Self-assembling peptide nanofibers containing phenylalanine for the controlled release of 5-fluorouracil.

The study shows that RADA-F6 peptide with pH-responsive self-assembling nature can be effectively used as a drug delivery system for the sustained release of a potent anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at basic pH. As 5-FU contains the aromatic pyrimidine ring, RADA-F6 system is suitable for entrapping an aromatic drug due to effective π-π stacking with phenylalanine and be able to show better controlled release behavior. The stability and controlled release nature of RADA-F6 in different conditions followed by 5-FU entrapment at in silico conditions was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulation taking RADA-16 as control.

Advancements in Devices and Particle Engineering in Dry Powder Inhalation Technology.

Dry powder inhalers (DPI) attracted the attention of pharmaceutical field due to its enlarging market share in inhalable formulations. These formulations also pose patient compliance and good shelf life. Earlier DPI formulations were intended for local effect in lung (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), whereas 21(st) century witnessed formulations intended for systemic effect too.

Cationic, amphiphilic dextran nanomicellar clusters as an excipient for dry powder inhaler formulation.

Effective delivery of drugs to alveoli in a controlled manner using hydrophobic polymers as carriers has already been reported. Preclinical studies revealed that toxicity and hydrophobicity are related to each other in pulmonary delivery. Here, we are reporting a chemically modified dextran having amphiphilicity and cationicity achieved by controlled grafting of stearyl amine.

Dry powder cationic lipopolymeric nanomicelle inhalation for targeted delivery of antitubercular drug to alveolar macrophage.

Excipients having self-assembling properties are less explored in the field of dry powder inhalation (DPI) technology. An amphiphilic lipopolymer system was developed using stearic acid (SA) and branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) (1800 Dalton), at different proportions by covalent conjugation. A molecular dynamic (MD) simulation tool was employed for predicting the carrier behavior in a polar in vivo condition.