• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.585-586
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• 2016

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural carriers of biomolecules that play central roles in cell-to-cell communications. Based on this, there have been various attempts to use EVs as therapeutic drug carriers. From chemical reagents to nucleic acids, various macromolecules were successfully loaded into EVs; however, loading of proteins with high molecular weight has been huddled with several problems. Purification of recombinant proteins is expensive and time consuming, and easily results in modification of proteins due to physical or chemical forces. Also, the loading efficiency of conventional methods is too low for most proteins. We have recently proposed a new method, the so-called exosomes for protein loading via optically reversible protein-protein interaction (EXPLORs), to overcome the limitations. Since EXPLORs are produced by actively loading of intracellular proteins into EVs using blue light without protein purification steps, we demonstrated that the EXPLOR technique significantly improves the loading and delivery efficiency of therapeutic proteins. In further in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrate the potential of EXPLOR technology as a novel platform for biopharmaceuticals, by successful delivery of several functional proteins such as Cre recombinase, into the target cells.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.290-302
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• 2018

Background: The main purpose of drug delivery systems is to deliver the drugs at the appropriate concentration to the precise target site. Recently, the application of a thin film in the field of drug delivery has gained increasing interest because of its ability to safely load drugs and to release the drug in a controlled manner, which improves drug efficacy. Drug loading by the thin film can be done in various ways, depending on type of the drug, the area of exposure, and the purpose of drug delivery. Main text: This review summarizes the various methods used for preparing thin films with drugs via Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. Furthermore, additional functionalities of thin films using surface modification in drug delivery are briefly discussed. There are three types of methods for preparing a drug-carrying multilayered film using LbL assembly. First methods include approaches for direct loading of the drug into the pre-fabricated multilayer film. Second methods are preparing thin films using drugs as building blocks. Thirdly, the drugs are incorporated in the cargo so that the cargo itself can be used as the materials of the film. Conclusion: The appropriate designs of the drug-loaded film were produced in consideration of the release amounts and site of the desired drug. Furthermore, additional surface modification using the LbL technique enabled the preparation of effective drug delivery carriers with improved targeting effect. Therefore, the multilayer thin films fabricated by the LbL technique are a promising candidate for an ideal drug delivery system and the development possibilities of this technology are infinite.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1984

Effects of water soluble carrier on the dissolution characteristics of indomethacin coprecipitates were investigated. Water soluble carriers used were polyvinylpyrrolidone, dextrose, mannitol and their mixtures of various ratios. The dissolution rates of indomethacin from coprecipitate with ratios of drug-to-carrier, kinds of carrier and ratios of carriers were as follows: 1. The dissolution rates increased proportionally to the ratios of carrier in the case of both single and combined carrier, and the dissolution rate of coprecipitate with the combined carrier was more rapid than that with single carrier. 2. The combined carrier of PVP-dextrose (1 : 2) in the case of the coprecipitate of drug-to carrier (1 : 1) and PVP-dextrose (4 : 1) in the case of the coprecipitate of drug-to carrier (1 : 3) yield the most rapid dissolution rate. 3. The dissolution rate of indomethacin was the most markedly enhanced in the case of the combined carrier of PVP and dextrose.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.2395-2400
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• 2016

Conventional drug carriers such as liposomes, nanoparticles, polymer micelles, polymeric conjugate and lipid microemulsion for cancer chemotherapy shield normal tissues from toxic drugs to treat cancer cells in tumors. However, inaccurate tumor targeting uncontrolled drug release from the carriers and unwanted accumulation in healthy sites can limit treatment efficacy with current conventional drug carriers with insufficient concentrations of drugs in the tumors and unexpected side effects as a result. Sickle red blood cells show natural tumor preferential accumulation without any manipulation due to the adhesive interaction between molecular receptors on the membrane surface and counter-receptor on endothelial cells. In addition, structural changes of microvascular in tumor sites enhances polymerization of sickle red blood cells. In this research, we examined the use of sickle red blood cells as a new drug carrier with novel tumor targeting and controlled release properties to quantify its therapeutic effects.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.493-501
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• 2023

This study aimed to develop a solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (solid-SNEDDS) to enhance the formulation of ketoconazole (KTZ), a BCS Class II drug with poor solubility. Ketoconazole, which is insoluble above pH 3, requires solubilization for effective delivery. This SNEDDS comprises oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant, which spontaneously emulsify in the gastrointestinal tract environment to form nanoemulsions with droplet sizes less than 100 nm. The optimal SNE-vehicle composition of oleic acid, TPGS, and PEG 400 at a 10:80:10 weight ratio was determined based on the smallest droplet size achieved. This composition was used to prepare liquid SNEDDS containing ketoconazole. The droplet size and polydispersity index (PDI) of the resulting liquid SNEDDS were analyzed. Subsequently, solid-SNEDDS was fabricated using a spray-drying method with solidifying carriers such as silicon dioxide, crospovidone, and magnesium alumetasilicate. The physicochemical properties of the solid-SNEDDS were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, and its solubility, droplet size, and PDI were evaluated. In particular, the solid-SNEDDS containing ketoconazole and crospovidone in a 2:1 weight ratio exhibited significantly enhanced solubility, highlighting its potential for improved medication adherence and dissolution rates.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2008

Cyclosporin A (CyA), a potent immunosuppressive drug used in allogeneic transplants and autoimmune disease, is a typical water-insoluble drug. Recently, nanoparticle carriers were investigated to improve the intestinal absorption of drugs. In this study, CyA-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared from a hot o/w emulsion using the high pressure homogenization method. The NLCs were consisted of cationic lipids, solid lipids, liquid lipids (oils), surfactant and stabilizer. Encapsulation efficiency of CyA in NLCs was approximately 71%. The average particle size and zeta potential of NLCs were below 250 nm and above +40 mV, respectively. The morphology of NLCs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Compared to the CyA powder, higher in vitro release of CyA from NLCs was observed after burst release within 30 min. Thus, CyA-loaded NLCs could be applied not only for parenteral route but also for gastrointestinal administration, which needs further investigation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2002

Polymer based physical mixtures or solid dispersions containing solubilizing compositions[OA, tween80 and SLS] were prepared using a spray-dryer. Lovastatin(LOS), simvastatin(SIMS), aceclofenac(AFC) and cisapride(CSP) were selected as poorly water-soluble drugs. Dextrin, poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA), poly(vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) and polyethylene glycol(PEG) were chosen as solubilizing carriers for solid dispersions. The solid dispersions containing solubilizing compositions without drug were prepared without using organic solvents or tedious changes of formulation compositions. This system could be used to quickly screen the dissolution profiles of poorly water-soluble drugs by simply mixing with drugs thereafter. In case of solid dispersion containing drug, organic solvent systems could be used to solubilize model drugs. The dissolution rates of the drugs were higher when mixed with drug and solid dispersions containing solubilizing compositions. However, solid dispersions of LOS, AFC, and CSP simultaneously containing drug and solubilizing compositions in organic solvent systems were more useful than physical mixtures of drug and solid dispersions without drug except SIMS. Based on solubilizing capability of polymer based physical mixtures in gelatin hard capsules, optimal solid dispersion system of poorly water-soluble drugs could be formulated. However, it should be noted that dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs were highly dependent on drug properties, solubilizing compositions and polymeric carriers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2024

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin tumors, and conventional treatment modalities are not effective in treating advanced melanoma. Although immunotherapy is an effective treatment for melanoma, it has disadvantages, such as a poor response rate and serious systemic immune-related toxic side effects. The main solution to this problem is the use of biological materials such as hydrogels to reduce these side effects and amplify the immune killing effect against tumor cells. Hydrogels have great advantages as local slow-release drug carriers, including the ability to deliver antitumor drugs directly to the tumor site, enhance the local drug concentration in tumor tissue, reduce systemic drug distribution and exhibit good degradability. Despite these advantages, there has been limited research on the application of hydrogels in melanoma treatment. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the potential application of hydrogels in melanoma immunotherapy. Hydrogels can serve as carriers for sustained drug delivery, enabling the targeted and localized delivery of drugs with minimal systemic side effects. This approach has the potential to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for melanoma. Thus, the use of hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles for melanoma immunotherapy has great potential and warrants further exploration.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.spc
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• pp.45-61
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• 2010

Polymeric based nanomedicines have been developed for diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases in human body. The nanosized drug delivery systems having various structures such as micelles, nanogels, drug-conjugates, and polyplex were investigated for a great goal in pharmaceutics: increasing therapeutic efficacy for diseases and decreasing drug toxicity for normal tissues. The functional polymers used for constituting these drug delivery systems should have several favorable properties such as stimuli-responsibility and biodegrdability for controlled drug release, and solublization capacity for programmed drug encapsulation. This review discusses recent developments and trends of functional polymers (e.g., pH-sensitive polymers, biodegradable polymers, and cationic polymers) used for nanosized drug carriers.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1465-1470
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• 2011

In this study, a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres was fabricated using emulsion solvent evaporation technique. During the procedure fabrication, some parameters process have effected on the formation of micro-carriers. The structure and morphology of micro-carriers were evaluated by SEM observation. Beside, heparin incorporated into microspheres was determined using toluidine blue method. Specifically, the effects of some parameters process such as ultrasonic levels, PLGA concentrations and freeze-dry times on the size, structure, porous formation and heparin entrapment of micro-carriers were studied carefully. We found that, the morphology and structure of carriers were influenced by the all above parameters. The diameter of the carriers varied from 20 to 400 ${\mu}M$ depending on experimental conditions. At suitable freeze-dry time, the pores were automatically formation on surface of microspheres with a significantly in the numbers of pore. After heparin incorporated porous PLGA microspheres, it was suggested that the highly heparin incorporated into porous PLGA microspheres could enhance of angiogenesis for tissue regeneration easily.