The presence of drug residues in food products has become a growing concern because of the adverse health risks and regulatory implications. Drug residues in food refer to the presence of pharmaceutical compounds or their metabolites in products such as meat, fish, eggs, poultry and ready-to-eat foods, which are intended for human consumption. These residues can come from the use of drugs in the field of veterinary medicine, such as antibiotics, antiparasitic agents, growth promoters and other veterinary drugs given to livestock and aquaculture with the aim of providing them as prophylaxis, therapy and for promoting growth. Various analytical techniques are used for this purpose to control the maximum residue limit. Compliance with the maximum residue limit is very important for food manufacturers according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Union (EU) regulations. Effective monitoring and control of drug residues in food requires continuous advances in analytical techniques. Few studies have been reviewed on sample extraction and preparation techniques as well as challenges and future directions for the determination of veterinary drug residues in food. This current review focuses on the overview of regulations, classifications and types of food, as well as the latest analytical methods that have been used in recent years (2020–2023) for the determination of drug residues in food so that appropriate methods and accurate results can be used. The results show that chromatography is still a widely used technique for the determination of drug residue in food. Other approaches have been developed including immunoassay, biosensors, electrophoresis and molecular-based methods. This review provides a new development method that has been used to control veterinary drug residue limit in food.

Background: The current challenge in drug development lies in addressing the physicochemical issues that lead to low drug effectiveness. Solubility, a crucial physicochemical parameter, greatly influences various biopharmaceutical aspects of a drug, including dissolution rate, absorption, and bioavailability. Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) has emerged as a widely explored approach to enhance drug solubility. Objective: The objective of this review is to discuss and summarize the development of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based amorphous solid dispersion in improving the physicochemical properties of drugs, with a focus on the use of PVP as a novel approach. Methodology: This review was conducted by examining relevant journals obtained from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, since 2018. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select suitable articles. Results: This study demonstrated the versatility and efficacy of PVP in enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. Diverse preparation methods, including solvent evaporation, melt quenching, electrospinning, coprecipitation, and ball milling are discussed for the production of ASDs with tailored characteristics. Conclusion: PVP-based ASDs could offer significant advantages in the formulation strategies, stability, and performance of poorly soluble drugs to enhance their overall bioavailability. The diverse methodologies and findings presented in this review will pave the way for further advancements in the development of effective and tailored amorphous solid dispersions.

Protein is one of the essential macronutrients required by all living things. The breakdown of protein produces monomers known as amino acids. The concept of conjugating natural compounds with amino acids for therapeutic applications emerged from the fact that amino acids are important building blocks of life and are abundantly available; thus, a greater shift can result in structural modification, since amino acids contain a variety of sidechains. This review discusses the data available on amino acid–natural compound conjugates that were reported with respect to their backgrounds, the synthetic approach and their bioactivity. Several amino acid–natural compound conjugates have shown enhanced pharmacokinetic characteristics, including absorption and distribution properties, reduced toxicity and increased physiological effects. This approach could offer a potentially effective system of drug discovery that can enable the development of pharmacologically active and pharmacokinetically acceptable molecules.

Introduction: Amorphous drug dispersion is frequently used to enhance the solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs, thereby improving their oral bioavailability. The dispersion of these drugs into polymer matrix can inhibit their recrystallization. The inter-molecular interactions between drug and polymer plays a role in the improvement of the dissolution rate, solubility, and physical stability of drug. Aim: This study aims to investigate the formation and interactions of ritonavir (RTV)/poloxamer (PLX) amorphous formulation using a computational approach via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which mimicked solvent evaporation and melt-quenching method. Methods: TheRoot Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) value, Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF), Radial Distribution Function (RDF), Radius of Gyration (Rg), Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA), and hydrogen bond interactions were analyzed to determine interaction mechanisms between RTV and PLX in amorphous solid dispersion. Results: The pi-alkyl bonds between RTV and PLX were formed after simulations of solvent evaporation, while the hydrogen bond interactions of RTV-PLX was observed during melt method simulations. These results indicate the successful formulation of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) from RTV and PLX. The RMSD values obtained from the solvent evaporation, melt-cooling-A, melt-cooling-B, and melt-cooling-C methods were 3.33 Å, 1.97 Å, 1.30 Å, and 1.29 Å, respectively, while the average RMSF values were 2.65 Å, 1.04 Å, 1.05 Å, and 1.07 Å, respectively. This indicates that the suppression of translational motion of RTV from the melt method can be stronger than solvent evaporation caused by the intermolecular interactions of RTV-PLX. Conclusion: MD simulations helped in understanding the formation and interaction mechanisms of ASD formulations that were difficult to detect by experimental approaches.

Kojic acid (KA) has emerged as a prominent tyrosinase inhibitor with considerable potential in cosmetic applications; however, its susceptibility to instability during storage poses a challenge to its widespread use. This review explores the advancements in addressing this limitation through the development of various KA derivatives, focusing on the modification of the C-7 hydroxyl group. Strategies such as esterification, hydroxy-phenyl ether formation, glycosylation, and incorporation into amino acid or tripeptide derivatives have been employed to enhance stability and efficacy. Among these derivatives, Kojic Acid Dipalmitate (KDP), a palmitic ester derivative of KA, stands out for its notable improvements in stability, permeability, and low toxicity. Recent developments indicate a growing utilization of KDP in cosmetic formulations, with over 132 available products on the market, encompassing various formulations. Formulations based on nanotechnology, which incorporate KDP, have been provided, including nanosomes, nanocreams, multiple emulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), ethosomes, and nanoemulsions. Additionally, three patents and seven advanced system deliveries of KDP further underscore its significance. Despite its increasing prevalence, the literature on KDP remains limited. This review aims to bridge this gap by providing insights into the synthesis process, physicochemical properties, pharmaceutical preparation, diverse applications of KDP in cosmetic products, and recent nanotechnology formulations of KDP. This review paper seeks to explore the recent developments in the use of KDP in cosmetics. The goal is to enhance stability, permeability, and reduce the toxicity of KA, with the intention of promoting future research in this promising sector.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in late 2019, viral infections have become one of the top three causes of mortality worldwide. Immunization and the use of immunomodulatory drugs are effective ways to prevent and treat viral infections. However, the primary therapy for managing viral infections remains antiviral and antiretroviral medication. Unfortunately, these drugs are often limited by physicochemical constraints such as low target selectivity and poor aqueous solubility. Although several modifications have been made to enhance the physicochemical characteristics and efficacy of these drugs, there are few published studies that summarize and compare these modifications. Our review systematically synthesized and discussed antiviral drug modification reports from publications indexed in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. We examined various approaches that were investigated to address physicochemical issues and increase activity, including liposomes, cocrystals, solid dispersions, salt modifications, and nanoparticle drug delivery systems. We were impressed by how well each strategy addressed physicochemical issues and improved antiviral activity. In conclusion, these modifications represent a promising way to improve the physicochemical characteristics, functionality, and effectiveness of antivirals in clinical therapy.