Alternative Animal Models for Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery: Efficacy and Toxicity Assessment

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 857

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nanostructured Formulations, Department of Pharmacy, Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, Guarapuava 85040-167, Brazil
Interests: nanotechnology in drug delivery; bioavailability enhancement; nanostructured drug formulations; pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles; nanomedicine
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The advancement of nanotechnology in drug delivery systems brings new challenges and opportunities in evaluating the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle-based therapeutics. Traditional animal models, while providing valuable insights, often encounter limitations in fully predicting human responses due to species-specific differences. Moreover, ethical considerations and regulatory demands for reducing animal testing have intensified the need for alternative approaches in preclinical research. This Special Issue, “Alternative Animal Models for Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery: Efficacy and Toxicity Assessment”, aims to gather cutting-edge research on innovative models that enhance the translational relevance of preclinical studies in nanomedicine.

Topics of interest include the development and validation of alternative animal models, including zebrafish and invertebrate organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Galleria mellonella, and others. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews on methodologies for nanoparticle toxicity assessment, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy using these alternative models. Further, contributions that explore how these models can help in optimizing drug formulation, improving drug targeting, and assessing controlled release systems are highly encouraged.

Additionally, contributions addressing the regulatory perspectives, ethical considerations, and technical challenges associated with these alternative models are encouraged. This Special Issue will also highlight the integration of these models with drug formulation strategies and the application of alternative animal systems to better predict human clinical outcomes in nanoparticle-based therapies. Through this Special Issue, we aim to bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical applications of nanoparticle-based therapies, fostering the development of safer and more effective treatments. We invite researchers from pharmacology, toxicology, bioengineering, and related fields to contribute to this Special Issue and advance the field of nanoparticle drug delivery through innovative and ethically responsible preclinical approaches.

Dr. Rubiana Mara Mainardes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • alternative animal models
  • nanoparticle drug delivery
  • nanomedicine
  • toxicity assessment
  • bioavailability
  • in vivo models
  • biodistribution studies
  • therapeutic efficacy
  • pharmaceutical testing

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 3570 KiB  
Article
Development, Safety, and Therapeutic Evaluation of Voriconazole-Loaded Zein–Pectin–Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles Using Alternative In Vivo Models for Efficacy and Toxicity
by Margani Taise Fin, Kelvin Sousa dos Santos, Marcos William de Lima Gualque, Rafaela Cristine dos Santos, Natália Cristina Morici Aoki, Marcos Ereno Auler, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria José Soares Mendes-Gianinni and Rubiana Mara Mainardes
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020231 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 671
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fungal infections caused by Candida species remain a significant clinical challenge, exacerbated by limitations in current antifungal therapies, including toxicity and poor bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate voriconazole-loaded zein–pectin–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (ZPHA-VRC NPs) as a novel drug delivery [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fungal infections caused by Candida species remain a significant clinical challenge, exacerbated by limitations in current antifungal therapies, including toxicity and poor bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate voriconazole-loaded zein–pectin–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (ZPHA-VRC NPs) as a novel drug delivery system to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity. Alternative in vitro and in vivo models were utilized to assess the safety and therapeutic potential of the nanoparticles. Methods: ZPHA-VRC NPs were prepared using a nanoprecipitation method and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. Antifungal activity was assessed via MIC assays against Candida albicans, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells, while in vivo toxicity and efficacy were assessed using Galleria mellonella and Caenorhabditis elegans models. The therapeutic efficacy was further evaluated in an infected Caenorhabditis elegans model using survival and health scores. Results: ZPHA-VRC nanoparticles exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including a particle size of approximately 192 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.079, a zeta potential of −24 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 34%. The nanoparticles retained antifungal activity comparable to free voriconazole while significantly reducing cytotoxicity. In vivo studies using G. mellonella and C. elegans demonstrated that ZPHA-VRC NPs markedly improved survival rates, reduced fungal burden, and enhanced health scores in infected models, outperforming the free drug. Additionally, the nanoparticles exhibited a superior safety profile, minimizing systemic toxicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions: ZPHA-VRC NPs offer a safer and more effective delivery system for VRC, addressing the limitations of conventional formulations. The integration of alternative efficacy and safety models highlights their value in preclinical research. Full article
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