Progresses in polymeric nanoparticles for delivery of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), as an important class of chemotherapeutic drugs, induce apoptosis by altering the path of the cellular signal, resulting in cell death. However, some chemotherapeutic drugs have a limited therapeutic index and are usually destructive as well as unpredictable. In addition, the limitation of early diagnosis and inefficiency of some of the drugs in ordinary treatments lead to disease progression and decreases in the survival of cancer patients. For this purpose, various methods have been proposed, among them, nanomedicine has transpired as a modern approach for the treatment of multiple cancers. Over the last two decades, targeted therapy has been developed for cancer-specific cells/tissues and has rather restricted nonselective toxicities. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated nanoparticles (NPs), nano-scale drugs, and nano-carriers alone or in combination with other therapeutic, imaging, and theranostic agents would be applied as an effective approach targeting a diversity of malignant tissue. Therefore, using the latest advances in materials science and biomaterials, biology, it has happened that general diagnosis and treatment can be performed. In this review, we indicated the applications of theranostic nano-polymer and nano-liposome to TKIs delivery.

Lead and cadmium levels in raw bovine milk and dietary risk assessment in areas near petroleum extraction industries.

Oil fields are a source of heavy metal pollution, but few studies have evaluated its impact on the intake of these contaminants through milk, an important food especially for children. From February 2015 to 2016, 118 samples of raw cow's milk, 14 of fodder and 8 of water in Southwest Iran were collected from farms close to oil fields or related industries. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels were evaluated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean±SE in milk and fodder were 47.0±3.9 and 54.0±6.9µg/kg for Pb, and 4.7±1.0 and 3.5±1.3µg/kg for Cd. No Pb or Cd was detected in water. Most milk samples (82.2%) for Pb were above the permissible limits (20µg/kg). Exposure to Pb and Cd from milk consumption was calculated in two scenarios: mean and maximum exposure for the age range of 2-90years. The intake of an average Iranian adult (25years, 60kg b. w., 0.14kg milk/day) would be 6.6µg Pb and 0.66µg Cd/day (WI of 46.2 and 4.6µg, respectively), well below the risk values proposed by some international organizations, even in the maximum exposure scenario. However, Pb exposure for infants and toddlers may be closer to the risk values, since milk and milk products could be the main contributor to Cd and Pb, and small children consume 2-3 times more food than adults relative to their body weight. The risk of Pb and Cd exposure through milk close to oil fields should be considered and a monitoring plan for these contaminants is strongly recommended.

Tripolyphosphate-crosslinked chitosan/poly (ethylene oxide) electrospun nanofibrous mats as a floating gastro-retentive delivery system for ranitidine hydrochloride.

The present study describes the fabrication of Tripolyphosphate (TPP)-crosslinked nanofibrous mats based on chitosan for use as a floating gastro-retentive delivery system. TPP-crosslinked chitosan (CH)/poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)- ranitidine hydrochloride (RH) electrospun nanofibers (75.27 ±â€¯2.10 nm) were prepared by electrospinning 70% v/v acetic acid solutions, and followed by crosslinking by TPP anions. The mechanical, structural and morphological properties of the prepared nanofibers were evaluated via tensile testing, XRD, FT-IR, TGA, NMR, AFM and SEM experimental techniques. The prepared nanofibrous mats showed a pH sensitive swelling profile with maximum water absorbing at pH 1.2. Results obtained from above experimental techniques indicated that crosslinking process did not significantly altered morphological property of nanofibers but rather decreased their diameter and swelling degree, and increased their mechanical properties, thermal stability and bioadhesive strength. Viscosity measurements showed that the addition of PEO and RH to the chitosan solution, depending to its concentration lead to decrease in the viscosity of its solution. Also, floating test showed that the prepared nanofibrous mats remain floated onto surface of the dissolution medium for more than 48 h. Based on in- vitro drug release data analysis, TPP-crosslinked CH/PEO nanofibrous mats decreased initial burst release and it was exhibited a sustained release profile for the RH from the TPP-crosslinked CH/PEO-RH electrospun nanofibrous mats.

Facile fabrication and characterization of a novel oral pH-sensitive drug delivery system based on CMC hydrogel and HNT-AT nanohybrid.

The main aim of the present study was to design pH-sensitive bionanocomposite hydrogel beads based on CMC and HNT-AT nanohybrid and evaluate whether prepared bionanocomposite beads have the potential to be used in drug delivery applications. Atenolol (AT), as a model drug, was incorporated into the lumen of HA nanotubes via the co-precipitation technique. HNT/AT nanohybrid and CMC/HNT-AT beads were characterized via XRD, SEM, TGA, and FT-IR techniques. Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency was found to be high for CMC/HNT3 beads. Moreover, the swelling and drug release properties of the prepared CMC/HA-AT beads were investigated, and showed a pH sensitive swelling behavior with maximum its content at pH 6.8. Also, it was found that the swelling ratio of CMC/HNT beads was lower than that of pristine CMC beads. Drug release behavior of CMC/HNT-AT bionanocomposite hydrogel beads were investigated. A more sustained and controlled drug releases were observed for CMC/HNT-AT beads.