Fabrication of Capsaicin Loaded Nanocrystals: Physical Characterizations and In Vivo Evaluation

Combined Hydroxyethyl Starch Luteolin Nanocrystals for Effective Anti-Hyperuricemia Effect in Mice Model

Introduction

Although flavonoid compounds exhibit various pharmacological activities, their clinical applications are restricted by low oral bioavailability owing to their poor solubility. Nanocrystals (NCs) represent an excellent strategy for enhancing the oral bioavailability of flavonoids. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a biomaterial compound used as a plasma expander, could be an ideal stabilizer material for preparing flavonoid NCs.

Methods

HES was used to stabilize flavonoid nanocrystals (NCs), using luteolin (LUT) as a model drug. After full characterization, the freeze-drying and storage stability, solubility, intestinal absorption, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo anti-hyperuricemic effect of the optimized HES-stabilized LUT NCs (LUT-HES NCs) were investigated.

Results

Uniformed LUT-HES NCs were prepared with mean particle size of 191.1±16.8 nm, zeta potential of about -23 mV, drug encapsulation efficiency of 98.52 ± 1.01%, and drug loading of 49.26 ± 0.50%. The freeze-dried LUT-HES NCs powder showed good re-dispersibility and storage stability for 9 months. Notably, compared with the coarse drug, LUT-HES NCs exhibited improved saturation solubility (7.49 times), increased drug dissolution rate, enhanced Caco-2 cellular uptake (2.78 times) and oral bioavailability (Fr=355.7%). Pharmacodynamic studies showed that LUT-HES NCs remarkably lowered serum uric acid levels by 69.93% and ameliorated renal damage in hyperuricemic mice.

Conclusion

HES is a potential stabilizer for poorly soluble flavonoid NCs and provides a promising strategy for the clinical application of these compounds. LUT-HES NCs may be an alternative or complementary strategy for hyperuricemia treatment.

A nanocomposite competent to overcome solubility and permeation issues of capsaicin and thiocolchicoside simultaneously in gout management: Fabrication of nanocubosomes

This study aimed to formulate nano-cubosomes (NCs) co-loaded with capsaicin (CAP) and thiocolchicoside (TCS) to enhance their bioavailability and minimize associated potential side effects through transdermal delivery alongside their synergistic activity. Twenty seven (27) nano-cubosomal dispersions were prepared according to Box-Behnken factorial design and the effect of CAP, TCS, glyceryl mono oleate (GMO) and poloxamer 407 (P407) concentrations on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency were assessed. The results revealed that the optimized formulation exhibited a mean droplet size of 503 ± 10.3 nm, PDI of 0.405 ± 0.02, zeta potential of -10.0 ± 1.70 mV and entrapment efficiency of 86.9 ± 3.56 %. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of optimized formulation was studied in rats by injecting carrageenan to induce edema. The results of in vivo study showed that transdermal application of nano-cubosomes co-loaded with CAP and TCS significantly (p value < 0.05) improved carrageenan induced inflammation compared with standard treatment. The analgesic activity of optimized formulation was evaluated in rats by using Eddy's hot plate method. The findings of analgesic activity illustrated that the analgesic effects exhibited by test formulation may be associated with increased licking period and inhibition of prostaglandins level. In conclusion, the transdermal application of NCs co-loaded with CAP and TCS may be a promising delivery system for enhancing their bioavailability as well as synergistic analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in gout management.

The development of nanocarriers for natural products

Natural bioactive compounds from plants exhibit substantial pharmacological potency and therapeutic value. However, the development of most plant bioactive compounds is hindered by low solubility and instability. Conventional pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets and capsules, only partially overcome these limitations, restricting their efficacy. With the recent development of nanotechnology, nanocarriers can enhance the bioavailability, stability, and precise intracellular transport of plant bioactive compounds. Researchers are increasingly integrating nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) into the development of natural plant compounds with significant success. Moreover, natural products benefit from nanotechnological enhancement and contribute to the innovation and optimization of nanocarriers via self-assembly, grafting modifications, and biomimetic designs. This review aims to elucidate the collaborative and reciprocal advancement achieved by integrating nanocarriers with botanical products, such as bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. This review underscores the salient challenges in nanomedicine, encompassing long-term safety evaluations of nanomedicine formulations, precise targeting mechanisms, biodistribution complexities, and hurdles in clinical translation. Further, this study provides new perspectives to leverage nanotechnology in promoting the development and optimization of natural plant products for nanomedical applications and guiding the progression of NDDS toward enhanced efficiency, precision, and safety. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

In situ triggered, floating delivery systems of capsaicin for prolonged gastroprotection

Capsaicin (CAP) has been implicated as a gastroprotective agent in the treatment of peptic ulcers. However, its oral administration is hampered by its poor aqueous solubility and caustic effect at high administered doses. To address these limitations, we describe the development of gastric floating, sustained release electrospun films loaded with CAP. The nanofiber films were formulated using the polymers Eudragit RL/RS and sodium bicarbonate (SB) as the effervescent agent. The films were tested for their physicochemical properties, and film buoyancy and in vitro release of CAP were assessed in simulated gastric fluid. The cytocompatibility and anti-inflammatory properties of the films were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Caco-2 cells. The amorphous films showed improved wettability, a short floating lag time (<1 s) and a total floating time of over 24 h accompanied by sustained CAP release for up to 24 h. CAP-loaded films demonstrated biocompatibility with Caco-2 cells and potential cytoprotective effects by attenuating inflammatory cytokine and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells. The gastric floating electrospun films could serve as a platform for sustained and stomach-specific drug delivery applications.

Design of lactoferrin functionalized carboxymethyl dextran coated egg albumin nanoconjugate for targeted delivery of capsaicin: Spectroscopic and cytotoxicity studies

The increased mortality rates associated with colorectal cancer highlight the pressing need for improving treatment approaches. While capsaicin (CAP) has shown promising anticancer activity, its efficacy is hampered due to low solubility, rapid metabolism, suboptimal bioavailability, and a short half-life. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare a lactoferrin-functionalized carboxymethyl dextran-coated egg albumin nanoconjugate (LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs) for the targeted CAP delivery to enhance its potential for colorectal cancer therapy. Briefly, LF-CMD was synthesized through an esterification reaction involving LF as a receptor and CMD as a shell. Concurrently, CAP was incorporated into an EGA carrier using gelation and hydrophobic interactions. The subsequent production of LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs was achieved through the Maillard reaction. Spectral characterizations confirmed the successful synthesis of smooth and spherical-shaped LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs using LF-CMD and EGA-CAP nanoparticles, with high entrapment efficiency and satisfactory drug content. Furthermore, LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs demonstrated a sustained release of CAP (76.52 ± 1.01 % in 24 h, R2 = 0.9966) in pH 5.8 buffer with anomalous transport (n = 0.68) owing to the shell of the CMD and EGA matrix. The nanoconjugate exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity in HCT116 and LoVo cell lines, which is attributed to the overexpression of LF receptors in colorectal HCT116 cells. Additionally, LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, as observed in the FHC-CRL-1831 cell line. In conclusion, LF-CMD@CAP-EGA-NCs can be considered as a promising approach for targeted delivery of CAP and other anticancer agents in colorectal cancer treatment.

Preparation and characterization of a curcumin nanoemulsion gel for the effective treatment of mycoses

Fungal infections of skin including mycoses are one of the most common infections in skin or skins. Mycosis is caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte moulds and yeasts. Various studies show different drugs to treat mycoses, yet there is need to treat it with applied drugs delivery. This study was designed to prepare a bio curcumin (CMN) nanoemulsion (CMN-NEs) for transdermal administration to treat mycoses. The self-nanoemulsification approach was used to prepare a nanoemulsion (NE), utilizing an oil phase consisting of Cremophor EL 100 (Cre EL), glyceryl monooleate (GMO), and polyethylene glycol 5000 (PEG 5000). Particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometric analysis, and morphological analyses were performed to evaluate the nanoemulsion (NE). The in vitro permeation of CMN was investigated using a modified vertical diffusion cell with an activated dialysis membrane bag. Among all the formulations, a stable, spontaneously produced nanoemulsion was determined with 250 mg of CMN loaded with 10 g of the oil phase. The average droplet size, ZP, and PDI of CMN-NEs were 90.0 ± 2.1 nm, - 7.4 ± 0.4, and 0.171 ± 0.03 mV, respectively. The release kinetics of CMN differed from zero order with a Higuchi release profile as a result of nanoemulsification, which also significantly increased the flux of CMN permeating from the hydrophilic matrix gel. Overall, the prepared nanoemulsion system not only increased the permeability of CMN but also protected it against chemical deterioration. Both CMN-ME (24.0 ± 0.31 mm) and CMN-NE gel (29.6 ± 0.25 mm) had zones of inhibition against Candida albicans that were significantly larger than those of marketed Itrostred gel (21.5 ± 0.34 mm). The prepared CMN-NE improved the bioavailability, better skin penetration, and the CMN-NE gel enhanced the release of CMN from the gel matrix on mycotic patients.

Modeling of the Aqueous Solubility of N-butyl-N-methyl-1-phenylpyrrolo[1,2-a] pyrazine-3-carboxamide: From Micronization to Creation of Amorphous-Crystalline Composites with a Polymer

N-butyl-N-methyl-1-phenylpyrrole[1,2-a] pyrazine-3-carboxamide (GML-3) is a potential candidate for combination drug therapy due to its anxiolytic and antidepressant activity. The anxiolytic activity of GML-3 is comparable to diazepam. The antidepressant activity of GML-3 is comparable to amitriptyline. GML-3 is an 18 kDa mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) ligand and is devoid of most of the side effects of diazepam, which makes the research on the creation of drugs based on it promising. However, its low water solubility and tendency to agglomerate prevented its release. This research aimed to study the effect of dry grinding, the rapid expansion of a supercritical solution (RESS), and the eutectic mixture (composite) of GML-3 with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the particle size, dissolution rate, and lattice retention of GML-3. The use of supercritical CO2 in the RESS method was promising in terms of particle size reduction, resulting in a reduction in the particle size of GML-3 to 20-40 nm with a 430-fold increase in dissolution rate. However, in addition to particle size reduction after RESS, GML-3 began to show signs of a polymorphism phenomenon, which was also studied in this article. It was found that coarse grinding reduced particle size by a factor of 2 but did not significantly affect solubility or crystal structure. Co-milling with the polymer made it possible to level the effect of the appearance of a residual electrostatic charge on the particles, as in the case of grinding, and the increased solubility in the resulting mechanical mixtures of GML-3 with the polymer may also indicate the dissolving properties of polymers (an increase in 400-800 times). The best result in terms of GML-3 solubility was demonstrated by the resulting GML-3:PVP composite at a ratio of 1:4, which made it possible to achieve a solubility of about 80% active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) within an hour with an increase in the dissolution rate by 1600 times. Thus, the creation of composites is the most effective method for improving the solubility of GML-3, superior to micronization.

Strategies for Improving Transdermal Administration: New Approaches to Controlled Drug Release

In this work, we aim to address several strategies to improve transdermal drug delivery, such as iontophoresis, sonophoresis, electroporation and micron. We also propose a review of some transdermal patches and their applications in medicine. TDDs (transdermal patches with delayed active substances) are multilayered pharmaceutical preparations that may contain one or more active substances, of which, systemic absorption is achieved through intact skin. The paper also presents new approaches to the controlled release of drugs: niosomes, microemulsions, transfersomes, ethosomes, but also hybrid approaches nanoemulsions and microns. The novelty of this review lies in the presentation of strategies to improve the transdermal administration of drugs, combined with their applications in medicine, in light of pharmaceutical technological developments.

Promising photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of novel capsaicin coated cobalt ferrite nanocatalyst

In this study, CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by the co-precipitation method then surface modified with Capsaicin (Capsicum annuum ssp.). The virgin CoFe₂O₄ NPs and Capsaicin-coated CoFe₂O₄ NPs (CPCF NPs) were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The antimicrobial potential and photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of the prepared samples via Fuchsine basic (FB) were investigated. The results revealed that CoFe₂O₄ NPs have spherical shapes and their diameter varied from 18.0 to 30.0 nm with an average particle size of 25.0 nm. Antimicrobial activity was tested on Gram-positive (S. aureusATCC 52923) and Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 52922) by disk diffusion and broth dilution methods to determine the zone of inhibition (ZOI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), respectively. UV-assisted photocatalytic degradation of FB was examined. Various parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency such as pH, initial concentration of FB, and dose of nanocatalyst were studied. The in-vitro ZOI and MIC results verified that CPCF NPs were more active upon Gram-Positive S. aureus ATCC 52923 (23.0 mm ZOI and 0.625 μg/ml MIC) than Gram-Negative E. coli ATCC 52922 (17.0 mm ZOI and 1.250 μg/ml MIC). Results obtained from the photocatalytic activity indicated that the maximum FB removal achieving 94.6% in equilibrium was observed using 20.0 mg of CPCF NPS at pH 9.0. The synthesized CPCF NPs were effective in the removal of FB and also as potent antimicrobial agent against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with potential medical and environmental applications.

Adsorption of Capsaicin into the Nanoconfined Interlayer Space of Montmorillonite by DFT Calculations

Capsaicin is the main compound responsible of the hot sense of the chili fruits. This compound has interesting therapeutic properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory effects, and analgesic. However, its use has several secondary effects, such as skin irritation and allergies. Then, new therapeutic strategies are searched in order to overcome these problems. Montmorillonite has proved to be an excellent excipient for the release of pharmaceutical drugs. In this work, the molecular structure and crystal structure of capsaicin, and the adsorption of this molecule into the interlayer space of montmorillonite have been studied using quantum mechanical calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) level of theory and molecular dynamics simulations. The crystal structure has been predicted with these calculations and the intermolecular interactions have been determined with a higher resolution than the previous experimental data. The adsorption of capsaicin into the confined interlayer space of montmorillonite is energetically favourable with low and high octahedral charge. This adsorption can be monitored by IR spectroscopy observing frequency shifts in some bands during the adsorption. This enhances the use of these clay minerals for capsaicin therapeutic formulations.

Microencapsulation of Capsaicin in Chitosan Microcapsules: Characterization, Release Behavior, and Pesticidal Properties against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Capsaicin is a capsaicinoid in hot chili peppers, with excellent antibacterial and antimicrobial activities and a good safety profile, but its poor solubility and instability restrict its effectiveness. This limitation may be mitigated by encapsulation. Herein, capsaicin microcapsules (CCMs) were prepared through layer-by-layer self-assembly, using chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan as shell materials. The chemical and microstructure structural characterization was evaluated by the methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM indicated the microcapsules were irregular in shape with an average size of about 100 μm. The encapsulation had a high loading efficiency of 64.31%. FTIR and XRD revealed the absence of the interaction between the core and shell materials and the amorphous nature of the CCMs. The analysis results of the microcapsules' release behavior showed the burst release of capsaicin in 7 days and a slow progression afterward in three solutions, with the highest release properties in a basic solution, followed by acidic and neutral salt solutions. The entomotoxicity of CCMs was conducted against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and its efficacy was compared with pure capsaicin. The CCMs were found to be highly effective against this pest. The LC₅₀ value for capsaicin and its microcapsules was 31.37 and 29.75 mg/kg on adults, respectively. According to these values, T. castaneum's development and reproduction were significantly inhibited compared with the control group. The excellent physicochemical characteristics and insecticidal performance show a high application value for integrated pest control.

Acyclic cucurbit[n]urils-based supramolecular encapsulation for enhancing the protective effect of capsaicin on gastric mucosa and reducing irritation

Capsaicin (CAP) is an alkaloid isolated from pepper fruit, which possesses various pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and gastric mucosa protection. However, its inherent poor aqueous solubility and strong irritation impede the further clinical application. In our study, acyclic cucurbit[n]urils (ACBs, M1, M2 and M3) were rationally utilized to prepare a series of CAP inclusion complexes to improve the bioavailability and reduce stimulation. Their properties and inclusion behaviors were further investigated by multiple characterization methods, the data indicated that the inclusion complexes of ACBs/CAP were formed by a stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 with strong binding interaction. After complexation, the solubility of CAP was significantly increased by 12,076 times and its antioxidant activity also increased. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity and the ability to prevent gastric mucosal injury were both significantly improved, and the inhibition rate of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has been effectively improved while cytotoxicity against human normal hepatocytes cell (LO2), human lung fibroblasts cell (HLF) and the human gastric mucosal cell (GES-1) was greatly attenuated. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) images indicated that the complexes could be efficiently internalized by GES-1 cells and primarily located in cytoplasm. In vivo model of mouse, our complexes exhibited excellent biosafety. In summary, our study may provide a promising new strategy for the further clinical application of CAP.

Design, Formulation, and Evaluation of Aloe vera Gel-Based Capsaicin Transemulgel for Osteoarthritis

Topical treatments are a potential therapeutic option for the therapy of osteoarthritis, with significant data supporting the effectiveness and safety of topical formulation. Topical gel formulations may offer an alternative to oral formulations to relieve osteoarthritis (OA) pain while decreasing systemic exposure. Topical capsaicin transemulgel may represent an effective and safe alternative. The transemulgel was prepared from aqueous Aloe vera gel and Carbopol 934 with capsaicin in clove oil emulsion. The optimized transemulgel of capsaicin showed a pH of 6.1 ± 0.1 and viscosity of 15263–998 cps. Data from in vitro diffusion demonstrated improved permeability properties. The formulation caused no skin irritation when applied topically. The optimal transemulgel spreadability was found to be 20.23 g·cm/s. In vitro and ex vivo studies of the optimized formulation were performed. The skin irritant test was performed on rat skin with an optimized and marketed formulation. Both showed no irritation on the skin. The transemulgel of the capsaicin with Aloe vera gel was proven to be effective for osteoarthritis therapy.

Silymarin nanocrystals-laden chondroitin sulphate-based thermoreversible hydrogels; A promising approach for bioavailability enhancement

Hydrogels has gained tremendous interest as a controlled release drug delivery. However, currently it is a big challenge to attain high drug-loading as well as stable and sustained release of hydrophobic drugs. The poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability of many drugs have driven the need for research in new formulations. This manuscript hypothesized that incorporation of nanocrystals of hydrophobic drug, such as silymarin into thermoreversible hydrogel could be a solution to these problems. Herein, we prepared nanocrystals of silymarin by antisolvent precipitation technique and characterized for morphology, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential. Moreover, physical cross-linking of hydrogel formulations based on chondroitin sulphate (CS), kappa-Carrageenan (κ-Cr) and Pluronic® F127 was confirmed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The hydrogel gelation time and temperature of optimized hydrogel was 14 ± 3.2 s and 34 ± 0.6 °C, respectively. The release data revealed controlled release of silymarin up to 48 h and in-vivo pharmacokinetic profiling was done in rabbits and further analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is believed that the nanocrystals loaded thermoreversible injectable hydrogel system fabricated in this study provides high drug loading as well as controlled and stable release of hydrophobic drug for extended period.

Beneath the Skin: A Review of Current Trends and Future Prospects of Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

The ideal drug delivery system has a bioavailability comparable to parenteral dosage forms but is as convenient and easy to use for the patient as oral solid dosage forms. In recent years, there has been increased interest in transdermal drug delivery (TDD) as a non-invasive delivery approach that is generally regarded as being easy to administer to more vulnerable age groups, such as paediatric and geriatric patients, while avoiding certain bioavailability concerns that arise from oral drug delivery due to poor absorbability and metabolism concerns. However, despite its many merits, TDD remains restricted to a select few drugs. The physiology of the skin poses a barrier against the feasible delivery of many drugs, limiting its applicability to only those drugs that possess physicochemical properties allowing them to be successfully delivered transdermally. Several techniques have been developed to enhance the transdermal permeability of drugs. Both chemical (e.g., thermal and mechanical) and passive (vesicle, nanoparticle, nanoemulsion, solid dispersion, and nanocrystal) techniques have been investigated to enhance the permeability of drug substances across the skin. Furthermore, hybrid approaches combining chemical penetration enhancement technologies with physical technologies are being intensively researched to improve the skin permeation of drug substances. This review aims to summarize recent trends in TDD approaches and discuss the merits and drawbacks of the various chemical, physical, and hybrid approaches currently being investigated for improving drug permeability across the skin.