Chitosan-based topical formulation integrated with green-synthesized silver nanoparticles utilizing Camellia sinensis leaf extracts: A promising approach for managing infected wounds

This study explores the eco-friendly biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing Camellia sinensis leaf extract. We assess their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Furthermore, we impregnated AgNPs into 2 % chitosan (CHS) gel and assessed their wound-healing potential in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus infected wounds. Optimized AgNPs demonstrated a mean particle size of 36.90 ± 1.22 nm and a PDI of 0.049 ± 0.001. Green-synthesized AgNPs exhibited enhanced free radical inhibition (IC50: 31.45 μg/mL, 34.01 μg/mL, 27.40 μg/mL) compared to leaf extract (IC50: 52.67 μg/mL, 59.64 μg/mL, 97.50 μg/mL) in DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide free radical scavenging assays, respectively. The MIC/MBC values of AgNPs against E. coli and S. aureus were 5 ppm/ 7.5 ppm and 10 ppm/ 15 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, our study showed that green-synthesized AgNPs at MIC significantly reduced the biofilm production of E. coli (70.37 %) and S. aureus (67.40 %). The CHS/AgNPs gel exhibited potent wound healing activities, comparable to a commercial cream with the re-epithelialization period of 8.16 ± 0.75. Histological analysis demonstrated enhanced skin regeneration with a thicker epidermal layer, well-defined papillary dermal structure, and organized collagen fibers. In summary, these findings hold promise for addressing bacterial infections, particularly those associated with biofilms-related wound infections.

Nanotechnology-mediated delivery of resveratrol as promising strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): progress and promises

INTRODUCTION

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Resveratrol exhibits potential as a therapeutic intervention against TNBC by regulating various pathways such as the PI3K/AKT, RAS/RAF/ERK, PKCδ, and AMPK, leading to apoptosis through ROS-mediated CHOP activationand the expression of DR4 and DR5. However, the clinical efficacy of resveratrol is limited due to its poor biopharmaceutical characteristics and low bioavailability at the tumor site. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach to improving the biopharmaceutical characteristics of resveratrol to achieve clinical efficacy in different cancers. The small dimension (<200 nm) of nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery system is helpful to improve the bioavailability, internalization into the TNBC cell, ligand-specific targeted delivery of loaded resveratrol to tumor site including reversal of MDR (multi-drug resistance) condition.

AREAS COVERED

This manuscript provides a comprehensive discussion on the structure-activity relationship (SAR), underlying anticancer mechanism, evidence of anticancer activity in in-vitro/in-vivo investigations, and the significance of nanotechnology-mediated delivery of resveratrol in TNBC.

EXPERT OPINION

Advanced nano-formulations of resveratrol such as oxidized mesoporous carbon nanoparticles, macrophage-derived vesicular system, functionalized gold nanoparticles, etc. have increased the accumulation of loaded therapeutics at the tumor-site, and avoid off-target drug release. In conclusion, nano-resveratrol as a strategy may provide improved tumor-specific image-guided treatment options for TNBC utilizing theranostic approach.

Design, QSAR Methodology, Synthesis and Assessment of Some Structurally Different Xanthone Derivatives as Selective Cox-2 Inhibitors for their Anti-inflammatory Properties

INTRODUCTION

Inflammation can be defined as a complex biological response that is produced by body tissues to harmful agents like pathogens, irritants, and damaged cells and thereby acts as a protective response incorporating immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators. Histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, leukotrienes (LTB4), prostaglandins (PGE2), prostacyclins, reactive oxygen species, proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-11, TNF- anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-4, IL-10, IL-11, IL-6 and IL-13, etc. all have different effects on both pro and anti-inflammatory mediators. Incorporation of combinatorial chemistry and computational studies have helped the researchers to design xanthones moieties with high selectivity that can serve as a lead compound and help develop potential compounds that can act as effective COX-2 inhibitors. The study aims to design and develop different series of substituted hydroxyxanthone derivatives with anti-inflammatory potential.

METHODS

The partially purified synthetic xanthone derivatives were orally administered to the carrageenan induced paw oedemic rat models at the dose of 100 mg/kg, and their effect in controlling the degree of inflammation was measured at the time interval of 30 min, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hrs. respectively. Further, these compounds were also subjected to modern analytical studies like UV, IR, NMR and mass spectrometry or their characterization.

RESULTS

The results drawn out of the in silico, in vitro, in vivo and analytical studies concluded that the hydroxyxanthone derivatives can obstruct the enzyme COX-2 and produce anti-inflammatory action potentially.

CONCLUSION

With the aim to evaluate the compounds for their anti-inflammatory activity, it was observed that the newly designed xanthonic compounds also possess a safe toxicity margin and hence can be utilized by the researchers to develop hybrid xanthonic moieties that can specifically target the enzyme COX-2.

Phytochemicals as potential inhibitors of interleukin-8 for anticancer therapy: in silico evaluation and molecular dynamics analysis

Within the realm of soluble factors that have emerged as potential targets for therapeutic intervention, the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) has garnered attention as a potential contributor to treatment responses in various cancer types. The utilization of naturally occurring anticancer compounds for treating cancer patients has shown substantial advancements in survival rates across early and advanced stages of the disease. In silico research findings provide support for the application of phytochemicals as potential inhibitors of IL-8, and phytochemicals exhibiting a high binding free energy and crucial interactions display promising anticancer properties, positioning them as candidates for future drug development. Noteworthy phytochemicals such as IMPHY006634 (Isohydnocarpin), IMPHY007957 (Chitranone) and IMPHY013015 (1-Hydroxyrutaecarpine) were predicted to possess inhibitory activity against IL-8, with calculated energies ranging from -9.9 to -9.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Several hydrogen bonds, including common amino acid residues Lys9 and CYS48, were identified. Molecular dynamics calculations conducted on these potent inhibitors demonstrated their stability throughout a 200 ns simulation, as indicated by metrics such as RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, H-bonds, PCA and FEL analysis. Moreover, PASS analysis and adherence of these natural compounds to drug-likeness rules like Lipinski's further strengthen their candidacy. Considering these calculations and various parameters, these three prominent natural compounds emerge as promising candidates for anti-IL-8 therapy in the management of cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Nanotheranostics: application of nanosensors in diabetes management

Objectives

The objective of the present study is to discuss the use of nanomaterials like nanosensors for diagnosing Diabetes and highlight their applications in the treatment of Diabetes.

Methods

Diabetes mellitus (D.M.) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia. Orally administered antidiabetic drugs like glibenclamide, glipalamide, and metformin can partially lower blood sugar levels, but long-term use causes kidney and liver damage. Recent breakthroughs in nanotheranostics have emerged as a powerful tool for diabetes treatment and diagnosis.

Results

Nanotheranostics is a rapidly developing area that can revolutionize diabetes diagnosis and treatment by combining therapy and imaging in a single probe, allowing for pancreas-specific drug and insulin delivery. Nanotheranostic in Diabetes research has facilitated the development of improved glucose monitoring and insulin administration modalities, which promise to improve the quality of life for people with Diabetes drastically. Further, nanomaterials like nanocarriers and unique functional nanomaterials used as nano theranostics tools for treating Diabetes will also be highlighted.

Conclusion

The nanosensors discussed in this review article will encourage researchers to develop innovative nanomaterials with novel functionalities and properties for diabetes detection and treatment.

3D Printing Technology as a Promising Tool to Design Nanomedicine-Based Solid Dosage Forms: Contemporary Research and Future Scope

3D printing technology in medicine is gaining great attention from researchers since the FDA approved the first 3D-printed tablet (Spritam®) on the market. This technique permits the fabrication of various types of dosage forms with different geometries and designs. Its feasibility in the design of different types of pharmaceutical dosage forms is very promising for making quick prototypes because it is flexible and does not require expensive equipment or molds. However, the development of multi-functional drug delivery systems, specifically as solid dosage forms loaded with nanopharmaceuticals, has received attention in recent years, although it is challenging for formulators to convert them into a successful solid dosage form. The combination of nanotechnology with the 3D printing technique in the field of medicine has provided a platform to overcome the challenges associated with the fabrication of nanomedicine-based solid dosage forms. Therefore, the major focus of the present manuscript is to review the recent research developments that involved the formulation design of nanomedicine-based solid dosage forms utilizing 3D printing technology. Utilization of 3D printing techniques in the field of nanopharmaceuticals achieved the successful transformation of liquid polymeric nanocapsules and liquid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) to solid dosage forms such as tablets and suppositories easily with customized doses as per the needs of the individual patient (personalized medicine). Furthermore, the present review also highlights the utility of extrusion-based 3D printing techniques (Pressure-Assisted Microsyringe-PAM; Fused Deposition Modeling-FDM) to produce tablets and suppositories containing polymeric nanocapsule systems and SNEDDS for oral and rectal administration. The manuscript critically analyzes contemporary research related to the impact of various process parameters on the performance of 3D-printed solid dosage forms.

Exosomes as natural nanocarrier-based drug delivery system: recent insights and future perspectives

Exosomes are nanosized (size ~ 30-150 nm) natural vesicular structures released from cells by physiological processes or pathological circumstances. Exosomes are growing in popularity as a result of their many benefits over conventional nanovehicles, including their ability to escape homing in the liver or metabolic destruction and their lack of undesired accumulation before reaching their intended targets. Various therapeutic molecules, including nucleic acids, have been incorporated into exosomes by different techniques, many of which have shown satisfactory performance in various diseases. Surface-modified exosomes are a potentially effective strategy, and it increases the circulation time and produces the specific drug target vehicle. In this comprehensive review, we describe composition exosomes biogenesis and the role of exosomes in intercellular signaling and cell-cell communications, immune responses, cellular homeostasis, autophagy, and infectious diseases. In addition, we discuss the role of exosomes as diagnostic markers, and their therapeutic and clinical implications. Furthermore, we addressed the challenges and outstanding developments in exosome research and discuss future perspectives. In addition to the current status of exosomes as a therapeutic carrier, the lacuna in the clinical development lifecycles along with the possible strategies to fill the lacuna have been addressed.

Recent Progress in Chitosan-Based Nanomedicine for Its Ocular Application in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a degenerative, chronic ocular disease that causes irreversible vision loss. The major symptom of glaucoma is high intraocular pressure, which happens when the flow of aqueous humor between the front and back of the eye is blocked. Glaucoma therapy is challenging because of the low bioavailability of drugs from conventional ocular drug delivery systems such as eye drops, ointments, and gels. The low bioavailability of antiglaucoma agents could be due to the precorneal and corneal barriers as well as the low biopharmaceutical attributes of the drugs. These limitations can be overcome by employing nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. Over the last decade, there has been a lot of interest in chitosan-based nanoparticulate systems to overcome the limitations (such as poor residence time, low corneal permeability, etc.) associated with conventional ocular pharmaceutical products. Therefore, the main aim of the present manuscript is to review the recent research work involving the chitosan-based nanoparticulate system to treat glaucoma. It discusses the significance of the chitosan-based nanoparticulate system, which provides mucoadhesion to improve the residence time of drugs and their ocular bioavailability. Furthermore, different types of chitosan-based nanoparticulate systems are also discussed, namely nanoparticles of chitosan core only, nanoparticles coated with chitosan, and hybrid nanoparticles of chitosan. The manuscript also provides a critical analysis of contemporary research related to the impact of this chitosan-based nanomedicine on the corneal permeability, ocular bioavailability, and therapeutic performance of loaded antiglaucoma agents.

Cardioprotective Activities of some Indian Spices: An Insight into Pharmacology and Phytochemical Investigation

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, and coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most prominent one among the spectrum of CVD. Conventional CHD drugs pose an increased risk of pharmaceutical interactions. Moreover, the possibility of tainting or substituting other medications also raises concerns. Diet and lifestyle play an important role in preventing and treating heart disease, and certain spices and supplements can help reduce the risk of heart disease and treat it. Spices have been an important part of Indian culture from the dawn of time, valued for both their culinary and medicinal virtues. Indian spices and their bioactive phytoconstituents are reported to play an ameliorating role in treating CHD. Despite the fact that the majority of these spices have an effect on organic components associated with the cardiovascular system, data on their therapeutic effects is sparse. To make the most of the enormous potential of these spices, multidisciplinary research is the need of the hour to establish them as remedies for CVDs. We endeavour to document some ethnopharmacological studies aimed to establish the cellular and molecular cardio-protective mechanisms of the spices and their bioactive phytoconstituents using recently reported in vitro and in vivo studies. Finally, we reviewed and reported the results of the recent clinical trials that have been conducted using these spices with special emphasis on their efficacy, safety, and toxicity

Nanomaterials-Based Novel Immune Strategies in Clinical Translation for Cancer Therapy

Immunotherapy shows a lot of promise for addressing the problems with traditional cancer treatments. Researchers and clinicians are working to create innovative immunological techniques for cancer detection and treatment that are more selective and have lower toxicity. An emerging field in cancer therapy, immunomodulation offers patients an alternate approach to treating cancer. These therapies use the host's natural defensive systems to identify and remove malignant cells in a targeted manner. Cancer treatment is now undergoing somewhat of a revolution due to recent developments in nanotechnology. Diverse nanomaterials (NMs) have been employed to overcome the limits of conventional anti-cancer treatments such as cytotoxic, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Aside from that, NMs could interact with live cells and influence immune responses. In contrast, unexpected adverse effects such as necrosis, hypersensitivity, and inflammation might result from the immune system (IS)'s interaction with NMs. Therefore, to ensure the efficacy of immunomodulatory nanomaterials, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay that exists between the IS and NMs. This review intends to present an overview of the current achievements, challenges, and improvements in using immunomodulatory nanomaterials (iNMs) for cancer therapy, with an emphasis on elucidating the mechanisms involved in the interaction between NMs and the immune system of the host.

Topical gel containing Polysiloxanes and hyaluronic acid for skin scar: Formulation design, characterization, and In vivo activity

BACKGROUND

Scar formation is undesirable both cosmetically and functionally. It shows that silicone gel is effective in preventing and improving scars formed due to a wound formation after injury.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigates whether a silicone gel composition based on a novel concept of infusing a biologically active material such as hyaluronic acid and/or salts with various polysiloxane derivatives in a specific proportion to achieve desired viscosity range and their action has a synergistic beneficial effect on skin scar after injury.

METHODS

We have developed a topical gel utilizing a combination of emulsifiers, sodium hyaluronate, polysiloxane, and its derivatives. The method of preparation comprises mixing of aqueous phase dispersion and polysiloxanes blend under stirring at room temperature.

RESULTS

It results in the formation of a homogenous smooth gel formulation. The developed topical gel formulation was characterized for physicochemical properties, rheology, stability, and anti-scar activity in Wistar rats. It was found that the developed formulation system consists of desirable attributes for skin applications. In vivo investigation of developed polysiloxane gel formulation for anti-scar activity shown promising outcomes compared to marketed product (Kelo-cote scar gel). Furthermore, a histopathology study of healed skin tissues observed the formation of microscopic skin structures compared to the Kelo-cote scar gel.

CONCLUSIONS

It indicates that the combination of polysiloxanes and sodium hyaluronate resulting an improvement in anti-scar activity compared to the marketed product containing polysiloxanes alone.

Enhanced In Vivo Wound Healing Efficacy of a Novel Piperine-Containing Bioactive Hydrogel in Excision Wound Rat Model

These days an extensive amount of the attention of researchers is focused towards exploring bioactive compounds of natural or herbal origin for therapeutic intervention in different ailments of significant importance. One such novel bioactive compound that has a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, is piperine. However, until today, piperine has not been explored for its potential to improve inflammation and enhance healing in acute and chronic wounds. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the wound healing potential of piperine hydrogel formulation after topical application. Hydrogels fit the need for a depot system at the wound bed, where they ensure a consistent supply of therapeutic agents enclosed in their cross-linked network matrices. In the present study, piperine-containing carbopol 934 hydrogels mixed with Aloe vera gels of different gel strengths were prepared and characterized for rheological behavior, spreadability, extrudability, and percent (%) content uniformity. Furthermore, the wound healing potential of the developed formulation system was explored utilizing the excision wound healing model. The results of an in vivo study and histopathological examination revealed early and intrinsic healing of wounds with the piperine-containing bioactive hydrogel system compared to the bioactive hydrogel system without piperine. Therefore, the study's findings establish that the piperine-containing bioactive hydrogel system is a promising therapeutic approach for wound healing application that should be diligently considered for clinical transferability.

Nanoscale Topical Pharmacotherapy in Management of Psoriasis: Contemporary Research and Scope

Psoriasis is a typical dermal condition that has been anticipated since prehistoric times when it was mistakenly implicit in being a variant of leprosy. It is an atypical organ-specific autoimmune disorder, which is triggered by the activation of T-cells and/or B-cells. Until now, the pathophysiology of this disease is not completely explicated and still, many research investigations are ongoing. Different approaches have been investigated to treat this dreadful skin disease using various anti-psoriatic drugs of different modes of action through smart drug-delivery systems. Nevertheless, there is no ideal therapy for a complete cure of psoriasis owing to the dearth of an ideal drug-delivery system for anti-psoriatic drugs. The conventional pharmacotherapy approaches for the treatment of psoriasis demand various classes of anti-psoriatic drugs with optimum benefit/risk ratio and insignificant untoward effects. The advancement in nanoscale drug delivery had a great impact on the establishment of a nanomedicine-based therapy for better management of psoriasis in recent times. Nanodrug carriers are exploited to design and develop nanomedicine-based therapy for psoriasis. It has a promising future in the improvement of the therapeutic efficacy of conventional anti-psoriatic drugs. The present manuscript aims to discuss the pathophysiology, conventional pharmacotherapy, and contemporary research in the area of nanoscale topical drug delivery systems for better management of psoriasis including the significance of targeted pharmacotherapy in psoriasis.

Efficacy of Ḥammām-i-yābis (dry bath) in metabolic syndrome: a single arm, open-labelled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

This study intended to evaluate the efficacy of Ḥammām-i-yabis (dry bath) in metabolic syndrome as primary objective and perceived improvement and changes in quality of life as secondary objective.

METHODS

The study was designed as single arm, open-labelled, pre and post without control clinical trial comprising 30 diagnosed cases of metabolic syndrome belonging to 20-50 years of age of either sex. The enrolled patients were exposed to the dry heat of Ḥammām-i-yābis for 15 min at a temperature of 60 degree centigrade on every third day for a duration of 30 days (a total of 10 sittings). Objective parameters comprising systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference were assessed on every follow up, while other objective parameters (FBS, HDL and Serum Triglycerides) were assessed before and after the study.

RESULTS

Significant statistical difference was observed in objective parameters. Two tailed paired Student's t-test, (for pre and post) and repeated measure ANOVA (for 0, 15th and 30th day) were used to find the significance of mean change in study parameters. No significant adverse change appeared in safety parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Ḥammām-i-yābis was found effective, safer, more feasible and less expensive regimenal modality for the patients of metabolic syndrome.

Healing Efficacy of Hesperetin-Containing Chitosan Gel in Burn Wound: Formulation Design and In Vivo Evaluation

More than 5 million people require medical attention due to burn-related injuries annually. Significant research has been carried out in recent decades to develop approaches to improve the healing of burn wounds. The focus has also been on the development of natural product-based therapeutic remedies for the treatment of burn wounds. This has been done primarily due to multimodal mechanisms exhibited by some promising bioactive molecules of natural origin. Hesperetin is one such molecule that possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is mainly obtained from citrus species. The goal of the current study was to assess how well chitosan gel that contains hesperetin may cure burn wounds. The advantage of using chitosan gel is that it could form a depot at the site and provide a protective therapeutic covering over burn wounds. In the present study, hesperetin-containing chitosan gel was prepared and evaluated for percentage hesperetin content, extrudability, spreadability, and rheological behavior. The preclinical wound healing activity was evaluated using an experimental burn wound model in Wistar rats. The results of the animal experiment showed early and better healing of burn wounds in animals treated with hesperetin-containing chitosan gel. There was 92.79% healing after 14 days of application of hesperetin-containing chitosan gel compared to 69.49% healing observed in the control group. Further, the histopathological evaluation suggested no inflammatory cell infiltration, normal epidermal growth, and normal collagen bundle arrangement in these animals. Overall the results provide proof of concept to establish the wound healing potential of hesperetin-containing chitosan gel against burn wounds.

Green Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Using Ocimum sanctum Leaf Extract: In Vitro Characterization and Its Healing Efficacy in Diabetic Wounds

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia due to impaired glucose metabolism. Overproduction of free radicals due to chronic hyperglycemia may cause oxidative stress, which delays wound healing in diabetic conditions. For people with diabetes, this impeded wound healing is one of the predominant reasons for mortality and morbidity. The study aimed to develop an Ocimum sanctum leaf extract-mediated green synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) and further incorporate them into 2% chitosan (CS) gel for diabetic wound healing. UV-visible spectrum analysis recorded the sharp peak at 235 and 320 nm, and this was the preliminary sign for the biosynthesis of TiO₂ NPs. The FTIR analysis was used to perform a qualitative validation of the biosynthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles. XRD analysis indicated the crystallinity of TiO₂ NPs in anatase form. Microscopic investigation revealed that TiO₂ NPs were spherical and polygonal in shape, with sizes ranging from 75 to 123 nm. The EDX analysis of green synthesized NPs showed the presence of TiO₂ NPs, demonstrating the peak of titanium ion and oxygen. The hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index (PDI) of the TiO₂ NPs were found to be 130.3 nm and 0.237, respectively. The developed TiO₂ NPs containing CS gel exhibited the desired thixotropic properties with pseudoplastic behavior. In vivo wound healing studies and histopathological investigations of healed wounds demonstrated the excellent wound-healing efficacy of TiO₂ NPs containing CS gel in diabetic rats.

Investigation of Factors Influencing Formation of Nanoemulsion by Spontaneous Emulsification: Impact on Droplet Size, Polydispersity Index, and Stability

Interest in nanoemulsion technology has increased steadily in recent years for its widespread applications in the delivery of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Rational selection of the composition and the preparation method is crucial for developing a stable nanoemulsion system with desired physicochemical characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the influence of intricate factors including composition and preparation conditions that affect characteristic parameters and the stability of the nanoemulsion formation prepared by the spontaneous emulsification method. Octanoic acid, capryol 90, and ethyl oleate were selected to represent oil phases of different carbon–chain lengths. We explored the impact of the addition mode of the oil–S_mix phase and aqueous phase, vortexing time, K_m (surfactant/cosurfactant) ratio, and the replacement of water by buffers of different pH as an aqueous system. The phase behavior study showed that the S_mix phase had a significant impact on the nanoemulsifying ability of the nanoemulsions composed of oil phases of varying carbon-chain lengths. The mode of mixing of the oil–S_mix phase to the aqueous phase markedly influenced the mean droplet size and size distribution of the nanoemulsions composed of oil phases as capryol 90. Vortexing time also impacted the mean droplet size and the stability of the generated nanoemulsion system depending on the varying carbon-chain length of the oil phase. The replacement of the water phase by aqueous buffers of pH 1.2, 5.5, 6.8, and 7.4 has altered the mean droplet size and size distribution of the nanoemulsion system. Further, the K_m ratio also had a significant influence on the formation of the nanoemulsion system. The findings of this investigation are useful in understanding how the formulation composition and process parameters of the spontaneous emulsification technique are responsible for affecting the physicochemical characteristics and stability of the nanoemulsion system composed of oil of varying carbon-chain (C₈-C₁₈) length.

Emerging advances in nanomedicine for breast cancer immunotherapy: opportunities and challenges

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Early diagnosis and an appropriate therapeutic approach for all cancers are climacterics for a favorable prognosis. Targeting the immune system in breast cancer is already a clinical reality with notable successes, specifically with checkpoint blockade antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. However, there have been inevitable setbacks in the clinical application of cancer immunotherapy, including inadequate immune responses due to insufficient delivery of immunostimulants to immune cells and uncontrolled immune system modulation. Rapid advancements and new evidence have suggested that nanomedicine-based immunotherapy may be a viable option for treating breast cancer.

Immunology of osteoporosis: relevance of inflammatory targets for the development of novel interventions

Osteoporosis is recognized as low bone mass and deteriorated bone microarchitecture. It is the leading cause of fractures and consequent morbidity globally. The established pathophysiological evidence favors the endocrine factors for osteoporosis and the role of the immune system on the skeletal system has been recently identified. Due to the common developmental niche bone and immune system interactions have led to the emergence of osteoimmunology. Immune dysregulation can initiate inflammatory conditions that adversely affect bone integrity. The role of immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes subsets (Th17), cannot be neglected in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Local inflammation within the bone from any cause attracts immune cells that participate in the activation of osteoclasts. This work summarizes the present knowledge of osteoimmunology in reference to osteoporosis and identifies novel targets for immunotherapy of osteoporosis.

Plant-Based Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Theranostic Applications: A Review

Bionanotechnology is a branch of science that has revolutionized modern science and technology. Nanomaterials, especially noble metals, have attracted researchers due to their size and application in different branches of sciences that benefit humanity. Metal nanoparticles can be synthesized using green methods, which are good for the environment, economically viable, and facilitate synthesis. Due to their size and form, gold nanoparticles have become significant. Plant materials are of particular interest in the synthesis and manufacture of theranostic gold nanoparticles (NPs), which have been generated using various materials. On the other hand, chemically produced nanoparticles have several drawbacks in terms of cost, toxicity, and effectiveness. A plant-mediated integration of metallic nanoparticles has been developed in the field of nanotechnology to overcome the drawbacks of traditional synthesis, such as physical and synthetic strategies. Nanomaterials′ tunable features make them sophisticated tools in the biomedical platform, especially for developing new diagnostics and therapeutics for malignancy, neurodegenerative, and other chronic disorders. Therefore, this review outlines the theranostic approach, the different plant materials utilized in theranostic applications, and future directions based on current breakthroughs in these fields.

Factors associated with severe envenomation of snakebite cases at emergency department, Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Kedah, Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

Snakebite envenomation is a medical emergency and cases continue to be encountered in Malaysian hospitals. This study aims to determine the prevalence of snakebite presentations and the associated factors with severe envenomation of snakebite in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective, crosssectional study involving snakebite patients presented at the Emergency Department (ED), Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH), Kedah from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2019. The cases were extracted from the computerized system and the case records of patients were retrieved from the Medical Record Unit. Patients that met the study criteria were included and their sociodemographic features, clinical presentations including use of anti-venom were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with severe envenomation.

RESULTS

A total of 220 snakebite cases with the mean age of patients was 39.66 (SD±21.79) years old. Majority of them were Malay and males. 41.4% of snakebite cases occurred in late evenings and the mean time-lapsed to arrive at HSAH was 108.6 minutes. 81.4% of snakebite cases occurred while engaging in outdoor activities and 43.6% of the snakebite cases involved work-related incidents. 58.2% of the patients were bitten in the lower limb. 78.6% of patients were bitten by the identified snake species, predominantly from Viperidae family. The prevalence of severe envenomation was 50.9%. Malay ethnicity (adj. OR =2.549, 95% CI =1.277,5.089), bite to the upper limb (adj. OR =2.125, 95% CI =1.192, 3.790), and bite by snakes from Viperidae family (adj. OR =3.017, 95% CI =1.613, 5.642) were found to have significant associations with severe envenomation of snakebite.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of severe envenomation was more than 50% of snakebite cases. Malay ethnicity, upper limb snake bites, and snakebite from a Viperidae family had a higher chance of severe envenomation.

Receptor-Mediated Targeted Delivery of Surface-ModifiedNanomedicine in Breast Cancer: Recent Update and Challenges

Breast cancer therapeutic intervention continues to be ambiguous owing to the lack of strategies for targeted transport and receptor-mediated uptake of drugs by cancer cells. In addition to this, sporadic tumor microenvironment, prominent restrictions with conventional chemotherapy, and multidrug-resistant mechanisms of breast cancer cells possess a big challenge to even otherwise optimal and efficacious breast cancer treatment strategies. Surface-modified nanomedicines can expedite the cellular uptake and delivery of drug-loaded nanoparticulate constructs through binding with specific receptors overexpressed aberrantly on the tumor cell. The present review elucidates the interesting yet challenging concept of targeted delivery approaches by exploiting different types of nanoparticulate systems with multiple targeting ligands to target overexpressed receptors of breast cancer cells. The therapeutic efficacy of these novel approaches in preclinical models is also comprehensively discussed in this review. It is concluded from critical analysis of related literature that insight into the translational gap between laboratories and clinical settings would provide the possible future directions to plug the loopholes in the process of development of these receptor-targeted nanomedicines for the treatment of breast cancer.

Novel therapeutic interventions for combating Parkinson's disease and prospects of Nose-to-Brain drug delivery

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder prevalent mainly in geriatric population. While, L-DOPA remains one of the major choices for the therapeutic management of PD, various motor and non-motor manifestations complicate the management of PD. In the last two decades, exhaustive research has been carried out to explore novel therapeutic approaches for mitigating motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. These approaches majorly include receptor-based, anti-inflammatory, stem-cell and nucleic acid based. The major limitations of existing therapeutic interventions (of commonly oral route) are low efficacy due to low brain bioavailability and associated side effects. Nanotechnology has been exploited and has gained wide attention in the recent years as an approach for enhancement of bioavailability of various small molecule drugs in the brain. To address the challenges associated with PD therapy, nose-to-brain delivery utilizing nanomedicine-based approaches has been found to be encouraging in published evidence. Therefore, the present work summarises the major challenges and limitations with antiparkinsonian drugs, novel therapeutic interventions, and scope of nanomedicine-based nose-to-brain delivery in addressing the current challenges of antiparkinsonian therapy. The manuscript tries to sensitize the researchers for designing brain-targeted nanomedicine loaded with natural/synthetic scaffolds, biosimilars, and nucleic acids that can bypass the first-pass effect for the effective management of PD.

Preparation and Characterization of Curcumin Nanoemulgel Utilizing Ultrasonication Technique for Wound Healing: In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Evaluation

Hydrogels being a drug delivery system has great significance particularly for topical application in cutaneous open wound. Its specific physicochemical properties such as non-adhesiveness, moisture retention, exudate absorption, and gas permeability make them ideal as a drug delivery vehicle for wound healing application. Further, curcumin (a natural bioactive) was selected as a therapeutic agent to incorporate into the hydrogel system to design and develop nanogel pharmaceutical products for wound healing. Although, curcumin possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-infective activity along with hastening the healing process by acting over the different stages of the wound healing process, but its poor biopharmaceutical (low aqueous solubility and skin penetrability) attributes hamper their therapeutic efficacy for skin applications. The current investigation aimed to develop the curcumin-loaded nanogel system and evaluated to check the improvement in the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin through a nanomedicine-based approach for wound healing activity in Wistar rats. The curcumin was enclosed inside the nanoemulsion system prepared through a high-energy ultrasonic emulsification technique at a minimum concentration of surfactant required to nanoemulsify the curcumin-loaded oil system (Labrafac PG) having droplet size 56.25 ± 0.69 nm with polydispersity index 0.05 ± 0.01 and negatively surface charge with zeta potential −20.26 ± 0.65 mV. It was observed that the impact of Smix (surfactant/co-surfactant mixture) ratio on droplet size of generated nanoemulsion is more pronounced at lower Smix concentration (25%) compared to the higher Smix concentration (30%). The optimized curcumin-loaded nanoemulsion was incorporated into a 0.5% Carbopol^® 940 hydrogel system for topical application. The developed curcumin nanoemulgel exhibited thixotropic rheological behavior and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in skin penetrability characteristics compared to curcumin dispersed in conventional hydrogel system. The in vivo wound healing efficacy study and histological examination of healed tissue specimen further signify the role of the nanomedicine-based approach to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes of curcumin.

Recent Advances in Theranostic Applications of Nanomaterials in Cancer

Early detection and accurate monitoring are two critical factors affecting the outcome of anticancer therapy. However, both these factors are affected by the limitations of conventional approaches of diagnosis and treatment. Nanomedicine has progressively offered a scientific solution in improved delivery and better diagnosis of various cancers, thus providing a targeted treatment approach. With the advances in the field, simultaneous delivery and diagnosis are becoming a reality. The present manuscript discusses various drug delivery challenges, provides the scope for theranostic nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The clinical and translational potential of theranostic nanomedicine and the future directions for further research are also presented in the manuscript.

Thymoquinone Loaded Topical Nanoemulgel for Wound Healing: Formulation Design and In-Vivo Evaluation

Thymoquinone is a natural bioactive with significant therapeutic activity against multiple ailments including wound healing. The poor aqueous solubility and low skin permeability limit its therapeutic efficacy. The present investigation aimed to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes of thymoquinone to enhance its topical efficacy in wound healing. A nanoemulsion-based hydrogel system was designed and characterized as a nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of thymoquinone, utilizing a high-energy emulsification technique. The black seed oil, as a natural home of thymoquinone, was utilized to improve the drug loading capacity of the developed nanoemulsion system and reduced the oil droplet size to <100 nm through ultrasonication. The influence of formulation composition, and the ultrasonication process conditions, were investigated on the mean globule size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. Irrespective of surfactant/co-surfactant ratio and % concentration of surfactant/co-surfactant mixture, the ultrasonication time had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on the mean droplet size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone demonstrated the pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic properties, and this behavior is desirable for topical application. The nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited significant enhancement (p < 0.05) in skin penetrability and deposition characteristics after topical administration compared to the conventional hydrogel system. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited quicker and early healing in wounded Wistar rats compared to the conventional hydrogel of thymoquinone, while showing comparable healing efficacy with respect to marketed silver sulfadiazine (1%) cream. Furthermore, histopathology analysis of animals treated with a developed formulation system demonstrated the formation of the thick epidermal layer, papillary dermis along with the presence of extensive and organized collagen fibers in newly healed tissues. The outcome of this investigation signifies that topical delivery of thymoquinone through nanoemulgel system is a promising candidate which accelerates the process of wound healing in preclinical study.

Recent Progress in Lipid Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics: Opportunity and Challenges

Cancer is one of the major leading causes of mortality in the world. The implication of nanotherapeutics in cancer has garnered splendid attention owing to their capability to efficiently address various difficulties associated with conventional drug delivery systems such as non-specific biodistribution, poor efficacy, and the possibility of occurrence of multi-drug resistance. Amongst a plethora of nanocarriers for drugs, this review emphasized lipidic nanocarrier systems for delivering anticancer therapeutics because of their biocompatibility, safety, high drug loading and capability to simultaneously carrying imaging agent and ligands as well. Furthermore, to date, the lack of interaction between diagnosis and treatment has hampered the efforts of the nanotherapeutic approach alone to deal with cancer effectively. Therefore, a novel paradigm with concomitant imaging (with contrasting agents), targeting (with biomarkers), and anticancer agent being delivered in one lipidic nanocarrier system (as cancer theranostics) seems to be very promising in overcoming various hurdles in effective cancer treatment. The major obstacles that are supposed to be addressed by employing lipidic theranostic nanomedicine include nanomedicine reach to tumor cells, drug internalization in cancer cells for therapeutic intervention, off-site drug distribution, and uptake via the host immune system. A comprehensive account of recent research updates in the field of lipidic nanocarrier loaded with therapeutic and diagnostic agents is covered in the present article. Nevertheless, there are notable hurdles in the clinical translation of the lipidic theranostic nanomedicines, which are also highlighted in the present review along with plausible countermeasures.

Advancement in design of nanostructured lipid carriers for cancer targeting and theranostic application

BACKGROUND

Cancer development is associated with abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth and causes significant economic and social burdens to society. The global statistics of different cancers have been increasing because of the aging population, and the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as stress condition, overweight, changing reproductive patterns, and smoking. The prognosis of cancer treatment is high, if diagnosed in the early stage. Late-stage diagnosis, however, is still a big challenge for the clinician. The usual treatment scheme involves chemotherapy and surgery followed by radiotherapy.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Chemotherapy is the most widely used therapeutic approach against cancer. However, it suffers from the major limitation of poor delivery of anticancer therapeutics to specific cancer-targeted tissues/cells.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Nanomedicines, particularly nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) can improve the efficacy of encapsulated payload either through an active or passive targeting approach against different cancers. The targeted nanomedicine can be helpful in transporting drug carriers to the specifically tumor-targeted tissue/cells while sparing abstaining from the healthy tissue/cells. The active targeting utilizes the binding of a specific cancer ligand to the surface of the NLCs, which improves the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the cancer therapeutics.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

This review shed light on the utilization of NLCs system for targeted therapy in different cancers. Furthermore, modification of NLCs as cancer theranostics is a recent advancement that is also discussed in the manuscript with a review of contemporary research carried out in this field.

Repurposed drug against COVID-19: nanomedicine as an approach for finding new hope in old medicines

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a threat to global public health. It is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and has triggered over 17 lakh causalities worldwide. Regrettably, no drug or vaccine has been validated for the treatment of COVID-19 and standard treatment for COVID-19 is currently unavailable. Most of the therapeutics moieties which were originally intended for the other disease are now being evaluated for the potential to be effective against COVID-19 (re-purpose). Nanomedicine has emerged as one of the most promising technologies in the field of drug delivery with the potential to deal with various diseases efficiently. It has addressed the limitations of traditional repurposed antiviral drugs including solubility and toxicity. It has also imparted enhanced potency and selectivity to antivirals towards viral cells. This review emphasizes the scope of repositioning of traditional therapeutic approaches, in addition to the fruitfulness of nanomedicine against COVID-19.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs): Nose-to-Brain Delivery and Theranostic Application

BACKGROUND

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are in high demand in the existing pharmaceutical domain due to its high versatility. It is the newer generation of lipid nanoparticulate systems having a solid matrix and greater stability at room temperature.

OBJECTIVE

To review the evidence related to the current state of the art of the NLCs system and its drug delivery perspectives to the brain.

METHODS

Scientific data search, review of the current state of the art and drug delivery perspectives to the brain for NLCs were undertaken to assess the applicability of NLCs in the management of neurological disorders through an intranasal route of drug administration.

RESULTS

NLCs are designed to fulfill all the industrial needs like simple technology, low cost, scalability, and quantifications. Biodegradable and biocompatible lipids and surfactants used for NLCs have rendered them acceptable from regulatory perspectives as well. Apart from these, NLCs have unique properties of high drug payload, modulation of drug release profile, minimum drug expulsion during storage, and incorporation in various dosage forms like gel, creams, granules, pellets, powders for reconstitution and colloidal dispersion. Ease of surface- modification of NLCs enhances targeting efficiency and reduces systemic toxicity by providing site-specific delivery to the brain through the intranasal route of drug administration.

CONCLUSION

The present review encompasses the in-depth discussion over the current state of the art of NLCs, nose-to-brain drug delivery perspectives, and its theranostic application as useful tools for better management of various neurological disorders. Further, pharmacokinetic consideration and toxicity concern is also discussed specifically for the NLCs system exploited in nose-to-brain delivery.

Molecular Targets and Nanoparticulate Systems Designed for the Improved Therapeutic Intervention in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and fatal CNS related tumors, which is responsible for about 4% of cancer-related deaths. Current GBM therapy includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The effective chemotherapy of GBM is compromised by two barriers, i. e., the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood tumor barrier (BTB). Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Nanoparticles are one of the highly efficient drug delivery systems for a variety of chemotherapeutics that have gained massive attention from the last three decades. Perfectly designed nanoparticles have the ability to cross BBB and BTB and precisely deliver the chemotherapeutics to GBM tissue/cells. Nanoparticles can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, genes, proteins, and peptides, increase the stability of drugs by protecting them from degradation, improve plasma half-life, reduce adverse effects and control the release of drugs/genes at the desired site. This review focussed on the different signaling pathways altered in GBM cells to understand the rationale behind selecting new therapeutic targets, challenges in the drug delivery to the GBM, various transport routes in brain delivery, and recent advances in targeted delivery of different drug and gene loaded various lipidic, polymeric and inorganic nanoparticles in the effective management of GBM.

Co-Delivery of Imiquimod and Curcumin by Nanoemugel for Improved Topical Delivery and Reduced Psoriasis-Like Skin Lesions

The current investigation aimed to improve the topical efficacy of imiquimod in combination with curcumin using the nanoemulsion-based delivery system through a combinatorial approach. Co-delivery of curcumin acts as an adjuvant therapeutic and to minimize the adverse skin reactions that are frequently associated with the topical therapy of imiquimod for the treatment of cutaneous infections and basal cell carcinomas. The low-energy emulsification method was used for the nano-encapsulation of imiquimod and curcumin in the nanodroplet oil phase, which was stabilized using Tween 20 in an aqueous dispersion system. The weak base property of imiquimod helped to increase its solubility in oleic acid compared with ethyl oleate, which indicates that fatty acids should be preferred as the oil phase for the design of imiquimod-loaded topical nanoemulsion compared with fatty acid esters. The phase diagram method was used to optimize the percentage composition of the nanoemulsion formulation. The mean droplet size of the optimized nanoemulsion was 76.93 nm, with a polydispersity index (PdI) value of 0.121 and zeta potential value of −20.5 mV. The optimized imiquimod-loaded nanoemulsion was uniformly dispersed in carbopol 934 hydrogel to develop into a nanoemulgel delivery system. The imiquimod nanoemulgel exhibited significant improvement (p < 0.05) in skin permeability and deposition profile after topical application. The in vivo effectiveness of the combination of imiquimod and curcumin nanoemulgel was compared to the imiquimod nanoemulgel and imiquimod gel formulation through topical application for ten days in BALB/c mice. The combination of curcumin with imiquimod in the nanoemulgel system prevented the appearance of psoriasis-like symptoms compared with the imiquimod nanoemulgel and imiquimod gel formulation entirely. Further, the imiquimod nanoemulgel as a mono-preparation slowed and reduced the psoriasis-like skin reaction when compared with the conventional imiquimod gel, and that was contributed to by the control release property of the nano-encapsulation approach.

3D Printing Technology in Customized Drug Delivery System: Current State of the Art, Prospective and the Challenges

BACKGROUND

3D printing/Additive Manufacturing seems a pragmatic approach to realize the quest for a truly customized and personalized drug delivery. 3DP technology, with innovations in pharmaceutical development and an interdisciplinary approach to finding newer Drug Delivery Systems can usher a new era of treatments to various diseases. The true potential of this is yet to be realized, and the US-FDA is focusing on the regulatory science of 3D printed medical devices to help patients access this technology safely and effectively. The approval of the first 3D printed prescription medicine by FDA is a promising step in the translation of more research in this area.

METHODS

A web-search on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Nature was performed with the keywords Customized 3D printing and Drug delivery, publications dealing with the aspects of drug delivery using 3D printing for personalized or customized delivery were further considered and analyzed and discussed.

RESULTS

We present the advantages offered by 3DP over conventional methods of formulation development and discuss the current state of 3DP in pharmaceutics and how it can be used to develop a truly customized drug delivery system, various 3DP technologies including Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Pressure Assisted Microsyringe (PAM) that have been used to develop pharmaceutical products have been discussed along with their limitations and also the regulatory considerations to help formulation scientists envisaging research in this area with the necessary information.

CONCLUSION

3D printing has the potential to fabricate a customized drug delivery system. Presence of many drug formulation and the devices are already in the regulatory approval process indicating its success.

Periodicity computation of generalized mathematical biology problems involving delay differential equations

In this paper, we consider a low initial population model. Our aim is to study the periodicity computation of this model by using neutral differential equations, which are recognized in various studies including biology. We generalize the neutral Rayleigh equation for the third-order by exploiting the model of fractional calculus, in particular the Riemann-Liouville differential operator. We establish the existence and uniqueness of a periodic computational outcome. The technique depends on the continuation theorem of the coincidence degree theory. Besides, an example is presented to demonstrate the finding.

Generalized population dynamic operator with delay based on fractional calculus

In population dynamics, a growing population consumes more food than a matured one that depends upon condition of individual species. This hints to neutral equations. In the present study, certain sufficient conditions for the existence of periodic solutions to a generalized Rayleigh-type equation with state dependent delay, based on fractional calculus concept was investigated.

A new mathematical model of the dynamic of psychotherapy

The aim of the present study is to construct a mathematical model skilled in creating hard estimates about the dynamic of psychotherapy with a purpose of using it for better sequence therapists. The outcome of the calculations envisages a new viewpoint on the therapeutic relationship and a number of suitable visions. The proposed model is based on a class of fractional differential equations. This type of class was a generalized neutral differential equation of first order. Certain sufficient conditions for the existence of periodic outcomes have been imposed.

Improving the topical ocular pharmacokinetics of an immunosuppressant agent with mucoadhesive nanoemulsions: Formulation development, in-vitro and in-vivo studies

Topical ocular conditions such as cornea transplant rejection and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (so called dry eye disease) require therapeutic concentration of immunosuppressant onto the ocular surface for prolonged period. Based on this rational, we optimized cyclosporine A (Cy-A) loaded polymeric mucoadhesive nanoemulsion (Cy-A-mN) with higher Cy-A payload, improved ocular retention, corneal and conjunctival bioavailability. The concentrations of oil, surfactant and co-surfactant needed for the stable nanoemulsion were screened followed by phase behavior study of the formulations components by the construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. The concentration of chitosan was optimized according to the blinking force of eyelids. The size distribution, surface charge, mucoadhesiveness and Cy-A release were studied for Cy-A-mN along with other formulations. The corneal retention of Cy-A-mN was evaluated by gamma scintigraphy, revealing that the clearance was slowest in the case of Cy-A-mN. Biodistribution performed in rabbits showed that Cy-A-mN was able to maintain the therapeutic concentrations (≥50-300ng/g) of Cy-A in the cornea and conjunctiva over the period of 24h. The safety of formulation was confirmed by Draize's test and by measuring the ocular surface temperature.

Periodicity and positivity of a class of fractional differential equations

Fractional differential equations have been discussed in this study. We utilize the Riemann–Liouville fractional calculus to implement it within the generalization of the well known class of differential equations. The Rayleigh differential equation has been generalized of fractional second order. The existence of periodic and positive outcome is established in a new method. The solution is described in a fractional periodic Sobolev space. Positivity of outcomes is considered under certain requirements. We develop and extend some recent works. An example is constructed.

Role of Graphene Nano-Composites in Cancer Therapy: Theranostic Applications, Metabolic Fate and Toxicity Issues

Graphene and its modified nano-composites have gained much attention in recent times in cancer therapy as nanotheranostics due to low production cost, ease in synthesis and physicochemical properties (ultra-large surface area with planar structure and π-π conjugation with the unsaturated and aromatic drugs/biomolecules) being favorable for multiple payloads and drug targeting. Yet, graphene nano-composites are a relatively new and rapid development. The adoption of graphene nano-composites in cancer nanobiomedicine research raises questions about in vivo metabolism and disposition as well as biological interaction and safety profile of these nano-particles. Limited in-vitro and in-vivo findings are available in literature, indicating the inconsistencies about the factors affecting in-vivo bio-interaction and toxicity. Presently, there is a lack of anticipated biodistribution and toxicity pattern of graphene. It appears that surface functionalization, biocompatible coating, and size are the key factors in determining the metabolic fate of graphene nano-composites. In-vitro and in-vivo toxicity data suggests that graphene nano-composites exhibit dose and size dependent toxicity. This review summarizes up-to-date research outcome of this promising inorganic nanomaterial for cancer therapy. Moreover, the metabolic fate and toxicity issues of graphene and its nano-composites shall also be discussed in detail.

Mathematical model for adaptive evolution of populations based on a complex domain

A mutation is ultimately essential for adaptive evolution in all populations. It arises all the time, but is mostly fixed by enzymes. Further, most do consider that the evolution mechanism is by a natural assortment of variations in organisms in line for random variations in their DNA, and the suggestions for this are overwhelming. The altering of the construction of a gene, causing a different form that may be communicated to succeeding generations, produced by the modification of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger units of chromosomes or genes. This altering is called a mutation. In this paper, a mathematical model is introduced to this reality. The model describes the time and space for the evolution. The tool is based on a complex domain for the space. We show that the evolution is distributed with the hypergeometric function. The Boundedness of the evolution is imposed by utilizing the Koebe function.

Technology overview and drug delivery application of proniosome

Rapid advancement in the field of colloidal science has shown a great progress in the development of proniosome technology (PT) as an impending drug delivery system. PT is a valuable carrier system for delivery of hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic drugs. It is a liquid crystalline compact niosomal hybrid, which upon hydration gives niosomes. They can augment the bioavailability of encapsulated drug and provide better therapeutic activity in a controlled manner. Non-toxicity, penetration enhancing the effect of surfactant and modified drug release from the proniosomal transdermal gel has attracted a greater attention of formulation scientist toward PT. Free flowing dry proniosomal powder are suitable for unit dosage forms such as tablet and capsules. Proniosomes are auspicious drug delivery system for the future. Proniosomes-derived niosomes are a better alternative to the other vesicular system due to their superior physicochemical stability and effective drug delivery capability. The focus of this review is to bring out all the aspects of proniosomes including their different compositions, various methods of preparation, characterization and recent development in their therapeutic applications.

Nanotechnology-based inhalation treatments for lung cancer: state of the art

Considering the challenges associated with conventional chemotherapy, targeted and local delivery of chemotherapeutics via nanoparticle (NP) carriers to the lungs is an emerging area of interest. Recent studies and growing clinical application in cancer nanotechnology showed the huge potential of NPs as drug carriers in cancer therapy, including in lung carcinoma for diagnosis, imaging, and theranostics. Researchers have confirmed that nanotechnology-based inhalation chemotherapy is viable and more effective than conventional chemotherapy, with lesser side effects. Recently, many nanocarriers have been investigated, including liposomes, polymeric micelles, polymeric NPs, solid lipid NPs, and inorganic NPs for inhalation treatments of lung cancer. Yet, the toxicity of such nanomaterials to the lungs tissues and further distribution to other organs due to systemic absorption on inhalation delivery is a debatable concern. Here, prospect of NPs-based local lung cancer targeting through inhalation route as well as its associated challenges are discussed.

Emerging advances in cancer nanotheranostics with graphene nanocomposites: opportunities and challenges

As an inorganic nanomaterial, graphene nanocomposites have gained much attention in cancer nanotechnology compared with the other inorganic nanomaterial in recent times. Although a relatively new drug carrier, it has been extensively explored as a potential chemotherapeutic carrier and theranostic because of its numerous physicochemical properties, including, capability of multiple pay load, functionalization for drug targeting and photothermal effect. Despite potential benefit, its translation from bench to bed-side in cancer therapy is challenged due to its toxicity concern. Here, we discussed the present progress and future possibilities of graphene nanocomposites as a cancer theranostic. Moreover, the paper also exemplifies the effects of graphene/graphene oxide on tissues and organ functions in order to understand the extent and mechanism of toxicity.