Antitumor Features of Vegetal Protein-Based Nanotherapeutics

Voci, Silvia; Gagliardi, Agnese; Fresta, Massimo; Cosco, Donato

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics12010065

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 158 publications

(207 reference statements)

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“…Like cellulose and starch, it is also a highly-abundant and low-cost material. The amino acid composition of soy proteins (polar, non-polar, and charged amino acids, such as glutamate, aspartate and leucine) promotes the substantial entrapment efficiency of hydrophobic drugs; its solubility characteristics in aqueous environments can be exploited for different administration routes ( DeFrates et al, 2018 ; Voci et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Polymeric Nanoparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Solid Tumors

et al. 2021

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Advances in nanotechnology have favored the development of novel colloidal formulations able to modulate the pharmacological and biopharmaceutical properties of drugs. The peculiar physico-chemical and technological properties of nanomaterial-based therapeutics have allowed for several successful applications in the treatment of cancer. The size, shape, charge and patterning of nanoscale therapeutic molecules are parameters that need to be investigated and modulated in order to promote and optimize cell and tissue interaction. In this review, the use of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery systems of anticancer compounds, their physico-chemical properties and their ability to be efficiently localized in specific tumor tissues have been described. The nanoencapsulation of antitumor active compounds in polymeric systems is a promising approach to improve the efficacy of various tumor treatments.

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Section: Polymeric Nanoparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Solid Tumors

et al. 2021

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“…The composition and solubility of zein are prohibitive for its application in food products for human consumption, due to the poor nutritional quality of the protein [ 2 ]. However, the unique properties of this protein have great potential as a starting biomaterial for the development of various structures, including micro/nanoparticles, films, gels, and other formulations able to achieve a sustained release of several drugs as well as improving their therapeutic efficiency and patient compliance [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Various Model Compounds on the Rheological Properties of Zein-Based Gels

et al. 2020

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The controlled release of a compound entrapped in a biocompatible formulation is a sought-after goal in modern pharmaceutical technology. Zein is a hydrophobic protein which has several advantageous properties that make it suitable for use as a biocompatible and degradable material under physiological conditions. It is, therefore, proposed for different biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In particular, due to its gelling properties, it can be used to form a polymeric network able to preserve biomolecules from harsh environments. The current study was designed to investigate the influence of different probes on the rheological properties of gels made up of zein, in order to characterize the systems as a function of the polymer concentration. Four model compounds characterized by different physico-chemical properties were entrapped in zein gels, and different behaviors (viscoelastic or pronounced solid-like characteristics) of the systems were observed. Zein-based gels showed various release profiles of the encapsulated compounds, suggesting that there are different interaction rates between the probes and the polymeric matrix.

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“…Biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity are mandatory requirements in the design and development of an innovative drug delivery system [191,192]. In this regard, natural polymers are feasible alternatives to synthetic and semi-synthetic raw materials [193,194]. To date, Oncogel ® , a thermosensitive PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer-based hydrogel, is the only formulation ever proposed for the local release of PTX in solid tumors, but it brought about no significant improvements in terms of anti-tumor efficacy, so it did not reach the market [195,196].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances of Taxol-Loaded Biocompatible Nanocarriers Embedded in Natural Polymer-Based Hydrogels

Voci

Gagliardi

Molinaro

et al. 2021

Gels

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The discovery of paclitaxel (PTX) has been a milestone in anti-cancer therapy and has promoted the development and marketing of various formulations that have revolutionized the therapeutic approach towards several malignancies. Despite its peculiar anti-cancer activity, the physico-chemical properties of PTX compromise the administration of the compound in polar media. Because of this, since the development of the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved formulation (Taxol®), consistent efforts have been made to obtain suitable delivery systems able to preserve/increase PTX efficacy and to overcome the side effects correlated to the presence of some excipients. The exploitation of natural polymers as potential materials for drug delivery purposes has favored the modulation of the bioavailability and the pharmacokinetic profiles of the drug, and in this regard, several formulations have been developed that allow the controlled release of the active compound. In this mini-review, the recent advances concerning the design and applications of natural polymer-based hydrogels containing PTX-loaded biocompatible nanocarriers are discussed. The technological features of these formulations as well as the therapeutic outcome achieved following their administration will be described, demonstrating their potential role as innovative systems to be used in anti-tumor therapy.

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Antitumor Features of Vegetal Protein-Based Nanotherapeutics

Cited by 22 publications

References 158 publications

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Solid Tumors

Biodegradable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery to Solid Tumors

Influence of Various Model Compounds on the Rheological Properties of Zein-Based Gels

Recent Advances of Taxol-Loaded Biocompatible Nanocarriers Embedded in Natural Polymer-Based Hydrogels

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