Theranostic efficiency of biosurfactants against COVID-19 and similar viruses - A review.

The world has witnessed an extreme vulnerability of a pandemic during 2020; originated from China. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is infecting and beginning deaths in thousands to millions, creating of the global economic crisis. Biosurfactants (BSs) can carry the prevention, control and management of pandemic out through diverse approaches, such as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, hygienic and environmental. The microbiotas having virulent intrinsic properties towards starting as easily as spreading of diseases (huge morbidity and mortality) could be inhibited via BSs. Such elements could be recognised for their antimicrobial activity, capability to interact with the immune system via micelles formation and in nanoparticulate synthesis. However, they can be used for developing novel and more effective therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, non-toxic formulations, vaccines, and effective cleaning agents. Such approaches can be utilized for product development and implemented for managing and combating the pandemic conditions. This review emphasized on the potentiality of BSs as key components with several ways for protecting against unknown and known pathogens, including COVID-19.

PET/MR Imaging in Evaluating Treatment Failure of Head and Neck Malignancies: A Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System-Based Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: PET/MR imaging is a relatively new hybrid technology that holds great promise for the evaluation of head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of simultaneous PET/MR imaging versus MR imaging in the evaluation of posttreatment head and neck malignancies, as determined by its ability to predict locoregional recurrence or progression after imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic medical records of patients who had posttreatment PET/MR imaging studies were reviewed, and after applying the exclusion criteria, we retrospectively included 46 studies. PET/MR imaging studies were independently reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists, who recorded scores based on the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (using CT/PET-CT criteria) for the diagnostic MR imaging sequences alone and the combined PET/MR imaging. Treatment failure was determined with either biopsy pathology or initiation of new treatment. Statistical analyses including univariate association, interobserver agreement, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed. RESULTS: There was substantial interreader agreement among PET/MR imaging scores (κ = 0.634; 95% CI, 0.605-0.663). PET/MR imaging scores showed a strong association with treatment failure by univariate association analysis, with P < .001 for the primary site, neck lymph nodes, and combined sites. Receiver operating characteristic curves of PET/MR imaging scores versus treatment failure indicated statistically significant diagnostic accuracy (area under curve range, 0.864-0.987; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous PET/MR imaging has excellent discriminatory performance for treatment outcomes of head and neck malignancy when the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System is applied. PET/MR imaging could play an important role in surveillance imaging for head and neck cancer.

Diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus disease: a review.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019 and subsequently, declared a pandemic. As of 3 June 2021, 172,493,290 individuals have acquired COVID-19 and 3,708,334 patients have died worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. AREAS COVERED: This review explores epidemiology; virology; pathogenesis; genomic variations; mode of transmission; clinical occurrence; diagnosis; and treatment with antiviral agents, antibiotics, and supportive therapies. It covers a nanotechnology-based treatment approach and emphasizes the importance of herbal and marine antiviral drugs. The review attempts to explain current advances in research, prevention, and control of COVID-19 spread through artificial intelligence and vaccine development status under cosmopolitan consideration. EXPERT OPINION: While COVID-19 research is advancing at full capacity, the discovery of drugs or vaccines that can fight the pandemic is necessary. Human survival in such a critical situation will be possible only with the development of strong immunity by opting for exercise, yoga, and consumption of hygienic food and beverages. Therefore, education about COVID-19 lethality and its impact on livelihood is important. The pandemic has also shown positive effects on the environment, such as a significant reduction in environmental pollution and global warming and improvement in river water quality.

Formulation of fenofibrate liquisolid tablets using central composite design.

Liquisolid technique has been widely used to enhance the dissolution of poorly water soluble drugs. The present investigation is on formulation of liquisolid tablets of fenofibrate, a lipid lowering agent. Liquisolid formulation was prepared by applying central composite design (CCD) to optimize various formulation parameters. Amounts of PEG 600 (X1), Avicel PH 102 (X2), and Aerosil 200 (X3) were selected as independent variables while the angle of repose, hardness, disintegration time, and T90% (time required to release 90% drug) of liquisolid tablets were selected as dependent variables. Optimization of formulation was done by multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated amounts of PEG 600 and Aviel PH 102 show greater effect on dependant variables. In vitro dissolution of fenofibrate in liquisolid formulations was enhanced compared to the pure form. To conclude, Liquisolid technique is a promising strategy in improving dissolution of poorly water soluble fenofibrate.

Design and Development of Thermoreversible Ophthalmic In Situ Hydrogel of Moxifloxacin HCl.

Conventional eye drops show relatively low bioavailability due to poor precorneal contact time. In situ hydrogels are of great importance in providing sustained ocular drug delivery. By exhibiting elastic properties they resist ocular drainage of the drug leading to longer contact times. In the present study an in situ gelling thermoreversible mucoadhesive gel was formulated of an antibacterial agent, Moxifloxacin HCl using a combination of poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 with different mucoadhesive polymers such as Xanthan gum and Sodium alginate with a view to increase gel strength and bioadhesion force and thereby increased precorneal contact time and bioavailability of the drug. Formulations were evaluated for physical parameters like clarity, pH, spreadability, drug content, gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force and in vitro drug release study. Formulations were found transparent, uniform in consistency and had good spreadability within a pH range of 6.8 to 7.4. A satisfactory bioadhesion (3298 to 4130 Dyne/cm2) on the sheeps corneal surface and good gel strength (95 to 128 sec) was also observed. As the concentration of mucoadhesive polymers in the gel formulation increased, the rate of drug release decreased. The order of drug release was in order: Xanthan gum > Sodium alginate. It was concluded that a thermoreversible in situ gel of Moxifloxacin HCl can be formulated by combining with mucoadhesive polymers and used effectively as safe and sustained ocular drug delivery. This combination provided greater bioadhesion force and gel strength as compared to the thermoreversible polymers i.e., poloxamer 407 (PF 127) or 188 (PF 68) when used alone.

Studies on Poloxamer Based Mucoadhesive Insitu Ophthalmic Hydrogel of Moxifloxacin HCL.

Conventional eye drops shows relatively low bioavailability due to poor precorneal contact time. In situ hydrogels are of great importance in providing sustained ocular drug delivery due to their elastic properties hydrogels resist ocular drainage leading to longer contact times. In the present study an in situ gelling thermoreversible mucoadhesive gel was formulated of an antibacterial agent Moxifloxacin HCl using combination of poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 with different mucoadhesive polymers such as Xanthan gum and Sodium alginate with a view to increase in gel strength and bioadhesion force and thereby increase in precorneal contact time and there by increase in bioavailability of the drug. The formulations were evaluated for physical parameters like Clarity, pH, spreadability, drug content, gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force and in vitro drug release study. The formulated gels were transparent, uniform in consistency and had spreadability with a pH range of 6.8 to 7.4. A satisfactory bioadhesion (3298 to 4130 Dyne/cm(2)) on the sheep's corneal surface and good gel strength (95 to 128 sec) were also observed. As the concentration of mucoadhesive polymers in the gel formulation increases, the rate of drug release decreases. The order of drug release was Xanthan gum>Sodium alginate. It was concluded that a thermoreversible in situ gel formulation with Moxifloxacin HCl can be formulated by combining with mucoadhesive polymers and can effectively be used in safe and sustained ocular drug delivery with greater bioadhesion force and gel strength as compared to the thermoreversible polymers poloxamer 407 or 188 when used alone.

Studies on formulation and in vitro evaluation of floating matrix tablets of domperidone.

Floating matrix tablets of domperidone were developed to prolong gastric residence time and thereby increased drug bioavailability. Domperidone was chosen as a model drug because it is poorly absorbed from the lower gastrointestinal tract. The tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique, using polymers such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K4M, carbopol 934P, and sodium alginate, either alone or in combination, and other standard excipients. Tablets were evaluated for physical characteristics viz. hardness, % friability, floating capacity, weight variation and content uniformity. Further, tablets were evaluated for in vitro release characteristics for 24 h. In vitro release mechanism was evaluated by linear regression analysis. Floating matrix tablets based on combination of three polymers namely; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K4M, carbopol 934P and sodium alginate exhibited desired floating and prolonged drug release for 24 h. Carbopol loading showed negative effect on floating properties but were found helpful to control the release rate of drug.

Processing of nimesulide-PEG 400-PG-PVP solid dispersions: preparation, characterization, and in vitro dissolution.

The objective of this investigation was to study the influence of dissolution enhancers such as polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30, sodium lauryl sulfate, and Tween 80 on in vitro dissolution of a model active pharmaceutical material--nimesulide. Preliminary studies were conducted using a physical blend of nimesulide, and the adjuvants and solid dispersions were prepared using solvent evaporation and cogrinding methods. Aqueous solution of adjuvants was first triturated with nimesulide, followed by mixing with lactose and microcrystalline cellulose, and finally water was evaporated under vacuum in a cogrinding method. A 33 factorial design was adopted in a cogrinding method using the concentration of polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 as independent variables. Tween 80 and sodium lauryl sulfate were added in all the batches. Full and reduced models were evolved for different dependent variables. The reduced models were validated using two checkpoints. Angle of repose < 35 degrees, percentage of drug released in 30 min (Q30) > 40%, 45 min (Q45) > 50%, and 120 min (Q12) > 60% were used as constraints for the selection of an optimized batch. Contour plots are presented for the selected dependent variables. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was found to be more effective in increasing the drug dissolution, compared with polyethylene glycol 400 and propylene glycol. The granule flow was adversely affected when high levels of liquid adjuvants were used in formulations. Wettability study was conducted to measure wetting time for pure drug and the optimized batch. Improved drug dissolution was attributed to improved wetting and the solubilizing effect of adjuvants from the pseudosolid dispersions of nimesulide. Significant improvement in drug dissolution was observed (Q120 = 70%), compared with pure drug powder (Q120 = 15%). In conclusion, dissolution of nimesulide can be modulated using an appropriate blend of pharmaceutical adjuvants.