Investigation of Levan-Derived Nanoparticles of Dolutegravir: A Promising Approach for the Delivery of Anti-HIV Drug as Milk Admixture.

Nanoparticles composed of Levan and Dolutegravir (DTG) have been successfully synthesized using a spray drying procedure specifically designed for milk/food admixture applications. Levan, obtained from the microorganism Bacillus subtilis, was thoroughly characterized using MALDI-TOF and solid-state NMR technique to confirm its properties. In the present study, this isolated Levan was utilized as a carrier for drug delivery applications. The optimized spray-dried nanoparticles exhibited a smooth surface morphology with particle sizes ranging from 195 to 329 nm. In the in-vitro drug release experiments conducted in water media, the spray-dried nanoparticles showed 100 % release, whereas the unprocessed drug exhibited only 50 % release at the end of 24 h. Notably, the drug release in milk was comparable to that in plain media, indicating the compatibility. The improved dissolution rate observed for the nanoparticles could be attributed to the solid-state conversion (confirmed by XRD analysis) of DTG from its crystalline to amorphous state. The stability of the drug was verified using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetry-Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis. To evaluate the in-vitro cellular toxicity, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was conducted, which revealed the CC50 value of 88.88 ± 5.10 µg/mL for unprocessed DTG and 101.08 ± 37.37 µg/mL for DTG nanoparticles. These results indicated that the toxicity of the nanoparticles was comparable to the unprocessed drug. Furthermore, the anti-HIV activity of the nanoparticles in human cell lines was found to be similar to that of the pure drug, emphasizing the therapeutic efficacy of DTG in combating HIV.

pH-sensitive chitosan nanoparticles loaded with dolutegravir as milk and food admixture for paediatric anti-HIV therapy.

The present study aims to develop Chitosan-based polymeric nanoparticles of anti-HIV drug Dolutegravir, to aid appropriate dose adjustment and ease of oral administration as milk and food admixture for children. The isolated Chitosan from the crab shell species Portunus Sanguinolentus has been characterized for their physicochemical properties. Nanoparticles were developed with varying ratio of drug: Chitosan and assessed for particle size (140-548 nm), zeta potential (+26.1 mV) with a maximum of 75 % drug content. Nanoparticles exhibited improved stability and drug release in the 0.1 N HCl medium compared to pure drug. The MTT assay and the Syncytia inhibition assay in C8166 (T-lymphatic cell line) infected with HIVIIIB viral strain, which showed better therapeutic efficiency and lesser cytotoxicity compared to the pure drug. In consonance with the data obtained, the use of chitosan from a novel source for drug delivery carrier has opened exceptional prospects for delivering drugs efficiently to paediatrics.

Evidence of nanoemulsion as an effective control measure for fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster.

Pesticide resistance is a common concern. It exerts close association with economic and health associated problems in various plants and other organisms. Several approaches have been trialled for attracting and trapping the insects and flies that are acting as vectors for transmission of communicable diseases. Although Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) is not an agricultural pest, its presence in consumer dwelling areas is an objection to human, as it indicates signs of an unhealthy environment or products. The current study focuses on the development of nanoemulsion with synthetic attractants and entrapping in sticky glue formulation that could provide prolonged effect for attracting and trapping the fruit flies. The results of our study showed the efficient attractive ability of exposed nanoemulsion (A3E1T) containing amyl acetate, ammonia, ethanol and Tween 80 compared to that of control. While the sex-based effect was not very prominent, the nanoemulsion showed a higher relative response index to the flies and increased activity even during their siesta time. Therefore, the nanoemulsion-based approach could be identified as one of the promising lines of attack and a suitable alternative for the existing fruit fly control measures. The present study is the first of its kind in reporting the ability of nanoemulsion formulation to attract and influence the activity of fruit flies D. melanogaster, up to our best of knowledge.

Progress in Psoriasis Therapy via Novel Drug Delivery Systems.

Psoriasis is a lifelong condition which is caused by the negative signals produced by immune system, which leads to hyper proliferation and other inflammatory reactions on the skin. In this case, keratinocytes which are the outermost layer of skin possess shortened life cycle and results in the alteration of desquamation process where the cytokines will come out through lesions of affected patients and as a result, scaling marks appears on the skin. These conditions may negatively affect the patient's quality of life and lead to psychosocial stress. Psoriasis can be categorized as mild, moderate and severe conditions. Mild psoriasis leads to the formation of rashes, and when it becomes moderate, the skin turns into scaly. In severe conditions, red patches may be present on skin surface and becomes itchy. Topical therapy continues to be one of the pillars for psoriasis management. Drug molecules with target effect on the skin tissues and other inflammations should be selected for the treatment of psoriasis. Most of the existing drugs lead to systemic intoxication and dryness when applied in higher dose. Different scientific approaches for topical delivery are being explored by researches including emollient, modified gelling system, transdermal delivery, spray, nanogels, hydrogels, micro/nano emulsion, liposomes, nano capsules etc. These topical dosage forms are evaluated for various physico chemical properties such as drug content, viscosity, pH, extrudability, spreadability, toxicity, irritancy, permeability and drug release mechanism. This review paper focus attention to the impact of these formulation approaches on various anti-psoriasis drugs for their successful treatment.