Microfluidic nanoparticle synthesis for oral solid dosage forms: A step toward clinical transition processes.

Nanomedicine provides various opportunities for addressing medical challenges associated with drug bioavailability, stability, and efficacy. In particular, oral nanoparticles (NPs) represent an alternative strategy to enhance the solubility and stability of active ingredients through the gastrointestinal tract. The nanocarriers could be used for both local and systemic targeting, enabling controlled release of encapsulated drugs. This approach allows more efficient therapies. In this work, we aim to develop reliable oral solid dosage forms incorporating NPs produced by either one pot synthesis or continuous production, following protocols that yield highly consistent outcomes, promoting their technology transfer and clinical use. Microfluidics technology was selected to allow an automated and highly productive synthetic approach suitable for the highly throughput production. In particular, innovative systems, which combine advantage of NPs and solid dosage formulation, were designed, developed, and characterized demonstrating the possibility to obtaining oral administration. The resulting NPs were thus carried on oral dosage forms, i.e., pellets and minitablets. NPs resulted stable after dosage forms manufacturing, leading to confidence also on protection of encapsulated drugs. Indomethacin was used as a tracer to test biopharmaceutical behaviour. Anti-inflammatories or cytotoxic chemotherapeutics could be vehiculated leading to a breakthrough in the treatment of severe diseases allowing the oral administration of these drugs. We believe that the advancement achieved with the results of our work paves the way for the progression of nanoproducts into clinical transition processes.

Co-processed materials testing as excipients to produce Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) using binder jet 3D-printing technology.

The use of co-processed materials for Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) preparation by direct compression is well consolidated. However, the evaluation of their potential for ODT preparation by 3D printing technology remains almost unexplored. The present study aimed to estimate the use of commercially available co-processed excipients, conventionally applied in compression protocols, for the preparation of ODTs with binder jetting-3D printing technology. The latter was selected among the 3D printing techniques because the deposition of multiple powder layers allows for obtaining highly porous and easily disintegrating dosage forms. The influence of some process parameters, including layer thickness, type of waveform and spread speed, on the physical and mechanical properties of the prototypes printed were evaluated. Our results suggested that binder jetting-3D printing technology could benefit from the co-processed excipients for the preparation of solid dosage forms. The process optimization conducted with the experiments reported in this work indicated that additional excipients were needed to improve the physical properties of the resulting ODTs.

Organ-Retentive Osmotically Driven System (ORODS): A Novel Expandable Platform for in Situ Drug Delivery.

Drug delivery systems capable of being retained within hollow organs allow the entire drug dose to be delivered locally to the disease site or to absorption windows for improved systemic bioavailability. A novel Organ-Retentive Osmotically Driven System (ORODS) was here proposed, obtained by assembling drug-containing units having prolonged release kinetics with osmotic units used as increasing volume compartments. Particularly, prototypes having H-shape design were conceived, manufactured and evaluated. Such devices were assembled by manually inserting a tube made of regenerated cellulose (osmotic unit) into the holes of two perforated hydrophilic tableted matrices containing paracetamol as a tracer drug. The osmotic unit was obtained by folding and gluing a plain regenerated cellulose membrane and loading sodium chloride inside. When immersed in aqueous fluids, this compartment expanded to approximately 80% of its maximum volume within 30 min of testing, and a plateau was maintained for about 6 h. Subsequently, it slowly shrank to approximately 20% of the maximum volume in 24 h, which would allow for physiological emptying of the device from hollow organs. While expanding, the osmotic unit acquired stiffness. Drug release from H-shaped ORODSs conveyed in hard-gelatin capsules was shown to be prolonged for more than 24 h.

Colangitis aguda secundaria a coledocolitiasis en una paciente con lupus eritematoso sistémico / Acute Cholangitis Secondary to Choledocholithiasis in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

RESUMEN La colangitis aguda es una enfermedad inflamatoria de las vías biliares que representa la complicación más frecuente de obstrucción biliar. El abordaje terapéutico requiere tratamiento urgente, valoración de su evolución y generalmente drenaje biliar con la utilización de métodos endoscópicos. El propósito de este estudio es dar a conocer elementos clínicos, de laboratorio e imagenológicos que permiten diagnosticar la presencia de colangitis aguda secundaria a coledocolitiasis en una paciente lúpica y su manejo terapéutico. Se presenta a una paciente femenina de 37 años de edad, que acude a servicios de emergencia con manifestaciones clínicas, de laboratorio e imagenológicos que permiten diagnosticar colangitis aguda secundaria a coledocolitiasis. La presencia de litiasis en las vías biliares desencadena procesos inflamatorios, con síntomas que van desde leves a muy graves e implican el manejo intrahospitalario del paciente. La endoscopía, en este caso, colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica, representa una disminución importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en los pacientes, comparada con la utilización de procedimientos quirúrgicos. Después de realizar la CPRE, la paciente mostró una evolución clínica, de laboratorio e imagenológica favorable.

ABSTRACT Acute cholangitis is an inflammatory disease of the bile ducts that represents the most frequent complication of biliary obstruction. The therapeutic approach requires urgent treatment, assessment of its evolution and generally biliary drainage with the use of endoscopic methods. To present clinical, laboratory and imaging elements that allow diagnosing the presence of acute cholangitis secondary to choledocholithiasis in a lupic patient and its therapeutic management. Clinical case: female patient, 37 years old, who goes to emergency services with clinical, laboratory and imaging manifestations that allow diagnosing acute cholangitis secondary to choledocholithiasis. The presence of lithiasis in the bile ducts triggers inflammatory processes, with symptoms ranging from mild to very severe and imply inpatient management of the patient. Endoscopy, in this case, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, represents a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality in patients, compared to the use of surgical procedures.

The emerging role of nanotechnology in skincare.

The role of cosmetic products is rapidly evolving in our society, with their use increasingly seen as an essential contribution to personal wellness. This suggests the necessity of a detailed elucidation of the use of nanoparticles (NPs) in cosmetics. The aim of the present work is to offer a critical and comprehensive review discussing the impact of exploiting nanomaterials in advanced cosmetic formulations, emphasizing the beneficial effects of their extensive use in next-generation products despite a persisting prejudice around the application of nanotechnology in cosmetics. The discussion here includes an interpretation of the data underlying generic information reported on the product labels of formulations already available in the marketplace, information that often lacks details identifying specific components of the product, especially when nanomaterials are employed. The emphasis of this review is mainly focused on skincare because it is believed to be the cosmetics market sector in which the impact of nanotechnology is being seen most significantly. To date, nanotechnology has been demonstrated to improve the performance of cosmetics in a number of different ways: 1) increasing both the entrapment efficiency and dermal penetration of the active ingredient, 2) controlling drug release, 3) enhancing physical stability, 4) improving moisturizing power, and 5) providing better UV protection. Specific attention is paid to the effect of nanoparticles contained in semisolid formulations on skin penetration issues. In light of the emerging concerns about nanoparticle toxicity, an entire section has been devoted to listing detailed examples of nanocosmetic products for which safety has been investigated.

In-vivo electrochemical monitoring of H2O2 production induced by root-inoculated endophytic bacteria in Agave tequilana leaves.

A dual-function platinum disc microelectrode sensor was used for in-situ monitoring of H2O2 produced in A. tequilana leaves after inoculation of their endophytic bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae). Voltammetric experiments were carried out from 0.0 to -1.0V, a potential range where H2O2 is electrochemically reduced. A needle was used to create a small cavity in the upper epidermis of A. tequilana leaves, where the fabricated electrochemical sensor was inserted by using a manual three-dimensional micropositioner. Control experiments were performed with untreated plants and the obtained electrochemical results clearly proved the formation of H2O2 in the leaves of plants 3h after the E. cloacae inoculation, according to a mechanism involving endogenous signaling pathways. In order to compare the sensitivity of the microelectrode sensor, the presence of H2O2 was detected in the root hairs by 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) stain 72h after bacterial inoculation. In-situ pH measurements were also carried out with a gold disc microelectrode modified with a film of iridium oxide and lower pH values were found in A. tequilana leaves treated with bacteria, which may indicate the plant produces acidic substances by biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. This microsensor could be an advantageous tool for further studies on the understanding of the mechanism of H2O2 production during the plant-endophyte interaction.

Use of dye as tracer of drug release from medicated chewing gums.

The evaluation of the potential use of a dye as indicator of in vivo drug release from a medicated chewing gum is described. The device is a three-layer tablet obtained by direct compression consisting of a gum core and two external protective soluble layers to prevent gum adhesion to the punches of the tableting machine. The active ingredient and a colour are contained in the gum core. To evaluate the drug and the dye release from the formulations, a chew-out study was performed by a panel of volunteers. The results obtained suggest that the use of a dye could be useful to indicate the chewing time necessary to complete drug delivery from medicated chewing gums.