What's New?

March 2023 Issue

 

Best Paper of the March 2023 Issue of DDTR (listed by corresponding authors):

 Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of highly stable and closed-loop noncoding RNA that are
involved in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that
high circ_0058051 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of HCC patients.
We also showed here that circ_0058051 knockdown attenuated the proliferation and colony
formation, while inhibited migration of HCC cells. The findings underscore the potential of
circ_0058051 as a therapeutic target for HCC. We synthesized a novel small interfering RNA
(siRNA) delivery system, PEG-PCL-PEI-C14-SPIONs (PPPCSs), based on superparamagnetic
iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). PPPCSs protected the siRNA of circ_0058051 from
degradation in serum and effectively delivered siRNA into SMMC-7721 cells. Meanwhile,
intravenous injection of the PPPCSs/siRNA complex could inhibit tumor growth in the
subcutaneous tumor model. In addition, the nanocomposite was not toxic to the organs of nude
mice. Collectively, PPPCSs/si-circ_0058051 complex may provide a novel and promising
method of HCC treatment.

 

Best Papers of the February 2023 Issue of DDTR (listed by corresponding authors):

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a quinone-based phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-
inflammatory activities, but its therapeutic utility has been underexplored due to inadequate
biological stability, short half-life, low hydrophilicity, and poor systemic bioavailability.
Tamanu oil-stabilized nanostructured lipid carriers (TQ-NLCs) enriched with TQ were
prepared and optimized using Box-Behnken design with the size of 153.9 ± 0.5 nm and
surface charge of -30.7 mV. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading density were
found to be 84.6 ± 0.5 % and 14.8 ± 0.5 %, respectively. The TQ-NLCs assayed for skin
permeation for transdermal delivery where TQ-NLC provided roughly 15 times greater
permeation compared to aqueous solution of TQ. Tamanu oil displayed a synergistic anti-
inflammatory potential with TQ in comparison to TQ alone in carrageenan-induced paw
oedema model and Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritic model. The arthritic and X-ray scores
significantly reduced in TQ-NLC-treated and standard formulation-treated groups. Moreover,
serum pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly reduced in TQ-NLC-treated
group compared to the arthritic control group.

Best Papers of the December 2022 Issue of DDTR (listed by corresponding authors): 

Summary: We introduce a novel antiviral nano-drug called SNAT (Smart Nano-Enabled
Antiviral Therapeutic) composed of taxoid (Tx)-decorated amino (NH 2 )-functionalized silver
nanoparticles (Tx–[NH 2 -AgNPs]). The particles are around 5 nm in diameter, positively charged
and stable for over three years at room temperature. We assessed the preclinical efficacy of
inhaled SNAT where we found that SNAP significantly reversed the body weight loss, reduced
the virus load in oral swabs, and improved lung health of hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Further, SNAT was found to be noncytotoxic and antioxidant, potentially quenching lipid
peroxidation, in human lung epithelial cells and dermal fibroblasts. Overall, our study
collectively highlights SNAT as a safe and potent antiviral platform against SARS-CoV-2
infection and potentially other respiratory viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential.

Perspective

Role of drug delivery technologies in the success of COVID-19 vaccines: a perspective

This newly published DDTR “Perspective” article discusses the roles of drug delivery technologies in developing safe and efficacious vaccines. We thank Drs. Robert Langer, Pieter Cullis, Olivia Merkel and Mark Prausnitz for sharing their perspectives and insights on this important topic.

Inspirational Note

Inspirational Note by Wim H. De Jong, Robert E. Geertsma & Gerrit Borchard: Regulatory safety evaluation of nanomedical products: key issues to refine

This newly released Inspirational Note discusses critical considerations for the clinical implementation of nanomedicine.

Inspirational note by Martin J. Whitaker, Hiep Huatan and Richard J. Ross

Chronotherapy based on modified-release hydrocortisone to restore the physiological cortisol diurnal rhythm

This Inspirational Note features innovative drug delivery technology that replicates the physiological cortisol diurnal rhythm for chronotherapy.

Inspirational note by James Goodson and Dr. Paul Rota

Innovations in vaccine delivery: increasing access, coverage, and equity and lessons learnt from measles and rubella elimination

In this inspirational note, James Goodson and Dr. Paul Rota provide insightful and timely perspective and discussion regarding the importance of vaccine delivery technology and multidisciplinary efforts to achieve global vaccination and ultimately well-being.

Inspirational note by Dr. Andrew L. Lewis

Development and approval of rybelsus (oral semaglutide): ushering in a new era in peptide delivery

In this Inspirational Note, Dr. Andrew Lewis and coauthors feature an amazing and innovative discovery that is changing the paradigm of oral peptide delivery.

 Inspirational note by Drs. Lara Milane and Mansoor Amiji

Clinical approval of nanotechnology-based SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines: impact on translational nanomedicine

In this Inspirational Note, Drs. Lara Milane and Mansoor Amiji share their insights and reflections on the impact of the recently approved SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines on the present and future of translational nanomedicines.

Inspirational note by Alexander (Sandy) T. Florence  Trajectories in nanotechnology: embracing complexity, seeking analogies

"A timely and truly insightful Inspirational Note by one of the fathers of nanotechnology & pharmaceuticals.”  -Jung Soo Suk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The Center for Nanomedicine at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Inspirational Note from Dr. Marianne Ashford, Senior Principal Scientist in Glocal Advanced Drug Delivery Group in Pharmaceutical Sciences at AstraZeneca "Drug delivery - the increasing momentum"  

"In this 'Inspirational Note' you will be inspired by the way industry sees advances in drug delivery and Nanomedicine. Dr. Marianne Ashford talks about the 'increasing momentum'. You should not miss this note if you are interested in translational research." -Prof. Maria José Alonso, Editor-in-Chief of the Drug Delivery and Translational Research (DDTR) Journal, Past President of the Controlled Release Society

Inspirational Note from Dr. Robert Langer

"From micro to nano: evolution and impact of drug delivery in treating disease"

In this Inspirational Note, Robert Langer and Jeff Hrkach highlight the technological evolution of drug delivery from micro to nano, providing examples of clinically approved medicines that demonstrate the significant impact of the drug delivery field on treating many diseases.

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2020 DDTR Best Paper of the Year: Translational studies of intravenous and intracerebroventricular routes of administration for CNS cellular biodistribution for BMN 250, an enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Sanfilippo type B.

2019 DDTR Best Paper of the Year: Depletion of collagen by losartan to improve tumor accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic nanoplatforms

The Best Paper is chosen by the DDTR Editorial Board.

2019 CRS Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery (NND) Best Paper of the Year: Tumor growth inhibition by mSTEAP peptide nanovaccine inducing augmented CD8⁺ T cell immune responses

2019 DDTR CRS Oral Drug Delivery Focus Group Paper of the Year Award: Loratadine self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) in combination with sulforaphane for the synergistic chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer

DDTR Videos

Editor-in-Chief Article

Drug Delivery and Translational Research is a journal published by CRS, providing a unique forum for the scientific publication of high-quality research that is exclusively focused on translational aspects of drug delivery. The journal is published 6 times a year and will be available online to CRS members as part of their annual dues.

Drug Delivery and Translational Research Editors

Drug Delivery and Translational Research Editorial Board