Preparation and physicochemical characterization of ketoprofen-loaded emulsions

Nanoemulsification of soybean oil using ultrasonic microreactor: Process optimization, scale-up and numbering-up in series

Ultrasonically-induced nanoemulsions have been widely investigated for the development of functional food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals due to ideal droplet sizes (DS), low polydispersity index (PDI), and superior physical stability. However, a series of frequently-used ultrasonic set-ups mainly suffered from a low ultrasonic energy efficiency caused by the large acoustic impedance and energy consumption, subordinately confronted with a low throughput, complicated fabrication with complex structure and weak ultrasonic cavitation. Herein, we employed a typical ultrasonic microreactor (USMR) that ensured the high-efficient energy input and generated intense cavitation behavior for efficient breakage of droplets and continuous production of unified oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions in a single cycle and without any pre-emulsification treatment. The emulsification was optimized by tuning the formula indexes, technological parameters, and numerical analysis using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), followed by a comparison with the emulsification by a traditional ultrasonic probe. The USMR exhibited superior emulsification efficiency and easy scale-up with remarkable uniformity by series mode. In addition, concurrent and uniform nanoemulsions with high throughput could also be achieved by a larger USMR with high ultrasonic power. Based on RSM analysis, uniform DS and PDI of 96.4 nm and 0.195 were observed under the optimal conditions, respectively, well consistent with the predicted values. Impressively, the optimal nanoemulsions have a uniform spherical morphology and exhibited superior stability, which held well in 45 days at 4℃ and 25℃. The results in the present work may provide a typical paradigm for the preparation of functional nanomaterials based on the novel and efficient emulsification tools.

Developmental toxicity and biological responses of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen

Ketoprofen a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is widely used in over-the-counter to treat pain, swelling and inflammation. Due to extensive application these drugs has been detected in surface waters which may create a risk to aquatic organisms. The aim of the present study is to assess the ecotoxicity of ketoprofen at different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg/ml) on embryos and adult zebrafish (1, 10 and 100 μg L^-1) under laboratory conditions. In embryos, concentration dependent developmental changes such as edema, spinal curvature, slow heartbeat, delayed hatching, and mortality rate were observed. In adult zebrafish, biochemical enzymes such as AST, ALT and LDH activities were significantly (P < 0.05) increased whereas a decrease in Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was noticed in all the tested concentrations of the drug ketoprofen. Similarly, exposure of ketoprofen caused a significant decrease in antioxidant levels in liver tissue (SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx, and GST). However, lipid peroxidation (LPO) level in liver tissue was found to be increased. The histopathological studies further evidenced the impact of ketoprofen in the liver tissue of zebrafish. The present result concludes that ketoprofen could have an impact on the development and biological endpoints of the zebra fish at above concentrations. The malformation in the development of the embryo and changes in the biological end points may provide integrated evaluation of the toxic effect of ketoprofen on zebrafish in a new perspective.

Piperine-mediated drug interactions and formulation strategy for piperine: recent advances and future perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Piperine has various pharmacological effects and can modulate the functional activity of metabolic enzymes and drug transporters. Consequently, there is a great interest in the application of piperine as an alternative medicine or bioavailability enhancer. Areas covered: This review deals with the effects of piperine on metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. It provides the readers with an update on transporter-mediated and also metabolic enzyme-mediated piperine-drug interactions, with emphasis on its in vivo implications. This article also encompasses recent advances in the formulation approaches and technologies for optimizing the delivery of piperine. Expert opinion: Piperine can influence the pharmacokinetics of coadministered drugs, which may result in a therapeutically beneficial or adverse effect. Given that piperine inhibits or stimulates the activity of metabolic enzymes and transporters depending on the treatment conditions, the clinical significance of piperine-drug interactions should be assessed by varying the dose, dosing frequency, and the duration of treatment. In particular, better understanding the clinical relevance of piperine-drug interactions based on long-term assessments will provide a strong basis for the feasibility and applicability of piperine as a bioenhancer or a health-promoting agent. The development of effective formulations is also critical to facilitate the therapeutic applications of piperine.