ESI-IM-MS characterization of cyclodextrin complexes and their chemically cross-linked alpha (α-), beta (ß-) and gamma (γ-) cyclodextrin particles as promising drug delivery materials with improved bioavailability.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are natural cyclic oligosaccharides with a relatively hydrophobic cavity and a hydrophilic outer surface. In this study, alpha (α-), beta (ß-) and gamma (γ-) CD particles were prepared by directly using α-, ß-, and γ-CDs as monomeric units and divinyl sulfone (DVS) as a crosslinker in a single-step via reverse micelle microemulsion crosslinking technique. Particles of p(α-CD), p(ß-CD), and p(γ-CD) were perfectly spherical in sub- 10 µm size ranges. The prepared p(CD) particles at 1.0 mg/mL concentrations were found biocompatible with > 95 % cell viability against L929 fibroblasts. Furthermore, p(α-CD) and p(ß-CD) particles were found non-hemolytic with < 2 % hemolysis ratios, whereas p(γ-CD) particles were found to be slightly hemolytic with its 2.1 ± 0.4 % hemolysis ratio at 1.0 mg/mL concentration. Furthermore, a toxic compound, Bisphenol A (BPA) and a highly antioxidant polyphenol, curcumin (CUR) complexation with α-, ß-, and γ-CD molecules was investigated via Electrospray-Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-IM-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. It was determined that the most stable noncovalent complex was in the case of ß-CD, but the complex stoichiometry was changed by the hydrophobic nature of the guest molecules. In addition, BPA and CUR were separately loaded into prepared p(CD) particles as active agents. The drug loading and release studies showed that p(CD) particles possess governable loading and releasing profiles.

Physically and Chemically Crosslinked, Tannic Acid Embedded Linear PEI-Based Hydrogels and Cryogels with Natural Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties.

Linear polyethyleneimine (L-PEI) was obtained from the acidic hydrolysis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and employed in the synthesis of physically crosslinked L-PEI hydrogel, PC-L-PEIH, chemically crosslinked L-PEI hydrogel, CC-L-PEIH, and cryogels, CC-L-PEIC. The preparation of L-PEI-based hydrogel networks was carried out in two ways: 1) by cooling the L-PEI solution from 90 °C to room temperature, and 2) by crosslinking L-PEI chains with a crosslinker, glycerol diglycidyl ether = 20 °C for CC-L-PEIC. Furthermore, a polyphenolic compound, tannic acid (TA), with superior antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties as an active biomedical functional agent, was encapsulated during the synthesis process within L-PEI-based hydrogels and cryogels, at 10% and 25% (w/w) based on the L-PEI amount. A linear and higher TA release was observed from physically crosslinked PEI-based hydrogels containing 10% and 25% TA-containing PC-L-PEI/TAH within 6 h, with 9.5 ± 05 mg/g and 60.2 ± 3.8 mg/g cumulative released amounts, respectively. A higher antioxidant activity was observed for 25% TA containing PC-L-PEI/TAH with 53.6 ± 5.3 µg/mL total phenol content and 0.48 ± 0.01 µmole Trolox equivalent/g. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PC-L-PEIH and CC-L-PEIC networks against both E. coli (ATCC 8739) and Gram-positive B. subtilis (ATCC 6633) bacteria was determined at 5 mg/mL, whereas the MBC value of 10 mg/mL for CC-L-PEIH networks against the same bacteria was achieved.

A Review on Phyto-Therapeutic Approaches in Alzheimer's Disease.

Neurodegenerative diseases occur due to progressive and sometimes irreversible loss of function and death of nerve cells. A great deal of effort is being made to understand the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is quite high, and only symptomatic therapy is available due to the absence of radical treatment. The aim of this review is to try to elucidate the general pathogenesis of AD, to provide information about the limit points of symptomatic treatment approaches, and to emphasize the potential neurologic effects of phytocompounds as new tools as therapeutic agents for disease prevention, retardation, and therapy. This survey also covers the notable properties of herbal compounds such as their effects on the inhibition of an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which has significant value in the treatment of AD. It has been proven that phytopharmaceuticals have long-term effects that could protect nervous system health, eliminate inflammatory responses, improve cognitive damage, provide anti-aging effects in the natural aging process, and alleviate dementia sequelae. Herbal-based therapeutic agents can afford many advantages and can be used as potentially as new-generation therapeutics or complementary agents with high compliance, fewer adverse effects, and lower cost in comparison to the traditional pharmaceutical agents in the fight against AD.