Introduction: Reported confirmed cases represent a small portion of overall true cases for many infectious diseases. The undercounting of true cases can be considerable when a significant portion of infected individuals are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, as is the case with COVID-19. Seroprevalence studies are an efficient way to assess the extent to which true cases are undercounted during a large-scale outbreak and can inform efforts to improve case identification and reporting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroneedle Array Patches (MAPs) are an emerging dosage form that creates transient micron-sized disruptions in the outermost physical skin barrier, the stratum corneum, to facilitate delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to the underlying tissue. Numerous MAP products are proposed and there is significant clinical potential in priority areas such as vaccination. However, since their inception scientists have hypothesized about the risk of a clinically significant MAP-induced infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs within liposomes can be challenging.
Methods: A novel chitosan derivative, O-palmitoyl chitosan (OPC) was synthesized from chitosan and palmitoyl chloride using methane-sulfonic acid as a solvent. The success of synthesis was confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and proton NMR spectroscopy (H-NMR).
Many chemotherapeutics suffer from poor aqueous solubility and tissue selectivity. Distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol) (DSPE-PEG) micelles are a promising formulation strategy for the delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. However, storage and in vivo instability restrict their use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study has investigated complexation of fisetin, a natural flavonoid, with three types of cyclodextrins to improve its solubility. Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) showed the highest complexation efficiency while maintaining the in vitro antioxidant activity of fisetin. Addition of 20%v/v ethanol in water improved the amount of solubilized fisetin in the complex 5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of a transdermal nanocarrier drug delivery system with potential for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, is described. Lipid nanocarriers (LN), encompassing various solid:liquid lipid compositions were formulated and assessed as potential nanosystems for transdermal delivery of olanzapine. A previously optimized method of hot high pressure homogenization (HPH) was adopted for the production of the LN, which comprised solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and nanoemulsions (NE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOveractive Bladder (OAB) is an idiopathic condition, characterized by urgency, urinary frequency, and urgency incontinence, in the absence of routinely traceable urinary infection. We have described microscopic pyuria (≥10 wbc/μl) in patients suffering from the worst symptoms. It is established that inflammation is associated with increased ATP release from epithelial cells, and extracellular ATP originating from the urothelium following increased hydrostatic pressure is a mediator of bladder sensation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe increased prevalence of diabetes in Middle Eastern countries is a health policy priority. Important risk factors for diabetes have been identified. Lifestyle interventions and adherence to medications are central to disease prevention and management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHistory has taught us that the threat of communicable diseases to operational readiness should not be underestimated. The unique operational challenges of a decade at war in Southwest Asia have left us with many new lessons about prevention and mitigation of disease. The successes of military immunization programs demonstrated the successful application of military science to modern combat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: For many patients with chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the assistance of family carers with medicines is vital for optimal treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the assistance carers provide to patients with COPD using nebuliser-delivered therapy at home, and the problems experienced that may impact on the safety and effectiveness of therapy and contribute to carer burden.
Methods: A cross-sectional, qualitative descriptive study was conducted with participants recruited from primary and intermediate care.
The aim of this study is to investigate using nanoemulsion formulations as drug-delivery vehicles of paclitaxel (PX), a poor water-soluble anticancer drug. Two commercially available nanoemulsion fat formulations (Clinoleic 20% and Intralipid 20%) were loaded with PX and characterised based on their size, zeta potential, pH and loading efficiency. The effect of formulation on the cytotoxicity of PX was also evaluated using MTT assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonary infections may be fatal especially in immunocompromised patients and patients with underlying pulmonary dysfunction, such as those with cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, etc. According to the WHO, lower respiratory tract infections ranked first amongst the leading causes of death in 2012, and tuberculosis was included in the top 10 causes of death in low income countries, placing a considerable strain on their economies and healthcare systems. Eradication of lower respiratory infections is arduous, leading to high healthcare costs and requiring higher doses of antibiotics to reach optimal concentrations at the site of pulmonary infection for protracted periods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMembrane extrusion was investigated for predicting the stability of soya phosphatidylcholine liposomes and surfactosomes (Tween 80-enriched liposomes) to nebulization. Formulations were prepared with or without cholesterol, and salbutamol sulfate (SBS) or beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) were incorporated as model hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs respectively. Formulations were extruded through 5, 2, 1 and 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Nanosuspensions combine the advantages of nanotherapeutics (e.g. increased dissolution rate and saturation solubility) with ease of commercialisation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA novel "slurry method" was described for the preparation of proliposome powders using soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC) with cholesterol (1:1) and for incorporation of beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) at 2mole% of the total lipid phase. Proliposomes made with a range of lipid to sucrose carrier ratios were studied in terms of surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal properties using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Following hydration of proliposomes, the resultant vesicles were compared to liposomes made using the traditional proliposome method, in terms of vesicle size and drug entrapment efficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe potential of amphiphilic chitosan formed by grafting octanoyl chains on the chitosan backbone for pulmonary delivery of levofloxacin has been studied. The success of polymer synthesis was confirmed using FT-IR and NMR, whilst antimicrobial activity was assessed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Highly dispersible dry powders for delivery as aerosols were prepared with different amounts of chitosan and octanoyl chitosan to study the effect of hydrophobic modification and varying concentration of polymer on aerosolization of drug.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Advances in medical technology and research documenting clinical effectiveness have led to the increased use of insulin pumps worldwide. However, their use by children in the UK is relatively limited and there is little evidence regarding their impact on patients' lives.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of switching from multiple daily injections to insulin pumps on the glycaemic control and daily lives of children/young people and their families.
Curcumin has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but poor absorption following oral administration owing to its low aqueous solubility. Development of novel formulations to improve its in vivo efficacy is therefore challenging. In this study, formulation of curcumin-loaded DQAsomes (vesicles formed from the amphiphile, dequalinium) for pulmonary delivery is presented for the first time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUsing latex microspheres as model suspensions, the influence of suspension particle size (1, 4.5 and 10 μm) on the properties of aerosols produced using Pari LC Sprint (air-jet), Polygreen (ultrasonic), Aeroneb Pro (actively vibrating-mesh) and Omron MicroAir NE-U22 (passively vibrating-mesh) nebulisers was investigated. The performance of the Pari nebuliser was independent of latex spheres particle size.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPaclitaxel was loaded into licensed parenteral nutrition nanoemulsions (Clinoleic® and Intralipid®) using bath sonication, and the stability of the formulations was investigated following storage for two weeks at room temperature or at 4 °C. In general, Clinoleic droplets were smaller than Intralipid droplets, being around 255 and 285 nm, respectively, for blank and freshly loaded emulsions. Regardless of storage temperature, the Clinoleic exhibited a very slight or no increase in droplet size upon storage, whilst the droplet size of the Intralipid emulsion increased significantly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe influence of sodium halide electrolytes on aerosols generated from the Aeroneb Pro vibrating mesh nebulizer and the Sidestream air-jet nebulizer has been evaluated. Fluids with a range of concentrations of Na halides (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To explore the potential of crosslinked chitosan nanoparticles as carriers for delivery of siRNA using a jet nebuliser.
Materials And Methods: Nanoparticles encapsulating siRNA were prepared using an ionic crosslinking technique at chitosan to siRNA weight/weight ratios of 10:1, 30:1 and 50:1. Particles were characterised for their size, charge, morphology, pH stability and siRNA encapsulation efficiency.
Thermal ink-jet spray freeze-drying (TIJ-SFD) was used to produce inhalable particles of terbutaline sulphate, the aerosolisation properties of which were compared to the commercial Bricanyl formulation. Scanning electron micrograph images showed the particles to be spherical, highly porous and suitable for aerosolisation from a simple, capsule-based dry-powder device (Cyclohaler) without the need for additional excipients. Particle size was dependent upon the concentration of solution jetted, as well as the distance between the print head and the surface of the liquid nitrogen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aerosol properties of niosomes were studied using Aeroneb Pro and Omron MicroAir vibrating-mesh nebulizers and Pari LC Sprint air-jet nebulizer. Proniosomes were prepared by coating sucrose particles with Span 60 (sorbitan monostearate), cholesterol and beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) (1:1:0.1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParticulate-based proliposomes were made by coating sucrose carrier particles with egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC), soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC) or soya phosphatidylcholine with an equimole ratio of cholesterol (SPC:Chol, 1:1). Inhalable multilamellar liposomes were generated from proliposomes in situ within a Pari LC Plus nebulizer by addition of aqueous phase, with no need for prior manual shaking. All proliposome formulations produced high aerosol and phospholipid outputs and were delivered in high fractions to the lower stage of a two-stage impinger.
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