



@article {3275,
	title = {Biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of Dapivirine-loaded nanoparticles after vaginal delivery in mice},
	journal = {Pharmaceutical Research},
	volume = {31},
	year = {2014},
	note = {Cited By (since 1996):2Export Date: 21 November 2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {1834 - 1845},
	abstract = {Purpose: To assess the potential of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) to affect the genital distribution and local and systemic pharmacokinetics (PK) of the anti-HIV microbicide drug candidate dapivirine after vaginal delivery. Methods: Dapivirine-loaded, poly(ethylene oxide)-coated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) NPs were prepared by a nanoprecipitation method. Genital distribution of NPs and their ability to modify the PK of dapivirine up to 24 h was assessed after vaginal instillation in a female mouse model. Also, the safety of NPs upon daily administration for 14 days was assessed by histological analysis and chemokine/cytokine content in vaginal lavages. Results: PEO-PCL NPs (180-200 nm) were rapidly eliminated after administration but able to distribute throughout the vagina and lower uterus, and capable of tackling mucus and penetrate the epithelial lining. Nanocarriers modified the PK of dapivirine, with higher drug levels being recovered from vaginal lavages and vaginal/lower uterine tissues as compared to a drug suspension. Systemic drug exposure was reduced when NPs were used. Also, NPs were shown safe upon administration for 14 days. Conclusions: Dapivirine-loaded PEO-PCL NPs were able to provide likely favorable genital drug levels, thus attesting the potential value of using this vaginal drug delivery nanosystem in the context of HIV prophylaxis. {\textcopyright} 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.},
	keywords = {HIV/AIDS, microbicides, poly(ε-caprolactone), pre-exposure prophylaxis, vaginal drug delivery},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84904252215\&partnerID=40\&md5=e50091fa44bc3ac794251baa9e57d736},
	author = {Das Neves, J. and Ara{\'u}jo, F. and Andrade, F. and Amiji, M. and Bahia, M.F. and Sarmento, B.}
}
@article {3325,
	title = {Collagen surface modified poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds with improved hydrophilicity and cell adhesion properties},
	journal = {Materials Letters},
	volume = {134},
	year = {2014},
	note = {Export Date: 21 November 2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {263 - 267},
	abstract = {Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/collagen scaffolds were produced using a four-step procedure comprising (i) the fabrication of PCL scaffolds through an additive bioextrusion system, (ii) the PCL surface modification using a plasma treatment, (iii) the acrylic acid (AAc) grafting by ultraviolet (UV) polymerization, and (iv) the immobilization of collagen into the scaffold surface through the carbodiimide chemistry. This procedure allowed the quick fabrication of highly porous scaffolds with interconnected pores, well-defined internal architecture and improved cell adhesion properties. The immobilization of collagen into the PCL surface led to a significant enhancement in the hydrophilicity, while the biological tests showed a further improvement in the adhesion of fibroblast cells. These results indicate that the collagen surface modification is an effective strategy to render the hydrophobic nature of PCL and overcome the limited cell interaction of 3D PCL scaffolds. {\textcopyright} 2014 Elsevier B.V.},
	keywords = {BioExtruder, Collagen, poly(ε-caprolactone), Scaffold, Surface modification},
	url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84905669651\&partnerID=40\&md5=ebb38981b89fc93e5599a7592a37e134},
	author = {Sousa, I. and Mendes, A. and Pereira, R.F. and B{\'a}rtolo, P.J.}
}
