Current Nanomedicine - Volume 13, Issue 2, 2023

Scarless wound management remains a clinical challenge worldwide because of its complicated and overlapping phases of inflammation, clearing, and regeneration. Among the currently available dressing materials, hydrogels have attracted emerging attention as potential wound dressing materials because of their specific properties, such as porosity, tissue-mimicking architecture, softness, and improved mechanical, biological as well as physicochemical properties. However, naturally driven hydrogels have shown several advantages over conventional hydrogels because of their biodegradability, biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, and functionality. Recently, nanoparticle (NPs) integrated polymeric hydrogels (metals, non-metals, metal oxides, and polymeric moieties) have been established as analogous to these naturally driven hydrogels because of the synergistic effects of the NPs and polymers in the three-dimensional composite material. Over the years, researchers have reported the synthesis and potential applications of diverse inorganic and organic nanocomposite gels with antioxidant or antibacterial properties where they have exploited the intelligent incorporation of biomolecules into the NP-polymeric network that are beneficial for wound healing. Among various natural polymers as hydrogel matrix, chitosan-mediated hydrogel dressings have received extensive interest resulting in improved mechanical, biological, and physicochemical properties due to the well-reported antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, and tissue regeneration efficacies of chitosan polymer. This review is intended to summarize the recent developments of inorganic nanoparticle-incorporated chitosan-based hydrogels as wound dressing materials where various synthetic methodologies of these nanocomposite gels are extensively discussed via incorporating nanoparticles, active biomolecules, and other substances into the intrinsic structure of the gels. In addition, the future and prospects of chitosan-based nanocomposite hydrogels as a novel wound dressing as well as tissue engineering materials are also highlighted.

This review is focused on the self-assembly of different molecular building blocks at various levels of complexity. In this perspective, we present the basic concept and recent research on the self-assembly of fatty acids and their derivatives, surfactants, and cholesterol. In addition, we discuss the conditions for designing and stabilizing novel vesicular drug delivery systems and how the flux changes due to the molecular structure of building blocks. Furthermore, the article provides a brief discussion on fatty acid and oleate self-assembly, which is becoming an emerging nanotechnology because of its ability to alter the dynamic nature of the skin. These structures have been shown to enhance the skin permeability of drugs and other active compounds, making them potential candidates for transdermal drug delivery. In conclusion, the self-assembly of various molecular building blocks at different levels of complexity has significant implications in the fields of drug delivery, cosmetics, and nanotechnology. The ability to control and manipulate the self-assembly process offers a wide range of possibilities for the design of novel and efficient drug delivery systems.

Background: Gemcitabine is a clinically valuable drug delivered intravenously. In order to explore other routes of administration for more efficacious drug delivery, its redevelopment for application through oral route with the help of nanotechnology is an ongoing thrust area. Nanotechnology helps the drug enter into tissues at the molecular level, with increased drug localisation and cellular uptake, larger surface area with modifiable biologic properties, mediate molecular interactions and identify molecular changes. Objective: The objective of the study was to use Eudragit RS100 to prepare polymeric nanoparticles of gemcitabine (GEM) in order to improve its half-life, reduce dosage and increase the stability of the drug. Methods: GEM polymeric nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation technique. They were characterized for particle size, zeta potential (ZP), drug content, entrapment efficiency (EE) and invitro drug release. Further, they were also evaluated using TEM, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. Mechanistic insights of the synthesized nanoparticles were explored using a protein binding study, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and plasma protein binding study. Docking study was carried out to check the binding of the drug and polymer with DNA and protein. Results: The synthesized GEM polymeric nanoparticles showed particle size in the range of 200- 450 nm. Due to physical stability issues, optimized polymeric nanoparticles of GEM were lyophilized and exhibited a zeta potential of +11.9 mV, drug content 96.74% w/v and EE of 68-75% w/v. In-vitro drug release study demonstrated sustained release. Protein binding study with bovine serum albumin (BSA) revealed protein binding of GEM-loaded polymeric nanoparticles comparable with the marketed formulation (Oncogem 200, Cipla Ltd.). In addition to this, human plasma protein binding studies showed negligible interaction of GEM with plasma proteins with both formulations. EMSA displayed binding with CT-DNA. Conclusion: Lyophilized GEM nanoparticles were found to be stable and the mechanistic studies found them comparable to that of marketed formulation.

Background: Diabetes is a prevailing disease worldwide and its complications are also hazardous including nephropathy. Drug available to treat Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) faces bioavailability issues related to solubility and absorption of drugs. Cilostazol (CLT) is a BCS class II drug that is poorly water-soluble which affects its therapeutic efficacy. CLT reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased in DN. Curcumin (Cur) is also hydrophobic but Cur has many therapeutic efficacies like anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help for the treatment of DN. Objective: The objective of the current study was to develop and optimize the Cilostazol Solid Dispersion Nanoparticle (SDN) to improve the bioavailability of the drug by tagging it with Cur by using PVP VA S 630 as polymer and Poloxamer 407 as surfactant. Method: Different formulations were developed using the emulsion solvent evaporation method, PVP VA S 630 as the hydrophilic polymer, and Poloxamer 407 as a surfactant. Two-factor, threelevel Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was used for statistical analysis of the selected process variable's main effect and interactive effect on the response. Curcumin tagging was also done for the entire batches. Nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, DSC, Particle size, Zeta potential, Drug entrapment efficiency, Solubility, and % CDR studies. Results: Among the 17 different formulations (CLT1-CLT 17), with a solubility of 39.5 μg/ml, a % CDR of 99.55, a typical particle size of 219.67 nm with a PDI of 0.258, entrapment efficiency of 73.47%, and a -10.6 mV of Zeta potential, CLT-15 was optimized. To determine CLT and curcumin, the simultaneous UV calibration method was created. Overall, the DSC study indicated the amorphous nature of the Nano Dispersion, which in turn means the successful entrapment of the CLT in the Nano Dispersion matrix. TEM images also confirmed the spherical nanoparticles. The optimized batch of drugs tagged with curcumin was compared with the plain drug Solid Dispersion Nanoparticles. Conclusion: Together with the molecules of curcumin, the solid nano dispersion of CLT was produced, which will add to the benefits of the management of Diabetic Nephropathy. In the current study, we underline the importance of utilising both API and phytochemicals in the treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy, and we anticipate further basic research or clinical trials to support innovative treatments. It is possible to use these matrix-forming polymers for active ingredients with poor solubility, whether they are natural or synthetic. It has also been demonstrated that these carriers (PVP VA S 630 & Poloxamer) increase the dissolution rate (in-vitro).

Background: Toxocara vitulorum is a common parasitic worm of buffalo and cattle, causing livestock mortality and morbidity worldwide. Several countries suffered substantial economic losses due to animal death and reduced meat and milk production. Therefore, it became necessary to discover a new alternative drug, especially with the emerging resistance to current medications. The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic effect of different concentrations of biobased silver nanoparticles on T. vitulorum adults. Methods: Different concentrations of silver nanoparticles were synthesised using lemon juice. Groups of male and female adult worms were incubated in 50, 100, and 200 mg/L silver nanoparticles for 48 h. The parasite motility, histology, and biochemical parameters were observed and compared to the control. Results: The results showed that silver nanoparticles decreased the worm motility, increased mortality rate, induced structural damage, caused collagen disruption, and showed elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, total protein, urea, and creatinine, as well as reduced levels of acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles established a significant anthelmintic effect against T. vitulorum and could become one of the up-and-coming antiparasitic drugs in the future.