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Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most commonly occurring cancer in women. Curcumin (CMN) is obtained from a natural source and has no toxicity, even at high doses (8,000 mg/kg body weight in 24 hours) and was determined to have anticancer potency on several kinds of carcinoma. However, its medical applications were limited because of its low solubility and poor bioavailability. Materials and Methods To improve the medical applications of CMN, various hydrophilic carriers such as poloxamer 407 (PMX-407), poloxamer 188 (PMX-188), Gelucire 50/13 (Gel-50/13), and mannitol (MNL) were used to prepare a binary complex solid dispersion (SD). These binary SDs were characterized for aqueous solubility in various solvents. Physical stability, thermal behaviors, and morphology were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering study, and the novel dyeing test. In vitro drug release was determined by dissolution study. Based on the characterization, the better SD complex was optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The cytotoxicity and apoptosis study of prepared CMN (C-SD) were used to test for colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines. Results These results showed that the solubility of CMN is greatly improved after complexation with PXM-407 in SD. CMN is practically insoluble in water at acidic and neutral pH; however, the SD of CMN with PXM-407 produced significant improvement in solubility (1.266±0.0242 mg/mL) and dissolution (91.36±0.431% at 30 minutes); similarly, these data fit with a phase solubility study and in silico molecular modeling. Moreover, the solid-state characterization revealed that the SD complex exhibits the intermolecular hydrogen bond with drug and carrier. Also, the complex does not undergo any chemical modification owing to the amorphous form, and the dye test showed better coloring impact indicating the solubility of CMN. The cell cycle arrest confirmed at G2/M phase from flow cytometry analysis, and Western blot investigation was recognized molecular level cell death and the complex induced more exploit DNA during apoptosis. Conclusion This study confirmed that the ideal stoichiometric ratio of CMN with carrier to enhance its solubility was 1:1. This molecular complex of PXM-407 was found to be more effective against colorectal cancer (CRC) than pure CMN.

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Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was synthesized from fresh garlic extract coupled with isoniazid hydrazide (INH), a commonly used antibiotic to treat tuberculosis. A molecular docking study conducted with the selected compounds compared with anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase (trpD) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aqueous extract of garlic was prepared and mixed with silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution for the superfast synthesis of stable AgNPs. INH was then conjugated with AgNPs at different ratios (v/v) to obtain stable INH-AgNPs conjugates (AgNCs). The resulting AgNCs characterized by FTIR spectra revealed the ultrafast formation of AgNPs (<5 s) and perfectly conjugated with INH. The shifting of λmax to longer wavelength, as found from UV spectral analysis, confirmed the formation of AgNCs, among which ideal formulations (F7, F10, and F13) have been pre-selected. The zeta particle size (PS) and the zeta potential (ZP) of AgNPs were found to be 145.3 ± 2.1 nm and −33.1 mV, respectively. These data were significantly different compared to that of AgNCs (160 ± 2.7 nm and −14.4 mV for F7; 208.9 ± 2.9 nm and −19.8 mV for F10; and 281.3 ± 3.6 nm and −19.5 mV for F13), most probably due to INH conjugation. The results of XRD, SEM and EDX confirmed the formation of AgNCs. From UV spectral analysis, EE of INH as 51.6 ± 5.21, 53.6 ± 6.88, and 70.01 ± 7.11 %, for F7, F10, and F13, respectively. The stability of the three formulations was confirmed in various physiological conditions. Drug was released in a sustainable fashion. Besides, from the preferred 23 compounds, five compounds namely Sativoside R2, Degalactotigonin, Proto-desgalactotigonin, Eruboside B and Sativoside R1 showed a better docking score than trpD, and therefore may help in promoting anti-tubercular activity.

Pressure ulcers (PU) are still a serious complication of immobility and a source of frustration for healthcare providers. Until now, the rate of occurrence and prevalence are alarmingly high. Nurses' knowledge and attitudes play a critical role in prevention of PU. The purpose of this study was to find out the level of knowledge and attitudes of final-year nursing students towards prevention of PU. A quantitative, exploratory cross-sectional design was used with fifty final-year students being recruited at random using a simple random sample technique. The tool had three sections: socio-demographic data of nursing students, PUKAT (Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool), and APuP (Attitudes towards Pressure Ulcers Prevention tool). According to the findings of this study, the average knowledge score of final year nursing students was 48.7% (Mean = 14.85; SD=6.01). Only 18 (36%) nurses got a score of 60% or above on the PUKAT assessment instrument, which is regarded as satisfactory. Though there was a positive attitude prevailed among final year nursing students on prevention of PU, only 44 % of responders (n = 22) attained the satisfactory score. Also, there was a moderate correlation between knowledge and attitude of the nursing students on prevention of PU. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Nursing Students, Prevention, Pressure Ulcers

This study was designed to investigate the effects of curcumin (CMN) soluble complex (SC) prepared by melt casting (HM) and hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Phase solubility (PS) study, in silico molecular modeling, aqueous solubility, drug release, and physicochemical investigation including a novel dyeing test was performed to obtain an optimized complex by a central composite design (CCD). The results show that the HME-SC produces better improvements towards solubility (0.852 ± 0.02), dissolution (91.87 ± 0.21 % at 30 min), with an ideal stability constant (309 and 377 M−1 at 25 and 37 °C, respectively) and exhibits AL type of isotherm indicating 1:1 stoichiometry. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding involves the formation of SC, which does not undergo any chemical modification, followed by the complete conversion of the amorphous form which was identified by XRD. The in vitro cytotoxicity showed that IC50 was achieved in the SW480 (72 µM.mL−1) and Caco-2 (40 µM.mL−1) cells while that of pure CMN ranged from 146 to 116 µM/mL−1. Apoptosis studies showed that cell death is primarily due to apoptosis, with a low rate of necrosis. In vivo toxicity, confirmed by the zebrafish model, exhibited the safety of the HME-SC. In conclusion, the HME-SC potentially enhances the solubility and cytotoxicity to the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

The novel itraconazole (ITZ) nail penetration enhancing self-emulsifying nanovesicles (ITZ-nPEVs) loaded in carboxymethyl fenugreek gum (CMFG) gel circumvent the systemic onychomycosis treatment. The ITZ-nPEVs were prepared by the thin film hydration technique, and the particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), drug content (DC), entrapment efficiency (% EE), deformity index (DI), viscosity, morphology, and physical stability of the ITZ-nPEVs were measured. In terms of nail hydration, transungual drug absorption, and antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans, the chosen ITZ-nPEVs, nPEV-loaded CMFG (CMFG-ITZ-nPEVs) gel, and the commercialized Itrostred gel were compared. The ITZ-nPEVs showed spherical structure with high DC, % EE, low PS and PDI and positive ZP of ITZ ranging from 95.36 to 93.89 mg/5 mL and 95.36–96.94%, 196.55–252.5 nm, 0.092–0.49, and +11.1 to +22.5 mV, respectively. Compared to the Itrostred gel, the novel ITZ-nPEVs exhibited hydration enhancement factor for 24 h (HE24) of 1.53 and 1.39 drug uptake enhancement factor into nail clippings. Moreover, zone of inhibitions for ITZ-nPEVs (27.0 ± 0.25 mm) and CMFG-ITZ-nPEVs (33.2 ± 0.09 mm) against Candida albicans were significantly greater than that of Itrostred gel (22.9 ± 0.44 mm). For clinical investigation on onychomycotic patients, a nail penetration enhancer containing ITZ-nPEV-loaded CMFG gel presents a highly promising approach.