Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2025
08:18
Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
1.1K
Chitosan/Virgin-Coconut-Oil-Based System Enriched with Cubosomes: A 3D Drug-Delivery Approach
Simone S Silva1,2, Luísa C Rodrigues1,2, Emanuel M Fernandes1,2
13B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal.
Marine Drugs
|July 28, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed porous biomaterials using chitosan and virgin coconut oil for drug delivery. These scaffolds sustained the release of anti-inflammatory drugs, offering a sustainable pathway for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Natural polymers and vegetable oils offer potential for biomedical applications.
- Chitosan (CHT) and virgin coconut oil (VCO) were combined to create an emulsion system.
- Phytantriol-based cubosomes encapsulating sodium diclofenac were incorporated for drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel porous biomaterials for drug delivery.
- To investigate the properties of CHT/VCO-based emulsion scaffolds.
- To evaluate the drug release profile of sodium diclofenac from the developed system.
Main Methods:
- Formation of CHT/VCO emulsion.
- Encapsulation of sodium diclofenac within phytantriol-based cubosomes.
- Dispersion of cubosomes into the CHT/VCO emulsion.
- Freeze-drying to create porous scaffolds.
- Characterization of scaffold porosity, swelling, and stiffness.
- In vitro drug release studies in PBS.
Main Results:
- Scaffolds exhibited a porous structure (20.4–73.4 µm) and high swelling ability (up to 900% in PBS).
- The presence of cubosomes enhanced scaffold stiffness.
- Sustained release of sodium diclofenac was observed (45 ± 2% accumulated release), significantly lower than free diclofenac (80 ± 4%).
Conclusions:
- The developed CHT/VCO-based emulsion scaffolds are promising porous biomaterials for drug delivery.
- The system demonstrates controlled and sustained release of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- This approach provides a sustainable pathway for designing advanced drug delivery systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Drug Delivery: Overview
324
The selection of a drug's delivery route depends upon its physicochemical properties, including lipid or water solubility and ionization, as well as the therapeutic requirement, such as immediate or sustained effect. These routes can be divided into three primary categories: enteral, parenteral, and topical.
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...
324
01:22Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
383
Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection, and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
383
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
510
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
510
01:29Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
622
The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
622
01:19Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport
3.9K
Certain large, lipid-insoluble drug molecules that resemble amino acids, peptides, or glucose, require specialized carrier proteins to facilitate their diffusion across cell membranes. This transport can occur through either facilitated diffusion, which does not require energy input, or active transport, which does require energy input.
Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that utilizes human Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters. These transporters bind to the drug, undergo structural...
Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that utilizes human Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters. These transporters bind to the drug, undergo structural...
3.9K
00:59COP Coated Vesicles
7.9K
Membrane-enclosed structures called vesicles transport proteins and lipids across the cell. The vesicles derive their cargo from the plasma membrane, Golgi, ER, or endosome. Coated vesicles are spherical, protein-coated carriers with a 50–100 nm diameter that mediate bidirectional transport between the ER and the Golgi. The distribution of proteins between the ER and Golgi complex is dynamic and is maintained by different coated vesicles. Their formation is driven by the assembly of...
7.9K