Department of Pharmaceuticals

Microalgae, a diverse group of photosynthetic microorganisms, have garnered significant attention for their ability to produce a range of bioactive metabolites with applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biofuels. These metabolites include primary compounds, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, as well as secondary metabolites, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and pigments, all of which exhibit remarkable therapeutic and nutritional properties. Advanced extraction methods, including ultrasound-assisted and supercritical fluid techniques, enhance the isolation of these bioactives for practical applications. Furthermore, microalgae-derived compounds demonstrate potential in treating diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and inflammation. Innovations in cultivation systems, including closed photobioreactors and nutrient recycling, promote sustainable production while addressing challenges related to scalability and quality control. This review highlights the multifunctional applications of microalgae metabolites and emphasizes their transformative potential in addressing global health and sustainability challenges.

According to the World Health Organization, Anemia is a health concern that impacts a substantial number of individuals globally, with 50% of cases due to iron deficiency and the remaining 50% being caused by other conditions and vitamin deficiencies. Iron deficiency anemia can cause several health issues, such as weakness, exhaustion, poor cognitive function, and a higher chance of pregnancy difficulties. Iron supplementation, particularly through dietary sources and supplement formulations, is fundamental in addressing this condition and is favored for managing mild to moderate cases. Ferrous and ferric iron are two types of iron that are often employed. Ferric pyrophosphate is a novel compound, complexed with pyrophosphate, is directly absorbed in the intestine, particularly by M cells in the duodenum. Ferric pyrophosphate is favored due to its higher elemental iron content, superior bioavailability, tolerability, and minimal impact on food color, taste, and texture. This review offers an in-depth investigation of ferric pyrophosphate as an alternative therapy for iron deficiency anemia because no review article currently available has compiled the research trends, benefits, and drawbacks of this drug. It summarizes pre-clinical and clinical studies on ferric pyrophosphate, exploring its pathogenesis, chemistry, safety, and efficacy.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies, with a dismal prognosis despite advancements in conventional treatment modalities. Gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach to combat pancreatic cancer by targeting the underlying genetic alterations and harnessing the power of the immune system. This review explores the current landscape of gene therapy strategies for pancreatic cancer, including gene replacement therapy, gene silencing, immunotherapy enhancement, and oncolytic virotherapy. Gene replacement therapy aims to restore the function of tumor suppressor genes, such as TP53, while gene silencing targets oncogenes like KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) to inhibit tumor growth. Immunotherapy enhancement, particularly through chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, has shown potential in overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Oncolytic viruses, engineered to replicate in and destroy cancer cells selectively, have demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models and are being evaluated in clinical trials. Recent advances, including the successful treatment of a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer using neoantigen T-cell receptor gene therapy, highlight the potential of personalized gene therapy approaches. However, challenges such as precise gene delivery, tumor heterogeneity, and ethical considerations must be addressed to realize the potential of gene therapy for pancreatic cancer fully. Ongoing research and clinical trials are expected to facilitate the way for the development of safe and effective gene therapies, offering hope for improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer.

ABSTRACT Pesticides are used to control, prevent, or eliminate pests that threaten crops, public health, and stored products. Malathion, an organophosphate pesticide, remains a priority contaminant across water, food, and soil, leading to environmental contamination and bioaccumulation in ecosystems. Their widespread and often indiscriminate use has raised significant concerns. This comprehensive review presents recent advances in the detection of Malathion using spectrometric, chromatographic, and biosensor techniques. Spectrometric methods deliver rapid screening with minimal sample preparation. Chromatographic workflows provide confirmatory quantification and separation, whereas immunoassays are required for pesticide residue quantification or screening. Electroanalytical sensors and advanced biosensors can be categorized into different types, such as non‐enzymatic, colorimetric, fluorescence‐based, including metallic organic framework (MOF‐based), aptamer‐based, and molecular imprinted polymer (MIP‐based), offering low‐cost, real‐time monitoring of samples. Future advancements in Malathion detection by integrating nanomaterials, microfluidics, and aptamer or antibody‐based recognition elements in biosensors, enabling faster, more selective, and ultra‐sensitive detection. The convergence of spectrometric, chromatographic, and biosensor technologies promises comprehensive tools for environmental monitoring, food safety, and health diagnostics in the upcoming years.

Surfactants are a significant class of additives that are often used as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and solubilizers in the majority of compositions. Although they are utilized in many formulations, the synthetic surfactants that make up current medication delivery methods are linked to several adverse consequences. Therefore, a new class of surface-active agents-known as biosurfactants, is derived from the metabolites of bacteria, yeast, and fungus to mitigate the issues related to traditional surfactants. The potential to reach new markets through creative formulations is strengthened by the fact that biosurfactants have the same functions as synthetic equivalents and can work in concert with other molecules to improve performance. Different forms of biosurfactants, their physicochemical characteristics, benefits and limitations, regulatory status, and their specific medicinal uses are rigorously examined in this article. However, because their application is limited by the expensive cost of manufacture and the absence of thorough toxicity testing, further study should be conducted. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of biosurfactants in medication delivery, highlighting their advantages, current challenges, and future prospects. Researchers can create more effective and long-lasting therapeutic treatments by comprehending the processes and interactions between biosurfactants and different drug scaffolds.

ABSTRACT Chronogenetic drug delivery is an emerging therapeutic modality utilizing engineered cells to release biomolecules in sync with the body’s circadian rhythms. This synthetic biology approach creates autonomous, living bio-pharmacies by coupling therapeutic gene expression to core clock gene promoters, marking a profound departure from conventional sustained-release strategies. This review discusses the molecular foundations of the mammalian circadian clock and the synthetic biology principles used to engineer chronogenetic circuits. We cover key design strategies, such as Per2-driven expression and multi-input logic gates, highlight preclinical validation, and survey promising clinical applications in inflammatory disorders, cancer chronoimmunotherapy, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Chronogenetic drug delivery is poised to revolutionize personalized medicine by incorporating the patient’s dynamic “chronome”. By designing therapies that work in harmony with the body’s natural rhythms, this approach has the potential to significantly improve efficacy and safety. It represents a fundamental shift towards treatments that are intrinsically aligned with human physiology, promising to transform chronic disease management.

The nanoparticle formulation technology is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming years, significantly shaping the pharmaceuticals market, nanomedicine domain, and healthcare systems. The success of employing nano crystallization strategies in industrial settings relies primarily on the technique's capacity to create active pharmaceutical ingredient nanoparticles with precise particle size, limited size variation, stability, consistency, large-scale feasibility, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness. Using nano-particles as a technological advancement has allowed for notable enhancements in various aspects. These include the substantial extension of product shelf lives, augmentation of intracellular delivery for hydrophobic molecules, and the optimization of specific therapeutics like anticancer agents, along with others. As the importance of Nano formulations emerges in the market, nanotechnology has transformed also in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanoparticles, ranging from 1 to 100 nm in size, offer unique advantages, including biocompatibility, decreased toxicity, improved stability, enhanced permeability and retention, and precise targeting, making them an effective option for cancer therapy. This comprehensive review article delves into the various categories of nano-formulations. A brief discussion on Nano medicine in Cancer therapy and different formulation strategies meticulously examining their farreaching influence on both the pharmaceutical industry as well as research centers dedicated to Nano formulations.

Cancer stands as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and lung cancer represents its most aggressive and persistent form. Traditional strategies for addressing lung cancer involve various medical therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision. Despite their prevalence, these conventional methods lack precision and inadvertently cause collateral damage to neighbouring healthy cells. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a potential strategy for the treatment and management of lung carcinomas, bringing about a transformative shift in existing approaches. The primary focus of this shift is on minimizing harmful effects and improving the bioavailability of chemotherapy drugs specifically targeted at tumour cells. Currently, transferosome nanocarrier systems are widely employed to overcome the obstacles presented by lung cancer. The utilisation of transferosomeloaded therapeutic medication administration technologies holds tremendous potential in regulating tumour cell growth and treating lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and analysis of current advancements in transferosome-based drug delivery systems, employing inhalational nanoparticle strategies for precise drug targeting in lung cancer management.