Carbon dots are a carbonaceous nanomaterial that were discovered accidentally and are now drawing significant attention as a new quantum-sized fluorescent nanoparticle. Carbon dots are biocompatible, non-toxic, photostable, and easily functionalized with good photoluminescence and water solubility. Due to these unique properties, they are used broadly in live cell imaging, catalysis, electronics, biosensing, power, targeted drug delivery, and other biomedical applications. Here, we review the recent development of carbon dots in nanomedicine from their use in drug carriers to imaging agents to multifunctional theranostic systems. Finally, we discuss the challenges and views on next-generation carbon dot-based theranostics for clinical applications.

2019) Recent progress in nanotechnology-based novel drug delivery systems in designing of cisplatin for cancer therapy: an overview, Artificial ABSTRACT Cisplatin cis-(diammine)dichloridoplatinum(II) (CDDP) is the first platinum-based complex approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) of the United States (US). Cisplatin is the first line chemotherapeutic agent used alone or combined with radiations or other anti-cancer agents for a broad range of cancers such as lung, head and neck. Aroplatin TM , Lipoplatin TM and SPI-077 are PEGylated liposomebased nano-formulations that are still under clinical trials. They have many limitations, for example, poor aqueous solubility, drug resistance and toxicities, which can be overcome by encapsulating the cisplatin in Nemours nanocarriers. The extensive literature from different electronic databases covers the different nano-delivery systems that are developed for cisplatin. This review critically emphasizes on the recent advancement, development, innovations and updated literature reported for different carrier systems for CDDP. ARTICLE HISTORY Current status of FDA-approved/under clinical trials CDDP nano-formulationsMany liposomal-based nano-formulations are at the stage of clinical trials. One of under clinical trials drugs, Lipoplatin (Regulon, Inc.), is liposome-based platinum formulation under Phase III clinical trials [11]. It contains a combination of cisplatin (9%) and lipids (91%(w/w)), including soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC-3), cholesterol, dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG) and methoxy-PEG-distearoyl phosphatidyl

For cancer therapy, the usefulness of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MPSNPs) has been widely discussed, likely due to its inorganic nature and excellent structural features. The MPSNPs‐based chemotherapeutics have been promisingly delivered to their target sites that help to minimize side effects and improve therapeutic effectiveness. A wide array of studies have been conducted to functionalize drug‐loaded MPSNPs using targeting ligands and stimuli‐sensitive substances. In addition, anticancer drugs have been precisely delivered to their target sites using MPSNPs, which respond to multi‐stimuli. Furthermore, MPSNPs have been extensively tested for their safety and compatibility. The toxicity level of MPSNPs is substantially lower as compared to that of colloidal silica; however, in oxidative stress, they exhibit cytotoxic features. The biocompatibility of MPSNPs can be improved by modifying their surfaces. This article describes the production procedures, functionalization, and applications of biocompatible MPSNPs in drug delivery.

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Hydrogels are cross-linked three-dimensional polymeric networks that play a vital role in solving the pharmacological and clinical limitations of the existing systems due to their unique physical properties such as affinity for biological fluids, tunable porous nature, high water content, ease of preparation, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Hydrogel also mimics the living natural tissue, which opens several opportunities for its use in biomedical areas. Injectable hydrogel allows temporal control and exceptional spatial arrangements and can offset hitches with established hydrogel-based drug delivery systems. Here, we review the recent development of injectable hydrogels and their significance in the delivery of therapeutics such as cells, genes, and drug molecules and how these innovatory systems can complement the current delivery systems. KEYWORDSdrug delivery, injectable hydrogels, tissue engineering | INTRODUCTIONIn the past few years, efforts were done to develop injectable remedies with minimal invasive, using syringes or catheters, for drug delivery and targeted cell therapy. 1 Among the most studied biomaterials, hydrogels are considered appropriate scaffolding biomaterials for regeneration of damaged tissues or organs, targeted cell therapy, and drug delivery. 2 Hydrogels are composed of synthetic or natural hydrophilic polymers that form a three-dimensional network and possess flexibility due to large water content. 3,4 The hydrogel backbone is made of several hydrophilic functional groups, such as carboxylic, amine, sulfate, and hydroxyl groups, which permit hydrogel to absorb water. Hydrogels may be charged or neutral, depending on the type of functional groups present in their structure. Rheological properties of hydrogels indicate its viscoelastic nature. Based on the crosslinking properties, it is classified into "chemical" and "physical" gels.Polymers that are held together by molecular bonds are called "chemical" gels. In physical gels, secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonds, ionic cross-linking, hydrophobic interactions, and/or molecular entanglements are responsible to hold chains together. 5,6 Physical cross-linked hydrogels has several advantages over the chemical cross-linked hydrogels such as solvent casting, easy fabrication, less toxic, reshaping, postprocess bulk modification, and biodegradation. 7This cross-linking makes it insoluble in water and gives it suitable geometrical dimensions. It has capacity to swell and deswell, due to which it can retain huge quantity of water in it. The swelling and deswelling property of hydrogel mostly depends on the surrounding environmental factors such as pH, ionic concentration, and temperature. 8,9 In vitro cross-linking of hydrogel takes place during its preparation, while in vivo cross-linking takes place after its application at the specific site on the human body. The cross-linking reaction is initiated by adding cross-linking substance together with a hydrophilic linear polymer chains into the mixture. In the absence of cross-linkin...