Fabricating gum polysaccharides based nano-composites for drug delivery uses via sustainable green approach.

Recent advancements in development of natural polymer nono-composites led to exploration of potential of gum acacia (GA) and tragacanth gum (TG) for design of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) impregnated grafted copolymers via green approach for use in drug delivery (DD). The formation of copolymers was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, AFM, XPS, XRD, FTIR,TGA and DSC. UV-Vis spectra indicated the formation of AgNPs using GA as reducing agent. TEM, SEM, XPS and XRD revealed impregnation of AgNPs inside the copolymeric network hydrogels. TGA inferred thermal stability of polymer enhanced by grafting and incorporation of AgNPs. The non-Fickian diffusion of antibiotic drug meropenem was revealed from drug encapsulated GA-TG-(AgNPs)-cl-poly(AAm) network which were also pH responsive and release profile was fitted in Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Sustained release was due to polymer-drug interaction. The polymer-blood interaction demonstrated biocompatible characteristics of polymer. Mucoadhesive property exhibited by copolymers because of supra-molecular interactions. Antimicrobial characteristics were shown by copolymers against bacteria S. flexneri, P. auroginosa, and B. cereus.

Nasal Polyposis and Its Association with Cardiac Functions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to ascertain the effect of nasal polyposis on cardiac functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized interventional open-label endpoint-controlled study was conducted in an academic tertiary care hospital. Thirty-one patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis were enrolled and administered fluticasone furoate nasal spray for 3 weeks before randomly segregation into surgical or medical group. The treatment continued for 3 months in both groups. The SNOT-22 (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22) score, polyp grade, and right ventricular and pulmonary arterial functions were recorded in both groups before and after 3 months of the intervention. RESULTS: Both groups had significant improvement in SNOT-22 scores after 3 months of intervention. Both groups showed improvement in cardiac functions, but statistical significance was found only in subjects who underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Nasal polyp affects cardiac functions, and this needs further evaluation and research through studies on large samples.

Acacia gum polysaccharide based hydrogel wound dressings: Synthesis, characterization, drug delivery and biomedical properties.

Keeping in view the importance of polysaccharide gums for wound care, in the present article, an attempt has been made to explore antioxidant nature of gum acacia in designing hydrogel wound dressing to improve its wound healing potential. These polymers were prepared by using acacia gum-polyvinylpyrollidone/carbopol and were characterized by 13C NMR, FTIR, SEM, AFM, cryo-SEM, XRD, TGA, DSC and elemental analysis techniques. Some important biomaterial properties of wound dressings such as wound fluid absorption, haemo-compatibility, bioactive assessment, gaseous/water/microbial permeability, mechanical properties, bio-adhesion, drug release, and histology of wound healing were also determined. Hydrogel wound dressings were found non-haemolytic, antioxidant and mucoadhesive in nature. Release of drug occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and release profile best fitted in Higuchi model.

Evaluation of Gentamicin and Lidocaine Release Profile from Gum Acacia-crosslinked-poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-carbopol Based Hydrogels.

BACKGROUND: No doubt, the prevention of infection is an indispensable aspect of the wound management, but, simultaneous wound pain relief is also required. Therefore, herein this article, incorporation of antibiotic agent 'gentamicin' and pain relieving agent 'lidocaine' into hydrogel wound dressings, prepared by using acacia gum, carbopol and poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) polymers, has been carried out. The hydrogels were evaluated as a drug carrier for model drugs gentamicin and lidocaine. METHOD: Synthesis of hydrogel wound dressing was carried out by free radical polymerization technique. The drug loading was carried out by swelling equilibrium method and gel strength of hydrogels was measured by a texture analyzer. RESULTS: Porous microstructure of the hydrogel was observed in cryo-SEM images. The hydrogel showed mesh size 37.29 nm, cross-link density 2.19× 10-5 mol/cm3, molecular weight between two cross-links 60.25× 10-3 g/mol and gel strength 0.625±0.112 N in simulated wound fluid. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the pH of swelling medium has influenced the network structure of hydrogel i.e., molecular weight of the polymer chain between two neighboring cross links, crosslink density and the corresponding mesh size. A good correlation was established between gel strength and network parameters. Cryo-SEM images showed porous morphology of hydrogels. These hydrogels were found to be biodegradable and antimicrobial in nature. Drug release occurred through Fickian diffusion mechanism and release profile was best fitted in first order model. Overall it is concluded that modification in GA has led to formation of a porous hydrogels for wound dressing applications.

Slow release of ciprofloxacin from ß- cyclodextrin containing drug delivery system through network formation and supramolecular interactions.

Supramolecular cyclodextrin (CD) hydrogels have occupied an important position in developing the materials for biomedical application. In the present work an attempt has been made to improve the release profile of ciprofloxacin by designing the ß- cyclodextrin containing drug delivery system through network formation and supramolecular interactions. The polymer network has been formed by sterculia gum comprising of glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid and carbopol. The polymers have been characterization by cryo-SEMs, FTIR and 13C solid state (NMR) and swelling studies. This article also discusses drug release, blood compatibility, mucoadhesion, gel strength and antioxidant properties of the polymers. The release of drug from ß-CD containing hydrogels was slower and less as compared to the hydrogels without ß-CD. Release of drugs from drug loaded hydrogels occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and release profile best fitted in Korsmeyer-Peppas model. These hydrogels have been found as haemocompatible, mucoadhesive, and antioxidant in nature. Mucoadhesive nature can further provide the site specific nature to drug delivery system in GIT.

Design of antibiotic containing hydrogel wound dressings: biomedical properties and histological study of wound healing.

Keeping in view the antioxidant nature of the acacia gum and mucoadhesive nature of carbopol hydrogels, in the present studies, an attempt has been made to explore the potential of these materials in designing new hydrogel wound dressings meant for slow release of gentamicin, an antibiotic drug, and to enhance the wound healing potential. The hydrogel films were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD and swelling studies. Biomedical properties of hydrogel films like blood compatibility, antioxidant activity, mucoadhesion, antimicrobial activity, oxygen/water vapour permeability, microbial penetration and mechanical properties (tensile strength, burst strength, resilience, relaxation, and folding endurance) have been evaluated. The histological studies of wound healing were also carried out on swiss albino mice of strain Balb C and it has been observed that in case of wounds covered with hydrogel dressings shown faster wound healing, formation of well developed fibroblasts and blood capillaries as compared to open wounds. The results of biomedical properties indicated that hydrogel films are non-thrombogenic, non-haemolytic, antioxidant and mucoadhesive in nature, and are permeable to oxygen and moisture while impermeable to micro-organisms. The hydrogel wound dressings have absorbed (8.772 ± 0.184 g/g film) simulated wound fluid. Release of gentamicin drug from wound dressings occurred through Fickian diffusion mechanism in simulated wound fluid.