Incorporation of lysozyme into a mucoadhesive electrospun patch for rapid protein delivery to the oral mucosa

Transmucosal Delivery of Peptides and Proteins Through Nanofibers: Current Status and Emerging Developments

Advancements in recombinant DNA technology have made proteins and peptides available for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, but their effectiveness when taken orally leads to poor patient compliance, requiring clinical administration. Among the alternative routes, transmucosal delivery has the advantage of being noninvasive and bypassing hepato-gastrointestinal clearance. Various mucosal routes-buccal, nasal, pulmonary, rectal, and vaginal-have been explored for delivering these macromolecules. Nanofibers, due to their unique properties like high surface-area-to-volume ratio, mechanical strength, and improved encapsulation efficiency, serve as promising carriers for proteins and peptides. These nanofibers can be tailored for quick dissolution, controlled release, enhanced encapsulation, targeted delivery, and improved bioavailability, offering superior pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic performance compared to conventional methods. This leads to reduced dosages, fewer side effects, and enhanced patient compliance. Hence, nanofibers hold tremendous potential for protein/peptide delivery, especially through mucosal routes. This review focuses on the therapeutic application of proteins and peptides, challenges faced in their conventional delivery, techniques for fabricating different types of nanofibers and, various nanofiber-based dosage forms, and factors influencing nanofiber generation. Insights pertaining to the precise selection of materials used for fabricating nanofibers and regulatory aspects have been covered. Case studies wherein the use of specific protein/peptide-loaded nanofibers and delivered via oral/vaginal/nasal mucosa for diagnostic/therapeutic use and related preclinical and clinical studies conducted have been included in this review.

Electrospinning polymersomes into bead-on-string polyethylene oxide fibres for the delivery of biopharmaceuticals to mucosal epithelia

Fibrous mucoadhesive polymer membranes prepared using electrospinning demonstrate many advantages for mucosal drug delivery compared to other formulations. Previous electrospun membrane formulations have been developed mainly for the delivery of small molecule drugs. There remains great potential to further develop the technology for the delivery of vesicular vectors that allow administration of advanced therapeutic agents. However, there are no previous reports demonstrating the release of intact drug delivery vesicles from electrospun materials. Here, we describe incorporation and release of protein-loaded polymersomes from polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based electrospun membranes. Polymersomes comprising a copolymer of glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA) and hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) were prepared using polymerization-induced self-assembly and incorporated within PEO membranes using bead-on-string electrospinning at approximately 40 % w/w by polymer mass. Super-resolution fluorescence imaging showed that the vesicles remained intact and retained their encapsulated protein load within the fibre beads. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering demonstrated that polymersomes retained their morphology following release from the polymer fibres. F(ab) antibody fragments were encapsulated within polymersomes and then electrospun into membranes. 78 ± 13 % of the F(ab) remained encapsulated within polymersomes during electrospinning and retained functionality when released from electrospun membranes, demonstrating that the formulation is suitable for the delivery of biologics. Membranes were non-irritant to the oral epithelium and fluorescence microscopy detected accumulation of polymersomes within the epithelia following application. This innovative drug delivery approach represents a novel and potentially highly useful method for the administration of large molecular mass therapeutic molecules to diseased mucosal sites.

Orodispersible Films: Current Innovations and Emerging Trends

Orodispersible films (ODFs) are thin, mechanically strong, and flexible polymeric films that are designed to dissolve or disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity for local and/or systemic drug delivery. This review examines various aspects of ODFs and their potential as a drug delivery system. Recent advancements, including the detailed exploration of formulation components, such as polymers and plasticizers, are briefed. The review highlights the versatility of preparation methods, particularly the solvent-casting production process, and novel 3D printing techniques that bring inherent flexibility. Three-dimensional printing technology not only diversifies active compounds but also enables a multilayer approach, effectively segregating incompatible drugs. The integration of nanoparticles into ODF formulations marks a significant breakthrough, thus enhancing the efficiency of oral drug delivery and broadening the scope of the drugs amenable to this route. This review also sheds light on the diverse in vitro evaluation methods utilized to characterize ODFs, ongoing clinical trials, approved marketed products, and recent patents, providing a comprehensive outlook of the evolving landscape of orodispersible drug delivery. Current patient-centric approaches involve developing ODFs with patient-friendly attributes, such as improved taste masking, ease of administration, and enhanced patient compliance, along with the personalization of ODF formulations to meet individual patient needs. Investigating novel functional excipients with the potential to enhance the permeation of high-molecular-weight polar drugs, fragile proteins, and oligonucleotides is crucial for rapid progress in the advancing domain of orodispersible drug delivery.

A sustained-release microcarrier effectively prolongs and enhances the antibacterial activity of lysozyme

Bacterial infections have become a great threat to public health in recent years. A primary lysozyme is a natural antimicrobial protein; however, its widespread application is limited by its instability. Here, we present a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel inverse opal particle (PHIOP) as a microcarrier of lysozyme to prolong and enhance the efficiency against bacteria. This PHIOP-based lysozyme (PHIOP-Lys) formulation is temperature-responsive and exhibits long-term sustained release of lysozyme for up to 16 days. It shows a potent antibacterial effect toward both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which is even higher than that of free lysozyme in solution at the same concentration. PHIOPs-Lys were demonstrated to effectively inhibit bacterial infections and enhance wound healing in a full-thickness skin wound rat model. This study provides a novel pathway for prolonging the enzymatic activity and antibacterial effects of lysozyme.

Bioactive Protein and Peptide Release from a Mucoadhesive Electrospun Membrane

Protein-based biologics constitute a rapidly expanding category of therapeutic agents with high target specificity. Their clinical use has dramatically increased in recent years, but administration is largely via injection. Drug delivery across the oral mucosa is a promising alternative to injections, in order to avoid the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism. Current drug delivery formulations include liquid sprays, mucoadhesive tablets and films, which lack dose control in the presence of salivary flow. To address this, electrospun membranes that adhere tightly to the oral mucosa and release drugs locally have been developed. Here, we investigated the suitability of these mucoadhesive membranes for peptide or protein release. Bradykinin (0.1%) or insulin (1, 3, and 5%) were incorporated by electrospinning from ethanol/water mixtures. Immersion of membranes in buffer resulted in the rapid release of bradykinin, with a maximal release of 70 ± 12% reached after 1 h. In contrast, insulin was liberated more slowly, with 88 ± 11, 69.0 ± 5.4, and 63.9 ± 9.0% cumulative release of the total encapsulated dose after 8 h for membranes containing 1, 3, and 5% w/w insulin, respectively. Membrane-eluted bradykinin retained pharmacological activity by inducing rapid intracellular calcium release upon binding to its cell surface receptor on oral fibroblasts, when examined by flow cytometry. To quantify further, time-lapse confocal microscopy revealed that membrane-eluted bradykinin caused a 1.58 ± 0.16 fold-change in intracellular calcium fluorescence after 10 s compared to bradykinin solution (2.13 ± 0.21), relative to placebo. In conclusion, these data show that electrospun membranes may be highly effective vehicles for site-specific administration of biotherapeutic proteins or peptides directly to the oral mucosa for either local or systemic drug delivery applications.

Advances in formulation and manufacturing strategies for the delivery of therapeutic proteins and peptides in orally disintegrating dosage forms

Therapeutic proteins and peptides (TPPs) are increasingly favoured above small drug molecules due to their high specificity to the site of action and reduced adverse effects resulting in increased use of these agents for medical treatments and therapies. Consequently, there is a need to formulate TPPs in dosage forms that are accessible and suitable for a wide range of patient groups as the use of TPPs becomes increasingly prevalent in healthcare settings worldwide. Orally disintegrating dosage forms (ODDF) are formulations that can ensure easy-to-administer medication to a wider patient population including paediatrics, geriatrics and people in low-resource countries. There are many challenges involved in developing suitable pharmaceutical strategies to protect TPPs during formulation and manufacturing, as well as storage, and maintenance of a cold-chain during transportation. This review will discuss advances being made in the research and development of pharmaceutical and manufacturing strategies used to incorporate various TPPs into ODDF systems.

Three-dimensional bioprinting of mucoadhesive scaffolds for the treatment of oral mucosal lesions; an in vitro study

Background

Chronic oral lesions could be a part of some diseases, including mucocutaneous diseases, immunobullous diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and graft versus host diseases. Systemic steroids are an effective treatment, but they cause unfavorable and even severe systemic side effects. Discontinuation of systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs leads to relapse, confirming the importance of long-term corticosteroid use. The present study aims to fabricate a mucoadhesive scaffold using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting for sustained drug delivery in oral mucosal lesions to address the clinical need for alternative treatment, especially for those who do not respond to routine therapy.

Methods

3D bioprinting method was used for the fabrication of the scaffolds. Scaffolds were fabricated in three layers; adhesive/drug-containing, backing, and middle layers. For evaluation of the release profile of the drug, artificial saliva was used as the release medium. Mucoadhesive scaffolds were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and SEM surface reconstruction. The pH of mucoadhesive scaffolds and swelling efficacy were measured using a pH meter and Enslin dipositive, respectively. A microprocessor force gauge was used for the measurement of tensile strength. For the evaluation of the cytotoxicity, oral keratinocyte cells' survival rate was evaluated by the MTT method. Folding endurance tests were performed using a stable microsystem texture analyzer and analytic probe mini tensile grips.

Results

All scaffolds had the same drug release trend; An initial rapid explosive release during the first 12 h, followed by a gradual release. The scaffolds showed sustained drug release and continued until the fourth day. The pH of the surface of the scaffolds was 5.3–6.3, and the rate of swelling after 5 h was 28 ± 3.2%. The tensile strength of the scaffolds containing the drug was 7.8 ± 0.12 MPa. The scaffolds were non-irritant to the mucosa, and the folding endurance of the scaffolds was over three hundred times.

Conclusion

The scaffold fabricated using the 3D bioprinting method could be suitable for treating oral mucosal lesions.

Antibacterial activity of lysozyme-loaded cream against MRSA and promotion of scalded wound healing

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection, especially its drug-resistant bacterial infection, is a great challenge often faced by clinicians and patients, and it is also one of the most important threats to public health. Finding a safe and effective antibacterial agent is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infection. Lysozyme is known to have antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria including S. aureus. Here, high-quality lysozyme with a purity of more than 99% and an activity of more than 60, 000 U/mg was prepared from egg white, which showed excellent antibacterial activity against three strains of S. aureus, especially against MRSA. Furthermore, an antibacterial cream loaded with lysozyme was prepared and tested in scald wound healing. The lysozyme-loaded cream exhibited the effect of preventing wound infection and promoting wound healing on scalds, and no toxicity was found in animal organs. Overall, lysozyme showed great application potential in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by S. aureus and scalded wound healing. The most remarkable discovery in this work is the unexpectedly powerful inhibitory effect of lysozyme on the drug-resistant bacterial, especially MRSA, which is usually very difficult to deal with using normal antibacterial drugs.

Electrospun Nanofiber Composites for Drug Delivery: A Review on Current Progresses

A medication’s approximate release profile should be sustained in order to generate the desired therapeutic effect. The drug’s release site, duration, and rate must all be adjusted to the drug’s therapeutic aim. However, when designing drug delivery systems, this may be a considerable hurdle. Electrospinning is a promising method of creating a nanofibrous membrane since it enables drugs to be placed in the nanofiber composite and released over time. Nanofiber composites designed through electrospinning for drug release purposes are commonly constructed of simple structures. This nanofiber composite produces matrices with nanoscale fiber structure, large surface area to volume ratio, and a high porosity with small pore size. The nanofiber composite’s large surface area to volume ratio can aid with cell binding and multiplication, drug loading, and mass transfer processes. The nanofiber composite acts as a container for drugs that can be customized to a wide range of drug release kinetics. Drugs may be electrospun after being dissolved or dispersed in the polymer solution, or they can be physically or chemically bound to the nanofiber surface. The composition and internal structure of the nanofibers are crucial for medicine release patterns.

Electrospun patch delivery of anti-TNFα F(ab) for the treatment of inflammatory oral mucosal disease

Chronic ulcerative oral mucosal inflammatory diseases, including oral lichen planus and recurrent aphthous stomatitis, are painful and highly prevalent, yet lack effective clinical management. In recent years, systemic biologic therapies, including monoclonal antibodies that block the activity of cytokines, have been increasingly used to treat a range of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The ability to deliver similar therapeutic agents locally to the oral epithelium could radically alter treatment options for oral mucosal inflammatory diseases, where pro-inflammatory cytokines, in particular tumour-necrosis factor-α (TNFα), are major drivers of pathogenesis. To address this, an electrospun dual-layer mucoadhesive patch comprising medical-grade polymers was investigated for the delivery of F(ab) biologics to the oral mucosa. A fluorescent-labelled F(ab) was incorporated into mucoadhesive membranes using electrospinning with 97% v/v ethanol as a solvent. The F(ab) was detected within the fibres in aggregates when visualised by confocal microscopy. Biotinylated F(ab) was rapidly eluted from the patch (97 ± 5% released within 3 h) without loss of antigen-binding activity. Patches applied to oral epithelium models successfully delivered the F(ab), with fluorescent F(ab) observed within the tissue and 5.1 ± 1.5% cumulative transepithelial permeation reached after 9 h. Neutralising anti-TNFα F(ab) fragments were generated from whole IgG by papain cleavage, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE, then incorporated into patches. F(ab)-containing patches had TNFα neutralising activity, as shown by the suppression of TNFα-mediated CXCL8 release from oral keratinocytes cultured as monolayers. Patches were applied to lipopolysaccharide-stimulated immune-competent oral mucosal ulcer equivalents that contained primary macrophages. Anti-TNFα patch treatment led to reduced levels of active TNFα along with a reduction in the levels of disease-implicated T-cell chemokines (CCL3, CCL5, and CXCL10) to baseline concentrations. This is the first report of an effective device for the delivery of antibody-based biologics to the oral mucosa, enabling the future development of new therapeutic strategies to treat painful conditions.

Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis-A Review

Cancer, a major world public health problem, is associated with chemotherapy treatments whose administration leads to secondary concerns, such as oral mucositis (OM). The OM disorder is characterized by the presence of ulcers in the oral mucosa that cause pain, bleeding, and difficulty in ingesting fluids and solids, or speaking. Bioactive compounds from natural sources have arisen as an effective approach for OM. This review aims to summarize the new potential application of different natural products in the prevention and treatment of OM in comparison to conventional ones, also providing a deep insight into the most recent clinical studies. Natural products, such as Aloe vera, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Camellia sinensis, Calendula officinalis, or honeybee crops, constitute examples of sources of bioactive compounds with pharmacological interest due to their well-reported activities (e.g., antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or wound healing). These activities are associated with the bioactive compounds present in their matrix (such as flavonoids), which are associated with in vivo biological activities and minimal or absent toxicity. Finally, encapsulation has arisen as a future opportunity to preserve the chemical stability and the drug bioa vailability of bioactive compounds and, most importantly, to improve the buccal retention period and the therapeutic effects.

Mucoadhesive Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Hybrid System with Controlled and Unidirectional Release of Desmopressin

The sublingual mucosa is an attractive route for drug delivery, although challenged by a continuous flow of saliva that leads to a loss of drug by swallowing. It is of great benefit that drugs absorbed across the sublingual mucosa avoid exposure to the harsh environment of the gastro-intestinal lumen; this is especially beneficial for drugs of low physicochemical stability such as therapeutic peptides. In this study, a two-layered hybrid drug delivery system was developed for the sublingual delivery of the therapeutic peptide desmopressin. It consisted of peptide-loaded mucoadhesive electrospun chitosan/polyethylene oxide-based nanofibers (mean diameter of 183 ± 20 nm) and a saliva-repelling backing film to promote unidirectional release towards the mucosa. Desmopressin was released from the nanofiber-based hybrid system (approximately 80% of the loaded peptide was released within 45 min) in a unidirectional manner in vitro. Importantly, the nanofiber-film hybrid system protected the peptide from wash-out, as demonstrated in an ex vivo flow retention model with porcine sublingual mucosal tissue. Approximately 90% of the loaded desmopressin was retained at the surface of the ex vivo porcine sublingual mucosa after 15 min of exposure to flow rates representing salivary flow.

Solid Dosage Forms of Biopharmaceuticals in Drug Delivery Systems Using Sustainable Strategies

Drug delivery systems (DDS) often comprise biopharmaceuticals in aqueous form, making them susceptible to physical and chemical degradation, and therefore requiring low temperature storage in cold supply and distribution chains. Freeze-drying, spray-drying, and spray-freeze-drying are some of the techniques used to convert biopharmaceuticals-loaded DDS from aqueous to solid dosage forms. However, the risk exists that shear and heat stress during processing may provoke DDS damage and efficacy loss. Supercritical fluids (SCF), specifically, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂), is a sustainable alternative to common techniques. Due to its moderately critical and tunable properties and thermodynamic behavior, scCO₂ has aroused scientific and industrial interest. Therefore, this article reviews scCO₂-based techniques used over the year in the production of solid biopharmaceutical dosage forms. Looking particularly at the use of scCO₂ in each of its potential roles—as a solvent, co-solvent, anti-solvent, or co-solute. It ends with a comparison between the compound’s stability using supercritical CO₂-assisted atomization/spray-drying and conventional drying.

Polymers as Encapsulating Agents and Delivery Vehicles of Enzymes

Enzymes are versatile biomolecules with broad applications. Since they are biological molecules, they can be easily destabilized when placed in adverse environmental conditions, such as variations in temperature, pH, or ionic strength. In this sense, the use of protective structures, as polymeric capsules, has been an excellent approach to maintain the catalytic stability of enzymes during their application. Thus, in this review, we report the use of polymeric materials as enzyme encapsulation agents, recent technological developments related to this subject, and characterization methodologies and possible applications of the formed bioactive structures. Our search detected that the most explored methods for enzyme encapsulation are ionotropic gelation, spray drying, freeze-drying, nanoprecipitation, and electrospinning. α-chymotrypsin, lysozyme, and β-galactosidase were the most used enzymes in encapsulations, with chitosan and sodium alginate being the main polymers. Furthermore, most studies reported high encapsulation efficiency, enzyme activity maintenance, and stability improvement at pH, temperature, and storage. Therefore, the information presented here shows a direction for the development of encapsulation systems capable of stabilizing different enzymes and obtaining better performance during application.

Recent Advances and Challenges in Nanodelivery Systems for Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be used as alternative therapeutic agents to traditional antibiotics. These peptides have abundant natural template sources and can be isolated from animals, plants, and microorganisms. They are amphiphilic and mostly net positively charged, and they have a broad-spectrum inhibitory effect on bacteria, fungi, and viruses. AMPs possess significant rapid killing effects and do not interact with specific receptors on bacterial surfaces. As a result, drug resistance is rarely observed with treatments. AMPs, however, have some operational problems, such as a susceptibility to enzymatic (protease) degradation, toxicity in vivo, and unclear pharmacokinetics. However, nanodelivery systems loaded with AMPs provide a safe mechanism of packaging such peptides before they exert their antimicrobial actions, facilitate targeted delivery to the sites of infection, and control the release rate of peptides and reduce their toxic side effects. However, nanodelivery systems using AMPs are at an early stage of development and are still in the laboratory phase of development. There are also some challenges in incorporating AMPs into nanodelivery systems. Herein, an insight into the nanotechnology challenges in delivering AMPs, current advances, and remaining technological challenges are discussed in depth.

Current Status of Mucoadhesive Gel Systems for Buccal Drug Delivery

BACKGROUND

Buccal drug delivery is a fascinating research field. Gel-based formulations present potent characteristics as buccal systems since they have great physicochemical properties.

METHODS

Among the various gels, in situ gels are viscous colloidal systems consisting of polymers; when physiological conditions change (pH, temperature, ion activation), they are transformed into the gel phase. These systems can improve bioavailability. Other systems, such as nanogels or emulgels can also be applied for buccal delivery with promising results. Polymeric gel-based systems can be produced by natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic polymers. Their main advantage is that the active molecules can be released in a sustained and controllable manner. Several gels based on chitosan are produced for the entrapment of drugs demonstrating efficient retention time and bioavailability due to chitosan mucoadhesion. Besides polysaccharides, poloxamers and carbopol are also used in buccal gels due to their high swelling ability and reversed thermal gelation behavior.

RESULTS

Herein, the authors focused on the current development of mucoadhesive gel systems used in buccal drug delivery. After explaining buccal drug delivery and mucoadhesion, various studies with hydrogels, in situ gels, and nanogels were analyzed as buccal gel systems. Various mucoadhesive gel studies with mucoadhesive polymers have been studied and summarized. This review is presented as valuable guidance to scientists in formulating buccal mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.

CONCLUSION

This review aimed to assist researchers working on buccal drug delivery by summarizing buccal drug delivery, mucoadhesion, and buccal mucoadhesive gel systems recently found in the literature.

Biodegradable and Biocompatible 3D Constructs for Dental Applications: Manufacturing Options and Perspectives

Designing 3D constructs with appropriate materials and structural frameworks for complex dental restorative/regenerative procedures has always remained a multi-criteria optimization challenge. In this regard, 3D printing has long been known to be a potent tool for various tissue regenerative applications, however, the preparation of biocompatible, biodegradable, and stable inks is yet to be explored and revolutionized for overall performance improvisation. The review reports the currently employed manufacturing processes for the development of engineered self-supporting, easily processable, and cost-effective 3D constructs with target-specific tuneable mechanics, bioactivity, and degradability aspects in the oral cavity for their potential use in numerous dental applications ranging from soft pulp tissues to hard alveolar bone tissues. A hybrid synergistic approach, comprising of development of multi-layered, structurally stable, composite building blocks with desired physicomechanical performance and bioactivity presents an optimal solution to circumvent the major limitations and develop new-age advanced dental restorations and implants. Further, the review summarizes some manufacturing perspectives which may inspire the readers to design appropriate structures for clinical trials so as to pave the way for their routine applications in dentistry in the near future.

Lysozyme and Human Serum Albumin Proteins as Potential Nitric Oxide Cardiovascular Drug Carriers: Theoretical and Experimental Investigation

Nitric oxide-containing drugs present a critical remedy for cardiovascular diseases. Nitroglycerin (NG, O-NO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (SNG, S-NO) are the most common nitric oxide drugs for cardiovascular diseases. Insights regarding the binding affinity of NO drugs with lysozyme and human serum albumin (HSA) proteins and their dissociation mechanism will provide inquisitive information regarding the potential of the proteins as drug carriers. For the first time, the binding interactions and affinities are investigated using molecular docking, conventional molecular dynamics, steered molecular dynamics, and umbrella sampling to explore the ability of both proteins to act as nitric oxide drug carriers. The molecular dynamics simulation results showed higher stability of lysozyme-drug complexes compared to HSA. For lysozyme, cardiovascular drugs were bound in the protein cavity mainly by the electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions with residues ASP53, GLN58, ILE59, ARG62, TRP64, ASP102, and TRP109. For HSA, key binding residues were ARG410, TYR411, LYS414, ARG485, GLU450, ARG486, and SER489. The free energy profiles produced from umbrella sampling also suggest that lysozyme-drug complexes had better binding affinity than HSA-drug. Binding characteristics of nitric oxide-containing drugs NG and SNG to lysozyme and HSA proteins were studied using fluorescence and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The relative change in the fluorescence intensity as a function of drug concentrations was analyzed using Stern-Volmer calculations. This was also confirmed by the change in the UV-vis spectra. Fluorescence quenching results of both proteins with the drugs, based on the binding constant values, demonstrated significantly weak binding affinity to NG and strong binding affinity to SNG. Both computational and experimental studies provided important data for understanding protein-drug interactions and will aid in developing potential drug carrier systems in cardiovascular diseases.

Fabrication of multifunctional mucoadhesive buccal patch for drug delivery applications

Mucoadhesive buccal patch is a promising dosage form for a successful oral drug delivery, which provides unique advantages for various applications such as treatment of periodontal disease and postdental surgery disorders. The aim of this study is to synthesize a novel multifunctional mucoadhesive buccal patch in a multilayer reservoir design for therapeutic applications. The patches were fabricated through simultaneous electrospinning of chitosan/poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA)/ibuprofen and electrospraying of phenylalanine amino acid nanotubes (PhNTs) containing metronidazole into the electrospun mats through a layer-by-layer process. An electrospun poly(caprolactone) (PCL) was used as an impermeable backing layer to protect the mucoadhesive component from tongue movement and drug loss. Buccal patches were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and also evaluated in terms of physicomechanical parameters such as pH, weight, thickness, tensile strength, folding endurance, and mucoadhesive properties. The swelling index of the patches was examined with respect to the PVA/chitosan ratio. The effect of genipin addition to the electrospinning solution was also studied on mucoadhesive and swelling properties. The cell viability of buccal patches was assessed by methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide test on L929 fibroblast cell line. The patch with an optimal amount of mucoadhesive polymers (PVA/chitosan 80:20) and crosslinking agent (0.05 g) indicated an ideal hemostatic activity along with antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans bacteria. The synthesized multifunctional mucoadhesive patch with a novel composition and design has a great potential for oral therapeutic applications.

Recent advances of oral film as platform for drug delivery

Orally drug delivery film has received extensive interest duo to a distinct set of its advantageous properties compared to the traditional orally administered dosages, including faster rate of drug absorption, higher bioavailability and better patient compliance for children and elders with swallowing deficiencies. In particular, its potential capacity of delivering proteins and peptides has further attracted great attention. Lately, tremendous advances have been made in designing and developing both novel mucoadhesive films and orodispersible films to fulfill specific accomplishments of drug delivery. This review aims to summarize those newly developed oral films, discussing their formulation strategies, manufacturing methods as well as advantages and limitations thereof. Conclusions and future perspectives are also provided in brief.

Electrospinning Proteins for Wound Healing Purposes: Opportunities and Challenges

With the growth of the aging population worldwide, chronic wounds represent an increasing burden to healthcare systems. Wound healing is complex and not only affected by the patient's physiological conditions, but also by bacterial infections and inflammation, which delay wound closure and re-epithelialization. In recent years, there has been a growing interest for electrospun polymeric wound dressings with fiber diameters in the nano- and micrometer range. Such wound dressings display a number of properties, which support and accelerate wound healing. For instance, they provide physical and mechanical protection, exhibit a high surface area, allow gas exchange, are cytocompatible and biodegradable, resemble the structure of the native extracellular matrix, and deliver antibacterial agents locally into the wound. This review paper gives an overview on cytocompatible and biodegradable fibrous wound dressings obtained by electrospinning proteins and peptides of animal and plant origin in recent years. Focus is placed on the requirements for the fabrication of such drug delivery systems by electrospinning as well as their wound healing properties and therapeutic potential. Moreover, the incorporation of antimicrobial agents into the fibers or their attachment onto the fiber surface as well as their antimicrobial activity are discussed.

Effectiveness of Core-Shell Nanofibers Incorporating Amphotericin B by Solution Blow Spinning Against Leishmania and Candida Species

The aim of this study was to develop polymeric nanofibers for controlled administration of Amphotericin B (AmpB), using the solution centrifugation technique, characterizing its microstructural and physical properties, release rate, and activity against Leishmania and Candida species. The core-shell nanofibers incorporated with AmpB were synthesized by Solution Blow Spinning (SBS) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, X-Ray diffraction, and drug release assay. In vitro leishmanicidal and antifungal activity were also evaluated. Fibrous membranes with uniform morphology and smooth surfaces were produced. The intensity of the diffraction peaks becomes slightly more pronounced, assuming the increased crystallization in PLA/PEG at high AmpB loadings. Drug release occurred and the solutions with nanofibers to encourage greater incorporation of AmpB showed a higher concentration. In the results of the experiment with promastigotes, the wells treated with nanofibers containing concentrations of AmpB at 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, did not have any viable cells, similar to the positive control. Various concentrations of AmpB improved the inhibition of fungal growth. The delivery system based on PLA/PEG nanofibers was properly developed for AmpB, presenting a controlled release and a successful encapsulation, as well as antifungal and antileishmanial activity.

Development and in vitro evaluation of buccal mucoadhesive films for photodynamic inactivation of Candida albicans

Candidiasis is one of the most common diseases that occur in the oral cavity, caused mainly by the species Candida albicans. Methylene blue (MB) has a potential for microbial photoinactivation and can cause the destruction of fungi when applied in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Mucoadhesive films are increasingly being studied as a platform for drug application due to their advantages when compared to other pharmaceutical forms. The aim of this work was to develop mucoadhesive buccal film containing poloxamer 407 (P407), alcohol polyvinyl (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for the release of MB aiming the photoinactivation of Candida albicans in buccal infections. Different amounts of P407 were added to the binary polymeric blends composed PVA and PVP. Formulations were characterized as morphology, thickness, density, bending strength, mechanical properties, water vapor transmission, disintegration time, mucoadhesion, DSC, ATR-FTIR, in vitro drug release profile and photodynamic inactivation. The films displayed physicochemical characteristics dependent of polymeric composition, mucoadhesive properties, fast MB release and were effective in photo inactivate the local growth of Candida albicans isolates. The formulation containing the lowest PVA and P407 amounts displayed the best performance. Therefore, data obtained from the film system show its potentially useful role as a platform for buccal MB delivery in photoinactivation of C. albicans, showing its potential for in vivo evaluation.

Mucoadhesive Electrospun Fibre-Based Technologies for Oral Medicine

Oral disease greatly affects quality of life, as the mouth is required for a wide range of activities including speech, food and liquid consumption. Treatment of oral disease is greatly limited by the dose forms that are currently available, which suffer from short contact times, poor site specificity, and sensitivity to mechanical stimulation. Mucoadhesive devices prepared using electrospinning offer the potential to address these challenges by allowing unidirectional site-specific drug delivery through intimate contact with the mucosa and with high surface areas to facilitate drug release. This review will discuss the range of electrospun mucoadhesive devices that have recently been reported to address oral inflammatory diseases, pain relief, and infections, as well as new treatments that are likely to be enabled by this technology in the future.