The natural polymer chitosan is the second most abundant biopolymer on earth after chitin and has been extensively explored for preparation of versatile drug delivery systems. The presence of two distinct reactive functional groups (an amino group at C2, and a primary and secondary hydroxyl group at C3 and C6) of chitosan are involved in the transformation of expedient derivatives such as acylated, alkylated, carboxylated, quaternized and esterified chitosan. Amongst these, quaternized chitosan is preferred in pharmaceutical industries owing to its prominent features including superior water solubility, augmented antimicrobial actions, modified wound healing, pH-sensitive targeting, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. It has been explored in a large realm of pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and the biomedical arena. Immense classy drug delivery systems containing quaternized chitosan have been intended for tissue engineering, wound healing, gene, and vaccine delivery. This review article outlines synthetic techniques, basic characteristics, inherent properties, biomedical applications, and ubiquitous challenges associated to quaternized chitosan.

<p class="ADMETabstracttext">Approximately two-third of the compounds in the pharmaceutical industry were developed through combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening of particulate solids. Poor solubility and bioavailability of these pharmaceuticals are challenging attributes confronted by a formulator during product development. Hence, substantial efforts have been directed into the research on particle generation techniques. Although the conventional methods, such as crushing or milling and crystallization or precipitation, are still used; supercritical fluid technology introduced in the mid-1980s presents a new method of particle generation. Supercritical fluid processes not only produce micro- and nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, they are also employed for the microencapsulation, cocrystallization, and surface coating with polymer. Recognized as a green technology, it has emerged as successful variants chiefly as Rapid Expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS), Supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) and Particles from Gas Saturated Solution (PGSS) depending upon type of solvent, solute, antisolvent and nebulization techniques. Being economical and eco-friendly, supercritical fluid technolgy has garnered considerable interest both in academia and industry for modification of physicochemical properties such as particle size, shape, density and ultimately solubility. The current manuscript is a comprehensive update on different supercritical fluid processes used for particle generation with the purpose of solubility enhancement of drugs and hence bioavailability.</p>

Dermatophytosis, topical fungal infection is the most common cause of skin bug in the world, generally underestimated and ignored. It is commonly caused by immensely mortifying and keratinophilic fungal eukaryotes which invade keratinized tissues and generate different tinea diseases in Mediterranean countries. We herein fabricated nanofibers/scaffolds embedded with thiocarbamate derivative topical antifungal tolnaftatefor the first time to target the complete elimination of dermatophyte at the site of infection. In this regard, variable combinations of biocompatible Eudragit grades (ERL100 and ERS100) were selected to provide better adhesion on the site of dermatophytosis, ample absorption of exudates during treatment, and customized controlled drug release. Surface topography analysis indicated that the fabricated nanofibers were regular and defect-free, comprising distinct pockets with nanoscaled diameters. Characterization and compatibility studies of tolnaftate, polymers, and their nanofibers were performed through ATR-FTIR, TGA, and PXRD. Remarkable hydrophilicity and an excellent swelling index were obtained from a 3:1 ratio of ERL100/ERS100 electrospun D3 nanofibers, which is an essential benchmark for the fabrication of nanofibrous scaffolds for alleviating dermatophytosis. In vitro drug release investigation revealed that a nonwoven nanomesh of nanofibers could control the rate of drug release for 8 h. A microdilution assay exhibited inhibition of more than 95% viable cells of Trichophyton rubrum for 96 h. However, Microsporum species rigidly restricted the effect of bioactive antifungal nanofibers and hence showed resistance. In vivo activity on Trichophyton rubrum infected Swiss albino mice revealed complete inhibition of fungal pathogens on successive applications of D3 nanofibers for 7 days. This investigation suggests potential uses of tolnaftate loaded polyacrylate nanofibers as dressing materials/scaffolds for effective management of dermatophytosis.

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Background: COVID-19 caused the world to shut down and made us to critically look out at our advanced healthcare systems that are well prepared for heart diseases, cancers, organ transplantation but not for attack of a tiny virus. WHO and other authorized bodies are continuously issuing advisory on preventive measurements, tracking the outbreak and distributing vital medical kits. Scientific community and vaccine experts have developed and started to distribute safe and effective immunization worldwide. Objective: The paper outlines several developed and developing immunization vehicles for the management of COVID -19 that will hit global market in year 2021. Method: Non clinical and clinical data are collected from authentic sources of World Health Organization portal and press release provided by COVID-19 vaccine developers. Result: Different platforms including mRNA, DNA, Viral vectors, Synthetic peptides etc. have been conversed that are globally involved for elimination of SARS-CoV-2, a causative virus of COVID-19. Conclusion: Numerous academic institutions and companies of worldwide have developed and evaluated their inoculums after extremely compressed clinical trial agendas. Worldwide eminent developers such as Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZenaca and Bharat Biotech are ready with their esteemed products for the management of pandemic COVID-19. They explored pharmaceutical technologies reliant on genetics, nanoengineering and biotechnology for successful development of these anti SARS-CoV-2 inoculums. Taking account on conditions of more vulnerable community including immunocompromised, geriatrics and comorbidities patients the safety and efficacy of vaccine are yet to be monitored..

Graphene "The novel carbon nano-trope" tailors auspicious platform for designing antimicrobial regimen by virtue of its conspicuous molecular interaction with the microorganism. In this work, Tolnaftate (Tf), an antifungal drug, was mingled with Graphene nanoplatelets (Gn) to develop composite (Tf-Gn) via the wet chemical route, embedded in a biocompatible polymeric blend of Eudragit RL100/Eudragit RS100 (EuRL100/EuRS100) and subjected to electrospinning to obtain nonwoven nanoengineered scaffolds (nanofibers) for enhanced anti-dermatophytic virtue. Pursuing cluster of optimization experiments, 20% w/v EuRL100/EuRS 100 was found to be adequate for formation of smooth, defect-free, and regular fibers. Field emission electron microscopy (FESEM) acknowledged zestfully fabrication of smooth, shiny, nano-range, and mesh-like architecture, comprising distinct pockets within their structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) conceded formation of the composite Tf-Gn, its physical compatibility with polymers, and improved thermal behavior. Exceptional swelling capacity, significant hydrophilicity, and immense drug entrapment efficiency were obtained of nanofibers fabricated from 3:1 ratio of EuRL100/EuRS100 polymers blend owing to relatively higher permeability which gratified essential benchmark for fabrication of nanofibrous scaffold to alleviate fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. In vitro drug release interpreted controlled liberation of Tf in dissolution media, following Korsmeyer-Peppas model kinetics, and suggested a diffusion-based mechanism. Microdilution broth method was performed for in vitro antifungal efficacy against extremely devastating dermatophytes, i.e., anthropophilic Trichophyton rubrum and zoophilic Microsporum canis, exhibited preeminent growth inhibition against T.rubrum and scanty for M.canis. Findings revealed the superior antifungal activity of Tf-Gn-loaded nanofibers as compared to Tf-loaded nanofibers and recommended potential dressing materials for an effective regimen of dermatomycosis.

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