COVID-19: The question of genetic diversity and therapeutic intervention approaches.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the largest pandemic in modern history with very high infection rates and considerable mortality. The disease, which emerged in China's Wuhan province, had its first reported case on December 29, 2019, and spread rapidly worldwide. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic and global health emergency.

Development and validation of HPLC method for imiquimod determination in skin penetration studies.

A simple, rapid and sensitive analytical procedure for the measurement of imiquimod in skin samples after in vitro penetration studies has been developed and validated. In vitro penetration studies were carried out in Franz diffusion cells with porcine skin. Tape stripping technique was used to separate the stratum corneum (SC) from the viable epidermis and dermis.

Effect of iNOS and NF-kappaB gene silencing on beta-cell survival and function.

Purpose: Type I diabetes results from beta-cell death and dysfunction, induced by infiltration of immune cells and local production of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, we investigated the effect of iNOS and NF-kappaB gene silencing on beta-cell survival and function.

Methods: Rat insulinoma INS-1E cells were transfected with chemically synthesized siRNA after complex formation with Lipofectamine 2000.

Hydrophobization and bioconjugation for enhanced siRNA delivery and targeting.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved process by which double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA) induces sequence-specific, post-transcriptional gene silencing. Unlike other mRNA targeting strategies, RNAi takes advantage of the physiological gene silencing machinery. The potential use of siRNA as therapeutic agents has attracted great attention as a novel approach for treating severe and chronic diseases.

Reverse hexagonal phase nanodispersion of monoolein and oleic acid for topical delivery of peptides: in vitro and in vivo skin penetration of cyclosporin A.

Purpose: To obtain and characterize reverse hexagonal phase nanodispersions of monoolein and oleic acid, and to evaluate the ability of such system to improve the skin penetration of a model peptide (cyclosporin A, CysA) without causing skin irritation.

Methods: The nanodispersion was prepared by mixing monoolein, oleic acid, poloxamer, and water. CysA was added to the lipid mixture to obtain a final concentration of 0.