Recent trends on polycaprolactone as sustainable polymer-based drug delivery system in the treatment of cancer: Biomedical applications and nanomedicine.

The unique properties-such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, bio-absorbability, low cost, easy fabrication, and high versatility-have made polycaprolactone (PCL) the center of attraction for researchers. The derived introduction in this manuscript gives a pretty detailed overview of PCL, so you can first brush up on it. Discussion on the various PCL-based derivatives involves, but is not limited to, poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCL-co-LA), PCL-g-PEG, PCL-g-PMMA, PCL-g-chitosan, PCL-b-PEO, and PCL-g-PU specific properties and their probable applications in biomedicine. This paper has considered examining the differences in the diverse disease subtypes and the therapeutic value of using PCL. Advanced strategies for PCL in delivery systems are also considered. In addition, this review discusses recently patented products to provide a snapshot of recent updates in this field. Furthermore, the text probes into recent advances in PCL-based DDS, for example, nanoparticles, liposomes, hydrogels, and microparticles, while giving special attention to comparing the esters in the delivery of bioactive compounds such as anticancer drugs. Finally, we review future perspectives on using PCL in biomedical applications and the hurdles of PCL-based drug delivery, including fine-tuning mechanical strength/degradation rate, biocompatibility, and long-term effects in living systems.

A Significant Prospective on Nanorobotics in Precision Medicine and Therapeutic Interventions.

Nanorobotics, situated at the intersection of nanotechnology and robotics, holds the potential for revolutionary impact on precision medicine and medical interventions. This review explores the design, navigation, drug delivery, and applications of nanorobots. Architectural intricacies, sensor integration, and navigation strategies, both active and passive, are discussed. Nanorobots are poised to play a pivotal role in controlled drug delivery and personalized medicine, including disease-specific targeting. Their applications span across various domains, including cancer therapy, neurological interventions, and emerging fields. Despite the promises, challenges such as technological hurdles, regulatory considerations, and safety concerns are also acknowledged. The review anticipates a transformative impact on healthcare, offering a comprehensive guide for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of nanorobotics.

Pluronic F127-Complexed PEGylated Poly(glutamic acid)-Cisplatin Nanomedicine for Enhanced Glioblastoma Therapy.

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of primary brain cancer, posing significant challenges in effective therapy. This study aimed to enhance the effectiveness of glioblastoma therapy by developing a unique nanomedicine composed of Pluronic F127-complexed PEGylated poly(glutamic acid)-cisplatin (PLG-PEG/PF127-CDDP). PLG-PEG/PF127-CDDP demonstrated an optimal size of 133.97 ± 12.60 nm, facilitating efficient cell uptake by GL261 glioma cells. In vitro studies showed significant cytotoxicity against glioma cells with a half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.61 µg mL-1 at 48 h and a 72.53% ± 1.89% reduction in cell invasion. Furthermore, PLG-PEG/PF127-CDDP prolonged the circulation half-life of cisplatin to 9.75 h in vivo, leading to a more than 50% reduction in tumor size on day 16 post-treatment initiation in a murine model of glioma. The treatment significantly elevated lactate levels in GL261 cells, indicating enhanced metabolic disruption. Therefore, PLG-PEG/PF127-CDDP offers a promising approach for glioblastoma therapy due to its effects on improving drug delivery efficiency, therapeutic outcomes, and safety while minimizing systemic side effects. This work underscores the potential of polymer-based nanomedicines in overcoming the challenges of treating brain tumors, paving the way for future clinical applications.

5-Fluorouracil-loaded green chitosan nanoparticles/ guar gum nanocomposite hydrogel in controlled drug delivery.

In recent years nanotechnologies have been applied to human health with promising results, especially in the field of drug delivery. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered much importance in controlled drug delivery owing to their size. Chitosan (Cs) is a well-recognized biopolymer and Cs NPs have been widely explored in drug delivery. Nonetheless, reports pertaining to green synthesis of Cs NPs are scarce. Thus, in this study, green synthesis of Cs NPs was accomplished from raw mango peel extract. Spherical Cs NPs with positively charged surface of 33.4 mV was accomplished by this process. Cs NPs, in varied content, were integrated in a guar gum network matrix resulting in a nanocomposite hydrogel. The mechanical and thermal stability of the hydrogel improved upon addition of Cs NPs. The hydrogel exhibited smart swelling, good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propensities. Cs NPs encapsulating 5-Fluorouracil demonstrated a controlled release drug profile in the colorectum and the kinetics implied the anomalous nature of drug release mechanism. The exposure of the drug-loaded nanocomposite hydrogel displayed improved anticancer effects in HT-29 colon cancer cells. Taken altogether, this study puts forth the greater efficacy of Cs NPs in controlled drug delivery for anticancer therapy.

Cancer Treatment Using Nanofibers: A Review.

Currently, the number of patients with cancer is expanding consistently because of a low quality of life. For this reason, the therapies used to treat cancer have received a lot of consideration from specialists. Numerous anticancer medications have been utilized to treat patients with cancer. However, the immediate utilization of anticancer medicines leads to unpleasant side effects for patients and there are many restrictions to applying these treatments. A number of polymers like cellulose, chitosan, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), peptides and Poly (hydroxy alkanoate) have good properties for the treatment of cancer, but the nanofibers-based target and controlled drug delivery system produced by the co-axial electrospinning technique have extraordinary properties like favorable mechanical characteristics, an excellent release profile, a high surface area, and a high sponginess and are harmless, bio-renewable, biofriendly, highly degradable, and can be produced very conveniently on an industrial scale. Thus, nanofibers produced through coaxial electrospinning can be designed to target specific cancer cells or tissues. By modifying the composition and properties of the nanofibers, researchers can control the release kinetics of the therapeutic agent and enhance its accumulation at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity. The core-shell structure of coaxial electrospun nanofibers allows for a controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents over time. This controlled release profile can improve the efficacy of cancer treatment by maintaining therapeutic drug concentrations within the tumor microenvironment for an extended period.

Tailored-Biomaterials Based Potential Strategies for Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health concern worldwide, and varied effective treatment and prevention methods have been developed. Among these, tailored biomaterials-based strategies such as stents, scaffolds, patches, and drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising avenue. These devices are designed to match the mechanical and biological mechanisms of the cardiovascular system, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility. By effectively treating or preventing cardiovascular diseases, these devices have the potential to improve patient health outcomes significantly. They can restore blood flow by addressing blocked arteries and regenerate damaged cardiac tissue by delivering bioactive agents or cells directly to the affected area in a targeted, sustained, and controllable manner. Therefore, the objective of this article is to summarize the available evidence on these tailored biomaterial-based tunable cardiovascular devices. This knowledge can help to transform cardiovascular medicine for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease and restore cardiac function to improve patients' quality of life.

MgSiO3 Fiber Membrane Scaffold with Triggered Drug Delivery for Osteosarcoma Synergetic Therapy and Bone Regeneration.

In this research, a novel MgSiO3 fiber membrane (MSFM) loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and doxorubicin (DOX) was prepared. Because of MgSiO3's unique lamellar structure composed of a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, magnesium ion (Mg2+) moves easily and can be further replaced with other cations. Therefore, because of the positively charged functional group of ICG, MSFM has a rather high drug loading for ICG. In addition, there is electrostatic attraction between DOX (a cationic drug) and ICG (an anionic drug). Hence, after loading ICG, more DOX can be adsorbed into MSFM because of electrostatic interaction. The ICG endows the MSFM outstanding photothermal therapy (PTT) performance, and DOX as a chemotherapeutic drug can restrain tumor growth. On the one hand, H+ exchanged with the positively charged DOX based on the MgSiO3 special lamellar structure. On the other hand, the thermal effect could break the electrostatic interaction between ICG and DOX. Based on the above two points, both tumor acidic microenvironment and photothermal effect can trigger DOX release. What's more, in vitro and in vivo antiosteosarcoma therapy evaluations displayed a superior synergetic PTT-chemotherapy anticancer treatment and excellent biocompatibility of DOX&ICG-MSFM. Finally, the MSFM was proven to greatly promote cell proliferation, differentiation, and bone regeneration performance in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, MSFM provides a creative perspective in the design of multifunctional scaffolds and shows promising applications in controlled drug delivery, antitumor performance, and osteogenesis.

A highly stretchable smart dressing for wound infection monitoring and treatment.

Smart dressings integrated with bioelectronics have attracted considerable attention and become promising solutions for skin wound management. However, due to the mechanical distinction between human body and the interface of electronics, previous smart dressings often suffered obvious degradation in electrical performance when attached to the soft and curvilinear wound sites. Here, we report a stretchable dressing integrated with temperature and pH sensor for wound status monitoring, as well as an electrically controlled drug delivery system for infection treatment. The wound dressing was featured with the deployment of liquid metal for seamless connection between rigid electrical components and gold particle-based electrodes, achieving a stretchable soft-hard interface. Stretching tests showed that both the sensing system and drug delivery system exhibited good stretchability and long-term stable conductivity with the resistance change rate less than 6 % under 50 % strain. Animal experiments demonstrated that the smart dressing was capable of detecting bacterial infection via the biomarkers of temperature and pH value and the infection factors of wound were significantly improved with therapy through electrically controlled antibiotics releasing. This proof-of-concept prototype has potential to significantly improve management of the wound, especially those with dynamic strain.

Polypeptide-based multilayer nanoarchitectures: Controlled assembly on planar and colloidal substrates for biomedical applications.

Polypeptides have shown an excellent potential in nanomedicine thanks to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, high functionality, and responsiveness to several stimuli. Polypeptides exhibit high propensity to organize at the supramolecular level; hence, they have been extensively considered as building blocks in the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The LbL technique is a highly versatile methodology, which involves the sequential assembly of building blocks, mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, onto planar or colloidal templates to fabricate sophisticated multilayer nanoarchitectures. The simplicity and the mild conditions required in the LbL approach have led to the inclusion of biopolymers and bioactive molecules for the fabrication of a wide spectrum of biodegradable, biocompatible, and precisely engineered multilayer films for biomedical applications. This review focuses on those examples in which polypeptides have been used as building blocks of multilayer nanoarchitectures for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications, highlighting the characteristics of the polypeptides and the strategies adopted to increase the stability of the multilayer film. Cross-linking is presented as a powerful strategy to enhance the stability and stiffness of the multilayer network, which is a fundamental requirement for biomedical applications. For example, in tissue engineering, a stiff multilayer coating, the presence of adhesion promoters, and/or bioactive molecules boost the adhesion, growth, and differentiation of cells. On the contrary, antimicrobial coatings should repel and inhibit the growth of bacteria. In drug delivery applications, mainly focused on particles and capsules at the micro- and nano-meter scale, the stability of the multilayer film is crucial in terms of retention and controlled release of the payload. Recent advances have shown the key role of the polypeptides in the adsorption of genetic material with high loading efficiency, and in addressing different pathways of the particles/capsules during the intracellular uptake, paving the way for applications in personalized medicine. Although there are a few studies, the responsiveness of the polypeptides to the pH changes, together with the inclusion of stimuli-responsive entities into the multilayer network, represents a further key factor for the development of smart drug delivery systems to promote a sustained release of therapeutics. The degradability of polypeptides may be an obstacle in certain scenarios for the controlled intracellular release of a drug once an external stimulus is applied. Nowadays, the highly engineered design of biodegradable LbL particles/capsules is oriented on the development of theranostics that, limited to use of polypeptides, are still in their infancy.

Injectable Biomimetic Gels for Biomedical Applications.

Biomimetic gels are synthetic materials designed to mimic the properties and functions of natural biological systems, such as tissues and cellular environments. This manuscript explores the advancements and future directions of injectable biomimetic gels in biomedical applications and highlights the significant potential of hydrogels in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and controlled drug delivery due to their enhanced biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and mechanical properties. Despite these advancements, challenges such as mechanical resilience, controlled degradation rates, and scalable manufacturing remain. This manuscript discusses ongoing research to optimize these properties, develop cost-effective production techniques, and integrate emerging technologies like 3D bioprinting and nanotechnology. Addressing these challenges through collaborative efforts is essential for unlocking the full potential of injectable biomimetic gels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Biochemical hallmarks-targeting antineoplastic nanotherapeutics.

Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) have received increasing attention in recent years as they play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, progression, metastases, and resistance to the traditional modalities of cancer therapy like chemotherapy. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, effective antineoplastic nanotherapeutics targeting the aberrant hallmarks of TMEs have been proposed. The appropriate design and fabrication endow nanomedicines with the abilities for active targeting, TMEs-responsiveness, and optimization of physicochemical properties of tumors, thereby overcoming transport barriers and significantly improving antineoplastic therapeutic benefits. This review begins with the origins and characteristics of TMEs and discusses the latest strategies for modulating the TMEs by focusing on the regulation of biochemical microenvironments, such as tumor acidosis, hypoxia, and dysregulated metabolism. Finally, this review summarizes the challenges in the development of smart anti-cancer nanotherapeutics for TME modulation and examines the promising strategies for combination therapies with traditional treatments for further clinical translation.

Gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms for prolonged delivery of sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Part 4: Experimental validation of the models of drug concentration in blood.

In this final part, the models of drug concentration in blood developed in Part 3 are validated on dogs. Both slow-release gastroretentive fibrous and immediate-release particulate dosage forms containing 200 mg nilotinib were tested. After administering, the fibrous dosage form expanded linearly with time in the stomach, to about 1.5 times the initial radius by 4 h. The expanded dosage form fractured after 10 h, and then passed into the intestines. The drug concentration in blood exhibited a broad peak with a maximum of 0.51 µg/ml and a width at half-height of 10.2 h. By contrast, after administering the immediate-release capsule the drug concentration in blood exhibited a sharp peak with a maximum of 0.68 µg/ml and a width at half-height of just 3.6 h. The experimental data validate the theoretical models reasonably. The gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms designed in this study enable a steady drug concentration in blood for increasing the efficacy and mitigating side effects of drug therapies.

Gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms for prolonged delivery of sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Part 3: Theoretical models of drug concentration in blood.

In this part, drug concentration in blood after ingesting slow-release gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms and immediate-release particulate forms is modeled. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib, which is slightly soluble in low-pH gastric fluid but practically insoluble in pH-neutral intestinal fluid is used as drug. The models suggest that upon ingestion, the fibrous dosage form expands, is retained in the stomach for prolonged time, and releases drug into the gastric fluid at a constant rate. The released drug molecules flow into the duodenum with the gastric fluid, and are absorbed by the blood. The drug is eliminated from the blood by the liver at a rate proportional to its concentration. Eventually, the elimination and absorption rates will be equal, and the drug concentration in blood plateaus out. After the gastric residence time drug absorption stops, and the drug concentration in blood drops to zero. By contrast, after administering an immediate-release particulate dosage form the drug particles are swept out of the stomach rapidly, and drug absorption stops much earlier. The drug concentration in blood rises and falls without attaining steady state. The gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms enable a constant drug concentration in blood for drugs that are insoluble in intestinal fluids.

Yolk-shelled silver nanowire@amorphous metal-organic framework for controlled drug delivery and light-promoting infected wound healing.

Bacteria-infected wounds healing has been greatly hindered by antibiotic resistance and persistent inflammation. It is crucial to develop multifunctional nanocomposites that possess effective antibacterial properties and can simultaneously accelerate the wound healing process to overcome the above challenges. Herein, we prepared a yolk-shell structured Ag nanowires (NWs)@amorphous hollow ZIF-67 by etching ZIF-67 onto the Ag NWs for infected wound healing for the first time. The etched hollow structure of amorphous ZIF-67 in the nanocomposite makes it a promising platform for loading healing-promoting drugs. We extensively studied the antibacterial and healing-promoting properties of the curcumin (CCM)-loaded nanocomposite (Ag NWs@C-HZ67). Ag NWs, being noble metal materials with plasmonic effects, can absorb a broad range of natural light and convert it to thermal energy. This photothermal conversion further improves the release of antibacterial components and wound healing drugs when exposed to light. During the healing process of an infected wound, Ag and Co ions were released from Ag NWs@C-HZ67 upon direct contact with the wound exudate and under the influence of light irradiation. Simultaneously, the loaded CCM leaked out to repair the infected wound. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the Ag NWs@C-HZ67 groups against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria decreased to 3 and 3 µg ml-1 when exposed to white light. Furthermore, an in vivo assessment of infected wound healing demonstrated that combining Ag NWs@C-HZ67 with light significantly accelerated the wound healing process, achieving 70% healing by the 6th day and almost complete healing by the 8th day. This advanced nanocomposite, consisting of components that possess antibacterial and growth-promoting properties, offers a safe, effective and clinically-translatable solution for accelerating the healing process of infected wounds.

Gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms for prolonged delivery of sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Part 2: Experimental validation of the models of expansion, post-expansion mechanical strength, and drug release.

In Part 1, we have introduced expandable gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms for prolonged delivery of sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The expansion rate, post-expansion mechanical strength, and drug release rate were modeled for a dosage form containing 200 mg nilotinib. In the present part, the dosage form was prepared and tested in vitro to validate the models. Upon immersing in a dissolution fluid, the fibrous dosage form expanded at a constant rate to a normalized radial expansion of 0.5 by 4 h, and then formed an expanded viscoelastic mass of high strength. The drug was released at a constant rate over a day. For comparison, a particle-filled gelatin capsule with the same amount of nilotinib disintegrated almost immediately, and released eighty percent of the drug content in just 10 min. The experimental data validate the theoretical models of Part 1 reasonably.

Gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms for prolonged delivery of sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Part 1: Dosage form design, and models of expansion, post-expansion mechanical strength, and drug release.

At present, the efficacy and safety of many sparingly-soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) delivered by the prevalent oral dosage forms are compromised by excessive fluctuations in the drug concentration in blood. To mitigate this limitation, in this four-part study gastroretentive fibrous dosage forms that deliver drug into the gastric fluid (and into the blood) at a controlled rate for prolonged time are presented. The dosage form comprises a cross-ply structure of expandable, water-absorbing, high-molecular-weight hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based fibers coated with a strengthening, enteric excipient. The intervening spaces between the coated fibers are solid annuli of drug particles, and low-molecular-weight HPMC and enteric excipients. The central regions of the annuli are open channels. In this part, models are developed for dosage form expansion, post-expansion mechanical strength, and drug release. The models suggest that upon immersing in a dissolution fluid, the fluid percolates the open channels, diffuses into the annuli and the coated fibers, and the dosage form expands. The expansion rate is inversely proportional, and the post-expansion mechanical strength proportional to the thickness of the strengthening coating. Drug particles are released from the annuli as the surrounding excipient dissolves. The drug release rate is proportional to the concentration of low-molecular-weight HPMC at the annulus/dissolution fluid interface. The dosage forms can be readily designed for expansion in a few hours, formation of a high-strength viscoelastic mass, and drug release at a constant rate over a day.

New Zein Protein Composites with High Performance in Phosphate Removal, Intrinsic Antibacterial, and Drug Delivery Capabilities.

Herein, poly(N-(4-aminophenyl)methacrylamide)-carbon nano-onions [abbreviated as PAPMA-CNOs (f-CNOs)] integrated gallic acid cross-linked zein composite fibers (ZG/f-CNOs) were developed for the removal/recovery of phosphate from wastewater along with controlled drug delivery and intrinsic antibacterial characteristics. The composite fibers were produced by Forcespinning followed by a heat-pressure technique. The obtained ZG/f-CNOs composite fibers presented several favorable characteristics of nanoadsorbents and drug carriers. The composite fibers exhibited excellent adsorption capabilities for phosphate ions. The adsorption assessment demonstrated that composite fibers process highly selective sequestration of phosphate ions from polluted water, even in the presence of competing anions. The ZG/f-CNOs composite fibers presented a maximum phosphate adsorption capacity (qmax) of 2500 mg/g at pH 7.0. This represents the most efficient phosphate adsorption system among all of the reported nanocomposites to date. The isotherm studies and adsorption kinetics of the adsorbent showed that the adsorption experiments followed the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9999). After 13 adsorption/desorption cycles, the adsorbent could still maintain its adsorption efficiency of 96-98% at pH 7.0 while maintaining stability under thermal and chemical conditions. The results mark significant progress in the design of composite fibers for removing phosphates from wastewater, potentially aiding in alleviating eutrophication effects. Owing to the f-CNOs incorporation, ZG/f-CNOs composite fibers exhibited controlled drug delivery. An antibiotic azithromycin drug-encapsulated composite fibers presented a pH-mediated drug release in a controlled manner over 18 days. Furthermore, the composite fibers displayed excellent antibacterial efficiency against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without causing resistance. In addition, zein composite fibers showed augmented mechanical properties due to the presence of f-CNOs within the zein matrix. Nonetheless, the robust zein composite fibers with inherent stimuli-responsive drug delivery, antibacterial properties, and phosphate adsorption properties can be considered promising multifunctional composites for biomedical applications and environmental remediation.

Evaluation of microwave irradiated Polyacrylamide grafted Opuntia leaf mucilage graft copolymer (OPM-g-PAM) as effective controlled release polymer for release of Rosuvastastin as model drug.

Controlled drug delivery systems offer numerous advantages. This research evaluates Opuntia leaf mucilage grafted with polyacrylamide (OPM-g-PAM) as a promising controlled-release polymer. PAM chains were grafted onto the backbone of OPM using a microwave-assisted method. Optimization of the best grade was based on % grafting efficiency and intrinsic viscosity, followed by extensive physical and analytical characterizations. Analytical characterizations revealed semicrystalline nature of the biomaterial. SEM and AFM observations revealed rough and porous surfaces, indicating effective grafting. Swelling behavior showed maximum sensitivity at pH 7, with reduced swelling at higher sodium chloride concentrations. A comparative study of % drug release of Rosuvastatin over 24 h showed that the optimized grade controlled drug release effectively, achieving 78.5 % release compared to 98.8 % for GF-3. The release data fitted the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, with an "n" value of 0.8334, indicating non-Fickian (anomalous) diffusion. Bacterial biodegradability studies confirmed the high biodegradability of the graft copolymer. In vitro acute toxicity tests showed no toxicity, as confirmed by histopathological studies of heart, liver, and kidney. Overall, the results indicate that OPM-g-PAM is a highly promising material for use in drug delivery systems, demonstrating potential as a novel controlled-release polymer.

Comparative study of iontophoresis-assisted transdermal delivery of bupivacaine and lidocaine as anesthetic drugs.

Postoperative pain management is an important aspect of the overall surgical care process. Effective pain management not only provides patient comfort but also promotes faster recovery and reduces the risk of complications. Bupivacaine (BUP) and Lidocaine (LID) transdermal drug deliveries via thermoplastic polyurethane matrix (TPU) and iontophoresis technique are proposed here as alternative routes for postoperative pain instead of the injection route. Under applied electric field, the amounts of BUP and LID released were 95% and 97% from the loaded amounts, which were higher than the passive patch of 40%. The time to equilibrium of BUP turned out to be faster than the time to equilibrium of LID by approximately 1.5 times. This was due to 2 factors namely the drug molecular weight and the drug pKa value; they play an important role in the selection of a suitable drug for fast-acting or long-acting for the postoperative patients. By using this transdermal patch via iontophoresis system, BUP was deemed as the suitable drug for fast-acting due to the shorter time to equilibrium, whereas LID was the suitable drug for long-acting. The in-vitro drug release - permeation study through a porcine skin indicated the efficiency and potential of the system with the amounts of drug permeated up to 76% for BUP and 81% for LID. The TPU transdermal system was demonstrated here as potential to deliver BUP and LID for postoperative patients.

Effects of montmorillonite on the loading and release of Piper betle L. extract applied for wound dressing based on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol.

In this study, we investigate the influence of montmorillonite (MMT) on the loading and release of Piper betle L. extract (PLE)-a medicinal herb containing active secondary metabolites with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. MMT (1 %, 3 %, 5 %) was blended into the chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) biocomposite film by the solution evaporation method, and then PLE was loaded onto this biocomposite using the immersion method. The tensile strength and the ability to absorb exudates of the CS/PVA film improved with the increase in MMT content. The MMT 3 % film was considered to have the best properties: good mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 27.44 ± 0.27 MPa and elongation at break of 14.57 ± 0.30 %, potential for wound dressing due to its ability to absorb wound exudate (swelling degree 61.70 ± 0.30 %) and a suitable water vapor transmission rate (1999 ± 47 g/m2·d). The presence of MMT (1 %, 3 %, 5 %) in the CS/PVA film led to an increase in the PLE loading efficiency of the films compared to the film without MMT, up to 1.65, 1.73, and 1.87 times, respectively. The MMT 3 % and 5 % films also exhibited a sustained PLE release effect for up to 24 h. MMT increased PLE bioavailability through bioactivity tests: antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus, antioxidant activity, effective healing of 2nd-degree burn wounds, and biocompatibility with the L929 fibroblasts cell line. The combination of physicochemical properties and biological activities proved that the MMT/PLE drug delivery system based on the CS/PVA biocomposite is promising for wound dressing.