The application of hydrophilic polymers in designing and three-dimensional (3D) printing of pharmaceutical products in various dosage forms has recently been paid much attention. Use of hydrophilic polymers and syringe extrusion 3D printing technology in the fabrication of orodispersible films (ODFs) might hold great potential in rapid drug delivery, personalized medicine, and manufacturing time savings. In this study, the feasibility of 3D-printed ODFs fabrication through a syringe extrusion 3D printing technique and using five different hydrophilic polymers (e.g., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E15, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E50, high methoxyl pectin, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and hydroxyethylcellulose) as film-forming polymers and printing materials has been investigated. Rheology properties and printability of printing gels and physicochemical and mechanical properties of 3D-printed ODFs were evaluated. Amongst the investigated hydrophilic polymers, sodium carboxymethylcellulose at a concentration of 5% w/v (SCMC-5) showed promising results with a good printing resolution and accurate dimensions of the 3D-printed ODFs. In addition, SCMC-5 3D-printed ODFs exhibited the fastest disintegration time within 3 s due to high wettability, roughness and porosity on the surface. However, the results of the mechanical properties study showed that SCMC-5 3D printed ODFs were rigid and brittle, thus requiring special packaging to prevent them from any damage before practical use.

Drug delivery systems have revolutionized traditional drug administration methods by addressing various challenges, such as enhancing drug solubility, prolonging effectiveness, minimizing adverse effects, and preserving potency. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, particularly nanoparticles (NPs) and nanofibers (NFs), have emerged as promising solutions for biomedicine delivery. NFs, with their ability to mimic the porous and fibrous structures of biological tissues, have garnered significant interest in drug-delivering applications. Biopolymers such as gelatin (Ge) and chitosan (CH) have gained much more attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in biomedical applications. CH exhibits exceptional biocompatibility, anti-bacterial activity, and wound healing capabilities, whereas Ge provides good biocompatibility and cell adhesion properties. Ge/CH-based NFs stimulate cellular connections and facilitate tissue regeneration owing to their structural resemblance to the extracellular matrix. This review explores the additive methods of preparation, including electrospinning, force pinning, and template synthesis, focusing on electrospinning and the factors influencing the fiber structure. The properties of Ge and CH, their role in drug release, formulation strategies, and characterization techniques for electrospun fibers are discussed. Furthermore, this review addresses applications in delivering active moieties in the management of orthopedics and wound healing with regulatory considerations, along with challenges related to them. Thus, the review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential of Ge/CH-based NFs for drug delivery and biomedical applications.

The objective of the present study was to develop an orally disintegrating film (ODF) for a poorly water-soluble drug, phenytoin (PHT), using the cosolvent solubilization technique to achieve the amorphization of the drug, followed by the preparation of ODFs. Eleven formulations were prepared with different polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and high methoxyl pectin (HMP) by the solvent casting method. The prepared films were subjected to characterization for weight variations, thickness, surface pH, disintegration time and mechanical strength properties. Then, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis and the drug release patterns of the selected films were evaluated. Among the prepared formulations, the formulation composed of 1% w/w of PVA, 0.04% w/w of sodium starch glycolate with polyethylene glycol 400, glycerin and water as cosolvents (PVA-S4) showed promising results. The physical appearance and mechanical strength properties were found to be good. The PVA-S4 film was clear and colorless with a smooth surface. The surface pH was found to be around 7.47 and the in vitro disintegration time was around 1.44 min. The drug content of the PVA-S4 film was 100.27%. X-ray diffractometry and thermal analysis confirmed the transition of phenytoin in the PVA-S4 film into a partially amorphous state during film preparation using the cosolvent solubilization approach. The resulting PVA-S4 film showed a higher dissolution rate in comparison to the film without a cosolvent. Overall, this study indicated the influence of cosolvents on enhancing the solubility of a poorly water-soluble drug and its film dissolution.

Recipes for Thai traditional herbal teas have been formulated based on Thai traditional medicine, which tries to achieve a balance of the body’s elements (fire, water, wind and earth) in each season. This study aims to assess the benefits of Thai traditional herbal teas through evaluating their antioxidant properties and measuring the satisfaction levels of healthy volunteers. Antioxidant activity tests performed on 11 tea recipes and on green tea (positive control) included 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a radical scavenging assay and a 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. In addition, total phenolic contents were determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Tests of satisfaction were performed on volunteer subjects aged between 18 and 30 years old, using the criteria of color, flavor, taste and overall satisfaction. Among the 11 tea recipes tested, the summer recipe 1 containing Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni, Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. and Morus alba L. demonstrated the most promising antioxidant properties (p > 0.05) and a phenolic content (p > 0.05), which was comparable to green tea. Furthermore, it got the highest satisfaction scores in every assessed category. Therefore, this study shows that Thai traditional herbal teas, developed based on the concepts of Thai traditional medicine, could be a good choice for people looking for health-promoting beverages.

Colorectal cancer occurs due to various factors. The important risks are dietary lifestyle and inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It has been found that the inhibitory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the colorectal region can potentially reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The present study investigated rice bran oil from natural purple rice bran, which exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to evaluate the bioactive compound content of natural purple rice bran oil (NPRBO) derived from native Thai purple rice and the anti-inflammatory activity of NPRBO in colorectal cancer cells, and to develop a colorectal delivery platform in the form of film-coated tablets. NPRBO from the rice bran of five different Thai purple rice cultivars, namely Khao’ Gam Leum-Phua (KGLP), Khao’ Gam Boung (KGB), Khao’ Gam Thor (KGT), Khao’ Gam Pah E-Kaw (KGPEK), and Khao’ Niaw Dam (KND), were extracted using the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technique. The amount of γ-oryzanol (ORY), tocotrienols, and tocopherols present in NPRBOs and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of NPRBO were investigated. The highest anti-inflammatory NPRBO was transformed into a dry and free-flowing powder by liquisolid techniques. Then, it was compressed into core tablets and coated with Eudragit^®L100 and Eudragit^® NE30D. The in vitro release study of the film-coated NPRBO tablets was performed in three-phase simulated gastrointestinal media. The cultivar KGLP was superior to the other samples in terms of the ORY, tocotrienol and tocopherol contents and anti-inflammatory activity. Aerosil^® was the most suitable absorbent for transforming NPRBO into a free-flowing powder and was used to prepare the NPRBO core tablets. The in vitro KGLP-NPRBO film-coated tablet release profile showed that no ORY was released at gastric pH while 85% of ORY was released at pH 7.4 after 6 h; this would be expected to occur in the colorectal area. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of KGLP-NPRBO to prevent colorectal cancer via a specific colorectal dietary supplement delivery system.

Fenofibrate is a dyslipidemia treatment agent. Its crystallisation behaviour is difficult to predict. This study investigated the controllability of its crystallisation by means of regulating the exposed surface and growth temperatures.