Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) integrity and function are essential for neural retina homeostasis and play a major role in ocular diseases associated with senescence (as in age related macular degeneration) and in diseases associated with dystrophies of the photoreceptors. RPE cells therefore may serve as a potential targets for drug delivery and gene transfer aiming at arresting or reversing...

We currently use Convection-Enhanced Delivery (CED) of the platinum-based drug, carboplatin as a novel treatment strategy for high grade glioblastoma in adults and children. Although initial results show promise, carboplatin is not specifically toxic to tumour cells and has been associated with neurotoxicity at high infused concentrations in pre-clinical studies. Our treatment strategy requires...

To increase the accumulation of nanocarriers at the tumor site and reduce premature drug leakage, we fabricated alginate modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with magnetic targeting capability for pH-responsive release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) in tumor-cell microenvironments. The drug loading content (DLC) of SPION-4 was as high as 48.98% with a stable si...

Potent immunoadjuvants are needed to elicit responses following mucosal delivery. PLGA (poly[D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid]) nanospheres, Quillaja saponin (QS) and cross-linked dextran microspheres (CDM) as drug delivery and absorption enhancer adjuvants were evaluated. PLGA nanospheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method. Particulate characteristics of nanospheres were studied by optical...

Extended Abstract Recent studies have shown that treatment with Memantine (MEM) protected retinal ganglion cells in monkey models of glaucoma, reducing ganglion cell loss during treatment with this drug (Hare et al, 2009). An important goal is the development of a safe and effective formulation for delivery of Memantine to the eye posterior segment. In this way, biodegradable polyesters such as...

D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) has been utilized in numerous drug delivery formulations in recent years. Because of its amphiphilic structure, it can be used as emulsifier and vehicle for lipid-based drug delivery formulations. It is also an effective P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor. However, TPGS represents only one of the surfactants in the class of "Vitamin-PEG" conj...

Docetaxel (Dtx) chemotherapy is the optional treatment in patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, and Dtx-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to induce durable clinical responses. However, alternative formulations are needed to overcome the serious side effects, also due to the adjuvant used, and to improve the clinical efficacy of the drug.In the presen...

Successful drug therapies for treating ocular diseases require effective concentrations of neuroprotective compounds maintained over time at the site of action. The purpose of this work was to assess the efficacy of intravitreal controlled delivery of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres for the treatment of the retina in a rat ...

Aim of this work was to compare the efficacy of two loading methods of proteins onto polymeric nanocarriers: adsorption and encapsulation methods. Preliminary studies of protein loading were done using Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as model protein. Nanocarriers were prepared starting from polylactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymer; production methods used are two different variants of emulsion ev...

Extended Abstract A great interest has been shown towards designing bone targeted medical delivery systems for the treatment of several bone disorders. This approach ensures the release of the drug to the site of the disease [1]. Moreover, it allows delivery of drugs that have low bioavailability when administrated by conventional routes. This leads to enhanced patient adherence and an improved...