Nanogel is a promising drug delivery approach to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic prospect of phytopharmaceuticals. In the present review, phytopharmaceuticals with astonishing therapeutic utilities are being explored. However, their in vivo delivery is challenging, owing to poor biopharmaceutical attributes that impact their drug release profile, skin penetration, and the reach of optimal therapeutic concentrations to the target site. Nanogel and its advanced version in the form of nanoemulgel (oil-in-water nanoemulsion integrated gel matrix) offer better therapeutic prospects than other conventional counterparts for improving the biopharmaceutical attributes and thus therapeutic efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals. Nanoemulgel-loaded phytopharmaceuticals could substantially improve permeation behavior across skin barriers, subsequently enhancing the delivery and therapeutic effectiveness of the bioactive compound. Furthermore, the thixotropic characteristics of polymeric hydrogel utilized in the fabrication of nanogel/nanoemulgel-based drug delivery systems have also imparted improvements in the biopharmaceutical attributes of loaded phytopharmaceuticals. This formulation approach is about to be rife in the coming decades. Thus, the current review throws light on the recent studies demonstrating the role of nanogels in enhancing the delivery of bioactive compounds for treating various disease conditions and the challenges faced in their clinical translation.

Introduction: Rhein, a natural bioactive lipophilic compound with numerous pharmacological activities, faces limitations in clinical application due to poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Thus, this study aimed to develop a rhein-loaded self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system (RL-SNEDDS) to improve solubility and bioavailability. Methods: The RL-SNEDDS was prepared by aqueous titration method with eucalyptus oil (oil phase), tween 80 (surfactant), and PEG 400 (co-surfactant) and optimization was performed by 3² factorial design. The optimized formulation was characterized for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powdered X-ray diffraction, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. Further, the oral bioavailability study and brain tissue pharmacokinetics study were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats. Results: The optimized RL-SNEDDS had an average droplet size of 129.3 ± 1.57 nm, zeta potential of − 24.6 mV ± 0.34, % transmittance of 94.82 ± 0.61, and encapsulation efficiency of 98.86 ± 0.23. Furthermore, RL-SNEDDS was transformed into solid RL-SNEDDS (RS-SNEDDS) to increase stability. In vitro release of rhein from RS-SNEDDS showed prolonged release up to 24h with 99.03± 1.04% drug release. Differential scanning calorimetry and powdered X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the reduction in drug crystallinity and supported the results of the dissolution study. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the smooth and spherical nanosized globule of SNEDDS. Moreover, the in vivo pharmacokinetic study showed a significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) value of C_max and AUC_0-t of RS-SNEDDS (8 ± 0.930 μg/mL and 37.79 ± 2.01 μg/mL*hr) compared to free rhein suspension (1.96 ± 0.712 μg/mL and 7.32 ± 0.946 μg/mL*hr) which indicated the enhancement of bioavailability of RS-SNEDDS. We also examined the C_max and AUC_0-t of RS-SNEDDS in the brain and it was found to be 2.90 ± 0.171 μg/mL and 18.18 ± 1.68 μg/mL*hr respectively. Conclusion: This study concludes that the RS-SNEDDS improves brain tissue concentration and oral bioavailability, both of which increase therapeutic potential.

Anterior uveitis is one of the most prevalent forms of ocular inflammation caused by infections, trauma, and other idiopathic conditions if not treated properly, it can cause complete blindness. Therefore, this study aimed to formulate and evaluate dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) loaded polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of anterior uveitis. DSP-loaded PEC-NPs were formed through complex coacervation by mixing low molecular weight chitosan and the anionic polymer carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC). The formulations were optimized using Box–Behnken design and evaluated the effect of independent variables: Chitosan concentration, CMC concentration, and pH of chitosan solution on the dependent variables: particle size (PS), Polydispersity Index (PDI), pH of the formulation, and % entrapment efficacy (%EE). The PS, PDI, zeta potential, and pH of the optimized formulation were found 451 ± 82.0995 nm, 0.3807 ± 0.1862, +20.33 ± 1.04 mV and 6.8367 ± 0.0737 respectively. The %EE and drug loading of formulation were 61.66 ± 4.2914% and 21.442 ± 1.814% respectively. In vitro drug release studies of optimized formulation showed the prolonged release up to 12 h whereas, the marketed formulation showed the burst release 85.625 ± 4.3062% in 1 h and 98.1462 ± 3.0921% at 6 h, respectively. Fourier transform infrared studies suggested the effective incorporation of the drug into the PEC-NPs formulation whereas differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction studies showed the amorphized nature of the drug in the formulation. Transmission electron microscopy study showed self-assembled, nearly spherical, core–shell nanostructures. The corneal permeation study showed higher permeation of the drug from PEC-NPs compared to the marketed formulation. Hen’s Eggs test-Chorioallantoic Membrane test of the optimized formulation revealed non-irritant and safe for ocular administration. Therefore, DSP-loaded PEC-NPs are an effective substitute for conventional eye drops due to their ability to increase bioavailability through longer precorneal retention duration and sustained drug release.

Background and Objectives: Obesity is a major health concern worldwide. Many studies emphasize the important role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regulating appetite and body weight. We aimed to investigate the association between BDNF protein serum levels and body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 108 healthy adult participants divided into six categories depending on their body mass index (BMI). The ages of the participants ranged between 21 to 45 years. The BDNF serum level was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: A Kruskal–Wallis test showed a significant difference in BDNF between the different BMI categories, χ²(2) = 24.201, p < 0.001. Our data also showed that BDNF levels were significantly lower in people with obesity classes II and III than those of normal weight (p < 0.05). The Spearman rank correlation test was statistically significant with negative correlations between the BMI and BDNF (r) = −0.478, (p < 0.01). Moreover, we observed a negative dose-dependent relationship pattern between BMI categories and the levels of circulating BDNF protein. Conclusions: In this study, our data support the hypothesis that low serum levels of BDNF are associated with high BMI and obesity in Saudi adults.

Objectives: At present, diabetes is one of the leading causes of mortality across the world. It was hypothesized that muscle mass could have a significant influence on blood glucose level and this corelation if established successfully could pave way for novel treatment modalities for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present study, the association between muscle mass and blood glucose level was examined in a healthy population who was not having T2DM at baseline and was undergoing a regular course of exercise. Methods: The clinical study was performed involving 53 healthy male populations between 10 and 60 years of age. The participants were sampled in accordance with the quantitative experimental study design, using nonprobability sampling techniques. The independent variable measured among the subjects included muscle mass and blood glucose level, using bioelectrical impedance and a simple glucometer respectively. Subgroup analysis amongst different substantial parameters including body mass index (BMI), myostatin inhibitor usage, and age factor that could affect the muscle mass and glucose level correlation were also studied simultaneously. Results: The study findings demonstrated a negative correlation between muscle mass and glucose utilization levels. There was a significant difference in the mean muscle mass of the participants which was 36.2453, and the mean glucose utilization level which was 15.1493%. Pearson correlation between the muscle mass and percentage of glucose utilization of the participants indicated a significant difference (since p-value <0.05) between these two studied parameters . Conclusions: The study finding suggests an inverse association of the skeletal muscle mass with blood glucose level which encourages the implication of muscle-building exercises as the preventive measure for T2DM.