Application of Graphene and its Derivatives in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.

Although chemotherapies are successful in some cases, systemic toxicity could be simultaneously observed due to the lack of drugs selectivity to cancerous tissues, leading to the failure of the chemotherapies. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects will be significantly improved if the anticancer drugs could be delivered to cancer cells with high selectivity. In recent years, there have been many advances in the field of diagnosis and treatment of cancer as a result of the development of novel materials with noticeable and often unique properties. Nanoparticles have unique biological properties, owing to their small size and large surface area-to-volume ratio, which allow them to bind, absorb, and carry compounds such as small molecule drugs, DNA, RNA, proteins, and probes with high efficiency. In the course of the last decade, Graphene and its derivatives have attracted growing interest in medicinal and pharmaceutical sciences, and many studies have focused on the potential of Graphene and its derivatives as carriers for targeted drug delivery intended for cancer diagnosis and therapies. In the present study, we will review the characteistics and application of Graphene and its different derivatives and finally discuss the opportunities, limitations, and challenges in this encouraging field.

Enhanced skin penetration of lidocaine through encapsulation into nanoethosomes and nanostructured lipid carriers: a comparative study.

Lipid based nanoparticles have become a major research object in topical drug delivery to enable drugs to pass the stratum corneum and reach the desired skin layer. The present investigation deals with the encapsulation of lidoacine into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and nanoethosomes for improving its dermal delivery and consequently local anesthetic efficacy. Concurrently these two topical delivery systems were compared. Lidocaine-loaded NLCs and nanoethosomes were characterized by various techniques and used for an in vitro skin penetration study using excised rat skin and Franz diffusion cells. The nanoparticles were tracked in the skin by following the Rhodamine-labled nanocarriers under fluorescent microscopy. Optimized lidocaine-loaded NLCs (size 96 nm, zeta potential -13.7 mV, encapsulation efficiency (EE) % 69.86% and loading capacity (LC) % 10.47%) and nanoethosomes (size 105.4 nm, zeta potential -33.6 mV, EE 40.14% and LC 8.02%) were chosen for a skin drug delivery study. Higher skin drug deposition of NLCs and nanoethosomal formulations compared to lidocaine hydroalcoholic solution represented a better localization of the drug in the skin. NLC formulation showed the lowest entered drug in the receptor phase of Franz diffusion cell in comparison with nanoethosomes and hydroalcoholic solution confirming the highest skin accumulation of drug. Both colloidal systems showed superiority over the drug solution for dermal delivery of lidocaine, however, NLC exhibited more promising characteristics than nanoethosomes regarding drug loading and skin targeted delivery.

Carrier free dry powder formulation of sildenafil for potential application in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The present study was designed to prepare sildenafil carrier free dry powder inhalation (DPI) formulation for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Sildenafil DPI formulations were fabricated by spray drying technique. The ideal formulation was optimized using different solvent type (methanol, dimethyformamide and water), concentration (5 and 50 mg/mL) and pH (2 and 7.4) of feed solution. Particles size distribution, morphology and crystallinity of fabricated microparticles were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods, respectively. The aerosolization efficiency of formulations were assessed by next generation impactor equipped with an Aerolizer. Results indicated that evaluated variables had great impacts on powder characteristics which significantly influenced aerosolization performance of formulations. The aerosolized fraction of formulations was improved from 2 to 70% by changing in solvent type and drug concentration in spray dryer feeding solution. Aerosolization performance of powders were well correlated and interpreted by their morphologies as depicted from SEM images. DSC results also indicated that crystallinity of all formulations were reduced by spray drying procedure. Optimization of spray drying technique for production of Sildenafil carrier free DPI formulation in this study may pave a way for locally treatment of IPAH.

Formulation and optimization of solid lipid nanoparticle formulation for pulmonary delivery of budesonide using Taguchi and Box-Behnken design.

Budesonide is a potent non-halogenated corticosteroid with high anti-inflammatory effects. The lungs are an attractive route for non-invasive drug delivery with advantages for both systemic and local applications. The aim of the present study was to develop, characterize and optimize a solid lipid nanoparticle system to deliver budesonide to the lungs. Budesonide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsification-solvent diffusion method. The impact of various processing variables including surfactant type and concentration, lipid content organic and aqueous volume, and sonication time were assessed on the particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, loading percent and mean dissolution time. Taguchi design with 12 formulations along with Box-Behnken design with 17 formulations was developed. The impact of each factor upon the eventual responses was evaluated, and the optimized formulation was finally selected. The size and morphology of the prepared nanoparticles were studied using scanning electron microscope. Based on the optimization made by Design Expert 7(®) software, a formulation made of glycerol monostearate, 1.2 % polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), weight ratio of lipid/drug of 10 and sonication time of 90 s was selected. Particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, loading percent, and mean dissolution time of adopted formulation were predicted and confirmed to be 218.2 ± 6.6 nm, -26.7 ± 1.9 mV, 92.5 ± 0.52 %, 5.8 ± 0.3 %, and 10.4 ± 0.29 h, respectively. Since the preparation and evaluation of the selected formulation within the laboratory yielded acceptable results with low error percent, the modeling and optimization was justified. The optimized formulation co-spray dried with lactose (hybrid microparticles) displayed desirable fine particle fraction, mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), and geometric standard deviation of 49.5%, 2.06 µm, and 2.98 µm; respectively. Our results provide fundamental data for the application of SLNs in pulmonary delivery system of budesonide.

Spray drying as a fast and simple technique for the preparation of extended release dipyridamole (DYP) microparticles in a fixed dose combination (FDC) product with aspirin.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advances have proven that the combinational therapy of extended release dipyridamole (DYP) and fast release aspirin (ASP) can improve clinical indices of heart failure in several vascular disorders. Although pharmaceutical industries always supported fast, simple and cost saving techniques in their productions, there is no simple reported method available for this purpose. The aim of this study was to check the possibility of preparing a FDC product, containing individual dosage units of extended release DYP microparticles and fast release ASP, using the spray-drying technique as a practice compatible with pharmaceutical industries. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Solid dispersions of DYP in different polymeric substances (ethyl cellulose, carnauba wax, and Eudragit PO 100), were prepared using the spray-drying method. The physicochemical properties and structure of the prepared microparticles were analyzed using different techniques, such as the particle size analyzer (PSA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X ray diffraction (XRD), and USP dissolution tester. ASP tablets were prepared individually and tested according to pharmacopeia. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results showed that prepared microparticles measured about 2.3 µm in size. Statistical analysis of the release data revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean release amount of the selected formulation compared to the innovative brand (Aggrenox®). CONCLUSION: Findings proposed a new formulation (F7) as an alternative to innovative brand and proved spray drying as a practice compatible with pharmaceutical industries and as a successful method for sustaining the DYP release rate from prepared microparticles in a FDC dosage form.

Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence evaluation of two brands of ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablets in Iranian healthy volunteers.

In the present study pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 brands of ciprofloxacin 500 mg were evaluated in 24 healthy male volunteers after a single dose oral administration in an open, randomized, 2-way crossover study.Blood samples were taken before and within 12 h after the administration of the drug. Plasma concentrations of ciprofloxacin were determined by a simple HPLC method with ultraviolet detection. The used method was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision and sensitivity. The mobile phase consisted of 0.025 M phosphoric acid, acetonitrile, and triethylamine. Analytical column was 5 µm Eurosphere C8 with a Eurosphere C8 guard column. The detector wavelength was set at 278 nm and the retention time was 10 min. The pharmacokinetic parameters, including peak plasma concentrations and time needed to reach the peak were obtained directly from plasma concentration-time profiles. The area under the curve was calculated using non-compartmental methods.The Cmax of 1476.8±319.9 ng/mL and 1 423.0±278.4 ng/mL were attained in about 1.67 and 1.58 h for test and reference formulations, respectively. The mean±SD values for AUC0-∞ were 9 665.3±2 880.2 and 9 716.1±2 572.1 ng.hr/mL for test and reference formulations, respectively. The pharmacokinetics parameters AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ and Cmax were calculated for bioequivalence after log-transformation of data. The 90% confidence intervals of test/reference for AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ and Cmax were (95.6-109.9%), (91.8-106.3%) and (95.2-112.8%), respectively and all were within the bioequivalence acceptance range of 80-125%.These results indicate that 2 tested formulations are bioequivalent and thus could be prescribed interchangeably.

The dilemma of hyperoxia following positive pressure mechanical ventilation: role of iron and the benefit of iron chelation with deferasirox.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Increased oxidative stress in patients under treatment with high concentrations of oxygen (hyperoxia) is considered to be one of the major mechanisms of lung injury, which is thought among different mediators, transition metal ion, iron, by generation of very reactive free radicals which play an important role. Disruption of normal iron homeostasis has been reported in hyperoxic conditions. We hypothesized that chelation of iron can reduce hyperoxia-induced lung injury. METHODS: Mechanically ventilated patients, who received oxygen with FiO2 >0.5 for at least 3 days, underwent bronchoscopy before and 72 hours after receiving "Deferasirox". Oxidative injury index and iron homeostasis markers were measured in lavage fluid and plasma. RESULTS: In 12 patients, the concentrations of 8-isoprostane (p=0.005), 8-oxoguanine (p=0.04), carbonyl proteins (p=0.04)--as markers of oxidative stress--decreased significantly in lavage fluid after intervention. Levels of iron-related proteins, ferritin (p=0.04) and transferrin (p=0.005) also decreased significantly in lavage fluid. CONCLUSION: Deferasirox--as an iron chelator--decrease oxidative injury index in hyperoxic condition and it could be consider safe and beneficial agent, along with other supportive measures in hyperoxia-induced lung injury for better toleration of oxygen therapy.

Recombinant human erythropoietin reduces plasminogen activator inhibitor and ameliorates pro-inflammatory responses following trauma.

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: sBesides its hematopoietic effects, erythropoietin (EPO) by mobilization of iron and modulation of some inflammatory cytokines has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these effects of erythropoietin and its impact on organ function in traumatized patients. METHODS: Twenty-six ICU-admitted traumatized patients within 24 hrs after trauma were randomly assigned to the EPO (received EPO, 300 units/Kg/day) and Control (not received EPO) groups. The inflammatory biomarkers including Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1 (IL-1), Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and Nitrotyrosine were recorded at the admission, 3, 6 and 9 days thereafter. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were also recorded. RESULTS: Among 12 patients (EPO group) TNF-α level at the day of 9 (P=0.046), and within EPO group at the days of 3 (P=0.026 ameliorate), 6 (P=0.016), and 9 (P=0.052) were significantly lowered. Level of IL-1 and PAI-1 decreased significantly at days of 3, 6 and 9 post intervention. Also there were significant differences between two groups in the SOFA score during three measured time intervals (the first, third and seventh days). CONCLUSION: From the results of this study it seems that injection of erythrocyte stimulating agent is well tolerated and inhibits the inflammatory response and oxidative stress following trauma.

Comparison the inflammatory effects of early supplemental parenteral nutrition plus enteral nutrition versus enteral nutrition alone in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: It is believed that enteral nutrition (EN) support is the preferred route as compared to parenteral nutrition (PN). Critically ill patients on EN receive less than 60% of their metabolic requirements. To meet patients' calorie goal addition of PN to EN was proposed. This study was conducted to determine whether supplemental PN have any difference with EN alone in regard to inflammatory indices. METHODS: Twenty patients were randomized to either receive EN alone or EN+PN for 7 days. Pre albumin and inflammatory indices including interleukin IL-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured on days of 0, 3,7. Also Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28) score were calculated on days of 0, 3 and 7. RESULTS AND MAJOR CONCLUSION: IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α did not show significant difference between two interventions. Pre-albumin was increased from baseline by 9% and 81% in EN and EN+PN groups respectively but it did not reach to statistical significance. SOFA score did not show significant difference. TISS score was higher in EN+PN group on days of 3 and 7. No difference was found between EN and EN+PN regimens in regard to inflammation, while severity of illness may not change with these regimens, nursing workload increases with implementation of supplemental PN.

Identification of enhanced cytokine generation following sepsis. Dream of magic bullet for mortality prediction and therapeutic evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: sepsis is one of the most widespread and lethal disease in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Based on pathophisyology of sepsis, it seems that routine laboratory tests combined with analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines plasma levels, help clinicians to have more information about disease progress and its correct management. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study to determine the predictive role of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 as three main pro-inflammatory cytokines and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) as two scoring systems in mortality of critically ill patients with severe sepsis. Fifty and five patients with criteria of severe sepsis were included in this study. An exclusion criterion was post Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) status. Cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6) were assayed in the first, third and seventh days in blood of patients. RESULTS AND MAJOR CONCLUSION: Among three measured cytokines, sequential levels of TNF-α and IL-6 showed significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors. IL-6 had a good correlation with outcome and scoring systems during the period of this study. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve indicated that APACHE II (0.858, 0.848, 0.861) and IL-6 (0.797, 0.799, 0.899) had discriminative power in prediction of mortality during sequental measured days. Multiple logestic regression analysis identified that evaluation of APACHE II and TNF-α in the first day and APACHE II and IL-6 in the third and seventh days of severe septic patients are independent outcome predictors. Results of this study suggest that IL-6 and APACHE II are useful cytokine and scoring systems respectively in prediction of mortality and clinical evaluation of severe septic patients.

Preparation and evaluation of cosmetic patches containing lactic and glycolic acids.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid (GA) and lactic acid (LA), are used in cosmetic patches. The important fact in cosmetic patches is its suitable adhesion and peel properties. AIM: The objective of this study was to prepare LA- and GA-containing cosmetic patches and evaluate in-vitro/in-vivo correlation of adhesion properties. METHODS: Pressure-sensitive adhesives with different concentrations of GA and LA were cast on a polyethylene terephthalate film. The patches were evaluated for peel adhesive strength. On the basis of in vitro adhesion properties the patches were selected for wear performance tests and skin irritation potential. RESULTS: The adhesion properties (adhesion to steel plate and skin) and cohesive strength tests indicated the substantial influence of GA and LA concentrations. Based on in vitro adhesion studies the patches containing 3% (w/w) GA were selected for in vivo studies. In vivo studies show that a formulation containing 3% GA displays good adhesion on the skin, but it leaves little residues on the skin. Skin Irritation studies on healthy human volunteers showed negligible erythema at the site of application after 48 h. CONCLUSION: The noninvasive patch test model was found useful for detecting irritant skin reactions to the cosmetic patch containing GA. Our results demonstrated a strong correlation between the adhesion to steel plate and adhesion to skin. But a weak correlation between the degree of adhesive residue on the skin in in vitro and in vivo tests was observed for the formulation containing 3% (w/w) GA.