COVID-19, emerged at the end of 2019 have dramatically threatened the health, economy, and social mobility of people around the world and till date no medication is available for its treatment. An amazing herb, Nigella sativa , having antiviral, antihypertensive, anti- diarrhoeal, analgesics, and anti-bacterial properties, needs to be explored for its efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. In-silico studies were carried out to understand the role of its bioactive constituents in COVID-19 treatment and prevention. Firstly, the disease network was prepared by using ACE2 (Angiotensin-II receptor), as it is the entry site for virus. It was used to decipher the mechanism of SARS-COV-2 infection in humans. Second, the target receptors for N. sativa were predicted and protein interaction studies were conducted. Further, docking studies were also performed to analyse it for treatment purpose as well. This study concludes that pathways undertaken by N. sativa bioactive constituents were similar to the pathways followed in SARS-COV-2 pathology, like renin-angiotensin system, kidney functions, regulation of blood circulation, blood vessel diameter , etc . Also, in docking studies, the constituents of N. sativa , α-hederin, Thymohydroquinone and Thymoquinone were observed to be efficiently binding to ACE2. Also, the bioactive phytoconstituents are involved in molecular pathways like HIF1, VEGF, IL-17, AGE-RAGE, chemokine and calcium signaling pathways which can be majorly helpful in combating hypoxia and inflammation caused due to compromised immune system and oxidative stress. Therefore, N. sativa standardized extract having the above phytoconstituents could be useful in COVID-19 and hence opens a new treatment line.

Objective:The aim of the present study was to increase the dissolution rate of glibenclamide (GLIB) by molecular dispersion of drug in the polymeric matrix of Pluronic F-127.Methods: GLIB-loaded solid dispersions were formulated by fusion method. The formulated solid dispersions were characterized for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and evaluated for percentage yield, drug content, solubility, and in vitro dissolution profile, and stability studies were conducted as per International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines Q1A in stability chamber, both at intermediate and accelerated conditions. Results: Both XRD and DSC studies suggested that crystalline GLIB was converted to amorphous form after loading into carrier. SEM studies revealed that the prepared solid dispersions were in the form of irregular particles with the absence of crystalline material. Due to this conversion of crystalline to amorphous state, formulated solid dispersions had shown improved dissolution rate profile of GLIB and stability studies suggested that formulated solid dispersions showed no significant changes in appearance and also in drug content. Conclusion:Thus, from the obtained results, it can be concluded that dissolution profile of GLIB can be improved by formulating as solid dispersion.

In recent decades, the rise in the investigation of new drugs had made health-care system expensive compared to conventional drug delivery systems and techniques. The present drug delivery systems have become highly productive and are growing fast. Majority of the anticancer agent has low water solubility resulting in multistep synthetic routes that require higher selectivity and specificity that can cause difficulty in the development of the formulation. Nanosponges (NSs) are branched cyclodextrin (CD) polymeric systems which have proven to be a boon in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Different kinds of NSs based on different types of CDs and crosslinkers are used for developing of new drug formulations from the past few years for various applications in health care. Nanotechnology has overcome the issues regarding the drug solubility, stability, and other parameters and has attained success in achieving of sustained release, increased activity, improved permeability, delivery of nucleoprotein, the stimuli-responsive release of the drug, and improved drug bioavailability. There is a huge eruption of research on NSs for cancer treatment. Multiple anticancer moieties have been developed, taking into account the pharmacological and physicochemical perspective of the drug to develop a NS formulation. Our target in this review is to catch an efficient and far-reaching NSs for malignancy cancer treatment announced until now. This survey will give a perfect stage for providing details for researchers taking a shot at using new polymers for improving the treatment of the disease using nanotechnology. The present article provides details regarding antineoplastic molecules and provides ideas on CD-based NSs specifically using curcumin, tamoxifen, resveratrol, quercetin, oxygen-NSs, temozolomide, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and erlotinib (ETB) glutathione.

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The present work aimed to develop Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Based Hydrogel for the treatment of psoriasis, delivered as a topical application on to the skin. Nanostructured Lipid carrier based Hydrogel loaded with methotrexate is a new technique for topical administration for psoriasis. Methotrexate loaded NLC's were prepared by a hot homogenization method using high-pressure homogenizer. Stearic acid and oleic acid were selected as the solid lipid and liquid lipid, respectively. Tween 80 used as a surfactant. The developed lipid formulations were incorporated in 1% Carbopol 934 gel medium to maintain the topical application consistency. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was employed to identify their functional groups. Differential Scanning Calorimetry was employed to determine its melting point. The particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index for the MTX-NLC were found to be 239.12±3.65nm, -24.61mV and 0.245 to 0.517. Scanning electronic microscopy studies will reveal the surface morphology of the nanoparticles. The pH of the drug-loaded formulation was in the range of 4.93 to 5.83. Spreadability was in the range of 3.01±0.59cm to 8.13±0.34cm. Viscosity at 25±2oC was 67325 cps.  In vitro studies suggest that initial release rate was observed within first 4 hrs and amount of drug release was 35 to 47± 3.61%, fast and sustained release rate reached by 24th hr and release rate of the drug was 72%.  The stability studies reported that the formulation was stable for 30 days after the incorporation of the drug, and there was no drug degradation or decomposition and no change in physical appearance. Hence, results indicate the sustain release activity of MTX-NLC Hydrogels, which could help in preventing the cell division and proliferation of cell acting as a major barrier in the topical application of psoriasis.

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