Non-spherical Polymeric Nanocarriers for Therapeutics: The Effect of Shape on Biological Systems and Drug Delivery Properties

This review aims to highlight the importance of particle shape in the design of polymeric nanocarriers for drug delivery systems, along with their size, surface chemistry, density, and rigidity. Current manufacturing methods used to obtain non-spherical polymeric nanocarriers such as filomicelles or nanoworms, nanorods and nanodisks, are firstly described. Then, their interactions with biological barriers are presented, including how shape affects nanoparticle clearance, their biodistribution and targeting. Finally, their drug delivery properties and their therapeutic efficacy, both in vitro and in vivo, are discussed and compared with the characteristics of their spherical counterparts

Return towards normality in admissions for myocardial infarction after the lockdown removal for COVID-19 outbreak in Italy

BACKGROUND: Investigations demonstrated a decrease of admissions for myocardial infarction (MI) during the CoronaVirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak. No study has evaluated the time required to reverse this downward curve of MI admissions.METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis on patients (N = 2415) admitted to the Emergency Departments for acute MI in nine Italian centers. Primary endpoint was the incidence rates (IRs) of MI admissions in the post-lockdown COVID-19 period (case-period: from May 4 to July 12, 2020) vs. the following control periods: January 1-February 19, 2020 (pre-lockdown period); February 20-May 3, 2020 (intra-lockdown period); May 4-July 12, 2019 (inter-year non-COVID-19 period).RESULTS: IR of admissions for MI in the post-lockdown period was higher than the intra-lockdown period (IR ratio, IRR: 1.60, 95% CI 1.42-1.81; p = 0.0001), was lower than the pre-lockdown period (IRR: 0.86, 0.77-0.96; p = 0.009) and similar to the inter-year non-COVID-19 period (IRR: 0.96, 0.87-1.07; p = 0.47). Within the case period, the increase in MI admissions was more pronounced in earlier vs later weeks (IRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.38, p = 0.024) and, compared to the inter-year control period, was significant for non ST-segment elevation MI (IRR: 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.46, p = 0.004), but was not observed for ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), where hospitalizations were reduced (IRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.88, p = 0.0001).CONCLUSIONS: Our study first indicates an increase in the number of admissions for MI after the removal of the national lockdown for COVID-19 in Italy. This increase was prevalent in the first weeks following the lockdown removal, but was under-represented in STEMI patients

Return towards normality in admissions for myocardial infarction after the lockdown removal for COVID-19 outbreak in Italy

none24noBackground: Investigations demonstrated a decrease of admissions for myocardial infarction (MI) during the CoronaVirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak. No study has evaluated the time required to reverse this downward curve of MI admissions. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis on patients (N = 2415) admitted to the Emergency Departments for acute MI in nine Italian centers. Primary endpoint was the incidence rates (IRs) of MI admissions in the post-lockdown COVID-19 period (case-period: from May 4 to July 12, 2020) vs. the following control periods: January 1-February 19, 2020 (pre-lockdown period); February 20-May 3, 2020 (intra-lockdown period); May 4-July 12, 2019 (inter-year non-COVID-19 period). Results: IR of admissions for MI in the post-lockdown period was higher than the intra-lockdown period (IR ratio, IRR: 1.60, 95% CI 1.42-1.81; p = 0.0001), was lower than the pre-lockdown period (IRR: 0.86, 0.77-0.96; p = 0.009) and similar to the inter-year non-COVID-19 period (IRR: 0.96, 0.87-1.07; p = 0.47). Within the case period, the increase in MI admissions was more pronounced in earlier vs later weeks (IRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.38, p = 0.024) and, compared to the inter-year control period, was significant for non ST-segment elevation MI (IRR: 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.46, p = 0.004), but was not observed for ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), where hospitalizations were reduced (IRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.88, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study first indicates an increase in the number of admissions for MI after the removal of the national lockdown for COVID-19 in Italy. This increase was prevalent in the first weeks following the lockdown removal, but was under-represented in STEMI patients.restrictedRognoni A, D'Ascenzo F, Solli M, Mennuni MG, Galiffa V, Rosso R, Cavallino C, Ugo F, De Filippo O, Borin A, Porto I, Fedele F, Mancone M, Sardella G, Trabattoni D, Barbero U, Moncalvo C, Verardi R, Casella G, Montalto C, Leonardi S, Azzolina D, De Ferrari GM, Patti G.Rognoni, A; D'Ascenzo, F; Solli, M; Mennuni, Mg; Galiffa, V; Rosso, R; Cavallino, C; Ugo, F; De Filippo, O; Borin, A; Porto, I; Fedele, F; Mancone, M; Sardella, G; Trabattoni, D; Barbero, U; Moncalvo, C; Verardi, R; Casella, G; Montalto, C; Leonardi, S; Azzolina, D; De Ferrari, Gm; Patti, G