Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2018 in |
An object with at least one characteristic dimension between 1 and 100 nm can be defined as “nanomaterial”. The unbelievable development of nanotechnology in the last 30 years has allowed the release of new and efficient synthetic routes towards the production and functionalization of different NPs, composed of a variety of materials including noble metals (e.g. gold and silver), semiconductors, TiO2, magnetic compounds and their combinations, such as core-shell and alloy. Advances in nanoparticle synthesis and engineering have produced nanoscale agents affording both therapeutic and diagnostic functions that are often referred to by the portmanteau ‘Nanotheronostics’. The field is associated with many applications in the clinic, especially in cancer management. These include patient stratification, drug-release monitoring, imaging-guided focal therapy and post-treatment response monitoring NPs which is clearly elaborated in this work. Intelligent nanotheronostics based on bio responsive systems have recently emerged and offer the promise of high specificity and efficiency via “on-demand” activation of both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities are being widely used for cancer diagnostics. As this development...
Read More
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2018 in |
Obesity is the primary cause of metabolic syndrome (MS), further developing to atherosclerosis, hypertension, insulin resistance and diabetes in different individuals depending on their predisposed genetic background. Though adipose tissue acts as endocrine gland, as storage for energy reserve and insulation to vital organs but overloaded adipose tissue, turns inflammatory and induces systemic low grade inflammation (LGI), affecting the normal physiology. The endothelial cells, the innermost layer of a blood vessel, are the most affected ones and responsible for micro and macro-vascular complications. Obesity is linked to dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in variety of cells resulting oxidative stress, accumulation of residual damaged cell organelles and ER stress leading to UPRs (unfolded protein responses) accumulation in the cytoplasm. This is also associated to low autophagy. The whole process activates the innate immunity and attracts macrophages towards adipose tissue and secretes abnormal adipokines and inflammatory cytokines. At physiological level it is manifested as changed neurological secretions, sleep pattern, appetite, and hunger signals. Thus, activation of antioxidant enzymes and autophagy...
Read More
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2018 in |
With the advent of nanotechnology, it has become important to realize the immense potential of ayurvedic bhasma which had been there for centuries. The study of ayurvedic bhasma as nanomedicine is an important interdisciplinary research area in need of contributions from material science, chemistry, pharmacology, etc. Such a research will definitely help in the characterization and standardization of these bhasmas which is a very complex problem. However, this system is not getting recognition in other parts of the world. Among the various reasons listed for lack of popularity of ayurveda, is non-availability of ‘standards’ for ayurvedic medicine particularly when prepared on large scale in modern pharmaceutical plants, matching the convenience palatability of modern dosage forms. Many times, it is reported that the preparation, particularly those mineral based are found to contain toxic substances exceeding permissible limits. There has been a lot of hue and cry regarding the safety and efficacy of the bhasmas, especially after publication of certain reports in print media. Further, the commercial pharmacies not adhering to...
Read More
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2018 in |
The oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs presents a major challenge because of the low aqueous solubility of such compounds. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), which are isotropic mixtures of oils, surfactants, solvents and co-solvents/surfactants, can be used for the design of formulations in order to improve the oral absorption of highly lipophilic drug compounds. SEDDS can be orally administered in soft or hard gelatin capsules and form fine relatively stable oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions upon aqueous dilution owing to the gentle agitation of the gastrointestinal fluids. The efficiency of oral absorption of the drug compound from the SEDDS depends on many formulation-related parameters, such as surfactant concentration, oil/surfactant ratio, polarity of the emulsion, droplet size and charge, all of which in essence determine the self-emulsification ability. Thus, only very specific pharmaceutical excipient combinations will lead to efficient self-emulsifying systems. Although many studies have been carried out, there are few drug products on the pharmaceutical market formulated as SEDDS confirming the difficulty of formulating hydrophobic drug compounds into such formulations. At...
Read More
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2018 in |
The traditional Siddha system of medicine has its origin in South India, and it deals with the well being of human race from neonates to Geriatrics. Presently there is an emerging increase in research and publications regarding the evaluation of traditional medicines primarily based on phytochemical, pharmacological, sophisticated instrumental analysis including various in vitro and in-vivo studies. Still there exists a gap area in the analysis of ancient literature which is the backbone on which the antique system of medicine such as Siddha exclusively stands. Kiranthi is an ancient Tamil term that is mentioned in the Siddha literature under Karuvil thondrum noigal (Diseases due to intra uterine factors). The prevention and management of Pediatric diseases have been dealt in the Siddha literature. Though these literature were written by ancient sages of South India thousands of years ago, it is quite interesting to know that parallel analysis of these age old poems have revealed its correlation with modern neonatological texts and terminologies. Therefore, this literature analysis was undertaken to compare...
Read More
