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Nanotechnology has the potential to generate advancements and innovations in formulations and delivery systems. This fast-developing technology has been widely exploited for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Today, cosmetic formulations incorporating nanotechnology are a relatively new yet very promising and highly researched area. The application of nanotechnology in cosmetics has been shown to overcome the drawbacks associated with traditional cosmetics and also to add more useful features to a formulation. Nanocosmetics and nanocosmeceuticals have been extensively explored for skin, hair, nails, lips, and teeth, and the inclusion of nanomaterials has been found to improve product efficacy and consumer satisfaction. This is leading to the replacement of many traditional cosmeceuticals with nanocosmeceuticals. However, nanotoxicological studies on nanocosmeceuticals have raised concerns in terms of health hazards due to their potential skin penetration, resulting in toxic effects. This review summarizes various nanotechnology-based approaches being utilized in the delivery of cosmetics as well as cosmeceutical products, along with relevant patents. It outlines their benefits, as well as potential health and environmental risks. Further, it highlights the regulatory status of cosmeceuticals and analyzes the different regulatory guidelines in India, Europe, and the USA and discusses the different guidelines and recommendations issued by various regulatory authorities. Finally, this article seeks to provide an overview of nanocosmetics and nanocosmeceuticals and their applications in cosmetic industries, which may help consumers and regulators to gain awareness about the benefits as well as the toxicity related to the continuous and long-term uses of these products, thus encouraging their judicious use.

The objective of this work was to develop sustained-release Ca-alginate beads of apigenin using sodium alginate, a natural polysaccharide. Six batches were prepared by applying the ionotropic gelation technique, wherein calcium chloride was used as a crosslinking agent. The beads were evaluated for particle size, drug loading, percentage yield, and in vitro drug release. Particle size was found to decrease, and drug entrapment efficiency was enhanced with an increase in the polymer concentration. The dissolution study showed sustained drug release from the apigenin-loaded alginate beads with an increase in the polymer proportion. Based on the dissolution profiles, BD6 formulation was optimized and characterized for FTIR, DSC, XRD, and SEM, results of which indicated successful development of apigenin-loaded Ca alginate beads. MTT assay demonstrated a potential anticancer effect against the breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. The antimicrobial activity exhibited effective inhibition in the bacterial and fungal growth rate. The DPPH measurement revealed that the formulation had substantial antioxidant activity, with EC50 value slightly lowered compared to pure apigenin. A stability study demonstrated that the BD6 was stable with similar (f2) drug release profiles in harsh condition. In conclusion, alginate-based beads could be used for sustaining the drug release of poorly water-soluble apigenin while also improving in vitro antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity.

Biopolymers-based composite edible films are gaining interest in the food packaging industry due to their sustainable nature and diverse biological activities. In the current study, we used sodium alginate (SA) and casein (CA) for the fabrication of composite film using the casting method. We also added orange oil to the edible film and assessed its impact on the biological, chemical, physical, and barrier properties of the films. The fabricated films were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was observed that CA–SA films loaded with 1.5% OEO had better visual attributes, and a further increase in oil concentration was not found to be as favorable. Mechanical assessment of the films revealed that CA–SA-OEO (1.5%) film showed lower puncture deformation and higher puncture force values. XRD data showed that all samples exhibited peaks at similar positions (21° of 2θ) with different intensities. In FTIR analysis, characteristic peaks of the film components (sodium alginate, casein, and orange oil) were reported at corresponding positions. The thermal stability of films was enhanced after the addition of the OEO (1.5%), however, a greater increase in OEO caused a decrease in the thermal stability, observed during TGA analysis. Moreover, the surface of the blank CA–SA film (FL1) was found to be rough (with cracks) compared to CA–SA films (FL2) containing 1.5% OEO. Additionally, FL2 was found to be relatively better than the other samples in terms of swelling degree (SD), thickness, water solubility (WS), oxygen permeability (OP), water vapor permeability (WVP), moisture content (MC), and transparency (T).

Baricitinib (BTB) is an orally administered Janus kinase inhibitor, therapeutically used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Recently it has also been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 infection. In this study, four different BTB-loaded lipids (stearin)-polymer (Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)) hybrid nanoparticles (B-PLN1 to B-PLN4) were prepared by the single-step nanoprecipitation method. Next, they were characterised in terms of physicochemical properties such as particle size, zeta potential (ζP), polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). Based on preliminary evaluation, the B-PLN4 was regarded as the optimised formulation with particle size (272 ± 7.6 nm), PDI (0.225), ζP (−36.5 ± 3.1 mV), %EE (71.6 ± 1.5%) and %DL (2.87 ± 0.42%). This formulation (B-PLN4) was further assessed concerning morphology, in vitro release, and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats. The in vitro release profile exhibited a sustained release pattern well-fitted by the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model (R2 = 0.879). The in vivo pharmacokinetic data showed an enhancement (2.92 times more) in bioavailability in comparison to the normal suspension of pure BTB. These data concluded that the formulated lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles could be a promising drug delivery option to enhance the bioavailability of BTB. Overall, this study provides a scientific basis for future studies on the entrapment efficiency of lipid-polymer hybrid systems as promising carriers for overcoming pharmacokinetic limitations.

In the current study, four formulae (BNS1-BNS4) of butenafine (BTF) loaded nanosponges (NS) were fabricated by solvent emulsification technology, using different concentration of ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a rate retarding polymer and surfactant, respectively. Prepared NS were characterized for particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). Nanocarrier BNS3 was optimized based on the particle characterizations and drug encapsulation. It was further evaluated for physicochemical characterizations; FTIR, DSC, XRD and SEM. Selected NS BNS3 composed of BTF (100 mg), EC (200 mg) and 0.3% of PVA showed, PS (543 ± 0.67 nm), PDI (0.330 ± 0.02), ZP (−33.8 ± 0.89 mV), %EE (71.3 ± 0.34%) and %DL (22.8 ± 0.67%), respectively. Fabricated NS also revealed; polymer-drug compatibility, drug-encapsulation, non-crystalline state of the drug in the spherical NS as per the physicochemical evaluations. Optimized NS (BNS3) with equivalent amount of (1%, w/w or w/v) BTF was incorporated into the (1%, w/w or w/v) carbopol gel. BTF loaded NS based gel was then evaluated for viscosity, spreadability, flux, drug diffusion, antifungal, stability and skin irritation studies. BNS3 based topical gels exhibited a flux rate of 0.18 (mg/cm2.h), drug diffusion of 89.90 ± 0.87% in 24 h with Higuchi model following anomalous non-Fickian drug release. The BNS3 based-gel could be effective against pathogenic fungal strains.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with plant extracts has gained considerable interest in the field of biomedicine. Recently, the bioreduction nature of herbal extracts has helped to synthesize spherical GNPs of different potential from gold salt. In this study, a fast ecofriendly method was adopted for the synthesis of GNPs using fresh peel (aqueous) extracts of Benincasa hispida, which acted as reducing and stabilizing agents. The biosynthesized GNPs were characterized by UV–VIS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering. In addition, the in vitro antibacterial and anticancer activities of synthesized GNPs were investigated. The formation of gold nanoparticles was confirmed by the existence of a sharp absorption peak at 520 nm, corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the GNPs. TEM analysis revealed that the prepared GNPs were spherical in shape and had an average particle size of 22.18 ± 2 nm. Most importantly, the synthesized GNPs exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the biosynthesized GNPs exerted remarkable in vitro cytotoxicity against human cervical cancer cell line, while sparing normal human primary osteoblast cells. Such cytotoxic effect was attributed to the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contributed to the damage of HeLa cells. Collectively, peel extracts of B. hispida can be efficiently used for the synthesis of GNPs, which can be adopted as a natural source of antimicrobial and anticancer agent.

The aim of the present investigation is to prepare baricitinib (BAR)-loaded diphenyl carbonate (DPC) β-cyclodextrin (βCD) based nanosponges (NSs) to improve the oral bioavailability. BAR-loaded DPC-crosslinked βCD NSs (B-DCNs) were prepared prepared by varying the molar ratio of βCD: DPC (1:1.5 to 1:6). The developed B-DCNs loaded with BAR were characterized for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), % yield and percent entrapment efficiency (%EE). Based on the above evaluations, BAR-loaded DPC βCD NSs (B-CDN3) was optimized with mean size (345.8±4.7 nm), PDI (0.335±0.005), Yield (91.46±7.4%) and EE (79.1±1.6%). The optimized NSs (B-CDN3) was further confirmed by SEM, spectral analysis, BET analysis, in vitro release and pharmacokinetic studies. The optimized NSs (B-CDN3) showed 2.13 times enhancement in bioavailability in comparison to pure BAR suspension. It could be anticipated that NSs loaded with BAR as a promising tool for release and bioavailability for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis and Covid-19.

The drying temperature is one of the crucial parameters that impacts the physical, chemical, and biological properties of edible films (EFs). This parameter determines the degree of crystallinity, which can further impact the film’s mechanical, barrier, and optical properties. The present work is designed to investigate the effect of different drying temperature conditions (25 °C and 45 °C) on ginger essential oil (GEO) loaded Gelatin-sodium alginate composite films over their physical, chemical, and antioxidant properties. Results indicated that drying of films at 25 °C had a positive effect on certain properties of the EFs, such as the moisture content (MC), water solubility (S), swelling degree (SD), water vapor permeability (WVP), and mechanical and optical properties. SEM analysis showed that films dried at 25 °C presented more uniform surface properties with fewer cracks and pores compared to films dried at 45 °C. TGA analysis demonstrated the higher thermal stability of the films when dried at 25 °C. Findings obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed film crystallinity and electrostatic interactions between GE, SA, and GEO. Results obtained from antioxidant assays revealed that films dried at 25 °C showed comparable antioxidant capacity to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Furthermore, it was found that the addition of SA and GEO to the blank GE films improved their physical, chemical, and antioxidant properties. The present work suggests that GEO loaded GE-SA based films showed better physical, chemical, and antioxidant potential when dried at a lower temperature. These novel materials can be utilized as potential packaging materials in the food industry.

In the current study, diosmin (DSM)-loaded beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-based nanosponges (NSPs) using diphenylcarbonate (DPC) as a cross-linker were prepared. Four different DSM-loaded NSPs (D-NSP1-NSP4) were developed by varying the molar ratio of β-CD: DCP (1:15–1:6). Based on preliminary evaluations, NSPs (D-NSP3) were optimized for size (412 ± 6.1 nm), polydispersity index (PDI) (0.259), zeta potential (ZP) (−10.8 ± 4.3 mV), and drug loading (DL) (88.7 ± 8.5%), and were further evaluated by in vitro release, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and in vitro antioxidant studies. The NSPs (D-NSP3) exhibited improved free radical scavenging activity (85.58% at 100 g/mL) compared to pure DSM. Dissolution efficiency (%DE) was enhanced to 71.50% (D-NSP3) from plain DSM (58.59%). The D-NSP3 formulation followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model and had an n value of 0.529 indicating a non-Fickian and controlled release by diffusion and relaxation. The D-NSP3 showed cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast cancer, as evidenced by caspase 3, 9, and p53 activities. According to the findings, DSM-loaded NSPs might be a promising therapy option for breast cancer.

To develop and validate simple, precise, and eco-friendly UV spectrophotometric methods for the simultaneous estimation of etoricoxib (ETO) and tramadol hydrochloride (TRA) in combined dosage form. Two UV spectrophotometric methods, simultaneous equation and first-derivative zero-crossing, were established using methanol as solvent. Absorbances were measured at 279 nm and 217 nm for the simultaneous equation method, while zero-crossing wavelengths at 302 nm (ETO) and 283 nm (TRA) were used for the derivative method. Validation followed ICH Q2(R1) guidelines. Linearity was observed in the range of 2–23 µg/mL for ETO and 3–40 µg/mL for TRA with coefficient of determination (r²) = 0.9998. Detection limits for the simultaneous equation method were 0.362 µg/mL for ETO and 0.674 µg/mL for TRA, while the first derivative method provided slightly improved sensitivity with LOD of 0.326 µg/mL for ETO and 0.602 µg/mL for TRA. Accuracy studies yielded recoveries close to 100% for both analytes, and precision results indicated relative standard deviations of less than 2%. The proposed UV methods are accurate, precise, and environmentally benign, offering cost-effective and green alternatives to chromatographic analysis for routine quality control of ETO and TRA formulations.