Drug Delivery Letters - Online First

Wound healing is an intricate biological process that is supported by well-coordinated cellular activities along with the influence of various factors, such as infection at the site of the wound, comorbidities, and lifestyle habits. Non-healing wounds pose a significant global health concern, with a substantial impact on healthcare resources and patient well-being. Wound dressings play a crucial role in creating an optimal microenvironment for healing, and the selection of an appropriate dressing is imperative to ensure faster healing and improved patient outcomes. Polyurethane (PU) foam based wound dressings have gained considerable attention owing to their versatile properties and potential applications in wound care. PU foam dressings are known for their high absorbency in managing moderate to heavy exudate, ability to maintain a moist wound environment, comfort, flexibility, and non-adherent properties. PU is the preferred substrate material for dressings because of its customizable mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Several studies have explored the use of polyurethane foam-based wound dressings and have highlighted their potential benefits and limitations. Despite the promising results of previous studies, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the applications and challenges of PU foam-based wound dressings in wound healing. This review aims to address the knowledge gap by providing an update on the current state of research on polyurethane foam based wound dressings and their potential applications and challenges in wound healing.

Research in ocular delivery of medication has both challenging and promising opportunities for the pharmaceutical sector. Present ocular delivery methods of drugs, including ointments, solutions, and suspensions, have a number of limitations, such as rapid elimination from the precorneal area, high variation in efficacy, and the risk of blurred vision. These disadvantages underscore the need for the introduction of more effective drug delivery systems. Research on ocular drug delivery has increased significantly in the past years, resulting in the use of numerous standard formulation forms, such as ointments and eye drops. One big drawback of the two formulations is the fast expulsion of the deposited dose through the action of blinking eyelids as well as the excretion of tear fluid. To counter this, in situ, gelling systems have been created that minimize drainage and prolong the period of contact with the ocular tissues and cornea. The formulations in these systems go through a sol-to-gel change due to conditions in the environment, for example, temperature, ionic strength, and pH. The transitions are usually triggered by the common polymers sodium alginate and high-performance methylcellulose. These preparations can be tested for any one of a number of properties, such as but not limited to clarity, ocular irritancy, texture, isotonicity, sterility, gel strength, gelling capacity, gelling time, ex-vivo release, in vitro drug release, stability, in vivo retention, and absorption.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health concern, with a growing patient population and associated complications. Traditional treatments often fall short due to the complex nature of the disease. Recent advances in nanotechnology, particularly the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), offer promising solutions. This review aims to highlight the eco-friendly, economical, and biocompatible characteristics of ZnO NPs, with a focus on green synthesis techniques for their production.

It also explores the green synthesis of ZnO NPs using natural resources, such as microorganisms and plant extracts, which act as stabilizing and reducing agents. It examines the potential of these nanoparticles in improving medicinal properties, particularly through their antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities. The possibility of combining ZnO NPs with other nanomaterials is also investigated, with an emphasis on applications in biosensing, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

ZnO NPs synthesized through green methods demonstrate significant potential in enhancing insulin sensitivity, glucose management, and preventing diabetes-related complications. Their improved medicinal properties, including antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities, are highlighted. This review also identifies opportunities for the development of combination products and discusses the transition from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale production.

Extensive safety and clinical studies are required to confirm the safety and efficacy of ZnO NPs, paving the way for regulatory approval and wider adoption in medical applications. This review underscores the importance of medicinal plants and biogenic approaches for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and calls for further research to explore the full potential of ZnO NPs in diabetes management and beyond.

The most prevalent type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), is typified by the presence of intracellular tau protein neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloid plaques. There are currently about 50 million people who have dementia, and by 2030, that number is predicted to rise to 75 million, placing a significant financial strain on the nation's healthcare system. Novel disease-modifying treatments are desperately needed to combat this illness, given the consequences on patients' quality of life and the mounting financial strain. There are currently no disease-modifying medications available; instead, the majority of available therapies are symptomatic ones such as cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockers. The primary focus of therapeutic research against AD has shifted to tau-targeting strategies following multiple unsuccessful attempts to create medications against amyloidopathy. This article first provides an introduction to tauopathy in AD before summarizing current research on the creation of tau-oriented multi-target directed ligands and small compounds as therapies that target tau alteration, aggregation, and degradation. The overall goal of this work is to present a thorough and critical review of small compounds that are being investigated as potential treatment candidates for AD tauopathy.

3D Printing, sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, has made the concept of personalized medicine a reality. The primary objective of 3D and 4D printing is to produce intricate, customized pharmaceuticals at a reasonable cost. With improvements in materials, resolution, and speed, 3D printing technology is quickly developing. It includes faster construction, cost efficiency through reduced waste, design flexibility for complex structures, and sustainability through optimized material usage. An extensive literature survey was done on 3D and 4D printing of pharmaceuticals using PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, and Springer. The results were then filtered based on the titles, abstracts, and accessibility of the complete texts. The search engine Google Scholar was accessed for literature data mining. From the data mining, it was found that from the year 2009 to 2024 the number of research publications surged more than 200 times on the current topic. Even though 3-D and 4-D printing technologies have advanced significantly in a short amount of time, the most often used ones are still stereolithography, nozzle-based deposition, inkjet, and selective laser sintering. Their use has been modified for the production of nanoparticles, polypills, tablets, and implants, etc. Pharma's aspirations for tailored medications are being revolutionized by 3D printing, but cost, flexibility, and bioequivalence still need to be investigated. The present review offers a thorough analysis of various 3D and 4D printing methods and emphasizes the major advantages and disadvantages and major key challenges of 3D and 4D printing related to pharmaceuticals. Compared to 3D Printing, 4D printing offers better quality, efficacy, and functionality.