Cited by 100Nanoparticle-Based Drug DeliveryRNA Interference and Gene DeliverySurfactants and Colloidal Systems

Small Angle X-ray and Neutron Scattering: Powerful Tools for Studying the Structure of Drug-Loaded Liposomes

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Di Cola, Emanuela, Grillo, Isabelle, Ristori, Sandra·2016·Pharmaceutics

Abstract

Nanovectors, such as liposomes, micelles and lipid nanoparticles, are recognized as efficient platforms for delivering therapeutic agents, especially those with low solubility in water. Besides being safe and non-toxic, drug carriers with improved performance should meet the requirements of (i) appropriate size and shape and (ii) cargo upload/release with unmodified properties. Structural issues are of primary importance to control the mechanism of action of loaded vectors. Overall properties, such as mean diameter and surface charge, can be obtained using bench instruments (Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta potential). However, techniques with higher space and time resolution are needed for in-depth structural characterization. Small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering techniques provide information at the nanoscale and have therefore been largely used to investigate nanovectors loaded with drugs or other biologically relevant molecules. Here we revise recent applications of these complementary scattering techniques in the field of drug delivery in pharmaceutics and medicine with a focus to liposomal carriers. In particular, we highlight those aspects that can be more commonly accessed by the interested users.

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Crossref · 10.3390/pharmaceutics8020010

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  • In the absence of formulation, mucin showed small aggregates of approximately 50 nm; addition of F127 caused formation of bigger aggregates (400 nm); the F127DA/mucin mixture determined a more intense aggregation process producing particles even larger than 400 nm.

    “In absence of the formulation, mucin showed small aggregates with dimension of approx.50 nm.The addition of F127 caused the formation of bigger aggregates (400 nm), and the F127DA/mucin mixture determined a more intense aggregation process producing particles even larger than 400 nm.”

    From Polymeric micelles in drug delivery: An insight of the techniques for their characterization and assessment in biorelevant conditions (2021) · cites this paper as [185]

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 0 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 2 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • The microscopy images were supported by DLS and SAXS data to demonstrate the enhanced aggregation in the presence of acrylate end groups.

    “The microscopy images were supported by DLS and SAXS data to demonstrate the enhanced aggregation in the presence of acrylate end groups.”

    From Polymeric micelles in drug delivery: An insight of the techniques for their characterization and assessment in biorelevant conditions (2021) · cites this paper as [185]

    The Introduction describes SAXS as a tool for studying nanostructure, and Section 2.3 discusses aggregation in other systems; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. Searches for acrylate end groups and for DLS alongside microscopy found no passage addressing the claimed enhancement of aggregation or the stated combination of evidence. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [8]Spalla O. General Theorems in Small-Angle Scattering Neutrons, X-rays and Light: Scattering Methods Applied to Soft Condensed Matter Lindner P. Zemb T. Elsevier Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2002
  2. [9]Pedersen J.S. Instrumentation for Small-Angle X-ray and Neutron Scattering and Instrumental Smearing Effects Neutrons, X-rays and Light: Scattering Methods Applied to Soft Condensed Matter Lindner P. Zemb T. Elsevier Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2002

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Authors
Di Cola, E., Grillo, I., & Ristori, S.
Affiliations
  • Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPhy), Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS-UMR 5588, 140 rue de la Physique, 38402 Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France
  • Institut Laue-Langevin (FR)
  • University of Florence (IT)
Corresponding author
Ristori, Sandra
Venue
Pharmaceutics
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2016-03-28
Volume
8
Issue
2
Pages
10
ISSN
1999-4923 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2310030349
Cited by
100
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1
FWCI
0.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Pharmaceutics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Florence Research (University of Florence) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Royal Society of Chemistry
  • European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
Keywords
drug-loaded liposomes, small-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, liposome structure, nanocarriers, drug delivery

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