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Nwagwu CS, Ugwu CN, Ogbonna JDN, Onugwu AL, Agbo CP, Echezona AC, Ezeibe EN, Uzondu S, Kenechukwu FC, Akpa PA, Momoh MA, Nnamani PO, Tarirai C, Ofokansi KC, Attama AA. Recent and advanced nano-technological strategies for COVID-19 vaccine development. Methods Microbiol 2022; 50:151-188. [PMID: 38620863 PMCID: PMC9015106 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 has been one of the greatest challenges modern medicine and science has ever faced. It has affected millions of people around the world and altered human life and activities as we once knew. The high prevalence as well as an extended period of incubations which usually does not present with symptoms have played a formidable role in the transmission and infection of millions. A lot of research has been carried out on developing suitable treatment and effective preventive measures for the control of the pandemic. Preventive strategies which include social distancing, use of masks, washing of hands, and contact tracing have been effective in slowing the spread of the virus; however, the infectious nature of the SARS-COV-2 has made these strategies unable to eradicate its spread. In addition, the continuous increase in the number of cases and death, as well as the appearance of several variants of the virus, has necessitated the development of effective and safe vaccines in a bid to ensure that human activities can return to normalcy. Nanotechnology has been of great benefit in the design of vaccines as nano-sized materials have been known to aid the safe and effective delivery of antigens as well as serve as suitable adjuvants to potentiate responses to vaccines. There are only four vaccine candidates currently approved for use in humans while many other candidates are at various levels of development. This review seeks to provide updated information on the current nano-technological strategies employed in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinekwu Sherridan Nwagwu
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chinenye Nnenna Ugwu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria
| | - John Dike Nwabueze Ogbonna
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Adaeze Linda Onugwu
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Chinazom Precious Agbo
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Adaeze Chidiebere Echezona
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Ezinwanne Nneoma Ezeibe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria
| | - Samuel Uzondu
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Frankline Chimaobi Kenechukwu
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Paul Achile Akpa
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Mumuni Audu Momoh
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Petra Obioma Nnamani
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Clemence Tarirai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kenneth Chibuzor Ofokansi
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Anthony Amaechi Attama
- Drug Delivery & Nanomedicines Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
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Akpa PA, Ugwuoke JA, Attama AA, Ugwu CN, Ezeibe EN, Momoh MA, Echezona AC, Kenechukwu FC. Improved antimalarial activity of caprol-based nanostructured lipid carriers encapsulating artemether-lumefantrine for oral administration. Afr Health Sci 2020; 20:1679-1697. [PMID: 34394228 PMCID: PMC8351851 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i4.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemether and lumefantrine display low aqueous solubility leading to poor release profile; hence the need for the use of lipid-based systems to improve their oral bioavailability so as to improve their therapeutic efficacy. AIM AND OBJECTIVE The objective of this work was to utilize potentials of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for improvement of the oral bioavailability of artemether and lumefantrine combination and to evaluate its efficacy in the treatment of malaria. This study reports a method of formulation, characterization and evaluation of the therapeutic efficacies of caprol-based NLC delivery systems with artemether and lumefantrine. METHOD The artemether-lumefantrine co-loaded NLCs were prepared using the lipid matrix (5% w/w) (containing beeswax and Phospholipon® 90H and Caprol-PGE 860), artemether (0.1%w/w) and lumefantrine (0.6%w/w), sorbitol (4%w/w), Tween® 80(2%w/w as surfactant) and distilled water (q.s to 100%) by high shear homogenization and evaluated for physicochemical performance. The in vivo antimalarial activities of the NLC were tested in chloroquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) using Peter´s 4-day suppressive protocol in mice and compared with controls. Histopathological studies were also carried out on major organs implicated in malaria. RESULTS The NLC showed fairly polydispersed nano-sized formulation (z-average:188.6 nm; polydispersity index, PDI=0.462) with no major interaction occurring between the components while the in vivo study showed a gradual but sustained drug release from the NLC compared with that seen with chloroquine sulphate and Coartem®. Results of histopathological investigations also revealed more organ damage with the untreated groups than groups treated with the formulations. CONCLUSION This study has shown the potential of caprol-based NLCs for significant improvement in oral bioavailability and hence antimalarial activity of poorly soluble artemether and lumefantrine. Importantly, this would improve patient compliance due to decrease in dosing frequency as a sustained release formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Chinenye Nnenna Ugwu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
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