Fluid bed drying of guarana (Paullinia cupana HBK) extract: effect of process factors on caffeine content

Hypotonic, gel-forming delivery system for vaginal drug administration

Vaginal drug delivery is often preferred over systemic delivery to reduce side effects and increase efficacy in treating diseases and conditions of the female reproductive tract (FRT). Current vaginal products have drawbacks, including spontaneous ejection of drug-eluting rings and unpleasant discharge from vaginal creams. Here, we describe the development and characterization of a hypotonic, gel-forming, Pluronic-based delivery system for vaginal drug administration. The rheological properties were characterized with and without common hydrogel polymers to demonstrate the versatility. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to determine the Pluronic F127 concentration below the critical gel concentration (CGC) that was sufficient to achieve gelation when formulated to be hypotonic to the mouse vagina. The hypotonic, gel-forming formulation was found to form a thin, uniform gel layer along the vaginal epithelium in mice, in contrast to the rapidly forming conventional gelling formulation containing polymer above the CGC. When the hypotonic, gel-forming vehicle was formulated in combination with a progesterone nanosuspension (ProGel), equivalent efficacy was observed in the prevention of chemically-induced preterm birth (PTB) compared to commercial Crinone® vaginal cream. Further, ProGel showed marked benefits in reducing unpleasant discharge, reducing product-related toxicity, and improving compatibility with vaginal bacteria in vitro. A hypotonic, gel-forming delivery system may be a viable option for therapeutic delivery to the FRT.

In-situ gel: A smart carrier for drug delivery

In-situ gel technology is a promising drug delivery strategy that undergoes a 'sol to gel' transition upon administration, providing controlled and prolonged drug release. These gels are composed of cross-linked 3D networks of polymers, with hydrogels being a specific type of absorbing water while retaining their shape. Gelation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as temperature, pH, ions, and light. They offer several advantages like improved patient compliance, extended drug residence time, localized drug delivery, etc, but also have some disadvantages like drug degradation and limited mechanical strength. In-situ gel falls into three categories: temperature-sensitive, ion-sensitive, and pH-sensitive, but multi-responsive gels that respond to multiple stimuli have better drug release characteristics. The mechanism of in-situ gel formation involves physical and chemical mechanisms. There are various applications of in-situ gel, like ocular drug delivery, nose-to-brain delivery, etc. In this review, we have discussed the types, and mechanisms of in-situ gel & use of in-situ gel in the treatment of different diseases through various routes like buccal, vaginal, ocular, nasal, etc., along with its use in targeted drug delivery.

Ferrous sulfate microparticles obtained by spray chilling: characterization, stability and in vitro digestion simulation

The use of microencapsulated ferrous-sulfate is among the various options recommended for food fortification, as the protective wall material surrounding the compound can preserve it from undesirable alterations and also protect the food. Microencapsulated iron can be produced using different wall materials and encapsulation methods. Thus, a microparticle was developed through spray chilling, containing ferrous sulfate (FS), as active compound, and a fat mixture as the coating material. The resulting samples analyzed to determine encapsulation efficiency, particle size distribution, and morphology. Furthermore, the oxidative stability and bioaccessibility of FS microparticles were investigated by simulating in vitro digestion. The findings indicated that the encapsulation technique effectively retained FS, resulting in microparticles physically stable at room temperature with typical morphology. The encapsulation efficiency revealed that lower concentrations of FS led to reduced superficial iron content. However, the oxidative stability demonstrated that the presence of iron in the microparticles accelerated the lipid oxidation process. The in vitro digestion test demonstrated that the microparticles with lower iron content exhibited a higher percentage of bioaccessibility, even when compared to non-encapsulated FS. Additionally, the coating material successfully released FS during the simulation of gastrointestinal digestion, resulting in a bioaccessibility of 7.98%.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05820-1.

Pharmaceutical In Situ Gel for Glaucoma: Recent Trends and Development with an Update on Research and Patents

Glaucoma is a progressive visual polyneuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell atrophy and optic nerve head changes. It's generally triggered due to increased intraocular pressure compared with the healthy eye. Glaucoma is treated with various medications in traditional eye drops, such as prostaglandins, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, beta-blockers, and others. Such treatments are difficult to use and produce lachrymal leakage and inadequate corneal permeability, resulting in lower availability. Ophthalmic in situ gels, introduced in past decades with tremendous effort, are among the finest various choices to solve the drawbacks of eye drops. Employing different polymers with pH-triggered, temperature-triggered, and ion-activated processes have been used to generate ophthalmic in situ gelling treatments. Once those preparations are delivered into the eye, they change phase from sol to gel, allowing the medicine to stay in the eye for longer. These formulations are known as smart gels as they turn into gelling fluids when administered into the eyes. The different mechanisms of in situ gel formulations are used for the management of glaucoma and are discussed in this review article.

In situ Enabling Approaches for Tissue Regeneration: Current Challenges and New Developments

In situ tissue regeneration can be defined as the implantation of tissue-specific biomaterials (by itself or in combination with cells and/or biomolecules) at the tissue defect, taking advantage of the surrounding microenvironment as a natural bioreactor. Up to now, the structures used were based on particles or gels. However, with the technological progress, the materials' manipulation and processing has become possible, mimicking the damaged tissue directly at the defect site. This paper presents a comprehensive review of current and advanced in situ strategies for tissue regeneration. Recent advances to put in practice the in situ regeneration concept have been mainly focused on bioinks and bioprinting techniques rather than the combination of different technologies to make the real in situ regeneration. The limitation of conventional approaches (e.g., stem cell recruitment) and their poor ability to mimic native tissue are discussed. Moreover, the way of advanced strategies such as 3D/4D bioprinting and hybrid approaches may contribute to overcome the limitations of conventional strategies are highlighted. Finally, the future trends and main research challenges of in situ enabling approaches are discussed considering in vitro and in vivo evidence.

In situ Enabling Approaches for Tissue Regeneration: Current Challenges and New Developments

In situ tissue regeneration can be defined as the implantation of tissue-specific biomaterials (by itself or in combination with cells and/or biomolecules) at the tissue defect, taking advantage of the surrounding microenvironment as a natural bioreactor. Up to now, the structures used were based on particles or gels. However, with the technological progress, the materials' manipulation and processing has become possible, mimicking the damaged tissue directly at the defect site. This paper presents a comprehensive review of current and advanced in situ strategies for tissue regeneration. Recent advances to put in practice the in situ regeneration concept have been mainly focused on bioinks and bioprinting techniques rather than the combination of different technologies to make the real in situ regeneration. The limitation of conventional approaches (e.g., stem cell recruitment) and their poor ability to mimic native tissue are discussed. Moreover, the way of advanced strategies such as 3D/4D bioprinting and hybrid approaches may contribute to overcome the limitations of conventional strategies are highlighted. Finally, the future trends and main research challenges of in situ enabling approaches are discussed considering in vitro and in vivo evidence.

Obtenção de extratos de guaraná ricos em cafeína por processo enzimático e adsorção de taninos

As bebidas sabor guaraná são muito populares no Brasil e têm apresentado um excelente potencial de vendas no mercado externo. De acordo com as leis brasileiras, bebidas sabor guaraná devem conter entre 0,02 g a 0,2 g de semente de guaraná ou equivalente, para cada 100 mL de produto. Tais teores são usualmente obtidos pela adição de um extrato concentrado hidroalcoólico ou xarope de açúcar contendo extrato de guaraná diretamente à bebida. A utilização desses extratos em concentrações mais elevadas, entretanto, é limitada pela presença dos taninos, que conferem adstringência e coloração escura ao produto final. Neste trabalho, foi estudado o desenvolvimento de um processo enzimático para obtenção de extratos não alcoólicos de guaraná, de forma a produzir um extrato contendo baixas concentrações de taninos e teores elevados de cafeína, utilizando-se planejamento experimental e processos de adsorção. Por meio de um planejamento fatorial fracionário, foram determinadas as quantidades de 0,25% (v/v) de pectinase e 0,1% (v/v) de glucoamilase, sendo mantidas no planejamento composto central, que obteve como condições ótimas: 0,23% (v/v) de celulase, 0,86% (v/v) de hemicelulase e 1% (v/v) de alfa-amilase durante 5,5 h de extração a 200 rpm e 50 °C, obtendo-se uma relação cafeína/tanino de 1,65. Com o processo de adsorção com óxido de magnésio a 10% (p/v), foi alcançada uma relação de cafeína-tanino de 7,3.