Current Issue : January-March Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 5 Articles
Gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) are attractive oral extended-release dosage forms that prolong drug release and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract through engineered mechanisms to extend the residence time of orally administered dosage forms in the stomach. One of the gastroretentive designs is to render the dosage forms floatable in the gastric fluid upon oral administration. The present study aimed to develop albumin cryogels with extended buoyancy and remarkable resistance to gastric proteolysis. Protein hydrogel monoliths can be prepared through thiol-organosilane-mediated hydrogelation of bovine serum albumin, followed by lyophilization to remove water, thereby producing cryogels. The study demonstrates that, by adjusting the composition of Na2HPO4 and sodium alginate in the hydrogel formulation, protein degradability can be effectively tuned to produce an intact floating structure with sustained buoyancy for over 24 h in simulated gastric fluid. This result is consistent with the finding that fluorescein, as a model payload, generally exhibited a decreased release rate from the formulations with increasing concentrations of Na2HPO4 and alginate. Notably, above a threshold concentration (i.e., about 2%) of alginate, the hydrogel monolith rapidly disintegrated in nearly neutral environments such as water and simulated intestinal fluid, exhibiting pH-responsive characteristics. Finally, the generalizability of the albumin− organosilane−alginate system as a promising controlled-release platform is further demonstrated in expanded application examples, using doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, methylene blue, and rhodamine 6G as the loaded payload; all exhibiting reproducible controlledrelease profiles for the alginate-doped formulation. This finding can be explained by the SEM images showing smaller and denser porous structures with thicker, fiber-tangled intercompartment walls for gels with high alginate concentrations. Overall, the freezedried albumin−organosilane−alginate cryogel formulation demonstrates excellent buoyancy, resistance to degradation by simulated gastric fluid, and the ability to regulate drug release, highlighting its feasibility as a GRDDS....
Enhancing drug accumulation in target organs while minimizing adverse effects is critical for pharmacological therapies. Therefore, the development of advanced drug-targeting platforms is essential for clinical application. These systems must not only enable precise organ-specific targeting but also improve drug bioavailability and extend systemic circulation. In recent years, significant progress has been made in blood cell-inspired drug delivery strategies, with red blood cells-based (RBCs-based) platforms showing particular promise due to their inherent physiological advantages. Nevertheless, the development of organ-specific RBCs-mediated delivery systems remains challenging. We categorize and summarize various drug loading methods for existing RBCs, along with their advantages, disadvantages, and treated disease types. We then focus on describing various design strategies of RBCs-based delivery systems targeting specific organs and review their current applications. Additionally, we discuss current challenges and future perspectives regarding RBCs-based targeted delivery platforms....
The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance drives the need for innovative and multifunctional therapeutic systems. In this study, a controlled-release system based on a bioactive film composed of gelatin, bacterial cellulose (BC), sericin, citric acid, PEG 400, and nisin was developed for topical applications in infected wound treatment. BC membranes were produced using Komagataeibacter xylinus and enzymatically treated to optimize dispersion within the polymer matrix. The resulting system exhibited a semi-rigid, homogeneous morphology with appropriate visual characteristics for dermatological use. Microbiological assays demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and resistant Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae), attributed to the synergistic action of nisin and citric acid, which enhanced bacterial outer membrane permeability. The antioxidant capacity was confirmed through DPPH radical scavenging assays, indicating a progressive release of bioactive compounds over time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed good integration of biopolymers within the matrix. These results suggest that the strategic combination of natural biopolymers and antimicrobial agents produced a functional system with improved mechanical properties, a broadened antimicrobial spectrum, and promising potential as a bioactive wound dressing for the treatment of infected skin lesions....
We report the synthesis and characterization of folic acid (FA)-conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles, (HSA-FA):Ru NPs, as targeted carriers for rutin (Ru), a flavonoid with known anticancer activity. Nanoparticles were fabricated via a desolvation method, and their surface was functionalized with folic acid to promote selective uptake by cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors. Morphological and dimensional analyses performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fluorescence microscopy confirmed that all nanoparticles were below 100 nm and exhibited good colloidal stability. Voltametric measurements confirmed the successful incorporation of both rutin and folic acid within the (HSA-FA):Ru nanoparticle formulation. Biological evaluation was conducted on healthy L929 fibroblasts and HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. MTS colorimetric assays revealed that (HSA-FA):Ru NPs significantly reduced the viability of HT- 29 cells, while maintaining higher compatibility with L929 cells. Fluorescence and electron microscopy further confirmed preferential nanoparticle uptake and surface accumulation in HT-29 cells, supporting the role of folic acid in enhancing targeted delivery. The study demonstrates that HSA-based nanoparticles functionalized with FA and loaded with Ru offer a biocompatible and efficient strategy for selective intracellular drug delivery in colorectal cancer. These findings support the use of albumin-based nanocarriers in the development of targeted therapeutic platforms for cancer treatment....
Bone tissue restoration requires biomaterials, which combine osteoinductivity and the capability to prevent surgical site infections. Magnesium-substituted biphasic calcium phosphate (Mg-BCP) represents a promising solution, as magnesium substitution increases the biodegradation rate of calcium phosphate ceramics and provides inherent antibacterial properties. This study aimed to achieve wet precipitation synthesis of magnesiumsubstituted (1–10 mol%) biphasic calcium phosphate and to evaluate its drug delivery potential and antibacterial performance. Porous Mg-BCP granules were fabricated via the gelation of Mg-BCP suspension in sodium alginate followed by polymer removal. Drug delivery potential was evaluated using methylene blue as a model compound, with methylcellulose encapsulation implemented to ensure prolonged release. Magnesium content directly ruled the phase composition: low concentrations (1%) favored hydroxyapatite phase prevalence, while higher concentrations led to the β-tricalcium phosphate formation. Further assessment of drug delivery potential revealed that direct drug loading resulted in burst release, whereas methylcellulose encapsulation successfully enabled prolonged drug delivery. Mg-5BCP formulation demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity with growth inhibition of 17.7 ± 4.1% against C. albicans, 20.8 ± 7.0% against E. faecalis, and 12.9 ± 7.5% against E. coli. Therefore, Mg-5BCP–methylcellulose composite granules present a versatile platform for antibacterial drug delivery for bone tissue engineering applications....
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