Development of Transmucosal Patch Using Nanofibers

Novel Targets and Drug Delivery System in the Treatment of Postoperative Pain: Recent Studies and Clinical Advancement

Pain is generated by a small number of peripheral targets. These can be made more sensitive by inflammatory mediators. The number of opioids prescribed to the patients can be reduced dramatically with better pain management. Any therapy that safely and reliably provides extended analgesia and is flexible enough to facilitate a diverse array of release profiles would be useful for improving patient comfort, quality of care, and compliance after surgical procedures. Comparisons are made between new and traditional methods, and the current state of development has been discussed; taking into account the availability of molecular and cellular level data, preclinical and clinical data, and early post-market data. There are a number of benefits associated with the use of nanotechnology in the delivery of analgesics to specific areas of the body. Nanoparticles are able to transport drugs to inaccessible bodily areas because of their small molecular size. This review focuses on targets that act specifically or primarily on sensory neurons, as well as inflammatory mediators that have been shown to have an analgesic effect as a side effect of their anti- inflammatory properties. New, regulated post-operative pain management devices that use existing polymeric systems were presented in this article, along with the areas for potential development. Analgesic treatments, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have also been discussed.

Electrospun Nanofibers for Wound Management

Electrospun nanofibers show great potential in biomedical applications. This mini review article traces the recent advances in electrospun nanofibers for wound management via various approaches. Initially, we provide a short note on the four phases of wound healing, including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Then, we state how the nanofiber dressings can stop bleeding and reduce the pain. Following that, we discuss the delivery of therapeutics and cells using different types of nanofibers for enhancing cell migration, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization, resulting in the promotion of wound healing. Finally, we present the conclusions and future perspectives regarding the use of electrospun nanofibers for wound management.

Advancement of Nanofibrous Mats and Common Useful Drug Delivery Applications

Electrospinning enables simple and cost-effective production of polymer nanofibers from different polymer materials. Drug delivery systems are capable of achieving maximum drug treatment benefits by significantly reducing adverse complications. Electrospun nanofibers have recently attracted considerable attention owing to their distinctive properties, including flexibility and biocompatibility. The implementation of functional constituents within nanostructure fibers blends is an effective technique for the administration of a variety of drugs in animal research, broadening the nanofiber capability and reliability. The nanofibrous mesh and its various application purposes are discussed in terms of a summary of recent research, emphasizing the ease of streaming and a large number of combinations of this approach, which could lead to a breakthrough in targeted therapy.

Mucoadhesive electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery systems: applications of polymers and the parameters' roles

Electrospun nanofibers have been widely studied for many medical applications. They can be designed with specific features, including mucoadhesive properties. This review summarizes the polymeric scaffolds obtained by the electrospinning process that has been applied for drug release in different mucosal sites such as oral, ocular, gastroenteric, vaginal, and nasal. We analyzed the electrospinning parameters that have to be optimized to create reproducible and efficient mucoadhesive nanofibers, among them are: electrical field, polymer concentration, viscosity, flow rate, needle-collector distance, solution conductivity, solvent, environmental parameters, and electrospinning setup. We also revised the mucoadhesive theories as well as the mucoadhesive properties of the polymers used. This review shows that the most studied mucosal site is the oral cavity, because it is accessible and easy to evaluate, while the rest are uncomfortable for the patient and difficult to assess in vivo. We found problems that need to be solved for mucoadhesive electrospun nanofibers, such as improving adhesion strength and mucosal permanence time, and the design of unidirectional release, multilayer systems for the treatment of several pathologies, to ensure the drug concentration in the tissue or target organ.

Rutin-phospholipid complex in polymer matrix for long-term delivery of rutin via skin for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

The drug with poor oral bioavailability necessitates the development of novel carrier for efficient drug delivery. This paper reports the rutin-phospholipid complex in polymer matrix for sustained delivery of rutin via the skin for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Rutin in phospholipid complex (RNPs) are better soluble and permeable than the free rutin. The RNPs-loaded polymeric matrix patch with moderate adhesiveness was developed for convenient means of long term drug application on the skin. The patch was analysed for physicochemical properties, ex vivo skin permeability and in vivo efficacy in rat paw oedema model. The skin targeting efficacy was analysed by CLSM study. Optimized formulation (F2) showed 31 ± 2.32% and 26.56 ± 5.52% skin permeation at 24 h across excised rat skin and human cadaver skin, respectively. The sustained anti-inflammatory effect of the patch formulation in rat paw oedema model confirmed its unique in vivo efficacy over the conventional diclofenac gel. The CLSM study confirmed the localization of RNPs in the dermis for sustained anti-inflammatory effect. Our results suggest that the developed patch has a potential for long term site specific delivery of rutin in arthritic patients.

Advanced Analgesic Drug Delivery and Nanobiotechnology

Transdermal administration of analgesic medications offers several benefits over alternative routes of administration, including a decreased systemic drug load with fewer side effects, and avoidance of drug degradation by the gastrointestinal tract. Transdermal administration also offers a convenient mode of drug administration over an extended period of time, particularly desirable in pain medicine. A transdermal administration route may also offer increased safety for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window. The primary barrier to transdermal drug absorption is the skin itself. Transdermal nanotechnology offers a novel method of achieving enhanced dermal penetration with an extended delivery profile for analgesic drugs, due to their small size and relatively large surface area. Several materials have been used to enhance drug duration and transdermal penetration. The application of nanotechnology in transdermal delivery of analgesics has raised new questions regarding safety and ethical issues. The small molecular size of nanoparticles enables drug delivery to previously inaccessible body sites. To ensure safety, the interaction of nanoparticles with the human body requires further investigation on an individual drug basis, since different formulations have unique properties and side effects.

Nanotechnology application for pain therapy

Prolonged delivery of analgesic drugs at target sites remains a critical issue for efficient pain management. The use of nano-carriers has been reported to facilitate applicable delivery of these agents to target sites with a reduced level of systemic toxicity. Different analgesics have been loaded onto various nano carriers, including those that are natural, synthetic and copolymer, for various medical applications. In this review, we will discuss the concept of nano-formulated carriers for analgesic drugs and their impacts on the field of pain management.

Ca3(PO4)2 precipitated layering of an in situ hybridized PVA/Ca2O4Si nanofibrous antibacterial wound dressing

The aim of this study was to develop an in situ hybridized poly(vinyl alcohol)/calcium silicate (PVA/Ca2OSi) nanofibrous antibacterial wound dressing with calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] surface precipitation for enhanced bioactivity. This was achieved by hybridizing the antibacterial ions Zn(2+) and/or Ag(+) in a Ca2O4Si composite. The hybridization effect on the thermal behavior, physicochemical, morphological, and physicomechanical properties of the nanofibers was studied using Differential Scanning calorimetric (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Textural Analysis, respectively. In vitro bioactivity, biodegradation and pH variations of the nanofiber composite were evaluated in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hybridization of Zn(2+) and/or Ag(+) into the PVA/Ca2O4Si nanofiber composite was confirmed by DSC, XRD and FTIR. The thickness of the nanofibers was dependent on the presence of Zn(2+) and Ag(+) as confirmed by SEM. The nanofibers displayed enhanced tensile strength (19-115.73MPa) compared to native PVA. Zn(2+) and/or Ag(+) hybridized nanofibers showed relatively enhanced in vitro bioactivity, biodegradation (90%) and antibacterial activity compared with the native PVA/Ca2O4Si nanofiber composite. Results of this study has shown that the PVA/Ca2O4Si composite hybridized with both Zn(2+) and Ag(+) may be promising as an antibacterial wound dressing with a nanofibrous archetype with enhanced bioactivity.

Nanofibers used for the delivery of analgesics

Nanofibers are extremely advantageous for drug delivery because of their high surface area-to-volume ratios, high porosities and 3D open porous structures. Local delivery of analgesics by using nanofibers allows site-specificity and requires a lower overall drug dosage with lower adverse side effects. Different analgesics have been loaded onto various nanofibers, including those that are natural, synthetic and copolymer, for various medical applications. Analgesics can also be singly or coaxially loaded onto nanofibers to enhance clinical applications. In particular, analgesic-eluting nanofibers provide additional benefits to preventing wound adhesion and scar formation. This paper reviews current research and breakthrough discoveries on the innovative application of analgesic-loaded nanofibers that will alter the clinical therapy of pain.