Recent advances in nanotechnology for the treatment of fungal keratitis

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a serious pathogenic disease usually associated with serious ocular complications. The current mainstay of treatment for FK is topical eye drops; however, poor corneal penetration, low bioavailability of the drug and the need to administer high and frequent doses due to the presence of an effective clearance mechanism in the eye result in poor patient compliance. Nanocarriers can extend the duration of drug action through sustained and controlled release of the drug, protect the drug from ocular enzymes and help overcome ocular barriers. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms of action of antifungal drugs, the theoretical basis for the treatment of FK, and recent advances in the clinical treatment of FK. We have summarized the results of research into the most promising nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery and highlight their efficacy and safety in the therapy.

An Experimental Approach to the Synthesis and Optimisation of a 'Green' Nanofibre

Currently, green-based materials are receiving attention in a quest to achieve a sustainable environment for human life. Herein, we report an investigation of developing a simple novel green nanofibre by using H₂O₂-assisted water soluble chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (WSCHT/PVA) in the presence of water as an eco-friendly solvent. The effect of various process parameters on the mean fibre diameter was investigated based on the Taguchi L₉ ( 3 4 ) orthogonal array experimental design. Optimal process parameters were determined using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of diameter according to the 'smaller-the-better' concept. Accordingly, the smallest fibre diameter observed was 122 nm and it was yielded at solution concentration of 10%; a voltage of 16 kV; a flow rate of 0.7 mL h-1; and a collection distance of 8 cm. The implications of a green environmentally sustainable material impact on a number of diverse end uses.