A 32full factorial design for development and characterization of a nanosponge-based intravaginal in situ gelling system for vulvovaginal candidiasis

The rationale behind present research effort was to enhance CTZ solubility and efficacyviaforming complex with hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) nanosponges.

Intra-articular delivery of a methotrexate loaded nanostructured lipid carrier based smart gel for effective treatment of rheumatic diseases

A nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) based smart gel of methotrexate (MTX) was developed as a potential system for the treatment of rheumatic diseases (RD).

Mucosal vaccines: a paradigm shift in the development of mucosal adjuvants and delivery vehicles

Mucosal immune responses are the first-line defensive mechanisms against a variety of infections. Therefore, immunizations of mucosal surfaces from which majority of infectious agents make their entry, helps to protect the body against infections. Hence, vaccinization of mucosal surfaces by using mucosal vaccines provides the basis for generating protective immunity both in the mucosal and systemic immune compartments. Mucosal vaccines offer several advantages over parenteral immunization. For example, (i) ease of administration; (ii) non-invasiveness; (iii) high-patient compliance; and (iv) suitability for mass vaccination. Despite these benefits, to date, only very few mucosal vaccines have been developed using whole microorganisms and approved for use in humans. This is due to various challenges associated with the development of an effective mucosal vaccine that can work against a variety of infections, and various problems concerned with the safe delivery of developed vaccine. For instance, protein antigen alone is not just sufficient enough for the optimal delivery of antigen(s) mucosally. Hence, efforts have been made to develop better prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for improved mucosal Th1 and Th2 immune responses using an efficient and safe immunostimulatory molecule and novel delivery carriers. Therefore, in this review, we have made an attempt to cover the recent advancements in the development of adjuvants and delivery carriers for safe and effective mucosal vaccine production.

Methotrexate: a gold standard for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful, debilitating disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, with the proliferation of the synovium and the progressive erosion of cartilage and bone. The treatment of RA is still unsatisfactory, but a number of powerful disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs have become available, such as methotrexate (MTX). Even in the current era of biological targeted therapies, MTX remains the initial preferred antirheumatic drug and is considered to be the gold standard for treatment of RA. The combination of its perceived efficacy, acceptable safety profile, and low cost, as well as decades of clinical experience, makes MTX the cornerstone of treatment for RA and the anchor drug in combination with various biological agents. In this review, the authors aim to summarize the research done in the field of drug delivery systems of MTX according to its routes of administration for treatment of RA. The last part of the review addresses combination therapy with MTX and future direction in the drug delivery of MTX. This review also provides the reader with a general overview of RA and its therapeutic strategies with respect of MTX, which may bring uniformity in medical practice for effective management of RA.