Alternative Model-Based Translational Drug Development

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 2957

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 81530-900, PR, Brazil
Interests: pharmacology; cardio-renal pharmacology; medicinal plants; ethnopharmacology; hepatic diseases; metabolic diseases

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, km 12, P.O. Box 533, Dourados 79.804-970, MS, Brazil
Interests: antihypertensive; antiatherogenic; cardioprotective; diuretic; lipid-lowering; vasodilator
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The quest for effective and safe drug delivery systems has been a driving force in pharmaceutical research. Delivering medications efficiently and accurately to their intended targets is crucial for maximizing therapeutic outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on exploring innovative and alternative models to revolutionize drug delivery. Traditional approaches to drug delivery have often faced challenges, such as limited efficacy, poor bioavailability, and off-target effects. These limitations have prompted researchers and scientists to explore new avenues for drug delivery that can overcome these hurdles and provide improved therapeutic options for patients. One area that has gained significant attention is the intersection between drug formulation and translational medicine. Translational medicine bridges the gap between laboratory discoveries and their practical application in clinical settings. By incorporating translational medicine principles into drug formulation, researchers aim to enhance the development and delivery of pharmaceutical formulations, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

This Special Issue aims to shed light on the latest advancements in alternative drug delivery models and their potential implications for translational medicine. We will explore how these innovative approaches can improve the efficiency of drug formulations, promote personalized medicine, and address the specific needs of individual patients. By highlighting the importance of this research area, we aim to inspire further exploration and collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and pharmaceutical experts. Ultimately, our collective efforts in advancing drug delivery systems have the potential to transform the field of medicine, revolutionize treatment approaches, and enhance patient care.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Recent developments in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, including nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles.
  • Alternative models for drug delivery research, such as organoids, microfluidic systems, and computational modeling.
  • Bioengineering strategies for personalized medicine, such as 3D printing of drug delivery devices and organs-on-chips.
  • Development of patient-specific drug delivery systems, considering factors like genetic variations and disease-specific characteristics.
  • Design and evaluation of preclinical models that better mimic human physiology and predict clinical outcomes.
  • Development of novel targeting agents and strategies to improve drug accumulation at specific disease sites.
  • Case studies on the clinical application of targeted drug delivery systems, highlighting their efficacy and potential impact on patient outcomes.
  • Application of alternative models in studying drug transport, absorption, and distribution.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Francislaine Aparecida Dos Reis Lívero
Dr. Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pharmaceutical preparations
  • drug compounding
  • drug delivery systems
  • translation medicine
  • alternative models
  • preclinical studies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3510 KiB  
Article
Effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC on an Innovative Animal Model of Cardiometabolic Syndrome
by Gustavo Ratti da Silva, Arianne Jung Kluck, Edilson Rodrigues Albuquerque, Lucas Pires Guarnier, Fernanda de Abreu Braga, Ester Pelegrini Silva, Karina Sposito Negrini, Juliana Aparecida Mendonça, Zilda Cristiani Gazim, Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior, João Tadeu Ribeiro-Paes and Francislaine Aparecida dos Reis Lívero
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(11), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16111446 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 959
Abstract
Background/Objective: Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is a complex clinical condition that encompasses metabolic dysregulation, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes risk factors. Worldwide, CMS is underdiagnosed, and its occurrence significantly increases cardiovascular morbimortality. Despite available pharmacological treatments, the approach is fragmented, and the associated clinical conditions [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is a complex clinical condition that encompasses metabolic dysregulation, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes risk factors. Worldwide, CMS is underdiagnosed, and its occurrence significantly increases cardiovascular morbimortality. Despite available pharmacological treatments, the approach is fragmented, and the associated clinical conditions are treated independently. This approach may be partially due to limited preclinical models to mimic the clinical conditions of CMS. Therefore, our study aims to present an innovative animal model of cardiometabolic syndrome and evaluate the effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia on the set of clinical alterations associated with the condition. Methods: Female Wistar rats were induced to develop diabetes, fed a cholesterol-enriched diet, and exposed to the smoke of 9 cigarettes/day for 6 weeks. During the last 2 weeks, the rats were treated with vehicle, B. dracunculifolia (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg), or a combination of simvastatin and insulin. At the end of the treatment, plasma lipid levels were measured, and the liver was analyzed histologically for hepatic lipid quantification and oxidative stress assessment. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed seven phenolic acids and six flavonoids in the extract. B. dracunculifolia showed significant hepatoprotective effects, reducing AST and ALT levels and lowering both plasma and hepatic lipid levels. The extract also reversed hepatic steatosis and demonstrated antioxidant properties. Conclusions: These findings suggest that B. dracunculifolia may be a therapeutic option for the metabolic dysregulation present in CMS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Model-Based Translational Drug Development)
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15 pages, 4384 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Human Liver Model for Toxicity Assessment with Clinical and Preclinical Instrumentation
by Eneko Madorran, Lidija Kocbek Šaherl, Mateja Rakuša and Miha Munda
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(5), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16050607 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1298
Abstract
The existing in vitro toxicological models lack translational potential, which makes difficult the application of gathered information to clinical usage. To tackle this issue, we built a model with four different types of primary liver cells: hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, [...] Read more.
The existing in vitro toxicological models lack translational potential, which makes difficult the application of gathered information to clinical usage. To tackle this issue, we built a model with four different types of primary liver cells: hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells and hepatocytes. We cultured them in different combinations of composition and volumes of cell medium, hepatocyte proportions of total cells and additions of extracellular matrixes. We added rifampicin (RIF), ibuprofen (IBU) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to this model and observed the microanatomy and physiology changes for a week with preclinical and clinical instruments. Among the different model configurations, we selected the feature combination of the in vitro model that had similar biomarker values to those measured in clinical diagnostics. When we exposed the selected model configuration to RIF, IBU and 5-FU, we observed similar glucose, triglyceride and albumin dynamics as in vivo (from clinical data). Therefore, we have built an in vitro liver model that resembles the liver microenvironment, and we have analysed it with clinical instrumentation to facilitate data translation. Furthermore, during these observations, we found that Kupffer and LSEC cells are suitable candidates for the search for clinical diagnostic markers of liver function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Model-Based Translational Drug Development)
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