The incidence of colon diseases, mainly including inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer, is rapidly rising. Despite many advances in the therapeutic strategies against these diseases, their medical applications have been seriously restricted by problems with long-term therapeutic efficacy and unwanted adverse effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) are characterized by their nanometer-scale dimensions, targeted drug delivery capacities, and ability to realize controlled drug release. Recently, NP-based nanotherapeutics have been widely used in the treatment of colon diseases, which confer similar or even better therapeutic efficacy at lower drug concentrations compared to the conventional bulk formulations.
Oral administration has been considered as the most convenient approach for drug delivery due to its numerous advantageous features. For example, it avoids the pain and discomfort caused by the intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, and intrarectal injection, enables patients to easily self-medicate, and reduces the possibility of contamination. For a translational implementation of oral nanotherapeutics, numerous issues have to be addressed in the future, including: (1) the in vivo safety of nanotherapeutics after oral administration; (2) the in vivo stability of nanotherapeutics during transit in the gastrointestinal tract; (3) the drug retention amount and drug residence time, which have to be further optimized; and (4) simplification of nanotherapeutics, which will facilitate large-scale manufacturing. This Research Topic aims to highlight the advanced studies and strategies which might overcome current obstacles in the treatment of colon diseases.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review and Mini Review papers on, but not limited to, the following topic areas:
• Small therapeutic molecules against colon diseases
• Drug delivery materials and colon diseases
• Targeting ligands for drug delivery to colon tissues
• Plant-derived nanovehicles and colon diseases
• Diagnosis methods for colon diseases
• Intestinal microbiota and colon diseases
Important Note: All submissions/contributions to this Research Topic must be in line with the scope of the journal/section they are submitted to. While authors are encouraged to draw from other disciplines to enrich their papers where relevant, they must ensure papers fall within the scope of the journal/section, as expressed in its mission statement.
Dr. Bo Xiao and Dr. Didier Merlin hold several patents (approved and pending) including those on the topics of drug-loaded nanoparticles, and bowel disease and colon cancer treatment. Dr. Zeyu Xiao also holds patents, with one on 'Orally colon-targeted drug delivery systems'. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
The incidence of colon diseases, mainly including inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer, is rapidly rising. Despite many advances in the therapeutic strategies against these diseases, their medical applications have been seriously restricted by problems with long-term therapeutic efficacy and unwanted adverse effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) are characterized by their nanometer-scale dimensions, targeted drug delivery capacities, and ability to realize controlled drug release. Recently, NP-based nanotherapeutics have been widely used in the treatment of colon diseases, which confer similar or even better therapeutic efficacy at lower drug concentrations compared to the conventional bulk formulations.
Oral administration has been considered as the most convenient approach for drug delivery due to its numerous advantageous features. For example, it avoids the pain and discomfort caused by the intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, and intrarectal injection, enables patients to easily self-medicate, and reduces the possibility of contamination. For a translational implementation of oral nanotherapeutics, numerous issues have to be addressed in the future, including: (1) the in vivo safety of nanotherapeutics after oral administration; (2) the in vivo stability of nanotherapeutics during transit in the gastrointestinal tract; (3) the drug retention amount and drug residence time, which have to be further optimized; and (4) simplification of nanotherapeutics, which will facilitate large-scale manufacturing. This Research Topic aims to highlight the advanced studies and strategies which might overcome current obstacles in the treatment of colon diseases.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Review and Mini Review papers on, but not limited to, the following topic areas:
• Small therapeutic molecules against colon diseases
• Drug delivery materials and colon diseases
• Targeting ligands for drug delivery to colon tissues
• Plant-derived nanovehicles and colon diseases
• Diagnosis methods for colon diseases
• Intestinal microbiota and colon diseases
Important Note: All submissions/contributions to this Research Topic must be in line with the scope of the journal/section they are submitted to. While authors are encouraged to draw from other disciplines to enrich their papers where relevant, they must ensure papers fall within the scope of the journal/section, as expressed in its mission statement.
Dr. Bo Xiao and Dr. Didier Merlin hold several patents (approved and pending) including those on the topics of drug-loaded nanoparticles, and bowel disease and colon cancer treatment. Dr. Zeyu Xiao also holds patents, with one on 'Orally colon-targeted drug delivery systems'. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
