Mechanophysical-chemotherapy combinations: a dual approach to combat cancer.

Cancer treatment, owing to its myriad limitations, has often been a formidable challenge to both the practitioners as well as researchers. There has been a continued effort in designing newer and successful strategies to obtain optimal results. One such strategy includes the elucidation of a combinatorial approach of the conventional chemotherapy protocol with various mechanophysical methods.

Effects of silymarin nanoemulsion against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage.

Silymarin is a complex mixture of four flavonolignan isomers (silybin, isosilybin, silydianin and silychristin) obtained from 'milk thistle' (Silybum marianum). This plant compound is used almost exclusively for hepatoprotection. Because of its low and poor oral bioavailability, silymarin was formulated as a nanoemulsion to increase its solubility (and so its oral bioavailability) as well as therapeutic activity.

Oil based nanocarrier for improved oral delivery of silymarin: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Silymarin, obtained from Silybum marianum is used for hepatoprotection and having poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, it was thought to incorporate the drug into oil-in-water (o/w) based nanocarrier to increase its oral bioavailability. In the present study, o/w nanocarrier was prepared by titration method and was characterized for droplet size, viscosity, etc.