Although the discovery of the Golgi apparatus (GA) was made over 125 years ago, only a very limited number of therapeutic approaches have been developed to target this complex organelle. The GA serves as a modification and transport center for proteins and lipids and also has more recently emerged as an important store for some ions. The dysregulation of GA functions is implicated in many cellular processes associated with cancer and some GA proteins are indeed described as cancer biomarkers. This dysregulation can affect protein modification, localization, and secretion, but also cellular metabolism, redox status, extracellular pH, and the extracellular matrix structure. Consequently, it can directly or indirectly affect cancer progression. For these reasons, the GA is an appealing anticancer pharmacological target. Despite this, no anticancer drug specifically targeting the GA has reached the clinic and few have entered the clinical trial stage. Advances in nanodelivery approaches may help change this scenario by specifically targeting tumor cells and/or the GA through passive, active, or physical strategies. This article aims to examine the currently available anticancer GA-targeted drugs and the nanodelivery strategies explored for their administration. The potential benefits and challenges of modulating and specifically targeting the GA function in the context of cancer therapy are discussed.

Transfersomes have been highlighted as an interesting nanotechnology-based approach to facilitate the skin delivery of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, the properties of these nanosystems still need to be improved to enable knowledge transfer to the pharmaceutical industry and the development of more efficacious topical medicines. Quality-by-design strategies, such as Box–Behnken factorial design (BBD), are in line with the current need to use sustainable processes to develop new formulations. Thus, this work aimed at optimizing the physicochemical properties of transfersomes for cutaneous applications, by applying a BBD strategy to incorporate mixed edge activators with opposing hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB). Tween^® 80 and Span^® 80 were used as edge activators and ibuprofen sodium salt (IBU) was selected as the model drug. After the initial screening of the IBU solubility in aqueous media, a BBD protocol was implemented, and the optimized formulation displayed appropriate physicochemical properties for skin delivery. By comparing the optimized transfersomes to equivalent liposomes, the incorporation of mixed edge activators was found to be beneficial to upgrade the storage stability of the nanosystems. Furthermore, their cytocompatibility was shown by cell viability studies using 3D HaCaT cultures. Altogether, the data herein bode well for future advances in the use of mixed edge activators in transfersomes for the management of skin conditions.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a complex pathogenesis involving epidermal barrier dysfunction and aberrant lipid composition, particularly ceramides and fatty acids (FA). Conventional management options, such as topical glucocorticoids (GC), often lead to adverse effects upon prolonged usage, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the potential of utilizing novel nanotechnology-based formulations to enhance the topical management of AD. Specifically, we explored the use of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) formulated with insect larvae oil as a carrier for dexamethasone (DEX), a representative GC, and as an adjunctive emollient to support skin barrier repair. The lipidic fraction of Black Soldier Fly larvae biomass, holding a rich blend of FA, holds substantial potential as a novel ingredient to tackle skin barrier impairment. Through systematic optimization using Box-Behnken Design, insect larvae oil-based SLN demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties for topical application and satisfactory stability over 2 months. Notably, these SLN exhibited a favorable drug release kinetics, delivering the total DEX payload within a therapeutically relevant timeframe. Furthermore, these SLN showed ability to permeate human keratinocytes without pronounced toxicity, suggesting their potential utility in enhancing drug delivery and cellular uptake. Overall, our findings suggest that insect larvae oil is a promising natural and sustainable ingredient for the development of nanotechnology-driven approaches to AD management, offering a potential avenue for addressing the unmet needs in this challenging dermatologic condition.

CBIOS is very glad to welcome you to the 1st edition of InnovDelivery. This international virtual meeting aims to explore the theme “Nature as inspiration for innovation in Health and Well-being”, bringing you the insights of leading researchers from the Lusophone world - Portugal and Brazil. The four scientific sessions will look into the future developments in nanotechnology-based delivery systems, topical and transdermal delivery, delivery technologies in cosmetics and consumer products, and innovative ingredients and sustainable strategies. This event also aims to provide all participants with new skills, networking, and new collaborations.