Preparation and optimization of pravastatin-naringenin nanotransfersomes to enhance bioavailability and reduce hepatic side effects

Insights into the pivotal role of statins and its nanoformulations in hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is the primary cause of heart disorders and has been manifested as the condition with remarkable higher levels of very-low-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and cholesterol in blood circulation. Genetic causes or systemic metabolic illnesses like diabetes mellitus, increased alcohol consumption, hypothyroidism, and primary biliary cirrhosis are several reasons behind development of hyperlipidemia. Higher levels of lipids and lipoproteins in plasma are responsible for various health disorders in human body like occlusion of blood vessels, acute pancreatitis, and reduced artery lumen elasticity. Both primary and secondary prophylaxis of heart disease can be achieved through combination of pharmacologic therapy with therapeutic lifestyle adjustments. Statins which belongs to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are preferred for primary prevention of hyperlipidemia particularly for individuals at higher risk of development of heart disease. This review discusses the recent advancements and outcomes of nanoparticle drug carriers for statins in the therapy of hyperlipidemia.

Development of a Curcumin-Loaded Lecithin/Chitosan Nanoparticle Utilizing a Box-Behnken Design of Experiment: Formulation Design and Influence of Process Parameters

Curcumin (CUR) has impressive pharmacologic properties, including cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity. However, the pharmaceutical application of CUR is limited due to its poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. The development of novel formulations has attracted considerable attention to the idea of applying nanobiotechnology to improve the therapeutic efficacy of these challenging compounds. In this study, CUR-loaded lecithin−chitosan nanoparticles (CUR/LCSNPs) were developed and optimized by the concentration of chitosan, lecithin, and stirring speed by a 3-factorial Box-Behnken statistical design, resulting in an optimal concentration of chitosan (A) and lecithin (B) with a 1200 rpm stirring speed (C), with applied constraints of minimal average particle size (Y1), optimal zeta potential (Y2), and maximum entrapment efficiency (%EE) (Y3). The mean particle size of the checkpoint formulation ranged from 136.44 ± 1.74 nm to 267.94 ± 3.72, with a zeta potential of 18.5 ± 1.39 mV to 36.8 ± 3.24 mV and %EE of 69.84 ± 1.51% to 78.50 ± 2.11%. The mean particle size, zeta potential, %EE, and % cumulative drug release from the optimized formulation were 138.43 ± 2.09 nm, +18.98 ± 0.72 mV, 77.39 ± 1.70%, and 86.18 ± 1.5%, respectively. In vitro drug release followed the Korsmeyer−Peppas model with Fickian diffusion (n < 0.45). The optimized technique has proven successful, resulting in a nanoformulation that can be used for the high loading and controlled release of lipophilic drugs.

Naringenin Nano-Delivery Systems and Their Therapeutic Applications

Naringenin (NRG) is a polyphenolic phytochemical belonging to the class of flavanones and is widely distributed in citrus fruits and some other fruits such as bergamot, tomatoes, cocoa, and cherries. NRG presents several interesting pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the therapeutic potential of NRG is hampered due to its hydrophobic nature, which leads to poor bioavailability. Here, we review a wide range of nanocarriers that have been used as delivery systems for NRG, including polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These nanomedicine formulations of NRG have been applied as a potential treatment for several diseases, using a wide range of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models and different routes of administration. From this review, it can be concluded that NRG is a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, liver diseases, ocular disorders, inflammatory diseases, skin diseases, and diabetes when formulated in the appropriate nanocarriers.