Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation - Volume 18, Issue 3, 2024

The liposomal drug delivery system is considered an advanced drug delivery technology for formulating lipid core nano-structured particles using lipids from natural and synthetic sources. Liposomes play a wide role in improving drugs with less solubility and greater toxicity profile. Liposomes have numerous advantages, such as enhanced drug loading, good biocompatibility, prolonged drug release profile, and better pharmacokinetic properties. Numerous attempts have been made in this field in the last few years, and lots of liposomal formulations are currently being sold all over the world, and few are under clinical study. Liposomal delivery technology improves the challenges of encapsulating poor soluble drugs and maintains the stability of the formulation, along with improving the challenges of in-vivo outcomes of liposomes. The present review discussed the brief outline of the liposome drug delivery system, the innovations in the clinical application, and the significant challenges in liposomal technology.

Cancer refers to a condition in which abnormal cells uncontrollably divide, resulting in the destruction of tissues. In colorectal cancer, uncontrolled cell proliferation takes place in the rectum or colon. Most colorectal tumors start as adenomas, a form of polyp that can develop into cancer within the rectum or colon. Symptoms of colorectal cancer include chronic diarrhea or constipation, bleeding from the rectum, bloody stools, change in appetite, weight loss, etc. Risk factors associated with colorectal cancer are smoking, obesity, and low physical activity. Colorectal cancer can be treated depending on size, location, and the spread of the cancer. Treatment includes surgery where the lymph node is dissected and a colectomy is performed. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies are other treatment options, but the main disadvantage is that these treatments have nonspecific avenues. Apart from killing cancerous cells, they damage healthy cells, too. Therefore, with the help of nanotechnology, drug-containing nanoparticles can be created with the aid of nanocarriers, which are stronger, more durable, and site-specific. The cancerous cells can be actively targeted by formulating nanoparticles loaded with anticancer drugs and functionalising the surface by either attaching ligands (peptides, antibodies, and small molecules) or targeting molecules towards receptors that are present on the exterior surface of the cancerous cells. These surfaces functionalised nanoparticles, loaded with anticancer drugs, are significantly upregulated in cancerous cells in contrast to healthy surrounding cells and tissues. This review article is focused on ligand-based drugs targeting colorectal tumours.

Micellar systems, particularly polymeric micelles, have emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle for water-insoluble compounds. Polymeric micelles, self-assembled nanostructures made from amphiphilic block copolymers, have emerged as a promising drug delivery vehicle for water-insoluble compounds. These micelles offer high drug loading capacity, stability, and the ability to solubilize large amounts of hydrophobic drugs, making them an attractive option for delivering drugs with limited solubility and bioavailability. Their small size allows for efficient delivery and targeting of specific tissues or cells, reducing off-target effects and improving therapeutic outcomes. This review provides a brief overview of drug delivery system challenges, solutions, techniques of micelle formation, factors affecting micelle stability and drug loading, applications, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of micellar formulations, toxicological considerations, limitations, recent advancements, and clinical trials of micelles in drug delivery. By addressing these key aspects, this review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current status and prospects of polymeric micelles as a promising drug delivery system.

Background: Solid dispersion is a common technique used for solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drugs. Objective: In this study, loratadine (LOR), a class II biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS), was formulated as solid dispersion tablets using modified Ziziphus spina-christi gum (MZG) as a carrier. Methods: The solvent evaporation method was used for LOR-MZG solid dispersion (SD) preparation. A variety of tests were conducted to characterize and optimize the formulation. Solubility, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (X-RD), and Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of solid dispersions were carried out. Accelerated stability testing and pharmacokinetic studies of formulated tablets were also performed using albino Wistar rats. Results: Solid dispersion improved the solubility of LOR by 51 folds. FTIR spectra excluded drugpolymer interactions, and results obtained by DSC, X-RD, and SEM proved the transition from the crystalline to the amorphous state. The stability of LOR-MZG solid dispersion tablets was found to be better when the Alu-Alu package was used. The pharmacokinetics of LOR-MZG compared to MZG-free loratadine tablets (LOR pure) and commercial loratadine tablets (LOR-TM) following oral administration revealed that about 6 folds and 10 folds bioavailability were achieved with LOR-MZG compared to LOR pure and LOR-TM, respectively. Conclusion: Such promising results encourage more studies on MZG to be used for improving the aqueous solubility and bioavailability of a wide range of poorly soluble drugs.