Advances, limitations and perspectives in the use of celecoxib-loaded nanocarriers in therapeutics of cancer.

Cancer is highlighted as a major global health challenge in the XXI century. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme rises as a widespread tumor progression marker. Celecoxib (CXB) is a selective COX-2 inhibitor used in adjuvant cancer therapy, but high concentrations are required in humans.

Encapsulation of polyketide colorants in chitosan and maltodextrin microparticles.

This study aimed to encapsulate Talaromyces amestolkiae colorants in maltodextrin and chitosan microparticles using the spraydrying technique and to evaluate the biopolymers' capacities to protect the fungal colorant against temperature (65 °C) and extreme pH (2.0 and 13.0).

Insect residues as an alternative and promising source for the extraction of chitin and chitosan.

This work aimed to obtain and characterize chitin and chitosan extracted from the rearing residues of Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas morio, and Blaptica dubia insects in different growth stages in the same rearing cycles chitin and chitosan yielded 11.21 %-20.89 % and 6.

Exploring the permeability of Amphotericin B trough serum albumin dispersions and lipid nanocarriers for oral delivery.

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a potent polyenic antifungal agent with leishmanicidal activity. Due to its low solubility and permeability in the gastrointestinal tract, AmB is usually administered intravenously. In this context, various approaches have been used to try to improve these properties.

Effect of Addition of Cross-Linked Starch on the Properties of Degraded PBAT Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Films.

This work aimed to evaluate the properties of butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) degraded after 1800 days of storage (DPBAT) by preparing blends (films) with crosslinked starch (Cm) through extrusion and thermocompression. Different ratios of DPBAT:Cm (70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 m/m) were prepared. The incorporation of Cm into DPBAT significantly changed the properties of the films by making them stiffer (increasing Young's modulus by up to 50%) and increasing the thermal resistance of DPBAT.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid as an Antioxidant Strategy for Managing Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is the most prevalent and debilitating form of chronic pain, caused by injuries or diseases of the somatosensory system. Since current first-line treatments only provide poor symptomatic relief, the search for new therapeutic strategies for managing NP is an active field of investigation. Multiple mechanisms contribute to the genesis and maintenance of NP, including damage caused by oxidative stress.

Chemical and Pharmacological Properties of Decoquinate: A Review of Its Pharmaceutical Potential and Future Perspectives.

Decoquinate (DQ) is an antimicrobial agent commonly used as a feed additive for birds for human consumption. Its use as an additive is well established, but DQ has the potential for therapy as an antimicrobial drug for veterinary treatment and its optimized derivatives and/or formulations, mainly nanoformulations, have antimicrobial activity against pathogens that infect humans. However, DQ has a high partition coefficient and low solubility in aqueous fluids, and these biopharmaceutical properties have limited its use in humans.

Starch chemical modifications applied to drug delivery systems: From fundamentals to FDA-approved raw materials.

Starch derivatives are versatile compounds that are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the advances in the research on hydrophilic and hydrophobic starch derivatives used to develop drug delivery systems over the last ten years, specifically microparticles, nanoparticles, nanocrystals, hydrogels, and scaffolds using these materials. The fundamentals of drug delivery systems, regulatory aspects, and chemical modifications are also discussed, along with the synthesis of starch derivatives via oxidation, etherification, acid hydrolysis, esterification, and cross-linking.

A Functional Wound Dressing as a Potential Treatment for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease characterized by progressive skin sores. Currently, treatments for CL are limited to parenteral administration of the drug, which presents severe adverse effects and low cure rates. Therefore, this study aimed to develop poly(vinyl-alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels containing Amphotericin B (AmB) intended for topical treatment of CL.

Getting the Jump on the Development of Bullfrog Oil Microemulsions: a Nanocarrier for Amphotericin B Intended for Antifungal Treatment.

Amphotericin B (AmB), a potent antifungal drug, presents physicochemical characteristics that impair the development of suitable dosage forms. In order to overcome the AmB insolubility, several lipid carriers such as microemulsions have been developed. In this context, the bullfrog oil stands out as an eligible oily phase component, since its cholesterol composition may favor the AmB incorporation.

Understanding Drug Release Data through Thermodynamic Analysis.

Understanding the factors that can modify the drug release profile of a drug from a Drug-Delivery-System (DDS) is a mandatory step to determine the effectiveness of new therapies. The aim of this study was to assess the Amphotericin-B (AmB) kinetic release profiles from polymeric systems with different compositions and geometries and to correlate these profiles with the thermodynamic parameters through mathematical modeling. Film casting and electrospinning techniques were used to compare behavior of films and fibers, respectively.

Preparation and characterization of safe microparticles based on xylan.

This work describes the preparation and evaluation of safe xylan-based microparticles prepared by cross-linking polymerization using sodium trimetaphosphate. The resulting microparticles were evaluated for morphology, particle size, polymer-cross-link agent interaction, and in vitro toxicity. The microparticles showed narrow monodisperse size distributions with their mean sizes being between 3.

Stearylamine-Containing Cationic Nanoemulsion as a Promising Carrier for Gene Delivery.

The drawbacks related to the use of viral vectors in gene therapy have been stimulated the research in non-viral strategies such as cationic nanoemulsions. The aim of this work was to develop a stearylamine-containing nanoemulsion for gene therapy purpose. The formulation was chosen from a Pseudo-Ternary Phase Diagram and had its long-term stability assessed by Dynamic Light Scattering and Phase Analysis Light Scattering during 180 days at 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C.

Freeze-drying of emulsified systems: A review.

Colloidal systems such as emulsions, microemulsions and nanoemulsions are able to transport active molecules, enhance their solubility and stability and minimize their side effects. However, since they are dispersions with an aqueous continuous phase they have some disadvantages such as the risk of microbiological contamination, degradation by hydrolysis, physico-chemical instability and loss of pharmacological activity of the drug. Freeze drying, in which the water is removed from the preparation by sublimation under vacuum, has been suggested as a means to resolve these problems.

Producing xylan/Eudragit® S100-based microparticles by chemical and physico-mechanical approaches as carriers for 5-aminosalicylic acid.

Xylan is a biopolymer found in a variety of cell wall plants. Eudragit® S-100 (ES100), a pH-dependent polymer, is used as a coating material in gastroresistant delivery systems. In this study, microparticles based on both polymers were produced by interfacial cross-linking polymerisation and/or spray-drying technique in order to investigate feasibility and stability of the systems.

Xylan from corn cobs, a promising polymer for drug delivery: production and characterization.

Although many authors have reported several beneficial effects ascribed to xylan, such as inhibitory action on mutagenicity activity, antiphlogistic effects, and mitogenic and comitogenic activities, few papers have investigated a systematic study on the technological properties of this polymer. The aim of the present work was to evaluate xylan as a promise raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. The water-insoluble xylan samples were extracted from corn cobs following several steps.