Cationic Bovine Serum Albumin (CBA) conjugated Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) nanoparticles for extended delivery of methotrexate into brain tumor

Current treatment strategies for the treatment of brain tumor have been hindered primarily by the presence of highly lipophilic insurmountable blood-brain barrier (BBB). The purpose of current research was to investigate the efficiency of engineered biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) as drug delivery vehicle to bypass the BBB and enhance biopharmaceutical attributes of anti-metabolite methotrexate (MTX) encapsulated NPs. The NPs were prepared by solvent diffusion method using cationic bovine serum albumin (CBA), and characterized for physicochemical parameters such as particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta-potential; while the surface modification was confirmed by FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Developed NPs exhibited zestful relocation of FITC tagged NPs across BBB in albino rats. Further, hemolytic studies confirmed them to be non-toxic and biocompatible as compared to free MTX. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of our engineered NPs on HNGC1 tumor cells proved superior uptake in tumor cells; and elicited potent cytotoxic effect as compared to plain NPs and free MTX solution. The outcomes of the study evidently indicate the prospective of CBA conjugated poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) NPs loaded with MTX in brain cancer bomber with amplified capability to circumvent BBB.

An Assessment of How Nurse Practitioners Create Access to Primary Care in Canadian Residential Long-Term Care Settings

The aim of this paper is to explore the role and activities of nurse practitioners (NPs) working in long-term care (LTC) to understand concepts of access to primary care for residents. Utilizing the "FIT" framework developed by Penchanksy and Thomas, we used a directed content analysis method to analyze data from a pan-Canadian study of NPs in LTC. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted at four sites in western, central and eastern regions of Canada with 143 participants, including NPs, RNs, regulated and unregulated nursing staff, allied health professionals, physicians, administrators and directors and residents and family members. Participants emphasized how the availability and accessibility of the NP had an impact on access to primary and urgent care for residents. Understanding more about how NPs affect access in Canadian LTC will be valuable for nursing practice and healthcare planning and policy and may assist other countries in planning for the introduction of NPs in LTC settings to increase access to primary care.

Daunorubicin and gambogic acid co-loaded cysteamine-CdTe quantum dots minimizing the multidrug resistance of lymphoma in vitro and in vivo

To minimize the side effects and the multidrug resistance (MDR) arising from daunorubicin (DNR) treatment of malignant lymphoma, a chemotherapy formulation of cysteamine-modified cadmium tellurium (Cys-CdTe) quantum dots coloaded with DNR and gambogic acid (GA) nanoparticles (DNR-GA-Cys-CdTe NPs) was developed. The physical property, drug-loading efficiency and drug release behavior of these DNR-GA-Cys-CdTe NPs were evaluated, and their cytotoxicity was explored by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. These DNR-GA-Cys-CdTe NPs possessed a pH-responsive behavior, and displayed a dose-dependent antiproliferative activity on multidrug-resistant lymphoma Raji/DNR cells. The accumulation of DNR inside the cells, revealed by flow cytometry assay, and the down-regulated expression of P-glycoprotein inside the Raji/DNR cells measured by Western blotting assay indicated that these DNR-GA-Cys-CdTe NPs could minimize the MDR of Raji/DNR cells. This multidrug delivery system would be a promising strategy for minimizing MDR against the lymphoma.