Search Results (44)

The CRISPR-Cas9 system has transformed biomedical research by enabling precise genetic modifications. However, efficient delivery of CRISPR components remains a major hurdle for therapeutic applications. To address this, we employed a new modified cationic hyper-branched cyclodextrin-based polymer (Ppoly) system to deliver an integrating GFP gene using the TILD-CRISPR method, which couples donor DNA linearization with RNP complexes. The physicochemical properties, loading efficiency, and cellular uptake of RNP with Ppoly were studied. After transfection, antibiotic selection and single-cell cloning were performed. Junction PCR was then performed on the isolated clones, and we compared the knock-in efficiency of Ppoly with that of the commercial CRISPRMAX™ reagent (Thermo Fisher, Invitrogen™, Waltham, MA, USA). The results demonstrate the encapsulation efficiency of over 90% for RNP and Ppoly, and cell viability remaining above 80%, reflecting the minimal toxicity of this approach. These attributes facilitated successful GFP gene integration using the TILD-CRISPR with RNP delivered via cyclodextrin-based nanosponges. The present method achieved a remarkable 50% integration efficiency in CHO-K1 cells, significantly outperforming the 14% observed with CRISPRMAX™ while maintaining lower cytotoxicity. This study highlights a promising platform for precise and efficient genome editing, with strong potential for therapeutic and regenerative medicine applications. Full article

Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (CDNSs) are novel polymers composed of cross-linked cyclodextrin (CD) macrocyclic units, whose characteristics make them great candidates for drug delivery systems with adjustable properties for the drug release process. Examination of the molecular structure and dynamics of CDNSs is a necessary starting point in the first step toward their broad application. Spectroscopic methods are effective analytical tools for probing the structure–property relationships of polymer structures. Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies provide insight into the behavior of hydrogen bond (H-bond) networks influencing the properties of CDNS polymeric networks. Scattering techniques such as inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and Brillouin light scattering (BLS) probe elastic properties, while small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) examines the structural inhomogeneities and water sorption abilities of CDNS materials. Complete evaluation is possible using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which can provide data on CDNS network dynamics. This article summarizes the results of a wide examination of CDNSs with the use of spectroscopic methods and reveals the links between the microscopic behavior and macroscopic properties of CDNSs, enabling the customization of their properties for various biomedical purposes. Full article

Flavonoids play an important role in preventive and therapeutic research due to their significant antioxidant properties. However, their application is limited by several pharmacokinetic drawbacks, such as poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Cyclodextrin-based delivery systems offer an opportunity to overcome these disadvantages. Cyclodextrins are able to form stable, water-soluble inclusion complexes with flavonoids, thereby improving their solubility, chemical stability, and antioxidant activity. This review summarizes the structural characteristics and complexation mechanisms of various flavonoid–cyclodextrin complexes and examines how these interactions influence biological activity. Special attention is given to nanotechnological formulations—such as liposomes, nanofibers, and nanosponges—that enable targeted drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of cyclodextrin-based carriers in the formulation of flavonoids and to highlight the future potential of these systems in modern therapeutics and functional product development. Full article

Bisphenol A is a widely recognized endocrine disruptor that persists in ecosystems, harms aquatic organisms, and contributes to ecological degradation, raising global environmental concerns. Numerous studies have explored β-cyclodextrin–based adsorbents for Bisphenol A removal; however, their regeneration remains a major challenge, often relying on energy-intensive processes and excessive use of organic solvents. In this study, Bisphenol A was selected as a model pollutant, and its adsorption onto β-cyclodextrin nanosponges was investigated. After adsorption, Bisphenol A was efficiently recovered from the saturated β-cyclodextrin nanosponges using an innovative and sustainable supercritical CO₂-based green process, which simultaneously regenerated the adsorbent. The adsorption process achieved an efficiency of 95.51 ± 0.82% under optimized conditions (C₀ = 150 mg/L, m_β-CDNS = 0.15 g, T = 25 °C, and N = 200 rpm), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 47.75 ± 0.28 mg/g. The regeneration process achieved over 99% efficiency at 60 °C and 300 bar, with 10% (v/v) ethanol as a co-solvent, nearly fully restoring the adsorbent’s performance. Unlike conventional regeneration techniques, this green approach eliminates the need for environmentally harmful organic solvents while preserving the adsorbent’s structural integrity, making it a highly efficient and sustainable alternative. This study is the first to demonstrate the effective application of supercritical CO₂-based regeneration for β-cyclodextrin nanosponges in Bisphenol A removal, providing a scalable and environmentally sustainable solution for wastewater treatment. Furthermore, characterization analyses confirmed that the adsorbent retained its chemical and morphological stability after adsorption and regeneration. Full article

Background: The low solubility and poor skin permeability of sulfasalazine (SLZ) present significant challenges for its effective topical delivery. The objective of the current investigation is to formulate a hydrogel-based SLZ-loaded cyclodextrin nanosponge for topical therapy in psoriasis. Methods: SLZ-loaded nanosponges were prepared by the melt polymerization method and evaluated for physiochemical characteristics, drug release, and cytocompatibility. The selected nanosponges (SLZ-NS4) were transformed to hydrogel and further evaluated for rheology, texture, safety, skin permeability, and in vivo for anti-psoriatic effect in mouse tail and imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation models in mice. Results: Physiochemical data confirms nanoscale architecture, drug inclusion in nanosponges, crystalline structure, and formulation stability. The release profile of SLZ-NS4 revealed sustained release behavior (22.98 ± 2.24% in 3 h). Cytotoxicity assays indicated negligible toxicity against THP1 cells, resulting in higher viability of cells than pure SLZ (p < 0.05). The HET-CAM assay confirmed the safety, while confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated deeper skin permeation of SLZ. In the mouse tail model, a remarkable decline in relative epidermal thickness, potential improvement in percent orthokeratosis, and drug activity with respect to control was observed in animals treated with SLZ-NS4 hydrogel. The efficiency of the developed SLZ-NS4-loaded hydrogel in treating psoriasis was confirmed by the decline in PASI score (81.68 ± 3.61 and 84.86 ± 5.74 with 1 and 2% w/v of SLZ-NS-HG). Histopathological analysis and assessment of oxidative stress markers revealed the profound anti-psoriatic potential of the fabricated SLZ-NS4 hydrogel. Conclusions: These findings highlight the profound potential of the developed delivery system as an effective topical therapy for psoriasis. Full article

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic inflammatory disease, mainly affects the joints, with approximately 30% of psoriasis patients eventually developing PsA. Characterized by both innate and adaptive immune responses, PsA poses significant challenges for effective treatment. Recent advances in drug delivery systems have sparked interest in developing novel formulations to improve therapeutic outcomes. The current research focuses on the development and evaluation of a nanosponge-loaded, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor-based topical gel for the treatment of PsA. Methods: Nanosponges (NSs) were prepared by using beta-cyclodextrin as a polymer and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a crosslinker by melting, and gels were prepared by employing carbopol and badam gum as polymers. Results: Solubility studies confirmed that the prepared nanosponges were highly soluble. FT-IR studies confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonds between lumiracoxib and beta-cyclodextrin. SEM confirmed that the prepared formulations were roughly spherical and porous in nature. The average particle size was 190.5 ± 0.02 nm, with a zeta potential of −18.9 mv. XRD studies showed that the crystallinity of lumiracoxib decreased after encapsulation, which helped to increase its solubility. The optimized nanosponges (NS2) were incorporated in an optimized gel (FG10) to formulate a nanosponge-loaded topical gel. The optimized gel formulation exhibited a homogeneous consistency, with a pH of 6.8 and a viscosity of 1.15 PaS, indicating its suitability for topical application and stability. The in vitro diffusion studies for the topical gel showed drug release of 82.32% in 24 h. The optimized formulation demonstrated significant antipsoriatic activity, as confirmed through cytotoxicity studies conducted on HaCaT cells. Conclusions: On the basis of the findings, it can be concluded that the prepared nanosponge-loaded topical gel formulation presents a promising solution for the effective management of PsA, offering enhanced drug solubility, sustained release, and improved therapeutic potential. Full article

The diversity of cyclodextrins and their derivatives is increasing with continuous research. In addition to monomolecular cyclodextrins with different branched chains, cyclodextrin-based polymers have emerged. The aim of this review is to summarize these innovations, with a special focus on the study of applications of cyclodextrins and their derivatives in nano-delivery systems. The areas covered include nanospheres, nano-sponges, nanogels, cyclodextrin metal–organic frameworks, liposomes, and emulsions, providing a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the design and development of nano-delivery systems. Full article

In the present study, the complexes of aluminum and gallium with 5-hydroxyflavone were evaluated for their interaction with cyclodextrin polymers, as well as for the pharmacological effect of their inclusion. The cyclodextrin polymers were synthesized using diphenylcarbonate as a crosslinking agent, resulting in a lipophilic nanosponge (DPCNS), and pyromellitic dianhydride, resulting in a hydrophilic polymer (PMDACD). The inclusion complexes were synthesized and characterized via IR spectrometry and thermal analysis. The effect on the solubility of the metal complexes was also studied, where the hydrophobic nanosponge did not lead to an increase in solubility, but on the contrary, in the case of Al, it decreased; meanwhile, in the case of the hydrophilic polymer, the solubility of the metal complexes increased with the amount of polymer added. The cytostatic effect of inclusion complexes was investigated on two cell lines with different localizations, human colon adenocarcinoma (LoVo) and human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SKOV-3). The cytostatic efficacy is increased compared to simple complexes with efficacy on LoVo cells. Compared between the two metals, gallium complexes proved to be more active, with the efficacy of gallium complexes with the PMDACD being approximately the same as that of cisplatin, an antitumor agent used in therapy. Full article

Some composite materials have been prepared, constituted by a cyclodextrin-bis-urethane-based nanosponge matrix in which a reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles photocatalyst has been dispersed. Different chain extenders were employed for designing the nanosponge supports, in such a way as to decorate their hyper-cross-linked structure with diverse functionalities. Moreover, two different strategies were explored to accomplish the silver loading. The obtained systems were successfully tested as catalysts for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants such as model dyes and drugs. Enhancement of the photoactive species performance (up to nine times), due to the synergistic local concentration effect exerted by the nanosponge, could be assessed. Overall, the best performances were shown by polyamine-decorated materials, which were able to promote the degradation of some particularly resistant drugs. Some methodological issues pertaining to data collection are also addressed. Full article

Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (CDNSs) are complex macromolecular structures composed of individual cyclodextrins (CDs) and nanochannels created between cross-linked CD units and cross-linkers. Due to their unique structural and physicochemical properties, CDNSs can possess even more beneficial pharmaceutical features than single CDs. In this comprehensive review, various aspects related to CDNSs are summarized. Particular attention was paid to overviewing structural properties, methods of synthesis, and physicochemical analysis of CDNSs using various analytical methods, such as DLS, PXRD, TGA, DSC, FT-IR, NMR, and phase solubility studies. Also, due to the significant role of CDNSs in pharmaceutical research and industry, aspects such as drug loading, drug release studies, and kinetics profile evaluation of drug–CDNS complexes were carefully reviewed. The aim of this paper is to find the relationships between the physicochemical features and to identify crucial characteristics that are influential for using CDNSs as convenient drug delivery systems. Full article

Vitamin D3 (VitD3) plays a crucial role in various cellular functions through its receptor interaction. The biological activity of Vitamin D3 can vary based on its solubility and stability. Thus, the challenge lies in maximizing its biological effects through its complexation within cyclodextrin (βNS-CDI 1:4) nanosponges (NS) (defined as VitD3NS). Therefore, its activity has been evaluated on two different gut–brain axes (healthy gut/degenerative brain and inflammatory bowel syndrome gut/degenerative brain axis). At the gut level, VitD3-NS mitigated liposaccharide-induced damage (100 ng/mL; for 48 h), restoring viability, integrity, and activity of tight junctions and reducing ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and cytokines levels. Following intestinal transit, VitD3-NS improved the neurodegenerative condition in the healthy axis and the IBS model, suggesting the ability of VitD3-NS to preserve efficacy and beneficial effects even in IBS conditions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the ability of this novel form of VitD3, named VitD3-NS, to act on the gut–brain axis in healthy and damaged conditions, emphasizing enhanced biological activity through VitD3 complexation, as such complexation increases the beneficial effect of vitamin D3 in both the gut and brain by about 50%. Full article

Many active pharmaceutical ingredients show low oral bioavailability due to factors such as poor solubility and physical and chemical instability. The formation of inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins, as well as cyclodextrin-based polymers, nanosponges, and nanofibers, is a valuable tool to improve the oral bioavailability of many drugs. The microencapsulation process modifies key properties of the included drugs including volatility, dissolution rate, bioavailability, and bioactivity. In this context, we present relevant examples of the stabilization of labile drugs through the encapsulation in cyclodextrins. The formation of inclusion complexes with drugs belonging to class IV in the biopharmaceutical classification system as an effective solution to increase their bioavailability is also discussed. The stabilization and improvement in nutraceuticals used as food supplements, which often have low intestinal absorption due to their poor solubility, is also considered. Cyclodextrin-based nanofibers, which are polymer-free and can be generated using environmentally friendly technologies, lead to dramatic bioavailability enhancements. The synthesis of chemically modified cyclodextrins, polymers, and nanosponges based on cyclodextrins is discussed. Analytical techniques that allow the characterization and verification of the formation of true inclusion complexes are also considered, taking into account the differences in the procedures for the formation of inclusion complexes in solution and in the solid state. Full article

Nanocarriers for oxygen delivery have been the focus of extensive research to ameliorate the therapeutic effects of current anti-cancer treatments and in the organ transplant field. In the latter application, the use of oxygenated cardioplegic solution (CS) during cardiac arrest is certainly beneficial, and fully oxygenated crystalloid solutions may be excellent means of myocardial protection, albeit for a limited time. Therefore, to overcome this drawback, oxygenated nanosponges (NSs) that can store and slowly release oxygen over a controlled period have been chosen as nanocarriers to enhance the functionality of cardioplegic solutions. Different components can be used to prepare nanocarrier formulations for saturated oxygen delivery, and these include native α-cyclodextrin (αCD), αcyclodextrin-based nanosponges (αCD-NSs), native cyclic nigerosyl-nigerose (CNN), and cyclic nigerosyl-nigerose-based nanosponges (CNN-NSs). Oxygen release kinetics varied depending on the nanocarrier used, demonstrating higher oxygen release after 24 h for NSs than the native αCD and CNN. CNN-NSs presented the highest oxygen concentration (8.57 mg/L) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CS recorded at 37 °C for 12 h. The NSs retained more oxygen at 1.30 g/L than 0.13 g/L. These nanocarriers have considerable versatility and the ability to store oxygen and prolong the amount of time that the heart remains in hypothermic CS. The physicochemical characterization presents a promising oxygen-carrier formulation that can prolong the release of oxygen at low temperatures. This can make the nanocarriers suitable for the storage of hearts during the explant and transport procedure. Full article

This work aimed to synthesize and characterize a nanocarrier that consisted of a ternary system, namely β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponge (NS) inclusion compounds (ICs) associated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to increase the antimicrobial activity of quercetin (QRC). The nanosystem was developed to overcome the therapeutical limitations of QRC. The host–guest interaction between NSs and QRC was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H–NMR). Moreover, the association of AgNPs with the NS–QRC was characterized using FE–SEM, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential, and UV–Vis. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the novel formulations was tested, which depicted that the complexation of QRC inside the supramolecular interstices of NSs increases the inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli ATCC25922, as compared to that observed in the free QRC. In addition, at the same concentrations used to generate an antibacterial effect, the NS–QRC system with AgNPs does not affect the metabolic activity of GES–1 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that the use of NSs associated with AgNPs resulted in an efficient strategy to improve the physicochemical features of QRC. Full article

BCS class II molecules suffer from low oral bioavailability because of their poor permeability and sub-optimal aqueous solubility. One of the approaches to enhance their bioavailability is using cyclodextrin-based nanosponges. This study aimed to optimise and evaluate the feasibility of a microwave-assisted approach to synthesise nanosponges and improve domperidone’s solubility and drug delivery potential. In the production process, microwave power level, response speed, and stirring speed were optimised using the Box-Behnken approach. Ultimately, the batch with the smallest particle size and highest yield was chosen. The optimised method of synthesis of the nanosponges resulted in a product yield of 77.4% and a particle size of 195.68 ± 2.16 nm. The nanocarriers had a drug entrapment capacity of 84 ± 4.2% and a zeta potential of −9.17± 0.43 mV. The similarity and the difference factors demonstrated proof-of-concept, showing that the drug release from the loaded nanosponges is significantly greater than the plain drug. Additionally, spectral and thermal characterisations, such as FTIR, DSC, and XRD, confirmed the entrapment of the drug within the nanocarrier. SEM scans revealed the porous nature of the nanocarriers. Microwave-assisted synthesis could be used as a better and greener approach to synthesise these nanocarriers. It could then be utilised to load drugs and improve their solubility, as seen in the case of domperidone. Full article