Phytochemical Delivery Through Transferosome (Phytosome): An Advanced Transdermal Drug Delivery for Complementary Medicines

Liposomes like advanced drug carriers: from fundamentals to pharmaceutical applications

AIMS

There are around 24 distinct lipid vesicles described in the literature that are similar to vesicular systems such as liposomes. Liposome-like structures are formed by combining certain amphiphilic lipids with a suitable stabiliser. Since their discovery and classification, self-assembled liposome-like structures as active drug delivery vehicles captured researchers' curiosity.

METHODOLOGY

This comprehensive study included an in-depth literature search using electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, focusing on studies on liposome and liposomes like structure, discussed in literature till 2024, their sizes, benefits, drawback, method of preparation, characterisation and pharmaceutical applications.

RESULTS

Pharmacosomes, cubosomes, ethosomes, transethosomes, and genosomes, all liposome-like structures, have the most potential due to their smaller size with high loading capacity, ease of absorption, and ability to treat inflammatory illnesses. Genosomes are futuristic because of its affinity for DNA/gene transport, which is an area of focus in today's treatments.

CONCLUSION

This review will critically analyse the composition, preparation procedures, drug encapsulating technologies, drug loading, release mechanism, and related applications of all liposome-like structures, highlighting their potential benefits with enhanced efficacy over each other and over traditional carriers by paving the way for exploring novel drug delivery systems in the Pharma industry.

Nanophytomedicine: A promising practical approach in phytotherapy

The long and rich history of herbal therapeutic nutrients is fascinating. It is incredible to think about how ancient civilizations used plants and herbs to treat various ailments and diseases. One group of bioactive phytochemicals that has gained significant attention recently is dietary polyphenols. These compounds are commonly found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, drinks, legumes, and grains. Despite their incredible therapeutic properties, one challenge with polyphenols is their poor water solubility, stability, and bioavailability. This means that they are not easily absorbed by the body when consumed in essential diets. Because of structural complexity, polyphenols with high molecular weight cannot be absorbed in the small intestine and after arriving in the colon, they are metabolized by gut microbiota. However, researchers are constantly working on finding solutions to enhance the bioavailability and absorption of these compounds. This study aims to address this issue by applying nanotechnology approaches to overcome the challenges of the therapeutic application of dietary polyphenols. This combination of nanotechnology and phytochemicals could cause a completely new field called nanophytomedicine or herbal nanomedicine.

Feeding the Body Through the Skin: Ethosomes and Transethosomes as a New Topical Delivery System for Bioactive Compounds

Because the feeding of our body through the oral route can be associated with many drawbacks due to the degradation of natural molecules during transit in the gastrointestinal tract, a transdermal delivery strategy, usually employed in the pharmaceutical field, can present an effective alternative for delivery of bioactives and nutrients from foods. In this review, the chance to feed the body with nutritive and bioactive molecules from food through transdermal administration is discussed. Various nanotechnological devices employed for topical and transdermal delivery of bioactive compounds are described. In addition, mechanisms underlying their potential use in the delivery of nutritive molecules, as well as their capability to efficaciously reach the dermis and promote systemic distribution, are detailed.

Lipid-based nanoparticles as a promising treatment for the skin cancer

The prevalence of skin disorders, especially cancer, is increasing worldwide. Several factors are involved in causing skin cancer, but ultraviolet (UV) light, including sunlight and tanning beds, are considered the leading cause. Different methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and photodynamic therapy are mostly used for the skin cancer treatment. However, drug resistance and toxicity against cancer cells are related to these treatments. Lipid-nanoparticles have attracted significant interest as delivery systems due to non-invasive and targeted delivery based on the type of active drug. However, the stratum corneum, the outer layer of the skin, is inherently impervious to drugs. Due to their ability to penetrate the deep layers of the skin, skin delivery systems are capable of delivering drugs to target cells in a protected manner. The aim of this review was to examine the properties and applications of nanoliposomes used in the treatment and prevention of numerous types of skin cancer.

Development of engineered transferosomal gel containing meloxicam for the treatment of osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

.In this study, we investigated the potential of meloxicam (MLX) developed as transferosomal gel as a novel lipidic drug delivery system to address osteoarthritis (OTA), a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness. By incorporating meloxicam into a transferosomal gel, our aim was to provide a targeted and efficient delivery system capable of alleviating symptoms and slowing down the progression of OTA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Classical lipid film hydration technique was utilized to formulate different transferosomal formulations. Different transferosomal formulations were prepared by varying the molar ratio of phospholipon-90H (phosphodylcholine) to DSPE (50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, and 90:10) and per batch, 80mg of total lipid was used. The quality control parameters such as entrapment efficiency, particle size and morphology, polydispersity and surface electric charge, in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation and stability were measured.

RESULTS

The optimized transferosomal formulations revealed a small vesicle size (121±12nm) and greater MLX entrapment (68.98±2.3%). Transferosomes mediated gel formulation MLX34 displayed pH (6.3±0.2), viscosity (6236±12.3 cps), spreadability (13.77±1.77 gm.cm/sec) and also displayed sustained release pattern of drug release (81.76±7.87% MLX released from Carbopol-934 gel matrix in 24h). MLX34 revealed close to substantial anti-inflammatory response, with ∼81% inhibition of TNF-α in 48h. Physical stability analysis concluded that refrigerator temperature was the preferred temperature to store transferosomal gel.

CONCLUSION

MLX loaded transferosomes containing gel improved the skin penetration and therefore resulted into increased inhibition of TNF-α level.

Overcoming challenges in dermal and transdermal delivery of herbal therapeutics with polymeric microneedles

Natural products are generally preferred medications owing to their low toxicity and irritancy potential. However, a good number of herbal therapeutics (HT) exhibit solubility, permeability and stability issues that eventually affect oral bioavailability. Transdermal administration has been successful in resolving some of these issues which has lead in commercialization of a few herbal transdermal products. Polymeric Microneedles (MNs) has emerged as a promising platform in transdermal delivery of HT that face problems in permeating the skin. Several biocompatible and biodegradable polymers used in the fabrication of MNs have been discussed. MNs have been exploited for cutaneous delivery of HT in management of skin ailments like skin cancer, acne, chronic wounds and hypertrophic scar. Considering the clinical need, MNs are explored for systemic delivery of potent HT for management of diverse disorders like asthma, disorders of central nervous system and nicotine replacement as it obviates first pass metabolism and elicits a quicker onset of therapeutic response. MNs of HT have found good number of aesthetic applications in topical delivery of HT to the skin. Interestingly, MNs have emerged as an attractive option as a minimally invasive diagnostic aid in sampling biomarkers from plants, skin and ocular interstitial fluid. The review updates the progress made by MN technology of HT for multiple therapeutic interventions along with the future challenges. An attempt is made to illustrate the challenging formulation strategies employed in the fabrication of polymeric MNs of HT. Efforts are on to extend the potential applications of polymeric MNs to HT for diverse therapeutic applications.

Golden thistle (Scolymus hispanicus L.) hydromethanolic extracts ameliorated glucose absorption and inflammatory markers in vitro

Golden thistle (GT, Scolymus hispanicus L.) is an edible plant native to the Mediterranean. Several activities have been reported for the GT, as it is used for traditional medicinal purposes in some cultures. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of GT crude extract on phenolic bioavailability, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities by using colonic epithelium (CaCo-2) and murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell lines. The CaCo-2 cells were grown on the bicameral membrane system for intestinal bioavailability and glucose efflux. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 μg/mL) was used to induce systemic inflammation on RAW 264.7. The inflammatory medium of RAW 264.7 cells was given to Caco-2 cells to mimic colonic inflammation. Our results showed that 5-o-caffeoylquinic acid had an apparent permeability of (1.82 ± 0.07) × 10-6 cm/s after 6 h. The extract lowered the glucose efflux by 39.4%-42.6%, in addition to the reductions in relative GLUT2 mRNA expressions by 49%-66% in pre- and co-treatments (p < .05). Decreases in systemic inflammation markers of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also detected in 30%-45% range after pre-treatments with the GT extract (p < .05). Lastly, colonic inflammation markers of IL-6 and IL-8 were reduced by 8.7%-19.5% as a result of GT pre-treatments (p < .05). Thus, an in vitro investigation of GT extract revealed promising results on antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Exploring the use of niosomes in cosmetics for efficient dermal drug delivery

Dermal drug delivery has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional methods of drug administration due to its non-invasive nature and ease of use. However, the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, presents a significant barrier to drug penetration. Niosomes, self-assembled vesicular structures composed of nonionic surfactants and cholesterol, have been extensively investigated as a means of overcoming this barrier and improving the efficacy of dermal drug delivery. This review summarizes the current state of research on the use of niosomes in dermal drug delivery in cosmetics, with a particular focus on their formulation, characterization, and application in the delivery of various drug classes. The review highlights the advantages of niosomes over conventional drug delivery methods, including improved solubility and stability of drugs, controlled release, and enhanced skin permeation. The review also discusses the challenges associated with niosome-based drug delivery, such as their complex formulation and optimization, and the need for further studies on their long-term safety and toxicity.

Bibliometric analysis and visualization of transdermal drug delivery research in the last decade: global research trends and hotspots

Background: Transdermal delivery has become a crucial field in pharmaceutical research. There has been a proliferation of innovative methods for transdermal drug delivery. In recent years, the number of publications regarding transdermal drug delivery has been rising rapidly. To investigate the current research trends and hotspots in transdermal drug delivery, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis was performed. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted to gather information on transdermal drug delivery that had been published between 2003 and 2022. The articles were obtained from the Web of Science (WOS) and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases. Subsequently, the collected data underwent analysis and visualization using a variety of software tools. This approach enables a deeper exploration of the hotspots and emerging trends within this particular research domain. Results: The results showed that the number of articles published on transdermal delivery has increased steadily over the years, with a total of 2,555 articles being analyzed. The most frequently cited articles were related to the optimization of drug delivery and the use of nanotechnology in transdermal drug delivery. The most active countries in the field of transdermal delivery research were the China, United States, and India. Furthermore, the hotspots over the past 2 decades were identified (e.g., drug therapy, drug delivery, and pharmaceutical preparations and drug design). The shift in research focus reflects an increasing emphasis on drug delivery and control release, rather than simply absorption and penetration, and suggests a growing interest in engineering approaches to transdermal drug delivery. Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive overview of transdermal delivery research. The research indicated that transdermal delivery would be a rapidly evolving field with many opportunities for future research and development. Moreover, this bibliometric analysis will help researchers gain insights into transdermal drug delivery research's hotspots and trends accurately and quickly.

Interventional nanotheranostics in hepatocellular carcinoma

Interventional nanotheranostics is a system of drug delivery that does a dual function; along with the therapeutic action, it also does have diagnostic features. This method helps in early detection, targeted delivery, and the least chances of damage to surrounding tissue. It ensures the highest efficiency for the management of the disease. Imaging is the near future for the quickest and most accurate detection of disease. After combing both effective measures, it ensures the most meticulous drug delivery system. Nanoparticles such as Gold NPs, Carbon NPs, Silicon NPS, etc. The article emphasizes on effect of this delivery system in the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. It is one of the widely spreading diseases and theranostics is trying to make the scenario better. The review suggests the pitfall of the current system and how theranostics can help. It describes the mechanism used to generate its effect and believes that interventional nanotheranostics do have a future with rainbow color. The article also describes the current hindrance to the flourishing of this miraculous technology.

An Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care: An Update

The world has been affected socioeconomically for the last two years due to the emergence of different variants of the COVID-19 virus. Vaccination is the major and most efficient way to prevent the widening of this pandemic. Those who are having comorbidities are more vulnerable to serious infections due to their immunocompromised state. Additionally, cancer patients could be at significant risk for COVID-19. In this pandemic era, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer were significantly affected. Clinical trials at the initial stage were performed on healthy or COVID-19 infected patients. This produces a greater level of hesitancy in cancer patients. This review article provide an update regarding the vaccination and treatment for COVID-19 in patients with cancer and future directions.

Peptide-Drug Conjugates: A New Hope for Cancer Management

Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite advances in treatment options for patients. As such, safe and effective therapeutics are required. Short peptides provide advantages to be used in cancer management due to their unique properties, amazing versatility, and progress in biotechnology to overcome peptide limitations. Several appealing peptide-based therapeutic strategies have been developed. Here, we provide an overview of peptide conjugates, the better equivalents of antibody-drug conjugates, as the next generation of drugs for required precise targeting, enhanced cellular permeability, improved drug selectivity, and reduced toxicity for the efficient treatment of cancers. We discuss the basic components of drug conjugates and their release action, including the release of cytotoxins from the linker. We also present peptide-drug conjugates under different stages of clinical development as well as regulatory and other challenges.

Co-infection associated with SARS-CoV-2 and their management

SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Wuhan, China and quickly spread throughout the world. This deadly virus moved from person to person, resulting in severe pneumonia, fever, chills and hypoxia. Patients are still experiencing problems after recovering from COVID-19. This review covers COVID-19 and associated issues following recovery from COVID-19, as well as multiorgan damage risk factors and treatment techniques. Several unusual illnesses, including mucormycosis, white fungus infection, happy hypoxia and other systemic abnormalities, have been reported in recovered individuals. In children, multisystem inflammatory syndrome with COVID-19 (MIS-C) is identified. The reasons for this might include uncontrollable steroid usage, reduced immunity, uncontrollable diabetes mellitus and inadequate care following COVID-19 recovery.

Preparation of an isorhamnetin phospholipid complex for improving solubility and anti-hyperuricemia activity

To improve the solubility and anti-hyperuricemia activity of the insoluble natural flavonoid isorhamnetin (ISO), an isorhamnetin phospholipid complex (ISO-PC) was prepared. ISO-PC was prepared through solvent evaporation and its prescription process was optimized. The formation of ISO-PC was verified via multiple characterization methods. Parameters such as drug loading, solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient, stability, and in vivo anti-hyperuricemia activity of ISO-PC were investigated. The complexation efficiency of ISO-PC was 95.1% ± 0.56%. The characterization results confirmed that ISO-PC was bound by intermolecular interactions between ISO and phospholipids. Compared to ISO, the solubility of ISO-PC in water and 1-octanol increased by 122 and 16.5 times, respectively. Additionally, the octanol-water partition coefficient decreased to 1.08. Pharmacodynamic studies have reported that ISO-PC has a more significant effect on reducing serum uric acid levels and renal protection. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggested that ISO-PC could be used as a promising formulation to improve the solubility and the anti-hyperuricemia activity of ISO.

Current Advances in Specialised Niosomal Drug Delivery: Manufacture, Characterization and Drug Delivery Applications

Development of nanomaterials for drug delivery has received considerable attention due to their potential for achieving on-target delivery to the diseased area while the surrounding healthy tissue is spared. Safe and efficiently delivered payloads have always been a challenge in pharmaceutics. Niosomes are self-assembled vesicular nanocarriers formed by hydration of a non-ionic surfactant, cholesterol or other molecules that combine to form a versatile drug delivery system with a variety of applications ranging from topical delivery to targeted delivery. Niosomes have advantages similar to those of liposomes with regards to their ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic payloads. Moreover, niosomes have simple manufacturing methods, low production cost and exhibit extended stability, consequently overcoming the major drawbacks associated with liposomes. This review provides a comprehensive summary of niosomal research to date, including the types of niosomes and critical material attributes (CMA) and critical process parameters (CPP) of niosomes and their effects on the critical quality attributes (CQA) of the technology. Furthermore, physical characterisation techniques of niosomes are provided. The review then highlights recent applications of specialised niosomes in drug delivery. Finally, limitations and prospects for this technology are discussed.

Aged Population and Immunocompromised Patients: Impact on SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Treatment Outcomes

Patients with an immunocompromised state are at risk of developing a long-term infection from the coronavirus 2 that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) [...]

SARS-CoV-2 variants and vulnerability at the global level

Numerous variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have evolved. Viral variants may evolve with harmful susceptibility to the immunity established with the existing COVID-19 vaccination. These variants are more transmissible, induce relatively extreme illness, have evasive immunological features, decrease neutralization using antibodies from vaccinated persons, and are more susceptible to re-infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has categorized SARS-CoV-2 mutations as variants of interest (VOI), variants of concern (VOC), and variants of high consequence (VOHC). At the moment, four VOC and many variants of interest have been defined and require constant observation. This review article summarizes various variants of SARS-CoV-2 surfaced with special emphasis on VOCs that are spreading across the world, as well as several viral mutational impacts and how these modifications alter the properties of the virus.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Entrapping Natural Bioactive Compounds for Cancer: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

Cancer is a prominent cause of mortality globally, and it becomes fatal and incurable if it is delayed in diagnosis. Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that is used to eliminate, diminish, or restrict tumor progression. Chemotherapeutic medicines are available in various formulations. Some tumors require just one type of chemotherapy medication, while others may require a combination of surgery and/or radiotherapy. Treatments might last from a few minutes to many hours to several days. Each medication has potential adverse effects associated with it. Researchers have recently become interested in the use of natural bioactive compounds in anticancer therapy. Some phytochemicals have effects on cellular processes and signaling pathways with potential antitumor properties. Beneficial anticancer effects of phytochemicals were observed in both in vivo and in vitro investigations. Encapsulating natural bioactive compounds in different drug delivery methods may improve their anticancer efficacy. Greater in vivo stability and bioavailability, as well as a reduction in undesirable effects and an enhancement in target-specific activity, will increase the effectiveness of bioactive compounds. This review work focuses on a novel drug delivery system that entraps natural bioactive substances. It also provides an idea of the bioavailability of phytochemicals, challenges and limitations of standard cancer therapy. It also encompasses recent patents on nanoparticle formulations containing a natural anti-cancer molecule.