Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)nanocapsules as carrier systems for herbicides: Physico-chemical characterization and genotoxicity evaluation

The toxicity of herbicides used in agriculture is influenced by their chemical stability, solubility, bioavailability, photodecomposition, and soil sorption. Possible solutions designed to minimize toxicity include the development of carrier systems able to modify the properties of the compounds and allow their controlled release. Polymeric poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) nanocapsules containing three triazine herbicides (ametryn, atrazine, and simazine) were prepared and characterized in order to assess their suitability as controlled release systems that could reduce environmental impacts. The association efficiencies of the herbicides in the nanocapsules were better than 84%. Assessment of stability (considering particle diameter, zeta potential, polydispersity, and pH) was conducted over a period of 270 days, and the particles were found to be stable in solution. In vitro release kinetics experiments revealed controlled release of the herbicides from the nanocapsules, governed mainly by relaxation of the polymer chains. Microscopy analyses showed that the nanocapsules were spherical, dense, and without aggregates. In the infrared spectra of the PCL nanocapsules containing herbicides, there were no bands related to the herbicides, indicating that interactions between the compounds had occurred. Genotoxicity tests showed that formulations of nanocapsules containing the herbicides were less toxic than the free herbicides. The results indicate that the use of PCL nanocapsules is a promising technique that could improve the behavior of herbicides in environmental systems. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Micro and nanosystems for delivering local anesthetics

Introduction: One of the most common strategies for pain control during and after surgical procedures is the use of local anesthetics. Prolonged analgesia can be safely achieved with drug delivery systems suitably chosen for each local anesthetic agent.Areas covered: This review considers drug delivery formulations of local anesthetics designed to prolong the anesthetic effect and decrease toxicity. The topics comprise the main drug delivery carrier systems (liposomes, biopolymers, and cyclodextrins) for infiltrative administration of local anesthetics. A chronological review of the literature is presented, including details of formulations as well as the advantages and pitfalls of each carrier system. The review also highlights pharmacokinetic data on such formulations, and gives an overview of the clinical studies published so far concerning pain control in medicine and dentistry.Expert opinion: The design of novel drug delivery systems for local anesthetics must focus on how to achieve higher uploads of the anesthetic into the carrier, and how to sustain its release. This comprehensive review should be useful to provide the reader with the current state-of-art regarding drug delivery formulations for local anesthetics and their possible clinical applications.