Emulsion incorporating Eugenia dysenterica aqueous extract entrapped in chitosan microparticles as a novel topical treatment of cutaneous infections

Microparticulate and nanotechnology mediated drug delivery system for the delivery of herbal extracts

There has been a growing interest in the scientific community to explore the complete potential of phytoconstituents, herbal or plant-based ingredients owing to a range of benefits they bring along. The herbal plants accommodate many phytoconstituents that are responsible for various activities such as anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, hepatoprotective, etc. However, these phytoconstituents are highly sensitive to several environmental and physiological factors such as pH, oxygen, heat, temperature, humidity, stomach acid, enzymes, and light. Hence, there is need for the development of a drug delivery system that can protect the phytoconstituents from both internal and external conditions. In this regard, a microparticulate drug delivery system is considered amongst the ideal choice owing to its small size, ability to protect the environment-sensitive active constituents, in achieving sustained drug delivery, targeted drug delivery, protection of the drug from physiological conditions, minimizing drug-related side effects, etc.

A Review: Uses of Chitosan in Pharmaceutical Forms

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide widespread in nature. It has many unique and attractive properties for the pharmaceutical field: it is biodegradable, safe, hypoallergenic, biocompatible with the body, free of toxicity, with proven anticholesterolemic, antibacterial, and antimycotic action. In this review we highlighted the physical, chemical, mechanical, mucoadhesive, etc. properties of chitosan to be taken into account when obtaining various pharmaceutical forms. The methods by which the pharmaceutical forms based on chitosan are obtained are very extensive, and in this study only the most common ones were presented.

Essential oils encapsulated in chitosan microparticles against Candida albicans biofilms

The aim of the study was to produce and characterize chitosan microparticles loaded with essential oils (CMEOs), evaluate the essential oil (EO) release profile and the CMEOs' anti-Candida activity. The chitosan microparticles (CMs) loaded with lemongrass essential oil (LEO) and geranium essential oil (GEO) were produced by the spray-drying method and characterized regarding CMEO morphological and physicochemical parameters and EO encapsulation efficiency (EE) and release profile. The planktonic activity was quantified by broth microdilution, and the activity against biofilm was quantified by biomass formation measurement. The LEO and GEO compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), finding the main components citral (83.17%) and citronellol (24.53%). The CMs and CMEOs showed regular distribution and spherical shape (1 to 15 μm), without any morphological and physical modifications after EO incorporation. EE% ranged from 12 to 39%. In vitro release tests demonstrated the EO release rates, after 144 h, were 33% and 55% in PBS and HCl media, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for CMEOs were lower than for CMs and pure EOs (P < 0.05). The higher CMEO biofilm inhibition percentage demonstrates the efficiency of microparticles against Candida biofilm. These results indicate that CMEOs are promising compounds that have antibiofilm activity against C. albicans.

Nanosystems for the Encapsulation of Natural Products: The Case of Chitosan Biopolymer as a Matrix

Chitosan is a cationic natural polysaccharide, which has emerged as an increasingly interesting biomaterialover the past few years. It constitutes a novel perspective in drug delivery systems and nanocarriers' formulations due to its beneficial properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. The potentiality of chemical or enzymatic modifications of the biopolymer, as well as its complementary use with other polymers, further attract the scientific community, offering improved and combined properties in the final materials. As a result, chitosan has been extensively used as a matrix for the encapsulation of several valuable compounds. In this review article, the advantageous character of chitosan as a matrix for nanosystemsis presented, focusing on the encapsulation of natural products. A five-year literature review is attempted covering the use of chitosan and modified chitosan as matrices and coatings for the encapsulation of natural extracts, essential oils or pure naturally occurring bioactive compounds are discussed.