Optimization of Thymoquinone-Loaded Coconut Oil Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for the Management of Ethanol-Induced Ulcer

Advancements and Challenges of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Wound Healing Applications

The current treatments for wound healing still exhibit drawbacks due to limited availability at the action sites, susceptibility to degradation, and immediate drug release, all of which are detrimental in chronic conditions. Nano-modification strategies, offering various advantages that can enhance the physicochemical properties of drugs, have been employed in efforts to maximize the efficacy of wound healing medications. Nowadays, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) provide drug delivery capabilities that can safeguard active compounds from environmental influences and enable controlled release profiles. Consequently, NLCs are considered an alternative therapy to address the challenges encountered in wound treatment. This review delves into the application of NLCs in drug delivery for wound healing, encompassing discussions on their composition, preparation methods, and their impact on treatment effectiveness. The modification of drugs into the NLC model can be facilitated using relatively straightforward technologies such as pressure-based processes, emulsification techniques, solvent utilization methods, or phase inversion. Moreover, NLC production with minimal material compositions can accommodate both single and combination drug delivery. Through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, it has been substantiated that NLCs can enhance the therapeutic potential of various drug types in wound healing treatments. NLCs enhance efficacy by reducing the active substance particle size, increasing solubility and bioavailability, and prolonging drug release, ensuring sustained dosage at the wound site for chronic wounds. In summary, NLCs represent an effective nanocarrier system for optimizing the bioavailability of active pharmacological ingredients in the context of wound healing.

Coconut oil based self-nano emulsifying delivery systems mitigate ulcerogenic NSAIDs side effect and enhance drug dissolution: Formula optimization, in-vitro, and in-vivo assessments

Gastric ulcer is a common gastrointestinal ailment that affects many people worldwide. NSAIDs induced ulcers are the second most common etiology of gastric ulcers. Coconut oil has well-known potential anti-ulcerogenic characteristics. This work aimed to develop and optimize diclofenac potassium (a highly used model drug of NSAIDs) as self-nanoemulsifying delivery system containing coconut oil (DFP-COSNEDS) to overcome its ulcerogenic effect. A mixture design was applied for formula optimization and investigation of the effect of different formulation factors on the droplet size (DS) and polydispersity index (PDI) of the prepared DFP-COSNEDS. The optimized formulae showed good self-emulsification characters and better drug dissolution compared with the drug suspension. The ulcer protection was assessed in-vivo using 7 groups of adult male Wistar rats. Oxidative stress parameters (MDA, GSH, and SOD), inflammatory mediators (PGE-2, TNF-α, and IL-6) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene expression were measured. The results revealed that pure coconut oil and DFP-COSNEDS containing 25 % of coconut oil showed close figures to normal group and better values than famotidine (FAM) group. In conclusion, coconut oil showed high potential for gastric-protection activity against DFP induced ulcer. DFP-COSNEDS offers dual benefits of improving DFP dissolution and alleviating its ulcerogenic effect.

Hybrid nanoparticulate system of Fluvastatin loaded phospholipid, alpha lipoic acid and melittin for the management of colon cancer

As a hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, Fluvastatin (FLV) is used for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as to prevent cardiovascular problems. FLV showed cell line cytotoxicity and antitumor effect. Melittin (MEL) exhibits antineoplastic activity and is known to be promising as a therapeutic option for cancer patients. The aim of this work was to investigate the combination of FLV with MEL loaded hybrid formula of phospholipid (PL) with alpha lipoic acid (ALA) nanoparticles to maximize anticancer tendencies. This study examines the optimization of the prepared formulation in order to minimize nanoparticles size and maximize zeta potential to potentiate cytotoxic potentialities in colon cancer cells (Caco2), cell viability, cell cycle analysis and annexin V were tested. In addition to biological markers as P53, Bax, bcl2 and Caspase 3 evaluation The combination involving FLV PL ALA MEL showed enhanced cytotoxic potentiality (IC50 = 9.242 ± 0.35 µg/mL), about twofold lower, compared to the raw FLV (IC50 = 21.74 ± 0.82 µg/mL). According to studies analyzing cell cycle, optimized FLV PL ALA MEL was found to inhibit Caco2 colon cancer cells more significantly than other therapeutic treatments, wherein a higher number of cells were found to accumulate over G2/M and pre-G1 phases, whereas G0/G1/S phases witnessed the accumulation of a lower number of cells. The optimized formulation may pave the way for a novel and more efficacious treatment for colon cancer.

Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone and Its Nanoformulations in Pulmonary Injury: A Comprehensive Review

As a crucial organ, the lung is exposed to various harmful agents that may induce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may cause chronic or acute lung injury. Nigella sativa, also known as black seed, has been widely used to treat various diseases and is one of the most extensively researched medicinal plants. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component of black seed volatile oil and has been proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. The potential therapeutic properties of TQ against various pulmonary disorders have been studied in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnology may increase drug solubility, cellular absorption, drug release (sustained or control), and drug delivery to lung tissue target sites. As a result, fabricating TQ as nanoparticles (NPs) is a potential therapeutic approach against a variety of lung diseases. In this current review, we summarize recent findings on the efficacy of TQ and its nanotypes in lung disorders caused by immunocompromised conditions such as cancer, diabetes, gastric ulcers, and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is concluded that TQ nanoparticles with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiasthma, and antitumor activity may be safely applied to treat lung disorders. However, more research is required before TQ nanoparticles can be used as pharmaceutical preparations in human studies.

Optimization of Thymoquinone-Loaded Self-Nanoemulsion for Management of Indomethacin-Induced Ulcer

To improve the water solubility of thymoquinone (TQ), a major constituent of Nigella sativa seed oil, a TQ-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was prepared. The SNEDDS formulation was optimized using almond oil (AO) (Oil; X1), tween 80 (surfactant; X2) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) (cosurfactant; X3) compounds as independent variables. The results showed that the globule size ranged from 65 to 320 nm. In addition, a strong agreement was reached between the system estimation and the experimental values of globule size. To evaluate the gastroprotective effect of optimized TQ-loaded SNEDDS against indomethacin (Indo.)-induced gastric ulcers in comparison with non-emulsified TQ, the ulcer index and histopathological changes were estimated. Optimized TQ-loaded SNEDDS showed improved gastroprotective activity against Indo.-induced ulcers relative to the non-emulsified TQ. In addition, the gastroprotective index was improved by 2-fold in TQ-loaded SNEDDS as compared to non-emulsified TQ. This is attributed to the strong antioxidant and the cytoprotective activities of the TQ. These results demonstrate enhancement of the efficacy of TQ through the optimized SNEDDS.

Exploiting drug delivery systems for oral route in the peptic ulcer disease treatment

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common condition that is induced by acid and pepsin causing lesions in the mucosa of the duodenum and stomach. The pathogenesis of PUD is a many-sided scenario, which involves an imbalance between protective factors, such as prostaglandins, blood flow, and cell renewal, and aggressive ones, like alcohol abuse, smoking, Helicobacter pylori colonisation, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The standard oral treatment is well established; however, several problems can decrease the success of this therapy, such as drug degradation in the gastric environment, low oral bioavailability, and lack of vectorisation to the target site. In this way, the use of strategies to improve the effectiveness of these conventional drugs becomes interesting. Currently, the use of drug delivery systems is being explored as an option to improve the drug therapy limitations, such as antimicrobial resistance, low bioavailability, molecule degradation in an acid environment, and low concentration of the drug at the site of action. This article provides a review of oral drug delivery systems looking for improving the treatment of PUD.