OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to review the microbubble compositions and physiochemical characteristics in relation to the development of innovative biomedical applications, with a focus on molecular imaging and targeted drug/gene delivery.
METHODS: The microbubbles are prepared by using various methods, which include cross-linking polymerization, emulsion solvent evaporation, atomization, and reconstitution. In cross-linking polymerization, a fine foam of the polymer is formed, which serves as a bubble coating agent and colloidal stabilizer, resulting from the vigorous stirring of a polymeric solution. In the case of emulsion solvent evaporation, there are two solutions utilized in the production of microbubbles. In atomization and reconstitution, porous spheres are created by atomising a surfactant solution into a hot gas. They are encapsulated in primary modifier gas. After the addition of the second gas or gas osmotic agent, the package is placed into a vial and sealed after reconstituting with sterile saline solution.
RESULTS: Microbubble-based drug delivery is an innovative approach in the field of drug delivery that utilizes microbubbles, which are tiny gas-filled bubbles, act as carriers for therapeutic agents. These microbubbles can be loaded with drugs, imaging agents, or genes and then guided to specific target sites.
CONCLUSION: The potential utility of microbubbles in biomedical applications is continually growing as novel formulations and methods. The versatility of microbubbles allows for customization, tailoring the delivery system to various medical applications, including cancer therapy, cardiovascular treatments, and gene therapy.
METHODS: It was formulated using high pressure homogenization followed by probe sonication and formulation variables were optimized using Central Composite Design. The particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE), drug release, cytotoxicity on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells and HaCaT keratinocytes cells and efficacy on RAW264.7 cells for optimized formulation was determined.
RESULTS: The PS, ZP and EE were found to be 85.26 nm, -23.7 ± 7.45 mV, 99.2 ± 2.62 % (Mes) and 84 ± 1.51 % (Cur), respectively. The good correlation between predicted and obtained value indicated suitability and reproducibility of experimental design. NLCs showed spherical shape as confirmed by TEM. In vitro drug release profile of prepared formulation showed that Mes exhibited 100 % release at 48 h, whereas Cur exhibited 82.23 ± 2.97% release at 120 h. Both the drugs exhibited sustained release upon incorporation into the NLCs. The absence of any significant cell death during MTT assay performed on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells and HaCaT keratinocytes cells indicated that NLCs' were safe for use. Furthermore, significant reduction in nitric oxide level during anti-inflammatory evaluation of formulation on RAW264.7 cells showed excellent potential for the formulation to treat inflammation. The formulation was found stable as no significant difference between the PS, ZP and EE of the fresh and aged NLCs was observed.
CONCLUSION: The outcomes of study deciphered successful formulation of Mes-Cur NLCs.