More than one out of every three new cancers is a skin cancer, and the large majority are basal cell carcinomas (BCC). Targeted therapy targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival and blocks the growth as well as the spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. Therefore, in the present study AS1411 aptamer-functionalized liposomes for the treatment of BCC were obtained and characterized. Aptamer conjugation increased liposome size, suggesting that the presence of an additional hydrophilic molecule on the liposomal surface increased the hydrodynamic diameter. As expected, the negatively charged DNA aptamer reduced the surface potential of the liposomes. Vertical Franz diffusion cells with artificial membranes were used to evaluate the in vitro release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The aptamer moieties increase the stability of the liposomes and act as a supplementary steric barrier leading to a lower cumulative amount of the released 5-FU. The in vitro cell viability, targeting capability and apoptotic effects of liposomes on the human dermal fibroblasts and on the basal cell carcinoma TE 354.T cell lines were also evaluated. The results indicate that the functionalized liposomes are more efficient as nanocarriers than the non-functionalized ones.

Smart polymeric micelles (PMs) are of practical interest as nanocarriers for the encapsulation and controlled release of hydrophobic drugs. Two hydrophobic drugs, naturally-based curcumin (Cur) and synthetic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were loaded into the PMs formed by a well-defined pH-sensitive poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2VP₉₀-b-PEO₃₉₈) block copolymer. The influence of the drug loading on the micellar sizes was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and it appears that the size of the PMs increases from around 60 to 100 nm when Cur is loaded. On the contrary, the loading of the 5-FU has a smaller effect on the micellar sizes. This difference can be attributed to higher molar mass of Cur with respect to 5-FU but also to higher loading efficiency of Cur, 6.4%, compared to that of 5-FU, 5.8%. In vitro drug release was studied at pH 2, 6.8, and 7.4, and it was observed that the pH controls the release of both drugs. At pH 2, where the P2VP sequences from the “frozen-in” micellar core are protonated, the drug release efficiencies exceed 90%. Moreover, it was demonstrated, by in vitro assays, that these PMs are hemocompatible and biocompatible. Furthermore, the PMs protect the Cur against the photo-degradation, whereas the non-ionic PEO corona limits the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein on the surface. This study demonstrates that these pH-sensitive PMs are suitable for practical utilization as human-safe and smart, injectable drug delivery systems.

Hydrogels are a favorable alternative to accelerate the burn wound healing process and skin regeneration owing to their capability of absorbing contaminated exudates. The bacterial infections that occur in burn wounds might be treated using different topically applied materials, but bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a major problem worldwide. Therefore, the use of non-antibiotic treatments represents a major interest in current research. In this study, new antibiocomposite hydrogels with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and sodium alginate (AG) were obtained using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazinyl-2)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride as an activator. The combination of Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to reduce inflammation, fever and pain in the body, with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was used in this study aimed at creating a complex hydrogel with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action and capable of improving the healing process of wounds caused by burns. FTIR spectra confirmed the cross-linking of AG with HA as well as the successful incorporation of ZnO NPs. Using electronic microscopy, it was noticed that the morphology of hydrogels is influenced by the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles. Moreover, the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles into hydrogels also has an influence on the swelling behavior at both pH 7.4 and 5.4. In fact, the swelling rate is lower when the amounts of the activator, HA and ZnO NPs are high. A drug release rate of almost 100% was observed for hydrogels without ZnO NPs, whereas the addition of nanoparticles to hydrogels led to a decrease in the release rate to 68% during 24 h. Cellular viability tests demonstrated the non-cytotoxic behavior of the hydrogels without the ZnO NPs, whereas a weak to moderate cytotoxic effect was noticed for hydrogels with ZnO NPs. The hydrogels containing 4% and 5% ZnO NPs, respectively, showed good antimicrobial activity against the S. aureus strain. These preliminary data prove that these types of hydrogels can be of interest as biomaterials for the treatment of burn wounds.

Non-aqueous dispersions (NAD) with two types of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), such as hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic cross-linked poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP), were synthesized in the present study starting from monomer-in-silicone oil (PDMS) polymerizable non-aqueous emulsions stabilized with the same tailor-made PDMS-based block copolymer. These NPs were loaded with CCisplatin, an antitumoral model drug, directly from the emulsion polymerization step, and it was observed that the presence of the drug leads only to a slight increase of the NPs size, from 120 to 150 nm. The drug release kinetics was evaluated at 37 °C in phosphate buffer at pH = 7.4 and it appeared that the drug release rate from the hydrophilic cross-linked PNVP-based NPs is higher than that from the hydrophobic PCL-based NPs. Moreover, haemolysis tests revealed the fact that these two types of NPs have a good compatibility with the blood. Furthermore, for both the free and drug-loaded NPs, the in vitro cytotoxicity and apoptosis was studied on two types of cancer cell lines, such as MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) and A-375 (skin cancer cell line). Both types of NPs had no cytotoxic effect but, at a concentration of 500 μg/mL, presented an apoptotic effect similar to that of the free drug.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Despite the fact that many treatments are currently available for eye diseases, the key issue that arises is the administration of drugs for long periods of time and the increased risk of inflammation, but also the high cost of eye surgery. Consequently, numerous daily administrations are required, which reduce patient compliance, and even in these conditions, the treatment of eye disease is too ineffective. Micellar polymers are core–shell nanoparticles formed by the self-assembly of block or graft copolymers in selective solvents. In the present study, polymeric micelles (PMs) were obtained by dialysis from smart biocompatible poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) [PCL-g-P(NVCL-co-NVP)] graft copolymers. Two copolymers with different molar masses were studied, and a good correlation was noted between the micellar sizes and the total degree of polymerisation (DPn) of the copolymers. The micelles formed by Cop A [PCL120-g-P(NVCL507-co-NVP128)], with the lowest total DPn, have a Z-average value of 39 nm, whereas the micellar sizes for Cop B [PCL120-g-P(NVCL1253-co-NVP139)] are around 47 nm. These PMs were further used for the encapsulation of two drugs with applications for the treatment of eye diseases. After the encapsulation of Dorzolamide, a slight increase in micellar sizes was noted, whereas the encapsulation of Indomethacin led to a decrease in these sizes. Using dynamic light scattering, it was proved that both free and drug-loaded PMs are stable for 30 days of storage at 4 °C. Moreover, in vitro biological tests demonstrated that the obtained PMs are both haemo- and cytocompatible and thus can be used for further in vivo tests. The designed micellar system proved its ability to release the encapsulated drugs in vitro, and the results obtained were validated by in vivo tests carried out on experimental animals, which proved its high effectiveness in reducing intraocular pressure.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) hydrogels are non-immunogenic, low-cost, biocompatible, and biodegradable. In order to avoid toxic cross-linking agents, gellan was oxidized with NaIO₄ to obtain new functional groups like dialdehydes for protein-based hydrogel cross-linking. The formed dialdehyde groups were highlighted with FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. This paper aims to investigate hydrogel films for biomedical applications obtained by cross-linking BSA with oxidized gellan (OxG) containing immobilized β-cyclodextrin–curcumin inclusion complex (β-CD–Curc) The β-CD–Curc improved the bioavailability and solubility of Curc and was prepared at a molar ratio of 2:1. The film’s structure and morphology were evaluated using FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM. The swelling degree (Q%) values of hydrogel films depend on hydrophilicity and pH, with higher values at pH = 7.4. Additionally, the conversion index of -NH₂ groups into Schiff bases increases with an increase in OxG amount. The polymeric matrix provides protection for Curc, is non-cytotoxic, and enhances antioxidant activity. At pH = 5.5, the skin permeability and release efficiency of encapsulated curcumin were higher than at pH = 7.4 because of the interaction of free aldehyde and carboxylic groups from hydrogels with amine groups from proteins present in the skin membrane, resulting in a better film adhesion and more efficient curcumin release.