Mannose-Functionalized Isoniazid-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Pulmonary Delivery: In Vitro Prospects and In Vivo Therapeutic Efficacy Assessment.

Resistance to isoniazid (INH) is common and increases the possibility of acquiring multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. For this study, isoniazid-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (INH-NLCs) were developed and effectively functionalized with mannose (Man) to enhance the residence time of the drug within the lungs via specific delivery and increase the therapeutic efficacy of the formulation. The mannose-functionalized isoniazid-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (Man-INH-NLC) formulation was evaluated with respect to various formulation parameters, namely, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), average particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PDI), in vitro drug release (DR), and release kinetics. The in vitro inhalation behavior of the developed formulation after nebulization was investigated using an Andersen cascade impactor via the estimation of the mass median aerosolized diameter (MMAD) and geometric aerodynamic diameter (GAD) and subsequently found to be suitable for effective lung delivery. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study was carried out in a guinea pig animal model, and it was demonstrated that Man-INH-NLC has a longer residence time in the lungs with improved pharmacokinetics when compared with unfunctionalized INH-NLC, indicating the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of the Man-INH-NLC formulation. Histopathological analysis led us to determine that the extent of tissue damage was more severe in the case of the pure drug solution of isoniazid compared to the Man-INH-NLC formulation after nebulization. Thus, the nebulization of Man-INH-NLC was found to be safe, forming a sound basis for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the drug for improved management in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Significance of Hepatoprotective Liver Specific Targeted Drug Delivery: A Review on Novel Herbal and Formulation Approaches in the Management of Hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: The liver is the largest and vital organ present in all vertebrates. It performs various major functions such as detoxification, metabolism, protein synthesis, excretion and so on. Liver cells are divided into parenchymal cells and non-parenchymal cells. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells, etc. are found in liver having different receptors present on their surface which can be used for liver targeting by binding to different ligands. OBJECTIVE: In this review, we focused on various factors such as drugs, plants; metals and so on are reported in literature to be responsible for causing hepatotoxicity, natural hepatoprotective agents and liver targeting via novel formulation approaches. CONCLUSION: All over the world, millions of people are affected by serious liver disorders which are very difficult to treat despite of many efforts. Hepatotoxicity is one of the major reasons due to which drugs continue to be taken off from the market. This review highlights the potential of various phytochemicals as hepatoprotective agents and various strategies which have been proposed to achieve liver targeting, including passive accumulation of therapeutic drug delivery system and active targeting by surface modifications of particulate formulation with specific ligands.

Therapeutic Potential of Phytomedicines and Novel Polymeric Strategies for Significant Management of Candidiasis.

BACKGROUND: Candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections caused by genus Candida. The genus is composed of around 200 species. The most virulent among all are, Candida albicans followed by various nonalbicans species. Despite various treatments available, the incidence of severe systemic fungal infections is increasing, and with it the related morbidity and mortality, in relation to the misuse of antimicrobials and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal species. Therefore, various novel therapeutic approaches need to be developed and explored to overcome these limitations and effective management of candidiasis. OBJECTIVE: In this review, we focused on natural herbal remedies and significance of novel formulation approaches for the treatment of candidiasis. CONCLUSION: The reported studies suggested the promising role of phytomedicines and novel polymeric drug delivery systems in therapeutic management of candidiasis. Phytomedicines are effective substitutes of synthetic drugs as they are inexpensive with lesser number of side effects. Various novel particulate approaches can be successfully used to reduce fungal burden at the target site.