Natural Polymeric Nanobiocomposites for Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery Therapeutics: A Recent Update.

Cancer is one of the most common lethal diseases and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Effective cancer treatment is a global problem, and subsequent advancements in nanomedicine are useful as substitute management for anti-cancer agents. Nanotechnology, which is gaining popularity, enables fast-expanding delivery methods in science for curing diseases in a site-specific approach, utilizing natural bioactive substances because several studies have established that natural plant-based bioactive compounds can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Bioactive, in combination with nanotechnology, is an exceptionally alluring and recent development in the fight against cancer. Along with their nutritional advantages, natural bioactive chemicals may be used as chemotherapeutic medications to manage cancer. Alginate, starch, xanthan gum, pectin, guar gum, hyaluronic acid, gelatin, albumin, collagen, cellulose, chitosan, and other biopolymers have been employed successfully in the delivery of medicinal products to particular sites. Due to their biodegradability, natural polymeric nanobiocomposites have garnered much interest in developing novel anti-cancer drug delivery methods. There are several techniques to create biopolymer-based nanoparticle systems. However, these systems must be created in an affordable and environmentally sustainable way to be more readily available, selective, and less hazardous to increase treatment effectiveness. Thus, an extensive comprehension of the various facets and recent developments in natural polymeric nanobiocomposites utilized to deliver anti-cancer drugs is imperative. The present article provides an overview of the latest research and developments in natural polymeric nanobiocomposites, particularly emphasizing their applications in the controlled and targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.

Phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical trial of Ficus racemosa.

Ficus racemosa is an important medicinal plant, found in India, Australia, and Southeast Asia. It is popularly known as 'gular.' It reduces blood glucose concentration due to the presence of ß-sitosterol. Many active constituents that have been isolated from various parts of this plant possess useful pharmacological activities. The literature survey proposed that it has multiple pharmacological actions that include antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antifungal, antibacterial, hypolipidemic, antifilarial, and hepatoprotection. This review article elaborately describes the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of this plant. We also provide useful structures of the secondary metabolites along with their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. Some clinical trial data have also been provided in this review. This review would assist researchers to gather scientific information in future.

Three levels face centered central composite design of colon targeted micro-particulates system of celecoxib: screening of formulations variables and in vivo studies.

Celecoxib is a well known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and extensively employed for the treatment of arthritis. The aim of the present study was to design, develop and optimization of micro particulates system, for colon specific delivery of celecoxib for both local (in prophylaxis of colorectal adreno-carcinoma) and systemic (in chrono-therapeutic treatment of arthritis) therapy. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the effect of formulation variables e.g., amount of eudragit polymer (X1), surfactant concentration (X2) and agitation speed (X3) on in-vitro release profiles (Y1-Y3), drug entrapment efficiency (Y4) and particle size (Y5) of micro-particulates system of celecoxib. Microspheres were formulated with the combination of ethyl cellulose (EC) and eudragit RS100/eudragit S100; by using a novel quasi emulsion solvent diffusion technique. Developed formulations were characterized and evaluated on the basis of FTIR, thermal, particle size, SEM and XRD analysis. The formulation variables were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Best optimized delayed release formulation was further subjected to the in vivo x-ray studies to evaluate the site specificity. It was found that in-vitro release (Y1-Y3) decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in amount of eudragit polymer but increased significantly (p<0.05) with an increase in surfactant concentration and stirring speed. FTIR study indicated that no strong chemical interaction took place between the drug and excipients of prepared formulations. DSC and XRD studies indicated that drug was present in the amorphous state. The X-ray photographs revealed that the swelling layer eroded from the outer surface and a size reduction was seen after 6 hrs when optimized microspheres reached the site of colon. Therefore, this approach suggested that the combination of eudragit S100 and ethyl cellulose microspheres may be useful for the delivery of maximum amount of celecoxib in intact form to the colon.

Formulation and characterizations of delayed release multi particulates system of indomethacin: optimization by response surface methodology.

Indomethacin is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and extensively employed for treatment of arthritis. Delayed action (at the morning or night) is needed for arthritic patients. To improve the patient compliance, in this study we aimed to delay the drug release by designing multi-particulates system in the form of microspheres, which would efficiently release the drug into the colon and replace the conventional therapy. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the effect of formulation variables e.g., amount of eudragit polymer (X1), surfactant concentration (X2) and agitation speed (X3) on in-vitro release profiles (Y1-Y3), drug entrapment efficiency (Y4) and particle size (Y5) of multi-particulates system of indomethacin. Experiments were designed according to a three levels face centered central composite design. Microspheres were formulated with the combination of ethyl cellulose (EC) and Eudragit RS 100/Eudragit S100; by using a novel quasi emulsion solvent diffusion technique. Developed formulations were characterized and evaluated on the basis of FTIR, thermal, particle size, SEM, XRD analysis and drug release kinetics studies. The formulation variables were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). It was found that in-vitro release (Y1-Y3) was decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in amount of eudragit polymer but increased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in surfactant concentration and stirring speed. It was observed that the drug release data of the selected formulation was similar to the predicted release pattern. FTIR study indicated that no prominent chemical interaction or changes took place between the drug and excipients of prepared formulations. DSC and XRD studies indicated that drug was present in the amorphous state and may have been homogenously dispersed into the polymers matrix. Therefore this approach suggested that the combination of EC and Eudragit S100 microspheres may be useful in a better way, for the delivery of maximum amount of indomethacin in intact form to the colon.