Sitah Alharthi

Dr. Sitah Alharthi


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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2 July 2019 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
Seyed Ebrahim AlaviSeyed Ebrahim Alavi
Seyed Ebrahim Alavi
MRMahasen Ali Radwan
Mahasen Ali Radwan
MKMona Mohamed El Khatib
Mona Mohamed El Khatib
Ibrahim A. AlsarraIbrahim A. Alsarra
Ibrahim A. Alsarra
This study aims to prepare, characterize and evaluate the pharmacokinetics of liposomal donepezil HCl (LDH) dispersed into thiolated chitosan hydrogel (TCH) in rabbits. Various hydrogels including TCH were prepared, and after characterization, TCH was selected for subsequent evaluations, due to the promising results. TCH was then incorporated with LDH prepared by reverse phase evaporation method. The hydrogel was characterized using scanning electron microscope, dialysis membrane technique, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography methods. The optimized resultant was then evaluated in terms of pharmacokinetics in an in vivo environment. The mean size of LDH and drug entrapment efficiency were 438.7 ± 28.3 nm and 62.5% ± 0.6, respectively. The controlled drug release pattern results showed that the half-life of the loaded drug was approximately 3.5 h. Liposomal hydrogel and free liposomes were more stable at 4 °C compared to those in 20 °C. The pharmacokinetics study in the rabbit showed that the optimized hydrogel increased the mean peak drug concentration and area under the curve by 46% and 39%, respectively, through nasal route compared to the oral tablets of DH. Moreover, intranasal delivery of DH through liposomal hydrogel increased the mean brain content of the drug by 107% compared to the oral DH tablets. The results suggested that liposomes dispersed into TCH is a promising device for the nasal delivery of DH and can be considered for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

8 September 2020 in Journal of Drug Targeting
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MGMohsen Ghaferi
Mohsen Ghaferi
MEMaedeh Koohi Moftakhari Esfahani
Maedeh Koohi Moftakhari Esfahani
ARAun Raza
Aun Raza
SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
HSHasan Ebrahimi Shahmabadi
Hasan Ebrahimi Shahmabadi
Seyed Ebrahim AlaviSeyed Ebrahim Alavi
Seyed Ebrahim Alavi
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) are a particular example of innovative nanomaterials for the development of drug delivery systems. MSNPs have recently received more attention for biological and pharmaceutical applications due to their capability to deliver therapeutic agents. Due to their unique structure, they can function as an effective carrier for the delivery of therapeutic agents to mitigate diseases progress, reduce inflammatory responses, and consequently improve cancer treatment. The potency of MSNPs for the diagnosis and management of various diseases has been studied. This literature review will take an in-depth look into the properties of various types of MSNPs (e.g., shape, particle and pore size, surface area, pore volume, and surface functionalization), and discuss their characteristics, in terms of cellular uptake, drug delivery, and release. MSNPs will then be discussed in terms of their therapeutic applications (passive and active tumor targeting, theranostics, biosensing, and immunostimulative), biocompatibility, and safety issues. Also, emerging trends and expected future advancements of this carrier will be provided.

1 September 2021 in Drug Discovery Today
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
Seyed Ebrahim AlaviSeyed Ebrahim Alavi
Seyed Ebrahim Alavi
PMPeter Michael Moyle
Peter Michael Moyle
Zyta ZioraZyta Ziora
Zyta Ziora

Verified
Journal Article
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PDF file
Seyed Ebrahim AlaviSeyed Ebrahim Alavi
Seyed Ebrahim Alavi
SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
HSHasan Ebrahimi Shahmabadi
Hasan Ebrahimi Shahmabadi
AAAzim Akbarzadeh
Azim Akbarzadeh
This study aims to improve the cytotoxicity and potency of cisplatin-loaded polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of lung cancer through the modulation of temperature and polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration as effective factors affecting the NPs’ properties. The NPs were synthesized using an anionic polymerization method and were characterized in terms of size, drug loading efficiency, drug release profile, cytotoxicity effects, drug efficacy, and drug side effects. In this regard, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) methods, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were used. The results showed that the size and the drug loading efficiency of the synthesized spherical NPs were 355–386 nm and 14–19%, respectively. Also, the drug release profile showed a controlled and slow drug release pattern with approximately 10% drug release over 48 h. In addition, the NPs significantly increased the cytotoxicity of the cisplatin in vitro environment by approximately 2 times and enhanced the therapeutic effects of the drug in vivo environment by increasing the survival time of lung-cancer-bearing mice by 20% compared to the standard drug receiver group. Also, the nanoformulation decreased the drug toxicity in an in vivo environment. According to the results, increasing the temperature and PEG concentration improved the properties of the drug loading efficiency, drug release profile, and cytotoxicity effect of drug-loaded NPs. Consequently, the synthesized formulation increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice and simultaneously decreased the cisplatin toxicity effects. In conclusion, the prepared nanoformulation can be considered a promising candidate for further evaluation for possible therapeutic use in the treatment of lung cancer.

13 April 2023 in Gels
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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GAGhallab Alotaibi
Ghallab Alotaibi
SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
BBBiswajit Basu
Biswajit Basu
DADipanjana Ash
Dipanjana Ash
SDSwarnali Dutta
Swarnali Dutta
Havagiray ChitmeHavagiray Chitme
Havagiray Chitme
In the 21st century, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers have become an epidemic outbreak worldwide. Therefore, the exploration of all potential preventative and therapeutic measures based on either physical or bio-chemical mechanisms is essential via understanding precise pathophysiological pathways (Mitogen-activated protein kinase, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Pathway, and Notch signaling pathway) and other aspects of such skin malignancies. Nano-gel, a three-dimensional polymeric cross-linked porous hydrogel having a diameter of 20–200 nm, possesses dual properties of both hydrogel and nanoparticle. The capacity of high drug entrapment efficiency with greater thermodynamic stability, remarkable solubilization potential, and swelling behavior of nano-gel becomes a promising candidate as a targeted drug delivery system in the treatment of skin cancer. Nano-gel can be either synthetically or architectonically modified for responding to either internal or external stimuli, including radiation, ultrasound, enzyme, magnetic, pH, temperature, and oxidation-reduction to achieve controlled release of pharmaceuticals and several bio-active molecules such as proteins, peptides, genes via amplifying drug aggregation in the active targeted tissue and reducing adverse pharmacological effects. Several drugs, such as anti-neoplastic biomolecules having short biological half-lives and prompt enzyme degradability capacity, must be appropriate for administration employing either chemically bridged or physically constructed nano-gel frameworks. The comprehensive review summarizes the advancement in the preparation and characterization methods of targeted nano-gel with enhanced pharmacological potential and preserved intracellular safety limits for the mitigation of skin malignancies with a special emphasize on skin cancer inducing pathophysiological pathways and prospective research opportunities for skin malignancy targeted nano-gels.

24 December 2025 in Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal
Verified
Journal Article
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SASitah Alharthi
Sitah Alharthi
In silico twins (ISTs) are emerging as a transformative paradigm in precision medicine, offering dynamic, high-fidelity representations of individual patients through real-time integration of multimodal data. In this work, we define an in silico twin (IST) as a high-fidelity, artificial intelligence(AI)-augmented computational replica of an individual’s biological systems that integrates mechanistic modeling (e.g., PBPK, QSP) with patient-specific data streams to simulate, predict, and optimize therapeutic outcomes in real time. By combining AI, physiological and biomechanical modeling, and advanced simulation engines, these systems enable continuous monitoring, predictive diagnostics, and personalized treatment planning. Unlike conventional digital tools, ISTs provide iterative, adaptive simulations that evolve with patient states, fostering a shift from reactive to proactive healthcare. This review explores the technological foundations underpinning ISTs -including machine learning architectures, multi-scale physiological modeling, data integration, and cloud-edge infrastructure- and maps their clinical applications across the patient care continuum. We also distinguish ISTs from digital twins, virtual patients, and traditional computational models, emphasizing their unique contribution to decision support, drug development, and therapeutic optimization. As digital healthcare ecosystems mature, ISTs represent a crucial step toward simulation-driven, individualized medicine. Their continued development offers substantial potential for improving outcomes, accelerating discovery, and reshaping the clinical landscape. Uniquely, this review introduces a practical taxonomy of IST architectures, a verification and validation checklist for model credibility, and a deployment blueprint to guide their clinical translation and real-world adoption.