Inorganic Nanoparticles For Overcoming Biological Barriers For Advanced Drug Delivery

• By: POPAT, Amirali (The University Of Queensland, Australia)
• Co-author(s): Prof Amirali Popat (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)
  
• Abstract:

  Background/Purpose: Biological barriers, such as mucosal surfaces, epithelial junctions, and cellular membranes, can impede effective delivery of many drugs especially biologics. Many biological activities occur at the nanoscale, and thus engineered nanomaterials are advantageous in modulating biological barriers to improve therapeutic outcomes. However, traditional polymeric and lipid nanoparticles suffer from low encapsulation efficiency, complex manufacturing and nonspecific drug release limiting their clinical utility.
  My laboratory is internationally recognised in the development of programmable nanoparticles to tackle diverse drug delivery problems including overcoming biological barriers. Our patented porous silica-based platforms (MSNs) can be tuned at a nanoscale to create formulations with high loading capacity, targeted delivery of variety of drugs. [1, 2] Our group focuses on use of MSNs nanocomposites to overcome multiple biological barriers (Gut, Tumour, and BBB). We are particularly interested in effective oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs and macromolecules. For instance, by harnessing the high surface functionality of MSN we have prepared various pH and enzyme responsive drug delivery systems based on MSNs for targeting small intestine and inflamed gut. Additionally, we have evaluated the potential of library of silica particles in delivery of variety of small and macromolecules for the treatment of IBD, Diabetes, TB, and Brain Cancer. [1, 3-8]
  Results: By tuning the nanoscale properties of silica nanoparticles we have shown that we are able to improve solubility and oral bioavailability of many small molecules (Budesonide, Curcumin, Resveratrol, Vorinostat) and antimicrobials (Vancomycin, Meropenem). By tuning the nanoscale surface roughness and pore-size we discovered that silica nanoparticles can act as a non-toxic permeation enhancer to improve oral delivery of biologics (Insulin, exenatide, IL-22) in vitro and in vivo. Very Recently, we have developed ultrasmall (30 nm) silica nanoparticles and shown its capability in the treatment of Glioblastoma[9].
  Conclusion: We believe that inorganic nanoparticles such as MSNs and its hybrids have the potential to become all in one excipient/carrier for overcoming multiple biological barriers and has the potential to be translated into clinical practice in the future.