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Emerging role of nanocarriers based topical delivery of anti-fungal agents in combating growing fungal infections

Waghule T, Sankar S, Rapalli VK, Gorantla S, Dubey SK, Chellappan DK, et al.

Dermatol Ther, 2020 11;33(6):e13905.
PMID: 32588940 DOI: 10.1111/dth.13905

The incidences of fungal infections have greatly increased over the past few years, particularly in humid and industrialized areas. The severity of such infections ranges from being asymptomatic-mild to potentially life-threatening systemic infections. There are limited classes of drugs that are approved for the treatment of such infections like polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins. Some fungi have developed resistance to these drugs. Therefore, to counter drug resistance, intensive large scale studies on novel targeting strategies and formulations are being conducted, which have gained impetus lately. Conventional formulations have limitations such as higher doses, frequent dosing, and several side effects. Such limiting factors have paved the path for the emergence of nanotechnology and its applications. This further gave formulation scientists the possibility of encapsulating the existing potential drug moieties into nanocarriers, which when loaded into gels or creams provided prolonged release and improved permeation, thus giving on-target effect. This review thus discusses the newer targeting strategies and the role of nanocarriers that could be administered topically for the treatment of various fungal infections. Furthermore, this approach opens newer avenues for continued and sustained research in pharmaceuticals with much more effective outcomes.
Emerging landscape in psoriasis management: From topical application to targeting biomolecules

Rapalli VK, Singhvi G, Dubey SK, Gupta G, Chellappan DK, Dua K

Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Oct;106:707-713.
PMID: 29990862 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.136

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder affecting 2-3% of the world population. It has characteristic features such as increased keratinocyte proliferation and production of inflammatory mediators. The treatment involves various strategies including topical, systemic, phototherapy and biologics. Topical therapies are preferred for mild to moderate psoriasis conditions over the systemic therapies which are ideal in severe disease conditions. The systemic therapies include immunosuppressants, biological agents and recently approved phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors. There are various limitations associated with the existing therapies where the new findings in the pathogenesis of psoriasis are paving a path for newer therapeutics to target at the molecular level. Various small molecules, PDE-4 inhibitors, biologics, and immunomodulator proved efficacious including the new molecules targeting Janus kinases (JAK) inhibitors that are under investigation. Furthermore, the role of genetic and miRNAs in psoriasis is still not completely explored and may further help in improving the treatment efficacy. This review provides an insight into various emerging therapies along with currently approved treatments for psoriasis.
Bacterial biofilms associated skin disorders: Pathogenesis, advanced pharmacotherapy and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems as a treatment approach

Vyas T, Rapalli VK, Chellappan DK, Dua K, Dubey SK, Singhvi G

Life Sci, 2021 Dec 15;287:120148.
PMID: 34785190 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120148

BACKGROUND: Biofilms are microcolonies of microbes that form communities with a variety of microbes, exhibit the same gene composition but differ in gene expression. Biofilm-associated infections have been in existence for a long, however, biofilm-associated skin disorders have not been investigated much.
OBJECTIVES: Biofilms, which are made mostly of the matrix can be thought of as communities of microbes that are more virulent and more difficult to eradicate as compared to their planktonic counterparts. Currently, several formulations are available in the market which have the potential to treat biofilm-assisted skin disorders. However, the existing pharmacotherapies are not competent enough to cure them effectively and entirely, in several cases.
KEY FINDINGS: Especially with the rising resistance towards antibiotics, it has become particularly challenging to ameliorate these disorders completely. The new approaches are being used to combat biofilm-associated skin disorders, some of them being photodynamic therapy, nanotherapies, and the use of novel drug delivery systems. The focus of attention, however, is nanotherapy. Micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, quatsomes, and many others are being considered to find a better solution for the biofilm-associated skin disorders.
SIGNIFICANCE: This review is an attempt to give a perspective on these new approaches for treating bacterial biofilms associated with skin disorders.
Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis & oxidative stress complexity: Emerging need for novel drug delivery approaches

Dua K, Rapalli VK, Shukla SD, Singhvi G, Shastri MD, Chellappan DK, et al.

Biomed Pharmacother, 2018 Nov;107:1218-1229.
PMID: 30257336 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.101

Tuberculosis (caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb) treatment involves multiple drug regimens for a prolonged period. However, the therapeutic benefit is often limited by poor patient compliance, subsequently leading to treatment failure and development of antibiotic resistance. Notably, oxidative stress is a crucial underlying factor that adversely influences the various treatment regimens in tuberculosis. Little information is available with advanced drug delivery systems that could be effectively utilized, in particular, for targeting the oxidative stress in tuberculosis. Thus, this presents an opportunity to review the utility of various available, controlled-release drug delivery systems (e.g., microspheres, liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers) that could be beneficial in tuberculosis treatments. This will help the biological and formulation scientists to pave a new path in formulating a treatment regimen for multi-drug resistant Mtb.