The use of essential oils in atopic dermatitis: a review.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a common childhood disease that affects a large number of children worldwide and has become a chronic skin disease that causes huge economical and psychological damage to the whole family. Despite the use of steroids, immunosuppressants, and various topical preparation, the prognosis is still poor. Hence, this review aimed to explore the potential of using essential oils (EO) as an active ingredient in managing AD. The review was completed by using Pubmed, Scopus, and Medline to search for relevant articles that study the pathophysiology of AD, the properties of EO, the use of EO in managing AD, and the suitable advanced formulation to incorporate EO. From the review conducted, it was concluded that EO have huge potential in managing AD and can be used as complimentary therapeutic agents in AD treatment. Scientists and industries should venture into commercializing more topical products with EO to help manage AD more effectively.

Chitosan-based drug delivery systems for skin atopic dermatitis: recent advancements and patent trends.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, relapsing inflammatory skin disease with a considerable social and economic burden globally. AD is primarily characterized by its chronic pattern and it can have important modifications in the quality of life of the patients and caretakers. One of the fastest-growing topics in translational medicine today is the exploration of new or repurposed functional biomaterials into drug delivery therapeutic applications. This area has gained a considerable amount of research which produced many innovative drug delivery systems for inflammatory skin diseases like AD. Chitosan, a polysaccharide, has attracted attention as a functional biopolymer for diverse applications, especially in pharmaceutics and medicine, and has been considered a promising candidate for AD treatment due to its antimicrobial, antioxidative, and inflammatory response modulation properties. The current pharmacological treatment for AD involves prescribing topical corticosteroid and calcineurin inhibitors. However, the adverse reactions associated with the long-term usage of these drugs such as itching, burning, or stinging sensation are also well documented. Innovative formulation strategies, including the use of micro- and nanoparticulate systems, biopolymer hydrogel composites, nanofibers, and textile fabrication are being extensively researched with an aim to produce a safe and effective delivery system for AD treatment with minimal side effects. This review outlines the recent development of various chitosan-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of AD published in the past 10 years (2012-2022). These chitosan-based delivery systems include hydrogels, films, micro-, and nanoparticulate systems as well as chitosan textile. The global patent trends on chitosan-based formulations for the AD are also discussed.

Application of chitosan-based nanoparticles in skin wound healing.

The rising prevalence of impaired wound healing and the consequential healthcare burdens have gained increased attention over recent years. This has prompted research into the development of novel wound dressings with augmented wound healing functions. Nanoparticle (NP)-based delivery systems have become attractive candidates in constructing such wound dressings due to their various favourable attributes. The non-toxicity, biocompatibility and bioactivity of chitosan (CS)-based NPs make them ideal candidates for wound applications. This review focusses on the application of CS-based NP systems for use in wound treatment. An overview of the wound healing process was presented, followed by discussion on the properties and suitability of CS and its NPs in wound healing. The wound healing mechanisms exerted by CS-based NPs were then critically analysed and discussed in sections, namely haemostasis, infection prevention, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and wound closure time. The results of the studies were thoroughly reviewed, and contradicting findings were identified and discussed. Based on the literature, the gap in research and future prospects in this research area were identified and highlighted. Current evidence shows that CS-based NPs possess superior wound healing effects either used on their own, or as drug delivery vehicles to encapsulate wound healing agents. It is concluded that great opportunities and potentials exist surrounding the use of CSNPs in wound healing.

Improving oral bioavailability of medicinal herbal compounds through lipid-based formulations - A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous medicinal herbal compounds demonstrate promising therapeutic potential, their clinical application is often limited by their poor oral bioavailability. To circumvent this barrier, various lipid-based herbal formulations have been developed and trialled with promising experimental results. PURPOSE: This scoping review aims to describe the effect of lipid-based formulations on the oral bioavailability of herbal compounds. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across three electronic databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library) between January 2010 and January 2021 to identify relevant studies. The articles were rigorously screened for eligibility. Data from eligible studies were then extracted and collated for synthesis and descriptive analysis using Covidence. RESULTS: A total of 109 studies were included in the present review: 105 animal studies and four clinical trials. Among the formulations investigated, 50% were emulsions, 34% lipid particulate systems, 12% vesicular systems, and 4% were other types of lipid-based formulations. Within the emulsion system classification, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems were observed to produce the best improvements in oral bioavailability, followed by mixed micellar formulations. The introduction of composite lipid-based formulations and the use of uncommon surfactants such as sodium oleate in emulsion preparation was shown to consistently enhance the bioavailability of herbal compounds with poor oral absorption. Interestingly, the lipid-based formulations of magnesium lithospermate B and Pulsatilla chinensis produced an absolute bioavailability greater than 100% indicating the possibility of prolonged systemic circulation. With respect to chemical conjugation, D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) was the most frequently used and significantly improved the bioavailability of its phytoconstituents. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there is no distinct lipid-based formulation superior to the other. Bioavailability improvements were largely dependent on the nature of the phytoconstituents. This scoping review, however, provided a detailed summary of the most up-to-date evidence on phytoconstituents formulated into lipid preparations and their oral bioavailability. We conclude that a systematic review and meta-analysis between bioavailability improvements of individual phytoconstituents (such as kaempferol, morin and myricetin) in various lipid-based formulations will provide a more detailed association. Such a review will be highly beneficial for both researchers and herbal manufacturers.