MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent endogenous small RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and, thus they are involved in the onset and progression of various diseases and conditions (Bader et al., 2010) such as for overweight and obesity. Antiadipogenic miRNA-27a is a negative regulator in fat metabolism, which inhibits adipocyte differentiation through downregulation of adipogenic marker genes (e.g. PPARγ) (Kim et al., 2010). Reduced miRNA-27a levels are often associated with the development of obesity and, therefore, this miRNA might represent a promising candidate for miRNA mimic replacement therapy (Lin et al., 2009). However, the application of naked RNAs has shown low membrane permeability, cellular uptake, and rapid degradation in the circulation. The present study aimed to develop a cationic, lipid-based nanoparticle system for targeting adipose tissue and delivering miRNA-27a. These systems are composed of positively charged nanostructured lipid carriers (cNLCs) and negatively charged miRNAs, which results in complex formation based on electrostatic interactions between these components. Materials and methods

Approximately 70-90% of the new active pharmaceutical ingredients/drugs are poorly soluble in water/biological fluids. Improvement of solubility, dissolution rate, bioavailability are the main characteristics of drug nanocrystals that are important for oral drug administration. High bioadhesive activity, depending on the type of stabilizer, is considered to be an essential feature of drug nanocrystals for oral, dermal, ocular dosage forms (Chang et al., 2015; Sheokand et al., 2018; Tuomela et al., 2016). Drug nanocrystals are solid nanosized particles of pharmacologically active substances, mainly BCS class IIa and IIb, 200 to 600 nm in diameter, homogeneously coated with 10-50% stabilizer/surfactants and/or polymers, forming ultrafine dispersion (Malamatari et al., 2018). Drug nanocrystals are usually in the crystalline state, but depending on the manufacturing method and process parameters, they may be in the amorphous state (Shete et al., 2014). Drug nanocrystals can be obtained by increasing their particle size by controlled precipitation/agglomeration from solution or by reducing drug particle size by milling to the desirable size. The two basic methods for obtaining drug nanocrystals are bottom up (e.g., precipitation) and top down (e.g., milling) methods, or drug nanocrystals can be made by a combination of these processes. By combining these two methods the desired particle size of drugs can be achieved and disadvantages of the individual methods are overcomed. These methods are intended for the preparation of liquid pharmaceutical nanosuspensions whose internal phase consists of drug nanocrystals particles, which can be converted into solid drug nanocrystals by post-production processes (spray drying, freeze drying or other process) in order to improve chemical, physical stability of drug during storage, when the selected stabilizer of drug nanocrystal could not provide long-term stability of the liquid nanosuspension (Sheokand et al., 2018).

Although transdermal drug delivery systems (DDS) offer numerous benefits for patients, including the avoidance of both gastric irritation and first-pass metabolism effect, as well as improved patient compliance, only a limited number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be delivered accordingly. Microneedles (MNs) represent one of the most promising concepts for effective transdermal drug delivery that penetrate the protective skin barrier in a minimally invasive and painless manner. The first MNs were produced in the 90s, and since then, this field has been continually evolving. Therefore, different manufacturing methods, not only for MNs but also MN molds, are introduced, which allows for the cost-effective production of MNs for drug and vaccine delivery and even diagnostic/monitoring purposes. The focus of this review is to give a brief overview of MN characteristics, material composition, as well as the production and commercial development of MN-based systems.