Nanoemulsions Based on Sunflower and Rosehip Oils: The Impact of Natural and Synthetic Stabilizers on Skin Penetration and an Ex Vivo Wound Healing Model

Gelatin emulsion gels loaded with host defence peptides for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections

The surge in multidrug-resistant bacteria against conventional antibiotics is a rapidly developing global health crisis necessitating novel infection management strategies. Host defence peptides (HDPs), also known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), offer a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, but their practical translation is limited by their susceptibility to proteases and potential off-site cytotoxicity. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of using gelatin emulsion gels (GELs), prepared using a water-in-oil (W/O) method, for the delivery of HDPs DJK-5 and IDR-1018 to improve their clinical utility. DJK-5-loaded GELs exhibited complete eradication of planktonic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at 4 - and 24-h intervals. Similarly, IDR-1018-loaded GELs demonstrated almost complete killing of MRSA and Escherichia coli (E. coli) after 4 h. Importantly, none of the GEL formulations investigated exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity. Overall, these HDP loaded GELs are a promising solution for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Bridging the gap between testing and clinics exploring alternative pre-clinical models in melanoma research

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, poses a significant clinical challenge for the development of effective treatments. Conventional in vivo animal studies have shown limited translational relevance to humans, raising strength to pre-clinical models for melanoma research. This review provides an in-depth analysis of alternative pre-clinical models including in vitro and ex vivo platforms such as reconstructed skin, spheroids, organoids, organotypic models, skin-on-a-chip, and bioprinting. Through a comprehensive analysis, the specific attributes, advantages, and limitations of each model are elucidated. It discusses the points related to the uniqueness advantages, from capturing complex interactions between melanoma cells and their microenvironment to enabling high-throughput drug screening and personalized medicine approaches. This review is structured covering firstly the roadmap to identify the co-occurrence of discovering new melanoma treatments and the development of its models, secondly it covers a comparative between the most used models followed by a section discussing each of them: the in vitro and ex vivo models. It intends to serve as an asset for researchers of melanoma field and clinicians involved in melanoma therapy, offering insights into the diverse preclinical models available for optimizing their integration into the translational pipeline.

Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: an updated review

Rosa spp., commonly known as rosehips, are wild plants that have traditionally been employed as herbal remedies for the treatment of a wide range of disorders. Rosehip is a storehouse of vitamins, including A, B complex, C, and E. Among phytonutrients, vitamin C is found in the highest amount. As rosehips contain significant levels of vitamin C, they are perfect candidates for the development of skincare formulations that can be effectively used in the treatment of different skin disorders (i.e., scarring, anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, melasma, and atopic dermatitis). This research focuses on the vitamin C content of several Rosa sp. by their botanical and geographic origins, which according to research studies are in the following order: R. rugosa > R. montana > R. canina > R. dumalis, with lower levels in R. villosa and R. arvensis, respectively. Among rosehip species, R. canina is the most extensively studied species which also displays significant amounts of bioactive compounds, but also antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities (e.g., against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, S, epidermis, and S. haemolyticus). The investigation also highlights the use of rosehip extracts and oils to minimise the harmful effects of acne, which primarily affects teenagers in terms of their physical appearance (e.g., scarring, hyperpigmentation, imperfections), as well as their moral character (e.g., low self-confidence, bullying). Additionally, for higher vitamin C content from various rosehip species, the traditional (i.e., infusion, maceration, Soxhlet extraction) and contemporary extraction methods (i.e., supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted, ultrasonic-assisted, and enzyme-assisted extractions) are highlighted, finally choosing the best extraction method for increased bioactive compounds, with emphasis on vitamin C content. Consequently, the current research focuses on assessing the potential of rosehip extracts as medicinal agents against various skin conditions, and the use of rosehip concentrations in skincare formulations (such as toner, serum, lotion, and sunscreen). Up-to-date studies have revealed that rosehip extracts are perfect candidates as topical application products in the form of nanoemulsions. Extensive in vivo studies have revealed that rosehip extracts also exhibit specific activities against multiple skin disorders (i.e., wound healing, collagen synthesis, atopic dermatitis, melasma, and anti-aging effects). Overall, with multiple dermatological actions and efficacies, rosehip extracts and oils are promising agents that require a thorough investigation of their functioning processes to enable their safe use in the skincare industry.

New horizon of rosehip seed oil: Extraction, characterization for its potential applications as a functional ingredient

In recent years, rosehip is gaining more attention due to its high nutritional and medicinal value. Rosehip seeds usually discarded as waste, contain oil with high bioactive potential. These nutritional properties recommend the use of rosehip seed oil (RSO) to develop innovative food, pharma, and cosmetic products. In this review, different conventional and novel technologies for the extraction of RSO in terms of optimized conditions for better extraction of oil are discussed. In the lateral section of the manuscript, the detailed composition and biological activities of RSO are reviewed. Finally, a glimpse of the recent applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry are provided. This review could provide a comprehensive understanding of the value of RSO and promote its nutrition research and commercial product development.

Development and preclinical assessment of nanoemulgel loaded with phytoconstituents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis

In recent years, natural ingredients have gained importance for therapeutic treatment due to their minimal toxicity. However, the delivery of these phytoconstituents poses a challenge to provide better efficacy. Current research reports the development of nanoemulgel (NEG) loaded with ginger oleoresin (GOR) and lipid guggul extract (LGE) for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The nanoemulsion (NE) was developed using the spontaneous emulsification technique by the pseudo-ternary method. The optimized nanoemulsion exhibited globule size of 16.08 ± 2.55 nm, PDI of 0.187 ± 0.06, and zeta potential of - 22.4 ± 0.31 mV. The cumulative release from in vitro diffusion studies at pH 7.4 was about 99.72 ± 3.47%, 57.98 ± 2.11%, and 86.42 ± 5.13% of 6-gingerol, E-guggulsterone, and Z-guggulsterone respectively at the end of 24 h. The ex vivo studies on porcine ear skin showed sustained release with 92.8 ± 3.21% for 6-gingerol, 55.61 ± 0.91% for E-guggulsterone, and 84.2 ± 4.22% for Z-guggulsterone released at the end of 24 h. The cell culture studies on RAW 264.7 cells indicated a robust inhibition of LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF-α production indicating its efficacy in the management of RA. The preclinical studies on male Wistar rats suggest that the developed NEG exhibited a comparable decrease in paw edema inflammation as compared to the marketed diclofenac sodium gel. These encouraging results demonstrate the potential of the developed nanoemulgel containing combination of GOR and LGE for the management of RA.