Dear Reader, Many of us including this writer belongs to Gen X (people born between 1950 to 1965 and 1965 and 1980, commonly put in this write up as Gen X ). We, the Gen X as on date have superannuated from our work first innings of a regular job of many types and many areas, be it corporate , academics, research and self-employment etc. Our Indian culture has imbibed in Gen X and want to give back to society something in their 2nd or 3rd and some of us even in their 4th innings (each innings 10 years). Not all Gen X may want to do this or may do this. Passionate Gen X consider “vidya dan” – (The greatest giving) sharing knowledge and experience-based learnings pro bono. Some Gen X may still want to charge for it as a consultant or an advisor. But the output is sharing, guiding, training, helping others in different facets of profession.
The present investigation aimed to formulate and evaluate a flurbiprofen-loaded microsphere gel for sustained topical delivery in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Flurbiprofen microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation method using ethyl cellulose as polymer and polyvinyl alcohol as stabilizer. A Box-Behnken Design was employed to optimize the influence of formulation variables on particle size, entrapment efficiency and drug release. The prepared microspheres showed particle size in the range of 34.9-47.1 µm, entrapment efficiency of 70.1-89.6% and drug release of 69.2-87.3%. The optimized formulation exhibited particle size of 35.6 ±1.08 µm, entrapment efficiency of 89.6 ± 0.81% and cumulative drug release of 87.3 ± 0.70%. The optimized microspheres were incorporated into Carbopol® 940 gel, which showed satisfactory physicochemical characteristics and remained stable for 90 days under ambient and accelerated conditions. In carrageenan-induced paw edema, the optimized gel showed 20.62% inhibition at 90 min, indicating significant anti-inflammatory activity and potential for sustained topical management of rheumatoid arthritis.
The current research focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a garlic oil:nirgundi oil-loaded nanoemulsion intended for topical delivery. A 2³ full factorial framework was implemented to optimize formulation determinants, including concentrations of Polysorbate 80 (Tween® 80) , PEG 400(Kollisolv®) and oil (garlic oil:nirgundi oil mixture). Preformulation studies confirmed the identity and compatibility of the drug and excipients using boiling point analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Eight nanoemulsion batches (F1– F8) were prepared, among which formulation F3 exhibited the most promising characteristics. F3 had an average droplet size of 112.4 nm, polydispersity index of 0.209, and zeta potential of –30.96 mV, confirming its nanoscale uniformity and stability. TEM analysis revealed spherical droplets with smooth surfaces. The pH (6.98), viscosity profile, and absence of phase separation indicated suitability for skin application and physical stability. In vitro drug release studies validated sustained release, with F3 achieving 98.84 ± 2.59% and 98.45±2.56% release over 8 h. Three-month accelerated studies confirmed that the garlic oil-nirgundi oil nanoemulsion (F3) is a stable and effective carrier for drug delivery.
A series of novel compounds (4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d) were designed, synthesized and characterized for their anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The anticancer efficacy was evaluated in vitro against MCF7 and ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell lines, using parameters such as LC50, TGI, and GI50. Among the compounds, 4a and 4b exhibited the most potent anticancer activity, with compound 4a showing superior growth inhibition compared to the standard tamoxifen (TAM). The SAR analysis revealed that hydrophobic and electron-donating substituents on the scaffold enhanced anticancer efficacy, while bulky or hydrophilic substituents reduced potency. The compounds showed moderate anti-inflammatory action in rats, using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model. Furthermore, the compounds were tested in a mammary tumorigenesis model, with 4b proving to be the most effective in delaying tumor formation and reducing tumor burden, similar to TAM. These findings suggest that the synthesized compounds hold promise as dual-action agents with both anticancer and anti-inflammatory potential. Further optimization and mechanistic studies are required to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and to explore their full potential as pharmaceutical candidates for cancer and inflammation.
Nasal delivery is a promising non-invasive approach for improving drug bioavailability especially in central nervous system disorders. Mirroring ancient Indian practice of "Nasya Karma"; modern nasal nanotechnology enhances brain targeting through olfactory and trigeminal pathways; circumventing blood–brain barrier for CNS therapeutics. This route shows potential for bioavailability enhancement by ensuring rapid absorption, bypassing gastrointestinal degradation and hepatic metabolism. However, obstacles like mucociliary clearance, enzymatic degradation, short residence time and low epithelial permeability restrict its success. This review discusses anatomical and physiological factors governing nasal drug delivery and highlights major nanocarrier platforms developed using surface modifications, mucoadhesive polymers and stimuli-responsive systems. Nanotechnology thus improves drug solubility, stability and retention in nasal cavity. This review highlights advancements like mucuspenetrating systems, advanced delivery devices and cell-penetrating peptides alongside future trends in personalized medicine. Despite rigorous preclinical validation; long-term safety assessments and regulatory compliance are essential to translate this approach into clinical applications.
