Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Mehdi Azizi, Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan, Hadi Samadian, Masoud Hamidi, Khaled Seidi, Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouz, Amirhossein Ahmadieh Yazdi, Amin Shavandi, Sophie Laurent, Mahsa Be Omide Hagh, Nahid Kasaiyan, Helder A. Santos, Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi
Summary: In the past three decades, nanoscience has provided a unique solution for reducing the systemic toxicity and increasing therapeutic efficiency of chemotherapy drugs. However, the poor accumulation and pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles hinder their translation into clinical use. New findings suggest that the efficacy based on enhanced permeability and retention may be as low as 1%. This review focuses on the current barriers, available solutions, and strategies for efficient drug delivery using nanocarriers and the tumor environment.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yinan Zhao, Lulu Liao, Hui Feng, Huijing Chen, Hongting Ning
Summary: This qualitative study explored the perspectives of key stakeholders on necessary factors to implement care quality improvement program. The participants' views were characterized by enablers and barriers, with various subthemes such as organizational support and resistance to change. These findings highlight factors at the organizational, staff, and societal levels that are essential for effective mentoring implementation.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinyi Lv, Leichen Wang, Anqing Mei, Yan Xu, Xiaohong Ruan, Wenjun Wang, Jinjun Shao, Dongliang Yang, Xiaochen Dong
Summary: Bacterial biofilm-related infectious diseases have a severe impact on human health. The low permeability and enrichment of therapeutic agents within the biofilm pose a challenge for treatment. This article summarizes the current progress in nanotechnology methods to improve the penetrability of therapeutic agents and discusses the challenges and future implementations of engineered delivery systems to manage biofilm infections.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Suhaila O. Alhaj-Suliman, Emad I. Wafa, Aliasger K. Salem
Summary: In the past two decades, there has been increasing interdisciplinary research on the development of nanoparticles for medical applications. However, nanoparticles still face biological barriers and biodistribution challenges, limiting their overall clinical potential. To overcome these limitations, innovative modifications have been made to nanoparticle formulations designed for cancer imaging and treatment, aiming to enhance specificity and target diseased tissues. Recent advancements in technology and chemistry have been employed to modify the surface and characteristics of nanoparticles, in combination with identifying critical biomarkers, providing new strategies for improving nanoparticle specificity in cancer diagnosis and therapy. This review discusses the latest advances in nanoparticle design and engineering, and outlines future directions for the development of next-generation nanomedicines.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aghiad Bali, Mohamed A. M. Kamal, Glorjen Mulla, Brigitta Loretz, Claus-Michael Lehr
Summary: With the emerging problem of antimicrobial resistance, new concepts for anti-infective drugs are emerging to de-weaponize bacteria rather than killing them. However, new biological barriers such as the biofilm matrix and bacterial cell envelope are creating challenges to maximize bacterial bioavailability. Functional materials and innovative delivery systems are needed to overcome these barriers, improve bacterial bioavailability, and enhance the effectiveness of anti-infective molecules.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Sayna Bahraini, Alexander R. Maisoneuve, Yirong Liu, Andre Samson, Qian Ying, Fei Li, Li Yang, Philippe Robaey
Summary: This study aims to identify the challenges and facilitators of implementing the shared care pathway for ADHD in a Chinese mental health service setting. The study found barriers and facilitators at the sociocultural level, structural level, and intervention level. The varying qualifications of physicians and the lack of appropriate patient referral systems between different hospital levels were identified as major obstacles to implementing the program.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Adam J. Plaunt, Tam L. Nguyen, Michel R. Corboz, Vladimir S. Malinin, David C. Cipolla
Summary: While inhalation route has been used for pharmacologic effect, it posed challenges for treating lung disease until sophisticated device and formulation technologies emerged. Now, there are several inhalation device technologies that efficiently deliver therapeutics to the lung and avoid excessive deposition elsewhere. Formulation technologies and drug chemistry modifications have also emerged to overcome degradation and clearance mechanisms, improve tolerability, or facilitate intracellular uptake.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sofia Miron-Barroso, Elena B. Domenech, Sonia Trigueros
Summary: Nanomaterials are being developed for gene delivery, but challenges such as low efficiency and potential toxicity need to be addressed. Advancements in nanotechnology are crucial for overcoming these limitations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Daiyan Li, Zhongtao Jia
Summary: The study shows that auxin dynamics play a critical role in facilitating plant root penetration into hard soil barriers. By mapping the genetic locus associated with primary root penetrability, new insights into the regulatory role of auxin signaling in root penetrability and related natural genetic variation for this important trait are gained.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Fabio A. Nascimento, Jay R. Gavvala
Summary: This study surveyed program directors of adult neurology residency programs in the United States to understand the EEG education provided to residents. It identified inconsistencies in teaching and evaluating residents, with barriers including insufficient EEG exposure and ineffective didactics. Possible solutions were suggested to optimize EEG education.
Article
Oncology
Thea C. Heil, Elisabeth J. M. Driessen, Tanja E. Argillander, Rene J. F. Melis, Huub A. A. M. Maas, Marcel G. M. Olde Rikkert, Johannes H. W. de Wilt, Barbara C. van Munster, Marieke Perry
Summary: This study aims to explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in prehabilitation for patients with colorectal cancer, with the goal of understanding the barriers and facilitators to its implementation and identifying strategies for successful operationalization. Important barriers include conflicting scientific evidence, the inability to offer personalized programs, complex logistical organization, and lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and patients. Relevant facilitators include program coordinators, physician leadership, and involving skeptical colleagues in the implementation process.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Flavia Castro, Claudia Martins, Maria Jose Silveira, Rui Pedro Moura, Catarina Leite Pereira, Bruno Sarmento
Summary: Erythrocyte-mimicking nanovehicles (EM-NVs) have been extensively studied as biomimetic coating on artificial nanocarriers due to their upgraded biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-immunogenicity, and long-term blood circulation. These EM-NVs have a wide range of applications in drug delivery, imaging, phototherapy, and other areas, showing great potential for therapeutic and diagnostic applications in various diseases.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jie Zhuang, Yiming Yu, Rui Lu
Summary: Due to abuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has become a global health threat. Many existing antibiotics have lost their effectiveness against drug-resistant bacteria, and the discovery of new antibiotics is becoming increasingly difficult. It is necessary to develop new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. Nano-drug delivery systems, particularly mesoporous silica nano-particles (MSNs), have been extensively investigated as carriers of antibiotics. MSNs improve the delivery of antibiotics by reducing size, modifying surface, and regulating shapes. Furthermore, MSNs hybridized with metal ions or nanoparticles enhance the antibacterial effect by controlling the release of metal ions or increasing active oxygen species. Metal-capped MSNs can also load antibiotics to exert a synergistic antibacterial effect. This paper reviews the current application of various nanomaterials as antibacterial agents, with a focus on MSNs and approaches for improving their antibacterial effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yara Al Ojaimi, Timothee Blin, Juliette Lamamy, Matthieu Gracia, Aubin Pitiot, Caroline Denevault-Sabourin, Nicolas Joubert, Jean-Pierre Pouget, Valerie Gouilleux-Gruart, Nathalie Heuze-Vourc'h, Debora Lanznaster, Sophie Poty, Thomas Secher
Summary: Antibody-based therapeutics have become an important class of drugs, with over 120 recombinant antibodies approved or under review. The field of antibody therapy is expected to grow rapidly in 2021-2022, fueled by the global response to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic and the disclosure of numerous anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies. In addition to intravenous delivery, alternative routes of administration have been developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient comfort. Understanding the barriers antibodies face upon entering the body is essential for optimizing their delivery and improving treatment outcomes.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Taskeen Iqbal Janjua, Yuxue Cao, Freddy Kleitz, Mika Linden, Chengzhong Yu, Amirali Popat
Summary: This review article discusses the progress of silica nanoparticles (SNP) in the biomedical field, focusing on their applications in drug delivery and diagnosis, as well as analyzing their safety aspects. The article critically evaluates the key structural characteristics of SNP to overcome different biological barriers, and recommends future directions and target areas for the rapid clinical translation of SNP.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2023)