Purpose: The objective of this work was to prepare NAT solid lipid nanoparticles (NAT-SLNs) to achieve sustained drug release and increased corneal penetration.
Methods: NAT-SLNs were prepared using the emulsification-ultrasonication technique. Box- Behnken experimental design was applied to optimize the effects of independent processing variables (lipid concentration [X1], surfactant concentration [X2], and sonication frequency [X3]) on particle size (R1), zeta potential (ZP; R2), and drug entrapment efficiency (EE%) (R3) as responses. Drug release profile, ex vivo corneal permeation, antifungal susceptibility, and cytotoxicity of the optimized formula were evaluated.
Results: The optimized formula had a mean particle size of 42 r.nm (radius in nanometers), ZP of 26 mV, and EE% reached ~85%. NAT-SLNs showed an extended drug release profile of 10 hours, with enhanced corneal permeation in which the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) and steady-state flux (Jss) reached 11.59×10-2 cm h-1 and 3.94 mol h-1, respectively, in comparison with 7.28×10-2 cm h-1 and 2.48 mol h-1 for the unformulated drug, respectively. Antifungal activity was significantly improved, as indicated by increases in the inhibition zone of 8 and 6 mm against Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 1022 and a Candida albicans clinical isolate, respectively, and minimum inhibitory concentration values that were decreased 2.5-times against both of these pathogenic strains. NAT-SLNs were found to be non-irritating to corneal tissue. NAT-SLNs had a prolonged drug release rate, that improved corneal penetration, and increased antifungal activity without cytotoxic effects on corneal tissues.
Conclusion: Thus, NAT-SLNs represent a promising ocular delivery system for treatment of deep corneal keratitis.
METHOD: This retrospective cohort study evaluates the differences in surgical outcomes of THA vs HA in 85 patients with displaced intracapsular fractures, based on the time taken for patients to ambulate to walking frame/crutches and wheelchair post-operatively and the incidence of post-operative complications.
RESULTS: Patients who received HA were significantly older (p<0.0001, <0.05) and had poorer pre-operative ambulatory function (p=0.032, p<0.05) than those of the THA group. HA patients had a significantly faster recovery to walking frame/crutches (20.2 days) compared to THA patients (47.3 days) (Mann-Whitney U=447.500, n=46, p=0.043, <0.05 two-tailed). While no significant differences were found in deep vein thrombosis (DVT), infected prosthesis, or dislocation incidence, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) was more prevalent in THA patients (p=0.044, <0.05). Time to the walking frame had a significant effect on DVT/PE (p<0.001,