Development and characterization of gel-in-water nanoemulsion as a novel drug delivery system

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Seed Oil and Its Nanoemulsion: Chemical Characterisation, Toxicity Evaluation, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities

This study explores a nanoemulsion formulated with açaí seed oil, known for its rich fatty acid composition and diverse biological activities. This study aimed to characterise a nanoemulsion formulated with açaí seed oil and explore its cytotoxic effects on HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines, alongside assessing its antioxidant and toxicity properties both in vitro and in vivo. Extracted from fruits sourced in Brazil, the oil underwent thorough chemical characterization using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The resulting nanoemulsion was prepared and evaluated for stability, particle size, and antioxidant properties. The nanoemulsion exhibited translucency, fluidity, and stability post centrifugation and temperature tests, with a droplet size of 238.37, PDI -9.59, pH 7, and turbidity 0.267. In vitro assessments on cervical cancer cell lines revealed antitumour effects, including inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. Toxicity tests conducted in cell cultures and female Swiss mice demonstrated no adverse effects of both açaí seed oil and nanoemulsion. Overall, açaí seed oil, particularly when formulated into a nanoemulsion, presents potential for cancer treatment due to its bioactive properties and safety profile.

Quality evaluation and storage test for capsaicin-fortified yogurt based on the multilayer nanoemulsion system

Capsaicin has many benefits, such as pain relief, cancer prevention, and weight reduction. However, the application of capsaicin has been limited in the food industry due to its strong pungency, odor, and low solubility in water. Therefore, a multilayer nanoemulsion with chitosan and hyaluronic acid was developed for masking its odor and taste and improving the physicochemical stability against the surrounding environment. The capsaicin-fortified yogurts were prepared by blending various concentration levels of multilayer nanoemulsion (0-15%, w/v). The quality of yogurt was determined as a function of pH, acidity, viscosity, and total lactic acid bacteria population in an extended storage period (21 days). The multivariate statistical analysis was used to compare the quality of yogurts supplemented with capsaicin nanoemulsion. As a result, this study demonstrated the potential of capsaicin-loaded multilayer emulsion-supplemented yogurt as a novel nutrition-fortified food.

Organogels: "GelVolution" in Topical Drug Delivery - Present and Beyond

Topical drug delivery holds immense significance in dermatological treatments due to its non-invasive nature and direct application to the target site. Organogels, a promising class of topical drug delivery systems, have acquired substantial attention for enhancing drug delivery efficiency. This review article aims to explore the advantages of organogels, including enhanced drug solubility, controlled release, improved skin penetration, non-greasy formulations, and ease of application. The mechanism of organogel permeation into the skin is discussed, along with formulation strategies, which encompass the selection of gelling agents, cogelling agents, and additives while considering the influence of temperature and pH on gel formation. Various types of organogelators and organogels and their properties, such as viscoelasticity, non-birefringence, thermal stability, and optical clarity, are presented. Moreover, the biomedical applications of organogels in targeting skin cancer, anti-inflammatory drug delivery, and antifungal drug delivery are discussed. Characterization parameters, biocompatibility, safety considerations, and future directions in optimizing skin permeation, ensuring long-term stability, addressing regulatory challenges, and exploring potential combination therapies are thoroughly examined. Overall, this review highlights the immense potential of organogels in redefining topical drug delivery and their significant impact on the field of dermatological treatments, thus paving the way for exciting prospects in the domain.

OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FORMULATION FOR ENHANCED STABILITY AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF MEFLOQUINE

Objective: This work aims to choose suitable essential oil formulations to improve the bioavailability and long-term aqueous stability of mefloquine in drug delivery systems. Methods: Oil phases of pomegranate oil, black cumin seed oil, and garlic oil. To choose the proper oil and surfactant for creating pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, cremophore EL, tween®20 and tween®80 (surfactants), and brij 35 (co-surfactants) were used in a variety of concentrations and combinations (Smix). Mefloquine was estimated to be soluble in a variety of oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants. Drug solubility, drug release research, thermodynamic stability, mean hydrodynamic size and zeta potential. Results: Garlic with smix of cremophore EL and brij 35, Pomegranate with Tween 2.0, and Black cumin seed oil with Tween 80 showed the highest solubilization and emulsification capabilities and were further investigated using ternary phase diagrams. When combined with the co-surfactants under investigation, cremophore EL demonstrated a greater self-emulsification zone than tween® 80 and tween 20. Garlic oil, cremophore EL, and brij 35 nanoemulsion showed smaller size, greater zeta potential, less emulsification time, high transmittance, and better drug solubility than microemulsion formulations on especially those made with tween®20 and tween 80. Mefloquine loaded garlic oil nanoemulsion showed considerably low release in body fluid (32.48%) and a good release in intestinal fluid (82.78%) by 12 h in a drug release study. Conclusion: Garlic oil as the oil phase and a mixture of cremophore EL and brij 35 as the surfactant phase are ideal surfactants and co-surfactant for mefloquine loaded garlic oil nanoemulsion with greater drug release in release kinetics investigation.

Polymeric Gel Systems Cytotoxicity and Drug Release as Key Features for their Effective Application in Various Fields of Addressed Pharmaceuticals Delivery

Modified polymeric gels, including nanogels, which play not only the role of a bioinert matrix, but also perform regulatory, catalytic, and transport functions due to the active fragments introduced into them, can significantly advance the solution to the problem of targeted drug delivery in an organism. This will significantly reduce the toxicity of used pharmaceuticals and expand the range of their therapeutic, diagnostic, and medical application. This review presents a comparative description of gels based on synthetic and natural polymers intended for pharmaceutical-targeted drug delivery in the field of therapy of inflammatory and infectious diseases, dentistry, ophthalmology, oncology, dermatology, rheumatology, neurology, and the treatment of intestinal diseases. An analysis was made of most actual sources published for 2021–2022. The review is focused on the comparative characteristics of polymer gels in terms of their toxicity to cells and the release rate of drugs from nano-sized hydrogel systems, which are crucial initial features for their further possible application in mentioned areas of biomedicine. Different proposed mechanisms of drug release from gels depending on their structure, composition, and application are summarized and presented. The review may be useful for medical professionals, and pharmacologists dealing with the development of novel drug delivery vehicles.

Organogel mediated co-delivery of nisin and 5-fluorouracil: a synergistic approach against skin cancer

AIM

The present study aimed to develop topical combinatorial therapy of nisin and 5-fluorouracil in a single nanosized formulation against skin cancer.

METHODS

Nisin and 5-fluorouracil were encapsulated in an organogel system (NF-OG) and investigated for morphology, physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, encapsulation and release. NF-OG was evaluated against DMBA/TPA murine skin cancer in terms of tumour statistics, histoarchitecture, TUNEL and M1/M2 macrophages.

RESULTS

The optimised NF-OG formulation exhibited particle size of 185.1 ± 11.24 nm, zeta potential of -7.93 ± 0.60 mV, offered substantial drug loading and temporal release. NF-OG therapy led to improved cytotoxicity of nisin and 5-FU against B16-F10 cells, significant decrease in tumour volume (84.983 mm³) in treated group as compared to untreated group (490.482 mm³) accompanied by restoration of histoarchitecture and repolarization of macrophages.

CONCLUSION

The study yielded a promising delivery system exhibiting potent anticancer activity and forms the bases for further applications in clinical settings.

Progress in the Application of Food-Grade Emulsions

The detailed investigation of food-grade emulsions, which possess considerable structural and functional advantages, remains ongoing to enhance our understanding of these dispersion systems and to expand their application scope. This work reviews the applications of food-grade emulsions on the dispersed phase, interface structure, and macroscopic scales; further, it discusses the corresponding factors of influence, the selection and design of food dispersion systems, and the expansion of their application scope. Specifically, applications on the dispersed-phase scale mainly include delivery by soft matter carriers and auxiliary extraction/separation, while applications on the scale of the interface structure involve biphasic systems for enzymatic catalysis and systems that can influence substance digestion/absorption, washing, and disinfection. Future research on these scales should therefore focus on surface-active substances, real interface structure compositions, and the design of interface layers with antioxidant properties. By contrast, applications on the macroscopic scale mainly include the design of soft materials for structured food, in addition to various material applications and other emerging uses. In this case, future research should focus on the interactions between emulsion systems and food ingredients, the effects of food process engineering, safety, nutrition, and metabolism. Considering the ongoing research in this field, we believe that this review will be useful for researchers aiming to explore the applications of food-grade emulsions.

Natural Polysaccharide-Based Nanodrug Delivery Systems for Treatment of Diabetes

In recent years, natural polysaccharides have been considered as the ideal candidates for novel drug delivery systems because of their good biocompatibility, biodegradation, low immunogenicity, renewable source and easy modification. These natural polymers are widely used in the designing of nanocarriers, which possess wide applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, delivery and protection of bioactive compounds or drugs. A great deal of studies could be focused on developing polysaccharide nanoparticles and promoting their application in various fields, especially in biomedicine. In this review, a variety of polysaccharide-based nanocarriers were introduced, including nanoliposomes, nanoparticles, nanomicelles, nanoemulsions and nanohydrogels, focusing on the latest research progress of these nanocarriers in the treatment of diabetes and the possible strategies for further study of polysaccharide nanocarriers.

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Decorated Nanoemulsion Gel of 5-Fluorouracil for Topical Delivery

(1) Background: The present study aimed to prepare chitosan-coated nanoemulsion gel containing 5-fluorouracil for enhanced topical delivery. (2) Methods: To formulate the nanoemulsion gel, oleic acid was used as the oil phase and Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent. Chitosan was used as a coating agent to control the release of 5-FU. Drug−excipient compatibility was evaluated using ATR-FTIR. The prepared nanoemulsion formulations were characterized based on particle size distribution, zeta potential, % encapsulation efficiency and drug content. In vitro drug release, skin drug retention and ex vivo permeation profiles were performed across rat skin using a Franz diffusion cell. Skin irritation experiments were also conducted on rats to examine the irritation potential of the formulations. (3) Results: It was found that the drug and excipients were compatible and chitosan successfully coated 5-FU, as demonstrated by ATR-FTIR results. The introduction of chitosan increased the size and zeta potential of the nanoemulsion. The 5-FU release in vitro was significantly lowered in the case of chitosan-decorated nanoemulsion (5-FU-C-NE), whereas the permeation and skin drug retention were higher in the case of 5-FU-C-NE. The formulations were proven non-irritant to the skin of the rats. The optimized formulation of the nanoemulsion was introduced into 1% Carbopol 940 gel. Incorporating the nanoemulsion into the gel further reduced the drug release in vitro and ex vivo permeation, whereas the retention of the drug in the skin was significantly increased (ANOVA; p < 0.05). The increase in skin retention was due to the presence of chitosan and Carbopol 940. The in vitro and ex vivo results were also confirmed with in vivo studies. Incorporating nanoemulsion into gel has resulted in higher Tmax, longer half-life and greater skin drug retention. (4) Conclusion: The results suggest that chitosan-decorated nanoemulsion gel is safe and can potentially be used to promote 5-FU skin retention, which is ideal for skin diseases such as melanoma.

Recent developments in industrial applications of nanoemulsions

Nanotechnology is being utilized in various industries to increase the quality, safety, shelf-life, and functional performance of commercial products. Nanoemulsions are thermodynamically unstable colloidal dispersions that consist of at least two immiscible liquids (typically oil and water), as well as various stabilizers (including emulsifiers, texture modifiers, ripening inhibitors, and weighting agents). They have unique properties that make them particularly suitable for some applications, including their small droplet size, high surface area, good physical stability, rapid digestibility, and high bioavailability. This article reviews recent developments in the formulation, fabrication, functional performance, and gastrointestinal fate of nanoemulsions suitable for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food industries, as well as providing an overview of regulatory and health concerns. Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems can enhance the water-dispersibility, stability, and bioavailability of hydrophobic bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, they must be carefully formulated to obtain the required functional attributes. In particular, the concentration, size, charge, and physical properties of the nano-droplets must be taken into consideration for each specific application. Before launching a nanoscale product onto the market, determination of physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles and their potential health and environmental risks should be evaluated. In addition, legal, consumer, and economic factors must also be considered when creating these systems.

Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs to the Posterior Ocular Region by Gel-in-Water Nanoemulsion

Purpose

The aim of this study was to develop a nanogel emulsion as a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment alternative for posterior ocular diseases.

Methods

A gel-in-water (G/W) nanoemulsion was developed by ultrasonication using beeswax as an organogelator. Different physicochemical properties were evaluated along with particle size analysis by dynamic light scattering. In vitro biocompatibility of G/W nanoemulsion using rat hepatocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in vivo corneal permeability as eye drops were investigated.

Results

The nanogel emulsion was monodispersed with a polydispersity index and particle diameter of approximately 0.2 and 200 nm, respectively. The zeta potential value of −8.1 mV suggested enhanced stability and improved retinal permeability of nanoparticles. The prepared nanoemulsion was found to be biocompatible with hepatocytes and HUVECs in vitro. Moreover, in vivo study demonstrated high permeability of G/W nanoemulsion to the retinal layer with no ocular irritation.

Conclusions

G/W nanoemulsions have the potential for topical drug delivery in the posterior eye segment with maximum therapeutic efficacy.

Translational Relevance

Organogel nanodispersion is a new concept to deliver hydrophobic drugs to the posterior segment of eyes as a novel drug delivery system.

Gel-in-water nanodispersion for potential application in intravenous delivery of anticancer drugs

Organogels are semi-solid systems that can gel organic liquids at low concentrations. The use of organogels in drug delivery has grown rapidly in the last decade owing to their fibrous microstructure and suitability for different routes of administration. The current study is characterized by nanogel dispersion (NGD) development based on emulsion technology. The efficiency of this organogel based NGD as a carrier for anticancer drugs was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. 12-Hydroxystearic acid formed an organogel with lipiodol and encapsulated the anticancer drug paclitaxel. The gel-in-water (G/W) nanodispersion was prepared via ultrasonication and stabilized by a nonionic surfactant. The results showed that the organogel enabled sustained drug release from G/W nanodispersion over time, along with enhanced cellular uptake. The prepared G/W nanodispersion was found to be biocompatible with mouse hepatocytes and fibroblast cells in vitro, whereas paclitaxel-loaded G/W nanodispersion showed cytotoxicity (p <0.05) against lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Similarly, intravenous administration of paclitaxel-loaded G/W nanodispersion exerts an anticancer effect against lung cancer in vivo, with a significant decrease in tumor volume (p <0.05). Therefore, the proposed G/W nanodispersion could be a promising carrier for chemotherapy agents with sustained drug release and better therapeutic outcomes against cancer.