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Despite the fact that various studies have investigated the clinical relevance of ellagic acid (EA) as a naturally existing bioactive substance in cancer therapy, little has been reported regarding the efficient strategy for improving its oral bioavailability. In this study, we report the formulation of EA-loaded nanoparticles (EA-NPs) to find a way to enhance its bioactivity as well as bioavailability after oral administration. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was selected as the biodegradable polymer for the formulation of EA-NPs through the emulsion–diffusion–evaporation technique. The obtained NPs have been characterized by measuring particle size, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The entrapment efficiency and the release profile of EA was also determined. In vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of the obtained NPs were evaluated using Caco-2 and HCT-116 cell lines, respectively. Moreover, in vivo study has been performed to measure the oral bioavailability of EA-NPs compared to free EA, using New Zealand white rabbits. NPs with distinct shape were obtained with high entrapment and loading efficiencies. Diffusion-driven release profile of EA from the prepared NPs was determined. EA-NP-treated HCT-116 cells showed relatively lower cell viability compared to free EA-treated cells. Fluorometric imaging revealed the cellular uptake and efficient localization of EA-NPs in the nuclear region of Caco-2 cells. In vivo testing revealed that the oral administration of EA-NPs produced a 3.6 times increase in the area under the curve compared to that of EA. From these results, it can be concluded that incorporation of EA into PCL as NPs enhances its oral bioavailability and activity.

The treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders always remains a challenge for the researchers. The presence of various physiological barriers, primarily the blood–brain barrier (BBB) limits the accessibility of the brain and hinders the efficacy of various drug therapies. Hence, drug targeting to the brain, particularly to the diseased cells by circumventing the physiological barriers is essential to develop a promising therapy for the treatment of brain disorders. Presently, the investigations emphasize the role of different nanocarrier systems or surface modified target specific novel carrier system to improve the efficiency and reduce the side effects of the brain therapeutics. Such approaches supposed to circumvent the BBB or have the ability to cross the barrier function and thus increases the drug concentration in the brain. Although the efficacy of novel carrier system depends upon various physiological factors like active efflux transport, protein corona of the brain, stability, and toxicity of the nanocarrier, physicochemical properties, patient-related factors and many more. Hence, to develop a promising carrier system, it is essential to understand the physiology of the brain and BBB and also the other associated factors. Along with this, some alternative route like direct nose-to-brain drug delivery can also offer a better means to access the brain without exposure of the BBB. In this review, we have discussed the role of various physiological barriers including the BBB and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) on the drug therapy and the mechanism of drug transport across the BBB. Further, we discussed different novel strategies for brain targeting of drug including, polymeric nanoparticles, lipidic nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, nanogels, nanoemulsions, dendrimers, quantum dots, etc. along with the intranasal drug delivery to the brain. We have also illustrated various factors affecting the drug targeting efficiency of the developed novel carrier system.

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The synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytocompatibility of a new family of photo-cross-linked amorphous poly(diol-tricarballylate) (PDT) biodegradable elastomeric polyesters are reported. The synthesis was based on the polycondensation reaction between tricarballylic acid and alkylene diols, followed by acrylation. The prepared and acrylated poly(diol-tricarballylate) (APDT) was characterized by means of FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, GPC and DSC. Liquid-to-solid photo-curing was carried out by exposing the APDT to visible light in the presence of camphorquinone as a photoinitiator. The thermal properties, mechanical characteristics, sol content, long-term in vitro degradation and cytocompatibility of the prepared PDT elastomers were also reported. The mechanical and degradation properties of this new photocurable elastomer can be precisely controlled by varying the density of acrylate moieties in the matrix of the polymer, and through changes in the pre-polymer chain length. The use of visible light cross-linking, possibility of solventless drug loading, controllable mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of these new elastomers make them excellent candidates for use in controlled implantable drug-delivery systems of protein drugs and other biomedical applications.

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BackgroundCarbapenem-resistance is an extremely growing medical threat in antibacterial therapy as the incurable resistant strains easily develop a multi-resistance action to other potent antimicrobial agents. Nonetheless, the protective delivery of current antibiotics using nano-carriers opens a tremendous approach in the antimicrobial therapy, allowing the nano-formulated antibiotics to beat these health threat pathogens. Herein, we encapsulated imipenem into biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles to destroy the imipenem-resistant bacteria and overcome the microbial adhesion and dissemination. Imipenem loaded poly Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) and polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanocapsules were formulated using double emulsion evaporation method. The obtained nanocapsules were characterized for mean particle diameter, morphology, loading efficiency, and in vitro release. The in vitro antimicrobial and anti adhesion activities were evaluated against selected imipenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates.ResultsThe obtained results reveal that imipenem loaded PCL nano-formulation enhances the microbial susceptibility and antimicrobial activity of imipenem. The imipenem loaded PCL nanoparticles caused faster microbial killing within 2–3 h compared to the imipenem loaded PLGA and free drug. Successfully, PCL nanocapsules were able to protect imipenem from enzymatic degradation by resistant isolates and prevent the emergence of the resistant colonies, as it lowered the mutation prevention concentration of free imipenem by twofolds. Moreover, the imipenem loaded PCL eliminated bacterial attachment and the biofilm assembly of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae planktonic bacteria by 74 and 78.4%, respectively.ConclusionsThese promising results indicate that polymeric nanoparticles recover the efficacy of imipenem and can be considered as a new paradigm shift against multidrug-resistant isolates in treating severe bacterial infections.

Objectives The spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens poses a major health threat. Silver nanoparticles represent a new-class of antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study is the microbial synthesis of silver nanoparticles and the evaluation of their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. Methods Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using cell free supernatants of Acinetobacter baumannii . Silver nanoparticles were characterized by particle size analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were assessed. Results The silver nanoparticle synthesis was monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale yellow colour of the bacteria free supernatants into a dark brown colour. Silver nanoparticles had uniform spherical shape, with particle sizes ranging from 37 to 168 nm and a zeta potential of −11.7 mV. Acinetobacter silver nanoparticles were effective against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 3.1, 1.56 and 3.1 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, acinetobacter silver nanoparticles significantly reduced the attachment activities of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae by 66.6%, 86.5% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion Silver nanoparticles, synthesized from Acinetobacter baumannii, inhibited microbial growth and eradicated biofilm assembly by multidrug-resistant isolates that were derived from uropathogenic infection. These results suggested the possibility of using silver nanoparticles as effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents against infections caused by resistant isolates.