Biomedical Applications for Gas-Stabilizing Solid Cavitation Agents.

For over a decade, advancements in ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery strategies have demonstrated remarkable success in providing targeted drug delivery for a broad range of diseases. In order to achieve enhanced drug delivery, these strategies harness the mechanical effects from bubble oscillations (i.e., cavitation) of a variety of exogenous cavitation agents. Recently, solid cavitation agents have emerged due to their capacity for drug-loading and sustained cavitation duration. Unlike other cavitation agents, solid cavitation agents stabilize gaseous bubbles on hydrophobic surface cavities. Thus, the design of these particles is crucial. In this Review, we provide an overview of the different designs for solid cavitation agents such as nanocups, nanocones, and porous structures, as well as the current status of their development. Considering the numerous advantages of solid cavitation agents, we anticipate further innovations for this new type of cavitation agent across a broad range of biomedical applications.

Paclitaxel loaded hyaluronic acid nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy: in vitro and in vivo analysis.

The main aim of this work was to evaluate a nanoconjugate system of paclitaxel loaded self-assembling, biodegradable micelles for targeting CD44 overexpression in cancer cells. The shape and size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and cell uptake of these drug-loaded micelles were evaluated. To understand their bio distribution profile, the hyaluronate (HA) micelles were labeled with Flamma™-774 NIR dye and injected into SCC7 tumor induced mice. Cell viability in response to drug loaded and unloaded micelles was studied in SCC7 cancer cells using the MTS assay. An in vivo tumor inhibition study was conducted by intravenous injection of paclitaxel-loaded HA micelle nanoparticles as well as control nanoparticles without paclitaxel. The shape of the nanomicelles was evaluated by loading them with hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle and then visualizing them by TEM. In conclusion, paclitaxel-loaded HA nanoparticulate micelles might be found to be a specific and efficient chemotherapeutic treatment for CD44 overexpressing cancer cells.