The purpose of this review is to discuss and summarize some of the interesting findings and applications of cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives in different areas of drug delivery, particularly in protein and peptide drug delivery and gene delivery. The article highlights important CD applications in the design of various novel delivery systems like liposomes, microspheres, microcapsules, and nanoparticles. In addition to their well-known effects on drug solubility and dissolution, bioavailability, safety, and stability, their use as excipients in drug formulation are also discussed in this article. The article also focuses on various factors influencing inclusion complex formation because an understanding of the same is necessary for proper handling of these versatile materials. Some important considerations in selecting CDs in drug formulation such as their commercial availability, regulatory status, and patent status are also summarized. CDs, because of their continuing ability to find several novel applications in drug delivery, are expected to solve many problems associated with the delivery of different novel drugs through different delivery routes.

The purpose of writing this review on floating drug delivery systems (FDDS) was to compile the recent literature with special focus on the principal mechanism of floatation to achieve gastric retention. The recent developments of FDDS including the physiological and formulation variables affecting gastric retention, approaches to design single-unit and multiple-unit floating systems, and their classification and formulation aspects are covered in detail. This review also summarizes the in vitro techniques, in vivo studies to evaluate the performance and application of floating systems, and applications of these systems. These systems are useful to several problems encountered during the development of a pharmaceutical dosage form.

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used drugs to reduce pain and inflammation (1). Celecoxib (CXB), a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has been recommended orally for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis (2). Long-term oral administration of CXB causes serious gastrointestinal side effects (2). Furthermore, poor aqueous solubility of CXB limits its formulation as topical dosage forms. Therefore, an improved CXB formulation with a high degree of permeation could be useful in the treatment of locally inflamed skin and inflammatory and painful states of the body, like bones, ligaments, etc. Topical vehicle systems can modify drug permeation through the skin but many dermal vehicles contain chemical enhancers and solvents to achieve these goals (3). The use of these chemical enhancers may be harmful especially in chronic applications, since many of them are usually irritants. It is therefore desirable to develop a topical vehicle system, that does not necessitate the The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of nanoemulsion formulations for transdermal delivery of celecoxib (CXB). The in vitro skin permeation profile of optimized formulations was compared with CXB gel and nanoemulsion gel. Significant increase in the steady state flux (J ss ), permeability coefficient (K p ) and enhancement ratio (E r ) was observed in nanoemulsion formulations T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). The highest value of these permeability parameters was obtained in formulation T2, which consisted of 2% (m/m) of CXB, 10% (m/m) of oil phase (Sefsol 218 and Triacetin), 50% (m/m) of surfactant mixture (Tween-80 and Transcutol-P) and 40% (m/m) water. The anti-inflammatory effects of formulation T2 showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in inhibition after 24 h compared to CXB gel and nanoemulsion gel on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. These results suggested that nanoemulsions are potential vehicles for improved transdermal delivery of CXB.