248
characteristic of NSs is the presence of nanoscale pores giving them
particular properties owing to very high inclusion stability constants and marked encapsulation capacity [4–9].
The synthesis of cyclodextrin nanosponges (CDNSs) can be
modulated by varying the reaction conditions to better the applications selected in several scientific and technological fields including
chemistry, agriculture, environment, food, cosmetics, etc. (patents
[10–14]) consequently used to improve the aqueous solubility of
poorly water-soluble molecules, protect degradable substances,
and design innovative drug carriers owing to their outstanding
encapsulation properties and low toxicity, being safe in acute and
repeated selected doses after oral administration to rats [15].
Hitherto, the main area of investigation concerns the pharmaceutical and biomedical scope in which CDNSs have been mostly
employed as drug delivery systems [16–18].
2 Encapsulated Cyclodextrin Nanosponges
In the past decade, nanosponges have been extensively characterized to ascertain pharmaceutical applications. A recent EU commission report focused on the use of NSs as a promising and
innovative carrier for drug delivery. Researchers have summarized
and reviewed the state of the art of NS in drug delivery till today,
including applications carved out for cancer therapeutics [9, 17,
19–21]. CDNSs can improve wetting and solubility of molecules
that have very poor aqueous solubility to overcome one of the biggest limitations of anticancer drugs. These drugs can be molecularly dispersed within the matrix structure to avoid their
crystallization. CDNSs encapsulating anticancer drugs are provided below [8, 18, 22].
Paclitaxel (Taxol
®
) is a versatile small-molecule anticancer diterpenoid derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). Orally administered paclitaxel presents a major therapeutic
problem because of low bioavailability due to poor solubility
(0.5 mg/L) and the first-pass metabolism that occurs in the liver
and intestine. Paclitaxel is used for the treatment of head and neck
cancer, small- and non-small cell lung cancer, and bladder cancer
but the dosage form available for clinical administration requests
the use of excipients (cremophor EL, polyethoxylated castor oil,
and dehydrated alcohol). The use of nanosponges to deliver paclitaxel can be an alternative to classical formulations [23].
β-Cyclodextrin nanosponges were synthesized and paclitaxel
inclusion complexes were prepared. Nanosponge complexes were
evaluated using DSC, FTIR, and NMR techniques for confirmation of inclusion complex formation between paclitaxel and nanosponges [24]. Particle size and morphology were estimated using
2.1 Cyclodextrin
Nanosponges
for Anticancer Drugs
Maria Tannous et al.
characteristic of NSs is the presence of nanoscale pores giving them
particular properties owing to very high inclusion stability constants and marked encapsulation capacity [4–9].
The synthesis of cyclodextrin nanosponges (CDNSs) can be
modulated by varying the reaction conditions to better the applications selected in several scientific and technological fields including
chemistry, agriculture, environment, food, cosmetics, etc. (patents
[10–14]) consequently used to improve the aqueous solubility of
poorly water-soluble molecules, protect degradable substances,
and design innovative drug carriers owing to their outstanding
encapsulation properties and low toxicity, being safe in acute and
repeated selected doses after oral administration to rats [15].
Hitherto, the main area of investigation concerns the pharmaceutical and biomedical scope in which CDNSs have been mostly
employed as drug delivery systems [16–18].
2 Encapsulated Cyclodextrin Nanosponges
In the past decade, nanosponges have been extensively characterized to ascertain pharmaceutical applications. A recent EU commission report focused on the use of NSs as a promising and
innovative carrier for drug delivery. Researchers have summarized
and reviewed the state of the art of NS in drug delivery till today,
including applications carved out for cancer therapeutics [9, 17,
19–21]. CDNSs can improve wetting and solubility of molecules
that have very poor aqueous solubility to overcome one of the biggest limitations of anticancer drugs. These drugs can be molecularly dispersed within the matrix structure to avoid their
crystallization. CDNSs encapsulating anticancer drugs are provided below [8, 18, 22].
Paclitaxel (Taxol
®
) is a versatile small-molecule anticancer diterpenoid derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). Orally administered paclitaxel presents a major therapeutic
problem because of low bioavailability due to poor solubility
(0.5 mg/L) and the first-pass metabolism that occurs in the liver
and intestine. Paclitaxel is used for the treatment of head and neck
cancer, small- and non-small cell lung cancer, and bladder cancer
but the dosage form available for clinical administration requests
the use of excipients (cremophor EL, polyethoxylated castor oil,
and dehydrated alcohol). The use of nanosponges to deliver paclitaxel can be an alternative to classical formulations [23].
β-Cyclodextrin nanosponges were synthesized and paclitaxel
inclusion complexes were prepared. Nanosponge complexes were
evaluated using DSC, FTIR, and NMR techniques for confirmation of inclusion complex formation between paclitaxel and nanosponges [24]. Particle size and morphology were estimated using
2.1 Cyclodextrin
Nanosponges
for Anticancer Drugs
Maria Tannous et al.