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Pharmaceutics
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The 15th Anniversary of Pharmaceutics—Aptamers as Novel Therapeutics
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The 15th Anniversary of Pharmaceutics—Aptamers as Novel Therapeutics

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Biologics and Biosimilars".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 2905

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Laura B. Creemers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Interests: biomaterials-based local delivery approaches for regeneration and treatment of inflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jaqueline Lourdes Rios

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
Interests: osteoarthritis; senescence; regenerative medicine; aptamers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Aptamers are nucleotide-based molecules that can be used as antibody alternatives in analytical, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. Aptamers can be selected from large libraries to bind a specific target, including targets that are traditionally difficult for other affinity reagents, such as antibodies. Together with their stability, the ease and reproducibility of synthesis render this molecule class the therapeutic agent of the future.

This Special Issue encompasses translational research into the effectivity as well as promises of, and hurdles to be taken for, aptamers as targeting ligands and therapeutic molecules in a variety of diseases.

Dr. Laura B. Creemers
Dr. Jaqueline Lourdes Rios
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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23 pages, 4798 KiB  
Article
Imiquimod-Loaded Nanosystem for Treatment Human Papillomavirus-Induced Lesions
by Izamara Maocha, Beatriz Rosado, Jéssica Lopes-Nunes, Melanie Lopes, Joana Rolo, Bruno Pires, Eugénia Gallardo, Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira, José Martinez-de-Oliveira, Rita Palmeira de Oliveira, Rui Medeiros and Carla Cruz
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(7), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16070864 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The treatment options are strongly related to increased infertility in women. Imiquimod (IQ) is an imidazoquinoline, which has proven antiviral effects against persistent HPV infection by activating immune cells via [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The treatment options are strongly related to increased infertility in women. Imiquimod (IQ) is an imidazoquinoline, which has proven antiviral effects against persistent HPV infection by activating immune cells via Toll-like receptors 7/8 when formulated in carriers, like nanogels, for topical use. An effective alternative to conventional therapies is the nanoparticle drug delivery system. We studied lipidic nanoparticles with IQ (Lipo IQ) and functionalized them with a DNA aptamer, AT11 (Lipo IQ AT11), to improve the selectivity for cervical cancer cells combined with the efficacy of essential oils. The formulations showed that the physicochemical properties are adequate for vaginal drug delivery and have antimicrobial activity at higher concentrations (with MIC50 starting from 0.625%). The final formulations exhibited cytotoxicity in cancer cells, enhanced by essential oils without affecting healthy cells, resulting in less than 10% cell viability in HeLa cells and over 60% in NHDF cells. Essential oils potentiate Lipo IQ’s effectiveness, while AT11 increases the selectivity for cervical cancer cells. As suggested by the results of the permeation assay, the formulations were internalized by the cancer cells. Overall, the obtained results suggested that the synergistic effect of the essential oils and the nanosystem potentiate the cytotoxic effect of Lipo IQ and that Lipo IQ AT11 promotes selectivity towards cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 15th Anniversary of Pharmaceutics—Aptamers as Novel Therapeutics)
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Review

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24 pages, 4742 KiB  
Review
Novel Aptamer Strategies in Combating Bacterial Infections: From Diagnostics to Therapeutics
by Zijian Ye, Huaizhi Chen, Harrie Weinans, Bart van der Wal and Jaqueline Lourdes Rios
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(9), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16091140 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1319
Abstract
Bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance are posing substantial difficulties to the worldwide healthcare system. The constraints of conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in dealing with continuously changing infections highlight the necessity for innovative solutions. Aptamers, which are synthetic oligonucleotide ligands with a high [...] Read more.
Bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance are posing substantial difficulties to the worldwide healthcare system. The constraints of conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in dealing with continuously changing infections highlight the necessity for innovative solutions. Aptamers, which are synthetic oligonucleotide ligands with a high degree of specificity and affinity, have demonstrated significant promise in the field of bacterial infection management. This review examines the use of aptamers in the diagnosis and therapy of bacterial infections. The scope of this study includes the utilization of aptasensors and imaging technologies, with a particular focus on their ability to detect conditions at an early stage. Aptamers have shown exceptional effectiveness in suppressing bacterial proliferation and halting the development of biofilms in therapeutic settings. In addition, they possess the capacity to regulate immune responses and serve as carriers in nanomaterial-based techniques, including radiation and photodynamic therapy. We also explore potential solutions to the challenges faced by aptamers, such as nuclease degradation and in vivo instability, to broaden the range of applications for aptamers to combat bacterial infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 15th Anniversary of Pharmaceutics—Aptamers as Novel Therapeutics)
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