In Vivo Evaluation of Wound Healing Efficacy of Gel-Based Dressings Loaded with Pycnogenol™ and Ceratothoa oestroides Extracts

Ceratothoa oestroides and French maritime pine bark (Pycnogenol™) extracts are considered promising therapeutic agents in wound healing. This study explores the healing efficacy of composite dressings containing these extracts, aiming to enhance their stability and effectiveness, utilizing a low-temperature vacuum method for producing Sodium Alginate-Maltodextrin gel dressings. Surgical wounds were inflicted on SKH-hr2 hairless mice. Dressings were loaded with Pycnogenol™ and/or C. oestroides extracts and assessed for their efficacy. Wound healing was primarily evaluated by clinical and histopathological evaluation and secondarily by Antera 3D camera and biophysical measurements. Dressings were stable and did not compromise the therapeutic properties of C. oestroides extract. All interventions were compared to the C. oestroides ointment as a reference product. Most of the wounds treated with the reference formulation and the C. oestrodes dressing had already closed by the 15th day, with histological scores of 7 and 6.5, respectively. In contrast, wounds treated with Pycnogenol™, either alone or in combination with C. oestroides, did not close by the end of the experiment (16th day), with histological scores reaching 15 in both cases. Furthermore, treatment with 5% Pycnogenol™ dressing appeared to induce skin thickening and increase body temperature. The study underscores the wound healing potential of C. oestroides extracts and highlights the need for further research to optimize Pycnogenol™ dosing in topical applications.

Octenidine Versus Dispase Gels for Wound Healing After Cryosurgery Treatment in Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma

For a specific group of patients with basal cell carcinoma (small, low risk), cryosurgery could be the suggested treatment, which results in the formation of an ulcer in the lesion area. The proteolytic enzymes' contribution to the wound healing is an ongoing research goal. Preclinical animal experiments in the Laboratory of the Pharmaceutical Technology Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have showed that a dose of 5 U/mL of dispase gel after the formation of tissue rashes, significantly promoted wound healing. Herein, a feasibility study in 16 patients enrolled by the First Department of Dermatology of Andreas Syggros Hospital was designed: 5 U/mL of dispase gel (once every 3 days) versus a drug reference containing octenidine (daily administration). The evaluation of the healing effect, safety, and tolerance was done on days 1 (cryosurgery), 2, 7, 21, and 60. The study end point was considered either the ulcer complete healing or the eighth week since treatment initiation. Wound healing was faster with dispase gel and hemoglobin reduced rapidly after the seventh day. Yet, hydration was higher in the control group. Our non-parametric analysis provides evidence that the dispase gel shows faster healing compared to the reference drug, in humans, meriting further investigation in larger human sample sizes before massive production of the product.

Design of a Personalized Nasal Device (Matrix-Piston Nasal Device, MPD) for Drug Delivery: a 3D-Printing Application

The purpose of the current study is the development and the in vitro evaluation of a novel device for the nasal delivery of biodegradable polymeric films. The Matrix-Piston nasal Device (MPD) was designed and then printed employing Fused Deposition Modeling. Particularly, the CAD model of MPD was produced considering the human anatomical features of the nasal cavity and aiming to deliver the formulation on the olfactory region. The device consists of two independent parts constructed by different materials. For the 3D-printing process, different materials were tested to decide the most applicable for each part. More precisely, Thermoplastic Polyurethene (TPU) polymer was selected to print the matrix, while Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) for the piston. Furthermore, two nasal casts were printed to be used for the assessment of the device. Namely, an hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose-based drug-free film, containing polyethylene glycol 400 as plasticizer and methyl-β-cyclodextrin as permeation enhancer, was formed on the MPD to be tested for its ability to be detached from the device and positioned on the artificial olfactory region of the nasal cast. The deposition of the film on the targeted area of the semi-realistic nasal cast took place successfully.

Nasal powders of quercetin-β-cyclodextrin derivatives complexes with mannitol/lecithin microparticles for Nose-to-Brain delivery: In vitro and ex vivo evaluation

Quercetin, a flavonoid with possible neuroprotective action has been recently suggested for the early-stage treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The low solubility and extended first pass effect render quercetin unsuitable for oral administration. Alternatively, brain targeting is more feasible with nasal delivery, by-passing, non-invasively, Blood-Brain Barrier and ensuring rapid onset of action. Aiming to increase quercetin's disposition into brain, nasal powders consisting of quercetin-cyclodextrins (methyl-β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) lyophilizates blended with spray-dried microparticles of mannitol/lecithin were prepared. Quercetin's solubility at 37 °C and pH 7.4 was increased 19-35 times when complexed with cyclodextrins. Blending lyophilizates in various ratios with mannitol/lecithin microparticles, results in powders with improved morphological characteristics as observed by X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. In vitro characterization of these powders using Franz cells, revealed rapid dissolution and permeation 17 (methyl-β-cyclodextrin) to 48 (hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) times higher than that of pure quercetin. Ex vivo powders' transport across rabbit nasal mucosa was found more efficient in comparison with the pure Que. The overall better performance of quercetin-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin powders is confirmed by ex vivo experiments revealing amount of quercetin permeated ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.22 ± 0.05 μg/cm² for hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and 0.022 ± 0.01 to 0.17 ± 0.04 μg/cm² for methyl-β-cyclodextrin powders, while the permeation of pure quercetin was negligible.

Preparation and Biophysical Characterization of Quercetin Inclusion Complexes with β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives to be Formulated as Possible Nose-to-Brain Quercetin Delivery Systems

Quercetin (Que) is a flavonoid associated with high oxygen radical scavenging activity and potential neuroprotective activity against Alzheimer's disease. Que's oral bioavailability is limited by its low water solubility and extended peripheral metabolism; thus, nasal administration may be a promising alternative to achieve effective Que concentrations in the brain. The formation of Que-2-hydroxypropylated-β-cyclodextrin (Que/HP-β-CD) complexes was previously found to increase the molecule's solubility and stability in aqueous media. Que-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Que/Me-β-CD) inclusion complexes were prepared, characterized, and compared with the Que/HP-β-CD complex using biophysical and computational methods (phase solubility, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS)) as candidates for the preparation of nose-to-brain Que's delivery systems. DSC thermograms, NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and MDS confirmed the inclusion complex formation of Que with both CDs. Differences between the two preparations were observed regarding their thermodynamic stability and inclusion mode governing the details of molecular interactions. Que's solubility in aqueous media at pH 1.2 and 4.5 was similar and linearly increased with both CD concentrations. At pH 6.8, Que's solubility was higher and positively deviated from linearity in the presence of HP-β-CD more than with Me-β-CD, possibly revealing the presence of more than one HP-β-CD molecule involved in the complex. Overall, water solubility of lyophilized Que/Me-β-CD and Que/HP-β-CD products was approximately 7-40 times and 14-50 times as high as for pure Que at pH 1.2-6.8. In addition, the proof of concept experiment on ex vivo permeation across rabbit nasal mucosa revealed measurable and similar Que permeability profiles with both CDs and negligible permeation of pure Que. These results are quite encouraging for further ex vivo and in vivo evaluation toward nasal administration and nose-to-brain delivery of Que.

Protective Effects of Pinus halepensis Bark Extract and Nicotine on Cigarette Smoke-induced Oxidative Stress in Keratinocytes

BACKGROUND/AIM

Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major environmental health threat. The oxidative stress induced by CS on keratinocytes and the possible protective effect of nicotine, its receptor inhibitors, and Pinus halepensis bark extract in relation to known antioxidants were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary mouse keratinocytes were exposed to cigarette smoke in the presence and absence of Pinus halepensis bark extract (1 μg/ml), rutin (50 μM) and ascorbic acid (250 μM), nicotine (1 μM) with or without mecamylamine (5 μM) and α-bungarotoxin (0.1 μM). Keratinocyte viability and oxidative stress were evaluated by MTT and fluorescence assays.

RESULTS

Pinus halepensis bark extract decreased the oxidative stress and increased the viability of keratinocytes, and moreover, these effects were more pronounced compared to the mixture of rutin and L-ascorbic acid. Nicotine significantly enhanced the viability potentiation of the beneficial effect induced by Pinus halepensis bark extract. Mecamylamine and α-bungarotoxin showed no specific effect.

CONCLUSION

Pinus halepensis bark extract in combination with nicotine may successfully reverse skin damage induced by cigarette smoke.

Efficacy of a Ceratothoa oestroides Olive Oil Extract in Patients With Chronic Ulcers: A Pilot Study

Chronic wounds unresponsive to existing treatments constitute a serious disease burden. Factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic ulcers include oxidative stress, comorbid microbial infections, and the type of immune system response. Preclinically, and in a case study, a formulation containing a Ceratothoa oestroides olive oil extract promoted wound healing. Patients with chronic venous and pressure ulcers, clinically assessed as being unresponsive to healing agents, were treated for 3 months with an ointment containing the C oestroides extract combined with antibiotic and/or antiseptic agents chosen according to the type of bacterial infection. Treatment evaluation was performed using the Bates-Jensen criteria with +WoundDesk and MOWA cell phone applications. After 3 months of treatment, C oestroides resulted in an average decrease of 36% in the Bates-Jensen score of ulcers ( P < .000), with the decrease being significant from the first month ( P < .007). The combined use of topically applied antibiotics and antiseptics efficiently controlled microbial ulcer infection and facilitated wound healing. In relation to other factors such as initial wound size, chronicity appeared to be an important prognostic factor regarding the extent of wound healing. Future clinical investigations assessing the wound healing efficacy of the C oestroides olive oil extract are warranted.

Classification of carbon nanostructure families occurring in a chemically activated arc discharge reaction

Controlling the generation of empty cages, endohedral metallofullerenes and carbon nanotubes is an important challenge for the tailored synthesis of functional materials and their scaled up production.

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from carbon dots

We report an interesting property of carbon dots: they emit light under charge injection. We synthesized carbon dots in diameter about 20 nm using wet chemistry methods. The photoluminescence quantum efficiency of the carbon dots dissolved in water was about 11%. We observed strong electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) from the sample. This observation of ECL from carbon dots indicates that they could be a good candidate material for carbon-based electroluminescent devices.

One-step solid state synthesis of capped γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystallites

The thermally induced solid state synthesis of soluble organophilic maghemite (γ-Fe(2)O(3)) nanocrystallites is described. The solvent-free one-step synthesis involves the reaction in the melt state of Fe(NO)(3)·9H(2)O and RCOOH (R = C(11)H(23), C(15)H(31)) at 240 °C. The method yields well-crystallized nanoparticles of γ-Fe(2)O(3) functionalized with the corresponding aliphatic acid. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations reveal composite particles with faceted magnetic cores and average size of 20 nm, which are well capped with the surrounding organic sheath. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and thermal analysis suggest a bimodal configuration of the organic shell including chemically coordinated and physisorbed molecules of aliphatic acid. The chemical bonding of the carboxylate groups to the surface iron atoms is also indicated by a paramagnetic doublet with unchanged area in the variable temperature Mössbauer spectra. The spinel γ-Fe(2)O(3) particles exhibit perfect structural and magnetic ordering, including the almost ideal ratio of octahedral to tetrahedral positions (5/3) and very low degree of spin canting, as confirmed by in-field Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic measurements demonstrate the suitable properties required in various (bio)magnetic applications like superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature, high saturation magnetization achievable at low applied fields and suppressed magnetic interactions.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans occuring in a child

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) usually occurs in adults, however it can also occur in infancy and childhood. Diagnosis of DFSP in children is quite difficult given the rarity of the tumor and its variegated appearance. The behavior of this neoplasm is of borderline or intermediate malignancy with a high rate of recurrence but limited metastatic potential. We present the case of an eleven-year old boy who presented with a slightly raised, not tender lesion on his right shoulder. It had appeared two years before as a red-brown plaque and since then it had gradually grown to a nodule. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis of DFSP was made based on the histological and immunohistochemical findings.

Accumulation of vinblastine into transfersomes and liposomes in response to a transmembrane ammonium sulfate gradient and their cytotoxic/cytostatic activity in vitro

Vinblastine was encapsulated into liposomes composed from lipids dimiristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), with cholesterol and transfersomes with sodium cholate prepared by the thin film hydration method. The percentage of vinblastine encapsulation, the stability of transfersomes and liposomes and the rate of release of encapsulated vinblastine at 37 degrees C were studied. The results showed that encapsulation of vinblastine into liposomes was higher than 98% at a drug/phospholipid molar ratio from 0.17 to 0.18, while encapsulation of vinblastine into transfersomes varied from 50% to 80% at a drug/phospholipid molar ratio from 0.05 to 0.09. The retention of drug in liposomes and in transfersomes was found to be time/dependent. The retention of drug in transfersomes compared to the liposomes was reduced due to the presence of sodium cholate which caused destabilization and reduced the main phase transition temperature Tm of the PC bilayers. The cytotoxic/cytostatic activity of the two liposome formulations and the two transfersome formulations with or without encapsulated vinblastine were examined against nine human cell lines and the parameters GI50, TGI, LC50 were estimated according to the NCI protocol. Free DPPC/sodium cholate liposomes found to exhibit strong antiproliferative activity in contrast to the other three free liposomal formulations (DPPC/cholesterol, DMPC/cholesterol, DMPC/sodium cholate). On the other hand, vinblastine encapsulated into the liposomes found to exhibit 20-fold less activity on average, in the three parameters calculate compare to the free vinblastine.

Giant hemangioma in infant. A case presentation and literature review

Giant hemangioma of infancy is a rare and extensive variant of the hemangiomas, that occurs in newborns and infants and is often complicated by life-threatening events. We describe herein an unusual case of a giant hemangioma in a female infant. At the age of 45 days she was admitted to the hospital because of increasing respiratory distress and distented abdomen. The response to supportive therapy was poor and the infant died from cardiac arrest on its 75th day of life. Autopsy revealed a giant tumor occupying extensive areas of the thoracic and abdominal cavity. The histologic diagnosis was compatible with a giant capillary hemangioma. A review of the literature was also attempted.

Genetic variation in the Heterodoxus octoseriatus group (Phthiraptera): a test of Price's model of parasite evolution

Most of the genetic variation in the H. octoseriatus group is present as fixed gene differences between species which have been described on morphological criteria. Based on allozymes, the taxonomic status of some species was challenged. There was insufficient evidence, however, to demonstrate that these were not 'good' biological species. Overall, the limited intraspecific variation was present as fixed gene differences among lice from different hosts and from different colonies of hosts; heterozygotes were rare. Two predictions derived from Price's model of parasite evolution were met: populations of lice were genetically homogeneous and, where genetic markers were present, we found substantial genetic variation among populations. These data contrast with those for endoparasitic helminths, where, in general, the amount of genetic variation is similar to that of free-living invertebrates.