Controlled release delivery is available for many routes of administration and offers many advantages (as microparticles and nanoparticles) over immediate release delivery. These advantages include reduced dosing frequency, better therapeutic control, fewer side effects, and, consequently, these dosage forms are well accepted by patients. Advances in polymer material science, particle engineering design, manufacture, and nanotechnology have led the way to the introduction of several marketed controlled release products and several more are in pre-clinical and clinical development.

Abstract. In the current study, novel paclitaxel-loaded cross-linked hyaluronan nanoparticles were engineered for the local delivery of paclitaxel as a prototype drug for cancer therapy. The nanoparticles were prepared using a desolvation method with polymer cross-linking. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that less than 75% of the MDA-MB-231 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells were viable after 2-day exposure to paclitaxel-loaded hyaluronan nanoparticles or free paclitaxel, regardless of the dose. These results suggest that hyaluronan nanoparticles maintain the pharmacological activity of paclitaxel and efficiently deliver it to the cells. Furthermore, in vivo administration of the drug-loaded nanoparticles via direct intratumoral injection to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumor in female rats was studied. The paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles treated group showed effective inhibition of tumor growth in all treated rats. Interestingly, there was one case of complete remission of tumor nodule and two cases of persistent reduction of tumor size that was observed on subsequent days. In the case of free paclitaxel-treated group, the mean tumor volume increased almost linearly (R 2 =0.93) with time to a size that was 4.9-fold larger than the baseline volume at 57 days post-drug administration. Intratumoral administration of paclitaxel-loaded hyaluronan nanoparticles could be a promising treatment modality for solid mammary tumors.

Globally, pharmacy education is evolving to reflect a more patient-centered, interprofessional approach to clinical practice. In the 22 countries of the Arab world, advancements in regulatory support for pharmacy practice and changes to the health care system have been slower than in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Significant cultural, logistical, and legal barriers exist in many countries, and a consensus approach to accreditation, educational outcomes, and curricula design is lacking. This commentary briefly examines the current state of both pharmacy education and practice in the Arab world, and it highlights recent reports of curricular reform and innovation. Additionally, it provides potential strategies for improving the quality of education and for expanding pharmacy practice to ensure graduates and practitioners have adequate experiential opportunities and institutional support.

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