Nanotechnology-based mucoadhesive and mucus-penetrating drug-delivery systems for transbuccal drug delivery.

Buccal drug-delivery systems present a promising approach for the drug delivery to the buccal mucosa, addressing oral cavity-specific problems, enabling systemic delivery and minimizing adverse effects on biological systems. Numerous strategies have been proposed to load drug-containing nanoparticles (NPs) to the buccal mucosa for local and systemic applications. There has been considerable interest in the development of mucoadhesive buccal formulations, particularly hydrogel composites utilizing mucoadhesive films incorporating NPs. Drug permeability and controlled drug release through buccal drug delivery continues to pose a challenge despite the availability of various remedies. This review highlights the need for, mechanisms and latest advances in NP-based transbuccal drug delivery with a focus on various pathological disorders and examples and limitations of the different methods.

Nanoparticle-mediated active and passive drug targeting in oral squamous cell carcinoma: current trends and advances.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an invasive and highly malignant cancer with significant morbidity and mortality. Existing treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have poor overall survival rates and prognosis. The intended therapeutic effects of chemotherapy are limited by drug resistance, systemic toxicity and adverse effects. This review explores advances in OSCC treatment, with a focus on lipid-based platforms (solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, lipid-polymer hybrids, cubosomes), polymeric nanoparticles, self-assembling nucleoside nanoparticles, dendrimers, magnetic nanovectors, graphene oxide nanostructures, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, gene therapy, folic acid receptor targeting, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor targeting, fibroblast activation protein targeting, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor targeting, biotin receptor targeting and transferrin receptor targeting. This review also highlights oncolytic viruses as OSCC therapy candidates.

Nanoparticulate strategies for the delivery of miRNA mimics and inhibitors in anticancer therapy and its potential utility in oral submucous fibrosis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring noncoding RNAs with multiple functionalities. They are dysregulated in several conditions and can serve as disease biomarkers, therapeutic targets and therapeutic agents. Translation of miRNA therapeutics to the clinic poses several challenges related to the safe and effective delivery of these agents to the site of action. Nanoparticulate carriers hold promise in this area by enhancing targeting efficiency and reducing off-target effects. This paper reviews recent advances in the delivery strategies of miRNAs in anticancer therapy, with a focus on lipid-based, polymeric, inorganic platforms, cell membrane-derived vesicles and bacterial minicells. Additionally, this review explores the potentiality of miRNAs in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis, a potentially premalignant condition of the oral cavity with no definitive treatment to date.

Delving Deeper into Dermal and Transdermal Drug Delivery: Factors and Mechanisms Associated with Nanocarrier-mediated Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Advances in material science and particle engineering have led to the development of a rapidly growing number of nanoparticulate carriers for drug and gene delivery. These carriers are increasingly being investigated in dermal and transdermal routes of drug administration. OBJECTIVE: To critically examine and summarize the primary factors and mechanisms involved in nanocarriermediated dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs. METHOD: Thorough literature search was undertaken, spanning the early development of nanocarrier-mediated dermal and transdermal drug delivery approaches, to the current state of the art, using online search tools. RESULTS: Physicochemical, formulation, experimental and morphological factors, such as, material of construction or type of nanoparticle (NP), surface chemistry, particle size, particle shape, surface charge, dispersion medium, duration of exposure of skin to NPs, combination of NPs with physical agents, and aspects related to skin were identified and discussed. CONCLUSION: The key factors and mechanisms which influence NPs-skin interactions in dermal and transdermal drug delivery are discussed in this article in-line with the current advances in the field.