Exploration of 3D Printing of Anti-Infective Urinary Catheters: Materials and Approaches to Combat Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) - A Review.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a pioneering technology that has gained increased popularity in the fields of tissue engineering, drug design, drug delivery systems and biomedical devices. Thus, it enables us to explore this technique for fabricating 3D-printed catheters. Owing to its enhanced productivity and cost-efficiency, this technique can be utilized to fabricate any material for manufacturing or designing catheters with antimicrobial properties. From 1930s, Foley's catheter had been widely used to drain the urinary bladder of patients with impaired bladder function. Despite the complications like catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), kidney damage, chronic infections, encrustations and personal discomfort during inflation of the balloon, Foley's catheter was used universally without any changes in product design. Currently, marketed catheters have been reported for reducing CAUTI, but the prevention of limitations by coating drugs onto the catheter is very expensive. Altering the physical properties of the catheter by biopolymer blend might ease the discomfort. Thus, new technologies have to be adopted to manufacture ideal catheters that are biocompatible and provide antimicrobial and anti-fouling properties. Herein, we provide an overview of 3D printing techniques along with different materials opted for manufacturing catheters to overcome the existing challenges and limitations.

Nanoparticle-in-gel system for delivery of vitamin C for topical application.

Hyperpigmentation is a dermal condition of melanocyte proliferation, induced by various factors like ultraviolet radiation producing reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis. The application of topical antioxidants through the different type of formulations can help to prevent oxidative damage to the skin. L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble compound and the most abundant antioxidant in human skin, but this vitamin is unstable and loses its potency with poor formulation strategies. Nanotechnology has been effectively used to promote stability and therapeutic activity of various drug molecules. With this context, the objective of the work was set to formulate a topical delivery system of vitamin C nanoparticles incorporated into the polymeric gel. Vitamin C (50 mg) was loaded into ethyl cellulose nanoparticles, of varying concentrations (50-250 mg), by the solvent evaporation method and subsequently incorporated into hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose gels (3, 5, and 7%). The formulations were characterized for various physico-chemical properties such as particle size, drug content, entrapment efficiency, and drug-polymer interactions. In vitro, drug release studies were conducted by using dialysis bag method and Franz diffusion cell for the nanoparticles and gel formulations, respectively. The optimized formulation exhibited sustained release over 8 h. The ex vivo skin permeation studies were performed and the amount of drug retained and released through the skin were determined. The results obtained from the study proved the potentiality and suitability of this novel system to treat hyperpigmentation.