RESUMO
Breast cancer comprises approximately 20% of all malignant neoplasm cases globally. Due to the limitations associated with conventional therapeutic approaches, extensive investigations have been undertaken to develop novel treatments that exhibit enhanced specificity and minimized adverse effects. Consequently, the application of polymeric nanoformulations for targeted drug delivery has gained significant attention within the biomedical field. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the inherent advantages and efficacy of employing polymeric nanoformulations for drug delivery in breast cancer treatment, as compared to traditional therapies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across prominent databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, utilizing specific search strings. This meticulous approach yielded a total of 12 relevant articles for in-depth analysis and discussion. The findings from the selected studies underscore the effectiveness of employing polymeric nanoparticles as a drug delivery strategy, showcasing noteworthy improvements in cellular uptake and sustained intracellular retention of encapsulated therapeutic agents. Additionally, these nanoformulations exhibited superior efficacy, safety, and drug delivery capabilities. The utilization of polymeric nanoparticles in drug delivery has demonstrated a substantial enhancement in treatment efficacy, with the ability to achieve higher concentrations of active ingredients within tumor tissues, augment cellular uptake and drug concentrations, and sustain intracellular retention. Consequently, this innovative approach prolongs drug release in lower quantities, ultimately contributing to improved treatment outcomes.
RESUMO
Mass testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19 has been hampered in many countries owing to the high cost of genetic material detection. This study reports on a low-cost immunoassay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 within 30 min using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The immunosensor comprises 50-nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, whose bioconjugation was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS). The specific binding of the bioconjugates to the spike protein led to an increase in bioconjugate size, with a limit of detection (LOD) 5.29 × 103 TCID50/mL (Tissue Culture Infectious Dose). The immunosensor was also proven to be selective upon interaction with influenza viruses once no increase in size was observed after DLS measurement. The strategy proposed here aimed to use antibodies conjugated to AuNPs as a generic platform that can be extended to other detection principles, enabling technologies for low-cost mass testing for COVID-19.