Nanoparticle-Mediated Angiotensin-(1-9) Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Ang-(1-9) peptide is a bioactive vasodilator peptide that prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo as well as lowers blood pressure and pathological cardiovascular remodeling; however, it has a reduced half-life in circulation, requiring a suitable carrier for its delivery. In this work, hybrid nanoparticles composed of polymeric nanoparticles (pNPs) based on Eudragit® E/Alginate (EE/Alg), and gold nanospheres (AuNS), were developed to evaluate their encapsulation capacity and release of Ang-(1-9) under different experimental conditions. Hybrid pNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, size distribution, and concentration by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Nanometric pNPs, with good polydispersity index and colloidally stable, produced high association efficiency of Ang-(1-9) and controlled release. Finally, the treatment of neonatal cardiomyocytes in culture with EE/Alg/AuNS 2% + Ang-(1-9) 20% pNPs decreased the area and perimeter, demonstrating efficacy in preventing norepinephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. On the other hand, the incorporation of AuNS did not cause negative effects either on the cytotoxicity or on the association capacity of Ang-(1-9), suggesting that the hybrid carrier EE/Alg/AuNS pNPs could be used for the delivery of Ang-(1-9) in the treatment of cardiovascular hypertrophy.

Evaluación de calidad de vida en usuarios con úlcera venosa activa / Quality of life evaluation in users with active venous ulcer / Avaliação da qualidade de vida em usuários com úlcera venosa ativa

Las úlceras vasculares crónicas, tienen escasa tendencia a la cicatrización espontánea, dificultan la movilidad, la calidad de vida y afectan a la población de menores ingresos, siendo un problema de salud pública. Objetivo: evaluar la curación avanzada y calidad de vida en usuarios con úlcera venosa activa, al 1er y 6 mes de seguimiento. Metodología: estudio longitudinal, en usuarios portadores de UV. Recolección de información con: Diagrama de Valoración de Úlceras Venosas y Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ), con α de Cronbach de 0,94. Se analiza con estadística inferencial; prueba exacta de Fisher, y prueba de signos y rangos de Wilcoxon y nivel de signifi cancia para un valor de p< 0,05. Resultados: edad 69,8±14,1 años, 34,2% de rural, 47,4% tenía al menos un apellido mapuche, pensionados 55,3%, años de estudio 6,5±3,8 años, ingreso familiar aproximado 200 dólares mensuales. Obesidad 50 %; hipertensión arterial, 86.8%; dm 39.5%. Al comparar el mes 1 con el mes 6 en la curación de la herida, se observan diferencias signifi cativas, con una tendencia a la mejoría, igualmente en calidad de vida, se observa mejoría. Discusión: estudios comparten resultados similares en la población y determinantes sociales. Conclusiones: se devela la necesidad de constar con enfermeras especialistas en manejo avanzado de heridas, para el control, seguimiento y prevención de complicaciones. Enfermería es fundamental, por la cronicidad de la enfermedad y la posibilidad de recidivas e implicaciones en la vida del paciente.

Chronic vascular ulcers have little tendency to spontaneous healing, hinder mobility, quality of life and affect the lower-income population, being a public health problem. Objective: to evaluate advanced healing and quality of life in users with active venous ulcers, at the 1st and 6th month of follow-up. Methodology: longitudinal study, in UV carriers. Information collection with: Venous Ulcer Assessment Diagram and Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ), with Cronbach's α of 0.94. It is analyzed with inferential statistics; Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon sign-and-rank test and significance level for a value of p <0.05. Results: age 69.8 ± 14.1 years, 34.2% rural, 47.4% had at least one Mapuche last name, 55.3% retired, years of study 6.5 ± 3.8 years, family income approximate $200 per month. Obesity 50%; arterial hypertension, 86.8%; dm 39.5%. When comparing month 1 with month 6 in wound healing, significant differences are observed, with a trend towards improvement, also in quality of life, improvement is observed. Discussion: studies share similar results in the population and social determinants. Conclusions: it is revealed the need to have specialized nurses in advanced wound management, for the control, follow-up and prevention of complications. Nursing is essential, due to the chronicity of the disease and the possibility of recurrences and implications in the life of the patient.

As úlceras vasculares crônicas apresentam pouca tendência à cicatrização espontânea, dificultam a mobilidade, a qualidade de vida e afetam a população de baixa renda, sendo um problema de saúde pública. Objetivo: avaliar a cicatrização avançada e a qualidade de vida em usuários com úlceras venosas ativas, no 1º e 6º mês de seguimento. Metodologia: estudo longitudinal, em portadores de UV. Coleta de informações com: Venous Ulcer Assessment Diagram e Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ), com α de Cronbach de 0,94. É analisado com estatística inferencial; Teste exato de Fisher e teste de sinal e classificação de Wilcoxon e nível de significância para um valor de p <0,05. Resultados: idade 69,8 ± 14,1 anos, 34,2% rural, 47,4% com pelo menos um sobrenome Mapuche, 55,3 % aposentados, anos de estudo 6,5 ± 3,8 anos, renda familiar aproximada de US $200 por mês. Obesidade 50%; hipertensão arterial, 86,8 %; dm 39,5 %. Ao comparar o mês 1 com o mês 6 na cicatrização de feridas, observam-se diferenças significativas, com tendência de melhora, também na qualidade de vida, observa-se melhora. Discussão: os estudos compartilham resultados semelhantes na população e nos determinantes sociais. Conclusões: revela-se a necessidade de enfermeiros especialistas em manejo avançado de feridas, para o controle, acompanhamento e prevenção de complicações. A enfermagem é essencial, devido à cronicidade da doença e à possibilidade de recorrências e implicações na vida do paciente.

Development of Novel EE/Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles for Lysozyme Delivery: Physicochemical Properties and In Vitro Safety.

The number of biologic drugs has increased in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high therapeutic efficacy and selectivity. As such, safe and biocompatible delivery systems to improve their stability and efficacy are needed. Here, we developed novel cationic polymethacrylate-alginate (EE-alginate) pNPs for the biologic drug model lysozyme (Lys). The impact of variables such as total charge and charge ratios over nanoparticle physicochemical properties as well as their influence over in vitro safety (viability/proliferation and cell morphology) on HeLa cells was investigated. Our results showed that electrostatic interactions between the EE-alginate and lysozyme led to the formation of EE/alginate Lys pNPs with reproducible size, high stability due to their controllable zeta potential, a high association efficiency, and an in vitro sustained Lys release. Selected formulations remained stable for up to one month and Fourier transform-Infrared (FT-IR) showed that the functional groups of different polymers remain identifiable in combined systems, suggesting that Lys secondary structure is retained after pNP synthesis. EE-alginate Lys pNPs at low concentrations are biocompatible, while at high concentrations, they show cytotoxic for HeLa cells, and this effect was found to be dose-dependent. This study highlights the potential of the EE-alginate, a novel polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticle, as an effective and viable nanocarrier for future drug delivery applications.

Novel Nanostructured Polymeric Carriers to Enable Drug Delivery for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Applications of polymeric nanotechnologies for enabling therapies for cardiovascular diseases have shown recent success. Both intravenous and oral administration have been investigated and achieved different degrees of development. While circulating polymeric nanostructured carriers are subjected to a number of interactions, smart nanoparticle design has enabled the formulation of active molecules to be delivered to specific targets for cardiovascular effects. This review aims at outlining the multiple factors that can affect the fate of polymeric nanostructured carriers in systemic circulation. With an understanding of these factors, the literature on the various polymeric nanostructured carriers is reviewed. Finally, the emerging uses of nanotechnology to formulate orally administered drugs for cardiovascular diseases are depicted.