In oral administration systems, mucoadhesive polymers are crucial for drug localization and target-specific activities. The current work focuses on the application of thiolated xanthan gum (TXG) to develop and characterize a novel mucoadhesive nanocrystal (NC) system of simvastatin (SIM). Preparation of SIM-NC was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with statistical applications. The concentration of Pluronic F-127 and vacuum pressure were optimized by central composite design. Based on this desirable approach, the prerequisites of the optimum formulation can be achieved by a formulation having 92.568 mg of F-127 and 77.85 mbar vacuum pressure to result in EE of 88.8747% and PS of 0.137.835 nm. An optimized formulation was prepared with the above conditions along with xanthan gum (XG) and TXG and various parameters were evaluated. A formulation containing TXG showed 98.25% of SIM at the end of 96 h. Regarding the mucoadhesion potential evaluated by measuring zeta potential, TXG-SIM-NC shoed the maximum zeta potential of 16,455.8 ± 869 mV at the end of 6 h. The cell viability percentage of TXG-SIM-NC (52.54 ± 3.4% with concentration of 50 µg/mL) was less than the plain SIM, with XG-SIM-NC showing the highest cytotoxicity on HSC-3 cells. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies confirm the enhanced bioavailability of formulated mucoadhesive systems of SIM-NC, with TXG-SIM-NC exhibiting the maximum.

Cancer is a highly detrimental and fatal illness that poses a significant threat to human well-being. The pattern of cancer treatment is continuously being optimized by the advancement of old treatment approaches and the invention of novel treatment modes. Nanotechnology-based approaches are emerging as powerful candidates in the development of these advanced methods for treating tumors. This article provides a concise overview of nanotechnology for cancer or cancer nanomedicine and its applications. In light of prevalent issues, such as inadequate precision in targeting initial chemotherapy drugs, susceptibility of nucleic acid drugs to degradation, gene delivery, and the occurrence of common immune-related adverse events during immunotherapy, we explore the potential integration of nanomedicine with these treatment approaches and illustrative examples and highlight the benefits that arise from the utilization of nanomedicine.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most complicated nervous system injuries with challenging treatment and recovery. Regenerative biomaterials such as chitosan are being reported for their wide use in filling the cavities, deliver curative drugs, and also provide adsorption sites for transplanted stem cells. Biomaterial scaffolds utilizing chitosan have shown certain therapeutic effects on spinal cord injury repair with some limitations. Chitosan-based delivery in stem cell transplantation is another strategy that has shown decent success. Stem cells can be directed to differentiate into neurons or glia in vitro. Stem cell-based therapy, biopolymer chitosan delivery strategies, and scaffold-based therapeutic strategies have been advancing as a combinatorial approach for spinal cord injury repair. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the treatment strategies of SCI due to the use of bioactivity of chitosan-based drug delivery systems. An emphasis on the role of chitosan in neural regeneration has also been highlighted.

A successful candidate for oral drug delivery needs to possess adequate solubility and dissolution rate to elicit its therapeutic action. Extensive research is being carried out to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble drugs through a number of techniques involving polymeric and non-polymeric approaches. Non-polymeric approaches such as micronization and nanocrystals are successful in improving the apparent solubility of drugs, but the sustenance of solubility is not always possible. Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) lead to solubility enhancement as well as the maintenance of solubility with the assistance of polymers, thereby improving bioavailability. Spray drying, hot melt extrusion (HME), and KinetiSol^® technologies are some of the techniques capable of manufacturing ASDs. Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of processing challenges and applicability in preparing ASDs. The latter two technologies are similar in being fusion and non-solvent techniques to improve solubility. This review compares both HME and KinetiSol^® techniques regarding mechanism, equipment design, formulation, and process parameters involved and scalability.