Polymeric nanoparticles based topical gel of poorly soluble drug: Formulation, ex-vivo and in vivo evaluation

In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies of celecoxib topical platforms for antimicrobial activity and wound healing: a comparative assessment

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Celecoxib (CXB), with its anti-inflammatory and recently discovered antibacterial activity, especially against sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), could be promising in treating local pain, superficial skin infections, wounds and infected wounds. The study aims to develop and compare commercially scalable topical formulations of CXB to explore their antimicrobial and wound-healing potential.

METHODS

Carbopol gel, o/w cream, polyethylene glycol (PEG) ointment, and paraffin ointment were selected as the vehicles for the preparation of 3% CXB topical formulations. Appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, stability, in vitro release and permeation, and skin retention studies were performed. Further, antimicrobial assay, in vivo wound-healing and histopathology studies were carried out for each formulation.

RESULTS

The formulations had an acceptable appearance, viscosity, spreadability, and drug content. The drug release at 6h was the highest from gel (2428.8ug/cm2), followed by PEG ointment (2230.1ug/cm2), cream (1897.8ug/cm2), and lastly, the paraffin ointment (1217.2ug/cm2). PEG ointment and gel showed the highest skin permeation, whereas cream and gel were better able to retain the drug in the skin. All the formulations exhibited appreciable zones of inhibition against sensitive and the resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. PEG ointment exerted a significantly greater (p < 0.001) wound-healing effect. Accelerated stability studies confirmed good physicochemical stability of the formulations.

CONCLUSION

PEG ointment, with its optimal drug release profile, skin permeation ability, and greater wound-healing action, can be considered as a promising topical delivery vehicle for CXB. CXB's antimicrobial potential could further aid in the prevention as well as treatment of wound infection.

Effect of nanostructured lipid carriers on transdermal delivery of tenoxicam in irradiated rats

Transdermal delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is an effective route of drug administration, as it directs the drug to the inflamed site with reduced incidence of systemic adverse effects such as gastric hemorrhage and ulcers. Tenoxicam (TNX) is a member of NSAIDs that are marketed only as oral tablets due to very poor absorption through the skin. The current study intended to formulate and characterize a hydrogel loaded with nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to enhance the transdermal delivery of TNX. Six formulations of TNX were formulated by slight modifications of high shear homogenization and ultrasonication method. The selected formula was characterized for their particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE), in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo skin permeation studies. Moreover, the effectiveness of the developed formula was studied in-vivo using carrageenan-induced paw edema and hyperalgesia model in irradiated rats. Formula F4 was chosen from six formulations, as the average diameter was 679.4 ± 51.3 nm, PDI value of about 0.02, zeta potential of -4.24 mV, EE of 92.36%, globules nanoparticles without aggregations and absence of interactions in the developed formula. Additionally, the in-vivo study showed the efficacy of formula F4 (TNX-NLCs hydrogel) equivalent to oral TNX in reducing the exaggerated inflammatory response induced by carrageenan after irradiation. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that TNX-NLCs hydrogel could be a potential transdermal drug delivery system alternative to the oral formulation for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions.

Nanovesicle Formulation Enhances Anti-inflammatory Property and Safe Use of Piroxicam

BACKGROUND

Enhanced utilization of certain drugs may be possible through the development of alternative delivery forms. It has been observed that NSAIDs have adverse gastrointestinal tract effects such as irritation and ulceration during anti-inflammatory therapy. This challenge may be overcome through nano topical formulations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the potentials of a transdermal nanovesicular formulation for safe and enhanced delivery of piroxicam (PRX), a poorly water-soluble NSAID.

METHODS

Preformulation studies were conducted using DSC and FTIR. Ethosomal nanovesicular carrier (ENVC) was prepared by thin-film deposition technique using Phospholipon® 90 H (P90H) and ethanol and then converted into gel form. The formulation was characterized using a commercial PRX gel as control. Permeation studies were conducted using rat skin and Franz diffusion cell. Samples were assayed spectrophotometrically, and the obtained data was analyzed by ANOVA using GraphPad Prism software.

RESULTS

The preformulation studies showed compatibility between PRX and P90H. Spherical vesicles of mean size 343.1 ± 5.9 nm, and polydispersity index 0.510 were produced, which remained stable for over 2 years. The optimized formulation (PE30) exhibited pseudoplastic flow, indicating good consistency. The rate of permeation increased with time in the following order: PE30 > Commercial, with significant difference (p< 0.05). It also showed higher inhibition of inflammation (71.92 ± 9.67%) than the reference (64.12 ± 7.92%).

CONCLUSION

ENVC gel of PRX was formulated. It showed potentials for enhanced transdermal delivery and anti-inflammatory activity relative to the reference. This may be further developed as a safe alternative to the oral form.

Nanoparticles and cancer therapy: Perspectives for application of nanoparticles in the treatment of cancers

Rapid growth in nanotechnology toward the development of nanomedicine agents holds massive promise to improve therapeutic approaches against cancer. Nanomedicine products represent an opportunity to achieve sophisticated targeting strategies and multifunctionality. Nowadays, nanoparticles (NPs) have multiple applications in different branches of science. In recent years, NPs have repetitively been reported to play a significant role in modern medicine. They have been analyzed for different clinical applications, such as drug carriers, gene delivery to tumors, and contrast agents in imaging. A wide range of nanomaterials based on organic, inorganic, lipid, or glycan compounds, as well as on synthetic polymers has been utilized for the development and improvement of new cancer therapeutics. In this study, we discuss the role of NPs in treating cancer among different drug delivery methods for cancer therapy.

In Vitro Drug Dissolution/Permeation Testing of Nanocarriers for Skin Application: a Comprehensive Review

This review highlights in vitro drug dissolution/permeation methods available for topical and transdermal nanocarriers that have been designed to modulate the propensity of drug release, drug penetration into skin, and permeation into systemic circulation. Presently, a few of USFDA-approved in vitro dissolution/permeation methods are available for skin product testing with no specific application to nanocarriers. Researchers are largely utilizing the in-house dissolution/permeation testing methods of nanocarriers. These drug release and permeation methods are pending to be standardized. Their biorelevance with reference to in vivo plasma concentration-time profiles requires further exploration to enable translation of in vitro data for in vivo or clinical performance prediction.