Potential of Nanomaterials as Movers and Packers for Drug Molecules

Novel nanosystems for the treatment of ocular inflammation: Current paradigms and future research directions

Ocular discomforts involve anterior/posterior-segment diseases, symptomatic distress and associated inflammations and severe retinal disorders. Conventionally, the formulations such as eye drops, eye solutions, eye ointments and lotions, etc. were used as modalities to attain relief from such ocular discomforts. However, eye allows limited access to these traditional formulations due to its unique anatomical structure and dynamic ocular environment and therefore calls for improvement in disease intervention. To address these challenges, development of nanotechnology based nanomedicines and novel nanosystems (liposomes, cubosomes, polymeric and lipidic nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, spanlastics and nano micelles) are currently in progress (some of them are already marketed such as Eye-logic liposomal eye spray@Naturalife, Ireland). Today, it is one of the central concept in designing more accessible formulations for deeper segments of the eyes. These nanosystems has largely enabled the availability of medicaments at required site in a required concentration without inversely affecting the eye tissues; and therefore, attaining the excessive considerations from the formulation scientists and pharmacologists worldwide. The entrapment of drugs, genes, and proteins inside these novel systems is the basis that works at the bio-molecular level bestows greater potential to eradicate disease causatives. In this review, we highlighted the recent attempts of nanotechnology-based systems for treating and managing various ocular ailments. The progress described herein may pave the way to new, highly effective and vital ocular nanosystems.

Finasteride-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles: Near-infrared quantification of plasma and prostate levels

Finasteride is an orally active testosterone 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia as a surgical alternative. The aim of this work was to improve finasteride levels in plasma and prostate through the formulation of biodegradable finasteride nanoparticles and to quantify finasteride levels using near-infrared application. Finasteride nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method utilizing the biodegradable polymers poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) and poly-ϵ-caprolactone. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. The selected finasteride-biodegradable formula was examined in vivo, and both plasma and prostate levels of finasteride were quantified utilizing near-infrared technique. Results revealed that the prepared finasteride nanoparticles size range was from 231 ± 78 to 956 ± 224 nm with finasteride–poly-ϵ-caprolactone nanoparticles showing larger particle sizes compared with finasteride–poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles. The encapsulation efficiency ranged from 68.89% ± 2.99% to 99.15% ± 4.32%. The selected formula of finasteride nanoparticles showed improved levels of finasteride in both plasma and prostate of the investigated rats. The realization of sustained release of biodegradable finasteride nanoparticles for possible oral or parenteral application could improve the activity of the drug for sustaining release time with lower dosing recurrence that improves patient compliance.