Ferulic acid's therapeutic odyssey: nano formulations, pre-clinical investigations, and patent perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic phytochemical that has garnered the attention of the research community due to its abundant availability in nature. It is a compound that has been explored for its multifaceted therapeutic potential and benefits in modern and contemporary healthcare. AREAS COVERED: This review furnishes a compilation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-diabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of FA. We also aim to excavate an in-depth analysis of the role of nanoformulations to achieve release control, reduce toxicity, and deliver FA at specified target sites. To corroborate the safety and efficacy of FA, a multitude of pre-clinical studies have also been conducted by researchers and have been discussed comprehensively in this review. The various patented innovations and newer paradigms pertaining to FA have also been presented. EXPERT OPINION: Enormous research has been conducted and should still be continued to find the best possible novel drug delivery system for FA delivery. The utilization of nanocarriers and nanoformulations has intrigued the scientists for delivery of FA, but before that, it is necessary to shed light upon toxicity, safety, and regulatory concerns of FA.

Therapeutic treatment strategies for the management of onychomycosis: a patent perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Onychomycosis, a multifactorial fungal infection of the nails, shows a global prevalence of about 5.5% and is responsible for 50% of all nail infections. To develop effective management strategies, it is necessary to understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and risk factors of onychomycosis. Oral route of drug delivery is one of the routes utilized to deliver anti-fungal agents, but, has its own limitations like longer duration of treatment, increased adverse effects, and potential for drug interaction. The ungual route has received greater attention due to its localized, non- invasive action and improved patient compliance. AREAS COVERED: This review comprehensively discusses conventional onychomycosis therapies and patented novel drug delivery systems for the management of onychomycosis including chemical permeation enhancers, non-particulate drug delivery systems, penetration enhancing devices etc., Databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Patents were searched by using the keywords onychomycosis and trans-ungual drug delivery. EXPERT OPINION: Enormous research has been conducted and is still ongoing to find the best possible novel drug delivery system for onychomycosis management. Approaches like incorporation of herbal constituents in nano-formulations, inkjet printing, laser devices, iontophoretic techniques, etc. can be employed to make safe and effective drug delivery systems which are regulatory compliant.

Herbal Approach for Diabetic Cure and Futuristic Dimension.

Engulfing almost 537 million people, the most commonly occurring metabolic disorder, diabetes mellitus, is emerging as an epidemic worldwide. Diabetes mellitus is identified as a heterogeneous pathological condition that is marked by extreme hyperglycemic (glucose) levels caused by reduced insulin sensitivity. Synthetic antidiabetic medications are widely commercialized but have slowly expressed several inevitable side effects and limitations in treated diabetic subjects. Researchers have been exploring herbal medicine due to its esteemed therapeutic effects. WHO have enlisted almost 21,000 herbal components that have established therapeutic benefit. Several herbs, most of them widely available, have been studied to extract their active phytoconstituents that have effective diabetes management potential with the least risk factor for side effects and acute toxicity. Though acceptable standardization, awareness, and clinical trials are yet to be established before mainstreaming herbal formulation, preclinical studies have confirmed the higher safety and efficacy of several extracted phytoconstituents and formulation in comparative analysis with synthetic products. The authors have also discussed their opinions with regard to the vast usability of herbal components along with the multi-target functionality of several phytoconstituents, as well as the challenges faced for standardizing, formulating, and marketing herbal medicines. Other than this, several cases of clinical trials showing effectivity of herbal antidiabetic aid are mentioned. In this review, an attempt has been made to summarize the potential antidiabetic herbs, marketed herbal formulations, and patented formulations that have established therapeutic prospects to downregulate diabetic conditions.

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Mechanistic Insight.

A complex metabolic condition referred to as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and decreased insulin production. Obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and chronic inflammation are just a few of the cardiometabolic illnesses that people with T2DM are more likely to acquire and results in cardiovascular issues. It is essential to comprehend the mechanistic insights into these risk variables in order to prevent and manage cardiovascular problems in T2DM effectively. Impaired glycemic control leads to upregulation of De novo lipogenesis (DNL), promote hepatic triglyceride (TG) synthesis, worsening dyslipidemia that is accompanied by low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high amounts of small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) further developing atherosclerosis. By causing endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, chronic hyperglycemia worsens already existing cardiometabolic risk factors. Vasoconstriction, inflammation, and platelet aggregation are caused by endothelial dysfunction, which is characterized by decreased nitric oxide production, increased release of vasoconstrictors, proinflammatory cytokines, and adhesion molecules. The loop of IR and endothelial dysfunction is sustained by chronic inflammation fueled by inflammatory mediators produced in adipose tissue. Infiltrating inflammatory cells exacerbate inflammation and the development of plaque in the artery wall. In addition, the combination of chronic inflammation, dyslipidemia, and IR contributes to the emergence of hypertension, a prevalent comorbidity in T2DM. The ability to target therapies and management techniques is made possible by improvements in our knowledge of these mechanistic insights. Aim of present review is to enhance our current understanding of the mechanistic insights into the cardiometabolic risk factors related to T2DM provides important details into the interaction of pathophysiological processes resulting in cardiovascular problems. Understanding these pathways will enable us to create efficient plans for the prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular problems in T2DM patients, ultimately leading to better overall health outcomes.

Understanding the factors that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes: Exploring how the body works Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex condition where the body struggles to use insulin properly and doesn't produce enough of it. This often leads to other health issues like obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation. These problems increase the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases in people with T2DM. To tackle these issues effectively, it's crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms. When blood sugar levels are not controlled, the body starts making more fat and storing it in the liver, leading to high triglycerides and low levels of good cholesterol. This process can block arteries, causing heart problems. High blood sugar also damages blood vessel linings, making them inflamed and less functional. This inflammation, combined with other factors like high cholesterol and insulin resistance, can lead to high blood pressure. Chronic inflammation, where the body's defense system stays active for too long, worsens these problems. In T2DM, inflammation occurs in fat tissues, making the situation even worse. Inflammatory cells infiltrate blood vessel walls, promoting plaque buildup and further worsening heart issues. Understanding these processes helps us develop better strategies to prevent, detect, and treat heart problems in people with T2DM. By targeting these mechanisms, doctors can create more effective plans to improve the overall health of individuals with diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Controlling the phase and morphology of amorphous Se nanoparticles: their prolonged stabilization and anticancer efficacy.

Applications of amorphous Se nanoparticles (NPs) are limited due to their meticulous synthetic procedures and rapid phase transformation leading to low stability. A highly facile one-pot green method is being reported, wherein apart from tuning the morphology and the phase of the Se NPs, their stabilization could be prolonged to months as compared to a few minutes-to-days, known hitherto.

Pattern-Directed Ordering of Spin-Dewetted Liquid Crystal Micro- or Nanodroplets as Pixelated Light Reflectors and Locomotives.

Chemical pattern directed spin-dewetting of a macroscopic droplet composed of a dilute organic solution of liquid crystal (LC) formed an ordered array of micro- and nanoscale LC droplets. Controlled evaporation of the spin-dewetted droplets through vacuum drying could further miniaturize the size to the level of ∼90 nm. The size, periodicity, and spacing of these mesoscale droplets could be tuned with the variations in the initial loading of LC in the organic solution, the strength of the centripetal force on the droplet, and the duration of the evaporation. A simple theoretical model was developed to predict the spacing between the spin-dewetted droplets. The patterned LC droplets showed a reversible phase transition from nematic to isotropic and vice versa with the periodic exposure of a solvent vapor and its removal. A similar phase transition behavior was also observed with the periodic increase or reduction of temperature, suggesting their usefulness as vapor or temperature sensors. Interestingly, when the spin-dewetted droplets were confined between a pair of electrodes and an external electric field was applied, the droplets situated at the hydrophobic patches showed light-reflecting properties under the polarization microscopy highlighting their importance in the development of micro- or nanoscale LC displays. The digitized LC droplets, which were stationary otherwise, showed dielectrophoretic locomotion under the guidance of the external electric field beyond a threshold intensity of the field. Remarkably, the motion of these droplets could be restricted to the hydrophilic zones, which were confined between the hydrophobic patches of the chemically patterned surface. The findings could significantly contribute in the development of futuristic vapor or temperature sensors, light reflectors, and self-propellers using the micro- or nanoscale digitized LC droplets.