Ameliorated Stomach Specific Floating Microspheres for Emerging Health Pathologies Using Polymeric Konjac Glucomannan-Based Domperidone

Retracted: Ameliorated Stomach Specific Floating Microspheres for Emerging Health Pathologies Using Polymeric Konjac Glucomannan-Based Domperidone

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/3670946.].

Targeted Drug Administration onto Cancer Cells Using Hyaluronic Acid-Quercetin-Conjugated Silver Nanoparticles

Quercetin (QtN) displays low systemic bioavailability caused by poor water solubility and instability. Consequently, it exerts limited anticancer action in vivo. One solution to increase the anticancer efficacy of QtN is the use of appropriate functionalized nanocarriers that preferentially target and deliver the drug to the tumor location. Herein, a direct advanced method was designed to develop water-soluble hyaluronic acid (HA)-QtN-conjugated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). HA-QtN reduced silver nitrate (AgNO₃) while acting as a stabilizing agent to produce AgNPs. Further, HA-QtN#AgNPs served as an anchor for folate/folic acid (FA) conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The resulting PEG-FA-HA-QtN#AgNPs (further abbreviated as PF/HA-QtN#AgNPs) were characterized both in vitro and ex vivo. Physical characterizations included UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size (PS) and zeta potential (ZP) measurements, and biopharmaceutical evaluations. The biopharmaceutical evaluations included analyses of the cytotoxic effects on the HeLa and Caco-2 cancer cell lines using the MTT assay; cellular drug intake into cancer cells using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy; and blood compatibility using an automatic hematology analyzer, a diode array spectrophotometer, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The prepared hybrid delivery nanosystem was hemocompatible and more oncocytotoxic than the free, pure QtN. Therefore, PF/HA-QtN#AgNPs represent a smart nano-based drug delivery system (NDDS) and could be a promising oncotherapeutic option if the data are validated in vivo.

Stereocomplexed microparticles loaded with Salvia cadmica Boiss. extracts for enhancement of immune response towards Helicobacter pylori

Controlled delivery of therapeutic substance gives numerous advantages (prevents degradation, improves uptake, sustains concentration, lowers side effects). To encapsulate Salvia cadmica extracts (root or aerial part), enriched with polyphenols with immunomodulatory activity, in stereocomplexed microparticles (sc-PLA), for using them to enhance the immune response towards gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Microparticles were made of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA). Their stereocomplexation was used to form microspheres and enhance the stability of the obtained particles in acidic/basic pH. The release of Salvia cadmica extracts was done in different pH (5.5, 7.4 and 8.0). The obtained polymers are safe in vitro and in vivo (guinea pig model). The sc-PLA microparticles release of S. cadmica extracts in pH 5.5, 7.4, and 8.0. S. cadmica extracts enhanced the phagocytic activity of guinea pig bone marrow-derived macrophages, which was diminished by H. pylori, and neutralized H. pylori driven enhanced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10. The sc-PLA encapsulated S. cadmica extracts can be recommended for further in vivo study in guinea pigs infected with H. pylori to confirm their ability to improve an immune response towards this pathogen.

5-Fluorouracil-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles: Formulation, Physicochemical Characterisation, and In VitroAnti-Cancer Activity

The major goal of this investigation was to prepare a drug delivery of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) from 5-fluorouracil (FU) that could be delivered intravenously and improve the therapeutic index of the FU. In order to achieve this, interfacial deposition method was used to prepare FU entrapped poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (FU-PLGA-NPs). The influence of various experimental settings on the effectiveness of FU integration into the NPs was assessed. Our findings show that the technique used to prepare the organic phase and the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase had the greatest impact on the effectiveness of FU integration into NPs. The results show that the preparation process produced spherical, homogenous, negatively charged particles with a nanometric size of 200 nm that are acceptable for intravenous delivery. A quick initial release over 24 h and then slow and steady release of FU from the formed NPs, exhibiting a biphasic pattern. Through the human small cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H69), the in vitro anti-cancer potential of the FU-PLGA-NPs was evaluated. It was then associated to the in vitro anti-cancer potential of the marketed formulation Fluracil®. Investigations were also conducted into Cremophor-EL (Cre-EL) potential activity on live cells. The viability of NCI-H69 cells was drastically reduced when they were exposed to 50 µg·mL-1 Fluracil®. Our findings show that the integration of FU in NPs significantly increases the drug cytotoxic effect in comparison to Fluracil®, with this potential effect being particularly important for extended incubation durations.

In Vitro Physical Characterizations and Docking Studies on Carvedilol Nanocrystals

The major goal of this investigation was to prepare carvedilol nanocrystals (CRL-NCs) for better solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Using polyvinyl pyrolidine K-30 (PVP) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as stabilisers, CRL-NCs were effectively synthesised by emulsion-diffusion, followed by the high-pressure homogenization (HPH) method. The AL classes of phase solubility curves with ideal complexes produced with stabilisers were estimated by thermodynamic parameters. The docking study was performed with the active site of a β-1 adrenoreceptor protein, and the CRLs docking score was revealed as −23.481 Kcal/mol−1. At 25 and 37 °C, the optimum interaction constant was determined for PVP (144 and 176 M−1) and SDS (102 and 121 M−1). The average particle size (PS) of the produced stable CRL-NCs is 58 nm, with a zeta potential of −27.2 ± 2.29 mV, a poly dispersibility index of 0.181 ± 0.012, a percentage yield of 78.7 ± 3.41, drug content of 96.81 ± 3.64%, and entrapment efficiency of 83.61 ± 1.80%. The morphological data also reveals that the CRL-NCs were nearly sphere shaped, with distinct and smooth surfaces. CRL-NCs were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the results show no chemical structural alterations, even when PS was reduced. NCs accelerate their in vitro dissolution release rate by about three times faster than CRL-MCs (microcrystals). When kept at 4 °C, the CRL-NCs exhibit good physical stability for six months. As a result, the CRL-NCs created via emulsion-diffusion followed by HPH with stabilisers can be used to increase the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly soluble or lipophilic drugs.