The most widely used methods for transdermal administration of the drugs are hypodermic needles, topical creams, and transdermal patches. The effect of most of the therapeutic agents is limited due ...to the stratum corneum layer of the skin, which serves as a barrier for the molecules and thus only a few molecules are able to reach the site of action. A new form of delivery system called the microneedles helps to enhance the delivery of the drug through this route and overcoming the various problems associated with the conventional formulations. The primary principle involves disruption of the skin layer, thus creating micron size pathways that lead the drug directly to the epidermis or upper dermis region from where the drug can directly go into the systemic circulation without facing the barrier. This review describes the various potential and applications of the microneedles. The various types of microneedles can be fabricated like solid, dissolving, hydrogel, coated and hollow microneedles. Fabrication method selected depends on the type and material of the microneedle. This system has increased its application to many fields like oligonucleotide delivery, vaccine delivery, insulin delivery, and even in cosmetics. In recent years, many microneedle products are coming into the market. Although a lot of research needs to be done to overcome the various challenges before the microneedles can successfully launch into the market.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2-induced coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that affects > 2.8 million people worldwide, with numbers increasing dramatically ...daily. However, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 and much remains unknown about this disease. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 is a cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2. It is cleaved by type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS)2 and disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain (ADAM)17 to assist viral entry into host cells. Clinically, SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in acute lung injury and lung fibrosis, but the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 induced lung fibrosis are not fully understood.
The networks of ACE2 and its interacting molecules were identified using bioinformatic methods. Their gene and protein expressions were measured in human epithelial cells after 24 h SARS-CoV-2 infection, or in existing datasets of lung fibrosis patients.
We confirmed the binding of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 by bioinformatic analysis. TMPRSS2, ADAM17, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)3, angiotensinogen (AGT), transformation growth factor beta (TGFB1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A and fibronectin (FN) were interacted with ACE2, and the mRNA and protein of these molecules were expressed in lung epithelial cells. SARS-CoV-2 infection increased ACE2, TGFB1, CTGF and FN1 mRNA that were drivers of lung fibrosis. These changes were also found in lung tissues from lung fibrosis patients.
Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 binds with ACE2 and activates fibrosis-related genes and processes to induce lung fibrosis.
Artemisia and its allied species have been employed for conventional medicine in the Northern temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia for the treatments of digestive problems, morning ...sickness, irregular menstrual cycle, typhoid, epilepsy, renal problems, bronchitis malaria, etc. The multidisciplinary use of artemisia species has various other health benefits that are related to its traditional and modern pharmaceutical perspectives. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the traditional, modern, biological as well as pharmacological use of the essential oil and herbal extracts of
Artemisia nilagirica, Artemisia parviflora,
and other allied species of Artemisia. It also discusses the botanical circulation and its phytochemical constituents viz disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and carotenoids. The plants have different biological importance like antiparasitic, antimalarial, antihyperlipidemic, antiasthmatic, antiepileptic, antitubercular, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anxiolytic, antiemetic, antidepressant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, insecticidal, antiviral activities, and also against COVID-19. Toxicological studies showed that the plants at a low dose and short duration are non or low-toxic. In contrast, a high dose at 3 g/kg and for a longer duration can cause toxicity like rapid respiration, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity
,
etc. However, further in-depth studies are needed to determine the medicinal uses, clinical efficacy and safety are crucial next steps.
Environment friendly methods for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles have become a valuable trend in the current scenario. The utilization of phytochemicals from plant extracts has become a unique ...technology for the synthesis of nanoparticles, as they possess dual nature of reducing and capping agents to the nanoparticles. In the present investigation we have synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using a rare medicinal plant Cissus arnotiana and evaluated their antibacterial activity against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. The morphology and characterization of the synthesized CuNPs were studied and done using UV-Visible spectroscopy at a wavelength range of 350–380 nm. XRD studies were performed for analyzing the crystalline nature; SEM and TEM for evaluating the spherical shape within the size range of 60–90 nm and AFM was performed to check the surface roughness. The biosynthesized CuNPs showed better antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacteria, E. coli with an inhibition zone of 22.20 ± 0.16 mm at 75 μg/ml. The antioxidant property observed was comparatively equal with the standard antioxidant agent ascorbic acid at a maximum concentration of 40 μg/ ml. This is the first study reported on C. arnotiana mediated biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles, where we believe that the findings can pave way for a new direction in the field of nanotechnology and nanomedicine where there is a significant potential for antibacterial and antioxidant activities. We predict that, these could lead to an exponential increase in the field of biomedical applications, with the utilization of green synthesized CuNPs, due to its remarkable properties. The highest antibacterial property was observed with gram-negative strains mainly, E. coli, due to its thin peptidoglycan layer and electrostatic interactions between the bacterial cell wall and CuNPs surfaces. Hence, CuNPs can be potent therapeutic agents in several biomedical applications, which are yet to be explored in the near future.
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•To prepare the copper nanoparticles using novel medicinal plant Cissus arnotiana•Characterization of CuNPs by different microscopic techniques•To evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial activity
Liposomes have gained a lot of interest for drug delivery applications, and some of these preparations have been commercialized. These are formulated with biocompatible components and can be used for ...delivering a wide range of payloads differing in aqueous solubility and molecular weight. Liposome-based delivery approaches are limited mainly by two factors: (a) poor dispersion stability, and (b) pre-mature leakage of payloads. In this review, we have discussed the stabilization of liposomal vesicles by their entrapment in hydrogels. Studies reveal that such hydrogels can maintain the structural integrity of liposomes. Release of liposomes from the hydrogel network can be modulated through careful screening of matrix former and degree of its cross-linking. Accordingly, we have reviewed the approaches of stabilizing liposomal vesicles through entrapment in hydrogels. Application of liposome-embedded hydrogels has been reviewed in context of localized drug delivery. Our discussion is focussed on the delivery of bioactives to the skin. Such an approach appears alluring from the standpoint of minimizing the undesirable distribution of payload(s) the systemic circulation and off-target sites.
The current advancements in nanotechnology are as an outcome of the development of engineered nanoparticles. Various metallic nanoparticles have been extensively explored for various biomedical ...applications. They attract lot of attention in biomedical field due to their significant inert nature, and nanoscale structures, with size similar to many biological molecules. Their intrinsic characteristics which include electronic, optical, physicochemical and, surface plasmon resonance, that can be changed by altering certain particle characteristics such as size, shape, environment, aspect ratio, ease of synthesis and functionalization properties have led to numerous applications in various fields of biomedicine. These include targeted drug delivery, sensing, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, imaging, as well as the modulation of two or three applications. The current article also discusses about the various properties of metallic nanoparticles and their applications in cancer imaging and therapeutics. The associated bottlenecks related to their clinical translation are also discussed.
•Functionalization of metallic nanoparticles have led to their multifaceted applications in various fields of biomedicine.•Metallic nanoparticles are used for various biomedical applications such as cancer imaging and therapeutics.•Role of metallic nanoparticles in cancer management and bottlenecks related to their clinical translation are discussed.
Nanomedicines have been used over time because of their significant impact on human health care for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a wide range of illnesses. ...Nanomedicines must be adequately characterized in order to develop well-defined nanomedicines with therapeutic value. The surface charge of nanomedicines plays an important role to determine how they interact with biological components where the zeta potential is a useful tool for describing the chemical composition of particle surfaces, such as functional groups, adsorption/desorption, and so on. The main goal of this review is to present an overview of the impact of nanomedicines' surface charges on absorption, distribution, metabolism, and in vivo drug release, for example negatively charged nanoparticles diffuse well through mucus for mucosal drug delivery, whereas positively charged nanoparticles are preferred for transvascular transport, tumor penetration, and cellular absorption. In this review, we also highlight how to improve nanomedicines' therapeutic potential by altering their surface characteristics with the help of various polymers. Future research should be focused on enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of nanomedicines by changing their surface properties, as well as conducting in-depth mechanistic studies by changing the surface properties of nanomedicines for the efficient treatment of diseases with low or no nanomedicine toxicity.
Lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF), are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally. They contribute to ...substantial economic burdens on society and individuals. Currently, only a few treatments are available to slow the development and progression of these diseases. Thus, there is an urgent unmet need to develop effective therapies to improve quality of life and limit healthcare costs. An increasing body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that altered zinc and its regulatory protein levels in the systemic circulation and in the lungs are associated with these disease's development and progression. Zinc plays a crucial role in human enzyme activity, making it an essential trace element. As a cofactor in metalloenzymes and metalloproteins, zinc involves a wide range of biological processes, such as gene transcription, translation, phagocytosis, and immunoglobulin and cytokine production in both health and disease. Zinc has gained considerable interest in these lung diseases because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune, and metabolic modulatory properties. Here we highlight the role and mechanisms of zinc in the pathogenesis of asthma, COPD, CF, acute respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae) is commonly found in Asia, Africa, and Europe and has a long history of being used as food and traditional medicine. Recently, this plant is gaining ...attention as a highly nutritious food, where fresh leaves are dried and used as powder or in other forms. Leaves are rich in many bioactive compounds. This review aims to cover the traditional uses in food and medicine, as well as its nutritional composition, including its bioactive chemical constituents and reported food functional activities. Various bioactive chemical constituents have been isolated from stinging nettle to date, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acid, carotenoids, and fatty acids. Stinging nettle extracts and its compounds, such as rutin, kaempferol, and vitamin A, are also used for their nutritional properties and as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Future studies should focus on the proper formulation and stability testing of the functional foods containing stinging nettle and their detailed activities in clinical studies.
Cancer is an ailment with having a very low survival rate globally. Poor cancer prognosis is primarily caused by the fact that people are found to have the disease when it is already well advanced. ...The goal of this study is to compile information on new avenues of investigation into biomarkers that may facilitate the routine detection of cancer. Proteomic analysis has recently developed into a crucial technique for cancer biology research, working in tandem with genomic analysis. Mass spectrometry techniques are one of several proteome analysis techniques that allow for the highly precise quantitative and qualitative recognition of hundreds of proteins in small quantities from various biological materials. These findings might soon serve as the foundation for better cancer diagnostic techniques.
An exhaustive literature survey has been conducted using electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed with keywords of proteomics, applications of proteomics, the technology of proteomics, biomarkers, and patents related to biomarkers.
Studies reported till 2021 focusing on cancer proteomics and the related patents have been included in the present review to obtain concrete findings, highlighting the applications of proteomics in cancer.
The present review aims to present the overview and insights into cancer proteomics, recent breakthroughs in proteomics techniques, and applications of proteomics with technological advancements, ranging from searching biomarkers to the characterization of molecular pathways, though the entire process is still in its infancy.
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