We report a nanoparticulate system capable of targeting the heart after myocardial infarction (MI). Targeting is based on overexpression of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor in the infarcted heart. Liposomes 142 nm in diameter were conjugated with a ligand specific to AT1. The nanoparticles were able to specifically target cardiac cells in vitro, and in the infarcted heart after intravenous injection in vivo. This system may be useful for delivering therapeutic agents specifically to the infarcted heart.

Nanoparticles for targeting the infarcted heart

Topical therapy is at the forefront in treating nail ailments (especially onychomycosis and nail psoriasis) due to its local effects, which circumvents systemic adverse events, improves patient compliance and reduces treatment cost. However, the success of topical therapy has been hindered due to poor penetration of topical therapeutics across densely keratinized nail plate barrier. For effective topical therapy across nail plate, ungual drug permeation must be enhanced. Present review is designed to provide an insight into prime aspects of transungual drug delivery viz. nail structure and physiology, various onychopathies, techniques of nail permeation enhancement and in vitro models for trans-nail drug permeation studies. Updated list of drug molecules studied across the nail plate and key commercial products have been furnished with sufficient depth. Patents pertinent to, and current clinical status of transungual drug delivery have also been comprehensively reviewed. This is the first systemat...

Insights into drug delivery across the nail plate barrier.

The convergence of nano and biotechnology is enabling scientific and technical knowledge for improving human well being. Carbon nanotubes have become most fascinating material to be studied and unveil new avenues in the field of nanobiotechnology. The nanometer size and high aspect ratio of the CNTs are the two distinct features, which have contributed to diverse biomedical applications. They have captured the attention as nanoscale materials due to their nanometric structure and remarkable list of superlative and extravagant properties that encouraged their exploitation for promising applications. Significant progress has been made in order to overcome some of the major hurdles towards biomedical application of nanomaterials, especially on issues regarding the aqueous solubility/dispersion and safety of CNTs. Functionalized CNTs have been used in drug targeting, imaging, and in the efficient delivery of gene and nucleic acids. CNTs have also demonstrated great potential in diverse biomedical uses like drug targeting, imaging, cancer treatment, tissue regeneration, diagnostics, biosensing, genetic engineering and so forth. The present review highlights the possible potential of CNTs in diagnostics, imaging and targeted delivery of bioactives and also outlines the future opportunities for biomedical applications.

Biomedical Applications of Carbon Nanotubes: A Critical Review

Ketoconazole (KCZ) nanoemulgel containing permeation enhancer was formulated as a vehicle for transungual drug delivery, and its efficacy to inhibit the growth of onychomycotic dermatophytes was investigated in vitro. Different components of oil-in-water nanoemulsions were moderately agitated by classical titration method and passed through a high-pressure homogenizer to formulate various nanoemulsions, which were further identified by constructing pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. Stress-stability testing was carried out for the nanoemulsions, and those that passed these tests were characterized for mean droplet size, zeta potential, morphology, pH, refractive index, viscosity and transmittance. Mean droplet size and zeta potential of the optimized nanoemulsion (NE3) were found to be 77.52 ± 0.92 nm (polydispersity index (PDI) = 0.128 ± 0.035) and -5.44 ± 0.67 mV, respectively. Optimized nanoemulsion was converted into nanoemulgel (NEG1) with 1% (w/w) of gelling agent (Carbopol® Ultrez 21) and 1%-2% (v/v) thioglycolic acid as permeation enhancer, and evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, tensile strength and bio-adhesion measurement. In vitro cumulative drug released at the end of 24 h from NE3, NEG1 and drug suspension were found to be 98.87 ± 1.29, 84.42 ± 2.78% and 54.86 ± 2.19%, respectively. Ex vivo transungual permeation values for KCZ through goat hooves from NE3, NEG1 and drug suspension were found to be 62.49 ± 2.98, 77.54 ± 2.88% and 38.54 ± 2.54%, respectively, in 24 h. The antifungal effect of NEG1 on Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans showed a significant (p < 0.05) zone of inhibition as compared to drug solution. Skin irritation and histopathology studies on rat skin showed the safe topical use and enhanced permeation of formulated nanoemulgel.

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Transungual Delivery of Ketoconazole Nanoemulgel for the Effective Management of Onychomycosis

Synthetic dyes from liquid waste can harm people or the environment, even at low concentrations. This research investigated the utilisation of Terminalia catappa (TC) shell as biosorbent in the removal of Indigo carmine (IC) dye from aqueous solution. TC shell was modified by soaking in 0.01 M nitric acid for two hours. The biosorbent characterised by Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Batch experiments carried out at a biosorbent particle size of ≤ 36 μm and 100 rpm of agitation speed. The optimum conditions for TC shell biosorption of IC were at pH 2, contact time 30 min, and an initial concentration of 600 mg L−1. The adsorption capacity of the biosorbent for IC was 26.77 mg g−1. The kinetic and isotherm study of IC dye biosorption revealed that the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm were the best fit. Thermodynamic parameters for the biosorption showed that the process was spontaneous and exothermic. The removal efficiency only dropped from 73 % to 64 % after 3 cycles of use using 30 % glycerol as eluent. The removal efficiency of IC dye from the real wastewater using TC shells was 60.13 %. The results indicated that TC shell was a potential biosorbent to reduce IC concentration in aqueous solutions.

Biosorption of indigo carmine from aqueous solution by Terminalia Catappa shell

Nanotechnology research is rolling worldwide, having an impact on multiple sectors and with a general belief that medical and biological applications will form the greatest area of expansion over the next decade. This field is mainly driven by an endeavour to bring radical solutions to areas of medical need, not fulfilled presently. This article discusses the basic concepts and developments in the field of nanosensors and their applications in pharmaceutical and medicine fields. Various types of nanosensors including optical nanosensors, electrochemical nanosensors, chemical nanosensors, electrometers, biosensors, and deployable nanosensors are described. It describes the progression of this field of research from its birth up to the present, with emphasis on the techniques of sensor construction and their application to biomedical systems.

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Nanosensors and their Pharmaceutical Applications: A Review

Terminalia catappa Linn belongs to the family Combretaceae and is popularly known as 'deshi badam'. It is a well known herb in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Juice of young leaves are employed in preparation of ointment for leprosy, scabies and also used internally for colic and headache. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves were reported for their hepatoprotective activity. Reddish brown leaves contain flavonoid apigenin 6-c-(2 - galloyl)- L-Dglycoside, apigenin 8-c-(2 - galloyl)- L-D- glycoside, isovitexin, vitexin, isoorienthin, rutin and tannin ; gallic acid, ellagic acid, puricalagin, punicalin which are reported for good antioxidant property. Antidiabetic potential of T. catappa fruits has been investigated for its effect on fasting sugar level and serum parameters. More and more pharmacological studies have reported that the extract of T. cat appa leaves and fruits have anticancer, antioxidant, anti-HIV reverse transcriptase, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic effects and hepatoprotective activities, but the effective components and related mechanisms remain unknown. Recently, data from our laboratory revealed that the chloroform fraction of the ethanol extract of T. cat appa leaves has the strongest anti-inflammatory activity among all fractions from ethanol extract of T. cat appa leaves.

Brief review on medicinal potential of terminalia catappa

Bioactive immunomodulatory fraction from Tridax procumbens.

Antioxidant activity of fractions from Tridax procumbens.

Tridax procumbens L., Asteraceae, has been extensively used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for various ailments. Previous studies on the extracts of T. procumbens revealed remarkable immunomodulatory activity of TPEIF (T. procumbens ethanol insoluble fraction) extract. The dried methanol extract of T. procumbens was dissolved in distilled water, and then fractioned by re-extracting with chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol subsequently. Immunomodulatory activities of these fractions were determined in vivo. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed the significant immunomodulary activity. However, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest total phenolic content. Therefore, ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to further separation by chromatographic methods. Two phytochemicals SA-3 and SA-4 were obtained by repeated purification in sufficient amount to screen them for the immunomodulatory activity by the in vivo models i.e. neutrophil adhesion and delayed type hypersensitivity. In addition, the n-butanol fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (CC); SA-6 was isolated from it. Mice were treated with two doses of SA-3, SA-4 and SA-6 (2 and 4 mg/kg) for fifteen days. Immune responses to T-dependent antigen SRBCs were observed using parameters like DTH and Neutrophil adhesion. Overall, SA-4 and SA-6 showed dose relative immunostimulatory effect on in vivo immune functions in mice. From these results, it can be suggested that these compounds may be used as potential immunostimulators. The structures of isolated phytochemicals were determined by UV, IR, NMR, and MS spectroscopic methods.

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Surendra Agrawal

Papers

Nanosensors and their Pharmaceutical Applications: A Review

Brief review on medicinal potential of terminalia catappa

Bioactive immunomodulatory fraction from Tridax procumbens.

Antioxidant activity of fractions from Tridax procumbens.

Bioactivity guided isolation and characterization of the phytoconstituents from the Tridax procumbens