Current status of mannose receptor-targeted drug delivery for improved anti-HIV therapy.

In the pursuit of achieving better therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of HIV, innovative drug delivery strategies have been extensively explored. Mannose receptors, which are primarily found on macrophages and dendritic cells, offer promising targets for drug delivery due to their involvement in HIV pathogenesis. This review article comprehensively evaluates recent drug delivery system advancements targeting the mannose receptor. We have systematically described recent developments in creating and utilizing drug delivery platforms, including nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, noisomes, dendrimers, and other nanocarrier systems targeted at the mannose receptor. These strategies aim to enhance drug delivery specificity, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy while decreasing off-target effects and systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the article delves into how mannose receptors and HIV interact, highlighting the potential for exploiting this interaction to enhance drug delivery to infected cells. The review covers essential topics, such as the rational design of nanocarriers for mannose receptor recognition, the impact of physicochemical properties on drug delivery performance, and how targeted delivery affects the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-HIV agents. The challenges of these novel strategies, including immunogenicity, stability, and scalability, and future research directions in this rapidly growing area are discussed. The knowledge synthesis presented in this review underscores the potential of mannose receptor-based targeted drug delivery as a promising avenue for advancing HIV treatment. By leveraging the unique properties of mannose receptors, researchers can design drug delivery systems that cater to individual needs, overcome existing limitations, and create more effective and patient-friendly treatments in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates: A promising breakthrough in cancer therapy.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) provide effective cancer treatment through the selective delivery of cytotoxic payloads to the cancer cells. They offer unparalleled precision and specificity in directing drugs to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects. Despite several advantages, there is a requirement for innovations in the molecular design of ADC owing to drug resistance, cancer heterogeneity along the adverse effects of treatment. The review critically analyses ADC function mechanisms, unraveling the intricate interplay between antibodies, linkers, and payloads in facilitating targeted drug delivery to cancer cells. The article also highlights notable advancements in antibody engineering, which aid in creating highly selective and potent ADCs. Additionally, the review details significant progress in clinical ADC development with an in-depth examination of pivotal trials and approved formulations. Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are a ground-breaking approach to targeted drug delivery, especially in cancer treatment. They offer unparalleled precision and specificity in directing drugs to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of ADC development, covering their design, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications. The article emphasizes the need for greater precision in drug delivery and explains why ADCs are necessary.

Environmental implications and nanotechnological advances in octocrylene-enriched sunscreen formulations: A comprehensive review.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major contributor to skin aging, cancer, and other detrimental health effects. Sunscreens containing FDA-approved UV filters, like avobenzone, offer protection but suffer from photodegradation and potential phototoxicity. Encapsulation, antioxidants, and photostabilizers are strategies employed to combat these drawbacks. Octocrylene, an organic UV filter, utilizes nanotechnology to enhance sun protection factor (SPF). This review examines recent literature on octocrylene-enriched sunscreens, exploring the interplay between environmental impact, nanotechnological advancements, and clinical trial insights. A critical focus is placed on the environmental consequences of sunscreen use, particularly the potential hazards UV filters pose to marine ecosystems. Research in the Mediterranean Sea suggests bacterial sensitivity to these filters, raising concerns about their integration into the food chain. This review aims to guide researchers in developing effective strategies for photostabilization of UV filters. By combining encapsulation, photostabilizers, and antioxidants, researchers can potentially reduce phototoxic effects and contribute to developing more environmentally friendly sunscreens.

Essential oils for clinical aromatherapy: A comprehensive review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aromatherapy, a holistic healing practice utilizing the aromatic essences of plant-derived essential oils, has gained significant attention for its therapeutic potential in promoting overall well-being. Use of phytoconstituent based essential oil has played a significant role in the evolving therapeutic avenue of aromatherapy as a complementary system of medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: This comprehensive review article aims to explore the usage of essential oils for aromatherapy, shedding light on their diverse applications, scientific evidence, and safety considerations. Furthermore, the growing interest in using essential oils as complementary therapies in conjunction with conventional medicine is explored, underscoring the significance of collaborative healthcare approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature search was performed from databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Bentham using keywords like Aromatherapy, Aromatic Plants, Essential oils, Phytotherapy, and complementary medicine. The keywords were used to identify literature with therapeutic and mechanistic details of herbal agents with desired action. RESULTS: The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific research has led to a renewed interest in essential oils as valuable tools in contemporary healthcare. Various extraction methods used to obtain essential oils are presented, emphasizing their impact on the oil's chemical composition and therapeutic properties. Additionally, the article scrutinizes the factors influencing the quality and purity of essential oils, elucidating the significance of standardization and certification for safe usage. A comprehensive assessment of the therapeutic effects of essential oils is provided, encompassing their potential as antimicrobial, analgesic, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory agents, among others. Clinical trials and preclinical studies are discussed to consolidate the existing evidence on their efficacy in treating diverse health conditions, both physical and psychological. Safety considerations are of paramount importance when employing essential oils, and this review addresses potential adverse effects, contraindications, and best practices to ensure responsible usage. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the exploration of essential oils for aromatherapy, emphasizing their potential as natural and potent remedies for a wide range of ailments. By amalgamating traditional wisdom and modern research, this article aims to encourage further investigation into the therapeutic benefits of essential oils while advocating for their responsible and evidence-based incorporation into healthcare practices.

Exploring modified chitosan-based gene delivery technologies for therapeutic advancements.

One of the critical steps in gene therapy is the successful delivery of the genes. Immunogenicity and toxicity are major issues for viral gene delivery systems. Thus, non-viral vectors are explored. A cationic polysaccharide like chitosan could be used as a nonviral gene delivery vector owing to its significant interaction with negatively charged nucleic acid and biomembrane, providing effective cellular uptake. However, the native chitosan has issues of targetability, unpacking ability, and solubility along with poor buffer capability, hence requiring modifications for effective use in gene delivery. Modified chitosan has shown that the "proton sponge effect" involved in buffering the endosomal pH results in osmotic swelling owing to the accumulation of a greater amount of proton and chloride along with water. The major challenges include limited exploration of chitosan as a gene carrier, the availability of high-purity chitosan for toxicity reduction, and its immunogenicity. The genetic drugs are in their infancy phase and require further exploration for effective delivery of nucleic acid molecules as FDA-approved marketed formulations soon.

Harnessing Nanovaccines for Effective Immunization─A Special Concern on COVID-19: Facts, Fidelity, and Future Prospective.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative pathway in vaccine research and delivery. Nanovaccines, encompassing lipid and nonlipid formulations, exhibit considerable advantages over traditional vaccine techniques, including enhanced antigen stability, heightened immunogenicity, targeted distribution, and the potential for codelivery with adjuvants or immune modulators. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements and applications of lipid and non-lipid-based nanovaccines in current vaccination strategies for immunization. The review commences by outlining the fundamental concepts underlying lipid and nonlipid nanovaccine design before delving into the diverse components and production processes employed in their development. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of various nanocarriers is presented, elucidating their distinct physicochemical characteristics and impact on the immune response, along with preclinical and clinical studies. The discussion also highlights how nanotechnology enables the possibility of personalized and combined vaccination techniques, facilitating the creation of tailored nanovaccines to meet the individual patient needs. The ethical aspects concerning the use of nanovaccines, as well as potential safety concerns and public perception, are also addressed. The study underscores the gaps and challenges that must be overcome before adopting nanovaccines in clinical practice. This comprehensive analysis offers vital new insights into lipid and nonlipid nanovaccine status. It emphasizes the significance of continuous research, collaboration among interdisciplinary experts, and regulatory measures to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology in enhancing immunization and ensuring a healthier, more resilient society.

Drug Delivery Strategies for Avobenzone: A Case Study of Photostabilization.

Several developments and research methods are ongoing in drug technology and chemistry research to elicit effectiveness regarding the therapeutic activity of drugs along with photoprotection for their molecular integrity. The detrimental effect of UV light induces damaged cells and DNA, which leads to skin cancer and other phototoxic effects. The application of sunscreen shields to the skin is important, along with recommended UV filters. Avobenzone is widely used as a UVA filter for skin photoprotection in sunscreen formulations. However, keto-enol tautomerism propagates photodegradation into it, which further channelizes the phototoxic and photoirradiation effects, further limiting its use. Several approaches have been used to counter these issues, including encapsulation, antioxidants, photostabilizers, and quenchers. To seek the gold standard approach for photoprotection in photosensitive drugs, combinations of strategies have been implemented to identify effective and safe sunscreen agents. The stringent regulatory guidelines for sunscreen formulations, along with the availability of limited FDA-approved UV filters, have led many researchers to develop perfect photostabilization strategies for available photostable UV filters, such as avobenzone. From this perspective, the objective of the current review is to summarize the recent literature on drug delivery strategies implemented for the photostabilization of avobenzone that could be useful to frame industrially oriented potential strategies on a large scale to circumvent all possible photounstable issues of avobenzone.