Frog nest foam as a drug delivery system

Foams have frequently been used as systems for the delivery of cosmetic and therapeutic molecules; however, there is high variability in the foamability and long-term stability of synthetic foams. The development of pharmaceutical foams that exhibit desirable foaming properties, delivering appropriate amounts of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and that have excellent biocompatibility is of great interest. The production of stable foams is rare in the natural world; however, certain species of frogs have adopted foam production as a means of providing a protective environment for their eggs and larvae from a predators and parasites, to prevent desiccation, to control gaseous exchange, temperature extremes, and to reduce UV damage. These foams show great stability (up to 10 days in tropical environments) and are highly biocompatible due to the sensitive nature of amphibian skin. This work demonstrates for the first time, that nests of the Tungara frog (Engystomops pustulosus) is stable ex situ with useful physiochemical and biocompatible properties and is capable of encapsulating a range of compounds, including antibiotics. These protein foam mixtures may find utility as a topical drug delivery system (DDS).

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Frog nest foams exhibit pharmaceutical foam-like properties

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.210048 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 210048

Author(s):

Sarah Brozio ◽

Erin M. O'Shaughnessy ◽

Stuart Woods ◽

Ivan Hall-Barrientos ◽

Patricia E. Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ◽

Natural World ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Foaming Properties ◽

Amphibian Skin ◽

Long Term Stability ◽

Tropical Environments ◽

Therapeutic Molecules ◽

Protective Environment ◽

First Time

Foams have frequently been used as systems for the delivery of cosmetic and therapeutic molecules; however, there is high variability in the foamability and long-term stability of synthetic foams. The development of pharmaceutical foams that exhibit desirable foaming properties, delivering appropriate amounts of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and that have excellent biocompatibility is of great interest. The production of stable foams is rare in the natural world; however, certain species of frogs have adopted foam production as a means of providing a protective environment for their eggs and larvae from predators and parasites, to prevent desiccation, to control gaseous exchange, to buffer temperature extremes, and to reduce UV damage. These foams show great stability (up to 10 days in tropical environments) and are highly biocompatible due to the sensitive nature of amphibian skin. This work demonstrates for the first time that nests of the túngara frog ( Engystomops pustulosus ) are stable ex situ with useful physiochemical and biocompatible properties and are capable of encapsulating a range of compounds, including antibiotics. These protein foam mixtures share some properties with pharmaceutical foams and may find utility in a range of pharmaceutical applications such as topical drug delivery systems.

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Formulation and Optimization of Sodium Alginate Polymer Film as a Buccal Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery System Containing Cetirizine Dihydrochloride

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13050619 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 619

Author(s):

Krisztián Pamlényi ◽

Katalin Kristó ◽

Orsolya Jójárt-Laczkovich ◽

Géza Regdon

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Sodium Alginate ◽

Drug Delivery System ◽

Delivery System ◽

Polymer Films ◽

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ◽

Swallowing Problems

Currently, pharmaceutical companies are working on innovative methods, processes and products. Oral mucoadhesive systems, such as tablets, gels, and polymer films, are among these possible products. Oral mucoadhesive systems possess many advantages, including the possibility to be applied in swallowing problems. The present study focused on formulating buccal mucoadhesive polymer films and investigating the physical and physical–chemical properties of films. Sodium alginate (SA) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were used as film-forming agents, glycerol (GLY) was added as a plasticizer, and cetirizine dihydrochloride (CTZ) was used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The polymer films were prepared at room temperature with the solvent casting method by mixed two-level and three-level factorial designs. The thickness, tensile strength (hardness), mucoadhesivity, surface free energy (SFE), FTIR, and Raman spectra, as well as the dissolution of the prepared films, were investigated. The investigations showed that GLY can reduce the mucoadhesivity of films, and CTZ can increase the tensile strength of films. The distribution of CTZ proved to be homogeneous in the films. The API could dissolve completely from all the films. We can conclude that polymer films with 1% and 3% GLY concentrations are appropriate to be formulated for application on the buccal mucosa as a drug delivery system.

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Development of a Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogel Drug Delivery System (DDS): An Update

Gels ◽

10.3390/gels7040153 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 153

Author(s):

Janarthanan Pushpamalar ◽

Puviarasi Meganathan ◽

Hui Li Tan ◽

Nuraina Anisa Dahlan ◽

Li-Ting Ooi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Delivery System ◽

Delivery System ◽

Therapeutic Efficacy ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Target Site ◽

Sustained Drug Release ◽

3D Network ◽

Therapeutic Molecules ◽

Physical And Chemical

Delivering a drug to the target site with minimal-to-no off-target cytotoxicity is the major determinant for the success of disease therapy. While the therapeutic efficacy and cytotoxicity of the drug play the main roles, the use of a suitable drug delivery system (DDS) is important to protect the drug along the administration route and release it at the desired target site. Polysaccharides have been extensively studied as a biomaterial for DDS development due to their high biocompatibility. More usefully, polysaccharides can be crosslinked with various molecules such as micro/nanoparticles and hydrogels to form a modified DDS. According to IUPAC, hydrogel is defined as the structure and processing of sols, gels, networks and inorganic–organic hybrids. This 3D network which often consists of a hydrophilic polymer can drastically improve the physical and chemical properties of DDS to increase the biodegradability and bioavailability of the carrier drugs. The advancement of nanotechnology also allows the construction of hydrogel DDS with enhanced functionalities such as stimuli-responsiveness, target specificity, sustained drug release, and therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a current update on the use of hydrogel DDS derived from polysaccharide-based materials in delivering various therapeutic molecules and drugs. We also highlighted the factors that affect the efficacy of these DDS and the current challenges of developing them for clinical use.

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Niosomes As an Ideal Drug Delivery System

10.47363/jnsrr/2021(3)123 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Vikram B Madane ◽

◽

Nagesh H Aloorkar ◽

Vinod J Mokale ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Drug Delivery System ◽

Delivery System ◽

Evaluation Studies ◽

Receptor Site ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ◽

Systemic Circulation ◽

Future Perspective ◽

Final Conclusion

Niosomes are a non-ionic spherical surfactant that is biodegradable, non-toxic, more durable, and cost effective as compare to liposomes. Through niosomes delivery of both hydrophilic and liophilic drug can be achieve very constructively. To achieve targeted drug delivery, drug binds to receptor site and then we can get the therapeutic action without attaching to other sites to prevent the undesirable or side effect of active pharmaceutical ingredient to the systemic circulation, hence niosomes is a very novel drug delivery system by which we can achieve very safe drug delivery at the site of action needed with high efficacy. In this review paper we try to compile all the information related with niosomes like introduction, structure, composition advantages, types, disadvantage, preparation methods, factor affecting, evaluation studies, applications of niosomes, difference between liposomes and niosomes, current available marketed formulation and patents, final conclusion and at last future perspective of niosomes.

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