Impact of solidification on micromeritic properties and dissolution rate of self-nanoemulsifying delivery system loaded with docosahexaenoic acid.

Development of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is reported with the aim to achieve enhanced dissolution rate. The optimized composition of liquid SNEDDS (L-SNEDDS) formulation was Labrafil M1944 CS, 47% v/v Tween 80, 27% v/v Transcutol P, and 0.1% v/v DHA. L-SNEDDS were solidified using Syloid XDP 3150 as solid porous carrier. The droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, percentage drug loading, and cloud point for L-SNEDDS were found to be 43.51 ± 1.36 nm, 0.186 ± 0.053, -19.20 ± 1.21 mV, 93.23 ± 1.71, and 88.60 ± 2.54 °C, respectively. Similarly, for solid SNEDDS (S-SNEDDS) the above parameters were found to be 57.32 ± 1.87 nm, 0.261 ± 0.043, -16.60 ± 2.18 mV, 91.23 ± 1.88, and 89.50 ± 1.18 °C, respectively. The formulations (L-SNEDDS, S-SNEDDS powder, and S-SNEDDS tablet) showed significant (p<.05) improvement in dissolution rate of drug in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) as compared to unprocessed DHA. In both the dissolution media, the dissolution rate was found more that 85% in 90 min. Absence of drug precipitation, phase separation, and turbidity during thermodynamic stability studies indicated that the developed SNEDDS were stable. Hence, it was concluded that SNEDDS have offered sufficient stability as well as dissolution rate of DHA.

Modified apple polysaccharide capped gold nanoparticles for oral delivery of insulin.

The study entailed formulation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) upon reduction of chloroauric acid by modified apple polysaccharide (MAP). AuNPs were conjugated with insulin (INS) for its oral delivery to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The size of MAP conjugated AuNPs loaded with INS was 124 ± 8.55 nm with zeta potential -10.5 ± 0.54 mV. The animal study carried out in streptozotocin induced rat model revealed that AuNPs conjugated insulin (AuNPs-INS) in high dose caused 3.36 folds decrease in blood glucose level in 240 min, whereas, orally administered INS failed to decrease the blood glucose level. The 28-day study also revealed better improvement in body weight, lipid profile, urea, creatinine and liver parameters in AuNPs-INS (high dose) for which the observed value was close with respect to intraperitoneally administrated insulin followed by medium dose of AuNPs-INS, low dose of AuNPS-INS, AuNPs alone and modified apple polysaccharide.

A Systematic Review on Synthetic Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals Used to Manage Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a multifactorial disease and a major cause for many microvascular and macrovascular complications. The disease will ultimately lead to high rate mortality if it is not managed properly. Treatment of diabetes without any side effects has always remained a major challenge for health care practitioners. INTRODUCTION: The current review discusses the various conventional drugs, herbal drugs, combination therapy and the use of nutraceuticals for the effective management of diabetes mellitus. The biotechnological aspects of various antidiabetic drugs are also discussed. METHODS: Structured search of bibliographic databases for previously published peer-reviewed research papers was explored and data was sorted in terms of various approaches that are used for the treatment of diabetes. RESULTS: More than 170 papers including both research and review articles, were included in this review in order to produce a comprehensive and easily understandable article. A series of herbal and synthetic drugs have been discussed along with their current status of treatment in terms of dose, mechanism of action and possible side effects. The article also focuses on combination therapies containing synthetic as well as herbal drugs to treat the disease. The role of pre and probiotics in the management of diabetes is also highlighted. CONCLUSION: Oral antihyperglycemics which are used to treat diabetes can cause many adverse effects and if given in combination, can lead to drug-drug interactions. The combination of various phytochemicals with synthetic drugs can overcome the challenge faced by the synthetic drug treatment. Herbal and nutraceuticals therapy and the use of probiotics and prebiotics are a more holistic therapy due to their natural origin and traditional use.

Gold nanoparticles: New routes across old boundaries.

In recent years, gold nanoparticles have emerged as unique non-invasive drug carriers for targeting drugs to their site of action. Their site specificity has helped in increasing drugs' efficacy at lower dose as well as reduction in their side effects. Moreover, their excellent optical properties and small size offer their utilization as diagnostic tools to diagnose tumors as well as other diseases. This review focuses on various approaches that have been used in last several years for preparation of gold nanoparticles, their characterization techniques and theranostic applications. Their toxicity related aspects are also highlighted. Gold nanoparticles are useful as theranostic agents, owing to their small size, biocompatible nature, size dependent physical, chemical and optical properties etc. However, the challenges associated with these nanoparticles such as scale up, cost, low drug payload, toxicity and stability have been the major impediments in their commercialization. The review looks into all these critical issues and identifies the possibilities to overcome these challenges for successful positioning of metallic nanoparticles in market.

Prediction of PIH by Maternal Serum Beta HCG Levels in the Second Trimester (13-20 Weeks) of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that women with high serum beta-HCG levels in early pregnancy are at higher risk of developing PIH. METHODS: Serum beta-HCG estimation was done by CLIA method in 200 women between 13 and 20 weeks of gestation, selected randomly for this study from July 2008 to Aug 2009. Multiple of median (MOM) was calculated from charts of norms available for that week of pregnancy. They were followed till delivery for development of PIH and pregnancy outcome and results analysed statistically with Chi-square test and Z test. RESULTS: Out of 200 cases, 178 (89 %) were finally evaluated. Of whom 22 (12.36 %) cases developed PIH. Beta HCG levels were considered raised if the levels were >2MOM.20 (83.33 %) out of 24 cases with beta HCG levels >2MOM developed PIH against 2 (1.2 %) cases out of 154 having beta HCG levels ≤2 MOM (P value <0.001). Also, higher levels of beta HCG are associated with increased severity of PIH (P value <0.01). The sensitivity was 90.91 %, specificity was 97.44 % and positive predictive value was 83.33 %. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the serum beta HCG estimation at mid trimester (13-20 weeks) is a good predictor of PIH and higher levels of beta HCG are associated with increased severity of PIH.