Donatella Paolino | University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro (original) (raw)
Papers by Donatella Paolino
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2018
Highlights Simultaneous analysis of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride drugs. HPLC-DAD ... more Highlights Simultaneous analysis of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride drugs. HPLC-DAD validated method for pharmaceutical applications and biomedical analysis. Validated method in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetic of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride in rat plasma.
ChemMedChem, 2022
The use of proper nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs rec... more The use of proper nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs recently gained several attentions in the scientific community because they pass intact and accumulate payloads in the deepest layers of skin tissue. Ascorbyl palmitate-based vesicles (aspasomes) can be considered a promising nanocarrier for dermal and transdermal delivery due to their skin whitening properties and suitable delivery of payloads through the skin. The aim of this study was the synthesis of multidrug Idebenone/naproxen co-loaded aspasomes for the development of an effective anti-inflammatory nanomedicine. Aspasomes had suitable physicochemical properties and were safe in vivo if topically applied on human healthy volunteers. Idebenone/naproxen co-loaded aspasomes demonstrated an increased therapeutic efficacy of payloads compared to the commercially available Naprosyn® gel, with a rapid decrease of chemical-induced erythema on human volunteers. These promising results strongly suggested a potential application of Idebenone/naproxen multidrug aspasomes for the development of an effective skin anti-inflammatory therapy.
Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Phytoconstituents, 2019
Molecules
Hydrogels have been extensively investigated to identify innovative formulations that can fulfill... more Hydrogels have been extensively investigated to identify innovative formulations that can fulfill all the necessary purposes to improve local vaginal therapy through the mucosa. Herein, we propose in situ-forming lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) derived from a cheap and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredient as an intravaginal delivery system. The system consists of a precursor solution loaded with sertaconazole nitrate as a model drug, which is able to easily swell in a stable three-dimensional structure by absorbing simulated vaginal fluid. Under polarized light microscopy the precursor solution and the formed phase of LLCs showed the typical textures belonging to anisotropic and an isotropic mesophases, respectively. A deep rheological investigation by Kinexus® Pro proved the stability and strength of the cubic phase, as well as its potential in mucoadhesion. In vitro degradation studies showed a slow matrix erosion, consistent with data obtained from lipophilic drug rele...
Pharmaceuticals
Idebenone (IDE) is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially active towards cerebral diseases, b... more Idebenone (IDE) is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially active towards cerebral diseases, but its low water solubility and fast first pass metabolism reduce its accumulation in the brain, making it ineffective. In this work, we developed cyclodextrin-based chitosan nanospheres (CS NPs) as potential carriers for nose-to-brain targeting of IDE. Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) was used as a polyanion for chitosan (CS) and as a complexing agent for IDE, permitting its encapsulation into nanospheres (NPs) produced in an aqueous solution. Overloading NPs were obtained by adding the soluble IDE/hydroxypropyl-β-CD (IDE/HP-β-CD) inclusion complex into the CS or SBE-β-CD solutions. We obtained homogeneous CS NPs with a hydrodynamic radius of about 140 nm, positive zeta potential (about +28 mV), and good encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, particularly for overloaded NPs. A biphasic release of IDE, finished within 48 h, was observed from overloaded NPs, whilst non-overlo...
Gels
For many years, corneal transplantation has been the first-choice treatment for irreversible dama... more For many years, corneal transplantation has been the first-choice treatment for irreversible damage affecting the anterior part of the eye. However, the low number of cornea donors and cases of graft rejection highlighted the need to replace donor corneas with new biomaterials. Tissue engineering plays a fundamental role in achieving this goal through challenging research into a construct that must reflect all the properties of the cornea that are essential to ensure correct vision. In this review, the anatomy and physiology of the cornea are described to point out the main roles of the corneal layers to be compensated and all the requirements expected from the material to be manufactured. Then, a deep investigation of alginate as a suitable alternative to donor tissue was conducted. Thanks to its adaptability, transparency and low immunogenicity, alginate has emerged as a promising candidate for the realization of bioengineered materials for corneal regeneration. Chemical modificat...
Pharmaceutics
The regeneration of cardiac tissue is a multidisciplinary research field aiming to improve the he... more The regeneration of cardiac tissue is a multidisciplinary research field aiming to improve the health condition of the post-heart attack patient. Indeed, myocardial tissue has a poor ability to self-regenerate after severe damage. The scientific efforts focused on the research of a biomaterial able to adapt to heart tissue, thus guaranteeing the in situ release of active substances or growth promoters. Many types of hydrogels were proposed for this purpose, showing several limitations. The aim of this study was to suggest a new usage for glyceryl monooleate-based lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) as a biocompatible and inert material for a myocardial application. The main advantages of LLCs are mainly related to their easy in situ injection as lamellar phase and their instant in situ transition in the cubic phase. In vivo studies proved the biocompatibility and the inertia of LLCs after their application on the myocardial tissue of mice. In detail, the cardiac activity was monitored ...
Biomedicines
Bergamot essential oil (BEO) and Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), naturally derived compounds, have... more Bergamot essential oil (BEO) and Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), naturally derived compounds, have remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, thus making them suitable candidates for the treatment of skin disorders. Despite this, their inadequate physicochemical properties strongly compromise their topical application. Ultradeformable nanocarriers containing both BEO and AG were used to allow their passage through the skin, thus maximizing their therapeutic activity. Physicochemical characterization studies were performed using Zetasizer Nano ZS and Turbiscan Lab®. The dialysis method was used to investigate the release profile of the active compounds. In vivo studies were performed on human healthy volunteers through the X-Rite spectrophotometer. The nanosystems showed suitable features for topical cutaneous administration in terms of mean size, surface charge, size distribution, and long-term stability/storability. The co-delivery of BEO and AG in the deformable systems improved both...
Advanced Therapeutics, 2021
This special issue is dedicated, but not limited to, the “1st International Northern-Southern Eur... more This special issue is dedicated, but not limited to, the “1st International Northern-Southern Europe Workshop in Nanomedicine” held in the city of Chieti (Abruzzi, Italy) between January 15– 17, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The workshop aimed to bring together a vast number of experts with extensive experience in the field of nanomedicine from the northern and southern parts of Europe, but also worldwide to discuss and network on how to foster basic science in translational and personalized nanomedicine for drug delivery applications, including anti-cancer research, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular diseases, polymer and supramolecular chemistry towards reliable pre-clinical and clinical assessment. The final goal of the workshop was to highlight the impact of nanomedicine in pharmaceutical companies and how to create bridges and connections between companies, academia, young and senior scientists. Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology in different fields of bioand nano-technology, as well as drug delivery and involves areas related to applications, toxicity and environmental impact of nanoscale materials.[1,2] Nanomaterials have sizes and structure similar to that of bioand macromolecules and their functionalization provides specific properties for tailoring precision medicine and application for many diseases, thus providing different therapeutic options for patients.[3] In particular, nanomedicine integrates different research areas, such as biology, physics, chemistry, materials sciences, nanotechnology and drug delivery in order to develop clinical tools and devices for advanced therapies to patients.[4,5] In this scenario, nanosystems, having different compositions, combined with nanomaterial properties may foster the translation of basic science in personalized nanomedicines for anti-cancer research, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular diseases, polymer
Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2021
Rutin is a natural compound with several pharmacological effects. Among these, antioxidant activi... more Rutin is a natural compound with several pharmacological effects. Among these, antioxidant activity is one of the best known. Despite its numerous benefits, its topical application is severely limited by its physicochemical properties. For this reason, the use of suitable systems could be necessary to improve its delivery through skin, thus enhancing its pharmacological effects. In this regard, the aim of this work is to optimize the ethosomal dispersion modifying both lipid and ethanol concentrations and encapsulating different amounts of rutin. Characterization studies performed on the realized systems highlighted their great stability properties. Studies of encapsulation efficiency and loading degree allowed us to identify a better formulation (EE% 67.5 ± 5.2%, DL% 27 ± 1.7%), which was used for further analyses. The data recorded from in vitro studies showed that the encapsulation into these nanosystems allowed us to overcome the photosensitivity limitation of rutin. Indeed, a m...
Nanomanufacturing, 2022
Labrafil M2125-CS is a non-ionic surfactant component widely used for improving the solubilizatio... more Labrafil M2125-CS is a non-ionic surfactant component widely used for improving the solubilization of poor water-soluble drugs and as component of lipid-based nanosystem formulation. The aim of this research work was to evaluate in depth the stability of lipid-based nanosystems when exposed at several experimental conditions, such as temperature- and pH-variations, and during a specific storage process—lyophilization. Dynamic light scattering was the main analysis carried out during this research work for investigating eventual physico-chemical variations of nanosystem properties after different storage phases. We demonstrated that many of prepared formulations were able to maintain almost unchanged mean size and polydispersity index values, resisting acid and basic pH or high and low temperature, as well as the freeze-drying process. Finally, the results showed that there are no univocal experimental conditions suitable for the storage of all formulation types, but each sample requ...
Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2021
In the last few decades, several natural and synthetic polymers have been used as starting materi... more In the last few decades, several natural and synthetic polymers have been used as starting material for the development of innovative polymeric nanoparticles able to encapsulate biologically active substances and to modulate their biopharmaceutical features and/or therapeutic efficacy. This investigation focused on the comparison of the physico-chemical properties of nanosystems made up of two of the most successfully used biodegradable biomaterials, namely poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and zein, belonging to the synthetic and natural family of polymers, respectively. Rutin, a polyphenolic bioflavonoid characterized by peculiar antioxidant properties, was chosen as the model drug to be encapsulated in the polymeric systems. The results demonstrated a greater ability of zein-based nanosystems to effectively retain the active compound with respect to the PLGA particles. The integration of rutin in the protein matrix favored a controlled drug leakage, and was influenced by the surfactant used to stabilize the formulation. Moreover, rutin-loaded zein nanoparticles showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity, evidencing a synergistic action between the intrinsic antioxidant activity of the protein and the pharmacological properties of the active compound. Finally, the intracellular localization of the zein nanosystems was demonstrated through confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016
Spray-dried chitosan microspheres allowed a massive encapsulation of rutin. Rutin-microspheres ... more Spray-dried chitosan microspheres allowed a massive encapsulation of rutin. Rutin-microspheres showed protective properties against inflammatory phenomena. The microencapsulation of rutin favored a massive cellular uptake of the drug.
Drug Delivery Letters, 2011
Lutein is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, already proven in various topical app... more Lutein is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, already proven in various topical applications. A 20% suspension of lutein in safflower oil (FloraGLO ® Lutein) represents a good raw material for the production of creams and other semisolid formulations. However, the high viscosity of FloraGLO ® and poor chemical stability of lutein in the suspension represents a practical limitation to its use. An efficient method was proposed in this study for taking benefit of the liquid oily composition of FloraGLO ® , by realizing a nanostructured carrier system (NLC) able to ensure a controlled release of lutein and improve its permeability across the skin. NLC were prepared with different percentages of FloraGLO ® as the liquid phase of NLC. The physical stability of NLC was assessed by storage at room conditions and by Turbiscan accelerated analysis. All the produced nanocarriers were perfectly tolerated after application on the skin. In an in vivo model of UV-induced skin erythema, the lutein-loaded NLC were able to improve the photo-protective effects of the antioxidant compared to the commercial suspension, when the NLC formulations were applied before inducing the erythema. This study also proved for the first time the possibility of converting a liquid formulation into a solid, modified release nanocarrier with more manageable formulative features.
Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2008
The skin is the largest organ of our body and acts as a protective barrier with sensory and immun... more The skin is the largest organ of our body and acts as a protective barrier with sensory and immunological functions. Its peculiar structure influences the passage of bioactives and only its modulation can facilitate the drug dermal/transdermal diffusion. In the past few years research in this field has assured better use of this application area. One of the most promising approaches is the use of drug delivery devices; this review explains the state of the art of drug transport through the skin by means of vesicular (classic liposomes, Transfersomes, niosomes and ethosomes) and particulate systems. Colloidal drug delivery systems are important in the field of drug delivery systems as their different characteristics make them suitable for various purposes.
Biomedicines
The incidence of cancer is increasing dramatically, affecting all ages of the population and reac... more The incidence of cancer is increasing dramatically, affecting all ages of the population and reaching an ever higher worldwide mortality rate. The lack of therapies’ efficacy is due to several factors such as a delay in diagnosis, tumor regrowth after surgical resection and the occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Tumor-associated immune cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) deeply affect the tumor’s progression, leading to several physicochemical changes compared to physiological conditions. In this scenario, macrophages play a crucial role, participating both in tumor suppression or progression based on the polarization of onco-suppressive M1 or pro-oncogenic M2 phenotypes. Moreover, much evidence supports the pivotal role of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators in TME, because of their ability to shuttle the cell–cell and organ–cell communications, by delivering nucleic acids and proteins. EVs are lipid-based nanosystems with a broad size range d...
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2018
Highlights Simultaneous analysis of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride drugs. HPLC-DAD ... more Highlights Simultaneous analysis of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride drugs. HPLC-DAD validated method for pharmaceutical applications and biomedical analysis. Validated method in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetic of Gemcitabine and Irinotecan hydrochloride in rat plasma.
ChemMedChem, 2022
The use of proper nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs rec... more The use of proper nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs recently gained several attentions in the scientific community because they pass intact and accumulate payloads in the deepest layers of skin tissue. Ascorbyl palmitate-based vesicles (aspasomes) can be considered a promising nanocarrier for dermal and transdermal delivery due to their skin whitening properties and suitable delivery of payloads through the skin. The aim of this study was the synthesis of multidrug Idebenone/naproxen co-loaded aspasomes for the development of an effective anti-inflammatory nanomedicine. Aspasomes had suitable physicochemical properties and were safe in vivo if topically applied on human healthy volunteers. Idebenone/naproxen co-loaded aspasomes demonstrated an increased therapeutic efficacy of payloads compared to the commercially available Naprosyn® gel, with a rapid decrease of chemical-induced erythema on human volunteers. These promising results strongly suggested a potential application of Idebenone/naproxen multidrug aspasomes for the development of an effective skin anti-inflammatory therapy.
Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Phytoconstituents, 2019
Molecules
Hydrogels have been extensively investigated to identify innovative formulations that can fulfill... more Hydrogels have been extensively investigated to identify innovative formulations that can fulfill all the necessary purposes to improve local vaginal therapy through the mucosa. Herein, we propose in situ-forming lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) derived from a cheap and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredient as an intravaginal delivery system. The system consists of a precursor solution loaded with sertaconazole nitrate as a model drug, which is able to easily swell in a stable three-dimensional structure by absorbing simulated vaginal fluid. Under polarized light microscopy the precursor solution and the formed phase of LLCs showed the typical textures belonging to anisotropic and an isotropic mesophases, respectively. A deep rheological investigation by Kinexus® Pro proved the stability and strength of the cubic phase, as well as its potential in mucoadhesion. In vitro degradation studies showed a slow matrix erosion, consistent with data obtained from lipophilic drug rele...
Pharmaceuticals
Idebenone (IDE) is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially active towards cerebral diseases, b... more Idebenone (IDE) is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially active towards cerebral diseases, but its low water solubility and fast first pass metabolism reduce its accumulation in the brain, making it ineffective. In this work, we developed cyclodextrin-based chitosan nanospheres (CS NPs) as potential carriers for nose-to-brain targeting of IDE. Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) was used as a polyanion for chitosan (CS) and as a complexing agent for IDE, permitting its encapsulation into nanospheres (NPs) produced in an aqueous solution. Overloading NPs were obtained by adding the soluble IDE/hydroxypropyl-β-CD (IDE/HP-β-CD) inclusion complex into the CS or SBE-β-CD solutions. We obtained homogeneous CS NPs with a hydrodynamic radius of about 140 nm, positive zeta potential (about +28 mV), and good encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, particularly for overloaded NPs. A biphasic release of IDE, finished within 48 h, was observed from overloaded NPs, whilst non-overlo...
Gels
For many years, corneal transplantation has been the first-choice treatment for irreversible dama... more For many years, corneal transplantation has been the first-choice treatment for irreversible damage affecting the anterior part of the eye. However, the low number of cornea donors and cases of graft rejection highlighted the need to replace donor corneas with new biomaterials. Tissue engineering plays a fundamental role in achieving this goal through challenging research into a construct that must reflect all the properties of the cornea that are essential to ensure correct vision. In this review, the anatomy and physiology of the cornea are described to point out the main roles of the corneal layers to be compensated and all the requirements expected from the material to be manufactured. Then, a deep investigation of alginate as a suitable alternative to donor tissue was conducted. Thanks to its adaptability, transparency and low immunogenicity, alginate has emerged as a promising candidate for the realization of bioengineered materials for corneal regeneration. Chemical modificat...
Pharmaceutics
The regeneration of cardiac tissue is a multidisciplinary research field aiming to improve the he... more The regeneration of cardiac tissue is a multidisciplinary research field aiming to improve the health condition of the post-heart attack patient. Indeed, myocardial tissue has a poor ability to self-regenerate after severe damage. The scientific efforts focused on the research of a biomaterial able to adapt to heart tissue, thus guaranteeing the in situ release of active substances or growth promoters. Many types of hydrogels were proposed for this purpose, showing several limitations. The aim of this study was to suggest a new usage for glyceryl monooleate-based lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) as a biocompatible and inert material for a myocardial application. The main advantages of LLCs are mainly related to their easy in situ injection as lamellar phase and their instant in situ transition in the cubic phase. In vivo studies proved the biocompatibility and the inertia of LLCs after their application on the myocardial tissue of mice. In detail, the cardiac activity was monitored ...
Biomedicines
Bergamot essential oil (BEO) and Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), naturally derived compounds, have... more Bergamot essential oil (BEO) and Ammonium glycyrrhizinate (AG), naturally derived compounds, have remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, thus making them suitable candidates for the treatment of skin disorders. Despite this, their inadequate physicochemical properties strongly compromise their topical application. Ultradeformable nanocarriers containing both BEO and AG were used to allow their passage through the skin, thus maximizing their therapeutic activity. Physicochemical characterization studies were performed using Zetasizer Nano ZS and Turbiscan Lab®. The dialysis method was used to investigate the release profile of the active compounds. In vivo studies were performed on human healthy volunteers through the X-Rite spectrophotometer. The nanosystems showed suitable features for topical cutaneous administration in terms of mean size, surface charge, size distribution, and long-term stability/storability. The co-delivery of BEO and AG in the deformable systems improved both...
Advanced Therapeutics, 2021
This special issue is dedicated, but not limited to, the “1st International Northern-Southern Eur... more This special issue is dedicated, but not limited to, the “1st International Northern-Southern Europe Workshop in Nanomedicine” held in the city of Chieti (Abruzzi, Italy) between January 15– 17, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The workshop aimed to bring together a vast number of experts with extensive experience in the field of nanomedicine from the northern and southern parts of Europe, but also worldwide to discuss and network on how to foster basic science in translational and personalized nanomedicine for drug delivery applications, including anti-cancer research, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular diseases, polymer and supramolecular chemistry towards reliable pre-clinical and clinical assessment. The final goal of the workshop was to highlight the impact of nanomedicine in pharmaceutical companies and how to create bridges and connections between companies, academia, young and senior scientists. Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology in different fields of bioand nano-technology, as well as drug delivery and involves areas related to applications, toxicity and environmental impact of nanoscale materials.[1,2] Nanomaterials have sizes and structure similar to that of bioand macromolecules and their functionalization provides specific properties for tailoring precision medicine and application for many diseases, thus providing different therapeutic options for patients.[3] In particular, nanomedicine integrates different research areas, such as biology, physics, chemistry, materials sciences, nanotechnology and drug delivery in order to develop clinical tools and devices for advanced therapies to patients.[4,5] In this scenario, nanosystems, having different compositions, combined with nanomaterial properties may foster the translation of basic science in personalized nanomedicines for anti-cancer research, regenerative medicine, cardiovascular diseases, polymer
Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2021
Rutin is a natural compound with several pharmacological effects. Among these, antioxidant activi... more Rutin is a natural compound with several pharmacological effects. Among these, antioxidant activity is one of the best known. Despite its numerous benefits, its topical application is severely limited by its physicochemical properties. For this reason, the use of suitable systems could be necessary to improve its delivery through skin, thus enhancing its pharmacological effects. In this regard, the aim of this work is to optimize the ethosomal dispersion modifying both lipid and ethanol concentrations and encapsulating different amounts of rutin. Characterization studies performed on the realized systems highlighted their great stability properties. Studies of encapsulation efficiency and loading degree allowed us to identify a better formulation (EE% 67.5 ± 5.2%, DL% 27 ± 1.7%), which was used for further analyses. The data recorded from in vitro studies showed that the encapsulation into these nanosystems allowed us to overcome the photosensitivity limitation of rutin. Indeed, a m...
Nanomanufacturing, 2022
Labrafil M2125-CS is a non-ionic surfactant component widely used for improving the solubilizatio... more Labrafil M2125-CS is a non-ionic surfactant component widely used for improving the solubilization of poor water-soluble drugs and as component of lipid-based nanosystem formulation. The aim of this research work was to evaluate in depth the stability of lipid-based nanosystems when exposed at several experimental conditions, such as temperature- and pH-variations, and during a specific storage process—lyophilization. Dynamic light scattering was the main analysis carried out during this research work for investigating eventual physico-chemical variations of nanosystem properties after different storage phases. We demonstrated that many of prepared formulations were able to maintain almost unchanged mean size and polydispersity index values, resisting acid and basic pH or high and low temperature, as well as the freeze-drying process. Finally, the results showed that there are no univocal experimental conditions suitable for the storage of all formulation types, but each sample requ...
Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2021
In the last few decades, several natural and synthetic polymers have been used as starting materi... more In the last few decades, several natural and synthetic polymers have been used as starting material for the development of innovative polymeric nanoparticles able to encapsulate biologically active substances and to modulate their biopharmaceutical features and/or therapeutic efficacy. This investigation focused on the comparison of the physico-chemical properties of nanosystems made up of two of the most successfully used biodegradable biomaterials, namely poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and zein, belonging to the synthetic and natural family of polymers, respectively. Rutin, a polyphenolic bioflavonoid characterized by peculiar antioxidant properties, was chosen as the model drug to be encapsulated in the polymeric systems. The results demonstrated a greater ability of zein-based nanosystems to effectively retain the active compound with respect to the PLGA particles. The integration of rutin in the protein matrix favored a controlled drug leakage, and was influenced by the surfactant used to stabilize the formulation. Moreover, rutin-loaded zein nanoparticles showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity, evidencing a synergistic action between the intrinsic antioxidant activity of the protein and the pharmacological properties of the active compound. Finally, the intracellular localization of the zein nanosystems was demonstrated through confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016
Spray-dried chitosan microspheres allowed a massive encapsulation of rutin. Rutin-microspheres ... more Spray-dried chitosan microspheres allowed a massive encapsulation of rutin. Rutin-microspheres showed protective properties against inflammatory phenomena. The microencapsulation of rutin favored a massive cellular uptake of the drug.
Drug Delivery Letters, 2011
Lutein is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, already proven in various topical app... more Lutein is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, already proven in various topical applications. A 20% suspension of lutein in safflower oil (FloraGLO ® Lutein) represents a good raw material for the production of creams and other semisolid formulations. However, the high viscosity of FloraGLO ® and poor chemical stability of lutein in the suspension represents a practical limitation to its use. An efficient method was proposed in this study for taking benefit of the liquid oily composition of FloraGLO ® , by realizing a nanostructured carrier system (NLC) able to ensure a controlled release of lutein and improve its permeability across the skin. NLC were prepared with different percentages of FloraGLO ® as the liquid phase of NLC. The physical stability of NLC was assessed by storage at room conditions and by Turbiscan accelerated analysis. All the produced nanocarriers were perfectly tolerated after application on the skin. In an in vivo model of UV-induced skin erythema, the lutein-loaded NLC were able to improve the photo-protective effects of the antioxidant compared to the commercial suspension, when the NLC formulations were applied before inducing the erythema. This study also proved for the first time the possibility of converting a liquid formulation into a solid, modified release nanocarrier with more manageable formulative features.
Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2008
The skin is the largest organ of our body and acts as a protective barrier with sensory and immun... more The skin is the largest organ of our body and acts as a protective barrier with sensory and immunological functions. Its peculiar structure influences the passage of bioactives and only its modulation can facilitate the drug dermal/transdermal diffusion. In the past few years research in this field has assured better use of this application area. One of the most promising approaches is the use of drug delivery devices; this review explains the state of the art of drug transport through the skin by means of vesicular (classic liposomes, Transfersomes, niosomes and ethosomes) and particulate systems. Colloidal drug delivery systems are important in the field of drug delivery systems as their different characteristics make them suitable for various purposes.
Biomedicines
The incidence of cancer is increasing dramatically, affecting all ages of the population and reac... more The incidence of cancer is increasing dramatically, affecting all ages of the population and reaching an ever higher worldwide mortality rate. The lack of therapies’ efficacy is due to several factors such as a delay in diagnosis, tumor regrowth after surgical resection and the occurrence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Tumor-associated immune cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) deeply affect the tumor’s progression, leading to several physicochemical changes compared to physiological conditions. In this scenario, macrophages play a crucial role, participating both in tumor suppression or progression based on the polarization of onco-suppressive M1 or pro-oncogenic M2 phenotypes. Moreover, much evidence supports the pivotal role of macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators in TME, because of their ability to shuttle the cell–cell and organ–cell communications, by delivering nucleic acids and proteins. EVs are lipid-based nanosystems with a broad size range d...