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International Journal of Pharmaceutics Feb 2014The purpose of this study was to investigate the evaluation of the biomedical effectiveness of poly(amido)amine dendrimers generation 4.0 (PAMAM G4) as a drug and as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The purpose of this study was to investigate the evaluation of the biomedical effectiveness of poly(amido)amine dendrimers generation 4.0 (PAMAM G4) as a drug and as drug carriers by a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis. The results obtained from meta-analysis concluded that drug therapy reduces the change of parameters in relation to the control. The impact of the drug administered to change the test parameters are dependent on the type of tissue. PAMAM G4 may be effective in vitro and in vivo as a drug and drug carriers and may have appropriate applications in various fields of medicine. PAMAM G4 dendrimers hold promises for nanomedicine.
Topics: Animals; Dendrimers; Drug Carriers; Humans; Nanomedicine; Nylons
PubMed: 24374222
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.12.033 -
L'Encephale Sep 2013Nanomedicine is defined as the area using nanotechnology's concepts for the benefit of human beings, their health and well being. The field of nanotechnology opened new... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Nanomedicine is defined as the area using nanotechnology's concepts for the benefit of human beings, their health and well being. The field of nanotechnology opened new unsuspected fields of research a few years ago.
AIM OF THE STUDY
To provide an overview of nanotechnology application areas that could affect care for psychiatric illnesses.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA criteria (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis). Inclusion criteria were specified in advance: all studies describing the development of nanotechnology in psychiatry. The research paradigm was: "(nanotechnology OR nanoparticles OR nanomedicine) AND (central nervous system)" Articles were identified in three research bases, Medline (1966-present), Web of Science (1975-present) and Cochrane (all articles). The last search was carried out on April 2, 2012. Seventy-six items were included in this qualitative review.
RESULTS
The main applications of nanotechnology in psychiatry are (i) pharmacology. There are two main difficulties in neuropharmacology. Drugs have to pass the blood brain barrier and then to be internalized by targeted cells. Nanoparticles could increase drugs' bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, especially improving safety and efficacy of psychotropic drugs. Liposomes, nanosomes, nanoparticle polymers, nanobubbles are some examples of this targeted drug delivery. Nanotechnologies could also add new pharmacological properties, like nanohells and dendrimers; (ii) living analysis. Nanotechnology provides technical assistance to in vivo imaging or metabolome analysis; (iii) central nervous system modeling. Research teams have modelized inorganic synapses and mimicked synaptic behavior, essential for further creation of artificial neural systems. Some nanoparticle assemblies present the same small world and free-scale network architecture as cortical neural networks. Nanotechnologies and quantum physics could be used to create models of artificial intelligence and mental illnesses.
DISCUSSION
Even if nanotechnologies are promising, their safety is still tricky and this must be kept in mind.
CONCLUSION
We are not about to see a concrete application of nanomedicine in daily psychiatric practice. However, it seems essential that psychiatrists do not forsake this area of research the perspectives of which could be decisive in the field of mental illness.
Topics: Biological Availability; Brain; Drug Delivery Systems; Forecasting; France; Humans; Models, Neurological; Nanotechnology; Neuropharmacology; Psychiatry; Psychotropic Drugs; Synapses
PubMed: 23545476
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2013.02.002 -
European Neuropsychopharmacology : the... Sep 2013Nanomedicine is defined as the area using nanotechnology's concepts for the benefit of human beings' health and well being. In this article, we aimed to provide an... (Review)
Review
Nanomedicine is defined as the area using nanotechnology's concepts for the benefit of human beings' health and well being. In this article, we aimed to provide an overview of areas where nanotechnology is applied and how they could be extended to care for psychiatric illnesses. The main applications of nanotechnology in psychiatry are (i) pharmacology. There are two main difficulties in neuropharmacology: drugs have to pass the blood-brain barrier and then to be internalized by targeted cells. Nanoparticles could increase drugs bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, especially improving safety and efficacy of psychotropic drugs. Liposomes, nanosomes, nanoparticle polymers, nanobubbles are some examples of this targeted drug delivery. Nanotechnologies could also add new pharmacological properties, like nanoshells and dendrimers (ii) living analysis. Nanotechnology provides technical assistance to in vivo imaging or metabolome analysis (iii) central nervous system modeling. Research teams have succeeded to modelize inorganic synapses and mimick synaptic behavior, a step essential for further creation of artificial neural systems. Some nanoparticle assemblies present the same small worlds and free-scale networks architecture as cortical neural networks. Nanotechnologies and quantum physics could be used to create models of artificial intelligence and mental illnesses. We are not about to see a concrete application of nanomedicine in daily psychiatric practice. Even if nanotechnologies are promising, their safety is still inconsistent and this must be kept in mind. However, it seems essential that psychiatrists do not forsake this area of research the perspectives of which could be decisive in the field of mental illness.
Topics: Forecasting; Humans; Mental Disorders; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Psychiatry
PubMed: 23183130
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.10.016 -
Molecular Pharmaceutics Mar 2012Cancer is a leading cause of death within developed nations, and part of this morbidity is due to difficulties associated with its treatment. Currently, anticancer... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a leading cause of death within developed nations, and part of this morbidity is due to difficulties associated with its treatment. Currently, anticancer therapy relies heavily upon the administration of small molecule cytotoxic drugs that attack both cancerous and noncancerous cells due to limited selectivity of the drugs and widespread distribution of the cytotoxic molecules throughout the body. The antitumor efficacy and systemic toxicity of existing chemotherapeutic drugs can, however, be improved by employing formulation and particle engineering approaches. Thus, drug delivery systems can be developed that more specifically target tumor tissue using both passive (such as the enhanced permeation and retention effect) and active (through the use of cancer targeting ligands) modalities. Dendrimers are one such system that can be developed with high structural monodispersity, long plasma circulation times and precise control over surface structure and biodistribution properties. Chemotherapeutic drugs can be associated with dendrimers via covalent conjugation to the surface, or via encapsulation of drugs within the structure. Each of these approaches has demonstrated therapeutic benefit relative to the administration of free drug. Thus far, however, there has not been a systematic review toward which drug association approach will provide the best outcomes in terms of antitumor efficacy and systemic toxicity. Hence, the current literature is reviewed here and recommendations are proposed as to the suggested approach to develop dendrimers as tumor targeted drug-delivery vectors.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Dendrimers; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Neoplasms
PubMed: 22250750
DOI: 10.1021/mp2005966 -
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Aug 2009Dendrimers by virtue of their therapeutic value have recently generated enormous interest among biomedical scientists. This review describes the therapeutic prospects of... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Dendrimers by virtue of their therapeutic value have recently generated enormous interest among biomedical scientists. This review describes the therapeutic prospects of the dendrimer system.
KEY FINDINGS
Their bioactivity suggests them to be promising therapeutic agents, especially in wound healing, bone mineralisation, cartilage formation and tissue repair, and in topical treatments to prevent HIV transmission. Findings also demonstrate their potential as anti-prion, anti-Alzheimer's, anticoagulant, antidote, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. One of the dendrimer-based formulations with activity against herpes simplex virus (VivaGel from Starpharma) has successfully completed phase I clinical trials and is expected to be available on the market soon.
SUMMARY
All reports cited in this review demonstrate the use of dendrimers as medical therapeutics in different ailments. The review focuses on the current state of therapeutic potential of the dendrimer system.
Topics: Animals; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dendrimers; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Design; Humans
PubMed: 19703342
DOI: 10.1211/jpp/61.08.0002