Comparative Ungual Drug Uptake Studies: Equine Hoof Membrane vs. Human Nail Plate.

Human nail diseases, mostly caused by fungal infections, are common and difficult to treat. The development and testing of new drugs and drug delivery systems for the treatment of nail diseases is often limited by the lack of human nail material for permeation studies. Animal material is frequently used, but there are only few comparative data on the human nail plate, and there is neither a standardized test design nor a nail bed analogue to study drug uptake into the nail.

Salicylate-Based Ionic Liquids as Innovative Ingredients in Dermal Formulations.

The identification and characterization of novel compounds with improved functionality and safety is of great importance. Ionic liquids are potential candidates for use in dermal formulation as multifunctional components with a large variability potential. The behavior of Ionic Liquids (ILs) in aqueous solutions has an impact on their functionality in the formulation as well as on their biological activity.

A targeted rheological bioink development guideline and its systematic correlation with printing behavior.

Bioprinting for tissue or disease models is a promising but complex process involving biofabrication, cell culture and a carrier material known as bioink. The native extracellular matrix (ECM), which forms the scaffold for cells, consists of several components including collagen as a gelling agent to confer mechanical stiffness and provide a substrate for cell attachment. Bioprinting therefore needs an artificial ECM that fulfills the same functions as its natural counterpart during and after the printing process.

Effect of essential oils on oral halitosis treatment: a review.

Halitosis is a very common condition which may affect up to 30% of the population. In about 90% of the cases, halitosis originates in the mouth due to inadequate plaque control, periodontal disease, dry mouth, faulty restorations, and in particular due to excessive bacterial growth. Oral malodor is mainly caused by a microbial degradation of amino acids into volatile, bad-smelling gases (volatile sulfur compounds - VSCs).

Dermal delivery of therapeutic DNAzymes via chitosan hydrogels.

Biopharmaceutical development is progressing rapidly. It is imperative that novel drug delivery systems are designed to protect the integrity of the biopharmaceutical, and, at the same time, transport and distribute the drug efficaciously to the target site. Administration of highly specific and sensitive molecules, like therapeutic proteins or nucleic acid-based drugs, present distinct challenges.

The therapeutic potential of the insect metalloproteinase inhibitor against infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of the insect metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) from Galleria mellonella, the only known specific inhibitor of M4 metalloproteinases.

Methods: The fusion protein IMPI-GST (glutathione-S-transferase) was produced by fermentation in Escherichia coli and was tested for its ability to inhibit the proteolytic activity of the M4 metalloproteinases thermolysin and Pseudomonas elastase (PE), the latter a key virulence factor of the wound-associated and antibiotic-resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We also tested the ability of IMPI to inhibit the secretome (Sec) of a P.

Hydrophilic Ionic Liquids as Ingredients of Gel-Based Dermal Formulations.

Ionic liquids (ILs) have several properties that offer many advantages in dermal drug delivery systems. Depending on the chemical structure, ILs can be used for protection against microorganisms, to enhance skin penetration, and as a solvent. In the present work, SEPINEO™ P 600 formulations and hydroxyethylcellulose gels containing the hydrophilic ILs hexylpyridinium chloride, choline dihydrogen phosphate, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate were prepared, and the influence of the ILs on the formulation properties was evaluated.

Degradation and protection of DNAzymes on human skin.

DNAzymes are catalytic nucleic acid based molecules that have become a new class of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Until now, five DNAzymes have entered clinical trials. Two of them were tested for topical application, whereby dermally applied DNAzymes had been prone to enzymatic degradation.

Image-Processing Scheme to Detect Superficial Fungal Infections of the Skin.

The incidence of superficial fungal infections is assumed to be 20 to 25% of the global human population. Fluorescence microscopy of extracted skin samples is frequently used for a swift assessment of infections. To support the dermatologist, an image-analysis scheme has been developed that evaluates digital microscopic images to detect fungal hyphae.

Development of an insect metalloproteinase inhibitor drug carrier system for application in chronic wound infections.

Objectives: The insect metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) represents the first peptide capable of inhibiting virulence-mediating microbial M4-metalloproteinases and is promising as a therapeutic. The purpose of this study was to develop a suitable drug carrier system for the IMPI drug to enable treatment of chronic wound infections. Specifically, we studied on poloxamer 407 hydrogels, examining the influence of several additives and preservatives on the rheological parameters of the hydrogels, the bioactivity and release of IMPI.

Development of a protective dermal drug delivery system for therapeutic DNAzymes.

RNA-cleaving DNAzymes are a potential novel class of nucleic acid-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). However, developing an appropriate drug delivery system (DDS) that achieves high bioavailability is challenging. Especially in a dermal application, DNAzymes have to overcome physiological barriers composed of penetration barriers and degrading enzymes.

Evaluation and quantification of spectral information in tissue by confocal microscopy.

A confocal imaging and image processing scheme is introduced to visualize and evaluate the spatial distribution of spectral information in tissue. The image data are recorded using a confocal laser-scanning microscope equipped with a detection unit that provides high spectral resolution. The processing scheme is based on spectral data, is less error-prone than intensity-based visualization and evaluation methods, and provides quantitative information on the composition of the sample.

Ionic liquids as ingredients in topical drug delivery systems.

Because of their properties, ionic liquids (ILs) (Ranke et al.) offer many advantages in topical drug delivery systems. For example, ionic liquids can be used to increase the solubility of sparingly soluble drugs and to enhance their topical and transdermal delivery.

In line monitoring of the preparation of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) type multiple emulsions via dielectric spectroscopy.

Multiple emulsions offer various applications in a wide range of fields such as pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food technology. Two features are known to yield a great influence on multiple emulsion quality and utility as encapsulation efficiency and prolonged stability. To achieve a prolonged stability, the production of the emulsions has to be observed and controlled, preferably in line.

Development of drug delivery systems for the dermal application of therapeutic DNAzymes.

DNAzymes are potent novel drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis. DNAzymes represent a novel class of pharmaceuticals that fulfil a causal therapy by interruption of the inflammation cascade at its origin. There are two challenges regarding the dermal application of DNAzymes: the large molecular weight and the sensitivity to DNases as part of the natural skin flora.

Skin hydration and cooling effect produced by the Voltaren® vehicle gel.

Background: Voltaren vehicle gel is the carrier substance of the topical Voltaren products. This vehicle gel is especially formulated to be easily applied on the skin, while providing some sensory benefits. The present study aims to substantiate the widely perceived hydrating and cooling effect of Voltaren vehicle gel.

Protective effect of drug delivery systems against the enzymatic degradation of dermally applied DNAzyme.

DNAzymes are a group of RNA-cleaving DNA oligonucleotides that contain a catalytic domain and represent a novel class of antisense molecules. Although single-stranded DNAzymes may represent the most effective nucleic acid drug to date, the sensitivity to nuclease degradation is challenging. Therefore, it is important to develop a drug delivery system, which protects the molecule against degradation during dermal application.

Feasibility of Monte Carlo simulations in quantitative tissue imaging.

Purpose: The feasibility of Monte Carlo simulations as a tool to facilitate quantitative image analysis is investigated by means of simulating light transport in skin phantoms.

Methods: A Monte Carlo tool is used to compare if simulated fluorescent signals show agreement with measured data. The lipophilic fluorescent probe Nile Red and dedicated skin phantoms are also used in simulations to investigate the influence of the optical properties of the skin on the signal.