Design and evaluation of antibacterials crosslinked chitosan nanoparticle as a novel carrier for the delivery of metronidazole to treat bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a recurring, chronic infection that is difficult to treat due to the limited bioavailability of antimicrobials within vaginal epithelial cells. Vaginal administration, because of lower dosing and systemic exposure offers a viable option for treating vaginal infections. In this study, Metronidazole-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were synthesised employing borax (BX) or tannic acid (TA) as an antimicrobial crosslinking agent for treating BV. The prepared NPs were characterized for various physical, physicochemical, pharmaceutical, thermal and antibacterial properties. Morphological investigation revealed that nanoparticles prepared from 0.5 % w/v chitosan, 1.2 % w/v BX, and 0.4 % w/v metronidazole (MTZ) were non-spherical, with particle sizes of 377.4 ± 37.3 nm and a zeta potential of 34 ± 2.1 mV. The optimised formulation has MIC values of 24 ± 0.5 and 59 ± 0.5 µg/mL, against Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Candida albicans (C.albicans) respectively. The results of DSC and XRD demonstrated no change in the physical state of the drug in the finished formulation. Under simulated vaginal fluid, the optimised formulation demonstrates a cumulative drug release of about 90 % within 6h. The prepared borax crosslinked NPs exhibit anti-fungal activities by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis. The in-vivo antibacterial data indicated a comparable reduction in bacterial count compared to the marketed formulation in female Swiss albino mice treated with optimised nanoparticles. According to histopathological findings, the prepared nanoparticle was safe for vaginal use. Based on the experimental findings, it was concluded that MBCSNPs, due to their good physiochemical and antimicrobial properties, could serve as a potential topical alternative for treating BV and reducing fungal infection.

A novel mucoadhesive film containing probiotic extract for oral candidiasis treatment: Formulation and antifungal evaluation.

Probiotic strains offer a novel and potentially effective approach to treat oral candidiasis. Buccal mucoadhesive films have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their unique ability to adhere and persist on the oral mucosa, while gradually releasing their encapsulated drug content. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop mucoadhesive films containing probiotic extract for treatment of oral candidiasis. Mucoadhesive films were fabricated with hydrophilic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Then, films were evaluated regarding their thickness, pH, tensile strength and elongation, swelling, in vitro release and antifungal activity. The type of polymer used had an impact on the mechanical properties, swelling and release of the films. Films prepared using PVA showed significantly higher tensile strength and elongation at break values compared to those prepared using HPMC. However, swelling index increased with enhancing HPMC concentration in the films. The release of probiotic extract from the film prepared with HPMC occurred slowly. Based on these results, films containing 54 % HPMC and 26 % PVA were selected as optimal formulation. Moreover, it was found that optimal film containing probiotic extract could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. Regarding to the obtained results, probiotic oral adhesive mucoadhesive films can be considered as a promising alternative to traditional methods in the treatment of candidiasis.

A mucoadhesive-to-penetrating nanomotors-in-hydrogel system for urothelium-oriented intravesical drug delivery.

Intravesical therapy (IT) is widely used to tackle various urological diseases. However, its clinical efficacy is decreased by the impermeability of various barriers presented on the bladder luminal surface, including the urinary mucus layer and the densely packed tissue barrier. In this study, we report a mucoadhesive-to-penetrating nanomotors-in-hydrogel system for urothelium-oriented intravesical drug delivery. Upon intravesical instillation, its poloxamer 407 (PLX) hydrogel gelated and adhered to the urothelium to prolong its intravesical retention. The urea afterwards diffused into the hydrogel, thus generating a concentration gradient. Urease-powered membrane nanomotors (UMN) without asymmetric surface engineering could catalyze the urea and migrate down this concentration gradient to deeply and unidirectionally penetrate the urothelial barrier. Moreover, the intravesical hybrid system-delivered gemcitabine could effectively inhibit the bladder tumor growth without inducing any side effect. Therefore, our mucoadhesive-to-penetrating nanomotors-in-hydrogel system could serve as an alternative to IT to meet the clinical need for more efficacious therapeutics for urological diseases.

Inhalable nanocatchers for SARS-CoV-2 inhibition.

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), presents an urgent health crisis. More recently, an increasing number of mutated strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified globally. Such mutations, especially those on the spike glycoprotein to render its higher binding affinity to human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2) receptors, not only resulted in higher transmission of SARS-CoV-2 but also raised serious concerns regarding the efficacies of vaccines against mutated viruses. Since ACE2 is the virus-binding protein on human cells regardless of viral mutations, we design hACE2-containing nanocatchers (NCs) as the competitor with host cells for virus binding to protect cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The hACE2-containing NCs, derived from the cellular membrane of genetically engineered cells stably expressing hACE2, exhibited excellent neutralization ability against pseudoviruses of both wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and the D614G variant. To prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections in the lung, the most vulnerable organ for COVID-19, we develop an inhalable formulation by mixing hACE2-containing NCs with mucoadhesive excipient hyaluronic acid, the latter of which could significantly prolong the retention of NCs in the lung after inhalation. Excitingly, inhalation of our formulation could lead to potent pseudovirus inhibition ability in hACE2-expressing mouse model, without imposing any appreciable side effects. Importantly, our inhalable hACE2-containing NCs in the lyophilized formulation would allow long-term storage, facilitating their future clinical use. Thus, this work may provide an alternative tactic to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infections even with different mutations, exhibiting great potential for treatment of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

Formulation development and evaluation of nasal in situ gel of promethazine hydrochloride.

OBJECTIVE: The present work aims to develop mucoadhesive thermosensitive nasal in situ gel for Promethazine hydrochloride using quality by design (QbD) approach. It can reduce nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) and increase residence of the drug on nasal mucosa. This might increase drug absorption to improve bioavailability of the drug as compared to oral dosage form. SIGNIFICANCE: Promethazine hydrochloride is an antiemetic drug administered by oral, parenteral and rectal routes. These routes have poor patient compliance or low bioavailability. Nasal route is a better alternative as it has large surface area, high drug absorption rate and no first pass effect. Its only limitation is short drug retention time due to MCC. By formulating a mucoadhesive in situ gel, the MCC can be reduced, and drug absorption will be prolonged. Thus, improving bioavailability. METHOD: In-situ gel was prepared by cold method having material attributes as concentration of Poloxamer 407 (X1) as gelling agent and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose K4M (X2) as mucoadhesive agent. Critical Quality Attributes (CQA) were gelation temperature, mucoadhesive force and ex-vivo diffusion. Central composite design (CCD) was adopted for optimization. RESULT: Optimized formulation satisfied all the CQA significant for nasal administration. Moreover, the formulation was found to be stable in accelerated stability studies for 3 months. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that since the drug can easily permeate through nasal mucosa and can gain access directly in the brain without undergoing first pass metabolism along with increased residence due to mucoadhesion, mucoadhesive in situ gel has potential to increase drug bioavailability.

Buccal lidocaine mucoadhesive patches for pediatrics' teething pain: overcoming possible hazards of oral gels.

OBJECTIVES: The utilization of pharmaceutical products in pediatric medicine, while established for use in adults, often presents uncertainties due to differences in application for children. The FDA discourages the use of local anesthetic gels, notably lidocaine, for teething pain in pediatrics due to concerns regarding potential adverse effects if inadvertently swallowed excessively. Therefore, significant attention is being directed towards modifying available marketed products to make them suitable for pediatric use. Here, we introduce mucoadhesive patches that not only have an adjusted dose of lidocaine but also feature a controlled release profile to manage teething pain with prolonged effect. This design helps to prevent issues related to gel liquefaction and swallowing, thereby reducing the potential hazardous side effects of lidocaine in the pediatric population. METHODS: The study involved the development of controlled-release lidocaine HCl-loaded pellets forming a matrix for inclusion in mucoadhesive patches. Characterization was performed to ensure prolonged drug release, particularly during overnight use, aiming to improve pediatric patient compliance and enable precise dosing. KEY FINDINGS: The mucoadhesive patches exhibited sustained lidocaine release lasting 24 h, potentially offering overnight relief suitable for pediatric application. The analysis of lidocaine content revealed that the developed patches maintained stable levels compared to doses obtained from commercially available oral gels. This finding implies effective pain control without the need for frequent reapplications, alongside controlled doses that decrease the likelihood of side effects. CONCLUSION: The formulated medicated patches demonstrated consistent lidocaine content, effectively controlled drug release, and consequently, reduced the likelihood of undesired side effects when compared to oral gel administration.

Nanocarriers with long-term retention in the respiratory system for prolonged drug exposure.

This study was the first attempt to visualize pulmonary retention of nanocarriers (NCs) with the use of the P2 probe, a new water-initiated aggregation-caused fluorescent-quenching (ACQ) dye, for the development of NCs with long-lasting retention in the respiratory system (RS). Flash nanoprecipitation was used to fabricate mucopenetrating NCs (MP/NCs) and mucoadhesive NCs (MA/NCs). Both NCs were labeled with the P2 probe, and their distribution and retention in RS were visualized after intratracheal administration to rats. MP/NCs and MA/NCs had a mean diameter below 200 nm and ζ-potential of 0 and 48 mV, respectively. MA/NCs showed three times stronger interactions with mucin than MP/NCs, resulting in significantly lower diffusiveness in mucus. The P2 probe exhibited an ACQ effect with negligible rekindling in simulated lung fluid, and the spectroscopic data suggested applicability to reliable imaging of insufflated NCs. In confocal laser scanning microscopic and in vivo imaging system images of the rat RS, MA/NCs were locally deposited in the respiratory tract and transported toward the pharynx by mucocilliary clearance (MCC). In contrast, MP/NCs diffused in the respiratory mucus were less subject to the influence of MCC. Based on the results from the bioimaging study using the P2 probe, MP/NCs could offer enhanced pulmonary retention of drugs compared with MA/NCs.

Spray-Dried Mucoadhesive Re-dispersible Gargle of Chlorhexidine for Improved Response Against Throat Infection: Formulation Development, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Drug delivery to the buccal mucosa is one of the most convenient ways to treat common mouth problems. Here, we propose a spray-dried re-dispersible mucoadhesive controlled release gargle formulation to improve the efficacy of chlorhexidine. The present investigation portrays an approach to get stable and free-flowing spray-dried porous aggregates of chlorhexidine-loaded sodium alginate nanoparticles. The ionic gelation technique aided with the chlorhexidine's positive surface charge-based crosslinking, followed by spray drying of the nanoparticle's dispersion in the presence of lactose- and leucine-yielded nano-aggregates with good flow properties and with a size range of about 120-350 nm. Provided with the high entrapment efficiency (87%), the particles showed sustained drug release behaviors over a duration of 10 h, where 87% of the released drug got permeated within 12 h. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared formulation was tested on S. aureus, provided with a higher zone of growth inhibition than the marketed formulation. Aided with an appropriate mucoadhesive strength, this product exhibited extended retention of nanoparticles in the throat region, as shown by in vivo imaging results. In conclusion, the technology, provided with high drug retention and extended effect, could be a potential candidate for treating several types of throat infections.

Mefenamic Acid Loaded and TPGS Stabilized Mucoadhesive Nanoemulsion for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Development, Optimization, and Brain-Targeted Delivery via Olfactory Pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a very common disorder that affects the elderly. There are relatively few medications that can be used orally or as a suspension to treat AD. A mucoadhesive (o/w) nano emulsion of mefenamic acid was made by adding Carbopol 940P to the optimised drug nanoemulsion using distilled water as the aqueous phase (6%); Solutol HS: tween 20 (3.6%) as the surfactant and co-surfactant; and clove oil: TPGS (0.4%) as the oil phase and mefenamic acid as the drug (2.8 mg/ml). The mucoadhesive nanoemulsion (S40.5%w/v) had a particle size of 91.20 nm, polydispersity index of 0.270, and surface charge of - 12.4 mV. Significantly higher (p < 0.001) drug release (89.37%) was observed for mucoadhesive drug formulation in comparison to mucoadhesive drug suspension (25.64%) at 8 h. The ex vivo nasal permeation of 83.03% in simulated nasal fluid and 85.71% in artificial cerebrospinal fluid was observed. The percent inhibition and inhibitory concentration (IC50) of mucoadhesive drug nanoemulsion were found to be 91.57 ± 2.69 and 6.76 respectively. Higher cell viability on glioblastoma cells (85-80%) was researched for mucoadhesive nanoemulsion as compared to drug suspension (80-70%). Significantly higher (p < 0.001) drug absorption and Cmax (491.94 ± 24.13 ng/ml) of mucoadhesive drug nanoemulsion were observed than mucoadhesive drug suspension (107.46 ± 11.46 ng/ml) at 8 h. The stability studies confirmed that the formulation was stable at 40°C ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% RH. The authors concluded that the mucoadhesive mefenamic acid-loaded nanoemulsion may be an effective technique for treating Alzheimer's disease by intranasal route.

Development of Epigallocatechin 3-gallate-Loaded Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic progressive disease associated with increased collagen deposition and TGF-ß1 release. The current therapy and management have been a limited success due to low efficacy and adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to evaluate epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) encapsulated nanoparticles loaded mucoadhesive hydrogel nanocomposite (HNC) for OSF. Developed HNC formulations were evaluated for their permeation behaviour using in vitro as well as ex vivo studies, followed by evaluation of efficacy and safety by in vivo studies using areca nut extract-induced OSF in rats. The disease condition in OSF-induced rats was assessed by mouth-opening and biochemical markers. The optimized polymeric nanoparticles exhibited the required particle size (162.93 ± 13.81 nm), positive zeta potential (22.50 ± 2.94 mV) with better mucoadhesive strength (0.40 ± 0.002 N), and faster permeation due to interactions of the positively charged surface with the negatively charged buccal mucosal membrane. HNC significantly improved disease conditions by reducing TGF-ß1 and collagen concentration without showing toxicity and reverting the fibroid buccal mucosa to normal. Hence, the optimized formulation can be further tested to develop a clinically alternate therapeutic strategy for OSF.

Evaluation of caffeic acid mucoadhesive tablets on minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral aphthous stomatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition. Numerous medications have been investigated to treat the symptoms of the disease. However, these days patients prefer herbal medicines due to lower side effects. Considering the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-oxidant properties of Caffeic acid and its few side effects, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of Caffeic acid on recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). investigating the effect of caffeic acid mucoadhesive tablets on the size and pain intensity of the aphthous lesions. METHODS: in this double-blinded clinical trial study, 47 patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling method. The patients were assigned to two groups randomly; the control group (placebo recipients) and the intervention group (Caffeic acid recipients). Patients were followed up for 7 days following the intervention. The diameter of the inflammatory lesion was measured in millimeters, and the pain intensity was recorded based on the VAS scale (Visual Analogue Scale). This trial was approved by the medical ethics committee of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Ethical code: IR.MAZUMS.REC.1401.261) and received IRCT code of IRCT20220815055700N1on 03/09/2022. RESULTS: the diameter of the lesion in both groups decreased over time, and there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups, except on the fifth day when the diameter of the lesion was significantly greater in the control group (P = 0.012). From the second day, the control group's average pain intensity was significantly higher than the intervention group's pain intensity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: when comparing mucoadhesive tablets containing Caffeic acid and placebo, the findings demonstrated that Caffeic acid has a significant efficacy in reducing aphthous lesions' diameter and pain intensity of the patients and are suggested for palliative oral aphthous lesions treatment since they showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Development of mucoadhesive microspheres for intranasal delivery of fluconazole as an alternative treatment of cryptococcal meningitis infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcal meningitis is a deadly disease with few treatment options. Its incidence is still high and closely linked to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study aimed to develop a mucoadhesive microsphere delivery system for fluconazole for the intranasal route. METHOD: Microspheres of mucoadhesive fluconazole formulation variables such as different amounts of drug concentration and polymer concentration were prepared by a simple emulsion-crosslinking method. The prepared microspheres' surface was characterised by SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and evaluated for particle size, entrapment efficiency, production yield, infrared spectroscopic study, in-vitro muco-adhesion, and in-vitro drug release. RESULTS: The results showed that formula 1 is the optimal mucoadhesive microsphere preparation, with a particle size of 56.375m, a spherical surface shape, an entrapment efficiency of 99.96%, and a greater mucoadhesive capability during 6-hour evaluation. Furthermore, wash-off examination revealed that the mucoadhesive ability of this delivery system has a long duration and may release the active material at the right time. CONCLUSION: The result of the researches suggesting that the formulation of mucoadhesive microspheres of fluconazole could be used to treat cryptococcal meningitis infection in HIV/AIDS patients.

A review on topical ophthalmic drug delivery system: Reference to viscosity enhancer.

The eye is the most accessible site for topical drug delivery. Drug's ocular bioavailability is quite low when administered topically as eye drops. Viscosity enhancers are used to increase ocular bioavailability by extending the precorneal residence time of the drug at the ocular site. Cellulose, polyalcohol and polyacrylic acid are examples of hydrophilic viscosity enhancers. The addition of viscosity modifiers increases the amount of time the drug is in contact with the ocular surface. Several polysaccharides have been studied as excipients and viscosity boosters for ocular formulations, including cellulose derivatives such as chitosan (CS), xyloglucan and arabinogalactan (methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose). Viscosity-increasing substances reduce the surface tension, extend the corneal contact time, slow the drainage, and improve the bioavailability. Chitosan is a viscosity enhancer that was originally thought to open tight junction barrier cells in the epithelium. Chitosan thickens the medication solution and allows it to penetrate deeper. Alginate is an anionic polymer with carboxyl end groups that has the highest mucoadhesive strength and is used to improve penetration. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), a polysaccharide with a high molecular weight, is one of the most common viscous polymers used in artificial tears to achieve their longer ocular surface residence period. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is biocompatible and biodegradable in nature, and it is available in ocular sustained-release dose forms. A polymer known as xanthan gum is used to increase viscosity. At 0.2% concentration, carbomer forms a highly viscous gel.

Beyond traditional therapy: Mucoadhesive polymers as a new frontier in oral cancer management.

In recent times mucoadhesive drug delivery systems are gaining popularity in oral cancer. It is a malignancy with high global prevalence. Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutics, improving the prognosis of late-stage oral cancer remains challenging. Targeted therapy using mucoadhesive polymers can improve oral cancer patients' overall outcome by offering enhanced oral mucosa bioavailability, better drug distribution and tissue targeting, and minimizing systemic side effects. Mucoadhesive polymers can also be delivered via different formulations such as tablets, films, patches, gels, and nanoparticles. These polymers can deliver an array of medicines, making them an adaptable drug delivery approach. Drug delivery techniques based on these mucoadhesive polymers are gaining traction and have immense potential as a prospective treatment for late-stage oral cancer. This review examines leading research in mucoadhesive polymers and discusses their potential applications in treating oral cancer.

Electrospun Mucoadhesive Zein/PVP Fibroporous Membrane for Transepithelial Delivery of Propranolol Hydrochloride.

Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems have been extensively studied to effectively reduce the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Zein and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) are appraised for mucoadhesive properties. This study focuses on developing a mechanically stable zein/PVP electrospun membrane for propranolol hydrochloride (PL) transport. Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectra, and swelling studies gave evidence for PVP crosslinking, whereas circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed crosslinking of zein owing to the conformational change from α-helix to ß-sheet. A 10 h thermal treatment of zein/PVP imparted 3.92 ± 0.13 MPa tensile strength to the matrix. Thermally crosslinked electrospun zein/PVP matrix showed 22.1 ± 0.1 g mm work of adhesion in porcine buccal mucosa tissue. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of cytotoxicity in RPMI 2650 has been carried out. The in vitro drug release profile of PL from thermally crosslinked zein/PVP best fitted with the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Immunostaining of ß-catenin adherens junctional protein confirmed the absence of paracellular transport through the junctional opening. Still, drug permeation was observed through the porcine buccal mucosa, attributed to the transcellular transport of PL owing to its lipophilicity. The ex vivo permeation of PL through porcine buccal mucosa was also evaluated.

Development of a bivalent mucoadhesive nanovaccine to prevent francisellosis and columnaris diseases in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The occurrence of francisellosis caused by Francisella orientalis sp. nov. (Fo) and columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium oreochromis (For) is negatively impacting Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production, especially when high stocking densities are used. A new and innovative bivalent mucoadhesive nanovaccine was developed in this study for immersion vaccination of tilapia against francisellosis and columnaris disease. It was shown to have the potential to improve both innate and adaptive immunity in vaccinated Nile tilapia. It increased innate immune parameters, such as lysozyme activity, bactericidal activity, phagocytosis, phagocytic index, and total serum IgM antibody levels. Additionally, the vaccine was effective in elevating specific adaptive immune responses, including IgM antibody levels against Fo and For vaccine antigens and upregulating immune-related genes IgM, IgT, CD4+, MHCIIα, and TCRß in the head kidney, spleen, peripheral blood leukocytes, and gills of vaccinated fish. Furthermore, fish vaccinated with the mucoadhesive nanovaccine showed higher survival rates and relative percent survival after being challenged with either single or combined infections of Fo and For. This vaccine is anticipated to be beneficial for large-scale immersion vaccination of tilapia and may be a strategy for shortening vaccination times and increasing immune protection against francisellosis and columnaris diseases in tilapia aquaculture.

The Impact of Hypromellose on Pharmaceutical Properties of Alginate Microparticles as Novel Drug Carriers for Posaconazole.

Fungal infections are a group of diseases which are challenging to treat because of drug-resistant fungi species, drug toxicity, and often severe patient conditions. Hence, research into new treatments, including new therapeutic substances and novel drug delivery systems, is being performed. Mucoadhesive dosage forms are beneficial to improving drug bioavailability by prolonging the residence time at the site of application. Sodium alginate is a natural polymer with favorable mucoadhesive and gelling properties, although its precipitation in acidic pH significantly disrupts the process of drug release in gastric conditions. Hypromellose is a hydrophilic, semi-synthetic cellulose derivative with mucoadhesive properties, which is widely used as a control release agent in pharmaceutical technology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of hypromellose on alginate microparticles with posaconazole, designed to modify drug release and to improve their mucoadhesive properties for both oral or vaginal application.

Biodegradable Guar-Gum-Based Super-Porous Matrices for Gastroretentive Controlled Drug Release in the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori: A Proof of Concept.

An increase in resistance to key antibiotics has made the need for novel treatments for the gastric colonization of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) a matter of the utmost urgency. Recent studies tackling this topic have focused either on the discovery of new compounds to ameliorate therapeutic regimes (such as vonoprazan) or the synthesis of gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) to improve the pharmacokinetics of oral formulations. The use of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) that can act as super-porous hydrogels for this purpose is proposed in the present work, specifically those displaying low ecological footprint, easy synthesis, self-floating properties, high encapsulation efficiency for drugs such as amoxicillin (AMOX), great mucoadhesiveness, and optimal mechanical strength when exposed to stomach-like fluids. To achieve such systems, biodegradable synthetic copolymers containing acid-labile monomers were prepared and interpenetrated with guar gum (GG) in a one-pot polymerization process based on thiol-ene click reactions. The resulting matrices were characterized by SEM, GPC, TGA, NMR, and rheology studies, and the acidic hydrolysis of the acid-sensitive polymers was also studied. Results confirm that some of the obtained matrices are expected to perform optimally as GRDDSs for the sustained release of active pharmaceutical ingredients at the gastrointestinal level, being a priori facilitated by its disaggregation. Therefore, the optimal performance of these systems is assessed by varying the molar ratio of the labile monomer in the matrices.

Metoclopramide loaded buccal films for potential treatment of migraine symptoms: in vitro and in vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: Developing mucoadhesive buccal films loaded with metoclopramide for the treatment of migraine-associated vomiting. METHODS: Buccal films were prepared using the solvent casting method. Several tests were conducted, including measurement of film weight, thickness, drug content, moisture uptake, swelling index, and DSC analysis. The bioadhesion properties were also assessed. Furthermore, in vitro release profiles and in human bioavailability were studied. RESULTS: The developed films were transparent, homogeneous, and easy to remove. Film weight and thickness increased with higher drug content. The drug entrapment exceeded 90%. Film weight increased with moisture uptake, and DSC analysis indicated the absence of drug crystallinity. Bioadhesion properties and swelling index decreased with increasing drug content. In vitro release demonstrated that drug release depended on the drug-polymer ratio. The in vivo study showed significant improvements in Tmax (from 1.21 ± 0.33 to 0.50 ± 0.0) and Cmax (from 45.29 ± 14.66 to 63.27 ± 24.85) compared to conventional tablets. CONCLUSION: The prepared mucoadhesive buccal films exhibited the desired characteristics and demonstrated enhanced drug absorption, evidenced by the significantly reduced Tmax and increased Cmax compared to conventional tablets. The results indicate the successful achievement of the study objectives in selecting and designing an effective pharmaceutical dosage form. as cm2.

Development of a Novel Histatin-5 Mucoadhesive Gel for the Treatment of Oral Mucositis: In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Evaluation.

Antimicrobial peptides have appeared to be promising candidates for therapeutic purposes due to their broad antimicrobial activity and non-toxicity. Histatin-5 (Hst-5) is a notable salivary antimicrobial peptide that exhibited therapeutic properties in the oral cavity. Oral mucositis is an acute inflammation of the oral cavity, following cancer therapy. The current treatment methods of oral mucositis have low effectiveness. The aim of this study was to design, formulate and characterize a mucoadhesive gel delivery system for Hst-5 usage in the treatment of oral mucositis. Carbopol 934 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) have been used in the development of a Hst-5 mucoadhesive gel that was optimized by using Box-Behnken design. The optimized formulation was evaluated in-vitro, based on mucoadhesive strength, viscoelasticity, spreadability, release rate, peptide secondary structure analysis, antimicrobial activity, and storage stability. The efficacy of Hst-5 gel was assessed in vivo in a chemotherapy-induced mucositis model. The results showed a sustained release of Hst-5 from the new formulation. Hst-5 gel exerted antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The histopathological, immunohistochemical and statistical analysis showed that the Hst-5 gel had wound healing activity in vivo. The findings of this study indicate that the mentioned compound possesses promising potential as a novel and efficient therapeutic agent in managing oral mucositis. Moreover, the results suggest that the compound is commercially feasible for further development and utilization.