Polymer- and Lipid-Based Nanostructures for Wound Healing with Barrier-Resolved Design

Protein and peptide-based therapeutic agents have unique physiochemical properties such as high molecular weight, short half life, requirement of a sustained plasma level for the desired therapeutic effect, liable to physical and chemical instability by gastric enzymes and harsh acidic environment as well as first pass metabolism, which makes their delivery a challenge. The delivery of proteins and peptides using various routes of administration like oral, nasal, rectal, pulmonary, buccal, vaginal and transdermal route is found to exhibit limitations, poor permeability and degradation being major limitations. Use of parenteral route is found to overcome these problems but patient compliance is poor due to the need for frequent administration. Use of control delivery for these drugs using smart polymers seems promising as they overcome the limitations posed by other routes of delivery. Smart polymers increase patient compliance, maintain stability of the drug, and maintain drug level in therapeutic window and are easy to manufacture. Different types of smart polymer-based delivery systems, such as sensitive to temperature, phase, pH, electric charge, light, and biochemicals, and their application in controlling the release of the incorporated drug to obtain a sustained plasma level has been discussed. Smart polymers, however, face challenges with regard to high burst release, unpredictable behavior in later part of biphasic release profile, overall drug release kinetics, conformational stability during processing, and preserving biological activity after getting released. Several patents overcoming these inherent problems associated with smart polymers have been reviewed. At the end, the future direction and potential of smart polymer-based delivery system for drug delivery has been presented in brief.

Fruits are highly perishable and often lose quality soon after harvest due to rapid ripening, moisture loss and microbial decay. These postharvest losses reduce both the nutritional value and marketability of fruits, affecting both farmers and consumers. Globally, postharvest losses in fruits are estimated to range between 20% and 50%, with higher percentages reported in tropical and developing regions. To mitigate these challenges, various postharvest management strategies have been developed, among which chemical treatments and edible coatings have gained considerable attention. Chemical treatments, including calcium chloride, calcium lactate, ethylene inhibitors such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and natural plant-based antimicrobials, play a crucial role in delaying senescence and maintaining fruit firmness. Calcium salts help strengthen cell wall structure and reduce enzymatic softening, while ethylene inhibitors suppress ripening processes by blocking ethylene action. Natural plant extracts and organic acids exhibit antimicrobial properties that help control postharvest pathogens and reduce spoilage. Edible coatings represent an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to synthetic packaging materials. These coatings are composed of biodegradable materials such as polysaccharides (e.g., starch, chitosan, alginate), proteins (e.g., whey protein, gelatin) and lipids (e.g., waxes, fatty acids). When applied to fruit surfaces, edible coatings form a thin, semi-permeable barrier that regulates gas exchange, reduces water loss, delays oxidative reactions and limits microbial contamination. Moreover, edible coatings can serve as carriers for functional additives such as antioxidants, antimicrobials and nutraceutical compounds, further enhancing their protective effect. Together, these technologies play an important role in reducing postharvest losses, improving storage stability and supporting food and nutrition security.

Inflammation is a type of defence mechanism employed by the immune system that hinders infection advancement and supports the effective elimination of a variety of external invasions. Self-assembled nanostructures, particularly cubosomes are gaining increased utility and popularity as a medication transport mechanism under circumstances like arthritis. These cubosomes serve as highly adaptable carriers with encouraging theranostic capabilities and can be delivered through oral, topical, intravenous, ocular, and transdermal routes. Recently valuable research has contributed to enhancing the effectiveness, analysis, target specificity, and regulation of drug release profiles for delivery of anti-inflammatory bioactive. However, the clinical transition has been sluggish and also necessitates substantial display. This review highlights the late developments with challenges in the progress as well as appeal of cubosomes in case of different inflammatory pathways on rheumatoid arthritis while also addressing the obstacles encountered in transforming it into a viable nanotechnological solution.

Electrospun nanofibers for dermatological delivery

Essential oils (EOs) are concentrated, hydrophobic volatile compounds derived from different parts of plants. They are recognized for their diverse and versatile functional properties. Approximately 90% of EOs are administered via topical or transdermal routes. However, EOs are susceptible to oxidation, and their high volatility often poses a challenge to the transdermal delivery of their bioactive constituents. Additionally, the direct application of pure EOs on the skin may result in irritating effects. Hence, various novel carrier systems have been explored for the topical application of EOs. Among these, nanoemulgel has received particular attention from the cosmeceutical industry. It is a hybrid technology combining nanoemulsion and a gelling phase, which can enhance the bioadhesivity of EOs, at the same time minimizing their irritating effects. This review summarizes the methods of EO extraction, steps and factors influencing the preparation of EO nanoemulgel, and characterization parameters for nanoemulgel studies. The potential cosmeceutical applications of EO nanoemulgels as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and penetration enhancer are also compiled and discussed.

Expand classical drug administration ways by emerging routes using dendrimer drug delivery systems: A concise overview

Background: Nanoemulsions are submicron-sized suspensions that are being studied extensively as pharmacological vehicles for enhancing the outcomes of drug delivery. Nanoemulsions are isotropic thermodynamic systems in which two immiscible liquids [water and oil] are combined to form a single phase using pertinent surfactants. Nano-emulsions are resilient to sedimentation or creaming due to their nano-droplet size. Ostwald ripening represents the principal process accountable for the disintegration of nanoemulsion. Droplet diameters in nanoemulsions typically range from 20 to 500 nanometers. The diameter and surface parameters of nanoemulsion droplets play are of paramount significance in determining the bioactivity of the formulation. Nanoemulsion offers a promising future in various industries like cosmetology, diagnosis, pharmacological regimens, and biomedicine in the future. Methods: Pharmaceutical surfactants are utilized to synthesize nanoemulsions, which are generally regarded as safe [GRAS]. The stability of the NEs against coalescence mainly depends on the type and concentration of the surfactant employed. Nanoemulsions are formulated from a variety of oils, notably natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic oils. Results: Over the past decade, various patents and clinical research have exemplified the applications of the NE system. Their application as a drug delivery entity in the ophthalmic, topical, transdermal, intranasal, intravenous, and oral routes is widely appreciated. Also, they have gained remarkable importance in the cosmetic industry. Conclusion: This review presents the importance of various components of NE and their importance in droplet formation and provides a brief insight into various drug administration routes of NE.

Technological evolution of cyclodextrins in the pharmaceutical field

By the association of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, nicotine in the therapeutic window lowers neuronal damage and raises protective factors. These data, however, are contradicted by other findings. Here, we assessed the effects of transdermal nicotine administration on cognitive functions in healthy non-smoker adults by systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. We included reports of clinical trials comparing the effects of nicotine patches with placebo in healthy non-smoking adults. The main outcome was the impact of nicotine patches on overall cognitive function with a focus on attention and memory. Standard meta-analytic and statistical methods measured the effect of transdermal nicotine compared with placebo patches. We included 31 publications involving 978 subjects. Nicotine patches boosted cognitive function in healthy adults (0.233 SMD, 95%CI, 0.111-0.355, p<.001). Overall heterogeneity of the studies was found to be modest (ϰ2 =68.24, T2 =0.07, I2 =50.17%, p<.001). Also, nicotine patches improved attention (0.231 SMD, 95%CI, 0.106-0.356, p<.001). We found the inter-study heterogeneity to be low (ϰ2 =40.95, T2 =0.03, I2 =34.07%, p=.042). Further, the enhancement of memory by transdermal nicotine did not reach statistical significance in normal subjects (0.270 SMD, 95% CI, -0.293-0.833, p=.347). Also, high inter-study heterogeneity was found among studies (ϰ2 =27.25, T2 =0.43, I2 =77.98%, p<.001). The meta-analysis showed that transdermal nicotine had statistically significant positive effects on attention, and non-significant effects on memory, in healthy non-smoking adults. The results encourage further studies of the therapeutic potential of nicotine patches in disorders of cognition.

Cannabinoids derived from Cannabis sativa L., particularly cannabidiol (CBD) and minor cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and cannabidivarin (CBDV), have attracted increasing interest due to their potential therapeutic properties in dermatology. These compounds exert anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, sebostatic, and antiproliferative effects, which may benefit a range of skin conditions. Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that cannabinoids may effectively alleviate inflammation, pain, pruritus, and microbial infections in various dermatologic disorders. Topical and transdermal routes show promise due to improved safety and targeted delivery. CBD has demonstrated efficacy in reducing sebum production in acne, modulating immune responses in psoriasis, and accelerating wound healing in EB. However, findings for alopecia areata remain inconsistent. Emerging delivery systems, including CBG-based emulgels and CBD transdermal patches, may improve local bioavailability and clinical outcomes. Cannabinoids, especially CBD, exhibit significant potential as adjuvant or alternative treatments for inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune skin diseases. Despite promising preliminary results, large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed to establish optimal dosing, formulations, safety, and long-term efficacy in clinical dermatology.

Polyphenols comprise a large group of naturally occurring plant secondary metabolites with various nutritional and health benefits. They are safe and are found abundantly in the diet. Current research on polyphenols focuses on their mechanism and their benefits on human health. However, due to their low solubility and bioavailability, delivery from the conventional route has been a challenge and their translation into clinical applications has been limited. Topical and transdermal delivery of polymeric nanoparticles will act as a novel therapeutic approach for promising delivery of polyphenols. In this review, we have evaluated the existing scientific literature and summarized the potential use of polymeric nanoparticles as a carrier for polyphenolic compounds for delivery via topical and transdermal routes for the treatment of skin cancers such as melanoma.