Potential of Exosomes as Multifunctional Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery.

Exosomes are small vesicles that form when multivesicular bodies fuse with the plasma membrane and are released into body fluids. They play a vital role in facilitating communication between cells by transferring different biomolecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids, over both short and long distances. They also function as vital mediators in both states of health and disease, exerting an impact on several physiological processes.

Healing with herbs: an alliance with 'nano' for wound management.

Introduction: Wound healing is an intricate and continual process influenced by numerous factors that necessitate suitable environments to attain healing. The natural ability of wound healing often gets altered by several external and intrinsic factors, leading to chronic wound occurrence. Numerous wound dressings have been developed; however, the currently available alternatives fail to coalesce in all conditions obligatory for rapid skin regeneration.

Overcoming colloidal nanoparticle aggregation in biological milieu for cancer therapeutic delivery: Perspectives of materials and particle design.

Nanoparticles as cancer therapeutic carrier fail in clinical translation due to complex biological environments in vivo consisting of electrolytes and proteins which render nanoparticle aggregation and unable to reach action site. This review identifies the desirable characteristics of nanoparticles and their constituent materials that prevent aggregation from site of administration (oral, lung, injection) to target site. Oral nanoparticles should ideally be 75-100 nm whereas the size of pulmonary nanoparticles minimally affects their aggregation.

Preventive mechanisms of Chinese Tibetan medicine Triphala against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Triphala (TLP), as a Chinese Tibetan medicine composing of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellirica (1.2:1.5:1), exhibited hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and gut microbiota modulatory effects.

Comparison of virus-capsid mimicking biologic-shell based versus polymeric-shell nanoparticles for enhanced oral insulin delivery.

Virus-capsid mimicking mucus-permeable nanoparticles are promising oral insulin carriers which surmount intestinal mucus barrier. However, the impact of different virus-capsid mimicking structure remains unexplored. In this study, utilizing biotin grafted chitosan as the main skeleton, virus-mimicking nanoparticles endowed with biologic-shell (streptavidin coverage) and polymeric-shell (hyaluronic acid/alginate coating) were designed with insulin as a model drug by self-assembly processes.

Conversion of liquid chitosan-based nanoemulsions into inhalable solid microparticles: Process challenges with polysaccharide.

Solid particles ≤5 μm are essential to allow lower lung deposition and macrophage phagocytosis of anti-tubercular drugs. Decorating liquid nanoemulsion of anti-tubercular drug with macrophage-specific chitosan and chitosan-folate conjugate and spray drying the nanoemulsion with lactose produced oversized solid particles due to polysaccharide binding effects. This study designed solid nanoemulsion using lactose as the primary solid carrier and explored additives and spray-drying variables to reduce the binding and particle growth effects of chitosan.

Defining and supporting a professional role for pharmacists associated with traditional and complementary medicines: a cross-country survey of pharmacists.

An estimated 80% of the world's population use traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) products as part of their healthcare, with many accessed through pharmacy. This cross-cultural study posed a set of professional practice responsibilities and actions to pharmacists related to T&CM products, with a view toward developing consensus, safeguarding, and promoting the health of the public. : Data were collected from 2,810 pharmacists across nine countries during 2022 via a cross-sectional online survey reported in accordance with the guidelines of STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES).

Practices, barriers and facilitators to the delivery of pretravel health services by community pharmacists: A scoping review using the theoretical domains framework.

Background: The involvement of community pharmacists (CPs) in the provision of pretravel health services is increasing due to the increase in international travelers, the increased risk of travel-related diseases, and the expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice in some countries. In order to improve the quality and effectiveness of pretravel health care provided by CPs, a greater understanding of the practices, barriers, and facilitators is required.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify and describe existing studies on pretravel health services provided by CPs, and the barriers, and facilitators.

Functionalized chitosan for cancer nano drug delivery.

Chitosan is a biotechnological derivative of chitin receiving a widespread pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. It can be used to encapsulate and deliver cancer therapeutics with inherent pH-dependent solubility to confer drug targeting at tumour microenvironment and anti-cancer activity synergizing cancer cytotoxic drug actions. To further reduce the off-target and by-stander adverse effects of drugs, a high targeted drug delivery efficiency at the lowest possible drug doses is clinically required.

Reinvention of starch for oral drug delivery system design.

Starch is a polysaccharide with varying amylose-to-amylopectin ratios as a function of its biological sources. It is characterized by low shear stress resistance, poor aqueous/organic solubility and gastrointestinal digestibility which limit its ease of processing and functionality display as an oral drug delivery vehicle. Modulation of starch composition through genetic engineering primarily alters amylose-to-amylopectin ratio.

Nano-enabled agglomerates and compact: Design aspects of challenges.

Nanoscale medicine confers passive and active targeting potential. The development of nanomedicine is however met with processing, handling and administration hurdles. Excessive solid nanoparticle aggregation and caking result in low product yield, poor particle flowability and inefficient drug administration.

The use of herbal and dietary supplements for COVID-19 prevention: A survey among the public in a Malaysian suburban town.

Introduction: The spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may lead people to seek preventative measures. The use of herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) may have become prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify the prevalence, predictors, and patterns of HDS use for COVID-19 prevention in a sample of the general public in a suburban town in Malaysia.

Exploring Intestinal Surface Receptors in Oral Nanoinsulin Delivery.

Subcutaneous and inhaled insulins are associated with needle phobia, lipohypertrophy, lipodystrophy, and cough in diabetes treatment. Oral nanoinsulin has been developed, reaping the physiologic benefits of peroral administration. This review profiles intestinal receptors exploitable in targeted delivery of oral nanoinsulin.

Effect of Chicken Egg White-Derived Peptide and Hydrolysates on Abnormal Skin Pigmentation during Wound Recovery.

Abnormal skin pigmentation commonly occurs during the wound healing process due to the overproduction of melanin. Chicken egg white (CEW) has long been used to improve skin health. Previous published works had found CEW proteins house bioactive peptides that inhibit tyrosinase, the key enzyme of melanogenesis.

Development and Pilot Testing of a Booklet Concerning Medications That Can Increase the Risk of Falls in Older People.

Background: A common contributory factor to falls is the use of medicines, especially those commonly known as “fall-risk increasing drugs” (FRIDs). The use of FRIDs is common among older people (OP). However, OP and their family caregivers (FCGs) are largely unaware of FRIDs and their risks in increasing the risk of falls (ROF).

Microwave-assisted extraction of polysaccharide from Cinnamomum cassia with anti-hyperpigmentation properties: Optimization and characterization studies.

The anti-hyperpigmentation effect and tyrosinase inhibitory mechanism of cinnamon polysaccharides have not been reported. The current study focused on the extraction of polysaccharides from Cinnamomum cassia bark using microwave-assisted approach and optimization of the extraction process (i.e.

How Internet Websites Portray Herbal Vitality Products Containing : An Evaluation of the Quality and Risks of Online Information.

Background: Tongkat Ali (TA) or is a herbal medicine (HM) plant traditionally used to treat sexual dysfunction and enhance libido in men. Websites containing information about HM are abundant. However, studies have shown that in general the quality of websites containing information on HM is low.

Advanced Dome cellulose/alginate/chitosan composite matrix design with gastric and intestinal co-targeting capacities.

Dome matrix was designed with gastric and intestinal targeting capacities using melatonin and caffeine as model drugs, and alginate, chitosan and cellulose as composite materials. The melatonin, caffeine and intermediate hydroxypropylmethylcelluose-based dispersible modules were prepared through compaction. Caffeine piled module was capped at both ends with melatonin void modules via intermediate dispersible modules into Dome matrix.

Why Did I Consult My Pharmacist about Herbal and Dietary Supplements? An Online Survey Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia.

Herbal and dietary supplements (HDSs) are frequently obtained from community pharmacies, but community pharmacists (CPs) have been underutilized for information regarding them. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, factors behind, and reasons for consultation with CPs among HDS consumers in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted among conveniently sampled individuals in Malaysia.

Self-Learning about Herbal and Dietary Supplements: Perspectives Using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Self-learning (SL) is a process in which individuals take the initiative to acquire knowledge with or without the help of others. Knowledge about herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) is important for pharmacists. Unfortunately, there is limited coverage of topics relating to HDS in the pharmacy curricula.

Effects of Drug-Free Pectin Hydrogel Films on Thermal Burn Wounds in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

This study aims to examine the influence of drug-free pectin hydrogel films on partial-thickness burn wounds using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as the animal model. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were included in the wound healing study, and scalding water was used to produce wounds in the dorsum region of the rats. Two different formulations of pectin hydrogel films, PH 2.

Development of a board game to assist pharmacists learning the potentially inappropriate medications in older people.

Background And Purpose: Pharmacists have been reported to have inadequate awareness about potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older people. This warrants more efforts to enhance their familiarity and knowledge in this topic. A board game was developed based on the 2019 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria to assist pharmacists learning the topic.

Identification of novel biomarkers in prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common urinary malignancy. The lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of PCa makes it important to seek alternatives. R software was used to analyze the PCa expression profile from data sets in Gene Expression Omnibus.

Phytochemical-conjugated bio-safe gold nanoparticles in breast cancer: a comprehensive update.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and is rated among one of the three common malignancies worldwide in combination with colon and lung cancer. The escalating mortality rate of breast cancer patients has captivated the attention of the present-day researchers to come up with new management options. According to WHO, early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management are the three cornerstones for controlling breast cancer incidences per year.