Preparation, optimization, and evaluation of midazolam nanosuspension: enhanced bioavailability for buccal administration

Compressed Hydrogen-Induced Synthesis of Quaternary Trimethyl Chitosan-Silver Nanoparticles with Dual Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities

Quaternary Trimethyl Chitosan (QTMC) and QTMC-Silver Nanoparticles (QTMC-AgNPs) have been synthesized, characterized, and tested as antibacterial agents against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and two plant fungi (Sclerotium rolfsil and Fusarium oxysporum). The as-prepared water-soluble QTMC was in situ reacted with silver nitrate in the presence of clean compressed hydrogen gas (3 bar) as a reducing agent to produce QTMC-AgNPs. UV-vis, ATR-FTIR, HR-TEM/SEM, XPS, DLS, XRD, and TGA/DTG were employed to assess the optical response, morphology/size, surface chemistry, particle size distribution, crystal nature, and thermal stability of the synthesized QTMC-AgNPs, respectively. The as-prepared QTMC-AgNPs were quasi-spherical in shape with an average particle size of 12.5 nm, as determined by ImageJ software utilizing HR-TEM images and further validated by DLS analysis. The development of crystalline nanoparticles was confirmed by the presence of distinct and consistent lattice fringes with an approximate interplanar d-spacing of 2.04 nm in QTMC-AgNPs. The QTMC-AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity with a clear zone of inhibition of 30 mm and 26 mm around the disks against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. In addition, QTMC-AgNPs showed highly efficient antifungal activity with 100% and 76.67% growth inhibition against two plant pathogens, S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum, respectively, whereas QTMC revealed no impact. Overall, QTMC-AgNPs showed a promising therapeutic potential and,thus, can be considered for drug design rationale.

Elucidating the Particle Size Effect of Andrographolide Suspensions on Their IVIVC Performance in Oral Absorption

The study aimed to explore the size effect on the in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) in the oral absorption of andrographolide nanosuspensions (Ag-NS). Ag-NS with controllable particle sizes were prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method, and the formulation and process parameters were optimized through single factor experiments using mean particle size, polydispersity index, and stability as evaluation indicators. The morphology of Ag-NS was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the crystalline state of the nanosuspensions was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The dissolution tests were carried out with the paddle method in two different mediums simulating the pH conditions in intestinal fluid pH 6.8 and gastric fluid (pH 1.2), respectively. The pharmacokinetic behaviors were investigated in rats after oral administration, and a deconvolution approach was introduced to determine the correlation between in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption (IVIVC). The formulation with the use of lecithin and PEG-800 as stabilizers showed its potential in the size-controllable preparation of Ag-NS. Via altering the ultrasonication amplitude and time, three Ag-NS suspensions with particle sizes of particle size, i.e., Ag-NS 250 (244.3 ± 0.4 nm), Ag-NS 450 (464.3 ± 32.2 nm), Ag-NS 1000 (1015 ± 36.1 nm) were prepared. Their morphological and crystal characteristics did not change during the size reduction process, but both of their in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption were improved. Relatively better IVIVC performance was observed with the in vitro dissolution data at pH 6.8 (r > 0.9). With the reduction of particle size, the in vivo absorption fraction was more closed to the level of the in vitro dissolution. In conclusion, the decrease in particle size would improve the dissolution and absorption of Ag-NS, and also affect their IVIVC performance. The study would facilitate the design and quality control of Ag-NS in terms of particle size and dissolution specifications.

In situ gelling nanosuspension as an advanced platform for fluticasone propionate nasal delivery

In this work we present the development of in situ gelling nanosuspension as advanced form for fluticasone propionate nasal delivery. Drug nanocrystals were prepared by wet milling technique. Incorporation of drug nanocrystals into polymeric in situ gelling system with pectin and sodium hyaluronate as constitutive polymers was fine-tuned attaining appropriate formulation surface tension, viscosity and gelling ability. Drug nanonisation improved the release profile and enhanced formulation mucoadhesive properties. QbD approach combining formulation and administration parameters resulted in optimised nasal deposition profile, with 51.8% of the dose deposited in the middle meatus, the critical region in the treatment of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. Results obtained in biocompatibility and physico-chemical stability studies confirmed the leading formulation potential for safe and efficient nasal corticosteroid delivery.

Formulation and Evaluation of Isradipine Nanosuspension and Exploring its Role as a Potential Anticancer Drug by Computational Approach

BACKGROUND

T-type calcium channels are aberrantly expressed in different human cancers and regulate cell cycle progression, proliferation, migration, and survival. FAK-1 can promote tumor protein degradation (p53) through ubiquitination, leading to cancer cell growth and proliferation. Similar findings are obtained regarding protease inhibitors' effect on cytokine-induced neutrophil activation that suppresses Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) TNF-α-induced O2 release and adherence in human neutrophils without affecting phosphorylation of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38. Nanosuspensions are carrier-free, submicron colloidal dispersions which consist of pure drugs and stabilizers. Incorporating drug loaded in nanosuspensions possessed great advantages of passive drug targeting with improved solubility, stability, and bioavailability, as well as lower systemic toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

The present investigation objective was to establish a molecular association of Protease and Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 as cancer targets for isradipine a calcium channel blocker (CCB). Furthermore, the study also aimed to formulate its optimized nanosuspension and how the physical, morphological, and dissolution properties of isradipine impact nanosuspension stability.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Five different molecular targets, namely Cysteine Proteases (Cathepsin B), Serine Proteases (Matriptase), Aspartate Proteases, Matrix Metalloproteases (MMP), and FAK-1 were obtained from RCSB-PDB, which has some leading associations with the inhibition in cancer pathogenesis. Molecular interactions of these targets with CCB isradipine were identified and established by the molecular simulation docking studies. Isradipine-loaded nanosuspension was prepared by precipitation technique by employing a 23 factorial design. PVP K-30, poloxamer 188, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) were used as polymer, co-polymer, and surfactant. The nanosuspension particles are characterized for particle size, zeta potential, viscosity, polydispersity index (PDI), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), In-vitro drug release kinetics, and short-term stability study.

RESULT

It was found to show considerable interaction with Cysteine, Serine, Aspartate, Threonine, and Matrix metalloproteases with the binding energy of -3.91, -6.7, -3.48, -8.42, respectively. Furthermore, the interaction of isradipine with FAK-1 was compared with 7 native ligands and was found to show significant interaction with a binding energy of -8.62, -7.27, -7.69, -5.67, -5.41, -7.44, -8.21. The optimized nanosuspension was evaluated and exhibited the particle size of 754.9 nm, zeta potential of 32.5 mV, the viscosity of 1.287 cp, and PDI of 1.000. The in-vitro dissolution of the optimized formulation (F8) was higher (96.57%).

CONCLUSION

Isradipine could act as a potential inhibitor of different proteases and FAK-1 associated with tumor growth initiation, progression, and metastasis. Furthermore, isradipine-loaded nanosuspension with optimized release could be utilized to deliver the anticancer drug in a more targeted way as emerging cancer nanotechnology.