Intravesical drug delivery is a direct drug delivery approach for the treatment of various bladder diseases. The human urinary bladder has distinctive anatomy, making it an effective barrier against any toxic agent seeking entry into the bloodstream. This screening function of the bladder derives from the structure of the urothelium, which acts as a semi-permeable barrier. However, various diseases related to the urinary bladder, such as hyperactive bladder syndrome, interstitial cystitis, cancer, urinary obstructions, or urinary tract infections, can alter the bladder’s natural function. Consequently, the intravesical route of drug delivery can effectively treat such diseases as it offers site-specific drug action with minimum side effects. Intravesical drug delivery is the direct instillation of medicinal drugs into the urinary bladder via a urethral catheter. However, there are some limitations to this method of drug delivery, including the risk of washout of the therapeutic agents with frequent urination. Moreover, due to the limited permeability of the urinary bladder walls, the therapeutic agents are diluted before the process of permeation, and consequently, their efficiency is compromised. Therefore, various types of nanomaterial-based delivery systems are being employed in intravesical drug delivery to enhance the drug penetration and retention at the targeted site. This review article covers the various nanomaterials used for intravesical drug delivery and future aspects of these nanomaterials for intravesical drug delivery.

Cosmetics are a staple in daily beauty routines worldwide, embraced for their role in enhancing personal appearance and self-care. However, their direct application exposes the skin to a range of ingredients, including metal(loid)s, and these can have a hazardous impact on human health if they exceed the limits defined by regulatory agencies. As a result, it is important to evaluate metal(loid) levels to ensure the safety of these cosmetic products. This research aimed to analyze several cosmetic products (massage cream, cleaner, mud mask, skin polish, scrub, lipstick, foundation, lotion, face powder, and highlighter) for metalloids (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, As, Sb, Cd, Pb, Bi, and Hg) by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Multivariate and bivariate statistical approaches were used to interpret the sources and association between the metal(loid)s. The concentration ranges of metals were found to be Al (1.18–4.15 mg/kg), Cr (0.13–2.19 mg/kg), Mn (1.89–28.77 mg/kg), Fe (4.09–126.02 mg/kg), Co (0.19–31.62 mg/kg), Ni (0.11–5.39 mg/kg), Cu (0.08–0.19 mg/kg), Zn (1.99–47.81 mg/kg), Sr (0.99–10.34 mg/kg), Cd (0.16–1.50 mg/kg), Pb (0.29–2.44 mg/kg), Bi (0.23–2.18 mg/kg), and Hg (0.012–0.42 mg/kg), whereas the concentration ranges of metalloids were found to be As (0.011–0.051 mg/kg) and Sb (0.042–1.66 mg/kg). Among the tested cosmetic products for the metal(loid) levels, the estimation of the margin of safety (MOS < 100), hazard quotient (HQ > 1), hazard index (HI > 1), and cumulative cancer risk (LCR ≤ 1 × 10⁻³) indicated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with the use of few products. Most of the cosmetics products under investigation are safe with respect to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. By highlighting the need to limit excessive use and adhering to sustainable safety practices, this study underscores the importance of monitoring and regulating metal(loid) content to ensure consumer safety and mitigate environmental impact.

The present study aimed to enhance the aqueous solubility of methanol extract of leaves of Vinca rosea (family: Apocynaceae) by particle-size reduction using milling and to evaluate its antidiabetic activity. The methanol extract (ME) was micronized using a vibratory ball mill, operated at a vibratory speed of 15 Hz for 60 min at room temperature, and the resulting extract micronized ME (MME) was investigated to determine particle size, solubility, UV/visible profile, and in vitro antidiabetic activity. The average particle size of MME was 0.753±0.227 μm, which was less than half of that of the ME (2.007±0.965 μm). The solubility of MME was greater than that of the ME. MME exhibited 65.63%, 18.0%, and 96.87% higher antidiabetic activity in the glucose uptake by the yeast cells method, hemoglobin glycosylation assay, and the alpha amylase inhibition assay, respectively (p<0.05). The results of the present study indicate that micronization effectively enhanced the aqueous solubility and antidiabetic activity of methanol extract of leaves of Vinca rosea.

The present study aimed to compare the impact of lyophilization on the phytochemicals and in-vitro antidiabetic activity of tomato and lemon fruit juices alone and in combination, and compares their efficacy with fresh samples by using different analytical techniques. For the phytochemical analysis of samples, conventional methods like Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used. HPLC technique was used to confirm flavonoid compounds i.e. quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol in isopropyl alcohol, methanol and acetonitrile extracts. Furthermore, in vitro antidiabetic activity was determined by using inhibition of alpha amylase enzyme and glucose uptake by yeast cells assays. Both lyophilized juices of lemon and tomato demonstrated high phenolic and flavonoid content than fresh samples. Lemon demonstrated higher total phenolic content of 7.15 mg/g, while tomato contained higher total flavonoid content of 73.75 mg/g, both of which are important to play critical role in glucose metabolism and antioxidant defense. When compared with fresh juices results, the lyophilized samples exhibited comparable phytochemical stability and biological activity, highlighting the effectiveness of lyophilization in preserving bioactive compounds. On the other hand, the combination extract (IC50 = 7.76 mg/ml) of lemon and tomato showed significant inhibition of alpha amylase enzyme activity in a concentration dependent manner (P<0.05) and enhanced glucose uptake in yeast cells, suggesting a complementary effect in all glucose concentration of 5, 10 and 25 mM. These findings indicate that both lemon and tomato contribute beneficially to antidiabetic activity, particularly when used in combination. Future studies should focus on validating these findings by using in-vivo models and exploring formulation strategies for diabetes management. Overall, this research also adds novelty of employing lyophilization as a successful preservation technique, thus offering a potential natural remedy for diabetes. Keywords:α-Amylase, Flavonoids,Glucoseuptake, Lemon, Antidiabetic, Tomato.