Strategies for targeting and remodeling tumor microenvironment / 药学学报

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of abnormal tumor vasculature, extracellular matrix components, endothelial cells, pericytes, tumor associated fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and immune cells, which is characterized by hypoxia, acidosis and high interstitial fluid pressure. Hypoxia and acidosis within the TME trigger an adjustment of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a response from neighbor stromal cells (e.g., fibroblasts) and immune cells (lymphocytes and macrophages), inducing tumor growth, angiogenesis, and ultimately, resulting in metastasis. What's more, the components of TME including abnormal tumor vasculature, rich composition of the ECM, and abundant stroma cells impair tumoral distribution and penetration of the drugs. At the same time, this stromal microenvironment plays a vital role in creating an immunosuppressive environment.Over the past years, more and more researches focus on targeting and remolding TME to improve therapeutic effects against tumors. Herein, we reviewed current strategies developed to target and remodel TME, including modulating tumor hypoxia, tumor vasculature, tumor associated fibroblasts, extracellular matrix components, tumor associated macrophage phenotypes and dendritic cells. Also, potential problems and future directions are pointed out in this review.

Drugs and drug delivery strategies for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension / 药学学报

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), also named as a cancer of cardiovascular disease, is a rare disease and has complicated pathogenesis. Recently, there are more understandings of PAH pathogeneses. According to the pathogenesis and active pathways, the clinically used drugs are classified into several groups incluidng prostacyclin analogues and prostacyclin receptor agonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, etc. To elevate the efficacy of the drugs, numerous drug delivery systems are developed. This review mainly summarized the pathological mechanism of PAH, drugs and drug delivery approaches in the treatment of PAH.

Research & development and evaluation of oral films / 中国中药杂志

Oral film is a new type of oral preparation. Due to portability, simple preparation process and good clinical compliance, oral films have become the focus of novel drug delivery system in recent years. Meanwhile, oral films have been gradually used in the development of Chinese medicine preparations. According to the application and approval situation of different types of oral films both at home and abroad in recent years, their research and development status was analyzed, including the basic concept, formulation, manufacturing process and quality control, as well as related progress and development prospects of oral films applied in traditional Chinese medicine. Some suggestions on the technical evaluation of oral films were put forward by considering specific requirements from regulatory agencies. This paper could provide some references for the development and evaluation of oral films. Due to the complexity of the drug substances and the particularity of the drug product, the development and application of oral films in traditional Chinese medicine are still faced with opportunity and challenges.

Effects of 2-n-nonyl-1,3-dioxolane as an enhanceron transdermal absorption of Salvia miltiorrhiza gel / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To choose the most suitable concentration of 2-n-nonyl-1,3-dioxolane as a penetration enhancer in tanshinone gel preparation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>In vitro, transdermal absorption was studied using improved Frans equipment and rats skin. Tanshinone II A was tested by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The 4.0% concentration of 2-n-nonyl-1,3-dioxolane enhanced the transdermal absorption significantly in the preparation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>2-n-nonyl-1,3-dioxolane was a new effective permeaton enhancer.</p>