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The goal of this research was the development of cellulose-based biodegradable drug delivery systems solutions for cosmetic mask applications. Cellulose-based materials derived from natural renewable sources provide a sustainable alternative to nonwoven cosmetic masks derived from nondegradable fossil-based raw materials. An experimental design was executed to assemble the 3D cellulose fibres matrix and the water in oil emulsion comprising the active molecules from Mentha piperita L. Two types of biopolymeric additives were used, one derived from a nano/micro fibrillated cellulose pulp and another one including chitosan. A 3D computational simulation study was performed to enhance porosity and strength properties. The results indicated that the cosmetic face mask optimized prototypes, made from a biodegradable 3D matrix of cellulose fibres and active molecules, are suitable for dermic use, Postprint (published version)

The encapsulation of drugs in nanocarriers revolutionized research in drug delivery, especially in cancer chemotherapeutics. Several nanosystems have been developed including liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, and others. The surface of nanocarriers can be modified to alter their characteristics and improve their efficiency as drug delivery systems. The addition of polyethylene glycol chains, for example, increases the blood circulation time of nanocapsules and, in some cases, improves their stability. Once the structure of nanocarriers is optimized, the next logical step is to explore the feasibility of using one or several trigger mechanisms to release their therapeutic contents at the required time and space. Abundant literature is available on both internal and external trigger mechanisms in cancer drug delivery. Internal mechanisms include changes in pH, enzyme concentration, and temperature, while external mechanisms include light, magnetic/electromagnetic waves, and acoustic power. This review focuses on the utility of ultrasound and polymeric micelles in cancer drug delivery. The idea is to control the release of chemotherapeutics from micelles to cancerous cells by focusing the ultrasound waves on the diseased tissue while sparing other healthy cells in the body. Thus, the side effects of conventional chemotherapy can be minimized.

Encapsulation of anticancer drugs in triggerable nanocarriers can beneficially modify pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of chemotherapeutic drugs, and consequently increase tumor drug concentration and efficacy, while reducing side effects. Thermosensitive liposomes release their contents triggered by hyperthermia, which can be, for example, precisely delivered using an MR Imaging-guided focused ultrasound procedure. In such a scenario, it is attractive to demonstrate the accumulation of liposomes before applying hyperthermia, as well as to document the release of liposome content using MRI. To address this need, thermosensitive liposomes were developed and characterized, which were doubly loaded by iron oxide nanoparticles and Gd-chelate, as opposed to loading with a single contrast agent. When intact, the transverse relaxivity of the liposomes is high allowing detection of carriers in tissue. After heating the longitudinal relaxivity steeply increases indicating release of the small molecular contents. By choosing the appropriate MR sequences, availability and release can be evaluated without interference of one contrast agent with the other. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.