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Understanding the Role of Existing Technology in the Fight Against COVID-19
Published in Ram Shringar Raw, Vishal Jain, Sanjoy Das, Meenakshi Sharma, Pandemic Detection and Analysis Through Smart Computing Technologies, 2022
The use of 3D materials has increased in the medical field over the past years. Initially, 3D printing was used to manufacture medical items like hearing aids and prosthetics [53]. Thereafter, 3D printing has been explored for producing and transplanting engineered tissues and organs [54, 55]. Other examples include drug delivery systems [56], fabrication of bones [57], cartilages [58], and dental implants [59]. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new outlook when it comes to using 3D printing technology. The shortage of medical devices that was encountered all over the world led to exploring the possibility of fast production of medical tools. The face masks, face shields, PPE, and testing kits are some of the medical goods that are extensively used in medical emergencies. The production of these items, along with some others (like ventilator valves, nasal swabs, oxygen masks, door opener, etc.), can be realized through the use of 3DPT [60, 61]. The fitting of the masks on the face is an essential requirement for the effectiveness of the mask in preventing spread of the virus. Therefore, a customization of the mask can be achieved through the accurate modeling of the customer’s facial features. Although the use of 3DPT has been seen as an opportunity to develop products during COVID-19, the safety standards and other procedures also need to be taken care of that will ensure whether the 3D printed products pass the quality check of the approved guidelines.
Introduction
Published in Dilip M. Parikh, Handbook of Pharmaceutical Granulation Technology, 2021
For both small molecules and biopharmaceuticals, more sophisticated drug delivery systems are being developed to overcome the limitations of conventional forms of drug delivery systems (e.g., tablets and intravenous [IV] solutions), problems of poor drug absorption, noncompliance of patients, and inaccurate targeting of therapeutic agents. Futuristic drug delivery systems are being developed, which are hoped to facilitate the transport of a drug with a carrier to its intended destination in the body and then release it there. Liposomes, monoclonal antibodies, and modified viruses are being considered to deliver “repair genes” by IV injection to target the respiratory epithelium in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. These novel drug delivery systems not only offer clear medical benefits to the patient but can also create opportunities for commercial exploitation, especially useful if a drug is approaching the end of its patent life. Particle engineering is a term coined to encompass means of producing particles having a defined morphology, particle size distribution, and composition. Particle engineering combines elements of many others, including chemistry, pharmaceutics, colloid science, mass and heat transfer, aerosol and powder science, and solid-state physics.
Delivery of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Using Nanoparticles
Published in Hala Gali-Muhtasib, Racha Chouaib, Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Treatment, 2020
Abdullah Shaito, Houssein Hajj Hassan
Overall, carrier-based drug delivery is compatible with the physicochemical characteristics of APIs where the carriers are often designed to increase the load ability of APIs, reduce their side effects, and protect the API against host conditions. Encapsulation of APIs in carrier-based vesicular or particulate systems is often used to preserve the API physicochemical properties. This encapsulation is an innovative and alternative approach to minimize APIs side effects and maintain their efficacy. Furthermore, microencapsulation has been employed in the production of microspheres, manufactured with biocompatible polymers, that can entrap both hydrophilic or hydrophobic APIs [66–68]. Oftentimes, an additional factor for using these carriers is the ability to control the release of the API, and hence maintain effective therapeutic API levels over specified periods of time while minimizing systemic absorption of the APIs [67, 69]. The different classes of drug delivery systems are also summarized in Fig. 5.4.
Platelets for advanced drug delivery in cancer
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2023
Daniel Cacic, Tor Hervig, Håkon Reikvam
Generally, drug delivery systems are used to optimize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a drug, thus improving its therapeutic efficacy and safety. However, promising preclinical data on liposome-formulated chemotherapeutics usually do not translate into substantially better therapeutic efficacy in clinical studies [104]. However, a liposomal formulation may be more beneficial than the free drug if it reduces the frequency or severity of adverse events. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline frequently used to treat solid and hematological malignancies as a liposomal formulation and a free drug. Thus, as much clinical data are available, DOX is ideal for comparing toxicity. However, systematic reviews generally conclude that conventional and liposomal formulations have similar toxicity profiles. Although the risk of cardiotoxicity may be reduced in liposomal formulations, the risk of hand-foot syndrome increases [105–107].
Polymers, responsiveness and cancer therapy
Published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 2019
Anil M. Pethe, Khushwant S. Yadav
Enzymes are the fundamental proteins which have a significant role to play in most of the vital tasks in a biological molecule. Typically from the smaller chemical reactions in a cell to larger metabolic processes in a tissue or organ comprise of enzymes. It is nearly difficult to imagine a single biochemical reaction inside a human body without the use of enzymes. Enzymes are sharp biological triggers to react over minute changes inside the human body. Sometimes they may be just used as catalyst or to speed up a reaction. The changes in dysregulation of enzyme expression can be very well used for therapeutics. Inherent characteristics of the enzymes like ability to work like a catalyst, specificity, detectability and responsiveness make them important stimuli to work against cancer. For example, as compared to the healthy cells, there is a changed catalyst articulation observed in cancer cells. As cancer-affected cells display features which can be recognized by the enzyme-mediated delivery system. With a proper control over the enzymatic activity, many delivery systems can be used to exploit enzyme responsiveness to target cancer cells. This section describes some of these notable drug delivery systems.
Emerging frontiers in drug release control by core–shell nanofibers: a review
Published in Drug Metabolism Reviews, 2019
Mohammad Monfared, Saeed Taghizadeh, Alireza Zare-Hoseinabadi, Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi, Seyyed Alireza Hashemi, Saba Ranjbar, Ali Mohammad Amani
Usually, drug delivery systems are controlled during the treatment at a rate needed by the site of action’s physiological environment. Therefore, these systems are highly important and are affected by adjusting the scaffold’s morphology, porosity, and composition. These scaffolds can be used as carriers for diverse types of drugs, genes, and growth factors that have been used for a decade. These systems are ranging from polymer micelles, liposomes, gels, complexes, to CS nanofibers (Tiwari et al. 2012). Among these systems, CS nanofibers are known as the most successful method, bearing some undeniable merits which can be mentioned as the highly flexible platforms and drug delivery systems selection, elevated efficacy of encapsulation, biocompatibility, low cost, ease of operation, and sustained control of drug release. Some frequent applications of nano fibrous drug-delivery systems are discussed in the following sections.