Encapsulation of 5-fluorouracil in cholesteryl-modified cyclodextrin: thermal, spectral, and computational assessment of drug inclusion efficiency

This research investigates the encapsulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within cholesteryl-modified β-cyclodextrin (CD21chol) and aims to elucidate the drug inclusion efficiency through a comprehensive analysis employing both experimental and computational techniques. The study employs thermogravimetric characterization to assess the thermal stability of the encapsulated complex and infrared measurements to explore the vibrational characteristics, providing valuable insights into the physicochemical properties. Additionally, molecular simulations are employed to evaluate the interactions between 5-FU and CD21chol on the molecular-level dynamics of drug encapsulation. This integrated approach facilitates a comprehensive understanding of encapsulation, offering valuable data for developing drug delivery systems.

A review of FDA approved drugs and their formulations for the treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed solid cancers globally. Extensive research has been going on for decades to meet the challenges of treating solid tumors with selective compounds. This article aims to summarize the therapeutic agents which are either being used or are currently under approval for use in the treatment or mitigation of breast cancer by the US FDA, to date. A structured search of bibliographic databases for previously published peer-reviewed research papers on registered molecules was explored and data was sorted in terms of various categories of drugs used in first line/adjuvant therapy for different stages of breast cancer. We included more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, including both research and reviews articles, in order to provide readers an useful comprehensive information. A list of 39 drugs are discussed along with their current status, dose protocols, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, possible side effects, and marketed formulations. Another interesting aspect of the article included focusing on novel formulations of these drugs which are currently in clinical trials or in the process of approval. This exhaustive review thus shall be a one-stop solution for researchers who are working in the areas of formulation development for these drugs.

Recent Advances in Designing 5-Fluorouracil Delivery Systems: A Stepping Stone in the Safe Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has become one of the most widely employed antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agents in recent decades. It is considered a first line antineoplastic agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, chemotherapy with 5-FU has several limitations, including its short half-life, high cytotoxicity and low bioavailability. In order to overcome the drawbacks of 5-FU and enhance its therapeutic efficiency, many scientific groups have focused on designing a new delivery system to successfully deliver 5-FU to tumor sites. We provide a comprehensive review on different strategies to design effective delivery systems, including nanoformulations, drug-conjugate formulations and other strategies for the delivery of 5-FU to colorectal cancer. Furthermore, co-delivery of 5-FU with other therapeutics is discussed. This review critically highlights the recent innovations in and literature on various types of carrier system for 5-FU.