Semisynthetic Derivative of Artemisia annua-Loaded Transdermal Bioadhesive for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria Caused by Plasmodium falciparum in Children

Artemisinin and deoxyartemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua L. promote distinct antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model

Artemisia annua L., known for antimalarial activity, has demonstrated evidence of anti-inflammatory potential. Previously our research group reported the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effect of a sesquiterpene lactone-enriched fraction (Lac-FR) obtained from plant, containing artemisinin and deoxyartemisinin. Both the isolated compounds and Lac-FR evaluated on experimental animal models, in the formalin test showed that deoxyartemisinin reduced both neurogenic pain (56.55 %) and inflammatory pain (45.43 %). These findings were superior to the effect of artemisinin (reduction of 28.66 % and 33.35 %, respectively). In the tail flick test, the antinociceptive effect reported as a percentage of the maximum possible effect (%MPE), deoxyartemisinin showed a lower antinociceptive effect (41.57 %) compared to morphine (75.94 %) in 0.5 h. After 1.5 h, the MPE of deoxyartemisinin (87.99 %) exceeded the effect of morphine (47.55 %), without reversal with naloxone. The MPE of artemisinin (23.3 %) observed after 2 h was lower than deoxiartemisinin, without reversal with the opioid antagonist. Lac-FR and artemisinin demonstrated reductions in ear edema of 43.37 % and 48.19 %, respectively, higher than the effect of deoxyartemisinin (33.64 %). Artemisinin reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (76.96 %) more selectively when compared to interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) (48.23 %) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (44.49 %). Lac-FR showed greater selectivity in IL-6 reduction (56.49 %) in relationship to TNF-α (46.71 %) and IL-1β (45.12 %), whereas deoxyartemisinin selectively reduced TNF-α (37.37 %). The results of our study indicate that the lactones isolated did not have relationship with the opioid system. Deoxyartemisinin showed a higher antinociceptive potential than artemisinin. Whereas, artemisinin showed a higher reduction of inflammation and mediators, with a better anti-inflammatory activity outcome.

Vitamin D and curcumin-loaded PCL nanofibrous for engineering osteogenesis and immunomodulatory scaffold

The accelerating bone healing process is still a major challenge in clinical orthopedics, especially in critical-sized bone defects. Recently, Nanofiber membranes are showing increasing attention in the biomedical field due to their good biocompatibility, mechanical stability, and the ability to work as a drug carrier to achieve localized and sustained drug delivery. Herein, a multifunction nanofiber membrane loaded with vitamin D (Vit D) and curcumin (Cur) was successfully fabricated using electrospinning technology. In addition, we innovatively modified Vit D with PEG to improve the hydrophilicity of PCL nanofibers. The vitro results of CCK-8, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mineralization demonstrated that the PCL/Vit D-Cur membrane had great potential for enhancing the proliferation/differentiation of osteoblasts. Moreover, the synergistic effect of Vit D-Cur loaded PCL nanofiber membrane showed a superior ability to improve the anti-inflammatory activity through M2 polarization. Furthermore, in vivo results confirmed that the defect treated with PCL/Vit D-Cur nanofiber membrane was filled with the newly formed bone after 1 month. These results indicate that the Vit D/Cur loaded membrane can be applied for potential bone regeneration therapy.

Hydrogel-forming microarray patches with cyclodextrin drug reservoirs for long-acting delivery of poorly soluble cabotegravir sodium for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Hydrogel-forming microarray patches (HF-MAPs) offer minimally invasive, pain-free and prolonged drug delivery. These devices are designed to be self-administered and self-disabling, avoiding contaminated sharps waste generation. Cabotegravir sodium (CAB-Na) is a poorly soluble anti- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug for the treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV infection that lends itself to depot formation following intradermal delivery but presents significant challenges when delivered via HF-MAPs, whose nature is aqueous. Herein, we have investigated, for the first time, the use of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) to enhance the solubility of CAB-Na, and its effect on intradermal delivery via HF-MAPs. Accordingly, tablet reservoirs containing CAB-Na and HP-β-CD were formulated. These novel reservoirs were combined with two different HF-MAP formulations (MAP1 (Gantrez S97® + poly (ethylene glycol) 10,000 + Na₂CO₃) and MAP2 (poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) 58 kDa + poly (vinyl alcohol) 85-120 kDa + citric acid)) to form fully integrated MAP devices which were tested in both ex vivo and in vivo settings. Ex vivo skin deposition results for MAP1 and MAP2 showed that 141 ± 40 μg and 342 ± 34 μg of CAB-Na was deposited into 0.5 cm² of excised neonatal porcine skin after 24 h, respectively. Based on these findings, the in vivo pharmacokinetics of MAP2 were investigated over 28 days using a Sprague-Dawley rat model. After 24 h patch application, MAP2 demonstrated an extended drug release profile and an observed C_max of 53.4 ± 10.16 μg/mL, superior to that of an FDA-approved CAB-nanosuspension administered via intramuscular application (C_max of 43.6 ± 5.3 μg/mL). Consequently, this tablet integrated MAP device is considered to be a viable option for the intradermal delivery of hydrophobic anti-HIV drugs.

Novel transdermal bioadhesive surfactant-based system for release and solubility improvement of antimalarial drugs artemether-lumefantrine

Artemether (ART) and lumefantrine (LUM) are the gold standard antimalarial drugs used for the treatment of malaria in children and pregnant women. Typically, ART and LUM are delivered orally in the form of a combined tablet, however, the appropriateness of this route of administration for these drugs is questionable due to the poor absorption and therefore bioavailability observed unless administered alongside lipid-rich foods. Transdermal drug delivery in the form of a patch-type system has been identified as a viable alternative to the conventional tablet-based therapy. A novel, surfactant-based ART-LUM formulation (S3AL), developed for transdermal delivery, may eliminate the shortcomings associated with oral delivery; namely poor drug absorption which is caused by the inherently low solubility of ART and LUM. Moreover, by successfully delivering these antimalarials transdermally, first-pass metabolism will be avoided leading to enhanced drug bioavailability in both cases. The S3AL formulation contained ART and LUM at equal concentrations (2.5% w/w of each) as well as Procetyl® AWS (30% w/w), oleic acid (10% w/w), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (10% w/w), and water (45% w/w). The addition of LUM to the formulation changed the system from a striae structure to a dark field structure when visualized by a polarized light microscope. Additionally, this system possessed higher viscosity and superior skin bioadhesion, as evidenced by mechanical characterization, when compared to a similar formulation containing ART alone. S3AL was also proven to be biocompatible to human keratinocyte cells. Finally,in vitrostudies demonstrated the propensity of S3AL for successful delivery via the transdermal route, with 2279 ± 295 µg cm^-2of ART and 94 ± 13 µg cm^-2of LUM having permeated across dermatomed porcine skin after 24 h, highlighting its potential as a new candidate for the treatment of malaria.

Artemisinin-type drugs for the treatment of hematological malignancies

Qinghaosu, known as artemisinin (ARS), has been for over two millennia, one of the most common herbs prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). ARS was developed as an antimalarial drug and currently belongs to the established standard treatments of malaria as a combination therapy worldwide. In addition to the antimalarial bioactivity of ARS, anticancer activities have been shown both in vitro and in vivo. Like other natural products, ARS acts in a multi-specific manner also against hematological malignancies. The chemical structure of ARS is a sesquiterpene lactone, which contains an endoperoxide bridge essential for activity. The main mechanism of action of ARS and its derivatives (artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, artemether) toward leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma cells comprises oxidative stress response, inhibition of proliferation, induction of various types of cell death as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, and signal transducers, as NF-κB, MYC, amongst others. Therefore, new pharmaceutically active compounds, dimers, trimers, and hybrid molecules, could enhance the existing therapeutic alternatives in combating hematologic malignancies. Owing to the high potency and good tolerance without side effects of ARS-type drugs, combination therapies with standard chemotherapies could be applied in the future after further clinical trials in hematological malignancies.

Electrospun PCL-based nanofibers Arrabidaea chica Verlot - Pterodon pubescens Benth loaded: synergic effect in fibroblast formation

The guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique can be applied in dentistry and other medical specializations, such as orthopedics. In modern dentistry, GTR has been used in periodontics and implantology to treat periodontal defects, to reconstruct lost, damaged and atrophied bone tissue in dental implant procedures, and to preserve alveolar bases after tooth extraction. In order to create and improve new therapies and to develop new biomaterials that restore, improve and prevent aggravation of compromised tissue function, poly (ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) polymer membranes were obtained by the electrospinning process and were associated with two plant extracts: Pterodon pubescens Benth (P. pubescens) and Arrabidaea chica Verlot (A. chica) which are characterized by their pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory and healing actions, respectively. Fiber morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), where fiber average diameter was measured from SEM images. Contact angle measurements were performed in order to evaluate the hydrophilicity of electrospun membranes containing vegetal extract. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to evaluate the ability to release active ingredients. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assays were performed in vitro on NIH-3T3 cells for 1, 3 and 7 d. Electrospun PCL membranes associated with plant extracts P. pubescens and/or A. chica presented a controlled release profile of the active compounds induced fibroblast formation, suggesting that they are promising and suitable for applications in GTR.