scholarly journals A Brief Review on Challenges in Design and Development of Nanorobots for Medical Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 10385
Author(s):  
Gautham Giri ◽  
Yaser Maddahi ◽  
Kourosh Zareinia

Robotics is a rapidly growing field, and the innovative idea to scale down the size of robots to the nanometer level has paved a new way of treating human health. Nanorobots have become the focus of many researchers aiming to explore their many potential applications in medicine. This paper focuses on manufacturing techniques involved in the fabrication of nanorobots and their associated challenges in terms of design architecture, sensors, actuators, powering, navigation, data transmission, followed by challenges in applications. In addition, an overview of various nanorobotic systems addresses different architectures of a nanorobot. Moreover, multiple medical applications, such as oncology, drug delivery, and surgery, are reviewed and summarized.

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Baino ◽  
Elisa Fiume

The advent of mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) in applied bio-sciences led to the birth of a new class of nanostructured materials combining triple functionality, that is, bone-bonding capability, drug delivery and therapeutic ion release. However, the development of hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds based on MBGs may be difficult due to some inherent drawbacks of MBGs (e.g., high brittleness) and technological challenges related to their fabrication in a multiscale porous form. For example, MBG-based scaffolds produced by conventional porogen-assisted methods exhibit a very low mechanical strength, making them unsuitable for clinical applications. The application of additive manufacturing techniques significantly improved the processing of these materials, making it easier preserving the textural and functional properties of MBGs and allowing stronger scaffolds to be produced. This review provides an overview of the major aspects relevant to 3D printing of MBGs, including technological issues and potential applications of final products in medicine.


Author(s):  
Bibhu Prasad Panda ◽  
N.S Dey ◽  
M.E.B. Rao

Over the past few decades, there has been an increased interest for innovative drug delivery systems to improve safety, efficacy and patient compliance, thereby increasing the product patent life cycle. The discovery and development of new chemical entities is not only an expensive but also time consuming affair. Hence the pharmaceutical industries are focusing on the design and development of innovative drug delivery systems for existing drugs. One such delivery system is the fast disintegrating oral film, which has gained popularity among pediatric and geriatric patients. This fast disintegrating film with many potential benefits of a fast disintegrating tablet but devoid of friability and risk of choking is more acceptable to pediatric and geriatric patients. Formulation of fast disintegrating film can be achieved by various techniques, but common methods of preparation include spraying and casting. These film forming techniques use hydrophilic film former in combination with suitable excipients, which allow the film to disintegrate or dissolve quickly in the mouth within a few seconds without the administration of water. In view of the advantages of the fast disintegrating films over the fast disintegrating tablets and other dosage forms, it has the potential for commercial exploitation. The oral film dosage form not only has certain advantages of other fast disintegrating systems but also satisfies the unmet needs of the market. The present review emphasizes on the potential benefits, design and development of robust, stable, and innovative orally fast- disintegrating films and their future scenarios on a global market as a pharmaceutical dosage form.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhukar Garg ◽  
Anju Goyal ◽  
Sapna Kumari

: Cubosomes are highly stable nanostructured liquid crystalline dosage delivery form derived from amphiphilic lipids and polymer-based stabilizers converting it in a form of effective biocompatible carrier for the drug delivery. The delivery form comprised of bicontinuous lipid bilayers arranged in three dimensional honeycombs like structure provided with two internal aqueous channels for incorporation of number of biologically active ingredients. In contrast liposomes they provide large surface area for incorporation of different types of ingredients. Due to the distinct advantages of biocompatibility and thermodynamic stability, cubosomes have remained the first preference as method of choice in the sustained release, controlled release and targeted release dosage forms as new drug delivery system for the better release of the drugs. As lot of advancement in the new form of dosage form has bring the novel avenues in drug delivery mechanisms so it was matter of worth to compile the latest updates on the various aspects of mentioned therapeutic delivery system including its structure, routes of applications along with the potential applications to encapsulate variety drugs to serve health related benefits.


Author(s):  
Emily C. Whipple ◽  
Camille A. Favero ◽  
Neal F. Kassell

Abstract Introduction Intra-arterial (lA) delivery of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an evolving strategy which enables the distribution of high concentration therapeutics through a targeted vascular territory, while potentially limiting systemic toxicity. Studies have demonstrated lA methods to be safe and efficacious for a variety of therapeutics. However, further characterization of the clinical efficacy of lA therapy for the treatment of brain tumors and refinement of its potential applications are necessary. Methods We have reviewed the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting superselective intraarterial cerebral infusion (SSJACI) with BBB disruption for the treatment of brain tumors. In addition, we review ongoing clinical trials expanding the applicability and investigating the efficacy of lA therapy for the treatment of brain tumors. Results Trends in recent studies have embraced the use of SSIACI and less neurotoxic chemotherapies. The majority of trials continue to use mannitol as the preferred method of hyperosmolar BBB disruption. Recent preclinical and preliminary human investigations into the lA delivery of Bevacizumab have demonstrated its safety and efficacy as an anti-tumor agent both alone and in combination with chemotherapy. Conclusion lA drug delivery may significantly affect the way treatment are delivered to patients with brain tumors, and in particular GBM. With refinement and standardization of the techniques of lA drug delivery, improved drug selection and formulations, and the development of methods to minimize treatment-related neurological injury, lA therapy may offer significant benefits for the treatment of brain tumors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhavesh D. Kevadiya ◽  
Liang Chen ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Midhun B. Thomas ◽  
Rajesh N. Davé

Hydrophobic drug nanocrystals (NCs) manufactured by particle engineering have been extensively investigated for enhanced oral bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness. However, there are significant drawbacks, including fast dissolution of the nanocrystals in the gastric environment, leading to physicochemical instability. To solves this issue, we developed an innovative technique that involves the encapsulation of nanocrystals in composite spherical microparticles (NCSMs). Fenofibrate (FNB) NCs (FNB-NCs) manufactured by a wet stirred media milling (WSMM) technique and an ionotropic crosslinking method were used for FNB-NC encapsulation within gastroresistant NCSMs. Various solid-state methods were used for characterizing NCSMs. The pH-sensitive NCSMs showed a site-specific release pattern at alkaline pH and nearly 0% release at low pH (gastric environment). This phenomenon was confirmed by a real-time in situ UV-imaging system known as the surface dissolution imager (SDI), which was used to monitor drug release events by measuring the color intensity and concentration gradient formation. All these results proved that our NCSM approach is an innovative idea in oral drug delivery systems, as it resolves significant challenges in the intestine-specific release of hydrophobic drugs while avoiding fast dissolution or burst release.


Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veymar G. Tacias-Pascacio ◽  
Esmeralda García-Parra ◽  
Gilber Vela-Gutiérrez ◽  
Jose J. Virgen-Ortiz ◽  
Ángel Berenguer-Murcia ◽  
...  

Genipin is a reagent isolated from the Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract, and whose low toxicity and good crosslinking properties have converted it into a reactive whose popularity is increasing by the day. These properties have made it widely used in many medical applications, mainly in the production of chitosan materials (crosslinked by this reactive), biological scaffolds for tissue engineering, and nanoparticles of chitosan and nanogels of proteins for controlled drug delivery, the genipin crosslinking being a key point to strengthen the stability of these materials. This review is focused on the mechanism of reaction of this reagent and its use in the design of biocatalysts, where genipin plays a double role, as a support activating agent and as inter- or intramolecular crosslinker. Its low toxicity makes this compound an ideal alterative to glutaraldehyde in these processes. Moreover, in some cases the features of the biocatalysts prepared using genipin surpassed those of the biocatalysts prepared using other standard crosslinkers, even disregarding toxicity. In this way, genipin is a very promising reagent in the design of biocatalysts.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahir Rasheed ◽  
Komal Rizwan ◽  
Muhammad Bilal ◽  
Hafiz M. N. Iqbal

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a fascinating class of porous crystalline materials constructed by organic ligands and inorganic connectors. Owing to their noteworthy catalytic chemistry, and matching or compatible coordination with numerous materials, MOFs offer potential applications in diverse fields such as catalysis, proton conduction, gas storage, drug delivery, sensing, separation and other related biotechnological and biomedical applications. Moreover, their designable structural topologies, high surface area, ultrahigh porosity, and tunable functionalities all make them excellent materials of interests for nanoscale applications. Herein, an effort has been to summarize the current advancement of MOF-based materials (i.e., pristine MOFs, MOF derivatives, or MOF composites) for electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and biocatalysis. In the first part, we discussed the electrocatalytic behavior of various MOFs, such as oxidation and reduction candidates for different types of chemical reactions. The second section emphasizes on the photocatalytic performance of various MOFs as potential candidates for light-driven reactions, including photocatalytic degradation of various contaminants, CO2 reduction, and water splitting. Applications of MOFs-based porous materials in the biomedical sector, such as drug delivery, sensing and biosensing, antibacterial agents, and biomimetic systems for various biological species is discussed in the third part. Finally, the concluding points, challenges, and future prospects regarding MOFs or MOF-based materials for catalytic applications are also highlighted.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Vallet-Regí

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles are receiving growing attention by the scientific biomedical community. Among the different types of inorganic nanomaterials, mesoporous silica nanoparticles have emerged as promising multifunctional platforms for nanomedicine. Since their introduction in the drug delivery landscape in 2001, mesoporous materials for drug delivery are receiving growing scientific interest for their potential applications in the biotechnology and nanomedicine fields. The ceramic matrix efficiently protects entrapped guest molecules against enzymatic degradation or denaturation induced by pH and temperature as no swelling or porosity changes take place as a response to variations in the surrounding medium. It is possible to load huge amounts of cargo into the mesopore voids and capping the pore entrances with different nanogates. The application of a stimulus provokes the nanocap removal and triggers the departure of the cargo. This strategy permits the design of stimuli-responsive drug delivery nanodevices.


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