Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation - Volume 19, Issue 3, 2025

The Musa genus, which includes bananas and plantains, offers a natural source of polymers. These polymers are finding applications in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, where they are used as drug delivery systems. Additionally, Musa species are used in the creation of biopolymer composites, which are eco-friendly materials, and in the production of nanocellulose, a nanomaterial with promising properties. The versatility of Musa species makes it a valuable resource for developing sustainable materials and exploring new applications. This review aims to highlight recent advances in the applications of bio-polymers, biocomposites, nanocellulose, and novel drug delivery systems using Musa species.

The review likely examines existing literature, research studies, and experimental findings related to Musa species. It may analyze the characterization, treatment, and fabrication techniques of Musa species for these applications.

The multifaceted role of Musa species is emphasized, including its contribution to pharmaceutical advancements, eco-friendly polymer production, and innovative nanocellulose applications.

In summary, this review paper explores how Musa species can be harnessed for various technological and scientific purposes, particularly in the fields of biopolymers, biocomposites, and drug delivery systems. The tropical plant’s versatility and significance are underscored throughout the review.

Endophthalmitis, an inflammatory condition of the intraocular cavity, poses a significant challenge in ophthalmology due to its rapid progression and potential for vision loss. Conventional treatment modalities, such as systemic antibiotics or oral administration, often face limitations in achieving the required therapeutic levels at the target site. Hence, repeated intravitreal injections of antibiotics are currently the most preferred and recommended therapy for the management of endophthalmitis, which is an invasive technique and has certain shortcomings, elevated intraocular pressure, bleeding inside the eye, heightened likelihood of retinal detachment, retinal toxicity, and many more. Vancomycin is the first choice drug for the management of endophthalmitis and is given through intravitreal injection.

The work aims to design, develop, and evaluate Vancomycin-loaded NLCs incorporated into an in-situ gel offering a new non-invasive therapeutic option for the management of Endophthalmitis.

The Vancomycin-loaded NLCs were successfully produced through a double emulsion/solvent evaporation method employing a Box Behnken design. The optimized formulations were incorporated into an in-situ gel system by varying the concentration of Pluronic F127. The formulated gels were characterized for several parameters such as physical appearance, pH, viscosity, gelling strength, gelation temperature, in vitro release profile, and ex-vivo permeation study.

The result revealed that the formulation had a smooth appearance with a pH range from 7 to 7.5, was near the physiological pH of the eye, had content in the range of 97.5 ± 1.0% to 99.2 ± 1.0% and gelation temperature near body temperature. The data of release study formulation (VISG2) revealed sustained drug release compared to the control gel. The data ex vivo permeation study revealed that there was approximately a 3 folds increase in permeation of drug form (VISG2) compared to control gel (p˂0.0001) and significant (2.02 folds) permeation compared to commercially available formulation (p˂0.0001).

In conclusion, the Vancomycin-loaded NLCs incorporated in-situ gel may serve as a feasible alternative to invasive intravitreal injection for the management of endophthalmitis.

Azadirachta indica is also referred to as margosa or neem. It is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. Aegle marmelos L. (family: Rutaceae), sometimes referred to as Bael in Hindi, is a crucial food plant in India. The fruit has traditionally been used for the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, respiratory disorders, diarrhea, and dysentery. Aegle marmelos fruits are abundant in coumarins, carotenoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. The plant referred to as Camellia sinensis, or tea, is part of the Theaceae family and is often grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Acne is a prolonged inflammatory condition of the skin that has a significant negative influence on patients' quality of life all over the world. Although it is most commonly seen in young people, it may impact people of any age. Herbal anti-acne facewash gels were prepared using Carbopol 934 and extracts from Azadirachta indica, Aegle marmelos L., and Camellia sinensis.

The anti-acne facewash gel formulations were prepared in five different concentrations of 1%, 0.90%, 0.80%, 0.60%, and 0.50%, labeled as F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5, respectively.

The anti-acne properties of the formulations were evaluated. The outcomes demonstrated gels to have an excellent spreading coefficient, a great physical appearance, and be non-irritating. Standard commercial formulations were used to investigate the effectiveness.

Unlike marketed formulations, the developed formulation 3 (F3) demonstrated an excellent spreading coefficient and good % extrudability. It has been shown to be a more potent and effective polyherbal anti-acne facewash gel for treating acne. In recent years, there has been a rise in the patenting of herbal formulations, and several in vitro and in vivo studies have produced scientific proof of their medicinal efficacy. This work discusses many patented herbal compositions and how they might be used therapeutically to treat different diseases.

Agomelatine (AGT) is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults. Agomelatine is highly susceptible to first-pass metabolism, and it has less than 5% oral bioavailability. Therapy for major depressive disorder extends for a long period and every time, additional caregivers are required to remind and manage the timely dosing of oral medicine to patients. In such cases, once a week, administration of agomelatine via transdermal patch dosage form provides major patient benefits and lowers overall therapy costs.

An agomelatine transdermal patch was prepared using the solvent evaporation method using the LTE-S Werner Mathis AG coater and dryer. A patch was prepared using silicon adhesive after screening different pressure-sensitive adhesives like acrylate, polyisobutylene, and silicon. To make a crystal-free patch, the concentration of povidone k-29/32 was optimized in preliminary trials. To deliver the drug over a 7-day period, propylene glycol monolaurate (PGML) was identified from different penetration enhancers. Three factors optimization was carried out, like the concentration of povidone k-29/32, the concentration of PGML, and the mixing time of the blend using the Box Behnken design. 3D surface response curves and contour plots were derived using Design Expert and Minitab software. From overlay plots, design spaces were identified.

The optimized AGT patch has good adhesion properties along with a desirable flux of 4.63 µg/cm²/h on human cadaver skin along with a lower residual drug. There was no impact of heat flux studies on normal conditions, hence justifying the in-use condition of the patient population during hot showers, baths, and saunas. AGT Patch was also non-irritating in skin irritation studies performed on Wistar albino rats.

It was concluded that agomelatine transdermal patches can be manufactured using silicon adhesive, povidone k-29/32, and propylene glycol monolaurate for the treatment of major depressive disorder and will be the most convenient and cost-effective therapy for the patient.

Bacteria resist drugs by employing new resistance mechanisms, leading to prolonged infection and complexity in therapeutic prognosis that concordantly decreases drug efficacy. In recent years, nanotechnology has gained immense popularity for the development of drug delivery systems to combat the global pharmaceutical crisis of multi-drug resistance. The present work aimed to focus on the green chemistry-based synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the phytocompound chlorophyllin to form chlorophyllin precipitated silver nanoparticles (NCHL) and elucidate their application against two pathologically significant bacterial species Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

After optimization of experimental parameters, the physico-chemical properties of the synthesized NCHL were determined using AFM, DLS, XRD, UV-Vis, SPR, and FTIR, respectively. The interaction of NCHL with ct-DNA was assessed using CD spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized NCHL against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was examined by a disc diffusion susceptibility test.

The NCHL was ascertained to be ~53.57 nm in size, having a spherical shape, smooth topology, negative zeta potential of -23.94 mV, and PDI value of 0.495. A sharp peak for silver as SPR and an XRD peak depicted the best fit metallic crystal synchronization. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of a similar functional group in NCHL and chlorophyllin (CHL). CD spectroscopy with ct-DNA in the presence of NCHL showed a change in spectral shift of the ct-DNA, indicating strong ct-DNA-NCHL interaction. NCHL successfully inhibited the growth of both bacterial strains, indicating broad spectrum activity of the synthesized nanoparticles.

The promising results indicated that NCHL could be utilized as a potential therapeutic molecule against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus infections and help in combating bacterial drug resistance, which is of high medical priority.

Aquasomes are water-based nanocarriers widely used in pharmaceutical applications for the delivery of various molecules.

This research examines the preparation and characterization of vitamin C-loaded aquasomes.

The aquasomes were prepared by using colloidal precipitation and sonication methods. Various characterizations, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential, were performed on the core, lactose coating, and final formulation of vitamin C-loaded aquasomes. Further analysis was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the in vitro release profile of vitamin C from the aquasomes was compared with that of a commercially available vitamin C formulation and a shelf-life analysis was conducted.

The addition of lactose and vitamin C led to an increase in the particle size of the core, from 348 nm to 654 nm, while the zeta potential decreased from -31.9 mV to -12.8 mV. The percent payload was found to be 52.63%. TGA results indicated weight loss in HAP, suggesting thermal degradation, while DSC analysis revealed the melting points of lactose sugars and the thermal behavior of vitamin C. The dissolution results show that vitamin C-loaded aquasomes released 4-6% more of the vitamin in acidic (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) environments over 90 minutes, compared to commercial vitamin C products. The aquasomes exhibited excellent stability, maintaining over 90% of their potency over 90 days.

Vitamin C-loaded aquasomes have been successfully prepared and demonstrated better performance compared to commercial products. This study suggests that aquasomes keep vitamin C stable and may improve its absorption in the body.