Retinoic acid in Parkinson's disease: Molecular insights, therapeutic advances, and future prospects.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common and progressively worsening neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal protein homeostasis and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The prevalence of PD has doubled in the past 25 years, now affecting over 8.5 million individuals worldwide, underscoring the need for effective management strategies. While current pharmacological therapies provide symptom relief, they face challenges in treating advanced PD stages. Recent research highlights the therapeutic benefits of retinoic acid (RA) in PD, demonstrating its potential to mitigate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, regulate brain aging, promote neuronal plasticity, and influence circadian rhythm gene expression and retinoid X receptor heterodimerization. Additionally, RA helps maintain intestinal homeostasis and modulates the enteric nervous system, presenting significant therapeutic potential for managing PD. This review explores RA as a promising alternative to conventional therapies by summarizing the molecular mechanisms underlying its role in PD pathophysiology and presenting up-to-date insights into both preclinical and clinical studies of RA in PD treatment. It also delves into cutting-edge formulations incorporating RA, highlighting ongoing efforts to refine therapeutic strategies by integrating RA into novel treatments. This comprehensive overview aims to advance progress in the field, contribute to the development of effective, targeted treatments for PD, and enhance patient well-being. Further research is essential to fully explore RA's therapeutic potential and validate its efficacy in PD treatment.

Bioactive Milk Peptides as a Nutraceutical Opportunity and Challenges.

The biotechnology field has witnessed rapid advancements, leading to the development of numerous proteins and peptides (PPs) for disease management. The production and isolation of bioactive milk peptides (BAPs) involve enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, followed by purification through various techniques such as ultrafiltration and chromatography. The nutraceutical potential of bioactive milk peptides has gained significant attention in nutritional research, as these peptides may regulate blood sugar levels, mitigate oxidative stress, improve cardiovascular health, gut health, bone health, and immune responses, and exhibit anticancer properties. However, to enhance BAP bioavailability, the encapsulation method can be used to offer protection against protease degradation and controlled release. This article provides insights into the composition, types, production, isolation, bioavailability, and health benefits of BAPs.

Zein: Potential biopolymer in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Effectively managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses difficulties due to its persistent nature and unpredictable episodes of exacerbation. There is encouraging evidence that personalized medication delivery systems can improve therapy efficacy while reducing the negative effects of standard medicines. Zein, a protein produced from corn, has garnered interest as a possible means of delivering drugs for the treatment of IBD. This review delves into Zein-based drug delivery systems, showcasing its biodegradability, controlled release capabilities, and biocompatibility. Studies have shown that Zein-based nanoparticles, microcarriers, and core-shell microparticles have the capacity to increase medication stability, enhance targeting in the intestines, and decrease toxicity in animal models of IBD. The review highlights the promise of Zein in personalized therapy for IBD and urges more study to enhance its clinical use.

Advancing psoriasis drug delivery through topical liposomes.

Psoriasis, recognized as a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, disrupts immune system functionality. Global estimates by the World Psoriasis Day consortium indicate its impact on approximately 130 million people, constituting 4 to 5 percent of the worldwide population. Conventional drug delivery systems, mainly designed to alleviate psoriasis symptoms, fall short in achieving targeted action and optimal bioavailability due to inherent challenges such as the drug's brief half-life, instability, and a deficiency in ensuring both safety and efficacy. Liposomes, employed in drug delivery systems, emerge as highly promising carriers for augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of topically applied drugs. These small unilamellar vesicles demonstrate enhanced penetration capabilities, facilitating drug delivery through the stratum corneum layer of skin. This comprehensive review article illuminates diverse facets of liposomes as a promising drug delivery system to treat psoriasis. Addressing various aspects such as formulation strategies, encapsulation techniques, and targeted delivery, the review underscores the potential of liposomes in enhancing the efficacy and specificity of psoriasis treatments.

Konjac glucomannan: A comprehensive review of its extraction, health benefits, and pharmaceutical applications.

Konjac glucomannan (KG) is a dietary fiber hydrocolloid derived from Amorphophallus konjac tubers and is widely utilized as a food additive and dietary supplement. As a health-conscious choice, purified KG, along with konjac flour and KG-infused diets, have gained widespread acceptance in Asian and European markets. An overview of the chemical composition and structure of KG is given in this review, along with thorough explanations of the processes used in its extraction, production, and purification. KG has been shown to promote health by reducing glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and blood pressure, thereby offering significant weight loss advantages. Furthermore, this review delves into the extensive health benefits and pharmaceutical applications of KG and its derivatives, emphasizing its prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. This study highlights how these natural polysaccharides can positively influence health, underscoring their potential in various biomedical applications.

Unveiling the potential of chitosan-coated lipid nanoparticles in drug delivery for management of critical illness: a review.

Chitosan (CT), a natural, cationic, chemically stable molecule, biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic, polysaccharide derived from the deacetylation of chitin, has very uniquely surfaced as a material of promise for drug delivery and biomedical applications. For the oral, ocular, cutaneous, pulmonary, and nose-to-brain routes, CT-coated nanoparticles (CTCNPs) have numerous advantages, consisting of improved controlled drug release, physicochemical stability, improved cell and tissue interactions, and increased bioavailability and efficacy of the active ingredient. CTCNPs have a broad range of therapeutic properties including anticancer, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties, treating neurological disorders, and other diseases. This has led to substantial research into the many potential uses of CT as a drug delivery vehicle. CT has also been employed in a wide range of biomedical processes, including bone and cartilage tissue regeneration, ocular tissue regeneration, periodontal tissue regeneration, heart tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Additionally, CT has been used in cosmeceutical, bioimaging, immunization, and gene transfer applications. CT exhibits a number of biological activities, which are the basis for its remarkable potential for use as a drug delivery vehicle, and these activities are covered in detail in this article. The alterations applied to CT to obtain the necessary properties have been described.

Harnessing polyelectrolyte complexes for precision cancer targeting: a comprehensive review.

Polyelectrolytes represent a unique class of polymers abundant in ionizable functional groups. In a solution, ionized polyelectrolytes can intricately bond with oppositely charged counterparts, giving rise to a fascinating phenomenon known as a polyelectrolyte complex. These complexes arise from the interaction between oppositely charged entities, such as polymers, drugs, and combinations thereof. The polyelectrolyte complexes are highly appealing in cancer management, play an indispensable role in chemotherapy, crafting biodegradable, biocompatible 3D membranes, microcapsules, and nano-sized formulations. These versatile complexes are pivotal in designing controlled and targeted release drug delivery systems. The present review emphasizes on classification of polyelectrolyte complex along with their formation mechanisms. This review comprehensively explores the applications of polyelectrolyte complex, highlighting their efficacy in targeted drug delivery strategies for combating different forms of cancer. The innovative use of polyelectrolyte complex presents a potential breakthrough in cancer therapeutics, demonstrating their role in enhancing treatment precision and effectiveness.

Pectin hydrogels for controlled drug release: Recent developments and future prospects.

Pectin hydrogels have emerged as a highly promising medium for the controlled release of pharmaceuticals in the dynamic field of drug delivery. The present review sheds light on the broad range of applications and potential of pectin-based hydrogels in pharmaceutical formulations. Pectin, as a biopolymer, is a versatile candidate for various drug delivery systems because of its wide range of properties and characteristics. The information provided on formulation strategies and crosslinking techniques provides researchers with tools to improve drug entrapment and controlled release. Furthermore, this review provides a more in-depth understanding of the complex factors influencing drug release from pectin hydrogels, such as the impact of environmental conditions and drug-specific characteristics. Pectin hydrogels demonstrate adaptability across diverse domains, ranging from applications in oral and transdermal drug delivery to contributions in wound healing, tissue engineering, and ongoing clinical trials. While standardization and regulatory compliance remain significant challenges, the future of pectin hydrogels appears to be bright, opening up new possibilities for advanced drug delivery systems.

Overcoming Solubility Challenges: Self-emulsifying Systems for Enhancing the Delivery of Poorly Water-Soluble Antiviral Drugs.

The primary goal of drug formulation is to improve a drug's bioavailability in the body. However, poorly water-soluble drugs present challenging issues related to their solubility and bioavailability factors. Emerging technologies, such as lipid-based drug delivery systems, including micro- or nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, have become increasingly relevant to address the above challenges. This review presents a thorough overview of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). It covers the properties, principles, self-emulsification mechanism, formulation strategies, and characterization methods of SEDDS. This review also addresses the delivery of antiviral agents through SEDDS. Moreover, it summarizes the marketed formulations of SEDDS consisting of antiviral agents. This review offers a comprehensive and valuable resource for future perspectives on SEDDS and their potential applications in antiviral drug delivery.

Amorphization of Low Soluble Drug with Amino Acids to Improve Its Therapeutic Efficacy: a State-of-Art-Review.

Low aqueous solubility of drug candidates is an ongoing challenge and pharmaceutical manufacturers pay close attention to amorphization (AMORP) technology to improve the solubility of drugs that dissolve poorly. Amorphous drug typically exhibits much higher apparent solubility than their crystalline form due to high energy state that enable them to produce a supersaturated state in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby improve bioavailability. The stability and augmented solubility in co-amorphous (COA) formulations is influenced by molecular interactions. COA are excellent carriers-based drug delivery systems for biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class II and class IV drugs. The three important critical quality attributes, such as co-formability, physical stability, and dissolution performance, are necessary to illustrate the COA systems. New amorphous-stabilized carriers-based fabrication techniques that improve drug loading and degree of AMORP have been the focus of emerging AMORP technology. Numerous low-molecular-weight compounds, particularly amino acids such as glutamic acid, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, alanine, glycine, etc., have been employed as potential co-formers. The review focus on the prevailing drug AMORP strategies used in pharmaceutical research, including in situ AMORP, COA systems, and mesoporous particle-based methods. Moreover, brief characterization techniques and the application of the different amino acids in stabilization and solubility improvements have been related.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Types, Synthesis, Role in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, and Other Applications.

Globally, many individuals struggle with Alzheimer's disease (AD), an unrelenting and incapacitating neurodegenerative condition. Despite notable research endeavors, effective remedies for AD remain constrained, prompting the exploration of innovative therapeutic avenues. Within this context, silica-based nanoplatforms have emerged with pronounced potential due to their unique attributes like expansive surface area, customizable pore dimensions, and compatibility with living systems. These nanoplatforms hold promise as prospective interventions for AD. This assessment provides a comprehensive overview encompassing various forms of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), techniques for formulation, and their applications in biomedicine. A significant feature lies in their ability to precisely guide and control the transport of therapeutic agents to the brain, facilitated by the adaptability of these nanoplatforms as drug carriers. Their utility as tools for early detection and monitoring of AD is investigated. Challenges and prospects associated with harnessing MSNs are studied, underscoring the imperative of stringent safety evaluations and optimization of how they interact with the body. Additionally, the incorporation of multifunctional attributes like imaging and targeting components is emphasized to enhance their efficacy within the intricate milieu of AD. As the battle against the profound repercussions of AD persists, MSNs emerge as a promising avenue with the potential to propel the development of viable therapeutic interventions.

Implications of metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease in COVID-19.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disorder (MAFLD) characterizes the contributing etiologies (i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, overweight) of individuals with fatty liver disease that affects 1/3rd of the world population. In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis was unprecedented, and people with different comorbidities became more susceptible to the infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. MAFLD patients are frequently obese with added metabolic menace like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia leading to greater jeopardy of COVID-19. MAFLD patients are 4 to 6-fold more prone towards infections. COVID-19 induces liver injury with elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and insignificantly elevated bilirubin. Hence, MAFLD in COVID-19 patients worsens the condition significantly. The evidence highlighting the interaction between MAFLD and altered liver functioning in COVID-19 suggested that COVID-19 patients with pre-existing MAFLD are at greater risk of morbidity or intensive care unit admission. Direct hepatic injury, enhanced levels of inflammatory cytokines, declined hepatic mitochondrial activity, and compromised immunity are considered as some underlying mechanisms. The main focus of this review is to discuss the implications of metabolic dysfunction associated with fatty liver disease in COVID-19 patients. The review systematically analyzes the effect of striking two worldwide pandemics (MAFLD and COVID-19) together in the present era.

Phosphatidylcholine (PCL) fortified nano-phytopharmaceuticals for improvement of therapeutic efficacy.

Phytopharmaceuticals, derived from plants, are increasingly recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits. However, their effectiveness is often hindered by challenges such as poor bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery. In this study, we aimed to address these limitations by developing PCL (phosphatidylcholine) fortified nano-phytopharmaceuticals to enhance therapeutic efficacy. PCL, a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, was employed to encapsulate the phytopharmaceuticals, thereby improving their stability and bioavailability. The encapsulation process utilized nanoprecipitation, resulting in the formation of nanoparticles with controlled size and morphology. Various analytical techniques were employed to characterize the physicochemical properties of PCL fortified nano-phytopharmaceuticals, including dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the release kinetics of encapsulated phytopharmaceuticals from PCL nanoparticles were evaluated, demonstrating sustained and controlled release profiles, essential for prolonged therapeutic effects. Cytotoxicity studies conducted on in vitro cell culture models confirmed the biocompatibility and non-toxic nature of the developed nano-phytopharmaceuticals. Additionally, in vivo studies were conducted to assess the therapeutic efficacy of PCL fortified nano-phytopharmaceuticals in animal models. The results showIased improved bioavailability, targeted tissue distribution, and enhanced therapeutic effects compared to free phytopharmaceuticals. Moreover, the developed nano-phytopharmaceuticals exhibited prolonged circulation time in the bloodstream, enabling improved drug delivery and reduced dosing frequency. This review highlights the promising potential of PCL fortified nano-phytopharmaceuticals as an effective approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals. The improved stability, bioavailability, sustained release, and targeted delivery achieved through this formulation strategy offer promising opportunities for advancing plant-based therapies. See also the Graphical abstract(Fig. 1).