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Surfactant

Creative Biolabs is one of the well-recognized experts who are professional in applying advanced platforms and have extensive experience in mRNA therapeutics. To achieve efficient and safe delivery of mRNA, now we are proud to offer a series of surfactants for the construction of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

Introduction of Surfactants

Surfactant, also known as the surface-active agent, is a general term for compounds that can reduce the surface tension between two liquids, between gas and liquid, or between liquid and solid. The molecular structure must contain both hydrophilic (water-soluble) and lipophilic (soluble in lipid or oil) parts. Now surfactants have been widely used in the construction of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for drug delivery.

Schematic representation of a SLN and a NLC sterically stabilized with a neutral surfactant (gray).Fig 1. Schematic representation of a SLN and a NLC sterically stabilized with a neutral surfactant (gray). (Scioli, 2020)

Classification of Surfactants

Construction and Applications of Gemini Surfactants

Drug carriers based on liposomes or drug/lipid complexes present great potential in multiple applications, including drug targeting, target delivery, gene therapy, and antibacterial treatments. In preclinical and clinical trials, a variety of synthetic lipids and surfactants have been designed and constructed to further improve the performances of liposomes and drug/lipid complexes, such as higher transfection efficiency, lower toxicity, strong target selectivity, as well as efficient cell membrane fusion and cell uptake.

Especially, Gemini surfactants (GSs) have been served as promising synthetic additives for drug delivery. It is a novel type of surfactant composed of two identical conventional surfactants joined by a spacer at the level of the headgroups. Compared with monovalent surfactants, GSs present special physicochemical properties, including lower critical micellar concentration (CMC) values, higher solubilization ability, higher efficacy to reduce surface tension. In addition, the special molecular structure of GSs allows more chances of variability. According to the specific functionalities, the GSs can be divided into six groups, which include cardiolipin analogs, bis quaternary ammonium salts, cholesterol-based GSs, GSs with aromatic functionalities, sugar-based GSs, peptide-based GSs. GSs here are always neutral or cationic, which is beneficial for the targeting of blood vessels in tumor tissues, as well as the compounding and delivery of DNA.

Equipped with world-leading technology platforms and professional scientific staff, Creative Biolabs is committed to providing the best service and the most qualified products to satisfy each demand from our customers. If you are interested in our products or services, please do not hesitate to contact us for more detailed information.

References

  1. Scioli, S.; et al. Solid lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery: Pharmacological and biopharmaceutical aspects. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 2020, 7: 319.
  2. Bombelli, C.; et al. Gemini surfactant based carriers in gene and drug delivery. Current medicinal chemistry. 2009, 16(2): 171-183.
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