Papers, explained in our own words

1. Current progress of self‑healing polymers for medical applications in tissue engineering

Self-healing polymers can repair damage and recover functionality, potentially extending the lifetime and safety of biomedical devices. Although self-healing hydrogels have been reviewed previously, papers focused specifically on their use in tissue engineering are scarce. This review summarizes fabrication methods, polymers, biomedical examples, and recent progress in self-healing polymers for tissue engineering. Acylhydrazone-crosslinked nanocomposite hydrogel: self-healing efficiency 97.5%; nearly 100% cell viability. - P(BAL-co-DMSA) hydrogel: self-healing within ~5 s in air and underwater; stretchability ~4500%; complete.

2. Engineering a “PEG-g-PEI/DNA nanoparticle-in-PLGA microsphere” hybrid controlled release system to enhance immunogenicity of DNA vaccine

Yingxi Lu, Fapu Wu, Weihua Duan, Xueluer Mu, Sha Fang, Nana Lu, Xianfeng Zhou, Wei Kong

DNA vaccines require high doses because naked DNA is poorly delivered to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and conventional PLGA microsphere encapsulation by W/O/W emulsion can damage DNA, lower supercoiled DNA content, and give low encapsulation efficiency. A controlled-release system is needed that protects DNA during formulation and enhances immunogenicity at lower doses. Polyplex characterization: PEG-g-PEI/DNA polyplexes at N/P = 20 had a size of 74.1 ± 21.2 nm and zeta potential of 11.47 ± 0.78 mV; transfection peaked at N/P ≥ 20, and cell viability was >90% at N/P ≤ 20. - NIM.

3. Morphologies and functionalities of polymeric nanocarriers as chemical tools for drug delivery A review

Venditti, I

Polymeric nanocarriers such as dendrimers, micelles, nanoparticles, nanogels, nanocapsules, and vesicles are widely investigated for drug delivery, but their morphology, surface chemistry, and functionalization strongly influence drug loading, controlled release, and targeting. This review addresses the need for a systematic overview of how morphology and surface modifications of polymeric nanocarriers can improve controlled drug delivery and. Dendrimers: Drug loading in interior core or on branched surface; size range 1–100 nm (mostly <10 nm); pH-responsive DOX release from FA-PEG-PAMAM-DOX@IONPs; GA-PPI dendrimers enhanced liver cell targeting and minimized.

4. Polymer–drug conjugate therapeutics advances, insights and prospects

Ekliadious, I.; Colson, Y. L.; Grinstaff, M. W

Polymer–drug conjugates have achieved clinical success, especially PEG–protein conjugates, but translation of many conjugates—particularly polymer–small-molecule anticancer therapeutics—remains limited. This review addresses the need for rational design, better understanding of in vivo barriers, and identification of obstacles to clinical translation. Oncaspar: PEG–L-asparaginase half-life extended to 357 h vs 20 h for unmodified enzyme. - Mircera: PEG–epoetin beta half-life 134 h vs <25 h for other ESAs. - PK1: 15-fold improved plasma half-life and 17–77-fold.

5. Nanostructured Lipid Carriers A Novel Platform for Chemotherapeutics

Rizwanullah M, Ahmad J, Amin S

Conventional cancer chemotherapy suffers from poor drug specificity, narrow therapeutic windows, high dose-limiting toxicity, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are biocompatible, biodegradable lipid-based nanoparticles that can improve solubility, stability, targeting, and controlled release of chemotherapeutics, potentially overcoming limitations of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and conventional delivery. PTX–DOX co-loaded NLCs had a mean size of 129.3 ± 4.2 nm and showed excellent cytotoxicity in NCI-H460 cells and in a human NSCLC xenograft model. - Curcumin NLCs (~214 nm) enhanced brain tumor inhibitory efficiency to.

6. Formulation and optimization of celecoxib-loaded PLGA nanoparticles by the Taguchi design and their in vitro cytotoxicity for lung cancer therapy

Jaber Emami, Aida Pourmashhadi, Hojat Sadeghi, Jaleh Varshosaz, Hamed Hamishehkar

COX-2 is overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is associated with poor prognosis. Celecoxib (Cxb), a COX-2 inhibitor, has antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects, but systemic administration carries cardiovascular risks. Pulmonary inhalation delivery of Cxb encapsulated in biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles could provide local targeting to lung tumors, controlled release, and reduced systemic toxicity. Particle size: 153–192 nm across formulations; optimized formulation 165 ± 10.2 nm. PLGA content, PVA concentration, and organic phase volume significantly affected size (p < 0.05). - Zeta potential: −4.5 to −8.6 mV;.

7. (3-Aminopropyl)-4-methylpiperazine End-capped Poly(1,4-butanediol diacrylate-co-4-amino-1-butanol)-based Multilayer Films for Gene Delivery

Cuicui Li, Stephany Y. Tzeng, Liane E. Tellier, Jordan J. Green

DNA-based therapeutics require an intracellular delivery system to be effective. For diseases like brain cancer—where local access to residual tumor is often available following surgical resection—an implantable device that enables both controlled release and intracellular delivery of DNA could open new complementary treatment avenues. While cationic poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) have shown superior transfection efficiency and low toxicity in. DNA loading: Films with 447 as the bottom layer had higher DNA loading than PDL-based films. DNA mass increased linearly with number of bilayers (up to ~7 μg for 4 bilayers with 447 vs. ~4 μg with PDL). - DNA release:.

8. Optimization of encapsulation of a synthetic long peptide in PLGA nanoparticles: low burst release is crucial for efficient CD8⁺ T cell activation

A.L. Silva, R.A. Rosalia, A. Sazak, M.G. Carstens, F. Ossendorp, J. Oostendorp, W. Jiskoot

Overlapping synthetic long peptides (SLPs) are promising for therapeutic cancer vaccination, but Montanide-based formulations have limitations including non-biodegradability, local side effects, poorly controlled release, and limited scalability. PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) offer a biodegradable alternative, but efficient encapsulation of moderately hydrophobic SLPs with low burst release had not been achieved. Standard acidic inner phase: Encapsulation efficiency was very low (1–30%) and burst release was extremely high (>70%) upon resuspension in PBS or IMDM. - Critical role of inner phase pH: Alkaline inner aqueous phase.

9. Polymeric nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Parveen, S.; Sahoo, S. K

Conventional cancer chemotherapy suffers from poor tumor selectivity, high required doses, systemic toxicity, rapid drug elimination, and multidrug resistance. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are reviewed as a strategy to improve targeted delivery, controlled release, and therapeutic efficacy while reducing adverse effects. Transferrin-conjugated paclitaxel NPs: Direct intratumoral injection in a subcutaneous prostate cancer mouse model produced complete tumor regression at a single TX dose of 4 mg/kg, with greater survival than TX-NPs or.

10. Controlled release of PEI/DNA complexes from mannose-bearing chitosan microspheres as a potent delivery system to enhance immune response to HBV DNA vaccine

Xianfeng Zhou, Bin Liu, Xianghui Yu, Xiao Zha, Xizhen Zhang, Yu Chen, Xueyun Wang, Yinghua Jin, Yongge Wu, Yue Chen, Yaming Shan, Yan Chen, Junqiu Liu, Wei Kong, Jiacong Shen

DNA vaccines can induce antibody and CTL responses, but clinical translation is limited by weak potency and the need for high or repeated doses. The study addresses this by targeting DNA to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and improving endosomal/lysosomal release, using mannose-bearing chitosan microspheres loaded with PEI/DNA complexes for an HBV DNA vaccine. Microsphere characterization: m-chitosan microspheres were 326.3 ± 31.9 nm, with 89 ± 2.6% DNA encapsulation efficiency and zeta potential 10.19 ± 3.23 mV. u-chitosan microspheres were 415.2 ± 44.2 nm, 94 ± 5.4%.

11. Selective targeting of antibody-conjugated nanoparticles to leukemic cells and primary T-lymphocytes

Norbert Dinauer, Sabine Balthasar, Carolin Weber, Jörg Kreuter, Klaus Langer, Hagen Von Briesen

Antibody-based therapeutics have shown promise in targeting specific cell types, but their efficacy can be enhanced by conjugation to drug carriers. Nanoparticles as drug carriers offer advantages including high drug loading capacity, controlled release, and protection from degradation. However, achieving selective cellular uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis requires targeted delivery systems. A nanoparticle platform that can be. ### Nanoparticle Characterization & Antibody Coupling | Parameter | Value | |---------------|-----------| | Nanoparticle size | ~211 nm | | NAv binding capacity | 7.36 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol NAv/mg NPs | | Anti-CD3 binding |.