Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Publisher Correction: On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Porous calcium phosphate-poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid composite bone cement: A viable tunable drug delivery system.

Calcium phosphate based cements (CPCs) are frequently used as bone void fillers for non-load bearing segmental bone defects due to their clinically relevant handling characteristics and ability to promote natural bone growth. Macroporous CPC scaffolds with interconnected pores are preferred for their ability to degrade faster and enable accelerated bone regeneration. Herein, a composite CPC scaffold is developed using newly developed resorbable calcium phosphate cement (ReCaPP) formulation containing degradable microspheres of bio-compatible poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) serving as porogen. The present study is aimed at characterizing the effect of in-vitro degradation of PLGA microspheres on the physical, chemical and structural characteristics of the composite cements. The porosity measurements results reveal the formation of highly interconnected macroporous scaffolds after degradation of PLGA microspheres. The in-vitro characterizations also suggest that the degradation by products of PLGA reduces the pH of the local environment thereby increasing the dissolution rate of the cement. In addition, the in-vitro vancomycin release from the composite CPC scaffold suggests that the drug association with the composite scaffolds can be tuned to achieve control release kinetics. Further, the study demonstrates control release lasting for longer than 10weeks from the composite cements in which vancomycin is encapsulated in PLGA microspheres.

Poly(ester-anhydride):poly(beta-amino ester) micro- and nanospheres: DNA encapsulation and cellular transfection.

Poly(ester-anhydride) delivery devices allow flexibility regarding carrier dimensions (micro- versus nanospheres), degradation rate (anhydride versus ester hydrolysis), and surface labeling (through the anhydride functional unit), and were therefore tested for DNA encapsulation and transfection of a macrophage P388D1 cell line. Poly(l-lactic acid-co-sebacic anhydride) and poly(l-lactic acid-co-adipic anhydride) were synthesized through melt condensation, mixed with 25 wt.% poly(beta-amino ester), and formulated with plasmid DNA (encoding firefly luciferase) into micro- and nanospheres using a double emulsion/solvent evaporation technique. The micro- and nanospheres were then characterized (size, morphology, zeta potential, DNA release) and assayed for DNA encapsulation and cellular transfection over a range of poly(ester-anhydride) copolymer ratios. Poly(ester-anhydride):poly(beta-amino ester) composite microspheres (6-12 microm) and nanospheres (449-1031 nm), generated with copolymers containing between 0 and 25% total polyanhydride content, encapsulated plasmid DNA (>or=20% encapsulation efficiency). Within this polyanhydride range, poly(adipic anhydride) copolymers provided DNA encapsulation at an increased anhydride content (10%, microspheres; 10-25%, nanospheres) compared to poly(sebacic anhydride) copolymers (1%, microspheres and nanospheres) with cellular transfection correlating with the observed DNA encapsulation.

Anthrax vaccine: immunogenicity and safety of a dose-reduction, route-change comparison study in humans.

Anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA), an effective countermeasure against anthrax, is administered as six subcutaneous (SQ) doses over 18 months. To optimize the vaccination schedule and route of administration, we performed a prospective pilot study comparing the use of fewer AVA doses administered intramuscularly (IM) or SQ with the current schedule and route. We enrolled 173 volunteers, randomized to seven groups, who were given AVA once IM or SQ; two doses, 2 or 4 weeks apart, IM or SQ; or six doses at 0, 2, 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months (control group, licensed schedule and route). IM administration of AVA was associated with fewer injection site reactions than SQ administration. Following the first SQ dose of AVA, compared to males, females had a significantly higher rate of injection site reactions such as erythema, induration and subcutaneous nodules (P<0.001). Reaction rates decreased with a longer dose interval between the first two doses. The peak anti-PA IgG antibody response of subjects given two doses of AVA 4 weeks apart IM or SQ was comparable to that seen among subjects who received three doses of AVA at 2-week intervals. The IM route of administering this aluminum hydroxide adsorbed vaccine is safe and has comparable peak anti-PA IgG antibody levels when two doses are administered 4 weeks apart compared to the licensed initial dose schedule of three doses administered 2 weeks apart. A large pivotal study is being planned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm these results.