Pharmaceutical applications of therapeutic deep eutectic systems (THEDES) in maximising drug delivery.

The issue of poor solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has been a salient area of investigation and novel drug delivery systems are being developed to improve the solubility of drugs, enhance their permeability and thereby their efficacy. Several techniques for solubilization enhancement of poorly soluble drugs are often employed at various stages of pharmaceutical drug product development. One such delivery system is the therapeutic deep eutectic system (THEDES), which showed great potential in the enhancement of solubility and permeability of drugs and ultimately augmenting their bioavailability. THEDES are made by mixing drugs with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in a definite molar ratio by the hit and trial method. The DESs are a new class of green solvents which are non-toxic, cheap, easy to prepare, biodegradable and have multiple applications in the pharmaceutical industry. The terminologies such as ionic liquids (ILs), DES, THEDES, and therapeutic liquid eutectic systems (THELES) have been very much in use recently, and it is important to highlight the pharmaceutical applications of these unexplored reservoirs in drug solubilization enhancement, drug delivery routes, and in the management of various diseases. This review is aimed at discussing the components, formulation strategies, and routes of administration of THEDES that are used in developing the formulation. Also, the major pharmaceutical applications of THEDES in the treatment of various metabolic and non-metabolic diseases are reviewed.

Application of 32 factorial design for loratadine-loaded nanosponge in topical gel formulation: comprehensive in-vitro and ex vivo evaluations.

Loratadine (LoR) is a highly lipophilic and practically insoluble in water, hence having a low oral bioavailability. As it is formulated as topical gel, it competitively binds with the receptors, thus reducing the side-effects. The objective of this study was to prepare LoR loaded nanosponge (LoR-NS) in gel for topical delivery. Nine different formulations of emulsion were prepared by solvent evaporation method with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethyl cellulose (EC), and dichloromethane (DCM). Based on 32 Full Factorial Design (FFD), optimization was carried out by varying the concentration of LOR:EC ratio and stirring rate. The preparations were subjected for the evaluation of particle size (PS), in vitro release, zeta potential (ZP) and entrapment efficiency (EE). The results revealed that the NS dispersion was nanosized with sustained release profiles and significant PS. The optimised formulation was formulated and incorporated into carbopol 934P hydrogel. The formulation was then examined to surface morphological characterizations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which depicted spherical NS. Stability studies, undertaken for 2 months at 40 ± 2 °C/75 ± 5% RH, concluded to the stability of the formulation. The formulation did not cause skin irritation. Therefore, the prepared NS hydrogel proved to be a promising applicant for LoR as a novel drug delivery system (NDDS) for safe, sustained and controlled topical application.

Application of Box-Behnken Design in the Optimization and Preparation of Salicylic Acid Nanopowder using Solvent-Free Green Mechanochemical Approach.

Background: One of the imperative progressions within the pharmaceutical industry, especially drugs, is the expanded utilization of materials in order to enhance its dissolution, solubility and bioavailability. Planetary ball monomill approach can be the latest entrant to Green nanotechnology - being solvent-free, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable particle size reduction approach. Objectives: Salicylic acid nanopowder (SA-NP) was aimed to be prepared using planetary ball monomill by dry milling technique to enhance its solubility and bioavailability. Methods: Various milling parameters such as milling speed, milling time and number of balls was varied and their effect on dependent responses including size (nm) and polydispersity indices (PDI) were evaluated using a 3-Factorial-3-Level Box-Behnken statistical design. Particle size and PDI analysis was performed using light scattering technique. Results: The particle size of salicylic acid obtained by optimizing the dry milling parameters was Z-Average (d.nm): 776.3 nm and PDI: 0.600 up to Z-Average (d. nm): 205.0 nm and PDI: 0.383. Conclusions: Dry milling can be used for the preparation of nanopowders of drug candidates with poor water-solubility issues. Present day medications have nano-scaled active ingredients which are rapidly absorbed by the human body as compared to the conventional ones. Enlarged surface area increases the solubility of the drug, thereby improves its bioavailability.

A review of nanomaterials from synthetic and natural molecules for prospective breast cancer nanotherapy.

Breast cancer being one of the most frequent cancers in women accounts for almost a quarter of all cancer cases. Early and late-stage breast cancer outcomes have improved dramatically, with considerable gains in overall survival rate and disease-free state. However, the current therapy of breast cancer suffers from drug resistance leading to relapse and recurrence of the disease. Also, the currently used synthetic and natural agents have bioavailability issues which limit their use. Recently, nanocarriers-assisted delivery of synthetic and natural anticancer drugs has been introduced to the breast cancer therapy which alienates the limitations associated with the current therapy to a great extent. Significant progress has lately been made in the realm of nanotechnology, which proved to be vital in the fight against drug resistance. Nanotechnology has been successfully applied in the effective and improved therapy of different forms of breast cancer including invasive, non-invasive as well as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), etc. This review presents a comprehensive overview of various nanoformulations prepared for the improved delivery of synthetic and natural anticancer drugs alone or in combination showing better efficacy and pharmacokinetics. In addition to this, various ongoing and completed clinical studies and patents granted on nanotechnology-based breast cancer drug delivery are also reviewed.

Cubosomes in Drug Delivery-A Comprehensive Review on Its Structural Components, Preparation Techniques and Therapeutic Applications.

Cubosomes are lipid vesicles that are comparable to vesicular systems like liposomes. Cubosomes are created with certain amphiphilic lipids in the presence of a suitable stabiliser. Since its discovery and designation, self-assembled cubosomes as active drug delivery vehicles have drawn much attention and interest. Oral, ocular, transdermal, and chemotherapeutic are just a few of the drug delivery methods in which they are used. Cubosomes show tremendous potential in drug nanoformulations for cancer therapeutics because of their prospective advantages, which include high drug dispersal due to the structure of the cubic, large surface area, a relatively simple manufacturing process, biodegradability, ability to encapsulate hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic compounds, targeted and controlled release of bioactive agents, and biodegradability of lipids. The most typical technique of preparation is the simple emulsification of a monoglyceride with a polymer, followed by sonication and homogenisation. Top-down and bottom-up are two different sorts of preparation techniques. This review will critically analyse the composition, preparation techniques, drug encapsulation approaches, drug loading, release mechanism and applications relevant to cubosomes. Furthermore, the challenges faced in optimising various parameters to enhance the loading capacities and future potentialities are also addressed.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Applications and Prospects in Cancer Treatment.

Recent advancements in drug delivery technologies paved a way for improving cancer therapeutics. Nanotechnology emerged as a potential tool in the field of drug delivery, overcoming the challenges of conventional drug delivery systems. In the field of nanotechnology, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) play a vital role with a wide range of diverse applications, namely drug delivery, clinical medicine, and cancer therapeutics. SLNs establish a significant role owing to their ability to encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, biocompatibility, ease of surface modification, scale-up feasibility, and possibilities of both active and passive targeting to various organs. In cancer therapy, SLNs have emerged as imminent nanocarriers for overcoming physiological barriers and multidrug resistance pathways. However, there is a need for special attention to be paid to further improving the conceptual understanding of the biological responses of SLNs in cancer therapeutics. Hence, further research exploration needs to be focused on the determination of the structure and strength of SLNs at the cellular level, both in vitro and in vivo, to develop potential therapeutics with reduced side effects. The present review addresses the various modalities of SLN development, SLN mechanisms in cancer therapeutics, and the scale-up potential and regulatory considerations of SLN technology. The review extensively focuses on the applications of SLNs in cancer treatment.

Strategies to Improvise Organ Donor Pool: A Study on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Performance of Higher Secondary School Teachers Towards the Organ Donation.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess higher secondary school teachers' knowledge, attitude, and performance levels towards organ transplantation and donation (OTD). Teachers have an essential role in giving knowledge to children and teenagers, and they can influence their views. Organ transplantation offers re-life to many patients, yet organ shortages are a global issue. Teachers who influence students' future attitudes regarding organ donation must have a favorable attitude and genuine knowledge. Materials and Methods: The research method was descriptive and cross-sectional. The sample size was 372 school teachers in Villupuram district of Tamilnadu, India, selected using a convenient sampling method. A survey questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and attitude about OTD, the reason for donating/not donating organs. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify critical variables affecting intent to practice. Results: The teachers' mean scores with SD on knowledge, attitude, and performance were 7.61 ± 2.74, 8.81 ± 2.08, and 0.38 ± 0.11, respectively. The linear regression analysis showed that the knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitude (p < 0.05) of the participants were positively associated with organ donation performance. A significant relationship was also observed between gender (p < 0.036), age (p < 0.01), and education status (p < 0.001) with the performance of the teachers. Lack of family support was the most spelt reason for unwillingness for organ donation. Conclusion: The positive linear correlations underline that having more information may lead to a more optimistic mindset and, as a result, to better practices. Teachers should be provided with overall health teaching campaigns to increase the number of possible organ donors. Teachers serve as role models for students, families, and society by changing their attitudes.

Development and Optimization of Methylcellulose-Based Nanoemulgel Loaded with Nigella sativa Oil for Oral Health Management: Quadratic Model Approach.

The present study aimed to develop a local dental nanoemulgel formulation of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) for the treatment of periodontal diseases. NSO purchased from a local market was characterized using a GC-MS technique. A nanoemulsion containing NSO was prepared and incorporated into a methylcellulose gel base to develop the nanoemulgel formulation. The developed formulation was optimized using a Box-Behnken statistical design (quadratic model) with 17 runs. The effects of independent factors, such as water, oil, and polymer concentrations, were studied on two dependent responses, pH and viscosity. The optimized formulation was further evaluated for droplet size, drug release, stability, and antimicrobial efficacy. The developed formulation had a pH of 7.37, viscosity of 2343 cp, and droplet size of 342 ± 36.6 nm. Sustained release of the drug from the gel for up to 8 h was observed, which followed Higuchi release kinetics with non-Fickian diffusion. The developed nanoemulgel formulation showed improved antimicrobial activity compared to the plain NSO. Given the increasing emergence of periodontal diseases and antimicrobial resistance, an effective formulation based on a natural antibacterial agent is warranted as a dental therapeutic agent.

Stealth Liposomes (PEGylated) Containing an Anticancer Drug Camptothecin: In Vitro Characterization and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic and Tissue Distribution Study.

Numerous attempts to overcome the poor water solubility of cam ptothecin (CPT) by various nano drug delivery systems are described in various sources in the literature. However, the results of these approaches may be hampered by the incomplete separation of free CPT from the formulations, and this issue has not been investigated in detail. This study aimed to promote the solubility and continuous delivery of CPT by developing long-lasting liposomes using various weights (M.W. 2000 and 5000 Daltons) of the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). Conventional and PEGylated liposomes containing CPT were formulated via the lipid film hydration method (solvent evaporation) using a rotary flash evaporator after optimising various formulation parameters. The following physicochemical characteristics were investigated: surface morphology, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, and formulation stability. Different molecular weights of PEG were used to improve the encapsulation efficiency and particle size. The stealth liposomes prepared with PEG5000 were discrete in shape and with a higher encapsulation efficiency (83 ± 0.4%) and a prolonged rate of drug release (32.2% in 9 h) compared with conventional liposomes (64.8 ± 0.8% and 52.4%, respectively) and stealth liposomes containing PEG2000 (79.00 ± 0.4% and 45.3%, respectively). Furthermore, the stealth liposomes prepared with PEG5000 were highly stable at refrigeration temperature. Significant changes were observed using various pharmacokinetic parameters (mean residence time (MRT), half-life, elimination rate, volume of distribution, clearance, and area under the curve) of stealth liposomes containing PEG2000 and PEG5000 compared with conventional liposomes. The stealth liposomes prepared with PEG5000 showed promising results with a slow rate of release over a long period compared with conventional liposomes and liposomes prepared with PEG2000, with altered tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic parameters.

Polymeric Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles (PLNs) as Emerging Drug Delivery Platform-A Comprehensive Review of Their Properties, Preparation Methods, and Therapeutic Applications.

Polymeric lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLNs) are core-shell nanoparticles made up of a polymeric kernel and lipid/lipid-PEG shells that have the physical stability and biocompatibility of both polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. PLNs have emerged as a highly potent and promising nanocarrier for a variety of biomedical uses, including drug delivery and biomedical imaging, owing to recent developments in nanomedicine. In contrast with other forms of drug delivery systems, PLNs have been regarded as seamless and stable because they are simple to prepare and exhibit excellent stability. Natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers have been used to make these nanocarriers. Due to their small scale, PLNs can be used in a number of applications, including anticancer therapy, gene delivery, vaccine delivery, and bioimaging. These nanoparticles are also self-assembled in a reproducible and predictable manner using a single or two-step nanoprecipitation process, making them significantly scalable. All of these positive attributes therefore make PLNs an attractive nanocarrier to study. This review delves into the fundamentals and applications of PLNs as well as their formulation parameters, several drug delivery strategies, and recent advancements in clinical trials, giving a comprehensive insight into the pharmacokinetic and biopharmaceutical aspects of these hybrid nanoparticles.