Recent Advances in Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2024) | Viewed by 3904

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Interests: fluoropyrimidine; colorectal cancer; thymidylate synthase; DNA topoisomerase 1; DNA repair
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men and women combined. Chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting provides a survival benefit by reducing the incidence of recurrent disease which frequently involves metastatic progression, often to the liver but also to the lungs and other sites. Advancements in combination chemotherapy for metastatic CRC (mCRC) have significantly improved the overall survival rates; however, treatment is rarely curative, and new approaches are needed.

This Special Issue aims to illuminate the most promising therapeutic approaches for improving outcomes in CRC with an emphasis on original research articles and comprehensive reviews highlighting the most recent advancements. Articles covering any of the subject areas relevant to the scope of Pharmaceutics are welcome, including advancements in nanomedicine and formulation that are relevant to the improved treatment of CRC. New delivery and controlled-release systems for drugs, vaccines, and biopharmaceuticals targeting improved CRC treatment will be highlighted in this Special Issue, as well as advancements in pharmaceutical formulation, pharmacogenomics, and pharmacogenetics. Research contributions highlighting advancements in extending the scope of immunotherapy in CRC treatment are of particular interest.

I am pleased to invite you to contribute to “Recent Advances in Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer” by sending your most cutting-edge research accomplishments for inclusion in this Special Issue. I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. William H. Gmeiner
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • colorectal cancer
  • targeted therapy
  • drug delivery
  • drug design
  • immunotherapy
  • biopharmaceuticals
  • pharmacogenomics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 9370 KiB  
Article
Thymoquinone Pectin Beads Produced via Electrospray: Enhancing Oral Targeted Delivery for Colorectal Cancer Therapy
by Mulham Alfatama, Hazem Choukaife, Okba Al Rahal and Nur Zahirah Mohamad Zin
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(11), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16111460 - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) exhibits diverse biological activities, but its poor solubility and bioavailability limit its cancer efficacy, requiring innovative solutions. This study explores the development of an oral delivery system targeting colon cancer based on TQ pectin beads (TQ-PBs) produced through an [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Thymoquinone (TQ) exhibits diverse biological activities, but its poor solubility and bioavailability limit its cancer efficacy, requiring innovative solutions. This study explores the development of an oral delivery system targeting colon cancer based on TQ pectin beads (TQ-PBs) produced through an adjustable electrospray technique. This study hypothesised that adjusting bead diameter through the electrospray technique enables precise control over water absorption and erosion rates, thereby achieving a controlled release profile for encapsulated TQ, which enhances targeted delivery to the colon. Methods: TQ-PBs were synthesised and optimised using an electrospray technique based on the ionic gelation method. The prepared beads were characterised based on particle size, sphericity, encapsulation efficiency (EE), water uptake, erosion, surface morphology, molecular interactions, and texture. The cumulative TQ release studies, an accelerated stability test, and cytotoxicity evaluation against the colon cancer HT-29 cell line were also assessed. Results: The optimised TQ-PB formulation demonstrated an average bead size of 2.05 ± 0.14 mm, a sphericity of 0.96 ± 0.05, and an EE of 90.32 ± 1.04%. The water uptake was 287.55 ± 10.14% in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), 462.15 ± 12.73% in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), and 772.41 ± 13.03% in simulated colonic fluid (SCF), with an erosion rate of 45.23 ± 5.22%. TQ release was minimal in SGF (8.13 ± 1.94% after 2 h), controlled in SIF (29.35 ± 3.65% after 4 h), and accelerated in SCF (94.43 ± 2.4% after 3 h). Stability studies over one month showed a size reduction of 17.50% and a 6.59% decrease in TQ content. Cytotoxicity assessments revealed significant anticancer activity of TQ-PB, with an IC50 of 80.59 ± 2.2 μg/mL. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of TQ-PB as an effective oral drug delivery system for targeted colorectal cancer therapy. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 3570 KiB  
Review
Review of Prodrug and Nanodelivery Strategies to Improve the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer with Fluoropyrimidine Drugs
by Santu Sarkar, Sezgin Kiren and William H. Gmeiner
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(6), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16060734 - 29 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2024
Abstract
Fluoropyrimidine (FP) drugs are central components of combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). FP-based chemotherapy has improved survival outcomes over the last several decades with much of the therapeutic benefit derived from the optimization of dose and delivery. To [...] Read more.
Fluoropyrimidine (FP) drugs are central components of combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). FP-based chemotherapy has improved survival outcomes over the last several decades with much of the therapeutic benefit derived from the optimization of dose and delivery. To provide further advances in therapeutic efficacy, next-generation prodrugs and nanodelivery systems for FPs are being developed. This review focuses on recent innovative nanodelivery approaches for FP drugs that display therapeutic promise. We summarize established, clinically useful FP prodrug strategies, including capecitabine, which exploit tumor-specific enzyme expression for optimal anticancer activity. We then describe the use of FP DNA-based polymers (e.g., CF10) for the delivery of activated FP nucleotides as a nanodelivery approach with proven activity in pre-clinical models and with clinical potential. Multiple nanodelivery systems for FP delivery show promise in CRC pre-clinical models and we review advances in albumin-mediated FP delivery, the development of mesoporous silica nanoparticles, emulsion-based nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, hydrogel-based delivery, and liposomes and lipid nanoparticles that display particular promise for therapeutic development. Nanodelivery of FPs is anticipated to impact CRC treatment in the coming years and to improve survival for cancer patients. Full article
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