Transdermal potential and anti-arthritic efficacy of ursolic acid from niosomal gel systems

Niosome as a promising tool for increasing the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory compounds

Niosomes are drug delivery systems with widespread applications in pharmaceutical research and the cosmetic industry. Niosomes are vesicles of one or more bilayers made of non-ionic surfactants, cholesterol, and charge inducers. Because of their bilayer characteristics, similar to liposomes, niosomes can be loaded with lipophilic and hydrophilic cargos. Therefore, they are more stable and cheaper in preparation than liposomes. They can be classified into four categories according to their sizes and structures, namely small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs,), multilamellar vesicles (MLVs), and multivesicular vesicles (MVVs). There are many methods for niosome preparation, such as thin-film hydration, solvent injection, and heating method. The current study focuses on the preparation methods and pharmacological effects of niosomes loaded with natural and chemical anti-inflammatory compounds in kinds of literature during the past decade. We found that most research was carried out to load anti-inflammatory agents like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into niosome vesicles. The studies revealed that niosomes could improve anti-inflammatory agents' physicochemical properties, including solubility, cellular uptake, stability, encapsulation, drug release and liberation, efficiency, and oral bioavailability or topical absorption. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).

Phytoconstituents-Based Nanotherapeutic Approach for the Effective Management of Joint Inflammatory Condition: Arthritis

Arthritis, a prevalent inflammatory joint condition, presents challenges for effective therapeutic interventions, with conventional treatments often limited in efficacy and associated with adverse effects. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in exploring natural compounds, particularly phytoconstituents, renowned for their anti-inflammatory and joint-protective properties. This review aims to illuminate the potential of employing nanotherapeutic approaches with phytoconstituents for enhanced arthritis management. The integration of nanotechnology with phytoconstituents emerges as a promising strategy, addressing limitations in traditional arthritis treatments. Nanocarriers like liposomes and nanoparticles provide a platform for targeted drug delivery, improving the bioavailability of phytoconstituents. Furthermore, the combined effects of phytoconstituents can be leveraged to target multiple pathways in arthritis pathogenesis, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cartilage degradation. Key phytoconstituents, such as curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin, exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Nevertheless, their therapeutic potential is often impeded by challenges like poor solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Nanocarriers offer solutions by enhancing pharmacokinetics and enabling sustained release, thereby boosting overall therapeutic efficacy. The review explores the mechanisms underlying the anti-arthritic effects of phytoconstituents and their nanoformulations, including the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, and reduction of oxidative stress. In summary, the integration of phytoconstituents with nanotechnology presents a promising avenue for developing targeted and effective arthritis therapies. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical developers seeking innovative approaches to address the intricate challenges associated with arthritis management.

A Comprehensive Review on Niosomes as a Tool for Advanced Drug Delivery

Over the past few decades, advancements in nanocarrier-based therapeutic delivery have been significant, and niosomes research has recently received much interest. The self-assembled nonionic surfactant vesicles lead to the production of niosomes. The most recent nanocarriers, niosomes, are self-assembled vesicles made of nonionic surfactants with or without the proper quantities of cholesterol or other amphiphilic molecules. Because of their durability, low cost of components, largescale production, simple maintenance, and high entrapment efficiency, niosomes are being used more frequently. Additionally, they enhance pharmacokinetics, reduce toxicity, enhance the solubility of poorly water-soluble compounds, & increase bioavailability. One of the most crucial features of niosomes is their controlled release and targeted diffusion, which is utilized for treating cancer, infectious diseases, and other problems. In this review article, we have covered all the fundamental information about niosomes, including preparation techniques, niosomes types, factors influencing their formation, niosomes evaluation, applications, and administration routes, along with recent developments.

Triterpenes Drug Delivery Systems, a Modern Approach for Arthritis Targeted Therapy

Arthritis is a major cause of disability. Currently available anti-arthritic drugs, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), have serious side-effects associated with long-term use. Triterpenoids are natural products with known anti-inflammatory properties, and many have revealed efficiency against arthritis both in vitro and in vivo in several animal models, with negligible cytotoxicity. However, poor bioavailability due to low water solubility and extensive metabolism upon oral administration hinder the therapeutic use of anti-arthritic triterpenoids. Therefore, drug delivery systems (DDSs) able to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of triterpenoids and achieve sustained drug release are useful alternatives for targeted delivery in arthritis treatment. Several DDSs have been described in the literature for triterpenoid delivery, including microparticulate and nanoparticulate DDSs, such as polymeric micro and nanoparticles (NPs), polymeric micelles, liposomes, micro and nanoemulsions, and hydrogels. These systems have shown superior therapeutic effects in arthritis compared to the free drugs and are similar to currently available anti-arthritic drugs without significant side-effects. This review focuses on nanocarriers for triterpenoid delivery in arthritis therapy, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout that appeared in the literature in the last ten years.

Ursolic acid-downregulated long noncoding RNA ASMTL-AS1 inhibits renal cell carcinoma growth via binding to HuR and reducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression

It has been reported ursolic acid (UA), one of the naturally abundant pentacyclic triterpenes, possesses a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anticancer properties. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a severe malignancy due to its asymptomatically spreading ability. Our study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of UA in RCC. RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Transwell, and tube formation assays. Xenograft tumor models were established to confirm the role of UA and long noncoding RNA ASMTL antisense RNA 1 (ASMTL-AS1) in vivo. Expression levels of ASMTL-AS1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The interaction probabilities of ASMTL-AS1 or VEGF with RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation experiment. The half-life period of messenger RNA (mRNA) was determined using actinomycin D. UA inhibited RCC cell growth in vivo and tumorigenesis in vitro. ASMTL-AS1 was highly expressed in RCC cell lines. Of note, UA downregulated ASMTL-AS1 expression, and overexpressed ASMTL-AS1 reversed the UA-induced suppression on RCC cell migration, invasion, and tube formation. Additionally, ASMTL-AS1 bound to HuR to maintain the stability of VEGF mRNA. Rescue experiments showed that the suppressed malignancy of RCC cells mediated by ASMTL-AS1 knockdown was counteracted by overexpression of VEGF. Moreover, silenced ASMTL-AS1 inhibited RCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The obtained data suggest UA as a promising therapeutic agent to attenuate the development of RCC via regulation of the targeted molecules.

From Plants to Wound Dressing and Transdermal Delivery of Bioactive Compounds

Transdermal delivery devices and wound dressing materials are constantly improved and upgraded with the aim of enhancing their beneficial effects, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and cost effectiveness. Therefore, researchers in the field have shown an increasing interest in using natural compounds as constituents for such systems. Plants, as an important source of so-called "natural products" with an enormous variety and structural diversity that still exceeds the capacity of present-day sciences to define or even discover them, have been part of medicine since ancient times. However, their benefits are just at the beginning of being fully exploited in modern dermal and transdermal delivery systems. Thus, plant-based primary compounds, with or without biological activity, contained in gums and mucilages, traditionally used as gelling and texturing agents in the food industry, are now being explored as valuable and cost-effective natural components in the biomedical field. Their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity compensate for local availability and compositional variations. Also, secondary metabolites, classified based on their chemical structure, are being intensively investigated for their wide pharmacological and toxicological effects. Their impact on medicine is highlighted in detail through the most recent reported studies. Innovative isolation and purification techniques, new drug delivery devices and systems, and advanced evaluation procedures are presented.

Therapeutic potential and novel formulations of ursolic acid and its derivatives: an updated review

Plants produce biologically active metabolites that have been utilised to cure a variety of severe and persistent illnesses. There is a possibility that understanding how these bioactive molecules work would allow researchers to come up with better treatments for diseases including malignancy, cardiac disease and neurological disorders. A triterpene called ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic prevalent triterpenoid found in fruits, leaves, herbs and blooms. The biological and chemical aspects of UA, as well as their presence, plant sources and biosynthesis, and traditional and newer technologies of extraction, are discussed in this review. Because of its biological function in the creation of new therapeutic techniques, UA is a feasible option for the evolution and medical management of a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer and other life threatening diseases. Despite this, the substance's poor solubility in aquatic environments makes it unsuitable for medicinal purposes. This hurdle was resolved in many different ways. The inclusion of UA into various pharmaceutical delivery approaches was found to be quite effective in this respect. This review also describes the properties of UA and its pharmacokinetics, as well as therapeutic applications of UA for cancer, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to its anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and anti-microbial properties. Some of the recent findings related to novel nano-sized carriers as a delivery system for UA and the patents related to the applications of UA and its various derivatives are covered in this review. The analytical study of UA, oleanolic acid and other phytoconstituents by UV, HPLC, high-performance thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography is also discussed. In the future, UA could be explored in vivo using various animal models and, in addition, the regulatory status regarding UA needs to be explored. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ligand-free high loading capacity ursolic acid self-carried nanovesicles enable hepatocyte targeting via absorbing apolipoproteins

Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic terpenoid carboxylic acid that can exert a potent hepatoprotective activity, has been developed into various types of nanoparticles to improve its pharmacological effects, however, the phagocytosis of nanoparticles by Kupffer cells greatly limits its efficacy. Herein, UA/Tween 80 nanovesicles (V-UA) were constructed and despite its simple composition, it fulfills multiple functions simultaneously: UA served as not only an active ingredient in the nanovesicle drug delivery system, but also acts as part of the carrier to stabilize UA/Tween 80 nanostructure; with a molar ratio of UA to Tween 80 up to 2:1, the formulation possesses a significant advantage of higher drug loading capacity; relative to liposomal UA (Lipo-UA), a conditional cellular uptake and higher accumulation of V-UA in hepatocytes provide insights into the hepatocytes targeting mechanisms of this nanovesicles. Favorable hepatocyte targeting ability also facilitates the treatment of liver diseases, which was well validated in three liver disease models.

Recent advances on transdermal delivery systems for the treatment of arthritic injuries: From classical treatment to nanomedicines

Arthritic injuries happen frequently during a lifetime due to accidents, sports, aging, diseases, etc. Such injuries can be cartilage/bone injuries, tendon injuries, ligament injuries, inflammation, pain, and/or synovitis. Oral and injective administration of therapeutics are typically used but cause many side effects. Transdermal administration is an alternative route for safe and efficient delivery. Transdermal formulations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been available on market for years and show promising efficacy in pain relieving, inflammation alleviation, infection control, and so on. Innovative transdermal patches, gels/films, and microneedles have also been widely explored as formulations to deliver therapeutics to combat arthritic injuries. However, transdermal formulations that halt disease progression and promote damage repair are translated slowly from lab bench to clinical applications. One major reason is that the skin barrier and synovial capsule barrier limit the efficacy of transdermal delivery. Recently, many nanocarriers, such as nanoparticles, nanolipids, nanoemulsions, nanocrystals, exosomes, etc., have been incorporated into transdermal formulations to advance drug delivery. The combined transdermal formulations show promising safety and efficacy. Therefore, this review will focus on stating the current development of nanomedicine-based transdermal formulations for the treatment of arthritic injuries. The advances, limitations, and future perspectives in this field will also be provided to inspire future studies and accelerate clinical translational studies. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures.

Transdermal Film Loaded with Avanafil Ultra-deformable Nanovesicles to Enhance its Percutaneous Absorption and Bioavailability

The in vitro dissolution of Avanafil (AVA) is the rate-limiting step for its bioavailability. Also, it undergoes the first-pass metabolism, and its absorption is altered significantly in the presence of food. So, our study aimed to overcome the previous hurdles and improve the AVA bioavailability by its incorporation in the ultra-deformable nanovesicles, transfersomes (TRF), then loading these nanovesicles in transdermal films. The AVA-loaded TRF formulation was optimized using Draper-Lin small composite design (D-LSCD). The optimized AVA-loaded TRF was evaluated for quality attributes and assessed for skin permeation using a fluorescence laser microscope and for pharmacokinetic parameters after topical application on the rats. The optimized AVA-loaded TRF showed a vesicle size of 97.75 nm, a zeta potential of -28.83 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 95.14% with good deformability and release profile. The intense discoloration in the deep skin layers of the rats indicated the permeation efficiency of AVA-loaded TRF films. The pharmacokinetic parameters specified the augmented absorption extent with C_max of 254.66 ± 8.02 ng/mlversus 70.33 ± 3.05 ng/ml which reflected on the AUC_0-inf that has a value of 2050.45 ± 159.14 ng/ml h versus 497.34 ± 102.61 ng/ml h for the optimized AVA-loaded TRF film and raw AVA-loaded film, respectively. These promising results wide open the field for broader clinical application of this alternative delivery pathway for superior bioavailability, efficacy, and patient compliance and satisfaction.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials for Dermal and Transdermal Applications

The stratum corneum, the most superficial layer of the skin, protects the body against environmental hazards and presents a highly selective barrier for the passage of drugs and cosmetic products deeper into the skin and across the skin. Nanomaterials can effectively increase the permeation of active molecules across the stratum corneum and enable their penetration into deeper skin layers, often by interacting with the skin and creating the distinct sites with elevated local concentration, acting as reservoirs. The flux of the molecules from these reservoirs can be either limited to the underlying skin layers (for topical drug and cosmeceutical delivery) or extended across all the sublayers of the epidermis to the blood vessels of the dermis (for transdermal delivery). The type of the nanocarrier and the physicochemical nature of the active substance are among the factors that determine the final skin permeation pattern and the stability of the penetrant in the cutaneous environment. The most widely employed types of nanomaterials for dermal and transdermal applications include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanovesicular carriers, microemulsions, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles. The recent advances in the area of nanomaterial-assisted dermal and transdermal delivery are highlighted in this review.

Triterpenoid-Mediated Inhibition of Virus-Host Interaction: Is Now the Time for Discovering Viral Entry/Release Inhibitors from Nature?

Fatal infectious diseases caused by HIV-1, influenza A virus, Ebola virus, and currently pandemic coronavirus highlight the great need for the discovery of antiviral agents in mechanisms different from current viral replication-targeted approaches. Given the critical role of virus-host interactions in the viral life cycle, the development of entry or shedding inhibitors may expand the current repertoire of antiviral agents; the combination of antireplication inhibitors and entry or shedding inhibitors would create a multifaceted drug cocktail with a tandem antiviral mechanism. Therefore, we provide critical information about triterpenoids as potential antiviral agents targeting entry and release, focusing specifically on the emerging aspect of triterpenoid-mediated inhibition of a variety of virus-host membrane fusion mechanisms via a trimer-of-hairpin motif. These properties of triterpenoids supply their host an evolutionary advantage for chemical defense and may protect against an increasingly diverse array of viruses infecting mammals, providing a direction for antiviral drug discovery.

Formulation and Characterization of a 3D-Printed Cryptotanshinone-Loaded Niosomal Hydrogel for Topical Therapy of Acne

Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is an efficacious acne treatment, while niosomal hydrogel is a known effective topical drug delivery system that produces a minimal amount of irritation. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies have the potential to improve the field of personalized acne treatment. Therefore, this study endeavored to develop a 3D-printed niosomal hydrogel (3DP-NH) containing CPT as a topical delivery system for acne therapy. Specifically, CPT-loaded niosomes were prepared using a reverse phase evaporation method, and the formulation was optimized using a response surface methodology. In vitro characterization showed that optimized CPT-loaded niosomes were below 150 nm in size with an entrapment efficiency of between 67 and 71%. The CPT-loaded niosomes were added in a dropwise manner into the hydrogel to formulate CPT-loaded niosomal hydrogel (CPT-NH), which was then printed as 3DP-CPT-NH with specific drug dose, shape, and size using an extrusion-based 3D printer. The in vitro release behavior of 3DP-CPT-NH was found to follow the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Permeation and deposition experiments showed significantly higher rates of transdermal flux, Q₂₄, and CPT deposition (p < 0.05) compared with 3D-printed CPT-loaded conventional hydrogel (3DP-CPT-CH), which did not contain niosomes. In vivo anti-acne activity evaluated through an acne rat model revealed that 3DP-CPT-NH exhibited a greater anti-acne effect with no skin irritation. Enhanced skin hydration, wide inter-corneocyte gaps in the stratum corneum and a disturbed lipid arrangement may contribute towards the enhanced penetration properties of CPT. Collectively, this study demonstrated that 3DP-CPT-NH is a promising topical drug delivery system for personalized acne treatments.

Novel Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy of Dapoxetine HCl by Nano-Vesicle Transdermal Gel for Treatment of Carrageenan-Induced Rat Paw Edema

The aim of this was to develop a well-balanced, replaceable, and patient non-infringing innovative transdermal drug delivery system "nano-vesicle transdermal gel" (NVTG) approaches for inhibiting inflammation. To consummate this objective, we developed a skin permeation nanogel system containing surface active agent along with ethanol. Carbopol 971p, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC K15M), and chitosan were used to fabricate the nanogels. The nanogel system was evaluated for pH, content uniformity, spreadability, rheological studies, in vitro skin permeation, and drug release. Carbapol 971p with the desired in vitro skin permeation was utilized to investigate skin irritation test and effects on inflammation using acute inflammatory paw edema models. Moreover, in vivo pharmacokinetic study was assessed. pH of this nanogels was found within the range of 6.1-7.2, whereas the viscosity was found 310.13 to 6361 cps. The ex vivo skin permeation gels showed permeation flux range, 5.9 ± 0.80 to 17.92 ± 1.13 μg/cm² h. The highest permeation flux (17.92 ± 1.13 μg/cm² h) was observed, which was 3.14-folds higher than that of the plain DH gel (10.72 ± 0.84 μg/cm² h. Additionally, from toxicological study, no obvious signs of toxicity such as skin irritation (of laboratory rats) were identified. The in vivo anti-inflammatory behavior in carrageenan-induced rats showed comparatively higher inhibition of rat paw edema swelling by the prepared nanogel compared to that of the plain DH gel and marketed ibuprofen over 6 h. The amount of drug accumulated in the skin after topical application was much higher than oral application. In conclusion, developed NVTG formulation loaded with dapoxetine HCl (DH) offers new opportunities for creating novel therapeutic modality for inflammation patients with fewer adverse effects.

Toxicological profile of lipid-based nanostructures: are they considered as completely safe nanocarriers?

Nanoparticles are ubiquitous in the environment and are widely used in medical science (e.g. bioimaging, diagnosis, and drug therapy delivery). Due to unique physicochemical properties, they are able to cross many barriers, which is not possible for traditional drugs. Nevertheless, exposure to NPs and their following interactions with organelles and macromolecules can result in negative effects on cells, especially, they can induce cytotoxicity, epigenicity, genotoxicity, and cell death. Lipid-based nanomaterials (LNPs) are one of the most important achievements in drug delivery mainly due to their superior physicochemical and biological characteristics, particularly its safety. Although they are considered as the completely safe nanocarriers in biomedicine, the lipid composition, the surfactant, emulsifier, and stabilizer used in the LNP preparation, and surface electrical charge are important factors that might influence the toxicity of LNPs. According to the author's opinion, their toxicity profile should be evaluated case-by-case regarding the intended applications. Since there is a lack of all-inclusive review on the various aspects of LNPs with an emphasis on toxicological profiles including cyto-genotoxiciy, this comprehensive and critical review is outlined.

Naturally occurring anti-cancer compounds: shining from Chinese herbal medicine

Numerous natural products originated from Chinese herbal medicine exhibit anti-cancer activities, including anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic, anti-angiogenic effects, as well as regulate autophagy, reverse multidrug resistance, balance immunity, and enhance chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. To provide new insights into the critical path ahead, we systemically reviewed the most recent advances (reported since 2011) on the key compounds with anti-cancer effects derived from Chinese herbal medicine (curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, berberine, artemisinin, ginsenoside Rg3, ursolic acid, silibinin, emodin, triptolide, cucurbitacin B, tanshinone I, oridonin, shikonin, gambogic acid, artesunate, wogonin, β-elemene, and cepharanthine) in scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, and Clinical Trials). With a broader perspective, we focused on their recently discovered and/or investigated pharmacological effects, novel mechanism of action, relevant clinical studies, and their innovative applications in combined therapy and immunomodulation. In addition, the present review has extended to describe other promising compounds including dihydroartemisinin, ginsenoside Rh2, compound K, cucurbitacins D, E, I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone in view of their potentials in cancer therapy. Up to now, the evidence about the immunomodulatory effects and clinical trials of natural anti-cancer compounds from Chinese herbal medicine is very limited, and further research is needed to monitor their immunoregulatory effects and explore their mechanisms of action as modulators of immune checkpoints.

Formulation and evaluation of thymoquinone niosomes: application of developed and validated RP-HPLC method in delivery system

A rapid, accurate, and sensitive reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the estimation of Thymoquinone (TMQ) in API as well as in noisome. The chromatograms were developed with the mobile phase - water: 2-propanol: methanol (50:45:5 v/v/v) as a solvent system at 254 nm. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for different parameters and the recovery of TMQ was calculated in developed niosomes. Further, TMQ loaded niosomes (TMQNIOS) were prepared and evaluated for different parameters. The optimized TMQNIOS (F3) was further evaluated for surface morphology, in vitro drug release, permeation study, and confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) study. The method showed linearity range between 6.25 and 100 µg/ml with low detection limit and quantitation limit with a value of 2.08 and 6.25 µg/ml. The developed formulations showed the vesicle size and encapsulation efficiency in the range of 157.32 ± 3.15 to 211.44 ± 5.23 nm and 59.32 ± 4.87 to 83.21 ± 3.55%, respectively. The drug release result showed the significant higher release from TMQNIOS in compared to TMQDIS, and the release kinetics data showed Higuchi's equation with highest regression coefficient values. The permeation study and the confocal laser microscopy study further confirmed the enhancement in permeation of TMQ in the intestinal mucosa.

Recent advances in non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes): Fabrication, characterization, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications

Development of nanocarriers for drug delivery has received considerable attention due to their potential in achieving targeted delivery to the diseased site while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. Safe and efficient drug delivery has always been a challenge in medicine. During the last decade, a large amount of interest has been drawn on the fabrication of surfactant-based vesicles to improve drug delivery. Niosomes are self-assembled vesicular nano-carriers formed by hydration of non-ionic surfactant, cholesterol or other amphiphilic molecules that serve as a versatile drug delivery system with a variety of applications ranging from dermal delivery to brain-targeted delivery. A large number of research articles have been published reporting their fabrication methods and applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. Niosomes have the same advantages as liposomes, such as the ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. Besides, niosomes can be fabricated with simple methods, require less production cost and are stable over an extended period, thus overcoming the major drawbacks of liposomes. This review provides a comprehensive summary of niosomal research to date, it provides a detailed overview of the formulation components, types of niosomes, effects of components on the formation of niosomes, fabrication and purification methods, physical characterization techniques of niosomes, recent applications in pharmaceutical field such as in oral, ocular, topical, pulmonary, parental and transmucosal drug delivery, and cosmetic applications. Finally, limitations and the future outlook for this delivery system have also been discussed.

Enhanced bioavailability and hepatoprotectivity of optimized ursolic acid-phospholipid complex

OBJECTIVE

To prepare and characterize an optimized phospholipid complex of Ursolic acid (UA) to overcome the poor pharmacokinetic properties and to investigate the impact of the complex on hepatoprotective activity and bioavailability in animal model.

SIGNIFICANCE

UA is a potential phytoconstituent obtained from several plant sources, which has been explored for its diverse pharmacological activities including hepatoprotection. Its major limitation is poor absorption, rapid elimination, and hence low bioavailability after administration.

METHODS

Response surface methodology was adopted to formulate an optimized (UA) complex. The complex was characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), Fourier transform-Infrared Spectroscopy, Powder X ray Diffraction, molecular docking, etc. The physico-chemical profile (solubility, oil/water partition coefficient) and in vitro dissolution profile was estimated. The formulation was then used to study hepatoprotective activity and bioavailability in animal models.

RESULTS

Results showed that the phospholipid complex of UA has enhanced the hepatoprotective potential as compared to pure UA at the same dose level. The complex restored the levels of serum hepatic marker enzymes with respect to untreated group and increased the relative bioavailability of UA in rat plasma by 8.49-fold in comparison with pure compound at the same dose level. It enhanced the elimination half-life (t1/2 el) from 0.69 ± 1.76 to 8.28 ± 1.98 h.

CONCLUSION

Complexation of UA with phospholipid markedly enhanced the hepatoprotective potential of UA by improving its bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters. Novelty statement The present article deals with rational optimization of the formulation parameters for phospholipid complex of ursolic acid by Response Surface Methodology analysis, characterizing the formulation by in silico approach apart from conventional instrumental techniques, and evaluating the in vitro dissolution, pharmacokinetics, and hepatoprotective activity of the complex in animals. Novelty statement The present article deals with rational optimization of the formulation parameters for phospholipid complex of ursolic acid by Response Surface Methodology analysis, characterizing the formulation by in silico approach apart from conventional instrumental techniques, and evaluating the in vitro dissolution, pharmacokinetics, and hepatoprotective activity of the complex in animals.

Poloxamer-407 thickened lipid colloidal system of agomelatine for brain targeting: Characterization, brain pharmacokinetic study and behavioral study on Wistar rats

The current study was designed to enhance the brain bioavailability and to extract maximum therapeutic benefit from a novel antidepressant drug, agomelatine. For this purpose, a thermoresponsive in situ gel was prepared by dissolving 20% w/v of Poloxamer-407 in agomelatine containing nanoemulsion. To impart mucoadhesive property, 0.5% w/v concentration of chitosan was ensured in the final formulation, named as Ago-NE-gel+0.5%chitosan. The gelling point and mucoadhesive strength of Ago-NE-gel+0.5%chitosan were found to be 28 ± 1 °C, and 6246.27 dynes/cm² respectively. The size of free micelles of Poloxamer-407 was recorded graphically at 18.43 ± 0.95 nm whereas the size of sterically stabilized Ago-NE was observed at 142.58 ± 4.21 nm. The viscosity and pH of Ago-NE-gel+0.5%chitosan were found to be 2439 ± 23 cP (at 35 ± 1 °C temperature) and 5.8 ± 0.2 respectively. The developed formulation was found safe on nasal mucosa during the toxicity study. CLSM based brain distribution study suggested that Ago-NE-gel+0.5%chitosan is more competent to deliver the drug into the brain as compared to agomelatine-suspension. After intranasal administration of Ago-NE-gel+0.5%chitosan in Wistar rats, the AUC_0-8h in brain and plasma were found to be 1418.591 ± 71.87 and 473.901 ± 32.42 ng.h/ml respectively. The hypothesis conceived at the beginning of this research work was delivered as 2.82 folds enhanced bioavailability of agomelatine in the brain. The behavioral studies confirmed that the antidepressant activity of agomelatine can be improved by loading the drug into a mucoadhesive-nanoemulsion-gel system followed by its intranasal administration.

Essential Oils and Isolated Terpenes in Nanosystems Designed for Topical Administration: A Review

Essential oils are natural products with a complex composition. Terpenes are the most common class of chemical compounds present in essential oils. Terpenes and the essential oils containing them are widely used and investigated by their pharmacological properties and permeation-enhancing ability. However, many terpenes and essential oils are sensitive to environmental conditions, undergoing volatilization and chemical degradation. In order to overcome the chemical instability of some isolated terpenes and essential oils, the encapsulation of these compounds in nanostructured systems (polymeric, lipidic, or molecular complexes) has been employed. In addition, nanoencapsulation can be of interest for pharmaceutical applications due to its capacity to improve the bioavailability and allow the controlled release of drugs. Topical drug administration is a convenient and non-invasive administration route for both local and systemic drug delivery. The present review focuses on describing the current status of research concerning nanostructured delivery systems containing isolated terpenes and/or essential oils designed for topical administration and on discussing the use of terpenes and essential oils either for their biological activities or as permeation enhancers in pharmaceutic formulations.

Ursolic acid: Pharmacokinetics process in vitro and in vivo, a mini review

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural triterpene compound found in various fruits and vegetables. UA has a widespread pharmacologic effect, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-allergy, and anti-carcinogenic effects. UA can be used as an alternative medicine for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. However, the bioavailability of UA by oral administration is low since it is absorbed by the intestine through passive diffusion. Therefore, some novel technologies are used to produce UA preparations that can change the pharmacokinetics process and increase its solubility and bioavailability. At present, pharmacokinetic studies on UA are few. In this paper, we will review the pharmacokinetics features of free UA and some novel UA preparations in vitro and in vivo, in order to provide a reference for rational utilization and drug design of UA.

Ursolic acid loaded intra nasal nano lipid vesicles for brain tumour: Formulation, optimization, in-vivo brain/plasma distribution study and histopathological assessment

The aim was to formulate an optimized ursolic acid (UA) loaded lipid vesicle using formulation by design approach (FbD) for improving the drug targeting by nasal route for brain tumor. Three factors were evaluated at three different levels using anethole (terpene) (A), ethanol (B) and phospholipid90 G (C) as independent variables and their individual and combined effects were observed for PDI (Y1), vesicle size (Y2) and encapsulation efficiency (Y3) to select an optimal system (UALVopt). The optimized formulation was further converted into gel and evaluated for drug release, nasal permeation study, brain/plasma uptake and histopathology study. The UALVopt formulation containing anethole as terpene (1% as A), ethanol (2.6% as B) and phospholipid90 G (8.8 mg as C) showed low PDI (0.212), vesicle size (115.56 nm) and high entrapment efficiency (76.42%). The in-vitro drug release and ex-vivo permeation study results revealed prolonged drug release and permeation. The brain/blood ratio for UALVGopt remained significantly higher at all the time points with respect to UALVopt indicating higher and prolonged retention of drug at site of action. The histopathological study of the nasal mucosa and brain confirmed non-toxic nature of developed formulation. The formulation UALVGopt could serve as a better alternative for the brain targeting via the intranasal route which in turn could subsequently improve its efficacy.

Ursolic Acid Attenuates High Glucose-Mediated Mesangial Cell Injury by Inhibiting the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND To investigate the protective effect of ursolic acid (UA) on high glucose (HG)-induced human glomerular mesangial cell injury and to determine whether UA inhibits cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by suppressing PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human mesangial cells were cultured with normal glucose (NG group), high glucose (HG group), mannitol (mannitol hypertonic control group), or high glucose with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L) of UA (HG+UA groups). Cell proliferation and intracellular ROS levels were assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) flow cytometry assays, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect mesangial cell expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway components, including Akt, p-Akt, mTOR, and p-mTOR, and proteins related to cell injury, including TGF-β1 and fibronectin (FN). mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and FN were evaluated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS Abnormal proliferation was observed in human glomerular mesangial cells at 48 h after treatment with HG, and UA suppressed the HG-induced proliferation of mesangial cells in a dose-dependent manner. UA inhibited ROS generation and oxidative stress in mesangial cells and mitigated mesangial cell injury. Treatment with UA reduced Akt and mTOR phosphorylation levels in mesangial cells exposed to HG (p<0.05 vs. HG) and downregulated protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and FN in these cells (p<0.05 vs. HG). CONCLUSIONS UA attenuated mesangial cell proliferation and ROS generation by inhibiting HG-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation, thereby ameliorating mesangial cell damage.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles as a Potential Delivery Approach in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic and joint-related autoimmune disease, results in immune dysfunction and destruction of joints and cartilages. Small molecules and biological therapies have been applied in a wide variety of inflammatory disorders, but their utility as a therapeutic agent is limited by poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and serious side effects. To improve these limitations, nanoparticles, which are capable of encapsulating and protecting drugs from degradation before they reach the target site in vivo, may serve as drug delivery systems. The present research proposes a platform for different lipid nanoparticle approaches for RA therapy, taking advantage of the newly emerging field of lipid nanoparticles to develop a targeted theranostic system for application in the treatment of RA. This review aims to present the recent major application of lipid nanoparticles that provide a biocompatible and biodegradable delivery system to effectively improve RA targeting over free drugs via the presentation of tissue-specific targeting of ligand-controlled drug release by modulating nanoparticle composition.

Characteristics, Biological Properties and Analytical Methods of Ursolic Acid: A Review

Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid which is a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic approaches and for the prevention and treatment of several diseases owing to its pharmacological importance. However, its low solubility in aqueous medium affects its therapeutic application. Several strategies have been used to overcome this obstacle. In this study, the incorporation of UA in to different drug delivery systems was found to be highly efficient. In addition, important investigations were performed about methods for qualitative and quantitative analyses of UA in various raw materials, including plants, biological fluids, and drug delivery systems, were investigated. Most recently high performance liquid chromatography coupled with various detectors, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis were used for this purpose. Thus, this review was performed to evaluate the biological effects of UA demonstrated thus far as well as the currently used, delivery systems and analytical methods.

Biocatalysis of ursolic acid by the fungus Gliocladium roseum CGMCC 3.3657 and resulting anti-HCV activity

Biocatalysis of ursolic acid (UA 1) by Gliocladium roseum CGMCC 3.3657 was investigated.

Formulation of sitagliptin-loaded oral polymeric nano scaffold: process parameters evaluation and enhanced anti-diabetic performance

PURPOSE

The aim of the study to formulate and statistically optimize sitagliptin-loaded eudragit nanoparticles (SIT-NPs) and evaluate the in-vitro pharmaceutical quality and in-vivo anti-diabetic assessment.

METHOD

SIT-NPs were prepared by using combination method of solvent evaporation and nano-precipitation techniques. The influence of different independent variables as eudragit RL100 concentration (%), tween 80 concentration (%) and sonication time (min) were evaluated on dependent variables like particle size (nm), drug loading (%) and in-vitro drug release (%). Further, the optimized formulation was evaluated for surface morphology, CLSM, ex-vivo permeation study and in-vivo anti-diabetic activity and stability study.

RESULTS

The developed SIT-NPs formulations showed particle size range (135.86-193.45 nm), drug loading (6.36-8.76%) and prolonged drug release over 24 h. The prepared SIT-NPs were found to be nearly spherical with smooth surface. The comparative in-vitro release study and CLSM study results revealed that SIT-NPopt showed significantly (p < .05) enhanced release and permeation as compared to SIT free solution (SIT-Fs). The in-vivo anti-diabetic assessment revealed that SIT-NPopt able to reduce the blood sugar level (BSL) for a prolonged period of time. Further, the stability study data showed the formulations were found stable at both temperature and having the shelf life of 488 d.

CONCLUSIONS

This research has shown that SIT-NPs based on experimental design offers a new and better approach to delivering SIT, thus encouraging further development of this formulation.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ursolic acid-3-acetate on human synovial fibroblasts and a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis

Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, is a common natural substance known to be effective in the treatment of inflammation, oxidative stress, and ulcers in arthritis. This study examined the effects of ursolic acid-3-acetate (UAA), a derivative of UA, on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and verified the underlying mechanism of action by using a type-II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated RA synovial fibroblasts. The oral administration of UAA showed a decrease in clinical arthritis symptoms, paw thickness, histologic and radiologic changes, and serum IgG1 and IgG2a levels. UAA administration reduced Th1/Th17 phenotype CD4+ T lymphocyte expansion and inflammatory cytokine production in draining lymph nodes. In addition, UAA effectively reduced the expression and production of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase-1/3 in the knee joint tissue and RA synovial fibroblasts, through the downregulation of IKKα/β, ΙκBα, and nuclear factor-κB. Our findings showed that UAA modulated helper T cell immune responses and matrix-degrading enzymes. The effects of UAA were comparable with those of the positive control drug, dexamethasone. In summary, all the evidence presented in this paper suggest that UAA could be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of RA.

Nonionic surfactant based thymoquinone loaded nanoproniosomal formulation: in vitro physicochemical evaluation and in vivo hepatoprotective efficacy

CONTEXT

The present study was carried out to formulate thymoquinone proniosomal formulation (TQP) and evaluate their efficacy in methotrexate (Mtx) induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to explore a new therapeutic approach focusing on hepatoprotective activity using thymoquinone proniosomal formulation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

TQP was formulated using span60, cholesterol and phospholipid by film hydration technique. The animals were divided into six groups with five animals each receiving different treatments for 7 days. On the 8th day, rats were anesthetized with ether, blood samples were withdrawn, livers were dissected out for biochemical tests and histopathological examinations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The size of vesicle was found to be in the nanometric range with higher entrapment efficiency. The high entrapment efficiency is probably due to the lipophilic character of TQ. The morphological structure showed the outline and core of the well-identified spherical vesicle, and also displaying the retention of sealed vesicular structure. The release of TQ from developed formulation was found to be significantly higher compared to control. Mtx treated rats showed significant elevation in ALT, AST, ALP and TBARs, whereas, TQP treated group showed significant reduction.

CONCLUSION

The developed formulation (TQP) significantly inhibited the elevated levels of serum marker enzymes and showed improved histopathological deformities.

Biomimetic Lipid-Based Nanosystems for Enhanced Dermal Delivery of Drugs and Bioactive Agents

Clinical utility of conventional oral therapies is limited by their inability to deliver therapeutic molecules at the local or targeted site, causing a variety of side effects. Transdermal delivery has made a significant contribution in the management of skin diseases with enhanced therapeutic activities over the past two decades. In the modern era, various biomimetic and biocompatible polymer-lipid hybrid systems have been used to augment the transdermal delivery of therapeutics such as dermal patches, topical gels, iontophoresis, electroporation, sonophoresis, thermal ablation, microneedles, cavitational ultrasound, and nano or microlipid vesicular systems. Nevertheless, the stratum corneum still represents the main barrier to the delivery of vesicles into the skin. Lipid based formulations applied to the skin are at the center of attention and are anticipated to be increasingly functional as the skin offers many advantages for the direction of such systems. Accordingly, this review provides an overview of the development of conventional to advanced biomimetic lipid vesicles for skin delivery of a variety of therapeutics, with special emphasis on recent developments in this field including the development of transferosomes, niosomes, aquasomes, cubosomes, and other new generation lipoidal carriers.

Potential use of nanocarriers with pentacyclic triterpenes in cancer treatments

Ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids are representative pentacyclic triterpenoids found in various plants and fruits. Despite having marked antitumor potentials, the very poor water solubility of these triterpenes hinders treatment development. Nanotechnology can enhance solubility, stability, bioavailability and phytochemical delivery, improving the therapeutic efficiency of triterpenes. This review focuses on the formulation, characterization and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of several delivery nanosystems used to enhance the physicochemical properties of ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids.