Amount Of Drug Research Articles

Evaluation and testing of polymethylmetacrylic (PMMA) bone cements with admixed Amphotericin B

BackgroundAmphotericin is admixed to Polymethylmethacrylic (PMMA) spacers for fungal periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) during two-stage exchanges. We aimed to analyse the mechanical properties of PMMA cement with admixed Amphotericin B.Materials and methodsWe tested Amphotericin in PMMA cement mechanically, its elution properties in vitro and present two cases of fungal PJI treated with Amphotericin B powder in Copal cement in vivo.ResultsSterile Amphotericin B is not available as a pure substance but only as powder for infusions. PMMA mixed with such pharmaceutical Amphotericin B formulations colored the cement orange. Compression strength was slightly decreased, bending and impact strength significantly decreased whereas bending modulus was increased. Drug elution was high within the first 24 h and decreased over time until day 5. Amphotericin B in combination with Copal was successfully used in two cases with Candida ssp. infections. No negative side effects, especially no nephrotoxic effects, were observed. Sterile Amphotericin B powder for preparing an infusion solution contains only small amounts of pure drug. In vivo polymicrobial Candida-infections with bacterial co-infection were successfully treated using the combination of Copal cements with added Amphotericin B without systemic nephrotoxic impact.ConclusionsThe addition of Amphotericin B to PMMA cement affects the cement’s properties in vitro whereas in vivo the combination with Copal is clinically successful in treating complex cases of fungal PJI.Level of evidenceLevel IV.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ СКОРОСТИ РАЗЛОЖЕНИЯ ПЕСТИЦИДОВ ПРИ ИХ СОВМЕСТНОМ ПРИМЕНЕНИИ В ПРОЦЕССЕ ПРОИЗВОДСТВА СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННОЙ ПРОДУКЦИИ

The purpose of research is to study the dynamics of the decomposition of individual active ingredients of pesticides in plant tissues when used in tank mixtures. The field part of the study was carried out on the territory of the Educational, Scientific and Production Center for Horticulture and Vegetable Growing named after V.I. Edelshtein FSBEI HE Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, the laboratory part was carried out at the Educational and Scientific Consulting Center “Agroecology of Pesticides and Agrochemicals” in Moscow during 2020–2021. Research was carried out on crops of spring wheat, oats, spring barley, peas, spring rape, potato plantings, as well as apple tree plantings. Chemical treatments were carried out with insecticides and fungicides approved for use on these crops – Skor, KE; Borey Neo, SK; Tilt, KE; Imidor, VRK; Kumir, SK; Sirocco, KE. The experiment included options with the use of drugs in tank mixtures and options with their separate use. Samples of plant products were taken for further analysis for pesticide content. In laboratory conditions, the level of residual amounts of active drugs in plant samples was analyzed using gas-liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The change in the level of pesticide residues in different experimental variants was assessed. The acceleration of the decomposition of the active substance, imidacloprid, on crops of peas, spring wheat, oats, spring barley and spring rape when used together with the drug Tilt, KE was established. Also, the use of the fungicide Skor, KE together with the insecticide Borey Neo, SK (150 g/l imidacloprid + 50 g/l lambda-cyhalothrin) on the apple tree caused a slowdown in the rate of decomposition of the active substances lambda-cyhalothrin and imidacloprid. The use of the copper-containing fungicide Kumir together with the insecticide Borey Neo, SK on the apple tree caused an acceleration of the disintegration of the active substance imidacloprid. The combined use of the fungicide Skor, KE with the insecticides Sirocco, KE and Borey Neo, SK accelerated the decomposition of the active substance difenoconazole.

Fishroesomes show intrinsic anti-inflammatory bioactivity and ability as celecoxib carriers in vivo.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic inflammatory-related diseases represent the greatest threat to human health. Indeed, failure in the resolution of inflammation leads to serious pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders that are often associated with extremely high human suffering and societal and economic burdens. Despite the number and efficacy of available therapeutic agents have been increased, the serious side effects associated with some of them often create a very high risk/benefit ratio for patients. Therefore, herein, a drug delivery system was engineered to overcome important drawbacks of conventional therapies and to have a synergistic action with the incorporated drug. Indeed, it will have an added beneficial role in controlling inflammation. For that, sardine (Sardina pilchardus) roe was used as the lipidic source to produce bioactive liposomes, namely fishroesomes. These spherical vesicles with ≈326 nm in size and a significant negative surface charge (≈-31 mV) were able to encapsulate and control the release of the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib. Moreover, fishroesomes were cytocompatible for different cell types (chondrocytes and macrophages), at concentrations in which they present anti-inflammatory properties. Importantly, fishroesomes were more effective in reducing pro-inflammatory mediators than the free drug. We also demonstrated that a single intra-articular injection of the fishroesomes encapsulating or not celecoxib in an experimental rat model of inflammatory arthritis was safe and more effective in controlling the pain and reducing the synovial inflammation compared to the free drug. Notably, as the celecoxib concentration in the sardine roe-derived liposomes was less than half of the amount of free drug, this study demonstrates the value of fishroesomes in counteracting inflammation. Therefore, the developed formulations may be considered a promising therapeutic option for inflammatory conditions.

In-vitro Lipolysis, Stability and Pharmacodynamic Study of Cilnidipine Loaded Self-emulsifying Drug Delivery System

Aims: The aim of this research work was to investigate the potential ability of cilnidipine- loaded-Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS) to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of cilnidipine. Background: The therapeutic value of drugs is constrained by the low oral bioavailability of BCS class II drugs. In order to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, SEDDS are frequently utilised. Methods: To develop the cilnidipine-loaded-SEDDS formulation, Canola oil as the oil phase, tween 80 as the surfactant, and PEG 300 as the co-surfactant were used. The SEDDS formulation was evaluated based on stability study per ICH guidelines, drug precipitation during in-vitro lipolysis study under fasted and fed state, and in vivo pharmacodynamic study in Wistar rats. The content of the drug was determined by assay of SEDDS formulation using the official method of cilnidipine. Results: The pharmacodynamic study demonstrated that cilnidipine-loaded SEDDS formulation significantly produced a rapid antihypertensive effect (within 2 h) that lasted for 24 h in comparison to drug suspension. During the in vitro lipolysis study, the concentration of the drug recovered from the aqueous phase under both fasted and fed state was more than 90% after 10 minutes, with a minute amount of drug involved in precipitation. At stability conditions of 30 ± 2°C/65 ± 5%RH for a duration of six months, the SEDDS formulation was found to be stable. The content of cilnidipine in the SEDDS formulation was found to be 98.4%. Conclusion: A BCS class-II drug's oral bioavailability and dissolution might be improved using the self-emulsifying drug delivery method.

Low friction hydrogel with diclofenac eluting ability for dry eye therapeutic contact lenses.

When placed in the eye, contact lenses (CLs) disturb the tear fluid and affect the natural tribological behaviour of the eye. The disruption in the contact mechanics between the ocular tissues can increase frictional shear stress and ocular dryness, causing discomfort. Ultimately, continuous CLs wear can trigger inflammation which is particularly critical for people suffering from dry eye. In this work, a double strategy was followed to obtain therapeutic daily disposable CLs for dry eye: a hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) based hydrogel was coated with two natural polysaccharides, chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) and posteriorly loaded with an anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac, DCF). Material sterilisation was carried out by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) combined with moderate temperature. The friction coefficient (μ) was determined in the presence of different tear biomolecules (cholesterol, lysozyme and albumin) using a nanotribometer. Drug release experiments were performed in static and in hydrodynamic conditions. The material was extensively characterised, regarding surface morphology/topography, optical properties, water content and swelling behaviour, wettability, ionic and oxygen permeability and mechanical properties. It was found that the coating did not impair the physico-chemical properties relevant for the material's application in CLs. Besides, it also ensured a sustained release of DCF for 24h in tests performed in hydrodynamic conditions that simulate those found in the eye, increasing significantly the amount of drug released. It reduced friction, improving the lubrication ability of the hydrogel, and presented antibacterial properties against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and B. Cereus. The coated samples did not reveal any signs of cytotoxicity or potential eye irritation. Overall, the coating of the hydrogel may be useful to produce daily CLs able to alleviate dry eye symptoms and the discomfort of CLs wearers.

Controlled dual drug delivery system based on gelatin electrospinning membranes for wound healing promotion.

Skin wound repair is a complex dynamic process. Current dual-drug delivery systems struggle to adapt to the process of wound healing. Therefore, the construction of a dual-drug delivery system with intelligent responsiveness, controllable release, and understanding the repair mechanisms, is a current research challenge. This study described the design of a new gelatin-based dual-drug delivery system (PGDMD) using electric field stimulation to achieve a controlled drug release. In vitro drug release experiments demonstrated PGDMD completed the transition from a fiber membrane state to a gel state during the release process. Quercetin released with a rapid release within the first 60min and amikacin released over 24h. The amount of drug released in the same release time was increased mainly through electrostatic action under the effect of the electric field and accelerated the movement of drug molecules. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that PGDMD mainly reduced inflammation and oxidative stress responses by upregulating the expression of antioxidant-related metabolites, thereby improving the therapeutic effect of rat traumatic skin. In conclusion, the dual-drug delivery system might be potentially applied to high-performance medical devices, pharmaceuticals and other industry products, and provides research ideas and reference for exploring the interaction between biomaterials and the organism.

Physicochemical Design of Nanoparticles to Interface with and Degrade Neutrophil Extracellular Traps.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are networks of decondensed chromatin, histones, and antimicrobial proteins released by neutrophils in response to an infection. NET overproduction can cause an exacerbated hyperinflammatory response in a variety of diseases and can lead to host tissue damage without clearance of infection. Nanoparticle drug delivery is a promising avenue for creating materials that can both target NETs and deliver sustained amounts of NET-degrading drugs to alleviate hyperinflammation. Here, we study how particle physicochemical properties can influence NET interaction and leverage our findings to create NET-interfacing and NET-degrading particles. We fabricated a panel of particles of varying sizes (200 to 1000 nm) and charges (positive, neutral, negative) and found that positive charge is the main driver of NET-particle interaction, with smaller 200 nm positive particles having a 10-fold increase in binding compared to larger 1000 nm positive particles. Negative and neutral particles were mostly noninteracting, except for small negatively charged particles that exhibited very low levels of NET localization. Interaction strength of particles with NETs was quantified via shear flow assays and atomic force microscopy. This information was leveraged to create DNase-loaded particles that could adhere to NETs at varying degrees and therefore degrade NETs at different rates in vitro. Positively charged, 200 nm DNase-loaded particles showed the highest degree of interaction with NETs and therefore led to faster degradation compared with larger sizes, underscoring the importance of physicochemical design for NET-targeting drug delivery. Overall, this work provides fundamental knowledge of the drivers of particle-NET interaction and a basis for designing NET-targeting particles for various disease states.

Numerical investigation on the differential injection angle effects of intrathecal anesthetic drug delivery

In lumbar anesthesia surgery, the accurate determination of key parameters such as injection angle and dosage is facilitated by the real-time observation of intrathecal drug distribution. In this study, a non-invasive and visual computational fluid dynamics method was used to simulate drug injections in the “cloverleaf” lumbar thoracic segment with a multiphase mixture model, clarifying the intrathecal unsteady flow behaviors and the drug transport mechanisms. The transport properties of three clinically significant injection angles — [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]— were compared, determining the fastest and slowest block onset angles based on drug concentration levels in the thoracic vertebral plane. The calculation results are aligned with clinical practice trends, and it is found that significantly different drug amounts are required for different injection angles, with higher doses necessitated for ultrasound-assisted anesthesia. During anesthesia, a trend of increasing and then decreasing local anesthetic concentrations in each vertebral plane was observed, with the presence of a minimum effective dose of local anesthetic at the target block site. Injecting at the “concave” part of the cloverleaf ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) results in greater drug pulsation, faster diffusion and more efficient mixing than injecting at the positive “convex” part of the cloverleaf cross-section ([Formula: see text]). At the L2 vertebral plane, the flow rate and mixing ratios during injection for angles of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were approximately 1:4:2. Compared with orthostatic [Formula: see text] injections, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] oblique injections resulted in higher drug concentrations in the T12-10 vertebral plane during the pre-transport period, with [Formula: see text] injections being the fastest. However, over a longer period of time, [Formula: see text] injections resulted in the lowest drug concentrations in the target block plane (T10), necessitating a higher dose. A faster anesthetic response was produced by [Formula: see text] injections at the same dose. Valuable insights for the application of appropriate drug dosages in clinical anesthesia practice are offered by the calculations.

Gas-propelled anti-hair follicle aging microneedle patch for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Existing treatments for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are unsatisfactory, owing to the two major reasons: (1) Oxidative stress and vascularization deficiency in the perifollicular microenvironment provoke the premature senescence of hair follicles, limiting the transformation of hair growth cycle from the telogen to the anagen phase; (2) The amount of drug delivered to the perifollicular region located in the deep dermis is very limited for passive drug delivery systems. Herein, we developed a gas-propelled microneedle patch integrated with ferrum-chelated puerarin/quercetin nanoparticles (PQFN) to increase drug accumulation in hair follicles and reshape the perifollicular microenvironment for improved hair-regenerating effects. PQFN can rejuvenate testosterone (Tes)-induced senescence of dermal papilla cells by scavenging ROS, restoring mitochondrial function, regulating signaling pathways related to hair regeneration, and upregulating hair growth-promoting genes. PQFN more efficiently promoted endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation than ferrum-chelated quercetin nanoparticles (QFN) because of puerarin's proangiogenic effects. Compared with passive MNs, gas-propelled MNs promoted drug diffusion and permeation into deeper skin layers, resulting in significantly higher drug accumulation in hair follicles. Pharmacodynamic studies on an AGA mouse model further showed that PQFN-loaded active MNs achieved higher hair coverage by alleviating oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and rejuvenating senescent cells. Therefore, this study presents a novel "anti-hair follicle aging" treatment strategy for AGA.

Formulation and Evaluation of Liposomal Cream Containing Tolnaftate

The current study’s objective was to formulate and evaluate a liposomal cream containing tolnaftate in order to improve the drug’s bioavailability. Tolnaftate is a drug having low permeability which results in decreased drug absorption and so is the bioavailability. To overcome these problems tolnaftate is incorporated in liposomes. Liposome vesicular drug delivery system was preferred due to its greater solubility, permeability and bioavailability. It carries a substantial amount of drug which increased the drug’s penetration. The liposomes were prepared using a variety of phospholipids, specifically soy lecithin and egg phosphatidylcholine in varying ratios. Liposomes were prepared by ethanol injection method and evaluated for morphology, percentage practical yield, percentage entrapment efficiency, drug content and in-vitro drug release study. The formulation with the best result according to the evaluation parameters was F2 with greater percentage drug entrapment, drug content and in-vitro drug release was considered to be optimized formulation and this F2 formulation was further evaluated by SEM, DSC and XRD. Liposomal cream was formulated using the optimized formulation. Spreadability, Viscocity, pH measurement and in-vitro drug release were evaluated for liposomal cream. Formulation F2 and optimized liposomal cream formulation showed in-vitro drug release of 92.44% and 77.48% respectively at the end of 8th hour. Keywords: Tolnaftate, liposomes, SEM, DSC, XRD

Formulation Optimization, Physicochemical Characterization, and Biocompatibility Assessment of Curcumin‐Loaded Aquasomes

ABSTRACTCurcumin, a polyphenolic compound with numerous health benefits, suffers from poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability, limiting its therapeutic potential. This study aimed to characterize and enhance curcumin's bioavailability by aquasomes (AQ)—a novel drug delivery system comprising a core, a carbohydrate layer, and the drug. Using a central composite design within the response surface methodology, formulation parameters—core‐to‐coat ratio, incubation time, and drug amount—were optimized to achieve the desired particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) cores were coated with various sugars (lactose, sucrose, maltose, and trehalose) and loaded with curcumin, then characterized by size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optimized HAP cores exhibited a particle size of 55.41 nm. Curcumin‐loaded AQ showed larger sizes, with sucrose and maltose formulations measuring 215.6 and 329.5 nm, respectively. Encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 50% to 55.1%, with trehalose‐coated AQ showing the highest efficiency. Drug release studies demonstrated a sustained release profile, with trehalose AQ achieving 90% release within 100 min. Stability assessments indicated no significant changes over 90 days, and photostability tests showed improved protection against light‐induced degradation. The study developed curcumin‐loaded AQ with enhanced stability and solubility, optimized through quality by design principles, offering a promising strategy to improve curcumin's bioavailability.

Formulation and evaluation of transdermal delivery of beclomethasone dipropionate via ethosomes

This study tested beclomethasone dipropionate for maximal solubility in aqueous buffers to formulate and evaluate beclomethasone dipropionate ethosomes for transdermal delivery. Compared to traditional liposomes, ethosomal systems can deliver greater concentrations of beclomethasone dipropionate via mice's skin at a regulated release rate. Ethosomal formulations had much greater drug flow values (P G.01). This would suggest that ethanol improves the way drugs pass through the layers of the skin. Of all the generated ethosomal formulations, 22.83 ± 0.56 ?g/cm2/h was the most significant drug flow obtained. The release kinetics mechanism was assessed by fitting the permeation data to the zero-order, first-order, and Higuchi diffusion models. A linear link between the quantity of drug released and the square root of time was discovered, and all permeation profiles followed the Higuchi diffusion model. The primary barrier to drug penetration is bypassed when the medication is transported by ethosomes into the stratum corneum, greatly enhancing skin delivery. However, the amount that this function enhances transdermal flux may depend on several variables, including medication release from vesicles in the stratum corneum.

Completeness and quality of comprehensive managed care data compared with fee-for-service data in national Medicaid claims from 2001 to 2019.

To evaluate the completeness and quality of Medicaid comprehensive managed care (CMC) data in national MAX/TAF research files. This observational study compared CMC with fee-for-service (FFS) enrollee data in 2001-2019 Medicaid MAX/TAF inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy files. Completeness was assessed as the proportion of enrollees with any claim and mean claims per enrollee with any claim. Quality was assessed as the proportion of inpatient and outpatient claims with primary diagnosis and procedure codes and the proportion of prescription drug claims with fill dates, National Drug Codes (NDC), days supplied, and quantity dispensed. Acceptable ranges for each study measure were defined as the national FFS mean ± 2 standard deviations. We analyzed secondary data on 45 states from 2001 to 2013 (MAX) and 50 states and DC from 2014 to 2019 (TAF). The sample included adults aged 18-64 with continuous calendar-year enrollment who were eligible for full Medicaid benefits and ineligible for Medicare. We determined CMC enrollment rates and assessed data completeness and quality among state-years with ≥10% CMC penetration, comparing CMC with FFS enrollees. Across 891 state-years, 194,364,647 enrollees met inclusion criteria. Of 540 state-years (60.6%) with ≥10% CMC enrollment, CMC data were largely comparable to national FFS distributions for all inpatient (n = 430; 79.6%), outpatient (n = 467, 86.5%), and prescription (n = 459, 85.0%) completeness criteria and for all inpatient (n = 449, 83.1%), outpatient (n = 511, 94.6%), and prescription (n = 528, 97.8%) quality criteria. Overall completeness (92.3%) and quality (84.6%) improved substantially by 2019. Completeness and quality of CMC data were largely comparable to FFS data, with increasing state-years meeting criteria over time. Further research on national Medicaid populations should assess and address differences in data completeness and quality by plan type across states, over time, and in relation to specific study samples and measures of interest.

Preclinical evaluation of new drug-drug interactions of lomitapide: A proposal for novel mechanism of interaction associated with lipid metabolic changes.

Lomitapide, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, is a lipid-lowering drug that inhibits chylomicron formation in enterocytes and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) formation in the liver. Previous studies have shown that very low-density lipoprotein and/or low-density lipoprotein (VLDL/LDL) can deliver certain drugs in addition to lipids. Thus, we hypothesized that serum concentrations of drugs that are more likely to be distributed to VLDL/LDL in the serum (referred to as "VLDL/LDL-philic drugs" in this paper) may be altered by co-administered lomitapide. To verify this interest, we administered VLDL/LDL-philic drugs along with lomitapide to mice. Repeated administration of lomitapide decreased the serum lipid levels and VLDL/LDL-philic drug concentrations, to 20% for amiodarone, to 52% for doxycycline, and to 62% for tetracycline. These decreases occurred concurrently with the accumulation of lipids and drugs in enterocytes. The enterocyte distribution coefficients, defined as the amount of drug in enterocytes divided by the serum drug concentration, were significantly increased by lomitapide treatment for all the VLDL/LDL-philic drugs tested. In addition, an acute absorption study showed that amiodarone absorption was reduced to less than 30% by lomitapide, accompanied by accumulation of amiodarone in enterocytes. Collectively, through a series of experiments, we revealed the association between drugs and VLDL/LDL, and their impact on pharmacokinetics. Our study suggested that lomitapide decreases serum concentrations of VLDL/LDL-philic drugs probably due to changes in their absorption kinetics, proposing novel drug-drug interactions associated with lipid metabolic changes.

Multifunctional Ru(III)/Fe3O4/DNA nanoplatform for photothermal-enhanced photodynamic and chemodynamic cancer therapy

Among the many cancer treatment methods, there have been many reports on the use of nanoplatforms with single treatment methods such as photothermal, photodynamic or chemodynamic for cancer treatment. In this study, Ru(III) with photodynamic effect and Fe3O4 nanoparticles with photothermal and chemodynamic effects are connected through long DNA chains with efficient active targeting rolling circle amplification to construct Ru(III)/Fe3O4/DNA nano-platform realizes the combination of photothermal, photodynamic and chemodynamic treatment, which significantly improves the therapeutic effect of the nano-platform. Its multiple active targeting capabilities reduce the damage to normal cells. Ru(III) has excellent photodynamic effect and can catalyze the respiration product NADH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)to produce highly oxidizing H2O2. Fe3O4 NPs has weak absorption at 808 nm indicates that it can perform mild photothermal treatment, and the Fe2+ in it can react with H2O2 to produce ·OH and participate in chemodynamic treatment. Each repeating unit on the rolling circle amplified DNA long chain is connected to the AS1411 aptamer that can actively target cancer cells. Unlike the passive targeting of other nanomedicines, active and efficient targeting is achieved, and a small amount of drugs can achieve high efficacy. The therapeutic effect also reduces the damage to normal cells. The comprehensive killing effect of Ru(III)/Fe3O4/DNA can reach 85.1 %. Its high targeting of cancer cells can also be used for imaging detection of cancer cells. This new nanoplatform provides an idea for the synergy of multiple cancer treatments.

Design of solid lipid nanoparticles for skin photoprotection through the topical delivery of caffeic acid-phthalimide

Exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is associated with many pathological conditions such as premature aging and skin cancer. Furthermore, members of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-oxidase (NADPH oxidase or NOX) enzyme family can produce UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), even after cessation of radiation exposure. The caffeic acid-phthalimide (CF) compound is a potent antioxidant, which reduces the generation of ROS. However, its high lipophilicity may hamper its permeation through the skin. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) can ensure close contact and increase the amount of drug absorbed into the skin. The present work aims to develop and optimize SLNs containing CF to achieve enhanced skin photoprotection along with antioxidant and anti-aging effects. SLNs were prepared by the hot homogenization method using Compritol 888 ATO as the lipid matrix, and Tween 80 and Pluronic® F-127 as the surfactants to stabilize nanoparticle dispersion. The particles had high stability for at least 30 days. Physicochemical characterizations of the selected SLNs formulations showed sizes in the range 150–180 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.2, and a negative zeta potential (≅ −25 mV). The SLNs had high CF entrapment efficiency (96–97 %) and showed a controlled drug‐release profile. The in vitro study revealed low cytotoxic properties of CF-loaded SLNs towards fibroblasts and a photoprotective effect, reflected from the increased viability of UVB-irradiated fibroblasts treated with CF-SLNs. Moreover, the CF-SLNs induced fibroblast migration and closure, showing that these nanosystems offer not only biological photoprotection, but also stimulate wound healing.

Medication Disposal within Reach: Assessing Implementation of Permanent Disposal Receptacles in Community Pharmacies

Availability of medication disposal receptacles is critical to curbing nonmedical opioid use and diversion; however, availability in community pharmacies is sparse. The objective of this study was to describe implementation of the community pharmacy medication disposal program offered by the HEALing Communities Study in Kentucky (HCS-KY) using the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment) framework. Sixteen counties participated in the HCS-KY from 1/1/2020-12/31/2023. Exploration and Preparation included gathering and review of evidence-based literature, state/community data, and key opinion leader input to develop a detailed implementation plan. Implementation and Sustainment were assessed using implementation outcome data collected (e.g., number of receptacles placed, amount of drug returned) and semi-structured qualitative interviews to evaluate common themes, including barriers and facilitators related to implementation and sustainment. Disposal receptacles were placed in 59 pharmacies within the 16 HCS-KY counties. Following implementation, the median number of receptacles per participating county increased significantly from 2.5 to 4.5 (p<0.001). A total of 8019.9 pounds of drug were returned during the study period, with a median per-county return rate of 230.5 pounds per year. Twenty-one pharmacy representatives participated in qualitative interviews. Most (70.0 %) reported weekly receptacle usage; however, few (35.0 %) reported routinely discussing disposal with patients. While 42.9 % reported no barriers, the most frequently reported barrier (33.3 %) was receptacle limitations (e.g., only available during business hours, dosage form restrictions). Implementation of the HCS-KY community pharmacy medication disposal program led to notable increases in disposal locations that were highly utilized by communities.

Comparative drug release kinetics of Terminalia arjuna mediated SeNPs NanoGel and ZnONPs NanoGel - An in-vitro study.

This study compared the drug release kinetics of Terminalia arjuna mediated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) gel and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) gel for their potential in local drug delivery for chronic periodontitis. The drug release was evaluated in-vitro by conducting tests on different formulations, including 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% Terminalia arjuna mediated SeNPs gel and ZnONPs gel. Each sample, approximately 0.1mg, was mixed with 10mL of phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at various pH levels and maintained at 37°C. The suspension was then placed in an incubated shaker at 120rpm for 1h. Five-milliliter samples were withdrawn from the dissolution medium at 30-min intervals and replaced with fresh PBS buffer to maintain a constant volume. The released drug amount was measured using a UV spectrophotometer (Systronics, India) at 290nm. The investigation revealed that SeNPs gel exhibited higher drug release percentages compared to ZnONPs gel across various concentrations and time points. The sustained release profiles of both formulations suggest effective control over drug release, maintaining therapeutic drug levels over an extended period. The near-complete release of the drug at 500min highlights the potential for prolonged therapeutic efficacy, reducing the need for frequent dosing and enhancing patient compliance. Terminalia arjuna mediated SeNPs gel shows promise for more rapid and sustained drug delivery in the management of chronic periodontitis through local drug delivery systems.

Analysis of Drug Inventory Control Using ABC Method (Always Better Control), EOQ (Economic Order Quantity), And ROP (Reorder Point) At Untada General Hospital, Palu

The procurement of pharmaceutical supplies, including drugs, is the part that uses the largest budget in the hospital. The use of this large budget requires the hospitals to control drug stocks to prevent the possibility of emptiness or over stocks that can cause losses. The uncertainty in planning of drug necessity, encourages the application of a method in controlling drug inventory. The aim of this study was to determine the amount and investment value of drugs included in groups A, B, C and to determine the EOQ and ROP values of the drugs. This study was a quantitative study with a retrospective approach using secondary data in the form of drug procurement during January-December 2022 owned by Undata Hospital Palu. The results of the analysis using the ABC method obtained that group A had 64 items (11%) with investment value IDR 11,048,130,440 (75%), group B had 142 items (25%) with investment value IDR 2,976,402,576 (20%), and group C had 364 items (64%) with investment value IDR 737,979,346 (5%). The optimum amount of medicine ordered based on the EOQ method was around 1-100 items at most. The minimum amount of medicine stock to be reordered based on the ROP method is around 1-100 items at most

Is the shift in treatment patterns towards new, more expensive drugs still driving the increase in pharmaceutical expenditure? A decomposition analysis of expenditure data in Sweden 1990–2022

ABSTRACT Background Pharmaceutical expenditures (PE) are increasing worldwide, raising concerns about sustainability. However, the current price index provides an incomplete picture of this trend due to the rapid introduction of new drugs on the market. Objective The aim of this study is to decompose PE into their components and investigate the development in Sweden from 1990 to 2022. Methods The PE index was broken down into separate indices for price, quantity, and a residual. The residual reflects changes in expenditure driven by shifts in drug treatment patterns. Results PE increased by 227% during the study period. The decomposition showed that this increase was mainly driven by the residual (215%). Drug quantity increased by 105%, while the relative prices decreased by 50%. When dividing the whole study period into three 11-year-subperiods, the increase in real drug expenditure, drug quantity, and the residual was the highest from 1990 to 2000. Conclusions The finding that the residual is the main driver indicates that the increase in PE is due to the introduction of and shift to more expensive pharmaceutical treatments, while existing treatments tend to become cheaper. Further research is needed to determine whether newer, more expensive drugs are indeed worth the extra cost.