There are several reviews that separately cover different aspects of fish gelatin including its preparation, characteristics, modifications, and applications. Its packaging application in food industry is extensively covered but other applications are not covered or covered alongside with those of collagen. This review is comprehensive, specific to fish gelatin/hydrolysate and cites recent research. It covers cosmetic applications, intrinsic activities, and biomedical applications in wound dressing and wound healing, gene therapy, tissue engineering, implants, and bone substitutes. It also covers its pharmaceutical applications including manufacturing of capsules, coating of microparticles/oils, coating of tablets, stabilization of emulsions and drug delivery (microspheres, nanospheres, scaffolds, microneedles, and hydrogels). The main outcomes are that fish gelatin is immunologically safe, protects from the possibility of transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot and mouth diseases, has an economic and environmental benefits, and may be suitable for those that practice religious-based food restrictions, i.e., people of Muslim, Jewish and Hindu faiths. It has unique rheological properties, making it more suitable for certain applications than mammalian gelatins. It can be easily modified to enhance its mechanical properties. However, extensive research is still needed to characterize gelatin hydrolysates, elucidate the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR), and formulate them into dosage forms. Additionally, expansion into cosmetic applications and drug delivery is needed.

Microneedles (MNs) are considered to be a novel smart injection system that causes significantly low skin invasion upon puncturing, due to the micron-sized dimensions that pierce into the skin painlessly. This allows transdermal delivery of numerous therapeutic molecules, such as insulin and vaccines. The fabrication of MNs is carried out through conventional old methods such as molding, as well as through newer and more sophisticated technologies, such as three-dimensional (3D) printing, which is considered to be a superior, more accurate, and more time- and production-efficient method than conventional methods. Three-dimensional printing is becoming an innovative method that is used in education through building intricate models, as well as being employed in the synthesis of fabrics, medical devices, medical implants, and orthoses/prostheses. Moreover, it has revolutionary applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and medical fields. Having the capacity to design patient-tailored devices according to their dimensions, along with specified dosage forms, has allowed 3D printing to stand out in the medical field. The different techniques of 3D printing allow for the production of many types of needles with different materials, such as hollow MNs and solid MNs. This review covers the benefits and drawbacks of 3D printing, methods used in 3D printing, types of 3D-printed MNs, characterization of 3D-printed MNs, general applications of 3D printing, and transdermal delivery using 3D-printed MNs.

Omeprazole has poor water solubility, low stability in acidic solutions, and is subject to first pass metabolism resulting in low bioavailability. The objective was to enhance the dissolution and stability by preparing a Solid-Self NanoEmulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) and filling it in enteric coated HGCs. Drug solubility in many oils, surfactants and cosurfactants was studied. Different SNEDDS were prepared and ternary phase diagrams were constructed. The optimum SNEDDS was evaluated. It was converted into solid by adsorption onto Nuesilin® US2, and evaluated. Emulsions formed using Capryol 90, Cremophor RH 40 and ethanol formed spontaneously and were clear. Droplet size was 19.11 ± 3.11 nm, PDI was 0.18 ± 0.05, and zeta potential was - 3.9 ± 1.56 mV. Non-medicated SNEDDS was thermodynamically stable. Cloud point was 88 ± 2 °C. Encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of Solid-SNEDDS were 98.56 ± 0.44 and 1.29 ± 0.01%, respectively. Flow properties were much enhanced. Crystalline drug was adsorbed/precipitated onto Neusilin^® US2 in amorphous form. Dissolution rate was enhanced as compared to commercial products and unprocessed drug. The drug was unstable at the accelerated stability conditions. Accordingly, The traditional stability study at 25 °C should be conducted. In conclusion, the Solid-SNEDDS filled in enteric coated HGCs enhanced the dissolution rate and stability in acidic pH.

Background: Asenapine maleate, an anti-schizophrenic drug, is a class II drug with low solubility and high permeability. This exerts a rate-limiting effect on drug bioavailability. Objective: To improve the solubility/dissolution rate of asenapine maleate and hence the bioavailability using the co-crystal approach. Method: Co-crystals were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. Since the drug has Hbond acceptor count of 6, and H-bond donor count of 2, several co-formers (nicotinamide, urea, succinic, benzoic, and citric acid) were investigated in different ratios. The optimized co-crystals (drug-nicotinamide in a ratio of 1:3) were evaluated using PXRD, DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM. Additionally, in vitro dissolution and stability studies were conducted. Results: Preparation of the co-crystals was successful except when citric and benzoic acids were used. PXRD patterns showed that the co-crystals were crystalline. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of H-bond between the drug and the co-former. DSC indicated a lower melting point than that of the components followed immediately by an exothermic peak, which confirmed the formation of co-crystals. SEM showed the formation of crystals with different size and habit. The dissolution of the drug from all the prepared co-crystals was almost similar and much enhanced compared to that of the unprocessed drug. The initial dissolution of the drug from the optimized batch was much faster than that from the other co-crystals and the physical mixture with the same ratio. The optimized batch exhibited long term stability. Conclusion: Co-crystals with improved solubility/dissolution rate of asenapine maleate were prepared successfully and were expected to enhance the bioavailability of the drug.