Polymeric Micelles in Anticancer Therapy: Targeting, Imaging and Triggered Release

Micelles are colloidal particles with a size around 5–100 nm which are currently under investigation as carriers for hydrophobic drugs in anticancer therapy. Currently, five micellar formulations for anticancer therapy are under clinical evaluation, of which Genexol-PM has been FDA approved for use in patients with breast cancer. Micelle-based drug delivery, however, can be improved in different ways. Targeting ligands can be attached to the micelles which specifically recognize and bind to receptors overexpressed in tumor cells, and chelation or incorporation of imaging moieties enables tracking micelles in vivo for biodistribution studies. Moreover, pH-, thermo-, ultrasound-, or light-sensitive block copolymers allow for controlled micelle dissociation and triggered drug release. The combination of these approaches will further improve specificity and efficacy of micelle-based drug delivery and brings the development of a ‘magic bullet’ a major step forward

SUPERTOUGH POLY(LACTIDE)S

Semi-crystalline and amorphous copolymers of lactide and glycolide were rubber modified with degradable rubbers based on epsilon-caprolactone. The influence of crystallinity of the matrix, type of rubber and chain architecture on the impact resistance of the resulting materials was investigated. With a poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) rubber semi-crystalline poly(lactide)s could be impact modified to a greater extent than amorphous non-crystallizable lactide matrices. Poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-epsilon-caprolactone) was used in blends and linear and star-shaped block copolymers which yield supertough materials that do not break in Izod notched impact testing. Rubber content appears critical around 20 weight percent, where a sharp transition is observed

Rubber toughened linear and star-shaped poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide):synthesis, properties and in vitro degradation

Blends of D,L-lactide/glycolide copolymers were synthesized and their properties and in vitro degradation behaviour were evaluated as a function of chain architecture and blend composition. Tensile and impact properties of the blends are hardly influenced by matrix composition and chain architecture, but predominantly vary with the amount of rubber. In vitro degradation showed that hydrolytic degradation is enhanced by the incorporation of glycolide into the poly(D,L-lactide) matrix. Surprisingly, blends based on 6-arm star-shaped poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) retain their mechanical properties for a longer period than blends with linear matrices of comparable composition. Physical aging of the linear copolymers is more severe and faster than that of star-shaped copolymers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Islamic microfinance and household welfare nexus: empirical investigation from Pakistan

Abstract Many approaches and tools have been utilized throughout the globe by public and private sector organizations to curtail the deprivations and enhance welfare of the poor. Islamic Microfinance is one of them and is rapidly getting popular in Muslims as well as non-Muslims majority population countries. This study was conducted to gauge the impact of Islamic microfinance on the household welfare of the target clients by observing its impact on health, education, income, expenditures and assets of the poor who took loan from Islamic Microfinance institutions (IMFIs). Study is based on primary data and assessment was made rendering pre and post project approach by employing paired sample t-test and Regressionanalysis as statistical tools. Respondents were selected from three microfinance institutions, namely Akhuwat Foundation, Farz Foundation and NAYMET. Results delineate statistically significant differences in Pre and Post borrowing scenarios in the welfare indicators of the target households. It has been observed that borrowing from Islamic Microfinance institutions has not only significantly raised monthly income; expenditures on food, education and health; and incremented households’ assetsbut also surprisingly raised borrowed amount of loan which negatively affected income. This requires some further investigation and it is recommended that practitioners and policy makers must keep IMF on its top agenda to enhanceliving standards of the poor in developing countries