Fabrication of a Dual-Drug-Loaded Smart Niosome-g-Chitosan Polymeric Platform for Lung Cancer Treatment.

Changes in weather conditions and lifestyle lead to an annual increase in the amount of lung cancer, and therefore it is one of the three most common types of cancer, making it important to find an appropriate treatment method. This research aims to introduce a new smart nano-drug delivery system with antibacterial and anticancer capabilities that could be applied for the treatment of lung cancer. It is composed of a niosomal carrier containing curcumin as an anticancer drug and is coated with a chitosan polymeric shell, alongside Rose Bengal (RB) as a photosensitizer with an antibacterial feature. The characterization results confirmed the successful fabrication of lipid-polymeric carriers with a size of nearly 80 nm and encapsulation efficiency of about 97% and 98% for curcumin and RB, respectively. It had the Korsmeyer-Peppas release pattern model with pH and temperature responsivity so that nearly 60% and 35% of RB and curcumin were released at 37 °C and pH 5.5. Moreover, it showed nearly 50% toxicity against lung cancer cells over 72 h and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Accordingly, this nanoformulation could be considered a candidate for the treatment of lung cancer; however, in vivo studies are needed for better confirmation.

Niosomal Drug Delivery Systems for Ocular Disease-Recent Advances and Future Prospects.

The eye is a complex organ consisting of several protective barriers and particular defense mechanisms. Since this organ is exposed to various infections, genetic disorders, and visual impairments it is essential to provide necessary drugs through the appropriate delivery routes and vehicles. The topical route of administration, as the most commonly used approach, maybe inefficient due to low drug bioavailability. New generation safe, effective, and targeted drug delivery systems based on nanocarriers have the capability to circumvent limitations associated with the complex anatomy of the eye. Nanotechnology, through various nanoparticles like niosomes, liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, and different polymeric vesicles play an active role in ophthalmology and ocular drug delivery systems. Niosomes, which are nano-vesicles composed of non-ionic surfactants, are emerging nanocarriers in drug delivery applications due to their solution/storage stability and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, they are biocompatible, biodegradable, flexible in structure, and suitable for loading both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. These characteristics make niosomes promising nanocarriers in the treatment of ocular diseases. Hereby, we review niosome based drug delivery approaches in ophthalmology starting with different preparation methods of niosomes, drug loading/release mechanisms, characterization techniques of niosome nanocarriers and eventually successful applications in the treatment of ocular disorders.