Explore the vast range of titles available.

Retinyl palmitate (RP), the most stable vitamin A derivative, is used to treat photoaging and other skin disorders. The need to minimize the adverse effects of topical drug administration has led to an enhanced interest in loading RP on ethosomes for topical drug delivery. The aim of the current study was to prepare and compare the performance of RP decorated ethosomal hydrogel with tretinoin cream in the treatment of acne vulgaris as an approach to improve drug efficacy and decrease its side effects. RP-loaded ethosomes were prepared using the injection sonication technique. A Box-Behnken design using Design Expert software was used for the optimization of formulation variables. Particle size, zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), % drug release, and permeation over 24 h of different formulations were determined. The optimal formulation was incorporated into a hydrogel. Finally, the efficacy and tolerability of the optimized RP ethosomal hydrogel were clinically evaluated for acne treatment using a split-face comparative clinical study. The optimized ethosomal RP showed particle size of 195.8±5.45 nm, ZP of -62.1±2.85 mV, EE% of 92.63±4.33%, drug release % of 96.63±6.81%, and drug permeation % of 85.98 ±4.79%. Both the optimized RP ethosomal hydrogel and tretinoin effectively reduced all types of acne lesions (inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions). However, RP resulted in significantly lower non-inflammatory and total acne lesion count than the marketed tretinoin formulation. Besides, RP-loaded ethosomes showed significantly improved tolerability compared to marketed tretinoin with no or minimal skin irritation symptoms. RP ethosomal hydrogel is considerably effective in controlling acne vulgaris with excellent skin tolerability. Therefore, it represents an interesting alternative to conventional marketed tretinoin formulation for topical acne treatment.

The alteration of retinoids levels in the skin can cause different disorders in the maturation of epithelial skin cells. Topical administration of these lipophilic molecules is a challenge that can be addressed by encapsulation into drug delivery systems. In this study, retinyl palmitate transferosomes formulated in cream were developed and the increases in the penetration of the active ingredients as well as the biodistribution were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Transfersomes demonstrated a significant increase in the administration of retinyl palmitate to the epidermis by quantification of the active ingredients in the different layers of the skin, as well as by fluorescence microscopy of biopsies of non-dermatomized pig-ear skin. These results suggest that transfersomes may be an efficient vehicle for the delivery of retinoids to inner layers of the skin, such as the epidermis.

Fortifying rice with vitamin A represents a crucial step toward addressing nutritional deficiencies in Bangladesh. The increasing interest in food enrichment necessitates straightforward and precise methods for analyzing fortified products. This study introduces a simple and reliable approach based on normal‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to quantify retinyl palmitate in fortified rice kernels. The method was validated in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Analysis was conducted using a DB silica column (250 cm × 4.6 mm; 5 μ m), with a mobile phase consisting of n‐hexane and isopropyl alcohol in a 96:04 v / v ratio and a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection occurred at a wavelength of 326 nm, with a retention time for vitamin A of approximately 3 min and a total run time of 5 min. The calibration plot exhibited a linear relationship ( R 2 = 1.00) across the concentration range of 0.48–30.80 μ g/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.015 and 0.051 μ g/mL for standard and 0.35 and 1.07 μ g/mL for spiked samples, respectively. Accuracy, determined through recovery studies, showed a mean recovery rate of over 90%. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) for intraday and interday precision was found to be less than 2%. Robustness and solution stability results were within acceptable limits. The proposed method, meeting all validation criteria including linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness, offers a rapid and cost‐effective solution for routine quality control of vitamin A‐fortified rice, with potential to support food fortification monitoring in resource‐limited settings.

Maximizing vaccine efficacy is critical, but previous research has failed to provide a one-size-fits-all solution. Although vitamin A and vitamin D supplementation studies have been designed to improve vaccine efficacy, experimental results have been inconclusive. Information is urgently needed to explain study discrepancies and to provide guidance for the future use of vitamin supplements at the time of vaccination. We conducted a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study of influenza virus vaccination and vitamin supplementation among 2 to 8 (inclusive) year old children over three seasons, including 2015–2016 (n = 9), 2016–2017 (n = 44), and 2017–2018 (n = 26). Baseline measurements of vitamins A and D were obtained from all participants. Measurements were of serum retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP, a surrogate for retinol), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Participants were stratified into two groups based on high and low incoming levels of RBP. Children received two doses of the seasonal influenza virus vaccine on days 0 and 28, either with an oral vitamin supplement (termed A 20,000 IU retinyl palmitate and 2000 IU cholecalciferol) or a matched placebo. Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody responses were evaluated toward all four components of the influenza virus vaccines on days 0, 28, and 56. Our primary data were from season 2016–2017, as enrollment was highest in this season and all children exhibited homogeneous and negative HAI responses toward the Phuket vaccine at study entry. Responses among children who entered the study with insufficient or deficient levels of RBP and 25(OH)D benefited from the A&D supplement (p < 0.001 for the day 28 Phuket response), whereas responses among children with replete levels of RBP and 25(OH)D at baseline were unaffected or weakened (p = 0.02 for the day 28 Phuket response). High baseline RBP levels associated with high HAI titers, particularly for children in the placebo group (baseline RBP correlated positively with Phuket HAI titers on day 28, r = 0.6, p = 0.003). In contrast, high baseline 25(OH)D levels associated with weak HAI titers, particularly for children in the A&D group (baseline 25(OH)D correlated negatively with Phuket HAI titers on day 28, r = −0.5, p = 0.02). Overall, our study demonstrates that vitamin A&D supplementation can improve immune responses to vaccines when children are vitamin A and D-insufficient at baseline. Results provide guidance for the appropriate use of vitamins A and D in future clinical vaccine studies.

Preschool-aged children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age particularly in countries of a lower socio-demographic index may experience insufficient dietary vitamin A. Fortifying staple foods such as edible oils with vitamin A is a useful approach to reduce malnutrition. To enable better quality oil fortification, producers need reliable and inexpensive tools for assessment of the vitamin A contents of their products. A simple reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography fluorescence detection (RP–HPTLC–FLD) method was developed and studied for the quantification of vitamin A palmitate (VAP) in five edible plant oils. The challenging matrices of non-refined palm kernel oil and soybean oil, which are known to interfere with the accuracy of some easy-to-use test kits, were separated from VAP using the new RP–HPTLC–FLD method. The standard addition method provided good accuracy and acceptable calibration curves (coefficients of determination R 2 between 0.9874 and 0.9999) even for manual application. The developed RP–HPTLC–FLD method proved simple, robust, sustainable, cost-efficient, and suitable for low-tech (minimum equipment) on-site analysis.  Graphical Abstract

Despite substantial progress, developing wound dressing that simultaneously address infection, oxidative stress, and tissue regeneration remains an active area of research. To address these concerns, we report the development of semi-interpenetrating hydrogel network comprised of polyacrylamide and chitosan, synthesized via a one-pot free radical polymerization. To enhance the therapeutic efficacy, hydrogel was loaded with polyaniline and retinyl palmitate. The developed hydrogel displayed excellent applicability, enabling easy administration at irregular wound sites. In vitro characterization confirmed hydrophilic nature and ability to scavenge reactive nitrogen species (> 90%), promoted cellular activity (L929 cells and red blood cells (< 5%)), mitigates infection risk (kills over 94% and 87% of the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial population respectively), prevents biofilm formation, thereby offering a favorable microenvironment for rapid healing. Furthermore, in a rat full-thickness excisional wound model, the developed hydrogel markedly accelerated wound contraction (98.6%), epithelial closure, and collagen deposition (0.8 µg/mg). Overall, this multifunctional polyaniline/retinyl palmitate-integrated hydrogel offers a promising step forward in the development of advanced biomaterials for next generation wound care.

Intravaginal drug administration offers several advantages over other routes, primarily bypassing the initial stages of metabolism. Additionally, this route has demonstrated both local and systemic effects. Mucoadhesive polymeric systems can be utilized to prevent dose loss due to the mucous barriers and the formation of wet cavities. This study employed various techniques to evaluate the performance and characteristics of a mucoadhesive film composed of HPMC-PEG 400 containing retinyl palmitate and ketorolac molecules. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was employed to analyze the porous structure of the film. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was conducted at different temperatures to assess thermal stability. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the functional groups and intermolecular interactions between the film and the drug. Swelling and weight loss tests indicated that the film disintegrated within 3–4 days. UV-VIS spectroscopy was used for drug release evaluation based on the Higuchi equation. Additionally, the surface wetting properties were assessed through contact angle measurements. The system’s biocompatibility was confirmed using the MTT assay. Finally, adhesion and glide tests demonstrated the film’s interaction with porcine uterine tissue. This study shows that the HPMC-PEG 400 film containing retinyl palmitate molecules interacts effectively with tissue and could be considered a novel tool for treating damaged epithelial tissues.

A protein called RPE65 performs a key role in the trans-cis isomerization of retinol in the retinal pigment epithelium of the eye. The palmitoylation of RPE65 serves to switch off the visual cycle in darkness and to switch it on in the light.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are a type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun, primarily responsible for skin photodamage. These rays mainly affect the epidermis, leading to direct damage to DNA and contributing to skin cancer development. Retinol and its derivatives are effective in combating skin aging and photodamage, but they often cause skin intolerance, limiting their use despite their potent effects. Therefore, investigating optimal compositions of retinoids is essential to enhance their efficacy against photodamage. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of retinol (ROL) and retinyl palmitate (RPalm) in alleviating UVB-induced DNA damage in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and reconstructed human epidermis. The ROL+RPalm combination was applied after UVB exposure. We utilized bulk mRNA sequencing, comet assays, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry to evaluate the level of DNA damage and repair. The application of the ROL+RPalm combination significantly reduced inflammation and apoptosis while promoting collagen synthesis compared to individual treatments with ROL or RPalm. Our findings indicated that the ROL+RPalm synergy primarily mediates DNA damage repair. Additionally, we elucidated that the molecular mechanism involves the activation of RARβ, which triggers the ATM-CHK2-p53 signaling pathway and increases the expression of homologous recombination (HR)-associated repair genes. This combination of ROL and RPalm presents a potential therapeutic strategy for UVB-induced photodamage and emphasizes the synergistic effects in alleviating UVB-induced DNA damage.

Retinyl palmitate (RP) is a vitamin A derivative that has been widely used in anti-aging and skin treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of RP on UVB (Ultraviolet radiation B) induced photoaging and its potential mechanism. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrates that RP can reduce collagen degradation in skin cells by UVB radiation and reduce apoptosis of skin cells. Cell migration assay reveals that RP can increase cell migration rate, helping to repair skin damage and restore cell viability. Immunohistochemical assays indicate that RP can significantly reduce the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α induced by UVB radiation. Moreover, metabolomics and transcriptomics results suggest that RP regulates several metabolic pathways and gene expression, particularly in inflammatory signaling pathways, collagen synthesis and apoptosis, exhibiting significant regulatory effects. Furthermore, network pharmacological analysis predicts that RP may affect UVB-induced photoaging by regulating multiple key proteins and signaling pathways. Overall, this study demonstrates that RP has significant anti-photoaging ability, acting through several pathways including inhibition of inflammatory response, promotion of collagen synthesis and inhibition of apoptosis. These results provide a scientific basis for the application of RP in skin anti-photoaging and therapy, enabling the potential usage of RP to skin care products.