Ultrasonication induced synthesis of TPGS stabilized clove oil nanoemulsions and their synergistic effect against breast cancer cells and harmful bacteria

Olive oil nanoemulsion containing curcumin: antimicrobial agent against multidrug-resistant bacteria

The present work aimed to develop, characterize, and evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of two nanoemulsions (NEs) containing 500 µg/mL of curcumin from Curcuma longa (CUR). These NEs, produced with heating, contain olive oil (5%) and the surfactants tween 80 (5%) and span 80 (2.5%), water q.s. 100 mL, and were stable for 120 days. NE-2-CUR presented Ø of 165.40 ± 2.56 nm, PDI of 0.254, ζ of - 33.20 ± 1.35 mV, pH of 6.49, and Entrapment Drug Efficiency (EE) of 99%. The NE-4-CUR showed a Ø of 105.70 ± 4.13 nm, PDI of 0.459, ζ of - 32.10 ± 1.45 mV, pH of 6.40 and EE of 99.29%. Structural characterization was performed using DRX and FTIR, thermal characterization using DSC and TG, and morphological characterization using SEM, suggesting that there is no significant change in the CUR present in the NEs and that they remain stable. The MIC was performed by the broth microdilution method for nine gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates resistant to antibiotics and biofilm and efflux pump producers. The NEs mostly showed a bacteriostatic profile. The MIC varied between 125 and 250 µg/mL. The most sensitive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, for which NE-2-CUR showed a MIC of 125 µg/mL. The NEs and ceftazidime (CAZ) interaction was also evaluated against the K. pneumoniae resistant clinical isolates using the Checkerboard method. NE-2-CUR and NE-4-CUR showed a synergistic or additive profile; there was a reduction in CAZ MICs between 256 times (K26-A2) and 2 times (K29-A2). Furthermore, the NEs inhibited these isolates biofilms formation. The NEs showed a MBIC ranging from 15.625 to 250 µg/mL. Thus, the NEs showed physicochemical characteristics suitable for future clinical trials, enhancing the CAZ antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, thus becoming a promising strategy for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. KEY POINTS: • The NEs showed physicochemical characteristics suitable for future clinical trials. • The NEs showed a synergistic/additive profile, when associated with ceftazidime. • The NEs inhibited biofilm formation of clinical isolates.

Application of Electrospun Drug-Loaded Nanofibers in Cancer Therapy

In the 21st century, chemotherapy stands as a primary treatment method for prevalent diseases, yet drug resistance remains a pressing challenge. Utilizing electrospinning to support chemotherapy drugs offers sustained and controlled release methods in contrast to oral and implantable drug delivery modes, which enable localized treatment of distinct tumor types. Moreover, the core-sheath structure in electrospinning bears advantages in dual-drug loading: the core and sheath layers can carry different drugs, facilitating collaborative treatment to counter chemotherapy drug resistance. This approach minimizes patient discomfort associated with multiple-drug administration. Electrospun fibers not only transport drugs but can also integrate metal particles and targeted compounds, enabling combinations of chemotherapy with magnetic and heat therapies for comprehensive cancer treatment. This review delves into electrospinning preparation techniques and drug delivery methods tailored to various cancers, foreseeing their promising roles in cancer treatment.

Strategies to Enhance the Solubility and Bioavailability of Tocotrienols Using Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System

Tocotrienols have higher medicinal value, with multiple sources of evidence showing their biological properties as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and osteoprotective compounds. However, tocotrienol bioavailability presents an ongoing challenge in its translation into viable products. This is because tocotrienol oil is known to be a poorly water-soluble compound, making it difficult to be absorbed into the body and resulting in less effectiveness. With the potential and benefits of tocotrienol, new strategies to increase the bioavailability and efficacy of poorly absorbed tocotrienol are required when administered orally. One of the proposed formulation techniques was self-emulsification, which has proven its capacity to improve oral drug delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs by advancing the solubility and bioavailability of these active compounds. This review discusses the updated evidence on the bioavailability of tocotrienols formulated with self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) from in vivo and human studies. In short, SEDDSs formulation enhances the solubility and passive permeability of tocotrienol, thus improving its oral bioavailability and biological actions. This increases its medicinal and commercial value. Furthermore, the self-emulsifying formulation presents a useful dosage form that is absorbed in vivo independent of dietary fats with consistent and enhanced levels of tocotrienol isomers. Therefore, a lipid-based formulation technique can provide an additional detailed understanding of the oral bioavailability of tocotrienols.

Meloxicam emulgel potently suppressed cartilage degradation in knee osteoarthritis: Optimization, formulation, industrial scalability and pharmacodynamic analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Meloxicam (MLX) is prescribed for the management of pain and inflammation allied with osteoarthritis (OA). However, MLX causes intestinal damage in long term administration. Hence, meloxicam loaded emulgel (MLX-emulgel) was optimized, formulated and examined under stringent parameters in monosodium-iodoacetate (MIA) induced knee OA in Wistar rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Nanoemulsion of MLX was fabricated by ultrasonication and microfluidization method with a droplet size of 66.81 ± 5.31-nm and zeta potential of -24.6 ± 0.72-mV. Further, MLX nanoemulsion was optimized with centrifugation, heating-cooling cycles and transmittance parameters in addition to scale-up feasibility with microfluidizer. Post optimization, MLX-nanoemulsion was tailored as emulgel with Carbopol Ultrez 10 NF and assessed for pH, rheology, textural properties, assay and stability features. The in-vitro release study revealed the Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics and ex-vivo skin permeation was improved by 6.71-folds. The skin distribution of MLX-emulgel evinced the transfollicular mode of permeation. In-vivo study indicated the protective action of MLX-emulegl expressed in terms of inflammatory cyctokines level, X-ray analysis of knee joints of rats, histopathology and OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) scoring. MLX-emulgel treated group displayed lower (P < 0.001) level of COX-2 intensity as compared to positive control group. However, it was comparable (P > 0.05) to the normal control group, MLX oral dispersion, i.v. solution and etoricoxib gel groups. MLX-emulgel showcased an alternative to the long term usage of analgesics for relieving the symptoms of knee OA.

CONCLUSION

MLX-emulgel may be a potential candidate for translating in to a clinically viable dosage form in the management of knee OA.

Development of Alectinib-Suspended SNEDDS for Enhanced Solubility and Dissolution

Alectinib hydrochloride (ALH), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a practically water-insoluble drug classified as BCS class IV. The present study aimed to develop novel suspended self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (Su-SNEDDS) to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate. The Su-SNEDDS was prepared by saturation and suspension of ALH in SNEDDS with ultrasonication energy. According to evaluation by the dispersion test and the results of particle size analysis, the selected SNEDDS composed of Kolliphor HS 15 and Capmul MCM C8 as surfactant and oil, respectively, showed a complete dissolution within 30 min. However, the SNEDDS loaded and solubilized only small amount of ALH (<0.6%, w/w). On the other hand, 10% ALH-loaded Su-SNEDDS containing small and micronized ALH particles of <5 μm had about 20-fold higher ALH-loading% than the SNEDDS and reached a 100% dissolution rate within 30 min in 1% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) pH 1.2 buffer. In the dispersion test and microscopic observation, micronized ALH particles in the Su-SNEDDS were readily dispersed in the dissolution medium with spontaneous nanoemulsion formation and instantly solubilized with the aid of SLS. Taken together, our results suggest that the Su-SNEDDS would be a potent oral dosage form to enhance the solubilization and dissolution rate of ALH in a new technological way.