Drug carrier

About: Drug carrier is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 18276 publications have been published within this topic receiving 997718 citations. The topic is also known as: drug carriers & drug vehicle.

Brain drug delivery of small molecules using immunoliposomes

Abstract: Immunoliposomes (antibody-directed liposomes) were used in the present study for delivery of the antineoplastic agent daunomycin to the rat brain A coupling procedure was introduced, which allows conjugation of a thiolated antibody to maleimide-grafted 85-nm liposomes sterically stabilized with PEG Antibody was thereby coupled to the terminal end of a PEG-conjugated linker lipid No brain uptake of PEG-conjugated liposomes carrying [3H]daunomycin was observed However, brain targeting of immunoliposomes carrying [3H]daunomycin was mediated by the OX26 monoclonal antibody to the rat transferrin receptor, which is selectively enriched at the brain microvascular endothelium that comprises the blood-brain barrier in vivo Coupling of 30 OX26 antibodies per liposome resulted in optimal brain delivery Saturation of delivery was observed at higher antibody densities Determination of brain levels of immunoliposomes over 24 h revealed that immunoliposomes accumulate in brain tissue Brain targeting of immunoliposomes was not observed in immunoliposomes conjugated with a mouse IgG2a isotype control In addition, coinjection of free OX26 saturated plasma clearance of immunoliposomes Since a single liposome may carry > or = 10,000 drug molecules, the use of PEG-conjugated immunoliposomes increases the drug carrying capacity of the monoclonal antibody by up to 4 logarithmic orders in magnitude In summary, specific OX26-mediated targeting of daunomycin to the rat brain was achieved by the use of an immunoliposome-based drug delivery system

Design and Function of a Dendrimer-Based Therapeutic Nanodevice Targeted to Tumor Cells Through the Folate Receptor

Abstract: Purpose. We sought to develop nanoscale drug delivery materials that would allow targeted intracellular delivery while having an imaging capability for tracking uptake of the material. A complex nanodevice was designed and synthesized that targets tumor cells through the folate receptor. Methods. The device is based on an ethylenediamine core polyamidoamine dendrimer of generation 5. Folic acid, fluorescein, and methotrexate were covalently attached to the surface to provide targeting, imaging, and intracellular drug delivery capabilities. Molecular modeling determined the optimal dendrimer surface modification for the function of the device and suggested a surface modification that improved targeting. Results. Three nanodevices were synthesized. Experimental targeting data in KB cells confirmed the modeling predictions of specific and highly selective binding. Targeted delivery improved the cytotoxic response of the cells to methotrexate 100-fold over free drug. Conclusions. These results demonstrate the ability to design and produce polymer-based nanodevices for the intracellular targeting of drugs, imaging agents, and other materials.

DNA origami as a carrier for circumvention of drug resistance.

Abstract: Although a multitude of promising anti-cancer drugs have been developed over the past 50 years, effective delivery of the drugs to diseased cells remains a challenge. Recently, nanoparticles have been used as drug delivery vehicles due to their high delivery efficiencies and the possibility to circumvent cellular drug resistance. However, the lack of biocompatibility and inability to engineer spatially addressable surfaces for multi-functional activity remains an obstacle to their widespread use. Here we present a novel drug carrier system based on self-assembled, spatially addressable DNA origami nanostructures that confronts these limitations. Doxorubicin, a well-known anti-cancer drug, was non-covalently attached to DNA origami nanostructures through intercalation. A high level of drug loading efficiency was achieved, and the complex exhibited prominent cytotoxicity not only to regular human breast adenocarcinoma cancer cells (MCF 7), but more importantly to doxorubicin-resistant cancer cells, inducing...