Delivery System Research Articles

Intranasal Route an Alternative Approach for Systemic Drug Delivery: Recent Strategies and Progression

: Intranasal administration has proven to be a viable alternative for local and systemic delivery of varied therapeutic agents. This route has been potentially researched for delivering polar compounds, vaccines, hormones, peptides, proteins, etc. Being non-invasive and painless with a fast onset of action (both local and systemic), intranasal has become an ideal route for medication to children. This route is specifically employed for the delivery of drugs that are unstable in GIT, which gets significantly degraded or metabolized by the first-pass effect. The nasal route's high absorption and permeability profile has led to its exploration as a substitute for parenteral delivery. This paper reviews the feasibility and potentials of intranasal administration, discussing its benefits, drawbacks, market analysis, factors affecting nasal drug delivery system, conventional and novel strategies (polymeric and nano-carrier-based delivery systems) to improve nasal ab-sorption and its clinical management of varied systemic and topical disorders viz. neurodegenerative, pulmonary, microbial, neoplastic, etc.

Erlotinib and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles embedded in thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels for enhanced treatment of head and neck cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain a major oncological challenge with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Erlotinib (Er) and Curcumin (Cm) are potential therapeutic agents for HNSCC, yet they are hindered by poor solubility and bioavailability. This study explored the optimization of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles co-loaded with Er and Cm (Er/Cm-NP), prepared via a D-optimal response surface design-guided nanoprecipitation process. The optimized formulation, optEr/Cm-NP, was then incorporated into chitosan/β-glycerophosphate hydrogels (optEr/Cm-NP-HG) to create an injectable intratumoral (IT) nanocomposite hydrogel (HG) delivery system. Physicochemical properties of the formulations, including gelation time, injectability, mechanical strength and drug release profiles were assessed alongside hemolytic activity. Compared to optEr/Cm-NP alone, the NP-loaded HG formulation exhibited a more pronounced modulation effect, enabling sustained and controlled drug release. The cytotoxicity of the developed formulations was evaluated using the FaDu HNSCC cancer cell line. Both optEr/Cm-NP and optEr/Cm-NP-HG21 displayed enhanced cytotoxicity compared to free drugs. Confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry confirmed superior cellular uptake of Er and Cm when delivered via NPs or NP-loaded HG. Furthermore, a significant increase in apoptotic cell death upon treatment with optEr/Cm-NP was observed, highlighting its potential for HNSCC therapy. In vivo studies conducted on a xenograft HNSCC mouse model revealed the significant capacity of the intratumorally-injected optEr/Cm-NP-HG21 formulation to retard the tumor growth. Conclusively, the results presented herein report the successful development of a nanocomposite HG system incorporating NPs co-loaded with Er and Cm that could be efficiently utilized in the treatment of HNSCC.

Naringenin Nanoformulations for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a grade-IV astrocytoma, which is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, spreads rapidly and has a life-threatening catastrophic effect. GBM mostly occurs in adults with an average survival time of 15 to 18 months, and the overall mortality rate is 5%. Significant invasion and drug resistance activity cause the poor diagnosis of GBM. Naringenin (NRG) is a plant secondary metabolite byproduct of the flavanone subgroup. NRG can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs into the central nervous system when conjugated with appropriate nanocarriers to overcome the challenges associated with gliomas through naringenin-loaded nanoformulations. Here, we discuss several nanocarriers employed that are as delivery systems, such as polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These naringenin-loaded nanoformulations have been tested in various in vitro and in vivo models as a potential treatment for brain disorders. This review nanoformulations of NRG can a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of neurological diseases are discussed.

A Critical Appraisal of Functionalized 2-Dimensional Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery Applications.

The development of an efficient and innovative drug delivery system is essential to improve the pharmacological parameters of the medicinal compound or drug. The technique or manner used to improve the pharmacological parameters plays a crucial role in the delivery system. In the current scenario, various drug delivery systems are available where nanotechnology has firmly established itself in the field of drug delivery. One of the most prevalent elements is carbon with its allotropic modifications such as graphene-based nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, and carbon fullerenes, these nanomaterials offer notable physiochemical and biochemical properties for the delivery applications due to their smaller size, surface area, and ability to interact with the cells or tissues. The exceptional physicochemical properties of carbon-based 2D nanomaterials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, make them attractive candidates for drug delivery systems. These nanomaterials offer a large surface area, high drug loading capacity, and tunable surface chemistry, enabling efficient encapsulation, controlled release, and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. These properties of the nanomaterials can be exploited for drug delivery applications, like assisting the target delivery of drugs and aiding combination molecular imaging. This review emphasizes on the recent patents on 2D carbon-based nanomaterial and their role in drug delivery systems. Carbon-based 2D nanomaterials present a wealth of opportunities for advanced drug delivery systems. Their exceptional properties and versatility offers great potential in improving therapeutic efficacy, minimizing side effects, and enabling personalized medicine and the recent patents on 2D nanomaterial.

A new plant-based drug delivery platform based on alkyl polyglucosides and β-sitosterol nanovesicles for topical delivery

The finding of new vesicular systems is a challenging process that depends on different factors such as the components used, the interactions between them or the dispersant media. Our objective was to develop a new vesicular delivery system formed by self-assembly of β-Sitosterol (Sit), Lauryl Glucoside (LGL) and Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate (LGC) molecules, all plant-based, biodegradable and biocompatible components. Nanovesicles (NVs) with different molar ratios of Sit, LGL and LGC were prepared using a single step method named DELOS, and characterized by dynamic light scattering, cryo-electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. Antioxidant compound α-tocopherol (TCP) was integrated in the NVs showing their potential to nanoformulate hydrophobic payloads. Finally, in vitro biocompatibility assays with reconstructed human epidermis and ex vivo skin retention studies using multiphoton microscopy and NVs labelled with Nile Red (NR) were carried out. As a result of this work, a new platform of NVs has been obtained by the self-assembly of Sit, LGL and LGC, obtaining vesicular systems with tunable physicochemical properties in terms of size (130 – 220 nm), surface charge ((-70) – (-40) mV) and lamellarity (unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles), when the carbon chain of the alkyl polyglucoside was >12. The vesicles could efficiently integrate TCP, proving their potential role as delivery systems and maintaining its antioxidant activity after loading. Finally, they also showed biocompatibility with the skin and improved the permeability of the poorly water-soluble molecule NR in terms of time and depth through the epidermis. Overall, the results of this work point to the successful development of an attractive platform based on stable and homogeneous nanovesicles composed of plant-derived ingredients for topical delivery.

Dextran-based Drug Delivery Approaches for Lung Diseases: A Review.

Respiratory disorders, such as tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary inflammation, are among the most prevalent ailments in today's world. Dextran, an exopolysaccharide formed by Leuconostoc mesenteroides (slimeproducing bacteria), and its derivatives are investigated for several therapeutic utilities. Dextranbased drug delivery system can become an innovative strategy in the treatment of several respiratory ailments as it offers numerous advantages, such as mucolytic action, airway hydration, antiinflammatory properties, and radioprotective effect as compared to other polysaccharides. Being biocompatible, flexible hydrophilic nature, biodegradable, tasteless, odourless, non-mutagenic, watersoluble and non-toxic edible polymer, dextran-based drug delivery systems have been explored for a wide range of therapeutic applications, especially in lungs and respiratory diseases. The present article comprehensively discusses various derivatives of dextran with their attributes to be considered for drug delivery and extensive therapeutic benefits, with a special emphasis on the armamentarium of dextran-based formulations for the treatment of respiratory disorders and associated pathological conditions. The information provided will act as a platform for formulation scientists as important considerations in designing therapeutic approaches for lung and respiratory diseases. With an emphasis on lung illnesses, this article will offer an in-depth understanding of dextran-based delivery systems in respiratory illnesses.

Unveiling the potential of pulmonary surfactant-based nanocarriers for protein inhalation therapy

The study investigates the effect of pulmonary surfactant (PS) coating on the performance of lysozyme-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were fabricated using a double emulsification technique and optimized using the Box-Behnken experimental design (BBED). The NPs were assessed for size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug loading (DL%), and encapsulation efficiency (EE%). In addition, the optimized PLGA NPs were modified with either a neutral dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine DPPC or an anionic dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) with different molar ratios of PS to PLGA (PS: PLGA = 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1). These NPs were assessed for biological activity, drug release, mucus adhesion, mucus penetration, cellular uptake, toxicity, and in vivo destiny after intratracheal (IT) instillation to mice. Results showed a bi-phasic drug release, with no significant effect of PS on the release and biological activities of PLGA NPs. The PS@PLGA NPs improved mucus adhesion, decreased mucus penetration, and increased cellular internalization of PLGA NPs. In addition, ex vivo experiments demonstrated that DPPC@PLGA NPs and DPPG@PLGA NPs could adhere to mucus. These NPs created a thicker layer at the interface of the airway compared to unmodified PLGA NPs. Moreover, interaction of PS@PLGA NPs with BALF suggested improved mucoadhesive characteristics. Finally, the in vivo studies confirmed the precise distribution of all NPs in the lungs after IT administration. The study presents empirical evidence and scientific guidance for developing a lung surfactant-modified nanocarrier system for lung drug delivery.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles release combined with systemic DOX exhibits synergistic effects in 3D bioprinted triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer, lacking targeted therapeutic options. Hydrogels, particularly gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), have emerged as promising materials for localized drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties. This study investigates a dual-delivery system for enhancing the treatment efficacy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using a combination of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Citrus limon L. and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). We fabricated 3D bioprinted GelMA scaffolds to achieve localized and controlled release of EVs and evaluated their synergistic effects with systemic DOX delivery on both primary and metastatic 3D TNBC models.The GelMA scaffolds, especially those with 95 % methacrylation, exhibited higher stiffness, which enhanced their sustained release. Following 48-h incubation, the combination of EVs and DOX significantly increased cytotoxicity in the primary 3D TNBC model, reducing cell viability to approximately 30 % compared to controls. This was notably more effective than treatments with DOX or EVs alone. During the extended 7-day incubation period, the combination treatment continued to show superior efficacy, with persistently high levels of ROS generation and further reduction in cell viability. In a metastatic 3D TNBC model, a significant sensitivity to the combined treatment was observed, which notably inhibited aggregate formation and migration. Importantly, EVs-embedded scaffolds promoted the proliferation of human fibroblasts, highlighting their non-toxic nature, while concurrently inhibiting TNBC cell growth. This approach provides a promising strategy to improve the treatment outcomes of TNBC by exploiting the synergistic effects of local EVs release and systemic chemotherapy.

Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Mediated Transdermal Delivery System of Glibenclamide for Gestational Diabetes: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant risks during pregnancy for both mother and fetus. Adherence to oral antidiabetic medications, like glibenclamide (GB), can be challenging, necessitating novel drug delivery methods. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) offer a promising approach by efficiently permeating the skin due to their small size and lipid-based composition. This study aimed to develop and evaluate transdermal patches loaded with glibenclamide NLCs to treat GDM. Glibenclamide NLCs were prepared using hot homogenization with ultrasonication and melt dispersion method. A central composite design was utilized to optimize the formulations. Transdermal patches containing optimized NLCs were developed using HPMC K 100 and Eudragit L polymers. The patches were evaluated for various parameters, and their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were carried out to assess their safety and efficacy. Optimized NLCs efficiently permeated rat skin. Cell viability studies indicated the nontoxicity of the formulations. NLC-loaded transdermal patches (F2 and F7) showed drug release of 1098 μg/cm2 and 1001.83 μg/cm2 in 24 h, with a 2.5-fold higher flux and permeation coefficient than the GB patch. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed Tmax of 8 and 10 h and Cmax of 7127 ng/ml and 7960 ng/ml for F2 and F7, respectively, ensuring sustained drug action. AUC0-α was 625681 ng/ml·h and 363625 ng/ml·h for F2 and F7, respectively, indicating improved bioavailability. Transdermal patches incorporating NLCs hold promise for enhancing glibenclamide's therapeutic efficacy in GDM treatment. Improved skin permeation, sustained drug release, and enhanced bioavailability make NLC-based transdermal patches a potential alternative with better patient compliance.

Marine Polysaccharides for Gene Delivery: Approaches and Prospective

Abstract: Polysaccharides from marine sources have been increasingly used in recent research due to their availability, affordability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These features make them promising candidates for use in nanotechnology in a wide variety of drug delivery systems, including those for gene therapy, tissue engineering, cancer therapy, wound dressing, biosensors, and water purification. Marine polysaccharides are of particular interest due to their distinct physicochemical and biological properties like chitin, alginate, carrageenan, fucoidan, and chitosan has inspired an array of nanostructures. This article summarizes the history, chemical composition, biological functions, and nanomedical uses of these marine polysaccharides. Marine polysaccharides are the topic of this review due to their potential utility in gene transfer.

Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Enhancing Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs.

Breviscapine (BVP) is one of the extracts of several flavonoids of Erigeron breviscapus, which has been widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarction and its sequelae, cerebral thrombus, coronary heart disease, and angina pectoris. But BVP has poor solubility. The objective of the study is to develop mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) that can be loaded with a drug with poor water solubility. The MSNs, which were designed for oral administration, enhanced both the dissolution rate and drug loading capacity. The use of MSNs as an oral drug delivery system was investigated by SEM, TEM, BETBJH, XRD, FT-IR, and HPLC. Additionally, we examined the oral bioavailability of BVP loaded onto MSNs and examined the cellular cytotoxicity of MSNs. The results indicate that the oral bioavailability of BVP after loading onto MSNs was greater than that of a marketed product. Furthermore, we studied the mechanism by which MSNs enhance the oral absorption of BVP. MSNs have the potential to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by accelerating the drug dissolution rate.

Fabrication and evaluation of chitosan-coated nanostructured lipid carriers for co-delivery of paclitaxel and PD-L1 siRNA

This study aimed to develop a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) capable of co-delivering paclitaxel (PTX) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) to enhance PTX bioavailability and bolster immunity through PD-L1 knockdown. We prepared a PTX-loaded NLC (P-NLC) and coated it with positively charged chitosan (Chi) to create P-NLC-Chi, which was subsequently conjugated to siRNA (P-NLC-Chi-siRNA). The P-NLC-Chi formulation was optimized using the Box–Behnken design. P-NLC-Chi measured 123.8 ± 0.52 nm (zeta potential, 22.71 ± 0.49 mV). By verifying the gel retardation assay and observing changes in the zeta potential, the optimal binding ratio of NLC to PD-L1 siRNA was identified as 50:1. The P-NLC-Chi-siRNA particle size was 181.97 ± 0.67 nm, with a zeta potential of 18.66 ± 0.23 mV. siRNA stability was observed in serum over a 24-h period. Enhanced cytotoxicity and intracellular uptake of the complex were evident in breast cancer cells and breast cancer-resistant cells (MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells, respectively). Evaluation of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux demonstrated that NLC mitigated drug efflux in MCF-7/ADR cells. Subcutaneous injection of P-NLC-Chi-siRNA into tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice injected with MCF-7/ADR cells revealed a reduction in tumor size. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated a significant reduction in PD-L1 mRNA expression levels. Additionally, an in vivo study revealed tumor-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses within the tumor tissue following the injection of P-NLC-Chi-siRNA. Our findings suggest that Chi-coated NLC for the co-delivery of PTX and PD-L1 siRNA has great potential as an innovative delivery system for chemoimmunotherapy.

Whey protein-based bigels for co-encapsulation of curcumin and gallic acid: Characterization, stability and release kinetics

Bigels are a class of soft matter systems with great promise for the food industry as food analogs or as enhanced ingredient substitutes. This work aimed to improve the curcumin (CUR) and gallic-acid (GA) stability, antioxidant capabilities, and controlled release by co-encapsulating them within bigels. This delivery system included a bigel made by whey protein isolate (WPI) aggregates-based oleogel and WPI-based hydrogel in equivalent amounts (50:50). The following techniques were used to evaluate how different bigels affected the chemical stability of CUR and GA: X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), and Fourier infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. As a result of the protein's ligand-binding abilities, some components may co-adsorb to oil droplet surfaces. Next, it was determined how well the bigels performed as a carrier and looked at their physicochemical stability, digestion, and performance. Examining the release rate of CUR and GA during digestion showed that bigel had a slower release rate (6-15%) than oleogel (16%) and hydrogel (34%), and CUR had a lower release (50%) due to its higher molecular weight and greater entanglement than GA (70%). The stability of bigel (against heat and light) was also higher than oleogel and hydrogel due to having a higher solid component that requires more stress to be applied to the system. CUR and GA had more antioxidant activity in bigel (96.24%) than oleogel (77.71%) and hydrogel (77.34%); which can be attributed to the formation of ultra-fine colloidal dispersions by bigel, allowing more CUR and GA to interact with free radicals by creating more contact surface. The multi-functional bigels showed great potential for delivering antioxidants to the intestine while enhancing their stability. Hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding between WPI and CUR-GA were validated by FTIR analysis, that kept bigels stable. Overall, our findings demonstrated that WPI-based bigels with intriguing UV light, color, and thermal stability could be developed. This would increase the use of bigels in innovative food products with high nutritional value.

Nano-strategies for advancing oral drug delivery: Porous silicon particles and cyclodextrin encapsulation for enhanced dissolution of poorly soluble drugs

Development of novel active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for oral use often face challenges due to low bioavailability. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems and cyclodextrin (CD) encapsulation offer promising solutions by enhancing API solubility or dissolution rates. Porous silicon nanoparticles have shown potential to encapsulate APIs in their amorphous form within pores, improving dissolution rates compared to crystalline counterparts. A novel synthesis approach, circumventing the expensive and tedious Si wafer material synthesis, has been developed using centrifugal Chemical Vapor Deposition (cCVD). Herein, various cCVD Si particles were evaluated for their ability to enhance the dissolution rate of the model drugs celecoxib (CEL), phenytoin (PHT), griseofulvin (GRI), diclofenac (DCF), and naproxen (NAP). Our findings demonstrate increased dissolution rates of all tested APIs when formulated with cCVD Si particles, compared to free API in pH 7.4 or pH 2.0. Particle characteristics were largely retained after loading, and the solid state of the loaded APIs were evaluated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Dissolution kinetics were influenced by the particle properties, mass loading and API characteristics. Loading of CD-CEL, −GRI and −DCF complexes into the cCVD Si particles showed a potential for further enhanced dissolution rates, representing the first reported investigation of this combination. In conclusion, the cCVD Si particles are promising for improving the dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs, potentially due to precipitation of amorphous or metastable forms. Further enhancements were observed upon loading CD-drug complexes, thereby offering promising strategies for optimizing drug bioavailability

Emerging Nanotechnology-based Therapeutics: A New Insight into Promising Drug Delivery System for Lung Cancer Therapy.

Lung cancer is a foremost global health issue due to its poor diagnosis. The advancement of novel drug delivery systems and medical devices will aid its therapy. In this review, the authors thoroughly introduce the ideas and methods for improving nanomedicine- based approaches for lung cancer therapy. This article provides mechanistic insight into various novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) including nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, niosomes, and nanoemulsions for lung cancer therapy with recent research work. This review provides insights into various patents published for lung cancer therapy based on nanomedicine. This review also highlights the current status of approved and clinically tested nanoformulations for their treatment. For finding scholarly related data for the literature search, many search engines were employed including PubMed, Science Direct, Google, Scihub, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Web of Sciences, and several others. Various keywords and phrases were used for the search such as "nanoparticles", "solid lipid nanoparticles", "liposomes", "dendrimers", "niosomes", "nanoemulsions", "lung cancer", "nanomedicine", "nanomaterial", "nanotechnology", "in vivo" and "in vitro". The most innovative and cutting-edge nanotechnology-based approaches that are employed in pre-clinical and clinical studies to address problems associated with lung cancer therapies are also mentioned in future prospects. A variety of problems encountered with current lung cancer therapy techniques that frequently led to inadequate therapeutic success are also discussed in the end. The development of nanoformulations at the pilot scale still faces some difficulties, but their prospects for treating lung cancer appear to be promising in the future. Future developments and trends are anticipated as the evaluation comes to a close.

Adsorption behavior of hydroxyurea drug on pristine, Si, and Ge-doped carbon nitride nanosheet: A computational study

In order to reduce adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs and improve efficacy of cancer therapy, it is important to discover an appropriate carrier for delivering anticancer medications. Currently, there is a significant amount of research focused on the utilization of nanomaterials as drug carriers for delivering medications into tumor cells. The adsorption characteristics, electronic sensitivity, and reactivity of undoped and doped (Si and Ge)-NC3S materials towards hydroxyurea (HU) drug have been examined using DFT calculations in both gaseous and aqueous environments. Based on our computations, it was observed that hydroxyurea (HU) drug undergoes physical adsorption over pristine C3NNS (carbon nitride nanosheet) with energy values of −0.49 eV and −0.13 eV, accompanied by a slight transfer of charge of approximately −0.075e and 0.092e in the aqueous and gaseous environments, respectively, within the most stable complex. However, upon substituting one the of central N (N) atoms with either a silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge) atom, sensitivity of doped NC3S (nitrogen-centered triazine-based graphitic carbon nitride) material significantly increases towards the hydroxyurea (HU) drug molecules. The hydroxyurea (HU) drug exhibits a preference for chemical adsorption on the Si-NC3S and Ge-NC3S materials with energy values of −1.36 and −1.71 eV in gaseous medium, and −1.08 and −1.47 eV in aqueous phase, respectively, within the most stable complexes. Hence, metal-doped C3NNTs have the potential to serve as promising candidates for adsorbing HU molecules in drug delivery systems (DDSs) within the field of nanomedicine.

Enhanced brain delivery and antiproliferative activity of resveratrol using milk-derived exosomes

The polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) undergoes extensive phase II metabolism, which limits its bioavailability and bioactivity, including anticancer effects. Growing preclinical evidence reinforces milk-derived exosomes (EXOs) as promising nanocarrier drugs and bioactives delivery systems. Herein, to overcome the mentioned RSV’s drawbacks, EXOs were loaded with RSV (EXO-RSV) to evaluate its brain delivery in Sprague-Dawley rats and its in vitro antiproliferative effects against human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and glioblastoma U-87MG cancer cells compared with non-encapsulated RSV. Pharmacokinetic analyses in perfused brains showed RSV detection only after EXO-RSV administration, not after non-encapsulated RSV administration. Encapsulation also resulted in lower concentrations of phase II-derived RSV metabolites in circulation. Additionally, blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport assays using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) corroborated that encapsulation enhanced RSV transport efficiency and protected it from cellular metabolism. In vitro and in silico analyses of phase-II conjugates, primarily RSV 3-glucuronide, showed lower capacity than RSV to cross the BBB. Finally, EXO-RSV (47−750 nM) showed an increased dose-dependent antiproliferative efficacy on both cancer cell lines compared with the non-encapsulated RSV (10 μM), which was ineffective after 72 h of treatment. Our findings suggest that EXOs protect RSV from phase II metabolism and enhance its brain delivery and antiproliferative activity.

Featuring the aspects with temperature dependent viscosity of inclined MHD Williamson fluid along with heat source/sink, Soret and Dufour effects: A predictor-corrector approach

The boundary layer flow analysis of Williamson fluid moving on the stretched cylinder has applications in the polymer processing, drug delivery system, cooling systems, rheology of food products, dyeing, and finishing. The numerical solutions of governing Navier-Stokes equations at different scenarios of thermal and solutal aspects have lots of practical implications, including biomedical engineering, cooling and heating processes, chemical reactors, aerodynamics, environmental science, and thermal storage systems. From these practical applications, the authors were motivated to conduct a study in which the numerical behavior is examined by applying the Adams-Bashforth predictor and corrector approach of numerical analysis for the Williamson fluid model in the presence of varying viscosity, natural convection, and the inclined magnetic field. Furthermore, Joule heating, thermal radiation, and heat source/sink effects are included in the thermal aspects because these are the important concepts in thermal management and engineering and have applications in solar thermal energy systems, combustion engines, heat exchangers, nuclear reactors, thermal imaging, and safety. Apart from thermal aspects, the analysis of mass transfer focuses on the influence of chemical reactions and Soret-Dufour effects. The similarity transformations are adopted to convert partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. Specifically, the well-known predictor and corrector numerical method named the Adams-Bashforth method in combination with the Runge-Kutta 4th order scheme is used to achieve the numerical solutions. The temperature, concentration, and velocity regions are displayed on the graphical and numerical conducts. A comparison is also made between the results obtained by the shooting method and the numerical findings of skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number determined by the Adams-Bashforth method. The determining results concluded that the restrictions in the flow of Williamson fluid are caused by variations in the inclination magnetic field, the surface curvature, and the Williamson parameter, whereas the motion of the fluid increases due to convection, which occurs due to thermal phenomena. The determined results indicate that the temperature distribution is enhanced due to the addition of thermal radiation, Eckert number, and magnetic field. The surface curvature, Soret number, and reaction coefficient marks the decrease impact on the concentration region. The temperature-dependent viscosity increases the drag force and friction coefficient. The Nusselt number is amplified by applying thermal radiation to the surface of the cylinder. The chemical reaction is the source of the increment in the Sherwood number.

Unlocking the Microbial Potential of Intercalated Calcium-aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide-palmitic Acid

Introduction: An efficient and coherent drug delivery system is imperative in detouring a repetitive administration of high doses of the drug to achieve an effective therapeutic effect. This study, therefore, aims to synthesize the nanocomposite (CAPA) utilizing the layered double hydroxide as a drug carrier that can safeguard the medicine and improve its bioavailability while minimizing the adverse impact on the biological process. Method: The Calcium-aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide (CAL) was synthesized via the coprecipitation method followed by integrating palmitic acid (PA) drug into that host employing a similar approach. The successful intercalation was assessed utilizing X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization of the material was evaluated by using a thermogravimetric-derivative thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG) and accelerated surface area and porosity (ASAP) analyzer. Result: The increment of basal spacing of CAPA (15.21Å) synthesized in this study implies the retainment of PA in the interlayer space of CAL. The FTIR spectra of CAPA, with the elimination of the nitrate ion peak at 1359.87 cm-1 and the appearance of carboxylate ion at 1643.17 cm-1, hint at the existence of PA in the host layer. The surface area of CAPA exhibited a value of 19.8 m2g-1, bigger than that of hosts, while its pore size is within the micropores range. Conclusion: The TGA analysis revealed that the thermal stability of PA was improved following the intercalation process due to the decomposition of the PA core that occurs at 260°C. The antimicrobial activity proposes that the synthesized CAPA can retain the drug's activity against S. aureus, emphasizing the ability of CAL as a potential drug delivery vehicle for PA.

Starch-based bio-membrane for water purification, biomedical waste, and environmental remediation

This review article explores the utilization of starch-based materials as smart materials for the removal of dyes and heavy metals from wastewater, highlighting their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It addresses the critical need for clean water, emphasizing the contamination caused by industrial activities, such as printing, textile, cosmetic, and leather tanning industries. Starch and its derivatives demonstrate significant potential in water purification technology, effectively removing toxicants through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and complexation. The review also discusses the application of starch-based materials in the biomedical field, particularly as drug carriers. Starch-based microspheres, hydrogels, nano-spheres, and nano-composites exhibit sustained drug-release properties and are effective in transporting various drugs, including DOX, quercetin, 5-Fluorouracil, glycyrrhizic acid, paclitaxel, tetracycline hydrochloride, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and moxifloxacin. These materials show good antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogens, including C. albicans, E. coli, S. aureus, C. neoformance, B. subtilis, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and A. terreus. While highlighting the significant achievements of starch-based materials, the review also discusses current limitations and areas for future development. Key weaknesses include the need for enhanced adsorption capacities and the challenge of scaling up production for industrial applications. The review concludes by identifying development directions, such as improving functionalization techniques and exploring new applications in water purification and drug delivery systems. This article aims to assist researchers in advancing the field of starch-based materials for environmental and biomedical applications.