Key Transdermal Patch Using Cannabidiol-Loaded Nanocarriers with Better Pharmacokinetics in vivo.

Purpose: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising therapeutic drug with low addictive potential and a favorable safety profile. However, CBD did face certain challenges, including poor solubility in water and low oral bioavailability. To harness the potential of CBD by combining it with a transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS). This innovative approach sought to develop a transdermal patch dosage form with micellar vesicular nanocarriers to enhance the bioavailability of CBD, leading to improved therapeutic outcomes. Methods: A skin-penetrating micellar vesicular nanocarriers, prepared using nano emulsion method, cannabidiol loaded transdermal nanocarriers-12 (CTD-12) was presented with a small particle size, high encapsulation efficiency, and a drug-loaded ratio for CBD. The skin permeation ability used Strat-M™ membrane with a transdermal diffusion system to evaluate the CTD and patch of CTD-12 (PCTD-12) within 24 hrs. PCTD-12 was used in a preliminary pharmacokinetic study in rats to demonstrate the potential of the developed transdermal nanocarrier drug patch for future applications. Results: In the transdermal application of CTD-12, the relative bioavailability of the formulation was 3.68 ± 0.17-fold greater than in the free CBD application. Moreover, PCTD-12 indicated 2.46 ± 0.18-fold higher relative bioavailability comparing with free CBD patch in the ex vivo evaluation. Most importantly, in the pharmacokinetics of PCTD-12, the relative bioavailability of PCTD-12 was 9.47 ± 0.88-fold higher than in the oral application. Conclusion: CTD-12, a transdermal nanocarrier, represents a promising approach for CBD delivery, suggesting its potential as an effective transdermal dosage form.

Rectangular Transition Metal-rTCNQ Organic Frameworks Enabling Polysulfide Anchoring and Fast Electrocatalytic Activity in Li-Sulfur Batteries: A Density Functional Theory Perspective.

Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great development po-tential in the field of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. In this theoretical research work, we propose a novel 3d transition metals (TM)-embedded rectangular tetracyanoquinodimethane (TM-rTCNQ) as a potential high-performance sulfur host. The calculated results show that all TM-rTCNQ structures have excellent structural stability and metallic properties. Through exploring different adsorption patterns, we discovered that TM-rTCNQ (TM = V, Cr, Mn, Fe and Co) monolayers possess moderate adsorption strength for all polysulfide species, which is mainly due to the existence of the TM-N4 active center in these frame systems. Especially for the non-synthesized V-rCTNQ, the theoretical calculation fully predicts that the material has the most suitable adsorption strength for polysul-fides, excellent charging-discharging reaction and Li-ion diffusion performance. Additionally, Mn-rTCNQ, which has been synthesized experimentally, is also suitable for further experimental con-firmation. These findings not only provide novel MOFs for promoting the commercialization of Li-S batteries, but also provide unique insights for fully understanding their catalytic reaction mecha-nism.

Microcurrent Cloth-Assisted Transdermal Penetration and Follicular Ducts Escape of Curcumin-Loaded Micelles for Enhanced Wound Healing.

Purpose: Larger nanoparticles of bioactive compounds deposit high concentrations in follicular ducts after skin penetration. In this study, we investigated the effects of microcurrent cloth on the skin penetration and translocation of large nanoparticle applied for wound repair applications. Methods: A self-assembly of curcumin-loaded micelles (CMs) was prepared to improve the water solubility and transdermal efficiency of curcumin. Microcurrent cloth (M) was produced by Zn/Ag electrofabric printing to facilitate iontophoretic transdermal delivery. The transdermal performance of CMs combined with M was evaluated by a transdermal system and confocal microscopy. The CMs/iontophoretic combination effects on nitric oxide (NO) production and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated in Raw 264.7 cells. The wound-healing property of the combined treatment was assessed in a surgically created full-thickness circular wound mouse model. Results: Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Zn/Ag on the microcurrent cloth. The average potential of M was measured to be +214.6 mV in PBS. Large particle CMs (CM-L) prepared using surfactant/cosurfactant present a particle size of 142.9 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.319. The solubility of curcumin in CM-L was 2143.67 µg/mL, indicating 250-fold higher than native curcumin (8.68 µg/mL). The combined treatment (CM-L+M) demonstrated a significant ability to inhibit NO production and increase IL-6 and IL-10 secretion. Surprisingly, microcurrent application significantly improved 20.01-fold transdermal performance of curcumin in CM-L with an obvious escape of CM-L from follicular ducts to surrounding observed by confocal microscopy. The CM-L+M group also exhibited a better wound-closure rate (77.94% on day 4) and the regenerated collagen intensity was approximately 2.66-fold higher than the control group, with a closure rate greater than 90% on day 8 in vivo. Conclusion: Microcurrent cloth play as a promising iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery accelerator that enhances skin penetration and assists CMs to escape from follicular ducts for wound repair applications.

Pu'er tea rich in strictinin and catechins prevents biofilm formation of two cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

Cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, are main pathogens responsible for human dental caries. Pu'er tea is empirically observed to prevent tooth decay. Besides caffeine and catechins commonly found in oolong tea, strictinin is also found as an abundant phenolic compound in Pu'er tea. Infusion of Pu'er tea as well as single compound, strictinin, caffeine or (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was examined for its inhibitory effects on S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Relatively weak inhibition of bacterial growth was observed for these Pu'er tea constituents. However, biofilm formation of S. mutans or S. sobrinus was strongly prevented by the infusion of Pu'er tea as well as by strictinin or EGCG, but not caffeine. Relatively, strictinin showed a higher potency than EGCG to prevent biofilm formation. Anti-caries effect of Pu'er tea seems to be resulted from the prevention of biofilm formation of cariogenic bacteria mainly by strictinin and catechins.