Exploring temozolomide encapsulated PEGylated liposomes and lyotropic liquid crystals for effective treatment of glioblastoma: in-vitro, cell line, and pharmacokinetic studies.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is one of the best choices for treating glioblastoma. However, due to the short plasma half-life, only 20-30 % brain bioavailability can be achieved using traditional formulations. In the present study, PEGylated liposomes and lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) were developed and investigated to prolong the plasma circulation time of TMZ.

Exploring microfluidics and membrane extrusion for the formulation of temozolomide-loaded liposomes: investigating the effect of formulation and process variables.

Liposomes have gained much attention in drug delivery since the entry of liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil) into the market. Liposomes can entrap lipophilic, hydrophilic as well as amphiphilic drug molecules due to their distinctive structural features. Yet the clinical translation of liposomes is limited due to the reproducibility issues owing to a lack of information related to the impact of process parameters and formulation variables on designed liposomes.

Tailoring the multi-functional properties of phospholipids for simple to complex self-assemblies.

The unique interfacial properties, huge diversity, and biocompatible nature of phospholipids make them an attractive pharmaceutical excipient. The amphiphilic nature of these molecules offers them the property to self-assemble into distinct structures. The solubility, chemical and structural properties, surface charge, and critical packing parameters of phospholipids play an essential role during formulation design.

Emerging trends in microneedle-based drug delivery strategies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: The current drug therapies for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or biological products designed to mitigate the symptoms of the disease. These therapies with conventional delivery systems possess limitations such as lack of selectivity and adverse effects in the extra-articular tissues. Microneedles-based transdermal drug delivery gained huge attention that can overcome the limitations associated with conventional preparations.

Revisiting techniques to evaluate drug permeation through skin.

Introduction: Investigating the transportation of a drug molecule through various layers of skin and determining the amount of drug retention in skin layers is of prime importance in transdermal and topical drug delivery. The information regarding drug permeation and retention in skin layers aids in optimizing a formulation and provides insight into the therapeutic efficacy of a formulation.

Areas Covered: This perspective covers various methods that have been explored to estimate drug/therapeutics in skin layers using , and conditions.

Quality by design (QbD) in the formulation and optimization of liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs): A risk based industrial approach.

The intersection of lipid-based nanoparticles and lyotropic liquid crystals has provided a novel type of nanocarrier system known as 'lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystals' or 'liquid crystalline nanoparticles' (LCNPs). The unique advantages and immense popularity of LCNPs can be exploited in a better way if the formulation of LCNPs is done using the approach of quality by design (QbD). QbD is a systematic method that can be utilized in formulation development.

UV spectroscopic method for estimation of temozolomide: Application in stability studies in simulated plasma pH, degradation rate kinetics, formulation design, and selection of dissolution media.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is a broad spectrum alkylating agent found effective in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, refractory anaplastic astrocytoma, and metastatic melanoma. The major drawback associated with TMZ is pH-dependent stability and short half-life. At physiological pH, it undergoes conversion to MTIC (methyltriazine imidazole carboxamide) and AIC (amino imidazole carboxamide), resulting in only 20-30% brain bioavailability.

Dermatokinetic assessment of luliconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for topical delivery: QbD-driven design, optimization, and in vitro and ex vivo evaluations.

The present study is concerned with the QbD-based design and development of luliconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) hydrogel for enhanced skin retention and permeation. The NLCs formulation was optimized employing a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design. The effect of formulation variable lipid content, surfactant concentration, and sonication time was studied on particle size and % EE.

Biodegradable microneedles fabricated with carbohydrates and proteins: Revolutionary approach for transdermal drug delivery.

There has been a surge in the use of transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) for the past few years. The market of TDDS is expected to reach USD 7.1 billion by 2023, from USD 5.

Luliconazole loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles for topical delivery: QbD driven optimization, in-vitro characterization and dermatokinetic assessment.

Fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and pose a serious health concern especially in immunocompromised patients. Luliconazole (LUL) is a topical imidazole antifungal drug with a broad spectrum of activity. To overcome the limitations of conventional dosage forms, LUL loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNP) were formulated and characterized using a three-factor, five-level Central Composite Design of Response Surface Methodology.

Emerging Trends in Topical Delivery of Curcumin Through Lipid Nanocarriers: Effectiveness in Skin Disorders.

Curcumin is a unique molecule naturally obtained from rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Curcumin has been reported to act on diverse molecular targets like receptors, enzymes, and co-factors; regulate different cellular signaling pathways; and modulate gene expression. It suppresses expression of main inflammatory mediators like interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, and nuclear factor κB which are involved in the regulation of genes causing inflammation in most skin disorders.

Psoriasis: pathological mechanisms, current pharmacological therapies, and emerging drug delivery systems.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder triggered by either genetic factors, environmental factors, life style, or a combination thereof. Clinical investigations have identified pathogenesis, such as T cell and cytokine-mediated, genetic disposition, antimicrobial peptides, lipocalin-2, galectin-3, vaspin, fractalkine, and human neutrophil peptides in the progression of psoriasis. In addition to traditional therapies, newer therapeutics, including phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), gene therapy, anti-T cell therapy, and phytoconstituents have been explored.

Insightful exploring of microRNAs in psoriasis and its targeted topical delivery.

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. It includes multifaceted interaction between the immune system and the keratinocytes. Recent studies depicted the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and inflammatory cytokine production, which serve as biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, and prognosis.

Nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery: current status and translational opportunity.

Ocular diseases have a significant effect on vision and quality of life. Drug delivery to ocular tissues is a challenge to formulation scientists. The major barriers to delivering drugs to the anterior and posterior segments include physiological barriers (nasolacrimal drainage, blinking), anatomical barriers (static and dynamic), efflux pumps and metabolic barriers.

Curcumin loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for enhanced skin retained topical delivery: optimization, scale-up, in-vitro characterization and assessment of ex-vivo skin deposition.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have become a promising drug delivery system for topical delivery of drugs. Delivery of lipophilic drugs with improved stability and entrapment efficiency is one of the foremost benefits of NLC based formulations. The objective of the present study was to improve the permeation of poorly soluble curcumin into topical skin layers for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorder psoriasis and microbial mediated acne vulgaris.

Emerging role of nanocarriers based topical delivery of anti-fungal agents in combating growing fungal infections.

The incidences of fungal infections have greatly increased over the past few years, particularly in humid and industrialized areas. The severity of such infections ranges from being asymptomatic-mild to potentially life-threatening systemic infections. There are limited classes of drugs that are approved for the treatment of such infections like polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers as Potential Drug Delivery Systems for Skin Disorders.

Background: Skin diseases affect all the age groups of people and have an impact on patients' physical, mental, and emotional status. Conventional topical preparation is limited with its efficacy due to low permeation, frequent application, and poor adherence to the therapy for prolong time.

Objective: The objective of this review article is to address the emerging trends of nanotechnology derived lipidic carrier systems for an effective treatment for skin disorders.

Targeted drug-delivery systems in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: recent advancement and clinical status.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by synovial inflammation, cellular infiltration in joints which leads to progressive joint destruction and bone erosion. RA is associated with many comorbidities including pulmonary disease, rheumatoid nodules and can have a pessimistic impact on quality of life. The current therapies of RA treatment comprise conventional, small molecule and biological antirheumatic drugs.

Design of temozolomide-loaded proliposomes and lipid crystal nanoparticles with industrial feasible approaches: comparative assessment of drug loading, entrapment efficiency, and stability at plasma pH.

Temozolomide is a drug approved for treating glioblastomas, which has 100% oral bioavailability but gets degraded at physiological pH thus having very short half-life and only 20-30% brain bioavailability. Due to its amphiphilic nature, reported nanoformulations exhibits poor drug loading. The objective of this work was to formulate lipid-based drug delivery systems to enhance the brain bioavailability by prolonging the drug release and circulation time of the drug to overcome the limitations of the existing therapies and possible reduction of side effects.

UV spectrophotometric method for simultaneous estimation of betamethasone valerate and tazarotene with absorption factor method: Application for in-vitro and ex-vivo characterization of lipidic nanocarriers for topical delivery.

The present study elucidates the development of an accurate, precise and simple simultaneous estimation method for the routine analysis of Betamethasone Valerate (BV) and Tazarotene (TZ). This combination is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis. No method has been reported so far for the simultaneous estimation of BV and TZ in topical dosage forms.

Nanotherapies for the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Disease: Recent Advancements and Challenges.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the common diseases affecting the posterior part of the eye, of a large population above 45 years old. Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor- A (Anti-VEGF-A) agents have been considered and approved as therapeutic agents for the treatment of AMD. Due to the large molecular weight and poor permeability through various eye membranes, VEGF-A inhibitors are given through an intravitreal injection, even though the delivery of small therapeutic molecules by topical application to the posterior part of the eye exhibits challenges in the treatment.

Advanced Hydrogels Based Drug Delivery Systems for Ophthalmic Delivery.

Hydrogels are aqueous gels composed of cross-linked networks of hydrophilic polymers. Stimuli-responsive based hydrogels have gained focus over the past 20 years for treating ophthalmic diseases. Different stimuli-responsive mechanisms are involved in forming polymer hydrogel networks, including change in temperature, pH, ions, and others including light, thrombin, pressure, antigen, and glucose-responsive.

Stability indicating liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous quantification of betamethasone valerate and tazarotene in in vitro and ex vivo studies of complex nanoformulation.

Low-potency corticosteroid betamethasone valerate and vitamin-A tazarotene are used in combination for effective treatment of psoriasis. There is no robust high-performance liquid chromatography analytical technique available for simultaneous estimation of betamethasone valerate and tazarotene in conventional and nanocarriers based formulations. A simple, accurate, robust isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for simultaneous estimation of betamethasone valerate and tazarotene in topical pharmaceutical formulations.

UV Spectrophotometric method for characterization of curcumin loaded nanostructured lipid nanocarriers in simulated conditions: Method development, in-vitro and ex-vivo applications in topical delivery.

Curcumin the extract obtained from the dried rhizome of turmeric, Curcuma longa is a hydrophobic phenol that delivers numerous pharmacological actions like anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant, anti-psoriasis, antidiabetic, anticancer. But curcumin has low bioavailability issues that accompany low aqueous solubility, further, when administered orally, >90% of the drug degrades rapidly in the alkaline medium. Administering the drug topically can bypass the problem as well as first-pass metabolism and therefore delivering the drug at the targeted site of action.

Microneedles: A smart approach and increasing potential for transdermal drug delivery system.

The most widely used methods for transdermal administration of the drugs are hypodermic needles, topical creams, and transdermal patches. The effect of most of the therapeutic agents is limited due to the stratum corneum layer of the skin, which serves as a barrier for the molecules and thus only a few molecules are able to reach the site of action. A new form of delivery system called the microneedles helps to enhance the delivery of the drug through this route and overcoming the various problems associated with the conventional formulations.