104 results match your criteria: "Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra.[Affiliation]"

Parkinson's disease is a prevalent neurological condition that affects around 1% of adults over 60 worldwide. Deep brain stimulation and dopamine replacement therapy are common therapies for Parkinson's disease, yet they are unable to reverse the disease it simply because of the blood brain barrier. The use of bioengineered exosomes to treat Parkinson's disease is being studied because they have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

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Introduction: Follicular delivery is one of the targeted drug delivery methods aiming to target the hair follicles. The accumulation and retention time of targeted drugs is enhanced when nanoparticles are used as drug carriers. Particle size is one of the important factors affecting the penetration and accumulation of particles in the hair follicles, and there is a controversy in different studies for the best particle size for follicular delivery.

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The role of chondroitin sulphate as a potential biomaterial for hepatic tissue regeneration: A comprehensive review.

Int J Biol Macromol

October 2024

Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation and Allied Health Sciences, Riphah International University, Gulberg III, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. Electronic address:

Chondroitin sulphate is an anionic hetero-polysaccharide, having numerous structural affinities for building the bio-active components. In addition to biodegradable/biocompatible activities, chondroitin sulphate also possesses anti-coagulant/anti-thrombogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant as well as anti-tumor activities. Chondroitin sulphate has an inherited affinity for glycosylation enzymes and receptors, which are overexpressed over degenerated cells and organelles.

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Background: The opening up of the laws to medicinal cannabis in recent years is a key factor in the growth of this therapy, but there is little information about what nurses know and think about it. The present paper seeks to analyze the knowledge, opinions, and experiences of nurses and nursing students in Portugal regarding the use of cannabis and to understand gender differences.

Methods: A self-completion questionnaire was drawn up and published online.

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Mentha aquatica L., or water mint, is an important member of the Mentha genus, and has long been used in traditional medicine, mainly to treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold. Nevertheless, although over the years many studies have shown that it's potential grows beyond this use, a review that highlights M.

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Various cationic photosensitizers employed in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) have the ability to photoinactivate planktonic bacteria under conditions of low phototoxicity to mammalian cells and without generating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, the photoinactivation of biofilms requires orders-of-magnitude higher photosensitizer concentrations, which become toxic to host cells. Remarkably, the bactericidal effect of a dicationic di-imidazolyl chlorin toward planktonic and was observed in this work for concentrations below 400 nM under illumination at 660 nm and below 50 μM for the corresponding biofilms.

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Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (NDDS) based nanoformulations have emerged as promising drug delivery systems. Various NDDS-based formulations have been reported such as polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), nanoliposomes, solid lipid NPs, nanocapsules, liposomes, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems, pro liposomes, nanospheres, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, gold NPs, silver NPs and nanostructured lipid carrier. They have shown numerous advantages such as enhanced bioavailability, aqueous solubility, permeability, controlled release profile, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability.

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Cancer cell membrane-modified Soluplus® micelles for gemcitabine delivery to pancreatic cancer using a prodrug approach.

Int J Pharm

September 2024

Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D Farma (GI-1645), Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Materials (iMATUS), and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Researchers developed a novel approach by combining gemcitabine (GEM) with vitamin E succinate (VES) and encapsulating them in Soluplus® micelles, resulting in small, stable particles that effectively target cancer cells.
  • They also explored modifying these micelles with pancreatic cancer cell membranes to enhance targeting capabilities, emphasizing the need for improved techniques to analyze these complex nanocarriers.
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Aims: There are around 24 distinct lipid vesicles described in the literature that are similar to vesicular systems such as liposomes. Liposome-like structures are formed by combining certain amphiphilic lipids with a suitable stabiliser. Since their discovery and classification, self-assembled liposome-like structures as active drug delivery vehicles captured researchers' curiosity.

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Bioengineered Abiotic Nanomaterials Through Cell Membrane-Camouflaging: Advancements and Challenges in Lung Cancer.

Adv Healthc Mater

November 2024

Department of Science & Technology, Department of Urology, NanoBioMed Group, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, China.

Lung cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates and poor prognosis. Bridging the gap between the chemical and cellular understanding of cell-decorated biomimetic nanocomposites and their clinical translation is crucial for developing effective therapies. Nanocomposites show promise in targeted drug delivery and diagnostics, but their clinical application is hindered by biocompatibility and clearance issues.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cannabidiol, a compound derived from the Cannabis plant, has promising pharmacological effects, particularly when used topically, and is linked to fewer adverse events compared to other cannabinoids.
  • The study conducts a scoping review to analyze the efficacy of topical cannabidiol through in vivo models, guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology and established inclusion criteria.
  • Though further research is required to determine optimal dosages, cannabidiol shows potential in treating various health issues, including glaucoma, atopic dermatitis, epidermolysis bullosa, and pyoderma gangrenosum.
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Areas of the body accessible to gastric secretions, such as the stomach and duodenum, are most commonly damaged by circumscribed lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa. Peptic ulcer disease is the term for this illness (PUD). About 80% of peptic ulcers are duodenal ulcers, with stomach ulcers accounting for the remaining 20%.

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Despite past efforts towards therapeutical innovation, cancer remains a highly incident and lethal disease, with current treatments lacking efficiency and leading to severe side effects. Hence, it is imperative to develop new, more efficient, and safer therapies. Bee venom has proven to have multiple and synergistic bioactivities, including antitumor effects.

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Unravelling the success of transferosomes against skin cancer: Journey so far and road ahead.

Drug Deliv Transl Res

September 2024

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400019, India.

Skin cancer remains one of the most prominent types of cancer. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are commonly found together, with melanoma being the more deadly type. Skin cancer can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, which mostly uses small molecular medicines, phytoceuticals, and biomacromolecules.

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Treatment avenues for age-related macular degeneration: Breakthroughs and bottlenecks.

Ageing Res Rev

July 2024

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019, India. Electronic address:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant factor contributing to serious vision loss in adults above 50. The presence of posterior segment barriers serves as chief roadblocks in the delivery of drugs to treat AMD. The conventional treatment strategies use is limited due to its off-targeted distribution in the eye, shorter drug residence, poor penetration and bioavailability, fatal side effects, etc.

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Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems Targeting Insulin Signalling for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

J Alzheimers Dis

April 2024

Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.

Article Synopsis
  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is linked to insulin signaling dysfunction, which has been discovered to play a significant role in neuron survival and cognitive function, challenging earlier assumptions about insulin's relevance in the brain.
  • Key molecules like GSK-3β, Akt, PI3K, and IRS are involved in insulin signaling, and their irregularities can lead to insulin resistance, which may contribute to the development of AD alongside oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
  • Innovative drug delivery methods, such as oral insulin, nanoparticles, and intranasal administration, are being explored to specifically target insulin signaling as a potential treatment for AD, highlighting possible therapeutic advancements.
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Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer and its inherent biological characteristics make it ideal to use for tissue engineering. For many decades, its properties like non-toxicity, abundant availability, ease of modification, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and anti-microbial activity have made chitin an ideal biopolymer for drug delivery. Research studies have also shown many potential benefits of chitin in the formulation of functional therapy for cartilage regeneration.

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As adaptable biomaterials, hydrogels have shown great promise in several industries, which include the delivery of drugs, engineering of tissues, biosensing, and regenerative medicine. These hydrophilic polymer three-dimensional networks have special qualities like increased content of water, soft, flexible nature, as well as biocompatibility, which makes it excellent candidates for simulating the extracellular matrix and promoting cell development and tissue regeneration. With an emphasis on their design concepts, synthesis processes, and characterization procedures, this review paper offers a thorough overview of hydrogels.

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Mechanistic insights into the potential role of dietary polyphenols and their nanoformulation in the management of Alzheimer's disease.

Biomed Pharmacother

May 2024

Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India; Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura- 140401, Punjab, India.; School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, India; Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied & Life Sciences (SALS), Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain disorder that causes memory loss and affects thinking skills over time.
  • Certain bad proteins, called amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, play a key role in causing AD.
  • Polyphenols, which are natural compounds found in foods like fruits, vegetables, coffee, and dark chocolate, may help in treating AD by protecting the brain and can be made easier to absorb using special tiny versions called nanoformulations.
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The gut microbiome is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Modulating the gut microbiome can lead to eubiosis and treatment of various metabolic conditions. However, there is no proper study assessing the delivery of microbial technology for the treatment of such conditions.

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Antioxidant, antimicrobial and healing properties of an extract from coffee pulp for the development of a phytocosmetic.

Sci Rep

February 2024

Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Cândido Portinari, 200, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-871, Brazil.

Consumer demand for natural, chemical-free products has grown. Food industry residues, like coffee pulp, rich in caffeine, chlorogenic acid and phenolic compounds, offer potential for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a phytocosmetic only with natural products containing coffee pulp extract as active pharmaceutical ingredient with antioxidant, antimicrobial and healing activity.

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A review on natural biopolymers in external drug delivery systems for wound healing and atopic dermatitis.

Int J Biol Macromol

April 2024

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address:

Despite the advantages of topical administration in the treatment of skin diseases, current marketed preparations face the challenge of the skin's barrier effect, leading to low therapeutic effectiveness and undesirable side effects. Hence, in recent years the management of skin wounds, the main morbidity-causing complication in hospital environments, and atopic dermatitis, the most common inflammatory skin disease, has become a great concern. Fortunately, new, more effective, and safer treatments are already under development, with chitosan, starch, silk fibroin, agarose, hyaluronic acid, alginate, collagen, and gelatin having been used for the development of nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes and/or hydrogels to improve the delivery of several molecules for the treatment of these diseases.

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Chitosan-based nanosystems for cancer diagnosis and therapy: Stimuli-responsive, immune response, and clinical studies.

Carbohydr Polym

April 2024

Department of Science & Technology, Department of Urology, NanoBioMed Group, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, China. Electronic address:

Cancer, a global health challenge of utmost severity, necessitates innovative approaches beyond conventional treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy).

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