0000000000203392
AUTHOR
Cinzia Scialabba
showing 55 related works from this author
Folate targeted coated SPIONs as efficient tool for MRI
2017
The development of more sensitive diagnostic tools allowing an early-stage and highly efficient medical imaging of tumors remains a challenge. Magnetic nanoparticles seem to be the contrast agents with the highest potential, if properly constructed. Therefore, in this study, hybrid magnetic nanoarchitectures were developed using a new amphiphilic inulin-based graft copolymer (INU-LAPEG-FA) as coating material for 10-nm spinel iron oxide (magnetite, Fe3O4) superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPION). Folic acid (FA) covalently linked to the coating copolymer in order to be exposed onto the nanoparticle surface was chosen as the targeting agent because folate receptors are upregulated in many can…
Development of a simple, biocompatible and cost-effective Inulin-Diethylenetriamine based siRNA delivery system
2015
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have the potential to be of therapeutic value for many human diseases. So far, however, a serious obstacle to their therapeutic use is represented by the absence of appropriate delivery systems able to protect them from degradation and to allow an efficient cellular uptake. In this work we developed a siRNA delivery system based on inulin (Inu), an abundant and natural polysaccharide. Inu was functionalized via the conjugation with diethylenetriamine (DETA) residues to form the complex Inu-DETA. We studied the size, surface charge and the shape of the Inu-DETA/siRNA complexes; additionally, the cytotoxicity, the silencing efficacy and the cell uptake-mechanis…
Gold nanostar–polymer hybrids for siRNA delivery: Polymer design towards colloidal stability and in vitro studies on breast cancer cells
2017
To overcome the low bioavailability of siRNA (small interfering RNA) and to improve their transfection efficiency, the use of non-viral delivery carriers is today a feasible approach to transform the discovery of these incredibly potent and versatile drugs into clinical practice. Polymer-modified gold nanoconstructs (AuNCs) are currently viewed as efficient and safe intracellular delivery carriers for siRNA, as they have the possibility to conjugate the ability to stably entrap and deliver siRNAs inside cells with the advantages of gold nanoparticles, which can act as theranostic agents and radiotherapy enhancers through laser-induced hyperthermia. In this study, AuNCs were prepared by coat…
Inhalable Formulation Based on Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for the Macrophage Targeted Delivery of Roflumilast
2022
Here, novel lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs), targeted to lung macrophages, were realized as potential carriers for Roflumilast administration in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To achieve this, Roflumilast-loaded fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles, based on a polyaspartamide-polycaprolactone graft copolymer, and lipid vesicles, made from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-phosphoethanolamine-N-(polyethylene glycol)-mannose, were properly combined using a two-step method, successfully obtaining Roflumilast-loaded hybrid fluorescent nanoparticles (Man-LPHFNPs@Roflumilast). These exhibit colloidal size and a ne…
Hybrid Gold/Silica/Quantum-Dots supramolecular-nanostructures encapsulated in polymeric micelles as potential theranostic tool for targeted cancer th…
2018
Abstract Efficient theranostic tools are today more and more frequently represented by the nano-sized systems. In this paper, polymeric micelles were produced and exploited to encapsulate both an antitumor drug (Doxorubicin) and gold core–shell quantum dots nanoparticles (Au-SiO2/QDs). α,β-poly(N-hydroxyethyl)- dl -aspartamide (PHEA) was functionalized with lipoic acid (LA), polyethylenglycol (PEG), and folic acid (FA) pendant moieties to obtain a synthetic derivative (PHEA-LA-PEG-FA) able to self assemble in aqueous medium giving rise to the formation of polymeric micelles exposing on their surface both targeting groups (FA) and hydrophilic chains (PEG). The drug carrying ability of PHEA-L…
Preparation and Characterization of Inulin Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Selective Delivery of Doxorubicin to Breast Cancer Cells
2016
A novel folate-targeted gold-based nanosystem for achieving selectivity towards folate receptor FR positive cells is proposed, by virtue of the fact that the FR is a molecularly targeted entity overexpressed in a wide spectrum of solid tumors. A new inulin-folate derivative INU-FA has been synthesized to act as coating agent for 40 nm gold nanoparticles. The obtained polymer-coated gold nanoparticles [email protected] were characterized in terms of hydrodynamic radius, shape, zeta potential, and aqueous stability and were loaded with doxorubicin [email protected]/Doxo. Its release capability was tested in different release media. The selectivity of [email protected]/Doxo system towards FRs-…
Near-Infrared Light Responsive Folate Targeted Gold Nanorods for Combined Photothermal-Chemotherapy of Osteosarcoma.
2017
Folate-targeted gold nanorods (GNRs) are proposed as selective theranostic agents for osteosarcoma treatment. An amphiphilic polysaccharide based graft-copolymer (INU-LA-PEG-FA) and an amino derivative of the α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide functionalized with folic acid (PHEA-EDA-FA), have been synthesized to act as coating agents for GNRs. The obtained polymer-coated GNRs were characterized in terms of size, shape, zeta potential, chemical composition, and aqueous stability. They protected the anticancer drug nutlin-3 and were able to deliver it efficiently in different physiological media. The ability of the proposed systems to selectively kill tumor cells was tested on U2OS…
Polymeric Nanocarriers for Magnetic Targeted Drug Delivery: Preparation, Characterization, and in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation
2013
In this paper the preparation of magnetic nano- carriers (MNCs), containing superparamagnetic domains, is reported, useful as potential magnetically targeted drug delivery systems. The preparation of MNCs was performed by using the PHEA-IB-p(BMA) graft copolymer as coating material through the homogenization−solvent evaporation method. Magnetic and nonmagnetic nanocarriers containing flutamide (FLU-MNCs) were prepared. The prepared nanocarriers have been exhaustively characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic measurements. Biological evaluation was performed by in vitro cytotoxicity and cell uptake tests and in vivo biodistribution …
Amphiphilic inulin graft co-polymers as self assembling micelles for doxorubicin delivery
2020
This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of a new amphiphilic inulin graft copolymer able to self-assemble in water into a micelle type structure and to deliver the anticancer model drug doxorubicin. For this aim, inulin was chemically modified in the side chain with primary amine groups (INU-EDA) and these were used as reactive moieties for the conjugation of poly ethylene glycol 2000 and succinyl-ceramide. The CMC of obtained amphiphilic inulin derivatives (INU-ceramide and INU-ceramide-PEG2000) was measured by means of fluorescence analysis using pyrene as the fluorescent probe. The obtained micelles were characterized by DLS and AFM analysis and the ability to release the l…
Biotin-Containing Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Nanosystem as a Multieffect Anticancer Agent: Combining Hyperthermia with Targeted Chemotherapy
2015
Among the relevant properties of graphene derivatives, their ability of acting as an energy-converting device so as to produce heat (i.e., thermoablation and hyperthermia) was more recently taken into account for the treatment of solid tumors. In this pioneering study, for the first time, the in vitro RGO-induced hyperthermia was assessed and combined with the stimuli-sensitive anticancer effect of a biotinylated inulin-doxorubicin conjugate (CJ-PEGBT), hence, getting to a nanosystem endowed with synergic anticancer effects and high specificity. CJ-PEGBT was synthesized by linking pentynoic acid and citraconic acid to inulin. The citraconylamide pendants, used as pH reversible spacer, were …
Polybenzofulvene derivatives bearing dynamic binding sites as potential anticancer drug delivery systems.
2020
In order to obtain new advanced functional materials capable of recognizing drug molecules, the polybenzofulvene backbone of molecular brush poly-6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k has been functionalized with a “synthetic dynamic receptor” composed of two 1-adamantylurea moieties linked together by means of a dipropyleneamino bridge as in Meijer's bis(adamantylurea) pincer (BAUP). This functional material, bearing synthetic receptors potentially capable of recognizing/loading and then delivering drug molecules, was used to prepare colloidal drug delivery systems (by means of soft interaction with BAUP) for delivering the model anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOXO). The resulting nanostructured drug delivery s…
Double-Network-Structured Graphene Oxide-Containing Nanogels as Photothermal Agents for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer.
2017
Here, we reported the production of hyaluronic acid/polyaspartamide-based double-network nanogels for the potential treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Graphene oxide, thanks to the huge aromatic surface area, allows to easily load high amount of irinotecan (33.0% w/w) and confers to the system hyperthermic properties when irradiated with a near-infrared (NIR) laser beam. We demonstrate that the release of antitumor drug is influenced both by the pH of the external medium and the NIR irradiation process. In vitro biological studies, conducted on human colon cancer cells (HCT 116), revealed that nanogels are uptaken by the cancer cells and, in the presence of the antitumor drug, can produce a…
Effect of actively targeted copolymer coating on solid tumors eradication by gold nanorods-induced hyperthermia.
2020
Efforts in the field of anticancer therapy are increasingly focusing on the development of localized and selective treatments. Photothermal therapy (PTT) can lead to a spatially confined death of cancer cells, exploiting an increasing in temperature generated after UV-NIR irradiation of peculiar materials. Herein, a new actively targeted gold-based drug delivery system, named PHEA-LA-Fol-AuNRs/Iri, was explored for hyperthermia and chemotherapy colon cancer treatment. Gold nanorods were stabilized using a folate-derivative of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA-LA-PEG-FA) as coating agent and then loaded with the antineoplastic drug irinotecan (Iri). The efficacy of empty and i…
Inulin-based polymer coated SPIONs as potential drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy
2014
This paper deal with the synthesis and characterization of PEGylated squalene-grafted-inulin amphiphile capable of self-assembling and self-organizing into nanocarriers once placed in aqueous media. It was exploited as coating agent for obtaining doxorubicin loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) endowed with stealth like behavior and excellent physicochemical stability. Inulin was firstly modified in the side chain with primary amine groups, followed in turn by conjugation with squalenoyl derivatives through common amidic coupling agents and PEGylation by imine linkage. Polymer coated SPIONs were so obtained by spontaneous self-assembling of inulin copolymer onto magnet…
Polyaminoacid–doxorubicin prodrug micelles as highly selective therapeutics for targeted cancer therapy
2016
An amphiphilic copolymer carrying high-dose doxorubicin (21% on a weight basis), PHEA–EDA–P,C–Doxo, was prepared by coupling doxorubicin with a biocompatible polyaminoacid through a pH-sensitive spacer. Additional derivatization with 4-pentynoic acid endows it with self-assembling properties by means of π–π stacking. These micelles can be triggered to promptly release drug in lysosomes (∼40% in 12 h) through pH-dependent micelle hydrolysis after uptake. In vitro tests on co-cultures of cancer (MDA-MB 231) and normal (HB-2) breast cells proved that the conjugate was selectively internalized into the former rather than normal cells, exploiting the caveolae-dependent endocytosis pathway, expla…
SPIONs embedded in polyamino acid nanogels to synergistically treat tumor microenvironment and breast cancer cells.
2018
Abstract The extremely complex tumor microenvironment (TME) in humans is the major responsible for the therapeutic failure in cancer nanomedicine. A new concept of disease-driven nanomedicine, henceforth named “Theranomics”, which attempts to target cancer cells and TME on the whole, represents an attractive alternative. Herein, a nanomedicine able to co-deliver doxorubicin and a tumor suppressive proteolytic protein such as collagenase-2 was developed. We successfully obtained superparamagnetic nanogels (SPIONs/Doco@Col) via the intermolecular azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition. We demonstrated that a local ECM degradation and remodeling in solid tumors by means of collagenase-2 could enha…
Self-organized environment-sensitive inulin–doxorubicin conjugate with a selective cytotoxic effect towards cancer cells
2015
An inulin-based random copolymer bearing high dose doxorubicin (18.45% on a weight basis), INU-EDA-P, C-DOXO, was prepared by coupling doxorubicin with inulin though a citraconylamide bridge used as a pH sensitive spacer. A further conjugation with pentynoic acid via an amidic bond led to the hydrophobization of the copolymer which allows the acquisition of a self-assembling ability at low concentration (0.33 mg mL(-1)) combining both Pi-Pi stacking and London interactions. Drug release studies were carried out at different pH demonstrating a remarkable pH dependency, where the maximum release rate was observed at pH mimicking cancer tissue and lysosomal environments. Besides, by measuring …
Enhanced adhesion and in situ photothermal ablation of cancer cells in surface-functionalized electrospun microfiber scaffold with graphene oxide
2017
The physicochemical characteristics of a biomaterial surface highly affect the interaction with living cells. Recently, much attention has been focused on the adhesion properties of functional biomaterials toward cancer cells, since is expected to control metastatic spread of a tumor, which is related to good probability containing the progression of disease burden. Here, we designed an implantable poly(caprolactone)-based electrospun microfiber scaffold, henceforth PCLMF-GO, to simultaneously capture and kill cancer cells by tuning physicochemical features of the hybrid surface through nitrogen plasma activation and hetero-phase graphene oxide (GO) covalent functionalization. The surface i…
Cholesterol-Inulin Conjugates for Efficient SN38 Nuclear Delivery: Nanomedicines for Precision Cancer Therapy
2022
An amphiphilic inulin-thiocholesterol conjugate (INU-Cys-TC) was strategically designed as a biodegradable core-shell nanocarrier of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN38) to enhance its solubility and stability in aqueous media, thus exploiting its brilliant anticancer effect. INU-Cys-TC was designed to have the hydrophilic inulin backbone (external shell) partially functionalized with hydrophobic thiocholesterol moieties (internal core) through a biodegradable disulfide bond due to cysteamine bridges. Thiocholesterol moieties impair redox-sensitive self-assembling abilities, yielding to nano-sized micelles in aqueous media capable of efficiently encapsulating a high amount of SN38 (DL = 8…
Amphiphilic polyaspartamide copolymer-based micelles for rivastigmine delivery to neuronal cells
2012
A novel polysorbate-80 (PS(80))-attached amphiphilic copolymer comprising a hydrophilic α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA) backbone and hydrophobic squalenyl-C(17) (Sq(17)) portions was synthesized and characterized; the formation of polymeric micelles was also evaluated. Rivastigmine free-base (Riv), a hydrophobic drug employed to treat Alzheimer's disease, was chosen as model drug to investigate micelle's ability to incorporate hydrophobic molecules and target them to neuronal cells. Micelle formation was studied through analyses including fluorescence spectroscopy and 2D (1)H-NMR NOESY experiments. Finally, the capacity of Riv-loaded micelles, versus free drug, to penetrat…
Montmorillonite nanodevices for the colon metronidazole delivery.
2013
The adsorption profiles of the antibiotic metronidazole (MNE) into the K10-montmorillonite (MMT-K10) clay and the subsequent release have been investigated as a function of pH and MNE/MMT-K10 ratio, in order to evaluate the potential of the MNE/MMT-K10 hybrids as controlled drug delivery system. The adsorption mechanism has been first elucidated by performing complementary equilibrium and kinetic studies and through the X-ray diffractometry (XRD) characterization of the obtained composite materials. The gathered results allowed us to propose a mechanism consisting of a multi-step pathway involving the neutral and the cationic form of the drug, which interact with different sites of the clay…
Densely PEGylated polybenzofulvene brushes for potential applications in drug encapsulation
2018
The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer to the new polymeric material with desired properties, such as tunable solubility, ionic charge, biocompatibility, or specific interactions with biological systems. In this paper, two new polybenzofulvene backbones were assembled by spontaneous polymerization of the appropriate benzofulvene monomers (4,6-PO-BF3k and 4&rsquo
Smart copolymer coated SPIONs for colon cancer chemotherapy
2019
Human colon cancer is one of the higher aggressive solid tumors, whose high mortality, much like many other solid tumors, results from metastasis formation. To reduce this high mortality, more effective chemotherapy, allowing a specific tumor accumulation and an efficient early-stage medical imaging as well, are still needed. At this regard, stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery are promising strategy in cancer therapy. For this purpose, a dual targeted redox-responsive drug delivery system, prepared by coating superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) with the amphiphilic copolymer INU-LA-PEG-FA and loading doxorubicin (DOXO-SPIONs) was investigated as tool for solid …
Nanoreactors for the multi-functionalization of poly-histidine fragments
2019
Water-soluble MBHA derivatives were found to self-assemble in a water environment to generate aggregates showing core–shell architectures. The aggregates appeared to be capable of working as nanoreactors performing a multi-functionalization of poly-histidine fragments, which after an initial interaction with the solvated oligo(ethylene glycol) shell reach the reactive core.
PHEA-graft-polymethacrylate supramolecular aggregates for protein oral delivery
2013
Abstract Salmon calcitonin (sCT) is characterized by a poor oral availability. A new copolymer, β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-graft-{N-2-ethylene[2-poly(methacrylic acid sodium salt)isobutyrate]}- d , l -aspartamide (PHEA-IB-p(MANa + )), was designed for the oral administration of sCT through the formation of supramolecular aggregates (SAs) based on electrostatic interactions. Several sCT/PHEA-IB-p(MANa + ) weight ratios were characterized by turbidimetry, DLS, zeta potential, and microscopy analysis. After the incubation of sCT/PHEA-IB-p(MANa + ) complex with digestive enzymes, 10% (w/w) of loaded sCT was released in the native form. In vitro investigation was carried out to determine the copol…
Polyaspartamide-Doxorubicin Conjugate as Potential Prodrug for Anticancer Therapy
2015
Purpose To synthesize a new polymeric prodrug based on ?,?- poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)(2-aminoethylcarbamate)-d,l-aspartamide copolymer bearing amine groups in the side chain (PHEA-EDA), covalently linked to the anticancer drug doxorubicin and to test its potential application in anticancer therapy. Methods The drug was previously derivatized with a biocompatible and hydrophilic linker, leading to a doxorubicin derivative highly reactive with amino groups of PHEA-EDA. The PHEAEDA- DOXO prodrug was characterized in terms of chemical stability. The pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and cytotoxicity of the product was investigated in vitro and in vivo on human breast cancer MCF-7 and T47D cell lin…
Hyaluronan-coated polybenzofulvene brushes as biomimetic materials
2016
Hyaluronic acid (HA) forms pericellular coats in many cell types that are involved in the early stages of cell adhesion by interacting with the CD44 receptor. Based on the largely recognized overexpression of the CD44 receptor in tumor tissues, a polybenzofulvene molecular brush has been enveloped into hyaluronan shells to obtain a tri-component polymer brush (TCPB) composed of intrinsically fluorescent backbones bearing nona(ethylene glycol) arms terminated with low molecular weight HA macromolecules. The nanoaggregates obtained in TCPB water dispersions were characterized on the basis of dimensions, zeta potential, and in vitro cell toxicity. This biomimetic multifunctional material beari…
Modified Montmorillonite as Drug Delivery Agent for Enhancing Antibiotic Therapy
2021
The appealing properties of surfactant-intercalated Montmorillonites (Organo-montmorillonite, OMt) were successfully investigated to propose an effective drug delivery system for metronidazole (MNE) antibiotic therapy. This represents a serious pharmaceutical concern due to the adverse drug reactions and the low targeting ability of MNE. The non-ionic surfactant Tween 20 was used to functionalize montmorillonite, thus accomplishing the two-fold objective of enhancing the stability of clay dispersion and better controlling drug uptake and release. The adsorption process was performed under different experimental conditions and investigated by constructing the adsorption isotherms through hig…
Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells Using Folate-Coated Gold/ Graphene Oxide Composite
2017
Objective: A new tumor targeted polymer-coated gold/graphene hybrid has been developed for achieving simultaneously thermoablation and chemoterapy of folate receptor-positive cancer cells. Methods: The gold/graphene hybrid was prepared by depositing gold nanospheres onto graphene oxide and coating it with an inulin-folate conjugate. Paclitaxel was loaded by sonication. The hybrid was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, DSC analysis and SEM microscopy. The cytotoxicity, thermoablation and anticancer activity were evaluated in vitro on MCF-7 and 16 HBE. Results: In vitro tests showed that the paclitaxel-loaded hybrid improved the effectiveness of the drug especially after photothermal treat…
An allergen-polymeric nanoaggregate as a new tool for allergy vaccination.
2014
Parietaria pollen is one of the major causes of allergic reaction in southern Europe, affecting about 30% of all allergic patients in this area. Specifi immunotherapy is the only treatment able to modify the natural outcome of the disease by restoring a normal immunity against allergens. The preparation of allergen-solid lipid nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins, P. judaica major allergen Par j 2, was investigated. The Par j 2 allergen was expressed in a large amount in Escherichia coli and purifid to homogeneity. Its immunological properties were studied by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition. Solid lipid nanoparticles were obtained by …
Hydrophilic Sponges loaded with Curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles and Metronidazole applied on L-PRF clot to promote tissue regeneration in dentistry
2018
Leukocyte-and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) technology allows for the preparation of strong fibrin membranes enriched with cells (activated platelets, leukocytes, circulating cells) and platelet growth factors [1]. In dentistry, the use of this autologous platelet concentrates such as L-PRF, also in association with Metronidazole (MTR), seems an innovative approach for vestibular bone grafting on the alveolar ridges [2]. In addition, Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenol derived from the rhizome of the Curcuma longa, could be effectiveness on tissue regeneration due to its well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [3]. The aim of the present work was the development of bioerodib…
Highly Homogeneous Biotinylated Carbon Nanodots: Red-Emitting Nanoheaters as Theranostic Agents toward Precision Cancer Medicine
2019
Very recent red-emissive carbon nanodots (CDs) have shown potential as near-infrared converting tools to produce local heat useful in cancer theranostics. Besides, CDs seem very appealing for clinical applications combining hyperthermia, imaging, and drug delivery in a single platform capable of selectively targeting cancer cells. However, CDs still suffer from dramatic dot-to-dot variability issues such that a rational design of their structural, optical, and chemical characteristics for medical applications has been impossible so far. Herein, we report for the first time a simple and highly controllable layer-by-layer synthesis of biotin-decorated CDs with monodisperse size distribution, …
π-Stacked polymers in drug delivery applications
2016
Abstract Polybenzofulvenes are π-stacked polymers, which can be synthesized by spontaneous polymerization of the corresponding monomers without the use of catalysts or initiators. Therefore, they can be obtained completely free from byproducts, impurities, or harmful substances. The absence of any relevant toxic effects and cell viability impairments allows PEGylated polybenzofulvene brushes to be potentially functional in a wide range of biological, biomedical, and biotechnological applications. Moreover, the properties of these polymers, in terms of interaction with pharmacological active agents and the ability to self-assemble into nanoaggregates or a quite compact physical gel useful as…
Cell uptake enhancement of folate targeted polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles.
2013
Dual targeted drug delivery systems represent a potential platform for developing efficient vector to tumor sites. In this study we evaluated a folate- and magnetic-targeted nanocarriers based on 10 nm iron oxide nanodomais coated with the properly synthesized and characterized folic acid (FA)-functionalized amphiphilic copolymer PHEA-PLA-PEG-FA. FA was chemically conjugated to one end of diamino-polyethylene glycol of 2000 Da, in order to ensure its exposition on the polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs-FA). The prepared nanoparticles have been exhaustively characterized by different methods, including DLS, SEM, FT-IR and magnetic measurements. Magnetic nanoparticles showed dimensio…
Design and development of hyaluronan-functionalized polybenzofulvene nanoparticles as CD44 receptor mediated drug delivery system
2017
A tri-component polymer brush (TCPB), composed of a polybenzofulvene copolymer bearing low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) on the surface of its cylindrical brush-like backbone and oligo-PEG fractions, was employed in the preparation of 350Â nm nanostructured drug delivery systems capable of delivering the anticancer drug doxorubicin. The obtained drug delivery systems were characterized on the basis of drug loading and release, dimensions and zeta potential, morphology and in vitro cell activity, and uptake on three different human cell lines, namely the bronchial epithelial 16HBE, the breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7, and the colon cancer HCT116 cells. Finally, the ability of doxorubicin…
A Par j1/Par J2-polymeric nanoaggragates as a new tool for allergy vaccination
2013
SYNTHESIS OF INULIN-GRAFT COPOLYMERS VIA GRAFTING- FROM ATRP TECHNIQUE. A NEW FRONTIER FOR MODIFICATION OF NATURAL POLYSACCHARIDES
2012
NANOTECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOMEDICAL APLICATIONS
2010
Inulin derivatives obtained via enhanced microwave synthesis as potential drug delivery system.
2013
Polymeric micelles containing squalenoyl chains for the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system
2011
PHEA-Dox nanoparticles as pH-sensitive model for drug delivery in tumour treatment.
2015
PHEA-Dox nanoparticles as pH-sensitive model for drug delivery in tumour treatment. S. Camporaa, G. Adamoa, N. Maurob, C. Scialabbab, M. Licciardib, G. Giammonab and G. Ghersia. aDipartmento di “Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche” (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy. bLaboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Dipartmento di “Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche” (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 32 90123 Palermo, Italy. Classical chemotherapeutic applications, using molecules such as doxorubicin (Dox), have side effects due to an unspecific action. In order to obtain a specific release of…
SUPERPARAMAGNETIC HYDROPHOBIC POLYASPARTAMIDE NANOPARTICLES FOR ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY
2012
Understanding the role of graphene oxide in the capture and eradication of circulating tumor cells
2016
The capture of circulating cancer cells on functional biomaterials is expected to control metastatic spread of a tumor, which is related to good probability containing the progression of disease burden. (1) The physicochemical characteristics of a biomaterial surface highly affect cell recruitment and adhesion, which is of great importance in such applications. Here, we designed a poly(caprolactone)-based nanocompsite scaffold, henceforth PCLMF-GO, to simultaneously recruit and kill circulating cancer cells by tuning physicochemical features of the scaffold surface through nitrogen plasma activation and hetero-phase graphene oxide (GO) covalent functionalization. Nitrogen plasma activation …
Cell Uptake Enhancement of Folate Targeted Polymer Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles
2013
Dual targeted drug delivery systems represent a potential platform for developing efficient vector to tumor sites. In this study we evaluated a folate- and magnetic-targeted nanocarriers based on 10 nm iron oxide nanodomais coated with the properly synthesized and characterized folic acid (FA)-functionalized amphiphilic copolymer PHEA-PLA-PEG-FA. FA was chemically conjugated to one end of diamino-polyethylene glycol of 2000 Da, in order to ensure its exposition on the polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs-FA). The prepared nanoparticles have been exhaustively characterized by different methods, including DLS, SEM, FT-IR and magnetic measurements. Magnetic nanoparticles showed dimensio…
Nanosistemi polimerici per la veicolazione di farmaci antitumorali o attivi sul sistema nervoso centrale
2014
Metallic core nano-devices as drug delivery systems
2014
DERIVATI CATIONICI DELL’INULINA OTTENUTI MEDIANTE L’IMPIEGO DELLE MICROONDE PER LA VEICOLAZIONE DI FARMACI A BASE DI ACIDI NUCLEICI
2013
Graphene oxide surface functionalization of polymeric scaffolds for the recruitment and thermal ablation of tumor cells
2017
HYDROPHOBIC POLYMER COATED SUPERPARAMAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY
2011
HYDROPHOBIC POLYMER COATED SUPERPARAMAGNETI NANOPARTICLES FOR ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY LICCIARDI M.1, SCIALABBA C.1, AMATO G.1, CAVALLARO G.1, GIAMMONA G.1,2 1Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari e Biomolecolari (STEMBIO), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123, Palermo, Italy. 2IBF-CNR, via Ugo La Malfa, 153, 90143 Palermo, Italy. Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been recently used in drug delivery applications [1-4]. In this study, a novel approach to prepare magnetic polymeric nanoparticles containing superparamagnetic domains and hydrophobic polymeric shell using microemulsion-solvent evaporation method is reported. PHEA-IB-poly(ButMA) copolymer was used as …
NIR LASER-RESPONSIVE FOLATE-TARGETED GOLD NANORODS AS EFFICIENT THERANOSTIC TOOL FOR OSTEOSARCOMA TREATMENT
2017
Folate-targeted gold nanorods (GNRs) are here proposed as selective theranostic agents for osteosarcoma treatment. Taking advantage of the attractive physiochemical and optical properties of GNRs they can be proposed as effective and selective platform to obtain a targeted intracellular drug release, photothermal therapy and cancer imaging, which may improve therapeutic outcomes of osteosarcoma. An amphiphilic polysaccharide graft-copolymer, named INU-LA-PEG-FA, and a folic acid functionalized α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA-FA), have been synthesized to act as coating agents for GNRs. The obtained polymer-coated GNRs were characterized in terms of size, shape, zeta potenti…