Melatonin-Loaded Nanocarriers: New Horizons for Therapeutic Applications
Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa,
Fábio Rodrigues Ferreira Seiva,
Adriana Alonso Novais,
Vinícius Augusto Simão,
Virna Margarita Martín Giménez,
Walter Manucha,
Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari,
Russel J. Reiter
Affiliations
Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa
Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-689, Brazil
Fábio Rodrigues Ferreira Seiva
Biological Science Center, Department of Biology, Luiz Meneghel Campus, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná-UENP, Bandeirantes 86360-000, PR, Brazil
Adriana Alonso Novais
Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Mato Grosso, UFMT, Sinop 78607-059, MG, Brazil
Vinícius Augusto Simão
Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-689, Brazil
Virna Margarita Martín Giménez
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Tecnológicas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Católica de Cuyo, Sede San Juan 5400, Argentina
Walter Manucha
Laboratorio de Farmacología Experimental Básica y Traslacional. Área de Farmacología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza 5500, Argentina
Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari
Cancer Molecular Research Laboratory (LIMC), Department of Molecular Biology, FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto 15090-000, Brazil
Russel J. Reiter
Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
The use of nanosized particles has emerged to facilitate selective applications in medicine. Drug-delivery systems represent novel opportunities to provide stricter, focused, and fine-tuned therapy, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of chemical agents at the molecular level while reducing their toxic effects. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytriptamine) is a small indoleamine secreted essentially by the pineal gland during darkness, but also produced by most cells in a non-circadian manner from which it is not released into the blood. Although the therapeutic promise of melatonin is indisputable, aspects regarding optimal dosage, biotransformation and metabolism, route and time of administration, and targeted therapy remain to be examined for proper treatment results. Recently, prolonged release of melatonin has shown greater efficacy and safety when combined with a nanostructured formulation. This review summarizes the role of melatonin incorporated into different nanocarriers (e.g., lipid-based vesicles, polymeric vesicles, non-ionic surfactant-based vesicles, charge carriers in graphene, electro spun nanofibers, silica-based carriers, metallic and non-metallic nanocomposites) as drug delivery system platforms or multilevel determinations in various in vivo and in vitro experimental conditions. Melatonin incorporated into nanosized materials exhibits superior effectiveness in multiple diseases and pathological processes than does free melatonin; thus, such information has functional significance for clinical intervention.
