by using a post-liposomal derivatization method in which a click-chemistry reaction between liposomes containing azido functions on the external surface and branched neurotensin peptides modified for the presence of a C-C triple-bond is performed

End-of-Life Impact on the Cradle-to-Grave LCA of Light-Duty Commercial Vehicles in Europe

A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment focused on end-of-life (EoL) was conducted in this study for three configurations of a light-duty commercial vehicle (LDCV): diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), and battery electric vehicle (BEV). The aim is to investigate the impact of recycling under two EoL scenarios with different allocation methods. The first is based on the traditional avoided burden method, while the second is based on the circular footprint formula (CFF) developed by the European Commission. For each configuration, a detailed multilevel waste management scheme was developed in compliance with the 2000/53/CE directive and ISO22628 standard. The results showed that the global warming potential (GWP) impact under the CFF method is significantly greater when compared to the avoided burden method because of the A-parameter, which allocates the burdens and benefits between the two connected product systems. Furthermore, in all configurations and scenarios, the benefits due to the avoided production of virgin materials compensate for the recycling burdens within GWP impact. The main drivers of GWP reduction are steel recycling for all of the considered LDCVs, platinum, palladium, and rhodium recycling for the diesel and CNG configurations, and Li-ion battery recycling for the BEV configuration. Finally, the EoL stage significantly reduces the environmental impact of those categories other than GWP

Life Cycle Assessment of an NMC battery for application to electric light-duty commercial vehicles and comparison with a sodium-nickel-chloride battery

This paper presents the results of an environmental assessment of a Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) Lithium-ion traction battery for Battery Electric Light-Duty Commercial Vehicles (BEV-LDCV) used for urban and regional freight haulage. A cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of NMC111 is provided, operation and end-of-life stages are included, and insight is also given into a Life Cycle Assessment of different NMC chemistries. The environmental impacts of the manufacturing stages of the NMC111 battery are then compared with those of a Sodium-Nickel-Chloride (ZEBRA) battery. In the second part of the work, two electric-battery LDCVs (powered with NMC111 and ZEBRA batteries, respectively) and a diesel urban LDCV are analysed, considering a wide set of environmental impact categories. The results show that the NMC111 battery has the highest impacts from production in most of the impact categories. Active cathode material, Aluminium, Copper, and energy use for battery production are the main contributors to the environmental impact. However, when vehicle application is investigated, NMC111-BEV shows lower environmental impacts, in all the impact categories, than ZEBRA-BEV. This is mainly due to the greater efficiency of the NMC111 battery during vehicle operation. Finally, when comparing BEVs to a diesel LDCV, the electric powertrains show advantages over the diesel one as far as global warming, abiotic depletion potential-fossil fuels, photochemical oxidation, and ozone layer depletion are concerned. However, the diesel LDCV performs better in almost all the other investigated impact categories

Nanostructures by Self-assembling Peptide Amphiphile as Potential Selective Drug Carriers

The self-assembling behaviour, at physiological pH, of the amphiphile peptide (C18)(2)L5CCK8 in nanostructures is reported. Stable aggregates presenting a critical micellar concentration of 2 X 10(-6) mol kg(-1), and characterized by water exposed CCK8 peptide in P-sheet conformation, are obtained. Small angle neutron scattering experiments are indicative for a 3D structure with dimensions >= 100 nm. AFM images confirm the presence of nanostructures. Fluorescence experiments indicating the sequestration of pyrene, chosen as drug model, and the anticancer Doxorubicin within the nanostructures are reported

Naposomes: a new class of peptide-derivatized, target-selectivemultimodal nanoparticles for imaging and therapeutic applications

Modified supramolecular aggregates for selective delivery of contrast agents and/or drugs are examined with a focus on a new class of peptide-derivatized nanoparticles: naposomes. These nanoparticles are based on the co‑aggregation of two different amphiphilic monomers that give aggregates of different shapes and sizes (micelles, vesicles and liposomes) with diameters ranging between 10 and 300 nm. Structural properties and in vitro and in vivo behaviors are discussed. For the high relaxitivity values (12–19 mM-1s-1) and to detect for the presence of a surface exposed peptide, the new peptide-derived supramolecular aggregates are very promising candidates as targetselective MRI contrast agents. The efficiency of surface-exposed peptides in homing these nanovectors to a specific target introduces promising new opportunities for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents with high specificity toward the biological target and reduced toxic side effects on nontarget organs

Receptor binding peptides for target-selective delivery of nanoparticles encapsulated drugs.

Active targeting by means of drug encapsulated nanoparticles decorated with targeting bioactive moieties represents the next frontier in drug delivery; it reduces drug side effects and increases the therapeutic index. Peptides, based on their chemical and biological properties, could have a prevalent role to direct drug encapsulated nanoparticles, such as liposomes, micelles, or hard nanoparticles, toward the tumor tissues. A considerable number of molecular targets for peptides are either exclusively expressed or overexpressed on both cancer vasculature and cancer cells. They can be classified into three wide categories: integrins; growth factor receptors (GFRs); and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Therapeutic agents based on nanovectors decorated with peptides targeting membrane receptors belonging to the GPCR family overexpressed by cancer cells are reviewed in this article. The most studied targeting membrane receptors are considered: somatostatin receptors; cholecystokinin receptors; receptors associated with the Bombesin like peptides family; luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptors; and neurotensin receptors. Nanovectors of different sizes and shapes (micelles, liposomes, or hard nanoparticles) loaded with doxorubicin or other cytotoxic drugs and externally functionalized with natural or synthetic peptides are able to target the overexpressed receptors and are described based on their formulation and in vitro and in vivo behaviors