3 research outputs found
Janus Silver/Silica Nanoplatforms for Light-Activated Liver Cancer Chemo/Photothermal Therapy
Stimuli-triggered nanoplatforms
have become attractive candidates for combined strategies for advanced
liver cancer treatment. In this study, we designed a light-responsive
nanoplatform with folic acid-targeting properties to surmount the poor aqueous stability and photostability
of indocyanine green (ICG). In this Janus nanostructure, ICG was released
on-demand from mesoporous silica compartments in response to near-infrared
(NIR) irradiation, exhibiting predominant properties to convert light
to heat in the cytoplasm to kill liver cancer cells. Importantly,
the silver ions released from the silver compartment that were triggered
by light could induce efficient chemotherapy to supplement photothermal
therapy. Under NIR irradiation, ICG-loaded Janus nanoplatforms exhibited
synergistic therapeutic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo compared
with free ICG and ICG-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles themselves.
Hence, our Janus nanoplatform could integrate ICG-based photothermal
therapy and silver ion-based chemotherapy in a cascade manner, which
might provide an efficient and safe strategy for combined liver cancer
therapy
Sustained release ivermectin-loaded solid lipid dispersion for subcutaneous delivery: <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> evaluation
<p>This work aimed to develop a sustained release solid dispersion of ivermectin (IVM-SD) in a lipid matrix (hydrogenated castor oil, HCO) for subcutaneous delivery. Solvent-melting technology was employed to prepare IVM-SDs using HCO. The physicochemical properties of the IVM-SDs were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The release of IVM from IVM-SDs was evaluated with HPLC <i>in vitro.</i> Pharmacokinetics of IVM was studied in rabbits following a single subcutaneous administration of IVM-SD formulations. The efficacy of IVM-SD against the ear mange mite was evaluated in rabbits. IVM was completely dispersed in HCO in an amorphous state at a drug:carrier ratio lower than 1:3. No chemical interactions between drug and carrier were found besides hydrogen bonding for the amorphous IVM-SDs. The amorphous IVM-SDs formulations exhibited a sustained release of IVM versus physical mixtures (PMs) of IVM and HCO. The drug release decreased as the drug:carrier ratios decreased, and the release kinetics of IVM were controlled via diffusion. Cytotoxicity of IVM-SD to MDCK cells was lower than native IVM. The IVM plasma concentration of SD1:3 remained above 1 ng/mL for 49 d. Higher AUC, MRT, and <i>T</i><sub>max</sub> values were obtained at a SD1:3 relative to the IVM group. The IVM-SD improved almost 1.1-fold bioavailability of drug compared with IVM in rabbits. IVM-SD could provide longer persistence against rabbit’s ear mites than a commercial IVM injection. This study shows that these solid lipid dispersions are a promising approach for the development of subcutaneous IVM formulations.</p
Janus Gold Nanoplatform for Synergetic Chemoradiotherapy and Computed Tomography Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
There
is a pressing need to develop nanoplatforms that integrate
multimodal therapeutics to improve treatment responses and prolong
the survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC). Mesoporous silica-coated gold nanomaterials have emerged as
a novel multifunctional platform combining tunable surface plasmon
resonance and mesoporous properties that exhibit multimodality properties
in cancer theranostics. However, their reduced radiation-absorption
efficiency and limited surface area hinder their further radiochemotherapeutic
applications. To address these issues, we designed Janus-structured
gold-mesoporous silica nanoparticles using a modified sol–gel
method. This multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform was subsequently
modified <i>via</i> the conjugation of folic acid for enhanced
HCC targeting and internalization. The loaded anticancer agent doxorubicin
can be released from the mesopores in a pH-responsive manner, facilitating
selective and safe chemotherapy. Additionally, the combination of
chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced synergistic anticancer effects <i>in vitro</i> and exhibited remarkable inhibition of tumor growth <i>in vivo</i> along with significantly reduced systematic toxicity.
Additionally, the Janus NPs acted as targeted computed tomography
(CT)-imaging agents for HCC diagnosis. Given their better performance
in chemoradiotherapy and CT imaging as compared with that of their
core–shell counterparts, this new nanoplatform designed with
dual functionalities provides a promising strategy for unresectable
HCC theranostics