Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
The development of polymer-based systems is central to the design of next-generation drug delivery carriers, as polymers enable versatile tuning of physicochemical properties and responsiveness. In this work, we introduce a 3D printing-based strategy for the fabrication of multicompartment capsules that integrate multiple polymers within a unique one-step process. This approach allows precise spatial organization and structural complexity, yielding capsules with customizable features such as compartmentalization, polymerspecific responsiveness, and localized release control. In particular, pH-triggered release can be programmed across distinct polymeric regions of the capsules, enabling site-specific delivery along different intestinal segments, including the small intestine and colon. The use of 3D printing thus provides a scalable and adaptable platform to generate multifunctional polymer-based carriers with finely tunable drug release profiles, paving the way for new directions in polymer-enabled controlled delivery technologies....
Endometrial cancer, accounting for over 90% of uterine malignancies, has experienced a significant global rise in incidence and mortality. Conventional therapies face limitations including fertility compromise, systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and poor outcomes in advanced/recurrent cases. Considering the unique physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, the emerging drug delivery approaches based on nanomaterials are regarded as a promising pathway for enhanced therapeutic efficiency to combat endometrial cancer. Herein, this mini-review discusses emerging drug delivery approaches to overcome current treatment challenges. We classify common therapeutic nanomaterials into polymer-based nanocarriers, quantum dots, liposomes, and exosomes, analyzing their synthesis, mechanisms, and preclinical efficacy. Finally, scientific challenges and future perspectives for ongoing research in this field are presented....
Background/Objectives: Over the past few years, high-dose radioembolization (≥150 Gy) has become widely adopted for the treatment of primary liver cancer, while evidence for its application in hepatic metastases is still limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose transarterial radioembolization (TARE) in patients with hepatic metastases using resin Yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, patients who were treated with high-dose TARE for hepatic metastases with 90Y resin microspheres between May 2019 and April 2025 were included. The primary outcomes were treatment efficacy and toxicity assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Treatment efficacy was evaluated based on radiological response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1, time to progression and overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included 90Y PET/CT post-treatment voxel-based local deposition model dosimetry and its relations to response. Results: A total of 15 patients were included, with hepatic metastases originating from colorectal cancer (n = 11, 73.3%), neuroendocrine tumor (n = 3, 20%) and breast cancer (n = 1, 6.7%). Seven patients (47.7%) had undergone one or multiple prior loco(regional) liver treatments and 13 (86.7%) patients had prior systemic therapy. The median mean tumor absorbed dose was 160.7 Gy (IQR 127.6–245.0 Gy), and the median normal liver parenchyma dose was 40.3 Gy (IQR 21.7–52.3 Gy). Disease control was achieved in all patients, with partial response in 10 patients (66.7%) and stable disease in 5 patients (33.3%) after 3 months. The median OS was 26.5 months (95% CI 24.5 months to no estimate). Two patients (13.3%) experienced grade 3 laboratory toxicity. No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were observed. Conclusions: High-dose TARE with 90Y resin microspheres resulted in a high disease control rate and demonstrated a favorable safety profile, even in this heavily pretreated cohort....
In the last decade, notable developments have occurred regarding the application of membrane vesicles—encompassing extracellular vesicles (EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, and others), self-organized cellular-membrane-derived vesicles, and isolated cell-bound membrane vesicles, among others—as bioinspired drug delivery systems (DDSs). A collection of 10 papers on such advances was published in the Special Issue of Pharmaceutics entitled “Advances of membrane vesicles in drug delivery systems, 2nd Edition”. These papers investigate the Minimum Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV), in vivo fluorescence imaging and tracking, in vivo specific tissue targeting, and the therapeutic application of membrane vesicles as DDSs in cancers, osteoarthritis, ocular disorders, intestinal disease, and kidney diseases. The present article briefly summarizes these related topics and provides novel insights into the research on membrane vesicles as DDSs....
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that, when produced in excess, contribute to oxidative stress, promoting cellular damage and the progression of various diseases, including cancer. Polydatin (PD) is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic properties, proving effective in several in vitro studies as an antitumor agent. However, its clinical application is limited by low bioavailability, poor water solubility, and chemical instability. To overcome these limitations, nanocarrier systems based on biopolymers, such as chitosan (CS), represent promising strategies for drug delivery. In this study, we developed and optimized CS nanocapsules loaded with Polydatin using the ionotropic gelation method. The final formulation was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic and dielectrophoretic light scattering (DLS, DELS). Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and the biological effects of the nanocapsules on cancer cells were also evaluated. To assess their antitumor potential, PD-CS nanoparticles were tested on the human breast cancer SKBR3 cells, analyzing their effects on cell viability. The results demonstrate that CS nanocapsules loaded with PD are able to reduce SKBR3 cell proliferation, highlighting their potential for developing new therapeutic tools for cancer treatment....
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