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The present study aimed to develop and compare the intranasal applicability of favipiravir-loaded aspasomes (FAV-ASPs) using film hydration method, and favipiravir-loaded niosomes (FAV-NIOs) using ethanol injection method. The FAV-ASP and FAV-NIO formulations were characterized according to nanoparticulate characteristics (DLS, drug loading, drug encapsulation efficacy, droplet size distribution), drug release and permeability behavior. The optimized FAV-ASP formulation (FAV-ASP8) consisted of FAV, ascorbyl palmitate, Span® 60 and cholesterol (30:25:25:50 w/w) with nano-scale size range (292.06 ± 2.10 nm), narrow polydispersity index (PDI) value (0.36 ± 0.03), adequate zeta potential (-74.73 ± 3.28 mV) and acceptable encapsulation efficiency (55.33 ± 0.41%). The optimized FAV-NIO formulation (FAV-NIO9) contained FAV, Span® 60 and cholesterol (30:30:40 ) with nano-scale size range (167.13 ± 1.60 nm), narrow PDI value (0.07 ± 0.01), adequate zeta potential (-27.1 ± 1.24 mV) and acceptable encapsulation efficiency (51.30 ± 0.69%). FAV-ASP8 and FAV-NIO9 were suitable for spraying into the nasal cavity (droplet size distribution <200 µm). In vitro drug release and permeability studies demonstrated enhanced solubility and increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of FAV formulations, respectively. The ex vivo human nasal permeability study revealed that FAV diffusion from FAV-ASP8 was higher than from FAV-NIO9 or initial FAV. Furthermore, the in vivo animal study showed that FAV-ASP8 had a higher BBB penetration compared to FAV-NIO9 and pure FAV. The in vitro-in vivo correlation study showed good correlation between the in vitro and the in vivo pharmacokinetic data. FAV-ASP8 for nose-to-brain delivery system could be a promising formulation to improve FAV bioavailability compared to FAV-NIO9.

Ropinirole is a non-ergolinic dopamine agonist used to manage Parkinson’s disease and it is characterized by poor oral bioavailability. This study aimed to design and develop advanced drug delivery systems composed of poloxamer 407, a non-ionic surfactant (Tween 80), and cyclodextrins (methyl-β-CD or hydroxy-propyl-β-CD) for possible brain targeting of ropinirole after nasal administration for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The hybrid systems were formed by the thin-film hydration method, followed by an extensive physicochemical and morphological characterization. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the systems on HEK293 cell lines was also tested. In vitro release and ex vivo mucosal permeation of ropinirole were assessed using Franz cells at 34 °C and with phosphate buffer solution at pH 5.6 in the donor compartment, simulating the conditions of the nasal cavity. The results indicated that the diffusion-controlled drug release exhibited a progressive increase throughout the experiment, while a proof-of-concept experiment on ex vivo permeation through rabbit nasal mucosa revealed a better performance of the prepared hybrid systems in comparison to ropinirole solution. The encouraging results in drug release and mucosal permeation indicate that these hybrid systems can serve as attractive platforms for effective and targeted nose-to-brain delivery of ropinirole with a possible application in Parkinson’s disease. Further ex vivo and in vivo studies to support the results of the present work are ongoing.

Objectives: Ex vivo nasal mucosa models provide physiologically relevant platforms for evaluating nasal drug permeability; however, their application is often limited by high experimental variability and the absence of standardized methodologies. This study aimed to improve experimental design by addressing two major limitations: the confounding effects of mucosal thickness and the questionable reliability of fluorescein sodium (Flu-Na) as an integrity marker for chemically induced mucosal injury. Methods: Permeability experiments were conducted using porcine nasal tissues mounted in Franz diffusion cells, with melatonin and Flu-Na as model compounds. Tissues of varying thickness were collected from both intra- and inter-individual sources, and a numerical simulation-based method was employed to normalize apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) to a standardized mucosal thickness of 0.80 mm. The effects of thickness normalization and chemically induced damage were systematically evaluated. Results: Thickness normalization substantially reduced variability in melatonin Papp, particularly within same-animal comparisons, thereby improving statistical power and data reliability. In contrast, Flu-Na exhibited inconsistent correlations across different pigs and failed to reflect the expected increase in permeability following isopropyl alcohol (IPA)-induced epithelial damage. These results suggest that the relationship between epithelial injury and paracellular transport may be non-linear and not universally applicable under ex vivo conditions, limiting the suitability of Flu-Na as a standalone marker of mucosal integrity. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of integrating mucosal thickness correction into standardized experimental protocols and call for a critical reassessment of Flu-Na in nasal drug delivery research.