Lipid Nanocarriers-Loaded Nanocomposite as a Suitable Platform to Release Antibacterial and Antioxidant Agents for Immediate Dental Implant Placement…

2021

Immediate implant placement is a single-stage restorative approach for missing teeth widely used to overcome the ridge remodeling process occurring after dental extractions. The success of this procedure relies on opportune osseointegration in the surrounding tissues. To support this process, a multifunctional nanocomposite, to be applied in the fresh post-extraction socket, was here designed, prepared, and characterized. This formulation consists of quercetin (QRC)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) entrapped in a chitosan-based solid matrix containing ciprofloxacin (CPX). QRC-NLCs were prepared by homogenization followed by high-frequency sonication, and thereafter this dispersio…

Grapefruit IntegroPectin isolation via spray drying and via freeze drying: A comparison

2022

The comparison of grapefruit IntegroPectin powders isolated via spray drying and via freeze drying in terms of phenolic content, quantification of the most representative flavonoids (naringin and hesperidin), radical scavenging activity, total protein content and pH of the aqueous solutions provides relevant information. Except for the protein content and the antioxidant power, the two drying methods afford similar pectins. Optimization of the spray drying parameters allowed to maximize the yield of isolated pectin that nearly approached (>95%) the quantitative yield obtained via freeze drying.

Spray-Dried Cytisine-Loaded Matrices: Development of Transbuccal Sustained-Release Tablets as a Promising Tool in Smoking Cessation Therapy

2022

Cytisine (CYT) has emerged as a promising molecule to treat nicotine addiction, since it acts as a partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. However, its unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties lead to multiple administrations per day, reducing the patient’s compliance and increasing the side effects. To overcome these drawbacks, CYT buccal administration is here proposed. Firstly, CYT stability in the buccal environment was assessed and its intrinsic ability to permeate/penetrate the tissue was determined by applying CYT solutions at increasing concentrations. Furthermore, a spray-drying method was selected and optimized as it is an eco-friendly, easily scalable and effective te…

Quercetin-Based Nanocomposites as a Tool to Improve Dental Disease Management

2020

The restoration and prosthetic rehabilitation of missing teeth are commonly performed using dental implants, which are extremely effective and long-lasting techniques due to their osteointegration ability with the preimplant tissues. Quercetin is a phytoestrogen-like flavonoid well known for its several positive effects on human health, mostly linked to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, many studies in dentistry and the maxillofacial fields have highlighted the positive effects of quercetin on osteogenesis, acting on osteoblast activity and angiogenetic process, and promoting soft and hard tissue…

Buccal Thin Films as Potent Permeation Enhancers for Cytisine Transbuccal Delivery

2022

Cytisine (CYT) is a powerful anti-smoking compound which could greatly benefit from transbuccal delivery because of both its unfavorable pharmacokinetics after oral administration and its intrinsic ability to permeate the buccal mucosa. This work aims to design CYT-loaded buccal thin films suitable for transbuccal drug delivery due to its capability of promoting the interaction between CYT and the buccal membrane. The solvent casting method was employed to prepare several thin films combining various excipients such as matrixing polymers, mucoadhesion agents, plasticizers and other compounds as humectants and sweeteners, component ratios and solvents. A total of 36 compositions was prepared…

Improvement of Resveratrol Permeation through Sublingual Mucosa: Chemical Permeation Enhancers versus Spray Drying Technique to Obtain Fast-Disintegr…

2021

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol with several interesting broad-spectrum pharmacological properties. However, it is characterized by poor oral bioavailability, extensive first-pass effect metabolism and low stability. Indeed, RSV could benefit from the advantage of the sublingual route of administration. In this view, RSV attitudes to crossing the porcine sublingual mucosa were evaluated and promoted both by six different chemical permeation enhancers (CPEs) as well as by preparing four innovative fast-disintegrating sublingual mini-tablets by spray drying followed by direct compression. Since RSV by itself exhibits a low permeation aptitude, this could be significantly enhanced by…

The New Life Of Exhausted Bentonite From The Grape Processing Industry: From Waste To Precious Resource To Produce Novel Raw Materials Enriched In Po…

Introduction: In an ever-growing perspective of circular economy, the development of conscious, sustainable and environmental-friendly strategies to recycle the waste products is the key point1. The exhausted bentonite, from the grape processing industries, could become a precious matrix to produce new pharmaceutical/cosmetic excipients enriched in functional polyphenols2. Materials & Methods: The exhausted bentonite recovered after the fining process (supplied by Bono&Ditta s.p.a., Campobello di Mazara TP, Italy) was stored at -20°C. Solid-liquid extractions on both freeze-dried and as-collected (wet) bentonite were carried out by using PEG200 or propylene glycol as solvents. The l…

Development of a Multifunctional Bioerodible Nanocomposite Containing Metronidazole and Curcumin to Apply on L-PRF Clot to Promote Tissue Regeneratio…

2020

Teeth extractions are often followed by alveolar bone reabsorption, although an adequate level of bone is required for reliable rehabilitations by dental implants. Leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) has been widely applied in regenerative procedures and with antibiotic and antioxidant agents could play an essential role in hard and soft tissue healing. In this work, a nanocomposite (Sponge-C-MTR) consisting of a hyaluronate-based sponge loaded with metronidazole (MTR) and nanostructured lipid carriers containing curcumin (CUR-NLC) was designed to be wrapped in the L-PRF&trade

Multicomponent Antibiofilm Lipid Nanoparticles as Novel Platform to Ameliorate Resveratrol Properties: Preliminary Outcomes on Fibroblast Proliferati…

2023

The well-being of skin and mucous membranes is fundamental for the homeostasis of the body and thus it is imperative to treat any lesion quickly and correctly. In this view, polyphenols might assist and enhance a successful wound healing process by reducing the inflammatory cascade and the production of free radicals. However, they suffer from disadvantageous physico–chemical properties, leading to restricted clinical use. In this work, a complex mixture of PEGylated lipid, Glyceryl monoester, 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Menthol was designed to entrap Resveratrol (RSV) as the active ingredient and further produce lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) by homogenization followed by high-freq…

Freeze drying versus Spray drying to obtain Grapefruit IntegroPectin powder

Background: IntegroPectin is a new family of citrus pectins of broad biological activity obtained via hydrodynamic cavitation of citrus biowaste carried out in water only. These pectins have already been isolated by freeze drying, a time-consuming and expensive procedure difficult to be scaled up. Since recently the spray drying technique has been greatly appreciated for food and pharmaceutical applications, this work proposes a comparison between Grapefruit IntegroPectin powders isolated via spray drying (SD) and via freeze drying (FD). Methods: A mini Spray Dryer B-290 with B-295 inert loop (Büchi) and a FreeZone 2.5 Liter freeze dry system (Labconco) were used. Dried powders comparison w…

Bioadhesive Matrix Tablets Loaded with Lipophilic Nanoparticles as Vehicles for Drugs for Periodontitis Treatment: Development and Characterization

2019

Periodontitis treatment is usually focused on the reduction or eradication of periodontal pathogens using antibiotics against anaerobic bacteria, such as metronidazole (MTR). Moreover, recently the correlation between periodontal diseases and overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) led to the introduction of antioxidant biomolecules in therapy. In this work, bioadhesive buccal tablets, consisting of a hydrophilic matrix loaded with metronidazole and lipophilic nanoparticles as a vehicle of curcumin, were developed. Curcumin (CUR)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were prepared using glycyrrhetic acid, hexadecanol, isopropyl palmitate and Tween&reg

Antibacterial PEGylated Solid Lipid Microparticles for Cosmeceutical Purpose: Formulation, Characterization, and Efficacy Evaluation

2020

The development of efficacious means of delivering antioxidant polyphenols from natural sources for the treatment of skin diseases is of great interest for many cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. Resveratrol (RSV) and Limonene (LIM) have been shown to possess good anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus infections responsible for many skin disorders, such as acne vulgaris. In this study, solid lipid microparticles are designed as composite vehicles capable of encapsulating a high amount of trans-RSV and enhancing its absorption through the stratum corneum. A microparticulate system based on mixture of PEGylate lipids, long-chain alcohols and LIM is a…

Chemopreventive and Anticancer Role of Resveratrol against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevailing and aggressive head and neck cancers, featuring high morbidity and mortality. The available conventional treatments suffer from several adverse effects and are often inefficient in terms of their survival rates. Thus, seeking novel therapeutic agents and adjuvants is of the utmost importance for modern society. Natural polyphenolic compounds have recently emerged as promising chemopreventive and anticancer agents. Specifically, the natural compound resveratrol (RSV) has recently gained momentum for this purpose. RSV is useful for treating OSCC due to its antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and proapoptotic effects. Additionall…

Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Waste Bentonite to Produce Functional Antioxidant Excipients for Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Purposes: A Waste-t…

2022

In an ever-growing perspective of circular economy, the development of conscious, sustainable and environmental-friendly strategies to recycle the waste products is the key point. The scope of this work was to validate the waste bentonite from the grape processing industries as a precious matrix to extract polyphenols by applying a waste-to-market approach aimed at producing novel functional excipients. The waste bentonite was recovered after the fining process and opportunely pre-treated. Subsequently, both the freeze dried and the so-called “wet” bentonites were subjected to maceration. PEG200 and Propylene Glycol were selected as solvents due to their ability to dissolve poly…

Sviluppo di spugne bioerodibili multifunzionali per la promozione di processi riparativi mediante il rilascio controllato di agenti antibiotici e ant…

2023

La salute delle strutture molli e dure del cavo orale è essenziale non solo per preservare le funzioni ad esse direttamente associate, ma anche per promuovere la salute generale dell’organismo. Tra le problematiche di maggiore interesse clinico a carico della cavità orale ritroviamo: i) le complicazioni post-operatorie che possono verificarsi a seguito di comuni avulsioni dentali che, se non trattate tempestivamente, possono sfociare in gravi parodontiti; ii) i fenomeni di osteonecrosi a carico di mascella e mandibola associate a trattamenti farmacologici nonché alla radioterapia; iii) il carcinoma orale a cellule squamose (OSCC) che è tra i più aggressivi tumori del collo e della testa, ca…