QbD-assisted development of lipidic nanocapsules for antiestrogenic activity of exemestane in breast cancer.

Some breast cancers are caused by hormonal imbalances, such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones play a function in directing the growth of cancer cells. The hormone receptors in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer lead breast cells to proliferate out of control. Cancer therapy such as hormonal, targeted, radiation is still unsatisfactory because of these challenges namely multiple drug resistance (MDR), off-targeting, severe adverse effects. A novel aromatase inhibitor exemestane (Exe) exhibits promising therapy in breast cancer. This study aims to develop and optimize Exe-loaded lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) by using DSPC, PF68 and olive oil as lipid, surfactant and oil phase, respectively and to characterize the same. The prepared nanocapsules were investigated via in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models. The LNCs exhibited cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cell lines and enhanced anti-cancer activity and reduced cardiotoxicity in DMBA-induced animal model when compared to the drug. Additionally, in vivo pharmacokinetics revealed a 4.2-fold increased oral bioavailability when compared with Exe suspension. This study demonstrated that oral administration of Exe-loaded LNCs holds promise for the antiestrogenic activity of exemestane in breast cancer.

Assessment of anti-arthritic activity of lipid matrix encased berberine in rheumatic animal model.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drug delivery and therapeutic potential of berberine (Br) loaded nanoformulation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-induced animal model. The Br-loaded NLCs (nanostructured lipid carriers) were prepared employing melt-emulsification process, and optimised through Box-Behnken design. The prepared NLCs were assessed for in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations. The optimised NLCs exhibited a mean diameter of 180.2 ± 0.31 nm with 88.32 ± 2.43% entrapment efficiency. An enhanced anti-arthritic activity with reduced arthritic scores to 0.66 ± 0.51, reduction in ankle diameter to 5.80 ± 0.27 mm, decline in paw withdrawal timing, and improvements in walking behaviour were observed in the Br-NLCs treated group. The radiographic images revealed a reduction in bone and cartilage deformation. The Br-NLCs showed promising results in the management of RA disease, can be developed as an efficient delivery system at commercial levels, and may be explored for clinical application after suitable experiments in the future.

New Insights into the Applications of 3D-Printed Biomaterial in Wound Healing and Prosthesis.

Recently three-dimensional bioprinting (3D-bioP) has emerged as a revolutionary technique for numerous biomedical applications. 3D-bioP has facilitated the printing of advanced and complex human organs resulting in satisfactory therapeutic practice. One of the important biomedical applications of 3D-bioP is in tissue engineering, wound healing, and prosthetics. 3D-bioP is basically aimed to restore the natural extracellular matrix of human's damage due to wounds. The relevant search was explored using various scientific database, viz., PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The objective of this review is to emphasize interpretations from the pre-executed studies and to assess the worth of employing 3D-bioP in wound healing as well as prosthetics in terms of patient compliance, clinical outcomes, and economic viability. Furthermore, the benefits of applying 3D-bioP in wound healing over traditional methods have been covered along with the biocompatible biomaterials employed as bioinks has been discussion. Additionally, the review expands about the clinical trials in 3D-bioP field, showing promise of biomedical applicability of this technique with growing advancement in recent years.

Assessments of in vitro and in vivo antineoplastic potentials of ß-sitosterol-loaded PEGylated niosomes against hepatocellular carcinoma.

ß-sitosterol (BS), a phytosterol, exhibits ameliorative effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its antioxidant activities. However, its poor aqueous solubility and negotiated bioavailability and short elimination half-life is a huge limitation for its therapeutic applications. To overcome these two shortcomings, BS-loaded niosomes were made to via, film hydration method and process parameters were optimized using a three-factor Box-Behnken design. The optimized formulation (BSF) was further surface-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The resulting niosomes (BSMF) have spherical shapes, particle sizes, 219.6 ± 1.98 nm with polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of 0.078 ± 0.04 and -19.54 ± 0.19 mV, respectively. The drug loading, entrapment efficiency, and drug release at 24 h of the BSMF were found to be 16.72 ± 0.09%, 78.04 ± 0.92%, and 75.10 ± 3.06%, respectively. Moreover, BSMF showed significantly greater cytotoxic potentials on Hep G2 cells with an enhanced cellular uptake relative to pure BS and BSF. The BSMF also displayed potentially improved curative property of HCC in albino wistar rat. Thus, the BSMF could be one of the promising therapeutic modalities for HCC treatment in terms of targeting potential resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Biotin anchored nanostructured lipid carriers for targeted delivery of doxorubicin in management of mammary gland carcinoma through regulation of apoptotic modulator.

Mammary gland tumour has the highest incidence rate and mortality in women, worldwide. The present study envisaged a molecularly targeted nanostructured lipid carrier (NLCs) for doxorubicin (Dox) delivery capable of inducing cellular apoptosis in mammary gland tumour. NLCs were prepared utilizing Perilla frutescens oil (54-69% ω3-fatty acid) as liquid lipid to enhance entrapment of Dox through molecular ion pairing. Biotin decorated NLCs (b-Dox-NLCs) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The b-Dox-NLCs showed particle size of 105.2 ± 3.5 nm, zeta potential -35 ± 2 mV, entrapment 99.15 ± 1.71%, drug content 19.67 ± 2.6 mg.g-1, biotin content 5.85 ± 0.64 µg.g-1 and drug release 98.67 ± 2.43% (facilitated by acidic microenvironment) respectively. MTT assay and Flow cytometric analysis revealed higher anti-proliferative capability of b-Dox-NLCs to force apoptosis in MCF-7 cell line vis-à-vis marketed Dox, evidenced by reactive oxygen species level and mitochondrial membrane potential mediated apoptosis. Enhanced antitumor targeting, therapeutic safety and efficacy was exhibited by b-Dox-NLCs, as investigated through tumour volume, animal survival, weight variation, cardiotoxicity and biodistribution studies in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induced mammary gland tumour. Immunoblotting assay demonstrated b-Dox-NLCs downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins, i.e. bcl-2, MMP-9 while upregulated pro-apoptotic proteins, i.e. caspase-9, p16 and BAX. The experimental results suggest that biotinylated ω3-fatty acid augmented NLCs loaded with Dox are capable of inducing programmed cell death in mammary tumour and can be utilized as safe and effective delivery system with enhanced potential for mammary gland carcinoma therapy.

Augmented Therapeutic Efficacy of Naringenin Through Microemulsion-Loaded Sericin Gel Against UVB-Induced Photoaging.

Naringenin (NAR) is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits such as grapes and oranges. Recently, NAR has demonstrated its potential in inhibition of photoaging. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of sericin (SR) gel loaded with NAR microemulsion (ME) to inhibit UVB-induced photoaging and prevention of epidermoid carcinoma in animal model. NAR -ME was prepared and optimized through Box-Behnken design. The optimized ME was loaded into sericin (SR) gel. The formulations were subjected to various in vitro, in vivo and cytotoxicity studies over A431 cell lines. The optimized ME revealed a globule size of 249.05 ± 3.78 nm, 6.7 ± 0.5 pH and 73.1 ± 2.11% release over a period of 24 h respectively. Cytotoxicity studies revealed a depression in IC50 value in NAR -ME (65.11 ± 1.54 µg/ml) when compared with NAR (118.1 ± 2.09 µg/ml). The NAR-ME-SR gel displayed enhanced therapeutic potential when compared with plain NAR, in terms of augmented antiproliferative activity. Graphical abstract.

In vitro and in silico molecular interaction of multiphase nanoparticles containing inositol hexaphosphate and jacalin: Therapeutic potential against colon cancer cells (HCT-15).

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a natural constituent found in almost all cereals and legumes. It is known to cause numerous antiangiogenic manifestations. Notwithstanding its great potential, it is underutilized due to the chelation and rapid excretion from the body. Jacalin is another natural constituent obtained from seeds of jackfruit and can target disaccharides overexpressed in tumor cells. The current study was in-quested to develop and evaluate a surface-modified gold nanoparticulate system containing IP6 and jacalin which may maximize the apoptotic effect of IP6 against HCT-15 cell lines. IP6 loaded jacalin-pectin-gold nanoparticles (IJP-GNPs) were developed through reduction followed by incubation method. The developed formulation was tested for various in vitro and in silico studies to investigate its potential. HCT-15 cells when exposed to IJP-GNP resulted in significant apoptotic effects in dose as well as time-dependent manner, as measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, micronucleus, and reactive oxygen species assay. IJP-GNP displayed cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. To further explore the mechanism of chemoprevention, in silico studies were performed. The docking results revealed that the interactive behavior of IP6, P-GNP, and jacalin could target and inhibit the tumor formation activity, supported by in vitro studies. Taken together, all the findings suggested that IP6 loaded nanoparticles may increase the hope of future drug delivery strategy for targeting colon cancer.

Dextrose modified bilosomes for peroral delivery: improved therapeutic potential and stability of silymarin in diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic carcinoma in rats.

Hepatic carcinoma (HC) is one of the most prevalent cancers, ranked as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Silymarin (SYL) has been reported for its anticarcinogenic activity against various types of cancer such as prostate, breast, ovary, colon, lung, bladder and liver. Due to poor solubility and low bioavailability SYL lacks satisfactory therapeutic value thus designing a suitable and effective delivery system of SYL can led to improved therapeutic potential. The present study was aimed to develop SYL-loaded dextrose (DEX) modified bilosomes for targeted delivery to HC cells. The DEX-modified bilosomes were prepared through thin-film hydration method and optimized employing Box Behnken design. The bilosomes were evaluated for percent entrapment, drug loading, in vitro release and cytotoxicity on Hep-G2 cells. The optimized DEX-SYL-BL exhibited a particle size of 219.3 ± 2.99 nm, percent entrapment of 62.32 ± 4.23%, drug loading of 34.56 ± 1.23% and 84.96 ± 2.76% drug release respectively over a period of 24 hr. The stability of bilosomes was ascertained in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Cytotoxicity studies revealed greater performance of DEX-SYL-BL in terms of reduced viability in Hep-G2 cell lines when compared with pure SYL and SYL-BL. Further DEX-modified bilosomes were evaluated in vivo for their therapeutic efficacy in DEN-induced (Diethylnitrosamine) hepatic carcinoma in animal model. The DEX-SYL-BL displayed higher therapeutic potential as revealed from enhanced survival and reduced tumour burden in animals. DEX-SYL-BL also displayed significant restoration of altered oxidative markers and SGOT, SGPT levels towards normal value when compared with pure SYL.

Tamanu oil potentiated novel sericin emulgel of levocetirizine: repurposing for topical delivery against DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis, QbD based development and in vivo evaluation.

The present study was aimed at preparing and evaluating levocetirizine (LCZD) loaded emulgel containing tamanu oil and sericin for atopic dermatitis (AD) therapy. The emulgel envisaged topical delivery of LCZD utilising natural antioxidants for superior therapeutic outcomes when compared with other conventional therapy. Tamanu oil based microemulsion (ME) was optimised utilising Box-Behnken design (BBD). The OPT-ME displayed globule size 379.5 ± 2.33 nm, polydispersity index 0.284, drug loading 0.41 ± 0.01% w/w, entrapment efficiency 94.34 ± 2.11% w/w and drug release 86.24 ± 4.90% respectively over a period of 24 h. The optimised formulation (OPT-ME) was further incorporated into sericin gel to form emulgel (LSE). In vivo pharmacodynamic studies revealed enhanced therapeutic potential of emulgel in terms of reduced scratching frequency and erythema score when compared with conventional gel. The superior therapeutic potential was further witnessed through histopathological and biochemical studies. The emulgel can be an alternative appropriate dosage form for the treatment of AD.

ω-3 Fatty Acid Synergized Novel Nanoemulsifying System for Rosuvastatin Delivery: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

The present study was undertaken to improve rosuvastatin (RSV) bioavailability and pharmacological response through formation of SNES using Perilla frutescens oil as lipid carrier. The composition of oil was estimated by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis using gas chromatography. Solubility of RSV in Perilla frutescens oil and Cremophor EL was 25.0 ± 3.0 and 60.0 ± 5.0 mg/mL, respectively. Later, nanophasic maps and a central composite design were employed to determine the maximum nanoemulsion region and further optimize SNES in this study. Finally, the optimized formulation was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. FAME analysis revealed that PUFA content was 70.3% of total fatty acid. Optimized SNES formulation demonstrated particle size of 17.90 nm, dissolution 98.80%, cloud point 45°C, emulsification time 2 min, and viscosity 241.41 ± 5.52 cP. The hypolipidemic property of SNES was further explored using Triton X-100-induced hyperlipidemic rat model, and there were reductions of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL and VLDL levels in the SNES-treated group as compared to the toxic control. Pharmacokinetic study of SNES revealed significantly higher C max (60.13 ± 25.43 ng/mL) and AUC0-∞ (6195 ± 42.38 ng h/mL) vis-à-vis marketed tablet (284.80 ± 13.44 ng/mL, 3131.72 ± 51.93 ng h/mL, respectively). RSV was successfully incorporated into ω-3 fatty acid-based SNES with improved pharmacokinetic parameters (~ 2-fold improved bioavailability) and better hypolipidemic properties, owing to the synergistic effects of hepatic lipid regulation itself. The results clearly explicated that ω-3 fatty acid-based SNES effectively enhanced bioavailability and pharmacological responses of RSV, suggesting that these formulations may be useful as alternative for hyperlipidemia treatment in future drug design perspective.

Colloidal Vesicular System of Inositol Hexaphosphate to Counteract DMBA Induced Dysregulation of Markers Pertaining to Cellular Proliferation/Differentiation and Inflammation of Epidermal Layer in Mouse Model.

Cancer is a global health problem and chemoprevention is a promising approach for reducing cancer burden. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a natural bioactive constituent of cereals, legumes, etc., has momentous potential as an antiangiogenic agent, that specifically affects malignant cells. The shortcoming is its quick absorption on oral/topical administration. Niosomes are flexible carriers for topical drug delivery. The central venture of current research was to optimize and characterize niosomal delivery system of IP6 for treatment of skin cancer. Thin film hydration method was utilized to prepare IP6 niosomes, and these were dispersed as a suspension in a suitable base. Developed formulations were analyzed for various physicochemical and pharmacological parameters such as particle size, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, drug release, texture analysis, irritability, cell line studies, Western blotting, RT-PCR, and histopathology. IP6 niosomal suspension and IP6 in acetone displayed IC50 value at the concentration of 0.96 mM (0.63 mg/mL) and 1.39 mM (0.92 mg/mL), respectively. IP6 niosomal suspension showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) activity and showed cytotoxic effect in SK-MEL-2 cancer cell line. Crucial events of cellular proliferation and differentiation, like expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Cyclin D1 were initiated from the fourth hour through application of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) on albino mice. The DMBA altered expression of aforesaid enzymes was significantly (P < 0.001) prevented by concomitant application of niosomal formulations. Results of cell line study, Western blotting, RT-PCR, and histopathology suggested that IP6 niosomal suspension could constitute a promising approach for prevention of cellular proliferation as well as DMBA induced dysregulation of cellular proliferation/differentiation and inflammation.

Oral delivery of allopurinol niosomes in treatment of gout in animal model.

CONTEXT: Gout is a painful disorder which does not have an efficient delivery system for its treatment. OBJECTIVE: Development and in vitro, in vivo evaluation of allopurinol-loaded nonionic surfactant-based niosomes was envisaged. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Niosomes were prepared with Span 20 and Tween 20 (1:1 molar ratio) using ether injection method. The formulations were screened for entrapment efficiency, particle size analysis, zeta potential, release kinetics, in vivo activity, and stability studies. RESULT: Stable, spherical vesicles of average particle size 304 nm with zeta-potential and entrapment efficiency of 22.2 mV and 79.44 ± 0.02%, respectively, were produced. In vitro release study revealed 82.16 ± 0.04% release of allopurinol within 24 h. The niosomal formulation was further evaluated for its antigout potential in monosodium urate (MSU) crystal induced gout animal model. The formulation demonstrated significant uric acid level reduction and enhanced antigout activity when compared with the pure allopurinol. DISCUSSION: The better antigout activity displayed by niosomal formulation could be attributed to sustained release of drug, higher drug solubility within biological fluids, better membrane interaction, smaller size, and presence of cholesterol and surfactant. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that niosomes can be an efficient delivery system for the treatment of gout.

Progress in Polymeric Micelles as Viable Wagons for Brain Targeting.

Polymeric micelles have opened up new horizons for improving drug delivery to brain particularly due to their small size, long circulation time, good stability and targetability. They are used to treat a variety of brain conditions, including glioblastoma, migraine, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other conditions linked to the brain. Micelles are currently underutilised in brain targeting despite having several benefits and spanning a wide variety of brain illnesses. Since most medications are unable to cross the blood brain barrier, scientists are continuously working to discover efficient solutions to the problems. The most pressing issue was thought to be the viability and difficulties of translating micelles into the therapeutic setting. This review describes the role of micellar delivery system in brain diseases treatment along with their route of administration and outcomes. The review also discusses the current state of patents and clinical trials in the relevant fields and their potential future applications.

An Assessment of In-vitro and In-vivo Evaluation Methods for Theranostic Nanomaterials.

Nanoparticles (NPs) as nanocarriers have emerged as novel and promising theranostic agents. The term theranostics revealed the properties of NPs capable of diagnosing the disease at an early stage and/or treating the disease. Such NPs are usually developed employing a surface engineering approach. The theranostic agents comprise NPs loaded with a drug/diagnostic agent that delivers it precisely to the target site. Theranostics is a field with promising results in enhancing therapeutic efficacy facilitated through higher payload at the targeted tissue, reduced dose, and dose-dependent side effects. However, controversies in terms of toxicity and size-dependent properties have often surfaced for NPs. Thus, a stringent in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation is required to develop safe and non-toxic NPs as theranostic agents. The review also focuses on the various entry points of NPs in the human system and their outcomes, including toxicity. It elaborates the evaluation criteria to ensure the safe use of NPs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Appraisal of anti-gout potential of colchicine-loaded chitosan nanoparticle gel in uric acid-induced gout animal model.

Present study is aimed at transdermal delivery of colchicine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. The nanoformulations were prepared utilising spontaneous emulsification method and optimised through 23 factorial designs. The optimised formulation (CHNP-OPT) displayed an average particle size of 294 ± 3.75 nm, entrapment efficiency 92.89 ± 1.1% and drug content 83.45 ± 2.5%, respectively. In vitro release study demonstrated 89.34 ± 2.90% release over a period of 24 h. Further, CHNP-OPT incorporated into HPMC-E4M (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) to form transdermal gel. CHNPgel displayed 74.65 ± 1.90% permeation and stability over a period of 90 days. The anti-gout potential of CHNPgel formulation was evaluated in vivo against monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced gout in animal model. There was significant reduction in uric acid level, during MSU administration, when compared with the conventional gel of colchicine. The enhanced therapeutic potential was witnessed through X-ray. The study revealed that colchicine-loaded CHNPgel proved their supremacy over plain colchicine and can be an efficient delivery system for gout treatment.

Assessing the pharmacokinetics and toxicology of polymeric micelle conjugated therapeutics.

Introduction: Analogous to nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, liposomes, nano lipoidal carriers, niosomes, and ethosomes, polymeric micelles have gained significance in the field of drug delivery. They have attracted scientists worldwide by their nanometric size, wide range of polymers available for building block synthesis, stability and potential to enhance the targeting and safety of drugs. Incorporation of drugs within the interior of polymeric micelles alters the drug pharmacokinetics, which generally results in increased efficiency.Areas covered: This review deals with the pharmacokinetics of various anti-neoplastic drugs loaded into micelles. The structure of polymeric micelles, polymers employed in their development and techniques involved will be discussed. This is followed by discussion on the pharmacokinetics of anti-cancer drugs loaded into polymeric micelles and the toxicity concerns associated.Expert opinion: Polymeric micelles are nanometeric carriers, with higher stability, polymeric flexibility and higher drug loading of poorly water-soluble drugs. These nanosystems help in increasing the bioavailability of drugs by encapsulating them within the hydrophobic core. The proper selection and design of the amphiphilic polymer for micelles is a crucial step as it decides the toxicity and the biocompatibility.

Metal toxicity and natural antidotes: prevention is better than cure.

Toxicity due to heavy metals (HM), specifically mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) remains a challenge to scientists till date. This review gives insights into natural antidotes for the management and prevention of HM toxicity. Various databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct were searched for available facts on natural antidotes and their commercial products against HM toxicity till date. Toxicity owing to such metals needs prevention rather than therapy. Natural antidotes, fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidant are the answers to such toxicities. Synthetic chelators impart a major drawback of removing essential metals required for normal body function, along with the toxic one. Natural antioxidants are bestowed with scavenging and chelation properties and can be alternative for synthetic chelating agents. Natural compounds are abundantly available, economic, and have minimal side effects when compared with classical chelators. Prevention is better than cure and thus adding plentiful vegetables and fruits to our diet can combat HM toxicity-related illness. Graphical abstract.

Sericin: A Versatile Protein Biopolymer with Therapeutic Significance.

Sericin is a unique proteinaceous biopolymer obtained from cocoons of Bombyx Mori. It has become very popular since it is bestowed with numerous health benefits. Sericin is composed of 18 types of amino acids, out of which 8 amino acids play a significant role in human metabolic pathways. Sericin is easily amenable to make into novel dosage forms and also has been conferred with numerous therapeutic activities such as wound healing, antihypertensive, neuro-protective, antitumor, anti-diabetic, anti-wrinkle, anti-ageing and antioxidant amongst various others. This review summarizes the current status of sericin, as a therapeutic moiety with a focus on active constituents as well as their proposed mechanism in the treatment of various chronic diseases. It also summarizes previous and current in-vitro, in-vivo, cell lines studies and clinical trials based pieces of evidence corroborating the therapeutic activities of sericin.

Correction to: a facile approach for fabricating CD44-targeted delivery of hyaluronic acid-functionalized PCL nanoparticles in urethane-induced lung cancer: Bcl-2, MMP-9, caspase-9, and BAX as potential markers.

In the original article the blots for BAX were inadvertently flipped in Fig. 11a. The inadvertent error in the case of BAX does not change any of the results.