Spanlastics as a Potential Platform for Enhancing the Brain Delivery of Flibanserin: In Vitro Response-Surface Optimization and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics Assessment

Novel surfactant-based elastic vesicular system as a promising approach for the topical delivery of Ibuprofen for enhanced wound healing

The objective of the research was to develop and evaluate ibuprofen (Ibu) loaded spanlastics as an efficient wound healing treatment. Ibu- loaded vesicles were prepared employing ethanol injection technique using three edge activators; Tego® care 450, Cremophor RH 40 and Crodafos™ CES along with Span 60. Entrapment efficiency percentage (EE %), vesicular size and zeta potential were evaluated to select the optimal formulations. In- vitro release study, differential scanning calorimetry, xray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were performed. Selected formulations were incorporated in a hydrogel to assess their in-vivo wound healing efficiency using full-thickness wound model. The vesicles exhibited high EE% (60.6-93.9%), particle size ranged from 114.8 to 663.5 nm and zeta potential was from -26.2 to -42.3 mV which indicated good stability. In-vitro release pattern was biphasic. In-vivo assessment of wound healing efficacy of selected Ibu-loaded spanlastics disclosed significant reduction of wound size. A significant inhibition in TNF-α secretion as well as increased production of VEGF and Col-1 were noticed in rats treated with topical application of Ibu-spanlastics and an almost normal histological structure was observed in their microphotographs. These results confirmed that spanlastics might be a peculiar delivery system for Ibu to improve its topical wound healing efficacy.

Development and Characterization of In Situ Gelling Nasal Cilostazol Spanlastics

Cilostazol (CIL), a BCS class II antiplatelet aggregation and vasodilator agent, is used for cerebrovascular diseases to minimize blood-brain barrier dysfunction, white matter-lesion formation, and motor deficits. The current work aimed to develop and optimize cilostazol-loaded spanlastics (CIL-SPA) for nose-to-brain delivery to overcome the low solubility and absorption, the first pass-metabolism, and the adverse effects. The optimal CIL-SPA formulation was loaded into Phytagel® (SPA-PG), Poloxamer-407 (SPA-P407), and chitosan (SPA-CS) gel bases and characterized in terms of colloidal properties, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), mucoadhesive properties, and biopharmaceutical aspects. The developed in situ gelling formulations showed a <300 nm average hydrodynamic diameter, <0.5 polydispersity index, and >|±30| mV zeta potential with a high EE% (>99%). All formulations met the droplet size-distribution criteria of nasal requirements (<200 µm), and all formulations showed adequate mucoadhesion properties. Both the BBB-PAMPA and horizontal permeability study through an artificial membrane revealed that all formulations had higher CIL flux and cumulative permeability at in vitro nose-to-brain conditions compared to the initial CIL. The in vitro drug-release study showed that all formulations released ca. 100% of CIL after 2 h. Therefore, the developed formulations could be promising for improving the low bioavailability of CIL through nose-to-brain delivery.

Unveiling Spanlastics as a Novel Carrier for Drug Delivery: A Review

Innovative colloidal preparations that can alter the pharmacological properties of drugs have been made possible by the advancement of nanotechnology. Recent advances in the sciences of the nanoscale have led to the creation of new methods for treating illnesses. Developments in nanotechnology may lessen the side effects of medicine by using effective and regulated drug delivery methods. A promising drug delivery vehicle is spanlastics, an elastic nanovesicle that can transport a variety of drug compounds. Spanlastics have expanded the growing interest in many types of administrative pathways. Using this special type of vesicular carriers, medications intended for topical, nasal, ocular, and trans-ungual treatments are delivered to specific areas. Their elastic and malleable structure allows them to fit into skin pores, making them ideal for transdermal distribution. Spanlastic is composed of non-ionic surfactants or combinations of surfactants. Numerous studies have demonstrated how spanlastics significantly improve, drug bioavailability, therapeutic effectiveness, and reduce medication toxicity. The several vesicular systems, composition and structure of spanlastics, benefits of spanlastics over alternative drug delivery methods, and the process of drug penetration via skin are all summarized in this paper. Additionally, it provides an overview of the many medications that may be treated using spanlastic vesicles. The primary benefits of these formulations were associated with their surface properties, as a variety of proteins might be linked to the look. For instance, procedure assessment and gold nanoparticles were employed as biomarkers for different biomolecules, which included tumor label detection. Anticipate further advancements in the customization and combining of spanlastic vesicles with appropriate zeta potential to transport therapeutic compounds to specific areas for enhanced disease treatment.

A narrative review on potential applications of spanlastics for nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutically active agents

Spanlastics, which are commonly referred to as elastic niosomes, presents a modified advancement in the area of colloidal system based drug delivery carriers. They are different from niosomes, which are non-ionic surfactant vesicles in having an edge activator. Initially, they were described as ocular drug delivery systems in 2011 by Kakkar and Kaur. Spanlastics have discovered a wide range of applications via different routes of administration. The purpose of this article is to provide information about spanlastics, a newly developed drug delivery system for the management of diseases pertaining to the Central Nervous System (CNS) via intranasal route. The article begins with the details on spanlastics and their composition, their benefits over traditional niosomes, and the mechanism underlying their enhanced absorption. Their applications through various routes of administration in a variety of diseases for a variety of drugs have been discussed. Furthermore, the article explains the nose to brain delivery channels and the advantages that this route offers over conventional delivery routes. Finally, the article discusses the studies encompassing the drug candidates that have been formulated as intranasal spanlastics for the management of different diseased conditions along with the future prospects of this emerging drug delivery system.

Ocular mucoadhesive and biodegradable spanlastics loaded cationic spongy insert for enhancing and sustaining the anti-inflammatory effect of prednisolone Na phosphate; Preparation, I-optimal optimization, and In-vivo evaluation

This study aimed to formulate and statistically optimize spanlastics loaded spongy insert (SPLs-SI) of prednisolone Na phosphate (PRED) to enhance and sustain its anti-inflammatory effect in a controlled manner. An I-optimal optimization was employed using Design-Expert® software. The formulation variables were sonication time, the Span 60: EA ratio and type of edge activator (Tween 80 or PVA) while Entrapment efficiency (EE%), Vesicles' size (VS) and Zeta potential (ZP) were set as the dependent responses. This resulted in an optimum spanlastics (SPLs) formulation with a desirability of 0.919. It had a Span60:Tween80 ratio of 6:1 with a sonication time of 9.5 min. It was evaluated in terms of its EE%, VS, ZP, release behavior in comparison to drug solution in addition to the effect of aging on its characteristics. It had EE% of 87.56, VS of 152.2 nm and ZP of -37.38 Mv. It showed sustained release behavior of PRED in comparison to drug solution with good stability for thirty days. TEM images of the optimized PRED SPLs formulation showed spherical non-aggregated nanovesicles. Then it was loaded into chitosan spongy insert and evaluated in terms of its visual appearance, pH and mucoadhesion properties. It showed good mucoadhesive properties and pH in the safe ocular region. The FTIR, DSC and XRD spectra showed that PRED was successfully entrapped inside the SPLs vesicles. It was then exposed to an in-vivo studies where it was capable of enhancing the anti-inflammatory effect of PRED in a sustained manner with once daily application compared to commercial PRED solution. The spongy insert has the potential to be a promising carrier for the ocular delivery of PRED.

Verapamil-Loaded Cubosomes for Enhancing Intranasal Drug Delivery: Development, Characterization, Ex Vivo Permeation, and Brain Biodistribution Studies

Verapamil hydrochloride (VRP), an antihypertensive calcium channel blocker drug has limited bioavailability and short half-life when taken orally. The present study was aimed at developing cubosomes containing VRP for enhancing its bioavailability and targeting to brain for cluster headache (CH) treatment as an off-label use. Factorial design was conducted to analyze the impact of different components on entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and percent drug release. Various in-vitro characterizations were performed followed by pharmacokinetic and brain targeting studies. The results revealed the significant impact of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) on increasing EE%, PS, and ZP of cubosomes with a negative influence on VRP release. The remarkable effect of Poloxamer 407 (P407) on decreasing EE%, PS, and ZP of cubosomes was observed besides its influence on accelerating VRP release%. The DSC thermograms indicated the successful entrapment of the amorphous state of VRP inside the cubosomes. The design suggested an optimized formulation containing GMO (50% w/w) and P407 (5.5% w/w). Such formulation showed a significant increase in drug permeation through nasal mucosa with high Er value (2.26) when compared to VRP solution. Also, the histopathological study revealed the safety of the utilized components used in the cubosomes preparation. There was a significant enhancement in the VRP bioavailability when loaded in cubosomes owing to its sustained release favored by its direct transport to brain. The I.N optimized formulation had greater BTE% and DTP% at 183.53% and 90.19%, respectively in comparison of 41.80% and 59% for the I.N VRP solution.

Nanomedicines for intranasal delivery: understanding the nano-bio interactions at the nasal mucus-mucosal barrier

INTRODUCTION

Intranasal administration is an effective drug delivery routes in modern pharmaceutics. However, unlike other in vivo biological barriers, the nasal mucosal barrier is characterized by high turnover and selective permeability, hindering the diffusion of both particulate drug delivery systems and drug molecules. The in vivo fate of administrated nanomedicines is often significantly affected by nano-biointeractions.

AREAS COVERED

The biological barriers that nanomedicines encounter when administered intranasally are introduced, with a discussion on the factors influencing the interaction between nanomedicines and the mucus layer/mucosal barriers. General design strategies for nanomedicines administered via the nasal route are further proposed. Furthermore, the most common methods to investigate the characteristics and the interactions of nanomedicines when in presence of the mucus layer/mucosal barrier are briefly summarized.

EXPERT OPINION

Detailed investigation of nanomedicine-mucus/mucosal interactions and exploration of their mechanisms provide solutions for designing better intranasal nanomedicines. Designing and applying nanomedicines with mucus interaction properties or non-mucosal interactions should be customized according to the therapeutic need, considering the target of the drug, i.e. brain, lung or nose. Then how to improve the precise targeting efficiency of nanomedicines becomes a difficult task for further research.

Nose to brain delivery of naringin loaded transniosomes for epilepsy: formulation, characterisation, blood-brain distribution and invivo pharmacodynamic evaluation

The current work limns the preparation of naringin-loaded transnioosomes (NRN-TN) to enhance NRN solubility, permeation and bioavailability via nasal mucosa for intranasal delivery. NRN-TN was created by the thin-film hydration technique, and with the BBD (Box-Behnken design), optimisation was carried out. NRN-TNopt was characterised for the vesicle size, PDI (Polydispersity index), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE) and in vitro NRN release. For further assessment, nasal permeation study, study of Blood-brain distribution, TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), and CLSM (Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy) were conducted withal. The NRN-TNopt exhibited spherical as well as sealed vesicles with a considerable small size of 151.3 nm, an EE of 75.23 percent, a PDI of 0.1257, and an in vitro release of 83.32 percent. CLSM investigation revealed that the new formulation allows for higher NRN permeation across nasal mucosa than the NRN solution. The blood-brain distribution investigation revealed that intranasally administered NRN-TN had a greater Cmax and AUC0-24 h than orally administered NRN-TN. Seizure activity and neuromuscular coordination as measured by the rotarod test, biochemical estimate of oxidative stress indicators, and histological investigations demonstrated that the NRN-TN has superior anti-epileptic potential in comparison to the standard diazepam. In addition, nasal toxicity studies demonstrate that the NRN-TN formulation is safer for intranasal administration. This study confirmed that the created TN vesicle formulation is a valuable carrier for the intranasal administration of NRN for the treatment of epilepsy.

Overview of Spanlastics: A Groundbreaking Elastic Medication Delivery Device with Versatile Prospects for Administration via Various Routes

When compared to the challenges associated with traditional dosage forms, medication delivery systems based on nanotechnology have been a huge boon. One such candidate for medication delivery is spanlastics, an elastic nanovesicle that can transport a diverse array of medicinal compounds. The use of spanlastics has been associated with an increase in interest in alternative administration methods. The non-ionic surfactant or surfactant blend is the main component of spanlastics. The purpose of this review was primarily to examine the potential of spanlastics as a delivery system for a variety of medication classes administered via diverse routes. Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Pubmed were utilized to search the academic literature for this review. Several studies have demonstrated that spanlastics greatly improve therapeutic effectiveness, increase medication absorption, and decrease drug toxicity. This paper provides a summary of the composition and structure of spanlastics along with their utility in the delivery of various therapeutic agents by adopting different routes. Additionally, it provides an overview of the numerous disorders that may be treated using drugs that are contained in spanlastic vesicles.

Spanlastics: a novel elastic drug delivery system with potential applications via multifarious routes of administration

Drug delivery systems (DDS) based on nanocarriers are designed to transport therapeutic agents to specific areas of the body where they are required to exhibit pharmacodynamic effect. These agents rely on an appropriate carrier to protect them from rapid degradation or clearance and enhance their concentration in target tissues. Spanlastics, an elastic, deformable surfactant-based nanovesicles have the potential to be used as a drug delivery vehicle for wide array of drug molecules. Spanlastics are formed by the self-association of non-ionic surfactants and edge activators in an aqueous phase and have gained attention as promising drug carriers due to their biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-immunogenic structure. In recent years, numerous scientific journals have published research articles exploring the potential of spanlastics to serve as a DDS for various types of drugs as they offer targeted delivery and regulated release of the drugs. Following brief introduction to spanlastics, their structure and methods of preparation, this review focuses on the delivery of various drugs using spanlastics as a carrier via various routes viz. topical, transdermal, ototopical, ocular, oral and nasal. Work carried out by various researchers by employing spanlastics as a carrier for enhancing therapeutic activity of different moieties has been discussed in detail.

Nanosystems for Brain Targeting of Antipsychotic Drugs: An Update on the Most Promising Nanocarriers for Increased Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy

Orally administered antipsychotic drugs are the first-line treatment for psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, adverse drug reactions jeopardize clinical outcomes, resulting in patient non-compliance. The design formulation strategies for enhancing brain drug delivery has been a major challenge, mainly due to the restrictive properties of the blood-brain barrier. However, recent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo assays confirmed the advantage of the intranasal route when compared to oral and intravenous administration, as it allows direct nose-to-brain drug transport via neuronal pathways, reducing systemic side effects and maximizing therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the incorporation of antipsychotic drugs into nanosystems such as polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric mixed micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, nanoemulgels, nanosuspensions, niosomes and spanlastics, has proven to be quite promising. The developed nanosystems, having a small and homogeneous particle size (ideal for nose-to-brain delivery), high encapsulation efficiency and good stability, resulted in improved brain bioavailability and therapeutic-like effects in animal models. Hence, although it is essential to continue research in this field, the intranasal delivery of nanosystems for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other related disorders has proven to be quite promising, opening a path for future therapies with higher efficacy.

Spanlastics as a Potential Approach for Enhancing the Nose-To-Brain Delivery of Piperine: In Vitro Prospect and In Vivo Therapeutic Efficacy for the Management of Epilepsy

The present study delineates the preparation of piperine-loaded spanlastics (PIP-SPL) to improve piperine (PIP) solubility, bioavailability, and permeation through nasal mucosa for intranasal delivery. PIP-SPL was formulated using the thin-film hydration method and optimization was performed using Box-Behnken design (BBD). PIP-SPL optimized formulation (PIP-SPLopt) was characterized for polydispersity index (PDI), vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, and in vitro PIP release. For further evaluation, blood-brain distribution study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nasal permeation study, and confocal scanning laser microscopy (CLSM) were performed withal. The PIP-SPLopt presented spherical and sealed shape vesicles with a small vesicle size of 152.4 nm, entrapment efficiency of 72.93%, PDI of 0.1118, and in vitro release of 82.32%. The CLSM study unveiled that the developed formulation has greater permeation of PIP across the nasal mucosa in comparison with the PIP suspension. The blood-brain distribution study demonstrated higher C_max and AUC_0-24h of PIP-SPL via the intranasal route in comparison to PIP-SPL via oral administration. The in vivo study revealed that the PIP-SPL has good antiepileptic potential in comparison with the standard diazepam, which was evinced by seizure activity, neuromuscular coordination by rotarod test, biochemical estimation of oxidative stress markers, and histopathological studies. Furthermore, nasal toxicity study confirm that the developed PIP-SPL formulation is safer for intranasal application. The current investigation corroborated that the prepared spanlastic vesicle formulation is a treasured carrier for the PIP intranasal delivery for the management of epilepsy.