Sustained release delivery of favipiravir through statistically optimized, chemically cross-linked, pH-sensitive, swellable hydrogel.

In the current work, favipiravir (an antiviral drug) loaded pH-responsive polymeric hydrogels were developed by the free redical polymerization technique. Box-Behnken design method via Design Expert version 11 was employed to furnish the composition of all hydrogel formulations. Here, polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been utilized as a polymer, acrylic acid (AA) as a monomer, and potassium persulfate (KPS) and methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA) as initiator and cross-linker, respectively. All networks were evaluated for in-vitro drug release (%), sol-gel fraction (%), swelling studies (%), porosity (%), percentage entrapment efficiency, and chemical compatibilities. According to findings, the swelling was pH sensitive and was shown to be greatest at a pH of 6.8 (2500%). The optimum gel fraction offered was 97.8%. A sufficient porosity allows the hydrogel to load a substantial amount of favipiravir despite its hydrophobic behavior. Hydrogels exhibited maximum entrapment efficiency of favipiravir upto 98%. The in-vitro release studies of drug-formulated hydrogel revealed that the drug release from hydrogel was between 85 to 110% within 24 h. Drug-release kinetic results showed that the Korsmeyer Peppas model was followed by most of the developed formulations based on the R2 value. In conclusion, the hydrogel-based technology proved to be an excellent option for creating the sustained-release dosage form of the antiviral drug favipiravir.

Physicochemical Evaluation and Pharmacological Screening of Fernando Adenophylla Steenis Fruits.

The current study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Fernandoa adenophylla. Powder studies were carried out to estimate the quantitative physicochemical characteristics of the crude drug, including moisture content, ash content, and extractive values. Using a Soxhlet apparatus and different analytical grade solvents, 3 sample extracts of a crude drug were made. To evaluate the potentially toxic nature, an acute oral toxicity study was performed as per OECD guideline no. 423. Sample extracts were tested and analyzed by ANOVA for pharmacological potential (analgesic, antipyretic, and antidiabetic) using Wister-Albino rats. Where physicochemical analysis indicated purity, quality, and presence of organic/inorganic materials in crude drug extracts, no sign of mortality was found up to 2000 mg/kg of body weight of Fernandoa adenophyllas extracts. Analgesic activity was observed in all sample extracts, whereas only chloroform and ethanolic extracts expressed antipyretic and antidiabetic potential. Ethanolic extract was found to be most potent in pharmacological potential as 200mg/kg extract dose exhibited %age pain inhibition of 55.12% and reduced body temperature from 39.78±0.03°C to 37.22±0.02°C in hyperthermic rats. A decrease in blood glucose levels up to 57.88% was observed on the 21st day of the treatment with 500mg/kg ethanolic extract.

Size-Dependent Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, and Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Solvent Extraction of Rosa indica L. Petals.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are synthesized through a green approach by employing Rosa indica L. petal (RE) extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents, which are extracted using three different solvents: ethanol (Et), acetone (Ac), and water (Aq). The phase formation of the AgNPs is confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Morphological analysis is performed using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), which reveals that the AgNPs are spherical in shape. The size is estimated using ImageJ software, which is found to be ~12, 18, and 770 nm for RE-Ac-Ag, RE-Et-Ag, and RE-Aq-Ag, respectively. The phytochemicals of Rosa indica L. petals involved in the formation of the AgNPs are studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Finally, these materials are studied for their antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and hemolytic activity, as well as cell toxicity properties. The materials, RE-Ac-Ag and RE-Et-Ag, are found to be more effective than RE-Aq-Ag in inhibiting E. coli (Gram-negative bacteria) and S. aureus (Gram-positive bacteria). Hemolytic studies reveal that all of the samples show concentration-dependent activity up to 50 µg/mL. RE-Ac-Ag and RE-Et-Ag exhibit nonhemolytic behavior, whereas RE-Aq-Ag remains nonhemolytic until 100 µg/mL. The antidiabetic ability of the AgNPs is evaluated using α-amylase inhibition assay (DNSA assay) and α-glucosidase inhibition assay. The results are found to be effective, with IC50 values of α-amylase and α-glycosidase being 50, 50, and 75 µg/mL for RE-Et-Ag, RE-Ac-Ag, and RE-Aq-Ag, respectively. DPPH assay shows that the AgNPs inhibited the antioxidants well, with IC50 values of 40 µg/mL for RE-Et-Ag and RE-Ac-Ag and 60 µg/mL for RE-Aq-Ag. The toxicity study reveals that the AgNPs show size- and concentration-dependent behavior. Overall, it is realized from the findings that RE-Ac-Ag, RE-Et-Ag, and RE-Aq-Ag show size-dependent antibacterial, antidiabetic, and toxicity properties.

Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells: Focus on a Possible Strategy Plan to Address Colon Carcinoma Cells.

Even though various treatment methods are available for cancer, the death curve is not reducing. The diagnosis of cancer at the fourth stage and drug resistance are the leading reasons for treatment failure and lower survival rates. In this review article, we summarize the possible pitfalls during cancer treatment in general, which mainly include multidrug resistance, and propose a hypothesis for colorectal cancer specifically. We also evaluate multidrug resistance in cancer in general and colorectal cancer in particular and hypothesize a concept based on combination therapy with 5-fluorouracil, curcumin, and lipids for the possible management of colorectal cancer. In addition, a hypothetical approach, combining a synthetic agent and a natural chemotherapeutic agent, to treating colorectal cancer is also discussed. This hypothesis could improve the management of colorectal cancer.