Revolutionary Approach towards Transdermal Drug Delivery: Ethosomal Gels

The human body is up of the skin which is the largest organ in the body and hence acts as a biological barrier that obstructs drug movement across the stratum corneum into the systemic circulation. The topical drug delivery system serves as a delivery system in which drugs are delivered for systemic circulation through the skin. Low diffusion rate across the stratum corneum is the main disadvantage of this system and for this limitation to be overcome, an Ethosomal formulation can be formulated which acts as a delivery system for the drug to be delivered across the biological barrier of the skin into the body. In ethosomal gel formulation, The prepared Ethosome is converted into a gel that can be applied to the skin what makes ethosomal gel formulation unique which enables drugs to reach the deep skin layers and/or the systemic circulation and enhance the delivery of active agents. In addition to this, it is also a malleable vesicular delivery carrier, soft and non-invasive. There is also a higher influx of drugs transdermally into the skin as ethosomal gel formulation allows drug to penetrate deep into the skin and enters systemic circulation. There is the development of new and novel therapies for the treatment of disease through the ethosomal drug delivery system as it is safe and effective and also easy to prepare. Topics ranging from preparation of ethosomes, Ethosomal gel, advantages and disadvantages, and characterization techniques are focused on in this review article.

Injectable and Biodegradable Nano Photothermal DNA Hydrogel Enhances Penetration and Efficacy of Tumor Therapy

The biological barrier of solid tumors hinders deep penetration of nanomedicine, constraining anticancer treatment. Moreover, the inherent multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer tissues may further limit the efficacy of anti-tumor...

Studying the surfaces of bacteria using neutron scattering: finding new openings for antibiotics

The use of neutrons as a scattering probe to investigate biological membranes has steadily grown in the past three decades, shedding light on the structure and behaviour of this ubiquitous and fundamental biological barrier. Meanwhile, the rise of antibiotic resistance has catalysed a renewed interest in understanding the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of antibiotics interaction with the bacterial cell envelope. It is widely recognised that the key reason behind the remarkable success of Gram-negative pathogens in developing antibiotic resistance lies in the effectiveness of their outer membrane (OM) in defending the cell from antibacterial compounds. Critical to its function, the highly asymmetric lipid distribution between the inner and outer bilayer leaflets of the OM, adds an extra level of complexity to the study of this crucial defence barrier. Here we review the opportunities offered by neutron scattering techniques, in particular reflectometry, to provide structural information on the interactions of antimicrobials with in vitro models of the OM. The differential sensitivity of neutrons towards hydrogen and deuterium makes them a unique probe to study the structure and behaviour of asymmetric membranes. Molecular-level understanding of the interactions between antimicrobials and the Gram-negative OM provides valuable insights that can aid drug development and broaden our knowledge of this critically important biological barrier.

Morphological Changes in the Dental Pulp of Experimental Animals in the Treatment of Acute Partial Pulpitis using Modern Materials

Aim. To study the morphological changes in the tooth pulp of experimental animals when modelling acute partial pulpitis using calcium silicate modified with light-cured resin and calcium hydroxide.Materials and methods. An experimental model of acute partial pulpitis was applied including the formation of a cavity on the lingual surface of the tooth, which corresponded to advanced caries in terms of depth, followed by a slight perforation up to the tooth pulp with a sharp probe. This model of acute partial pulpitis was reproduced for 32 teeth in four sexually mature rams. The teeth were extracted together with the surrounding sockets 15, 30 and 90 days after the modelling of pulpitis, followed by their fi xation in 10% solution of neutral formalin. Decalcification was performed in 25% solution of Trilon B. The material was poured into celloidin; histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin according to Masson’s trichrome procedure.Results. The histological examination of pulp from the main group (calcium silicate modified with light-cured resin) revealed the formation of a biological barrier from secondary dentin in the area of the cavity and perforation up to the pulp chamber on the 90th day after the experiment started. The tooth pulp revealed no signs of an inflammatory process. On the 90th day after the experiment started, no pronounced morphological changes in the main substance and dentinal tubules in the area of the cavity walls were noted in the coronal pulp of experimental animals from the comparison group (calcium hydroxide). A focal chronic inflammatory process was noted in the tooth pulp.Conclusion. It was established that the use of calcium silicate modified with light-cured resin in the experimentally created model of acute partial pulpitis was accompanied by the formation of a biological barrier and a well-developed zone of reparative dentin in the area of the cavity and perforation up to the pulp chamber, as compared to the group where calcium hydroxide was used. Thus, the study results confirmed the efficay of using calcium silicate modified with light-cured resin within the biological method for treating acute partial pulpitis, which shortens the functional recovery of tooth pulp.

Is There a Limit to Human Life Expectancy?

The analysis and prediction of life expectancy trends hold an important role in many aspects of our society. On a macro level, governments rely on life expectancy data to make decisions about public welfare programs, health care, retirement age, and pension programs. On an individual level, many people take life expectancy data into account when planning their retirements and making decisions about their future. Currently, two main schools of thought dominate the debate on the trajectory of life expectancy trends. The Olshansky School argues that global human life expectancy is reaching its absolute limit and predicts that a worldwide plateau in life expectancy will soon be reached. The Vaupel School, however, believes that such a plateau is nowhere in sight, and that humans possess no biological barrier that will prevent life expectancy from increasing indefinitely. In this commentary, I build upon the evidence generated by the Vaupel School by introducing socioeconomic factors into the debate and I argue that with consistent improvements to medical technology and general prosperity we will not encounter a biological limit to human life expectancy in our lifetimes.

Progress in Mycotoxins Affecting Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function

Mycotoxins, which are widely found in feed ingredients and human food, can exert harmful effects on animals and pose a serious threat to human health. As the first barrier against external pollutants, the intestinal mucosa is protected by a mechanical barrier, chemical barrier, immune barrier, and biological barrier. Firstly, mycotoxins can disrupt the mechanical barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, by destroying the morphology and tissue integrity of the intestinal epithelium. Secondly, mycotoxins can cause changes in the composition of mucin monosaccharides and the expression of intestinal mucin, which in turn affects mucin function. Thirdly, mycotoxins can cause damage to the intestinal mucosal immune barrier function. Finally, the microbiotas of animals closely interact with ingested mycotoxins. Based on existing research, this article reviews the effects of mycotoxins on the intestinal mucosal barrier and its mechanisms.