Poor aqueous solubility remains a significant hurdle in pharmaceutical development, hindering the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of numerous drug candidates. This research explores the application of microfluidic technology to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of nifedipine, a poorly water-soluble calcium channel blocker. A novel microfluidic platform was designed and optimized for controlled anti-solvent precipitation of nifedipine nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, morphology, crystallinity, and dissolution behavior. The study demonstrates that microfluidic processing enables the production of nifedipine nanoparticles with significantly improved solubility and dissolution rates compared to the bulk drug. Furthermore, an in vitro cell culture study using Caco-2 cells suggests enhanced cellular uptake of the microfluidically processed nifedipine nanoparticles, indicating improved bioavailability potential. This work highlights the potential of microfluidic technology as a powerful tool for addressing the challenges associated with poorly water-soluble drugs and improving drug delivery outcomes.
Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exhibits potent anticancer properties but suffers from poor bioavailability due to its low water solubility and rapid metabolism. This study aimed to develop a novel nano-encapsulation strategy using chitosan-alginate nanoparticles (CS-Alg NPs) to enhance the bioavailability and targeted delivery of quercetin to colorectal cancer cells. CS-Alg NPs were synthesized via ionic gelation and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release profile. In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and anticancer activity of quercetin-loaded CS-Alg NPs (Q-CS-Alg NPs) in colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HT29). The results demonstrated that Q-CS-Alg NPs exhibited significantly enhanced cytotoxicity and cellular uptake compared to free quercetin. Moreover, Q-CS-Alg NPs showed a sustained release profile, protecting quercetin from premature degradation and enabling targeted delivery to cancer cells. This novel nano-encapsulation approach holds promising potential for improving the therapeutic efficacy of quercetin in colorectal cancer treatment.
Curcumin, a natural polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, its therapeutic application is severely limited by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and low bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate novel nano-lipid carriers (NLCs) for enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery of curcumin. NLCs were formulated using a high-pressure homogenization technique, optimized for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release characteristics. In vitro studies demonstrated a sustained and controlled release of curcumin from the NLCs, significantly improving its solubility and stability. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Wistar rats revealed a substantial increase in curcumin bioavailability compared to free curcumin. Furthermore, the efficacy of curcumin-loaded NLCs was evaluated in an animal model of inflammation, demonstrating a significant reduction in inflammatory markers compared to free curcumin. The results suggest that curcumin-loaded NLCs offer a promising strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin by improving its bioavailability and enabling targeted delivery.
Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, its therapeutic application is significantly hampered by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and limited bioavailability. This study aims to address these limitations by encapsulating curcumin within novel nano-lipid carriers (NLCs). The NLCs were synthesized using a high-pressure homogenization method, optimized for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug loading. Comprehensive characterization using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the formation of stable, nanoscale particles. In vitro release studies demonstrated sustained curcumin release from the NLCs, while cellular uptake studies using cancer cell lines revealed enhanced internalization compared to free curcumin. Furthermore, the curcumin-loaded NLCs exhibited significantly improved anticancer activity in vitro, suggesting a promising approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin. This research highlights the potential of NLCs as an effective drug delivery system for improving the bioavailability and targeted delivery of curcumin for cancer therapy.
Ovarian cancer remains a significant challenge due to late-stage diagnosis and development of chemoresistance. This study investigates the potential of folate-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (FA-CS-NPs) for targeted delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) to ovarian cancer cells, aiming to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. FA-CS-NPs were synthesized and characterized for size, morphology, drug encapsulation, and release kinetics. In vitro studies evaluated the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and apoptosis-inducing potential of PTX-loaded FA-CS-NPs in folate receptor-overexpressing SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Results demonstrated that FA-CS-NPs significantly enhanced PTX delivery, leading to increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis compared to free PTX and non-targeted PTX-loaded CS-NPs. These findings suggest that FA-CS-NPs represent a promising strategy for targeted chemotherapy in ovarian cancer, offering improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced side effects.