Efficient and effective drug delivery systems are vital in drug development. The use of microencapsulation technology for the controlled release and targeted drug delivery allows for lower dosage, reduced side effects, and improved treatment results.

We provide lab-to-market services to pharmaceutical companies to satisfy the demand for innovative and efficient treatments.

The success of drug therapies is largely influenced by the use of drug delivery systems that are adequate and efficient. Microencapsulation technology offers great potential for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to ensuring the stability and prolonging the shelf-life of the active compounds, our advanced microencapsulation technology allows for the timed and controlled release of drugs at the right place and time triggered by pH, temperature, ultrasound, friction etc. The time and targeted release functions result in improved efficacy, prolonged action, and optimal dosage.

Our advanced microencapsulation technology is the only one on the market, which produces programmed-shell microcapsules, which can open and release drugs according to predefined scenarios:

• slow release over a long period (from a few days to several months)
• fast release
• timed release with high precision (release at a specific time)
• release triggered by environmental conditions (temperature, pH) or by external stimuli (ultrasound, light, friction)

The time and targeted release functions result in improved efficacy, prolonged action, and optimal dosage.

Our technology can encapsulate practically any substance, including small molecules and microelements, and allows for a broad selection of FDA-approved synthetic biocompatible and biodegradable polymers (PCL, PLA, PLGA, etc.) or natural polymers (albumin, alginate, agar-agar, gelatin, etc.).

Unlike liposomes and emulsion droplets, our microcapsules are highly stable, making our technology suitable for a wide range of applications.

Vincristine, an anticancer drug, is known for its increased cellular toxicity, which results in multiple side effects. The targeted delivery of vincristine and other chemotherapeutic drugs to tumours will help reduce its side effects. The most efficient way is using stem cells as carriers to deliver the drugs to tumours. However, given the cytotoxicity of vincristine and other similar drugs, this solution is not optima

The microencapsulation of vincristine and other anticancer drugs solves this problem. The microencapsulated vincristine can be safely captured by stem cells and delivered to tumours through cancer migration pathways. When stem cells carrying the microencapsulated vincristine come into contact with cancer cells, vincristine is released from the microcapsules causing the cancer cells’ death.

Figure 1. Drug delivery to cancer cells

Loading human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with silica-coated multi-layered PSS/PAH microcapsules containing vincristine allows targeted drug delivery to tumours.

Figure 2. Loading human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with microcapsules

Silica-coated multi-layered PSS/PAH microcapsules (left) containing a drug (mid, red) are engulfed by human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).

This is only one example of possible applications of our advanced microencapsulation technology.

References:

“Safe and Effective Delivery of Antitumor Drug Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells Impregnated with Submicron Carriers” 2019, Applied Materials & Interfaces (10.1021/acsami.8b22685)

Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.8b22685