D-cycloserine nasal formulation development for anxiety disorders by using polymeric gels

A new approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: insulin-quantum dots

The potential use of insulin supplementation for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) was aimed to investigate and explore CQDs as an alternative delivery system. CQDs were produced by microwave and characterised. Insulin-loaded Ins-CQDs and in-situ Gel-Ins-CQDs were developed. The in vitro release kinetics, penetrations of insulin through excised sheep nasal mucosa were determined. Toxicity of CQDs were calculated on SH-SY5Y cells. The stability and usability of the prepared formulations were assessed. The insulin release from the solution was 70.75% after 3 hours, while it was 37.51% for in-situ Gel-Ins-CQDs. IC50 value was 52 µM. The mean particle diameters of Ins-CQDs and in-situ Gel-Ins-CQDs varied between 8.35 ± 0.19 to 8.75 ± 0.03 nm during a 6-month period. Zeta potentials ranged from -31.51 ± 1.39 to -24.43 ± 0.26 mV, and PDI values were between 9.8 ± 0.01 to 5.3 ± 3.2%(SD, n = 3) for Ins-CQDs and in-situ Gel-Ins-CQDs, respectively.Our results show that Gel-Ins-CQDs represented a controlled release over time and can be used for AD through the nasal route.

Management of acute upper respiratory tract infection: the role of early intervention

INTRODUCTION

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is an illness caused by an acute infection by viruses or bacteria of the nose, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. Most URTIs are short, mild, and self-limiting, but some can lead to serious complications, resulting in heavy social and economic burden on individuals and society.

AREAS COVERED

This article presents the management guidelines and consensus established through the Delphi method during an expert roundtable conducted in November 2020 and results of a targeted literature review.

EXPERT OPINION

The current acute URTI management strategies aim toward symptom alleviation and prevention of URTI virus transmission. The effectiveness of these strategies is highly increased with early intervention, administered prior to the peaking of viral shedding. This reduces the chances of developing a full-blown acute URTI, decreases symptom severity, and reduces viral transmission. Mucoadhesive gel nasal sprays have shown promising results for early intervention of acute URTI. They act by creating a barrier that can trap virus particles, thereby preventing invasion of the mucosa by the virus. Additionally, they deliver broad spectrum activity that is effective against a wide variety of pathogens that cause acute URTI. Acute URTI warrants greater attention and proactive management in reducing its burden.

Preparation and application of subdivided tablets using 3D printing for precise hospital dispensing

This study aimed to use three-dimensional printing technology to provide patients with accurate, safe and convenient subdivided drugs and bring the transformation of subdivided drugs' fabrication in the hospital. The formulation, preparation process, model and printing parameters, relationship between dose and preset model for printing of spironolactone of 2 mg, 4 mg and hydrochlorothiazide of 5 mg subdivided tablets prepared by three-dimensional printers were investigated in the study. The three-dimensional printed material consists of commercial tablets powders and other excipients, including lactose, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, and so on. Mass variation, drug content and drug content uniformity of subdivided tablets obtained by three-dimensional printing were compared with the pharmacists splitting subdivided tablets. Besides, the results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction confirmed that the preparation process of spironolactone of 2 mg, 4 mg and hydrochlorothiazide of 5 mg did not change the crystal structure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Furthermore, mass variation, drug content range and drug content uniformity of spironolactone of 2 mg, 4 mg and hydrochlorothiazide of 5 mg tablets split by pharmacists failed to comply with European Pharmacopoeia and Chinese Pharmacopoeia, while those of the three-dimensional printed subdivided tablets did. After the review of the ethics committee as a new technology for hospital dispensing, three-dimensional printed spironolactone subdivided tablets of 2 mg have been used in clinical inpatients and was accepted by pharmacists, nurses and patients. Compared with tablets subdivided split by pharmacists, three-dimensional printed spironolactone tablets of 2 mg were more accurate, safer and more customized, which indicated considerable potential in using three-dimensional printing technology as a new method for hospital dispensing.