Intrinsic and Dynamic Heterogeneity of Nonlamellar Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Nanodispersions

Abstract

Nonlamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) nanoparticles are a family of versatile nano-self-assemblies, which are finding increasing applications in drug solubilization and targeted drug delivery. LLC nanodispersions are heterogeneous with discrete nanoparticle subpopulations of distinct internal architecture and morphology, frequently coexisting with micelles and/or vesicles. Diversity in the internal architectural repertoire of LLC nanodispersions grants versatility in drug solubilization, encapsulation, and release rate. However, drug incorporation contributes to the heterogeneity of LLC nanodispersions, and on exposure to biological media, LLC nanodispersions often undergo nanostructural and morphological transformations. From a pharmaceutical perspective, coexistence of multiple types of nanoparticles with diverse structural attributes, together with media-driven transformations in colloidal characteristics, brings challenges in dissecting biological and therapeutic performance of LLC nanodispersions in a spatiotemporal manner. Here, we outline innate and acquired heterogeneity of LLC nanodispersions and discuss technological developments and alternative approaches needed to improve homogeneity of LLC formulations for drug delivery applications.

Recent Advances in Antibacterial Coatings to Combat Orthopedic Implant-Associated Infections

“…Among others, lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline phases, particularly inverse bicontinuous cubic (Q 2 ) and hexagonal (H 2 ) phases, may find application in next-generation antibacterial coatings, as depicted in Figure 3 . This is attributed to their unique nanostructural versatility, the biocompatibility of their major lipid constituents (such as monounsaturated monoglycerides, diunsaturated monoglycerides, and omega-3 fatty acid monoglycerides), bioadhesive properties, and capability of loading and sustaining the release of amphiphilic, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic drugs [ 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ]. Further, it is worth exploring the possible functionalization of hydrogels or polymeric matrices by embedding the corresponding nanoparticles of the inverse non-lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline phases (particularly cubosomes and hexosomes), which are recently popular nano-self-assemblies in the development of nanocarriers for drug delivery applications [ 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 ], or through their immobilization for designing cubosome or hexosome coatings by employing chemical surface activation methods.…”